Not Again!!

                                                       An hour and half of snow this morning, thankfully it stopped

Only 8cm this morning, which is just as well as the stock won't take much more.  And they'll be on grass again this afternoon.  We had a good thaw so we had togetherness in the cattle yards yesterday and drenched/dipped and gave the calves their selenium and copper.  I was only in the forcing yard once, then graciously left "the Boss" to it, as I got stuck in the mud.  However it is a good job done.



About to have their jab




Just a little mud!  Really sticky when it's at this porridge stage




The Singles break about to be shifted.  You can really see the difference in pasture length.




Singles going on

 We are just waiting to do the crutching now.  Should've been done last week, but the ewes  couldn't have taken it, so cross fingers that the weather stays fine and the shearers are up to date now.  We only lost 2 twinning ewes after the last big snow, so quite pleased really, but as they get closer to lambing the risk of losses really increases if we get more dumps.

Gluten Free Wedding Cake

Finally done it!!  Version 4 - with 2 trials has worked, so here it is

GLUTEN FREE WEDDING CAKE

1.5kg dried fruit (I use 1kg package mixed fruit, 50gm preserved ginger, rest made up of currants, sultanas & raisins)
100 ml sherry
70gm (1/3cup firmly packed) brown sugar
220gm apple pulp
3 eggs
2 egg whites
250gm GF flour
50gm gluten substitute
1tsp guar gum
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
brandy

Combine the fuits well, then process them (in food processor)  in small quantities till well chopped.
Place in bowl and add sherry.  Cover, leave at least 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
Heat oven to 150degC.
Line a 22.5cm cake tin.  I put cardboard on the bottom of the tin, and around the outside.
Place the sugar, apple, eggs and egg whites in a bowl.  Whisk to mix until well combined.  Add dried fruit mixture and use a wooden spoon to mix well.
Sift over the flours, mixed spice and cinnamon and stir until well combined.  Spoon mixture into the prepared pan.  Tap the pan on the benchtop to settle the mixture and smooth the surface.
Bake 1 1/2 hours at 150, then 1 1/2 hours at 125degC (or until JUST cooked).  Rotate the tin at least once during cooking and cover the top with cardboard or foil halfway through to prevent the top over-browning.

When cooked remove and brush/spray with brandy.  Wrap tin in 2 clean tea towels and wait for it to cool completely.

THIS CAKE CONTAINS NO BUTTER

I have found it will keep well for a fortnight, but if you want it to keep longer place in freezer. AND IT SLICES WITHOUT CRUMBLING - YOOOHOOOO!!!!

Blow Nor'West Blow

The majority of the paddocks are still covered in the white stuff - so we need the wind to blow.  It would be a gale if it wasn't needed - Murphy's Law in action!

GF Cherry Chocolate cookies

Its still here a week later!

Have been able to do some baking so thought I'd share this recipe with you -

1 1/2 cup GF Flour
1/2 tsp GF Baking Powder
125gm butter
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons condensed milk
150 - 200 gm chopped crystallised cherries
80gm (approx) chocolate chips
2 handfuls roughly crushed GF cornflakes

Grease an oven tray.  Preheat oven to 125-150degC.
Cream butter and sugar, then add condensed milk and beat till light and fluffy.
Sift in flour and B/powder.
Add cherries, choco chips and cornflakes and mix well.
Roll into balls, place on tray and flatten with a floured fork.
Bake approx 15 mins, better a bit undercooked than overdone.
Enjoy!

-6 degC and Icicles

The thaw has slowed as the frosts have started - so not much grass yet, but did shift the twinning ewes to beside some trees to hopefully get a pick.  Will be their first grass for a week.

                  Don't think there'll be any sheep in these yards for a while, the depth has dropped a little already though

 This bit of the track often gives the Boss real problems when it ices up, so he left the JDeere and feeder up at the haybarn

           Cruise and Queen in the foreground, Jake and Don waiting to join in.  The younger dogs quite enjoy the snow.



Don



                                                                   Maid and Jess in their well insulated quarters.

 The snowshoes that definitely make walking in deep powder easier, except when Maid walks to close and stands on the edge as you try to take a step - she couldn't work out why I kept abruptly stopping

                      Rory in heaven as he eats his breakfast, dinner is the other highlight of his day at present

                                                           Rory's tracks on the hill as he tries to find a bit of grass

 View up the river to where some of the cows are still on the left, although more turn up daily for hay.  They can just walk over the fences at the moment

If you look hard you can just see the plane behind the trees.  The neighbour went up with a friend to see where his stock are.  They can't access their stock the same as we can, as they are not as flat, so has been an anxious time waiting for the weather to clear.  Huge drifts out on their hills, and the dozer has been working for 2 days so far clearing some tracks.

                      The twinning ewes on the move this morning, didn't need much encouragement apart from the tail enders

                                      The  last of the ewes leaving the feed pad where they've been for the last 6 days

                                Maid and Cruise waiting patiently while I try to get the 2 off that probably won't make it

                                                      This ewe just may not survive, she's probably carrying triplets

 The track the ewes took to get some grass.  If they are on a hill and you cannot doze tracks  people have to tramp tracks then hunt the stock along - it is exhausting work - needs fit young people (so not my job), but we're lucky and with our stock on the flats we rarely have to Snowrake for stock

                                                                                Bales on the feeder for the cows

Ewes having a pick of grass, should perk them up some more, although they are still in good condition thankfully.  10 hour days for the Boss feeding them has paid off!

What am I complaining about?

These pictures are from a snowstorm in Dakota in January 2011, put our little dump into perspective, and by the look of the road machines largish dumps happen every year, puts no road grader in Wellington to shame -

It is improving

We're now getting rain with the snow, so have lost more than we've gained.  The Boss is pleased as he hasn't spent 3/4 of the time reclearing all his tracks as he tries to feed out, which means he may be in before dark tonight, which will be good.  Had to cut a fence for the cows we brought down the other day as he couldn't get up to them, so they are now in with the Rising 3 year old Heifers, plus a few calves have made their way there as well from where they were camped, so WHEN the cattle yards thaw we will have a drafting job, but the main thing is they are getting hay.

Have just heard our main road is open, and the mailman has made it through.  Four days worth of papers sitting tantalisingly in my mailbox - only one problem though.  The Boss has been too busy to clear the drive since Tuesday, so if I want it I have to walk.  One kilometre in over kneehigh snow - hmmmmmm, we'll see!  How much do I really want it??  Did suggest to the Boss since he'd be in earlier he may enjoy the stroll - but must say he wasn't excited about the prospect either!