Just blowin' in the wind

Sunny skies today, hardly any wind.  The weekend was very different.  We had up to 80km winds here battering on side of an old house.  We managed to come out the other end unscathed except for the lid off the chimney which took flight on a south eastern trajectory.  There were reports from the chook yard of a flying saucer nearby but nothing confirmed as yet.  And whilst the wind smashed us all from the west, a new batch of babies arrived safely. Er, like we need more chickens!!!  There's many predators around that take them before they get much of a chance so we've locked them up this time with mother for safe keeping.  Gulls and Butcher Birds are known thieves of chicks and I've seen both hovering around.  Yesterday I heard the Guinea Fowl screeching their most alarming of sounds when I noticed a cheeky Butcher Bird up a tree considering a swift move.  It was interesting to see the Guinea Fowl being protective of someone else's chicks even though they don't have much time for them themselves.  Come feed time the Guinea Fowl

will chase all chooks away until they've finished eating.  No manners, but pecking order rules.  So as the sun comes out today we've got some clean up to do as the 100 year old Oak tree out the front throws branches back at the wind and all over the front yard.  The hardest hit are the poor roses.  They're leaves are shredded as the wind tears through them and the flower buds hang on for dear life.  I'm sure it somehow makes them stronger but they're looking like they've been in a fight, and lost at the moment.  I'll try to keep the watering up (it seems like it never rains here) and give them some food to boost them up a little.  That's Autumn for you.  A selection of fabulous mild sunny days with a gentle breeze, then all hell breaks lose.  Never dull anyway.