Neighbour burning off

 Neighbour asked if he could burn off the bottom part of my block near his dam - I said ok but keep it below the house - of course it got away, missed the house and shed just but went through the vegetable patch. Probably lost half of my fruit trees.

Luck his wife came over - while we were trying to save the garden a bit burnt up close to my car.

RFS fun day at Shannon Creek Dam

 The annual Rural Fire Service fun day - four different stands, as well as boot throwing, and tug of war. The standpipe event - Matt (blue shirt) is about to bowl out a hose. Since I'm not official yet I couldn't compete but got to watch.

Halfway Creek Brigade (Ton and Jeanette (live near me on Parker Road), me, Kevin and Laura, Matt). Matt has just started the basic course unfortunately my application hasn't been processed so I have to wait till the Mar/April course before I can get my gear and actually help with fires. We didn't win any prizes but didn't get any penalties either.

Coffs Community Garden

 Spent a couple of hours at the Community garden - making new plots including one which will be Cathy's.

The centre plot is Cathy's.

Vet check

Minnie had her first vet check, vaccination and microchip inserted. She weighs a whopping 1.55 kg. Vet found no problems, and she barely whined during needles (that microchip needle is huge) despite a big build up by vet how most puppies scream. Back in 4 weeks for next vaccination and start heartworm treatment. Might join up for 3 week puppy classes starting 8 Aug. Left her at the vets for a few hours while I went to Tursa and shopped (mainly puppy stuff). Still not sure about final size, even though she has blue heeler colours the vet said her blue heeler pups were three times her size at that age. Need to work out a tick treatment - have already found one on her, but frontline/advantage seems very expensive and you still have to check them daily (takes 2 days attached to cause paralysis).  Pig ears are a big win, ok for now when a small bit is enough but don't want to be buying one every day at nearly $3. Have to do more research on feeding to balance nutrients and economy, the vet pushes Advance dry food "all she needs".

Mad Minnie

 

In this unselected video within 20 secs Minnie chases her tail, falls backward off path, tears around and runs straight into the stairs.

More Minnie

I keep forgetting to take a camera out with me. Already getting messy in the bathroom so I set up a pen on the verandah for day times. I am trying to take her out regularly (as soon as she first makes noise) but takes a few calls before I really wake up. She managed to fall/jump off the verandah (<1m) and growled at me and stayed away for 5 mins despite me being a couple of metres away at the time.  Definitely an alpha pup which could be difficult. In the video you see my sock toy - she likes to bite/shake it.

Minnie the Tenterfield Terrier

Nine weeks old - neighbour Lisa has her brother. Booked in Wed for vaccinations and microchip - had her first worming treatment. She complains every time I leave her but according to the puppy websites that should calm down after three days if I totally ignore it. Not going to be an indoor dog (so Cathy can visit without calling an ambulance) but since it's cold keeping her in bathroom for now.

SES update

 Sandbags on fence to dry. After Australia Day flash flooding around Woolgoolga when we couldn't make and deliver sandbags fast enough we have a cunning plan to pre-make them and store them in a shipping container in Woolgoolga. Untreated sandbags only last a couple of weeks once filled with sand so these have been treated in copper sulphate solution.

 More drying sandbags.

We have a new sandbagging machine on a trailer - so big it won't fit into our main shed and we need to build a ramp in order to get sand in the top. This is the start of the ramp, it will have a bay for sand behind it.

I have also joined the Halfway Creek Rural Fire Service Brigade.