How did she get past the ants?

Out of morbid curiosity, I decided I would try and get progressive photos of the dead mouse being eaten by the meat ants.

Unfortunately, our dog enjoys the taste of rotten flesh (she’s been known to drag a kangaroo leg home) and has sadly eaten my subject.  However, I did manage to score another photo, nearly 24 hours later…here is what meat ants can do!

Wuzzy and Elly have become little wandering, foraging buddies.

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Tomorrow our good friend Richie M (who is a huge Scottish man we made friends with while living in Melbourne) is coming up for a few days retreat with his girlfriend!  We’re stoked they are coming as it is EASTER WEEKEND!

We were supposed to be helping with crutching today, but it has been drizzling, raining and not great conditions for the sheep.  Crutching, is the shearing of dags off the bums of the ewes/rams/lambs.  Brian and Tessa hire contractors to come in and do this.  We’ve also been giving them shots of selenium, drench and a mysterious yellow substance for thier own health benifits pre birthing…which is in 4 weeks (or less!).

Total numbers…god, I am guessing here: 4000.  I have needled over 4,000 sheep in a week.  I believe after this much medicinal practice I could very well get a Ph D .  haha….giving a sheep a needle is daunting at first, I was very light and dainty at first but after a day of it, found it less gruesome and started to jab a bit more directly.

The drench is to prevent worm infestation (it is a liquid milk they drink).  And the selenium is a mineral not found in this region of Australia.  The yellow medicine I’ll have to double check.

What is interesting about the selenium is…. If a dose is too high and early, many of the newborns will be born limbless.  (Tampering with nature has its consequences), and YET! if they are not given a dose, the young lambs can grow very slowly and be lacking the strength in their muscle.

Administering the proper dose is essential.  Timing is also key.  Too early in development can cause the limbless effect.

So instead of cleaning up the bums of the soon to be mummy’s, I spent the morning getting things ready here for our guests!  Some people call it OCD hahah….but I think most women can relate that a spotless home is key to having guests, as well as peace of mind!

What does OCD mean to you?

I always make the bed, and keep all counters, tables clear of dishes and clutter.   Clutter = no dice.

I go by the saying…”a cluttered space, is a cluttered mind”.  haha I wonder if it also can translate to:  “an empty space, is an empty mind?”.

haha I certainly hope not.

Lana Del Ray – Blue Jeans

Mr. Little Jeans – Runaway