There is a stage with puppies where they suddenly seem to wake up to the world.
One week they are mostly sleepy little bundles, and the next they are barking at each other, running, jumping, playing and generally making it very clear that they have opinions about everything.
That is where we are with our nine little Maremmas this week.
They have settled into a much more predictable rhythm now, with their mash feeds, plenty of sleep and a newly extended puppy pen giving them more room to explore. Their individual personalities are beginning to emerge too, which makes watching them grow such a privilege.
And then there are the toys.
They absolutely love them.
Although, after all that energetic playing, the teddy bears seem to have become just as useful for cuddling up to as they are for playing with. There is something incredibly sweet about seeing a pile of puppies peacefully asleep with their little bodies tucked around their favourite toys.
It is these ordinary moments that remind us why we chose this life.
Making Time for the Ones Who Were Here First
With nine puppies naturally demanding a lot of attention, we noticed that Obi had been a little out of sorts.
He is usually our big, steady presence around the homestead, so this week we made some deliberate time for him with a good one-on-one grooming session.
It was a small thing, but sometimes the small things matter most.
The Freedom Formula isn’t really about having endless free time. It is about creating a life where there is enough space to notice what matters and respond to it.
Sometimes that means a big project.
Sometimes it means sitting quietly with one of the dogs who needs a little extra attention.
Building Better Ways to Get Things Done
There has been plenty happening outside the puppy pen too.
A huge shout-out this week goes to Dean from Dean’s Custom Fab, who fabricated a new spreader bar for our Bobcat.
It is one of those pieces of equipment that looks deceptively simple until you realise just how much easier it is going to make the next big project.
That’s one of the things we enjoy about homesteading. There is always something to improve, modify, repair or rethink.
And because we believe in Homestead Economics, we also like finding ways for the things we invest in to work harder. The new spreader bar will be available for hire as an accessory, so it can hopefully be useful to other people tackling their own projects too.
That’s community and practical economics working together.
A Little Upgrade for the Birds
Our birdfeeder also received a very simple modification this week.
We added small bamboo perches to the front, giving larger birds somewhere to land while they reach the seed.
There was no complicated engineering involved.
Just a small observation, a simple idea and something already available to us.
It is a good example of the Reduce, Reuse & Renew Framework in practice. We don’t always need to buy something new to solve a problem. Sometimes we simply need to look at what we already have differently.
The Great Peach Experiment
Then there is our peach tree.
And this year, we are very invested in those peaches.
The tree has absolutely exploded into blossom, which has us imagining bowls of fresh peaches, perhaps some homemade pantry creations and maybe even a few jars put away for later.
But there is one small problem.
The possums.
Last year, they won.
Completely.
We didn’t get to eat a single peach.
Not one.
So this year we are trying a different approach: chilli-laced kaolin clay.
The kaolin clay and mesh bags we tried previously didn’t do the job, so rather than simply repeating what didn’t work, we’re experimenting.
That is another lesson the homestead keeps teaching us.
Failure doesn’t necessarily mean stop.
Sometimes it means repurpose the experience, change the approach and try again.
We’ll let you know how the peach experiment goes.
And if you have a tried-and-tested way of keeping possums away from your fruit trees, we’d genuinely love to hear it.
And Then There Are the Limes…
Our lime tree is looking very happy right now, covered in tiny baby limes.
It has become one of our favourite trees on the property, partly because it is productive and partly because we have developed a very simple homestead equation:
Limes = margaritas. 🍋🟩
Not everything has to be productive in the traditional sense.
There needs to be room for enjoyment too.
That is perhaps one of the quieter lessons behind the Wildhorse approach: regeneration isn’t only about soil, gardens and systems.
It is about people too.
We need nourishment, connection, rest, purpose and a little bit of play.
The Wildhorse Pantry gives us ways to nourish ourselves from the land and our local community. The Homestead Blueprint helps us learn to work with nature rather than against it. And the Wildhorse Story is where we share the wins, the failures, the experiments and all the lessons in between.
This week has had a little of all of them.
Puppies growing.
Dogs needing connection.
Projects becoming easier.
Birds getting a better place to feed.
Fruit trees teaching us patience.
And a lime tree quietly reminding us that there should always be room for a little fun.
That’s the Wildhorse life.
Not perfect.
Not always easy.
But always growing.
We’d Love to Hear From You
Now it’s your turn.
Have you got a tried-and-tested trick for keeping possums away from your fruit trees?
We’re determined to eat at least one Wildhorse peach this year! 🍑
And if you’ve been enjoying following our journey, we’d love you to become part of the Wildhorse Homestead Circle.
It’s where we share our weekly stories, homestead experiments, lessons from the land, recipes, projects and the occasional puppy chaos before they make their way elsewhere.
Come grow, relax and play with us at Wildhorse Homestead. 🌿
Thanks for spending another week with us.
