"Balmoral Park" farm garden

Silkie eggs Duck eggs Turkey eggs Hen eggs With five silkie hens, seven regular hens of mixed breed, four ducks of indeterminate sex and ten turkey hens we generally have an abundance of eggs. Despite the fact that several of the turkeys and hens are not laying, as they are broody the, there seem to be more than ever. Certainly more than two people can eat. Peter generally takes them to work and either sells them or gives them away. The turkey ones have not been that popular though. Today he said someone asked him for more turkey eggs as they had made an omelet with them and it was the best they have ever made. I find they rise up really well in omelets and Frittatas. I plan a big cooking evening sometime this week to turn the eggs into little herb quiches to put in the freezer for over the holidays when we will have a house full.

Peter's mother Margaret sent me this diary of her husband Ken's trip to Tasmania in 1948-1949, fascinating to read, I thought I would put an extract here each day. KEN HEATH - TASMANIAN TOUR - DECEMBER 1948 - JANUARY 1949 Ken was 21 years old and 2 friends Barry Newman and Ross Swadling 27.12.48 - 10.15 left ANA offices Margaret St. city. 11.15 left Mascot in Skymaster Tatana, weather hot and hazy. Ascended to 8,ooo ft. Served cold salad over Albury at mid-day. I was very hungry it tasted excellent. Followed up with fruit salad and ice cream. 12.30 passed Hume Weir and Albury. 12.50 weather worsened and hit rain squall 1.35 touched down Melbourne weather very hot. 2.15 left Melbourne by DC3 – very smooth flight over Bass straight. 4.10 Launceston and bus into town. Accomm at YMCA in Recreation room. Sent excess luggage on to Queenstown by Sullivans Tours. Had tea and walked down to Tamar River. 28...

We have had three lots of baby turkeys, they are called poults, hatch in the last two months. The first hen had twelve eggs and they all hatched. Unfortunately only four survived. Two white ones and two Grey. I put this down to careless mothering. The next lot hatched eleven and still has eleven. The most recent lot have hatched ten and still has all of them. These are the most recent turkeys they are about six days old and doing very well considering the heat. I have had to revise my opinion of the turkey mothers. The second hen not only looks after all of her own chicks but has taken over the original four as well. We thought that they were big enough to manage on their own at about six weeks and put their mum back with the flock. They and the turkey hen had other ideas so she now has fifteen to look after. They look very funny as they are all different sizes. They are ranging far and wide on our place and sometimes venturing into next doors paddock as well. We have to go and hunt...

The view from the shed. It has been extremely hot here for the past two weeks. Every day over 35 and many over 40. We have had no meaningful rain since early in July and that was only 46 ml for the month. Our big dam is almost empty. We still have quite a bit of water in the tanks and Peter is able to bring home water from in town in a little plastic tank on the back of his truck. We are busy watering. Our plans of having a flourishing spring garden with the new trees and roses well established have come to nothing and our efforts are going to keep as many plants as possible alive. As you can see the Vegetable garden is looking pretty sad. I wont plant anything more until it rains. I have been growing seedlings for summer planting but will just have to be patient. They would just fry if I planted them now. What is going well is the herbs and lettuces that I have planted in containers and boxes. Basil at the back door. The Grapevines don't seem to mind the heat so long as we water t...