The geese are definitely laying, but we lost three ducks to the road.  I thought that was the case when I was exercising the German Shepherds and Toby, the labrador.  There was a crow eating something off the middle of Commercial Road, and Brian confirmed my suspicions.  Brian picked up the bodies and chucked them into the pigs enclosure.  At least Porgy and Bess were happy.

Brian had the electric fence going, but the ducks seem either impervious or too small to let it worry them.
 
The job is still an interesting challenge, and I am learning more and more about computers every day, which is wonderful.  I'm old enough to say now, "Back in my day...".  Back in my day, we were still punching holes in cards and putting them ever so carefully into computers.  When learning about software meant basic programming and what now takes up a keyring could fit into a whole room.
 
Another twenty years will see some incredible leaps forward, guaranteed.
 
Here it is, a Wednesday night, and I am happy with our Olympians.  It was nice, though, when the US won the swimming relay after seven years of Australian gold.  I was amazed at the different attitudes between the veterans of the pool and those of a relative newcomer to Olympic competition.  They were of the opinion that it just wasn't good enough, they were crushed and broken.  He was overjoyed to have his first silver.  He thought that now they would be motivated to really try harder next time around.  Good.  The day one stops trying one's hardest is the day one deserves to lose.

I've just checked out the driveway, and one of our geese is definitely set in her ways!  Her mate has deserted her for the safety and comfort of the feather pen, however.

I'm browsing through an old copy of Earth Garden, March-May, 1994, to be precise, and the wonderful Jackie French has written some stirling advice for Valda Walton about black insects that eat the insides of her hazelnuts while they are developing, leaving her only the shells!

 

**Jackie writes that she should try a weekly spray at fruit-set of one part tansy or wormwood, one part chopped chilli, one part wood ash, one part milk and ten parts boiling water.  Steep until cool.  This will act as a repellant.  In the long term, plant lots of winter- and spring-flowering grevilleas to attract predators.  Let parsnips and other umbellifera go to flower and seed around the trees.  In short, writes Jackie, try to make a hospitable area for the predators - especially a range of wasps (sorry, Nita!) - that will gradually ( and the emphasis here is on "gradually") control the trouble for you.  Pick off any obviously infected ones and soak them in water with some detergent or oil on the top for a month or so to kill the larvae and so interrupt the cycle.

 

Hazelnuts should be planted closely together because the gradual accumulation of mulch from their leaves seems to act as a natural protection for a range of hazelnut diseases, and to some extent pests.

 

Jackie notes: There is no point trying derris or pyrethrum or any of the organic "killer" sprays, because they won't penetrate the nuts to kill the pests.

 

In the same article, I've found some grasshopper and locust control information:

 

• Get hens (free range) or turkeys to eat them (they get fat, athletic and can consume enormous numbers.  A flock of ibis is even better).
• Install microjets or sprayer hoses.  Grasshoppers won't go through a fine spray of water.  You can use this as a 'fence' around your orchard or on individual trees.  Don't bother with lobelia, larkspur and other 'repellants' - if the plague is big enough to worry about, they won't have much effect.
• Trap them by floating pieces of yellow plastic in a kid's swimming pool - the grasshoppers land and drown.
• Use traps of molasses and water in long shallow dishes.
• Use a repellent of two parts chilli, one part wormwood, one part wood ash or milk, one part chopped onion or garlic and five parts boiling water.  Steep till cool and spray.  It's even more effective after it ferments.
• Pick them off at dawn when they are slow.

Isn't she a great lady?  Wow!  I hope some of these work for you, Nita.

 

From Lisa McInnes-Smith: "A definition of insanity: to continue the same behaviour and yet expect different results."

 

My Day

 

A fitful coughing,

like an old, confirmed smoker

and Lord Peter snorts his way

to wakefulness.

 

He roars like an adonoidal snorer

and I shake with him

 

The frost is heavy around us

a zero degree day

its skeletons in profusion

are pretty

 

but I have work to do

 

the water, splashing across reluctant wipers

clears a hazy trail of ice crystals

a daquiri gone mad

 

Lord Peter accompanies me to work

and I am grateful for his presence

and the entertainment of his onboard orchestra!

**NITA'S NOTE: Be aware that many home remedies as those for insect problems suggest using chilies and black pepper. They will deter the insects in some cases but they will also kill cats. Use caution please; do not harm your furry friends.