Boxing Day with the Altus Clan

 Sticking with tradition we the Altus mob gather together on Boxing Day to celebrate Christmas. This year was no exception and we ventured to Jenni & Troy's for the day. Thanks to all for making it a wonderful day. The kids had a great time playing back yard cricket, having fun on the trampoline and being able to use the Altus' new pool. Fun was had by all! (We have given Uncle David the challenge to hold it at his house next year. Reno's should be done by them??)

 Some brave ones venturing into the cold water...

 Once in and the body got used to the water all was well. 

Some of the water babies played in there for a long time.

What a good looking bunch. Thanks ladies for a wonderful day.

Christmas at the Farm

 With Ma ma feeling a bit under the weather the Christmas preparations fell to Relle, Kara & Louie. Thanks to these wonderful ladies for making Christmas so special for us all. We started our morning with the two young ladies having a wonderful time opening their presents. La got what was on her Christmas List & Leyla is now a budding musician with her piano. (Relle has more photos on her blog)

 La and Leyla checking out their gifts

We ventured over to Matt & Kara's for the rest of the day and had a wonderful time with family members. We did miss our Dad, Pa & Old Pa due to all patients being in quarantine at the Bordertown Hospital.

 Uncle Kym letting his 'inner child' come out while playing with the youngsters with their play dough.

hello Jack!

and now there are three......

 Miss Lucy 

 Will getting down into the dirt.........

Oh what fun.........time to open their parcels

Shearing Shed Renos

The Shearing Shed renovations are finally finished. It has taken the best part of 2013 to get them under way and completed. Matt & Pa did a great job in getting the shed into shape for the new grating, pens, board and wool room. Now all it needs is to be put to use. That will happen very soon.

 Jack and Will testing out the new grating. Who says we need sheep?

Jack pretending he is a lamb. Only trouble is he is coming back up the port hole!

 The outside pen that is under cover. Pa & Matt are putting up the west wall.

 The newly painted board

 The Wool room

 Jack & Will trying out the most important room of all!!!!!!!!

As I said, it didn't take long and the shed has been put into use. Matt is very happy with the reno's. The working enviroment is excellent and the shearers & shed hands are happy with the job.

The shearing team doing what they do best.

Pa's been at it again!

 Pa is always thinking of things to do around the farm. Shifting bins, silos, making roads or whatever. There is always something on the go. Matt, Kara & children went on holidays so it left Pa on his own to do whatever he liked. Mind you he had to con Ma ma into one of his activities......shifting the 2 silos.

 Pa said.......it's easy you can shift them with the front end loader!

(Ma ma held her breath a lot)

 Pa lifted with the front end loader and Ma ma pulled with the landcruiser & winch

(I won't be volunteering for that job again)

 When we got them into their new home, Pa had them sandblasted & painted.

 

 The sandblasting man doing his job

Ma ma made the mistake of letting Pa get hold of the cheque book while Matt was away and this is what he came home with!

A new mower.............."for all the hay that we have to cut "  was his excuse!

Catching the Sun

 We have finally taken the bait and had some Solar Panels installed onto the Rumpus Room roof. It will be interesting to see how big a difference it makes.

The workmen doing their job. It didn't take them all that long. They were very efficient

Job completed. Now we have to wait on the power company to come and connect it up!

Birthdays

 On the first day of spring we always get to celebrate Jack & Pa's birthdays. This year was no exception and it was Father's Day as well. So it was a day of fun with Jack's little friends down by the boat lake.

 The boys trying a spot of yabbying. The net never stayed in the water long enough for the yabbies to have a snack

 Marshmallow time and eating the spoils of their treasure hunt

 Calling in the troups for cake

 

 The freckled No 5 birthday cake

When we got back to Matt & Kara's, Jack was keen to show us how he has mastered riding his new bike

 And Toby who is a master at this bike riding

Pa celebrating his birthday with 4 of his much loved grandsons

Off to the Desert Again

 Early July Ma ma & Pa left Relle, La & Leyla back at the farm to take our almost annual trek to the Canning Stock Route. This time we took 3 other families (Krause, Pietsch & Wagenknecht's) with us to help us repair the top timbers of Well 49. The company was great, the countryside lush and green and we had many laughs. All the things that make for a great holiday!!

Pa's newer  Landcruiser all packed & ready to go

 While having lunch a few kms from Billiluna, we came across Pat who had walked the entire Canning Stock Route. What an interesting lady. She would have walked into Billiluna at about 3 pm to finish her amazing walk. Well Done Pat & congratulations on such an adventure!

 Well 49 as it was before the fellas started on replacing the timbers

 Some of them were working while the others were doing what they do best..........

 The crew for the official portrait by the restored well

 Whenever possible out came the ball for a game of volley ball. Creek beds worked a treat.

 Ormiston Gorge

 Spectacular Palm Valley

 One of our camps in the Finke Gorge National Park

 Beautiful Boggy Hole in the Finke Nat Park

 Oops! Pa got himself in to a bit of a pickle. Truck bogged with a good lean and trailer going in the opposite direction

On the last night of our holiday Pa had a couple of fire crackers to let off to celebrate a wonderful holiday.Thanks to the other families for a wonderful holiday.