Shearing Platform
Just in time for shearing this year, I changed the configuration of the sheep panels and raised the level of the shearing flooring by including three pallets underneath. I used two full pallets and cut another pallet in half and put them on diagonal corners, so I had a pallet and a half on each side (I have one pallet spare). I arranged the panels so that there was more room for the sheep and also to funnel them into the end area. I had a new shearer this year, who lives locally. The shearer commented that the raised flooring made it too close to the shearing plant (with the arm bending too low) but that he could put up with this for such a small number of sheep. (Thank goodness for that, as I think moving the shearing plant higher would be troublesome to say the least.) I think that the raised platform helped reduce the amount of dirt getting onto the platform while shearing.
On shearing day Steve came to help with the skirting and bagging and I couldn't have done it without him (he was paid of course). I helped the shearer by sweeping away the wool and throwing it over to Steve. Steve skirted and then shoved the fleeces into large bags from the wool buyers, one for merino and one for crossbreds. Of course we also kept the black and grey wool separate. I have not sold the wool as yet.

Damn Full Dam
We have had a lot of rain lately and everywhere is lovely and green. My front dam had been dried up for a very long time. I haven't pumped from it for at least four years. There was also a dam on the way into town that had been dwindling day by day. But now all dams everywhere are as full as I have ever seen them. I have included a few photos of the front dam. The back dam usually has plenty of water, although it too has had a beach of dirt for a while, and it too is full.
I have also included a frosty photo taken in August.

Stumps Removed
On 9 August Mum and Dad visited and Dad decided that he had had enough of mowing around the three wattle stumps at the front of the house. I was going to get them removed one day but he decided to remove them himself with a crowbar. Apparently they were very rotten and so it was possible to break them up. He then used a wheelbarrow to move them up near the shed. I don't have a photo of the stumps but I do have a photo of the cleared area and the pile of wood. The next time Dad mowed the area he said it was a dream to mow in straight lines.