Merry Christmas from My First Housesit

This is my penultimate day, housesitting in glorious green Conondale, a rural setting in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  I've also been dog sitting, chook sitting and (more stressfully) pregnant heifer sitting.  But more of that later.  Housesitting has been something I'd used but hadn't considered doing myself until I realised that it would be quite a comfortable way to explore different places.  And as a first housesit, this has been relatively easy although I had to leave Maggie at my brother's in Brisbane since one of the dogs was labeled as aggressive.  And as a bonus, the Dunlops are just up? down? the road in Maleny.  Win win!

The property is a stud for Lowline Black Angus.  I'd never heard of these before but basically it means black angus with very short legs.  They are VERY pretty cows and since many of them are show cows, they are incredibly friendly and affectionate.  Most afternoons, I spend some time scratching their backs and when I stop they try to lean on me for more.  They have the biggest eyes and eyelashes and, according to the book Australian Lowline, they are meant to look girly ... they do!

Syl, Rhythm & Radiance (Shhh ... Rhythm is my favourite)

Unfortunately for the owner, Tracey, her holiday was poorly timed with 9 cows yet to calve, three of them heifers.  So I have the rather frightening duty of checking up on everyone at least twice a day.  The heifers have been moved into a paddock near the house since they are the ones who might have trouble (a calf got stuck and died the day before I arrived).  They were too young to be in calf but the bull jumped the fence and ...

The butcher birds - letting me know it's time for their breakfast

The dogs are Maggie, an old roo dog, and Luna who is a young loopy kelpie ... hyperactive, ball-mad, scatterbrained but loveable.  Not aggressive at all.  But I'm glad I didn't bring Maggie since she is VERY comfortable being spoiled and cosseted at Simon's.

Aleera and Maggie - yin and yang

So my days have a routine: check on cows, walk dogs, feed dogs, feed chooks, feed butcher birds/magpies/parrots, drink coffee, drink more coffee, read a book, go for another walk, check cows, get bored so weed the garden, drink another coffee, etc.  Whoops! I was nearly forgetting the collection of avocados, macadamia nuts and eggs.

I don't think I could do this housesitting for a long period of time unless there was more to do - a week or so is perfect but longer could become tedious.  I now understand why so many housesitters are working from home - they can fill their days.  It's different when it's your own home since there are always projects on the go so you are always busy.  But I am getting out and about, exploring some walks and taking in some beautiful views.  However, this is my third visit to the area in the last six months so there's not much that is new.  Perhaps that is the secret of good housesitting - new places, new experiences.

So I hope you all have a lovely Christmas holiday and that the threatened heatwave in Victoria isn't too bad. I'm going to Brisbane for a few days before dodging potholes on the way home.  I've heard the roads inland are dreadful!

I think that look is "Come and rescue me ... NOW!"