Western District awash

The farm fence was submerged this week by all the rain here in the Coleraine area. Hibernating snakes all got a wet wake up and a sheep was swimming down the street in Casterton.

This image is the same place as the one above, taken from the bridge the next day with all the flotsam caught in the fence wire. Bit of work ahead to replace it all. At least the dams and tanks are all full.
This image of the nearby Nigretta Falls

is from The Age and please do click this link to it's entry World Of Waterfalls. Not only did flying kangaroos wreck their rental and inspire them to publish several images of kangas leaping across their bows but they went in November when the falls were dry - here is their image of that:

World Of Waterfalls I wish they could see it now.

Wildlife and wild life.

That yearling is not supposed to be in my yard, but safely behind the fence across the road. The owner does not live on the property so I had to go to the pub "G&T please" to find out he lives miles up the road, go there [.05] and back. Life in the country is different.
I have moved house since the trucks in the rain post 8 weeks ago on 4th June, not that it has stopped raining. Into my last house, my final address of so very many addresses, on 20th June.  I am experiencing involuntary spontaneous smiles.
No unpacking yet, just clearing.
My new challenge is snakes. They are everywhere. Each new encounter slightly less shocking so that by this morning when I lifted a sheet of wallboard in the shed, I just put it down again and hope the snake went back to hibernating.
This image is yesterday's baby snake with it's head, sadly, flattened by that sharpened spade on the left.

I am waiting on Acme Mail Order to bring me six VibraRandom repeller stakes - only one is needed apparently, but I take no prisoners when I act.

The 'snakes here' sign is to keep the imminent shed-clearing guys from forgetting that baby snakes bite too. The large parents, are of course somewhere on the property, yet to surprise anyone. The stakes emit vibrations through the earth that snakes can sense via their jaws as danger, and hopefully relocate. It is supposed to also repel rodents, ants and rabbits.
The team of three who are coming to clear out the shed estimated two days and multiple trips to the Transfer Station.  I have prepared a first-aid kit and written out the phone number of the nearby hospital as well as the police station between here and it, so I can alert the cop that should I streak through his town with a snakebitten shed-clearer I shall be doing 140 kph -

like that.

We all know that being completely prepared for an event, surely guarantees it won't happen.
Tourniquets are out, pressure bandage is the way. The snakes are, of course, lethal Tiger Snakes.
There are benign reptiles as well:
Raking up the debris after slashing and burning blackberries on the roadside, I uncovered a large Blue-Tongue Lizard curled-up and hibernating I assume. The fire rolled right over the top without affecting it.  Later while mowing rough grass I mowed over the top of it's twin and thankfully it was not harmed either although when picked up, the tongue shot out in a cobalt blaze designed to strike fear into my heart. They are not called blue-tongues for nothing, it is such an intense shade and obviously works as a deterrent because I really don't want to see it again.
Next week the local highlight is dogs and dags at SHEEPVENTION and I shall be there.