western australia

Fish, chooks, dogs, garden - oh, and two cats

@JudyEv (325710)

Rockingham, Australia

September 28, 2022 9:04pm CST

It’s going to be quite a warm day in Grass Valley, Western Australia and I’ll be switching to a T-shirt before the day is out. We are house-sitting and this is our third place. The country here is much different to the green hills of Yabberup. It’s red dirt and, while the crops of barley, wheat and canola look magnificent, it is dry and bare around the house and sheds. We thought we just had two dogs to look after but then we discover there are two cats, not that we’ve seen them yet. The food bowls empty a little but the birds here are quite partial to the odd bit of kibble. There are six hens but they have self-feeders. They laid five eggs yesterday and three so far today. And there is one fish and a small vegetable garden to water. Please don’t think I’m complaining about the extra ‘duties’. I just find it funny that people forget to mention things sometimes. Our chores only take us a small amount of time each day. And sending prayers and positive vibes to those in the path of the storm in Florida. We’ve been hearing about it. The photo of the fishbowl is mine.

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20 responses

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (57843)

• Centralia, Washington

29 Sep 22

That is odd that there was no mention of cats. I love the spindled table and the blue Oriental jar and of course the fish bowl. I hope you enjoy your stay in your new digs.

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@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

29 Sep 22

It sounds like beautiful country. Enjoy it while you can. We’ll get the tail end of the hurricane Friday and Saturday it looks like. Probably just wind and rain.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

I thought you'd like the oriental jar.

There is ancient 'bunny' plate which used to be all the rage for children but the pattern is just about washed off it.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

@RubyHawk I hope wind and rain is all that you get. It sounds a very severe storm.

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@wolfgirl569 (95136)

• Marion, Ohio

29 Sep 22

Maybe they were not too worried about the cats.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

I'd say so. Some of the food disappears overnight so they much and feed when they're hungry.

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@rsa101 (37952)

• Philippines

29 Sep 22

You season there is quite the opposite from us here in the northern hemisphere. As most of us are transitioning to colder weather yours is going the opposite.

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@rsa101 (37952)

• Philippines

29 Sep 22

@JudyEv Yes we are nearing colder months ahead and soon you will be having your summer. For us it would be a different feeling to celebrate Christmas on a hot summer climate since it usually is cold here.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

@rsa101 Many here take a picnic lunch to the beach on Christmas Day but others stick to a traditional hot meal.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

Yes, that's so true. We'll soon be complaining about the hot days and you'll be compaining about the cold.

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@RebeccasFarm (86757)

• United States

29 Sep 22

You are busy in a good way Judy. I love these house sits you take us on.

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@RebeccasFarm (86757)

• United States

4 Oct 22

@JudyEv I think it is wonderful Judy as long as you are up to it

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Oct 22

@RebeccasFarm We picked up another one today and possibly another for February.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

We're enjoying them too. I can't help wondering if we'll get any more. Maybe these same three households would have us back again if they need us. We probably don't want to do it full time.

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@jstory07 (134433)

• Roseburg, Oregon

29 Sep 22

The cats might be hiding from you. Mine do that when strangers are here.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

That's probably the case. We saw one while the family was here but they are old. Some of the food disappears overnight.

@TheHorse (205696)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Sep 22

Have you been harvesting the eggs? What is your "responsibility" there? Were I "retired," I'd fly in for a visit and help out with the animals.

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@TheHorse (205696)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Sep 22

@JudyEv The hens hens don't pick your fingers off when you harvest their eggs? I am a "pretend country boy," but I don't think I've ever taken eggs from under a chicken.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

@TheHorse Once they've laid their eggs they get off the nest unless they are 'clucky'. This breed of chicken (Isa Brown) has basically had the cluckiness bred out of them so I never have to get the eggs out from under. I used to hate doing that and would used a stick to edge the egg out from under.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

So far we've had 5 eggs, 3 and 4 today. We can use the eggs or give them away. They say they use very few eggs.

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@allknowing (130066)

• India

29 Sep 22

As long as the bowl is empty each time you get up in the morning all is well. Cats are fed

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

That's my feeling too. The birds come in and take a few tiny bits during the day but there is plenty for all.

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@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

29 Sep 22

They should at least mentiond the cats. They are surely around but do not want to show up, cats do not trust strangers.

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@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

30 Sep 22

@JudyEv My goodness, I hope they take care of their animals, as they do not seem to care a lot about them.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

We really only hear about the dogs at the beginning. We paid a visit to learn a bit more and walked past the chooks as I asked about them. When we got here, we learnt about the fish, cats and garden. But it's all okay. It was the guy that showed us around first. Enough said!!

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@DaddyEvil (137145)

• United States

29 Sep 22

Hmmm... what, exactly, are you doing to the poor fish? That looks like you've run an electric wire into their bow. Please don't electrocute them.

I hope you're enjoying this housesit as much as you did the others.

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@DaddyEvil (137145)

• United States

29 Sep 22

@JudyEv Oh, is that what we're pretending the wire is there for? You're sure you're not planning on having fish for dinner?

How would I know what that wire is for?

Remember, my shark babies crawled into my bed... I KNOW fishies are COLD!

I'm sure the dog was just going to play with the sleepy lizard.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

@DaddyEvil We had a lot of trouble getting the lizard off her but it didn't seem to have any wounds.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

We've just this minute saved a sleepy lizard from the dog.

The wirey thing is to keep the water at the right temperature. But you'd know that.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 22

Is that an internet connection for the fish? Very progressive!

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

It's to keep its water warm. I just hope it doesn't fry it! It's a bit small to have with chips.

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@Ronrybs (17849)

• London, England

29 Sep 22

@JudyEv Perish the thought!

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@magallon (19280)

• Philippines

29 Sep 22

Chicken, fish, dogs and a small vegetable garden. Simple and enjoyable chores. Good to spend time with.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

Yes, that's right. Simple and enjoyable chores. Just enough to stop us being too bored.

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@magallon (19280)

• Philippines

29 Sep 22

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26780)

• United States

29 Sep 22

Yes, Ian is huge and powerful!

. So far, tonight's news no big calamity for many evacuated. Maybe your friends excited si just forget to mention everything?

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

It's no big deal that they forgot to mention a few things. It's a very simple place to mind.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26780)

• United States

29 Sep 22

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@CarolDM (203454)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Sep 22

Oh do I remember red dirt growing ip. We would get so dirty. Enjoy.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

It makes an awful mess and even worse when it turns to mud.

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@CarolDM (203454)

• Nashville, Tennessee

30 Sep 22

@JudyEv Yes it does. We had many fun days playing.

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@Beestring (13315)

• Hong Kong

29 Sep 22

Having two more cats to take care of is quite a lot of work.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

It's not really. We just put a few pellets in their bowls when we get up each morning.

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@Beestring (13315)

• Hong Kong

29 Sep 22

@JudyEv I see.

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@snowy22315 (169932)

• United States

29 Sep 22

It sounds like just enough work to keep from getting bored.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

Yes, you're right. You need a few little things to do. It's hard to myLot and read ALL day.

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@sjvg1976 (41131)

• Delhi, India

29 Sep 22

They must be thinking that you may not require to look after the cats as they can take care by themselves. I am also worried for the people in Florida. Hope they are all fine and safe.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

We still need to fill the bowl for the cats so it's good they mentioned it. But at the beginning, it seemed there was just the two dogs to care for.

@RasmaSandra (73408)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

29 Sep 22

Sounds like you have all the company you need there. I hope you enjoy the dogs and the cats, We survived Ian with no problems and did not lose power but I do not know about anyone else right now,

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

Ian sounded really, really bad. I'm glad you're safe and it's a bonus that the power didn't go out.

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@xFiacre (12595)

• Ireland

29 Sep 22

@judyev They say a change is as good as a rest. I’ve never discovered who ‘they’ are.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 22

'They' seem to be responsible for a lot of things.

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@LindaOHio (156056)

• United States

29 Sep 22

If I had pets, I would certainly want them to be fed and taken care of. I can't imagine not mentioning them! I've been watching a lot of coverage of Hurricane Ian. We have members down there. One of our members is vacationing down there at the moment.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

It was the guy that spoke to us first and everything was explained more fully when we arrived. It's all good.

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@Kandae11 (53679)

•

29 Sep 22

Perhaps the cats are occasional visitors.

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@JudyEv (325710)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Sep 22

They must come at night and clean up their biscuits.