The Very Hungry Caterpillar

 

Our broccoli plants are apparently the favorite meal of the local caterpillars. The white cabbage moths (on wire screen below) are prevalent and have voracious young. The caterpillars are great at hiding on the stems and undersides of leaves. But the plants are still growing so fingers crossed. 

Scott caught them around the radishes the other day. The radishes and turnips are producing way more than we can eat so hoping they stay over there and away from the slower producers. 

Scott's bean crop is coming in now, as well, but those seem to have no natural predators. 

We have been working on moving the potable water from one of the older plastic tanks into the other older tank, using a transport tank we rented from the Triangle Tool Library. Unlike the tandem trailer, this tank has seen limited use in the past few years. 

Here it is getting gravity fed from the tan tank:

and then emptying the water into the black tank:

[These plastic tanks were displaced by the new concrete tank. ] 

It took a bit to get the red wagon pump primed and going again (and to evict spiders and rust), but it has worked. Betty has been dragging it up and down the paddock. Next step is to move the tank and the sand underneath into its new site up the hill. 

Lots of physical labor. It is supposed to rain later this week so that will mean more indoor chores! Will try to take more pics of the final steps. 

We did take a full day off of farm work to drive to and from Canberra to get Scott's pacemaker checked out. Three hours there (with a stop at one of our favorite parks), about an hour wait and then 30 min appointment before the drive back. Luckily Scott can drive now so we shared that job. Pacemaker is working hard (adjusting his rate frequently) and leads seem to be in place. He can do a bit more but still no arm swinging for a bit. No tractor driving but okay to vacuum and mop. 

The house has been left to its own devices due to all the outside work but I keep forgetting to add updated pics. This is one of the spare bedrooms with the sewing machines and farm prints

My barely used Singer is on the left. I have a class next week on how to use your machine and work with patterns. A friend helped me a few years ago but I haven't used the skills since. Will see if other differences in machines here vs US beyond the plug!

The farm scene above is one Scott acquired in Guelph.

The one below is a drawing gifted to me by my folks after they met the artist.

Between the art work and the machines, it is the most themed room. 

It is currently housing my knitting projects, which are also waiting for more indoor weather. 

It has cooled off enough to get the fireplace going on occasion so maybe those projects will move up the line soon!

Birds may be migrating slightly based on our walk during our trip to Canberra but we haven't noticed much change around here. 

I do feel like I am being watched so they seem to be bolder. The yellow-rumped thornbills seem even less shy

and the willie wagtails are often supervising from a nearby fence

 The shrike thrush have decided it is worth venturing into the garden and into the shed to get extra goodies. The sheep are not the only ones liking the alfalfa!

Happy Mother's Day!