I've spent today catching up on things. I went to town and did a little shopping. I've spent a lot of the day just blogging and catching up on my 365. These two things take up a lot of my time on the weekends now as I don't get a chance to do any when we're at Surat. My whole technology infrastructure needs a drastic overhaul especially my crappy, crappy internet service. That will be something to work on once we finish this constant travelling. The peas at the verandah are coming along.
This is a beautiful bush that we have to walk past to get to the chooks. I can't remember it's full name but I know it has "angel" in it. It's poisonous. At the moment it's truly magnificent and is just dripping with flowers. I took quite a few photos!
The eggplant took a very long time to grow but they're really coming into their own now. The big one looks just like one you'd buy in the shops!
Poofy, still happy, growing his winter coat.
This is the little man that Megan saved. He sleeps on the permaculture garden gate, facing away from the garden. When I go over in the mornings, he's always IN the garden so he obviously turns around and flies himself down to scratch around and check for bugs. I have to herd him out each day. He doesn't realise he's strutting on thin ice by being on the wrong side of the vege garden fence. It might have something to do with the fact that the biggest rooster I own lives in a pen inside the garden. It's all about testosterone.
The rosellas are starting to fruit.
The peas in the permaculture garden are surviving, as long as they're covered each night.
New eschallots. I bought them last weekend and they sat on the kitchen sink for a week so they're a bit yellow.
The broccoli has double in size. One plant less.
My assistants. Coco was off being busy elsewhere.
Old Red with one of his girls. He only has one girl at the moment - the other four have gone clucky on him. 
Fluffy bum disappearing into the garden. These guys spend most of their day fossicking amongst the low lying bushes and shrubs.
Chaudiere Lodge
Drew had three choices for how he would spend his time during the 2 month Summer break. He could: 1) Go to Camp (as a Counsellor) for the entire time 2) Spend the entire time with his host family or 3) Spend the entire time visiting friends and relatives in Canada or the USA. Option 3 was out. Option 1 was also out because his family had several events they wanted to celebrate/share with him. They included:- his birthday, Canada Day, his graduation, his sister's graduation, a visit to his sister's College, a week in Massachusetts and his sister's departure for College. Unfortunately, he didn't have the option to do all of these things AND spend just one month at Camp - Camp was either all or nothing. So, after discussions with his host family and us he opted for Option 2 with the view to pursuing some volunteering opportunities which might include the Ottawa Blues Festival or the Jazz Festival.
Last Tuesday I got a phone call at work; my heart gave a little leap. I thought there had been an emergency until I heard him laughing. He told me he had some exciting news. I skyped him back and he and Lianne told me what they had found. He applied to volunteer for two weeks at a Fishing Lodge in the north of Ontario. His host parents went there last year and really enjoyed it and Lianne suggested to Drew that he might like to give it a try. So he sent off an email and had a reply 5 minutes later - Yes, Steve would love to have Drew come and work there - kitchen, housekeeping, restaurant, on the docks - anything to help out. So Drew is very excited. Another great experience for him through this wonderful family that found him. I just hope the Canadian organisation approves the visit. I've had a look at the Lodge website - check this out. It looks FANTASTIC - and he might get to see the Northern Lights. That was one of his wishes that we discussed before he left home - and it might come true.
Last Tuesday I got a phone call at work; my heart gave a little leap. I thought there had been an emergency until I heard him laughing. He told me he had some exciting news. I skyped him back and he and Lianne told me what they had found. He applied to volunteer for two weeks at a Fishing Lodge in the north of Ontario. His host parents went there last year and really enjoyed it and Lianne suggested to Drew that he might like to give it a try. So he sent off an email and had a reply 5 minutes later - Yes, Steve would love to have Drew come and work there - kitchen, housekeeping, restaurant, on the docks - anything to help out. So Drew is very excited. Another great experience for him through this wonderful family that found him. I just hope the Canadian organisation approves the visit. I've had a look at the Lodge website - check this out. It looks FANTASTIC - and he might get to see the Northern Lights. That was one of his wishes that we discussed before he left home - and it might come true.
Sugar Bush
Drew's school took a trip to a "Sugar Bush" - similar to the one he visited a few weeks ago.
Sugar bush refers to a forest stand which is exploited for maple syrup. The tree canopy is dominated by sugar maple or black maple. Other tree species, if present, form only a small fraction of the total tree cover. In the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and in some New England states, many sugar bushes have a sugar shack where maple syrup can be bought or sampled.
The maples are tapped for their maple sap in early spring, whenever the weather has warmed so that day-time temperatures are above freezing — 0 °C (32 °F) — while night-time temperatures remain below freezing. Typically there will be snow cover on the ground during the tapping period. The tapping period ends when the supply of maple sap ceases, as when night-time temperatures begin to be above freezing. After the tapping period, some maple sugar bushes experience a profusion of spring wildflowers which take advantage of unobstructed sunlight before the maple leaves emerge. In summer, a healthy maple sugar bush is luxuriant and shady. Autumn leaves are colorful, especially on the sugar maples. 
He went out for dinner to a Mexican restaurant with a bunch of other exchange students. Obviously, very few boys live in Canada. I'm yet to see Drew in a photo WITHOUT a girl (or seven)!!
It's Calving Time
We went to let some of the close to calving elite mothers out of the yards and into a paddock nearby. We took the new toy. 
We went by the river.
Then by the old shed that's seen better days.
Down to check the water. Look at that sky.
We went by the river.
Then by the old shed that's seen better days.
Down to check the water. Look at that sky.
This is why that particular paddock is called Grave Paddock. Two little boys lost to dysentry.
There's that camera again.
While Gibbo blocked the laneway I encouraged everybody out.
Some took a little more encouraging than others. This little guy just didn't want to move. He was quite comfortable where he was thank you very much.
Are YOU my momma?
Yes, stay close this time. Come on.
