Today I have woken up early, which is kinda extraordinary, and I have been greated by 3 "Whatcha doing up?"'s so far...

I've been out and fed the critters early and they are all in shock. The donks flat out refused to come down, because I spose they figured just cos I was up, doesn't mean they have to be. Nice to have a choice about things, isn't it?

We have just had a day and night of rain. The property looks gorgeous. Fish are jumping and I met a turtle near the back verandah on my way out. Seems everything is so wet, he's not sure where he is. But where ever he wanders here, he's safe. Nice to trust that, isn't it?

I mucked out the ponies stall and loaded it all into wheelbarrows for the garden. I like the way things work like that around here. Nothing is wasted or useless. Even something like poo has benefits. Nice to know everything has a purpose, isn't it?

The baby ducklings in hatchery 2 are ready to move on. Which means the ones in hatchery 3 move into the free range area. Freedom arrives in stages, alongside development. I guess lifes a bit like that, isn't it?

The pooch has made her patrol. She checks everyone is present and accountable. Rounded up the goats and told the odd goat to pull its head in when it trys eating my lilly-pillys through the fence...tried rousing the donks, but they can be kind of stubborn, and generally checked all the gates and perimeters, reminding me on the way back to switch the pump off. It's nice not to have to worry about security, isn't it? 

I came in and packed away my family tree. I have given it 3 days this week and found my Grans great great grandmother in a lunatic asylum. She died there after 7 years, while her husband ran around ministering to folks in England Scotland and Wales and contracting syphillis. It's good to be able to just nod, and say "Uh ha, yep that's ok." isn't it?

The kids are parked in front of the telly. One has the earphones on...the other is just watching. I guess watching TV is the goal. No-one ever says they are listening to the telly do they? Whatever works. Nice when it doesn't really matter what others are doing, isn't it?

It looks like being a good day. I need to cut a tank in half, do a heap of washing, and paint a couple of gates (I hope i can find some pink paint). I still wear all my clothes until I can't find any clean ones and then wash...I haven't met many women that do that. But it works for me, and 3 weeks without washing is another good thing, isn't it?

I have to complete a study on whether psychologists should medicate tonight. I have very firm views on this. I consider Freud a mate of mine and he was qualified to administer drugs and chose not to. So I figure there's a very good reason for that. It's nice when folks start asking your opinion on stuff, and you actually have an answer you're willing to put your name to, isn't it?

Came in here and found the boys are missing. Phil's gone visiting his ex. Ooooh, that's always an adventure...Stan and Cabbagehead are very noisy in their silence (gotta be wary of that- maybe they are in cahoots?)...Rick and the big book are nowhere to be seen...Hanuman's done the bolt too....Not only is it nice to notice this, cos it gives me a sense of affiliation, but it's also nice to know when they find this, they will smile, isn't it?

Cheers all, and since the boys aren't here right now to say it...

HAVE A GREAT DAY. (Cabbagehead)

READ THE BIG BOOK. (Rick)

MEDITATE.(Phil)

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LOST GOD, ASK YOURSELF: WHO MOVED? (Hanuman)

DON'T TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY, NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE ANYWAY.(Stan)

Nic, Thanks for the share on your day. I really enjoy hearing about your life on the farm, I have lived in farm country all my life but never on a farm. We did have chickens and rabbits when I was growing up, it was a lot of fun cleaning out the pens....I got really attached to the rabbits and then we started eating them. I didn't eat when they were our meal, but I guess I would eat one now if it wasn't a friend.

Have a great day and we will just have to muddle through till the guys check in.

(((Hugs)))

GammyRose

Hey Gammy. Glad your here.

Well, the gates ended up green and the tank is in two, with one half currently doing laps of the orchard compliments of the girls who have found a new toy. They sooooo want to try standing starjump-like inside it, and see if they can stay intact while the other pushes it, but I got all motherly and said, "Now if you're intent on breaking your neck can you do some jobs first!!"

Not that they jumped up and started doing any jobs, but they seem happy just pushing it around and giggling when they lose control.

The washing?...mmm. yes, well...

I love the farm Gammy. I tried this life when I was drinking and it was just awful. Everything died...or ran away...nothing worked...it was just plain scary, really.

This time around, it's very different. I love it. I am happy to put the effort in, see things grow...I see miracles everywhere and its not hard anymore...feels more like I somehow managed to step back into the life I was supposed to be living. When we arrived I watched my dog bound around the paddocks with nothing short of glee, and I commented that she looked like she'd spent her life waiting to get here. My mate said I looked the same.

Nowdays I have animals arriving here instead of running away from me. I love the wildlife and try to provide for them. Folks also bring in the occasional injured critters and I feel so honoured that they would trust me to love and care for them...it is hard to describe. Am sure others would know what I mean though...

Some of our chooks are hilarious. They are bare-bummed as a result of life in a commercial eggery...if you have the choice, try and buy your eggs locally. It really is awful what those chooks endure.

I really don't think I could eat rabbit. They are far too gorgeous.

Anyway, that's life for today. Time for the milking. If you want to see a bit of our farm, you can check it out here...

http://therainbowsend.bravehost.com/index.html

You might want to add a flower to the guest map?

All the best Gammy,

Nic

Thanks for sharing the farm with us nic. Looks like a real piece of heaven to me. I like the animal orphans page. I love animals and some day mabye Ill be able to open a sanctuary, who knows?

Glad you enjoyed it Miller!

Never, in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined (especially after finding myself laying in my own faeces and vomit and deciding to take a nap under the passengers wheel of a semi trailer) that I would have the life I have today.

The best thing about putting down the grog and living in today is you all of a sudden realise you've got a life and its worth living and enjoying...step by step we begin recovering our memory, and all the bits we couldn't or wouldn't see. We learn the value of making amends and we experience peace, that we never ever want to lose, so we have to share it. We find ourselves, and then we realise we really are lucky to be alive, and life is worth living, saving, sharing, protecting and giving.

Then folks (and critters) start finding us...because we are worth finding.

I never set out to create a sanctuary, Miller. I just found myself in one.

Cheers from another grateful member of AA.

nice website Nic.

Hi Hanuman

Glad you popped in! I originally put it together so family could keep connected and could share in our happenings. But I figured it might help folks here get to know me too. Thanks for taking the time to check it out. I appreciate your interest. Some days I can wake up feeling like I am alone and there literally isn't anyone within hollering distance...somedays that's nice, somedays it's lonely. I miss my AA friends in the city, so it is nice to know you are all here, sharing laughs, obstacles and our miracles as we find them.

All the best,

Nic

Wow Nic What can I say? Your website blew me away. Honestly. I have read so much about your life and to see it up there - well it was kind of magic. Well done gal. How about a pic of you in your wedding finery? White leather and lace .........mmmmmmmm. With Mick's permission of course. I never thought I would ever envy anyone who lived in the middle of nowhere without a proper job or career with the responsibility of kids and lots of mouths to feed.

You're a funny turkey Stan...glad you called in too.

What's this proper job thing? You trying to wind me up? lololol If it wasn't for my profession you'd have been locked up long ago...lolololol.

Yar right...I just walked down the road and some dude said, "Here have a farm!"...Not likely. Hard yakka mate. Gets ya there everytime.