Heaven Knows...

when we will get more rain. Even though we had over 2 inches a few weeks back, it seems like an eternity and you can see by the paddocks that the time for some more is now. Granted we got 5 drops this morning and a further 5 drops this afternoon, we really do need some more ground drenching rain. BRING IT ON!

This weekend has been one of reflection and decision for both Evan and I. With all 6 babies safely on the ground, the time is coming where we have to decide who stays and who goes. Not a very nice time for me as I get attached to the whole dam lot of them.

Nanna (Splendid Feeling) and her filly who I call Lily are definate stayers here at Massie Lodge. I fell in love with Nanna when we first saw her at the Magic Millions all that time ago. I still cant believe that no one wanted her then. Nanna's 2yo colt by Knowledge, "Flying Dollar" won his maiden last week. We have had the pleasure of Makka (Flying Dollar) staying here at Massie Lodge in the past. It was a very quick lesson is learning to keep your trap shut and letting the paying customers have what they wanted!

Nanna has since been confirmed in foal to Canadian Silver last week, so we are both very pleased with that. Surely we will get a grey foal out of that mating? Although in saying that, Miss Lily is now going from Dark Brown/Bay to Black.... and hopefully to Grey. She is the sweetest of all the babies.... so very much level headed.

Lily's parents bring the best out of Octagonal with Private Agenda on the sire side with Centaine's (by Century) Group Winning daughter, Kapchat on the dam side. Nanna was initially trained by John Hawkes in Adelaide and bred by the Inghams. Nanna won many races in South Australia and Queensland. Nanna is not just a city winner herself, she has produced 4 city winners , including Lavross and Tirrol Tavern.

Nanna is my favourite and we love her dearly, not just because she is well bred and can produce city winners, but because she is a sweet, sweet girl that loves to be loved.

Sweet Air (by Air de France out of Clearly Best) and her darling colt by Kinjite (by Century) who I call Lenny will be coming home this week. Thank goodness. Sweetie has been confirmed in foal to Private Agenda. Sweetie has been a most reluctant mother.

Funny when I start to talk about Sweetie, I think about our other mare, Havachat, who was also a maiden mare this year, and was a most accepting mother to sweet Caramel (who is by Moon Rocket - Zabeel/SkyRocket). They are all very different.

Miss Independence (who I call Libby) who is my beautiful Euclase (by Century) girl, had a beautiful baby boy who we have yet seen (for all sorts of reasons), Libby is to be confirmed in foal to Dust in the Wind (by Sir Tristram). This should be an interesting mating as Libby's dam, Declaration is by Sovereign Red, an important sire son of Sir Tristram. Iam hoping to get a real strong Sir Tristram cross with this baby.

Libby's 2yo colt, Sunovamaizcay, has since won his maiden at Doomben and Glenlogan have high hopes for him. We are thinking that we will send Libby back to Our Maizcay next year. In saying that, Libby's current foal to Private Agenda has a beautiful double cross through Century, Better Boy and Sir Tristram. Pity he wasnt a girly!

At the end of the day it doesnt matter what sex, as long as they are healthy!

Kwila's Ambition (by Mister Kwila) is more than likely in foal to Irish Royal (a son of Danehill who is out of a Roberto mare). This boy is throwing absolute stunners. Let's hope that they can run! It will be an interesting foal as Kay is as black as the night. Kay isnt a light weight either as she won a few races up here in Queensland before being retired.

Mariko's Star (our Star Way mare), is playing games with us at the moment and we are all holding our breaths to see whether she is in foal or not. If not, she will be retired as this will be her third year of missing.

Mind you, its not a bad place for the old girl's to retire.... they have heaps of room and feed and dams to swim in down the back and they have male companionship in the form of Dopey and Eric the Horse (who is much happier out of Cheeky Chop's paddock)

We have decided that we will part with 2 yearlings in due course, Charlie, our Immovable Option boy, who is growing up into quite a good looking type. Very much like his dad. The other being Oriana, who is by the NSW sire, Sports Works out of our mare, Ophira. She is quite a sweetheart that girl and I will be very sorry to see her go. Still, I know that you cant keep them all, can you?

One of the things that I really love about being out here at foal time is the fact that you can spend hours watching them. Its fascinating at this time of their life to see them try and bend down with their giraffe like legs to pick the grass!

One of the other things about new born foals that makes me laugh is watching them come to terms with their tongues! I dont know how many times this year I have seen them stick their tongues out the side of their mouth because they just were not sure what to do with it or where to put it?

Or just how to manage a piece of lucerne hay and get it all into the mouth, with the tongue and eventually down the throat??? :-) Talk about a very beautiful time in their lives and infact, ours.

I know, I know, I have been bitching and complaining about the very long hours that we were keeping when the mares were due to foal... and we have been very blessed this year to have 7 healthy births. Still I wouldnt miss any of what we have been through for anything.

A quick Update on Vicky.

Miss Vicky is indeed a much happier girl since Chops has gone back into his paddock (Chops' paddock backs on to the young girlys paddock). Chops and Vick have spent many hourse cuddling over the fence with each other. She still is not the girl I knew before, but she has come a long long way since coming home from "that place".

A Quick Update on Susie.

Susie (Star Ferry) came 4th in her 1000m Barrier Trial at the Sunshine Coast last week after being hunted up on to the pace when she should of been ridden quietly. Not long now till a race start. Although Iam thinking that Greg wants to see her ridden quietly before her starting in a 1200m.

A Quick Update on Rusty.

Rusty, our 2yo gelding by Canadian Silver out of Mariko's Star was quickly moved out of Chops' paddock when it was realised that Chops was attacking him. He is currently in a day yard on his own getting over the bad experience and all his wounds are healing nicely. Rusty is settling down into a very nice gelding.

Meanwhile, Back in the Colt's Paddock...

Mazwell and Charlie are doing just fine without Rusty. In fact they are both doing exceedingly well! They both get their full feeds, there is hardly any fighting between the two of them, in fact there is hardly a cross word between them They have both settled down since the Rusty factor (and balls!) have been removed.

A Quick Update on Lance, Bessie Merle, Matilda and of Course, Millsie

All dogs are well although have been finding the heat a little unbearable. And the, Jack Pharpie Memorial Vegetable Garden is indeed a healthy, growing concern with tomatoes and pumpkins. I can count at least 12 tomatoes on the vines and there are pumpkin flowers everywhere. All very good signs.

A Quick Update on Nigel No-leg, Missy (his Mistress) and their child, NoName.

All 3 Peachface parrots are alive and well at this stage. Although Im not quite sure how much longer No-name will be with us as 2 is company and 3 is definitely a crowd in Peachface land. Iam unfortunately starting to think that Iam going to have to get a partner for NoName and move her out of Nigel's cage.

More eggs have been sighted in Missy's box. AAAAArgh!!!

Well its off to Telstra land tomorrow so I had better end this epistle. Hoooroo until next time!