Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, I went into full hibernation mode last week – no blogging, not much working, no moving! Temperatures soared to 47 degrees here on the farm, poor Matt coped well working out in it, I think the hiking we did in similar temperatures through the Kimberley’s in 2012 have conditioned us!
Unfortunately the farmhouse is devoid of an air conditioner, which meant closing the house down, curtains drawn, windows closed and blankets put over glass doors with no curtains – I lived in a cave! A somewhat cool cave though. While temperatures outside were in the mid forties, I think inside they were more like low to mid thirties. Those 1.2 foot wide limestone walls and verandahs on all sides really is a well designed home for the conditions. Touche builders of a generation gone, touche.
We did lose a chicken, to be expected really, and both Bella and Tessa sweltered through the week panting their little hearts out. I froze some grapes for them which they seemed to enjoy. My garden has only just scraped through I think, my poor hydrangea I’m trying to establish in this heat! The flowers died off but looks like the plant is going to make it. Running low on rainwater so have started watering with bore water, which I’m sure the plants don’t appreciate nearly as much.
The poor black cattle in this heat, Matt had water dramas (also to be expected) with cattle drinking like fish and trying to keep water up to pregnant heifers – his wife included! Ironically enough solar powered pumps failed due to smoke haze, luckily no fires here but have had a lot of smoke coverage from fires further north east of us on the SA/Victorian border.
Back to regular scheduling this week I hope, I’ve got loads of work to do (photography), loads of creating to do (Little Miss Emma), blogging ideas sprouting, as well as some other balls in the air. My sister, her husband and their three girls are coming to visit later this week too! Such a monster trip with three young kids in the car for so long so I’m totally appreciative of the effort. Love having family or friends come to visit us here at ‘Carlton’ and showing them our neck of the woods.
So how did you cope with the heat? I hope you stayed cool as cucumbers! Mmmm cucumber…
look see. says
47 degrees is crazy! I can’t even begin to think what that must be like for humans and animals alike.
Brianna says
The weather is just so unpredictable in Australia right now. Kind of scary I think. I have heard that grapes are poisonous to dogs and can be fatal in large amounts. Thought I should mention that seeing you have a smallish dog 🙂 you could freeze treats inside an ice cream container of water? Hoping it cools down soon x
Emma says
Thank so much for that – now you mention it, it rings bells! Will check it out. She also loves watermelon which might be a safer option.
Reen says
Hi Emma, only just discovered your blog and look forward to reading your earlier posts. We escaped the heatwave last week by staying indoors with the air con on, but was so glad when the cool change came through!
Anne says
That is what I love about old buildings, someone really had their thinking cap on. Modern ones are built for air conditioning (which we all appreciate) but it means they heat up fast. Most days I turn our house into a cave trying to use the air con only when it is just too uncomfortable which is usually when humidity is high. I love the photos and I know as much as the rain and green grass that goes with would be lovely that golden grass and blue skies is just beautiful. I am glad you faired okay with the heat and fires around.
Sharon says
Can you get your hands on some shadecloth and some wire netting? Seems to make the world of difference to how burnt plants get, as well as a nice deep watering at night/early morning. Obviously hard to do to the whole garden but for those precious plants it can help.
Kathy says
We had one 40 degree day here in Brisbane and we have 2 chickens and 1 of them died. Unfortunately today I have found the other one dead so sad for little kids. I’ve had my air-conditioning going most every day and I am dreading the big bill when it arrives this time round. You are lucky you are in the early stages of pregnancy because I can tell you if you were 30 weeks and up life would have been so much worse…wet a washer and roll it up and put it around the back of your deck………totally cools you down. My Mum always does this obviously when she is at home. Take care of yourself and keep up your fluids. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
Emma says
Thanks Kathy, yes I am so glad I won’t be heavily pregnant in summer! Can’t imagine. I was doing the washer on the neck thing last week, works wonders. As far as the chickens go, dust is how they cool down, a good dust bath is what they like, and also keeping their water in the shade, they won’t drink warm water (fair enough, but I was alarmed to feel just how hot their water was!) Poor chookies.
Kerrie says
There is a lot to be said for the old homesteads of days gone by isn’t there – protection from all types of elements! I think many of us have achieved little other than surviving the heat over the past weeks – the men seem to be able to cope with working in the temperatures we have had much better than some of us women do! love your photos – each one telling it’s own story. Enjoy your time with your family – hopefully in much cooler temperatures!