More from the Pilbara

Margareta-Admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 11:49:34 +0000

Margareta-Admin Wed, 02/09/2015 - 9:49 pm

Hi everyone, Margareta's still in the Pilbara, so another update from behind the scenes. One of the biggest disappointments for Margareta was that she was up there when the Romance Writers Conference was in Melbourne (everyone had a blast from the sounds of it), but as sad as she was, she managed to find some friends to make her feel a bit better about it.

It's okay Margareta - we'll give you a hug!

These kelpies are the most amazing dogs - working dogs, companions and clowns

The number of cattle being moved is astounding

And the place they are doing it in really gloriously beautiful

Although, knowing The Princess and Margareta I doubt much work is going on whilst these two are awake and available for cuddles:

But the mustering crews are still setting out regularly, and the daily, dusty work continues

And it can be a bit risky - there are some big, bolshy bulls in that mix

And there is always the cooking.
This might look like a mess, but it's called 'cooking up a storm' (& if you believe that ... :) ) in time to feed us all as cattle come in for processing after two musters. Bread, Orange cake, Jelly slice, Tea Cake, veggies for tonight and ribs for tea. (Ribs? Where are you, ribs???!)

There are also some surprises and a 4 hour drive away, on an open plain, in the middle of a neighbouring cattle station, a Native Title determination sitting of the Australian Federal Court (note picture 4 and those earrings still holding in despite the dust and the kelpie wrestling - pleased to see you're keeping up standards Margareta :) )

The Princess and the Farm boy are having an amazing time

The Princess is in heaven because for all her hard work mustering, she's now the proud owner of a new pink bling cowgirl belt. Ya HOO!

Spot that green John Deere hat... It's the Farm Boy who, today, conquered his very
real fear of heights and went in the mustering helicopter! So, so very proud of him.

The landscape out there is just so beautiful - the wildflowers are out and a sight to behold.

As are poor Margareta's hands - that red ingrained dirt is going to take a bit of getting out

Thanks to all Margareta's wonderful subscribers and friends for your patience in waiting for these sporadic updates - we hope they are giving you a bit of a taste of the wonderful adventure the family are on.

But the mustering crews are still setting out regularly, and the daily, dusty work continues

The number of cattle being moved is astounding

And the place they are doing it in really gloriously beautiful

And it can be a bit risky - there are some big, bolshy bulls in that mix

And there is always the cooking. This might look like a mess, but it's called 'cooking up a storm' (& if you believe that ... :) ) in time to feed us all as cattle come in for processing after two musters. Bread, Orange cake, Jelly slice, Tea Cake, veggie

But the mustering crews are still setting out regularly, and the daily, dusty work continues

The Princess and the Farm boy are having an amazing time

The Princess is in heaven because for all her hard work mustering, she's now the proud owner of a new pink bling cowgirl belt. Ya HOO!

Spot that green John Deere hat... It's the Farm Boy who, today, conquered his very real fear of heights and went in the mustering helicopter! So, so very proud of him.

The landscape out there is just so beautiful - the wildflowers are out and a sight to behold.

As are poor Margareta's hands - that red ingrained dirt is going to take a bit of getting out

Margareta's gone a'mustering

Margareta-Admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 09:33:13 +0000

Margareta's gone a'mustering

Margareta-Admin Mon, 17/08/2015 - 7:33 pm

Hi everyone, Margareta's Webmistress here - leaping in to let you know what's going on in her world {wink}

Some of you will know that Margareta and family have headed off to the Pilbara for a few months working on a station cattle muster (which is such a great opportunity for a bit of book research / thinking as well!). Now we had hoped that she'd be doing some blogging from up there but pressure of the workload combined with the dodgy Internet that many of we bush dwellers deal with ... and her access is a bit too erratic. So by text, Facebook messages and a bit of shouting to be heard over dodgy telephone lines we've worked out an alternative, and I'll send out some newsletters for her to let everyone know what's happening.

Aren't these colours just amazing?

You kind of know she's in a different part of the world when you look at weather forecasts from there.

Weather Forecast

While we're all wrapped up in scarves, beanies, and four pairs of socks, up there even the dogs are looking for shade.

Shading the Dogs

But apart from a lot of muted gloating about the weather, there has been a lot of hard work going on. Somewhere in the crew below, heading out for the first mustering run, are H, The Princess and the Farm Boy.

First Mustering Crew on its way out

Heading out first day must have been so exciting.

The Princess and The Farm Boy out on a muster one day when by bike and horse was the only way they could do it because of the rain that's fallen recently

Helping out with the Camp Cooking is not the only thing that Margareta's been doing though:

On Horse Back (with earrings of course!)

On Bike in this case (still with earrings!)

But, of course, there is always the cooking to be done - and there's lots of it with mustering crews this size

Weekender biscuits and jelly slice, plus cakes - all cooked in grabbed moments out of the cattle yards

Date and Walnut Loaf First time every with this recipe - nervous moments

borrowed the photo below from Attica Grey's page just to show what you churn out when you're cooking for 15 and the mustering camp.

"Braise, spaghetti sauce, osso bucco, stroganoff, 3 x biscuits (doubled recipes) coffee cake, chocolate cake, chocolate slice, jam slice, scones for smoko, pizza for lunch, lasagna & homemade garlic bread for dinner, golden syrup dumplings for sweets...joys of cooking for 15 & the mustering camp at the same time."

Cooking for 15+

It's hard work out there but they're all having the most amazing time of it and seeing the most amazing sights

The driveway into the Station

Day Off Exploring - found these butterflies!

But back to the work work...

Cattle in Yards

And yet more yards

Research is happening. These blokes were good enough to answer 1000s of questions whilst changing a diff

Don't forget if you're on Facebook you can follow Margareta at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Margareta-Osborn/249126035122382 - she's posting photos and little notes regularly, but I will accumulate more updates from her and send you out other newsletters as she goes.

Mustering

More from the Pilbara

Leave a Reply

Margareta's gone a'mustering

Leave a Reply