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Update from Jack Frost

We’re halfway through winter.  Hard to believe really, as we’ve had a pretty kind run of it so far here with mild days and a few half-hearted frosts.  We will need some rain before Spring hits but I’m certainly not complaining about the no-mud factor, and getting round in a singlet in July feels a bit dreamy.  According to the neighbour we have had 367ml for the year which is well behind our usual.  Autumn, as predicted with the El Nino, was dry and we probably had more...

One Year In to this Motherhood Business

It's coming up a year since Charlie was born.  A fresh glorious bundle, we brought him home from hospital right around the full moon.  I know this well as I would stare up at that shining maiden each night and plead with her to help me feed my baby.  Somehow calling on the wisdom of women who had come and gone before.  I would sit cross-legged on the window seat cradling his little body, bathed in cool moonlight while I wrestled with the pain of breastfeeding.  Charlie w...

Mumming

It’s a while since I’ve been up for a few hours in the middle of the night.  I’m out of practice.Charlie has finally begun to sleep a bit better so we’ve been getting decent stints at a time.  I feel like a new woman.  When he wakes to feed I automatically haul him into bed like a robot and continue to doze whilst breastfeeding.  But tonight he’s miserable and sick, all runny nosed and sneezing.   We’ve gone the full shebang on the remedy front; nappy ch...

Autumn Muster

Autumn is my favourite time of year. Golden poplars, dewy mornings with the odd frost and clear, cool nights.  A time to catch your breath and reflect after the busyness of the summer circus on the farm.It's also the season for the Lake Heron Station autumn muster.  My sisters and I have been sneaking up the gorge for the muster for a few years now, although last year I didn't go as I presumed they wouldn't require a waddling pregnant shepherd to complete their team. But this year...

The Little Truck that Couldn't

When we took on the farm lease, we inherited Susie the Suzuki.  She is a Suzuki Carry truck decked out with quad tyres, worth a thumping $836 on the books.  I love her dearly.  Mitch doesn’t share my sentiments. Unluckily for him, the taller Munro genes result in him being bent like a staple behind the wheel and whacking his knees on the dash.  Not a concern for me.  She is the ideal height for getting in and out of quickly and Charlie’s fishbox cot is the perfect fi...

Why Hello

My name is Anna.  My husband Mitch and I lease the family farm from my parents in Mt Somers.  It is a fairly traditional 540 ha sheep and beef property in the foothills of Mid Canterbury, with historically good rainfall, although this El Nino summer has dried things out a lot.I grew up here as one of four, the best upbringing any child could hope for.  To be honest I had resigned myself to the fact that I would probably never be able to provide the same for my children.  Then...