1. Today I'm going to tell you about our pets as they're a wonderful asset to our family. Moose is our cat. He's white with big orange splotches and about 9 years old. He has an interesting personality and has been the subject of two of my children's books - although the main character was changed from Moose the cat to Skipper the dog. That's life. Moose is okay with it.
2. We have a number of guppies who live in a cold water aquarium in our lounge. Guppies give birth to live young which happens in the summer months here. Apparently the mother gives birth to a couple of dozen fish but most get eaten by her and her colleagues. We have eight babies at the moment in a separate netted off area while they grow bigger. It's always very exciting when someone spots a new baby and everything stops so we can rescue it from all the marauders in the tank.
3. I've mentioned our three new silky bantams which we got on New Years Eve. They're doing very well and growing bigger and fluffier. Not much else to say about them right now.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Budgie, relaxing, stories
1. My daughter has a pale blue and white male budgie named Sugar who's been with us since early last year. She hand reared him so he started out very tame and has turned into quite a talker. She hasn't kept up the taming process though. Today, however, she decided to try and "retame" Sugar. She had some success, with a bit of help from mum. I hope she keeps up the effort as he's a wonderful budgie with great potential.
2. I relaxed with my daughter after lunch and watched one of her Saddle Club dvds. It wasn't really my cup of tea but I enjoyed the down time and the girl time.
3. I realised today that when I tell a long winded story I lose my audience because I take so long to get to the point. I listened to someone else doing the same thing and realised how I must sound, as it's a bad habit of mine - my father used to describe it as "enjoying the sound of my own voice". I'm going to try a new tack. I shall now cut to the chase and make that bit so enticing that the listener wants to ask questions to find out how the end result happened. I'll see how I go.
2. I relaxed with my daughter after lunch and watched one of her Saddle Club dvds. It wasn't really my cup of tea but I enjoyed the down time and the girl time.
3. I realised today that when I tell a long winded story I lose my audience because I take so long to get to the point. I listened to someone else doing the same thing and realised how I must sound, as it's a bad habit of mine - my father used to describe it as "enjoying the sound of my own voice". I'm going to try a new tack. I shall now cut to the chase and make that bit so enticing that the listener wants to ask questions to find out how the end result happened. I'll see how I go.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Anniversary, hard work, river
1. Today was a public holiday for our region of New Zealand called Anniversary Day. It was nice to have everyone at home doing their thing happily together. We had a variety of visitors popping in for a few minutes at a time which was also nice.
2. I helped my husband with some pool work today, mainly wheelbarrowing and lifting which I needed badly as my exercise level had dropped to marginal recently. I feel refreshed.
3. I forgot to mention in yesterday's blog that we were part of a river drama on our way home from the lake yesterday. We stopped at a river to see if it was suitable for a quick dip. A woman and four children were there and we were chatting with them. Three of the children were under 5 and a boy called Richard aged about 8 or 9. Richard accidentally got into the swift flowing part of the river and I was the only one who noticed. I alerted the woman who tried to go to his aid. We managed to call out to him to grab a plant on the bank opposite, which he did. He was quite scared but held on tightly for a long time while we considered the options. We decided that, since he wasn't a swimmer, he should climb up onto the bank. He managed that with difficulty. My husband then found a way around to him via a bridge and helped him climb up the bank, including a vertical climb of about 3 metres through prickles and gorse. It was all quite exciting and the boy was very happy to be back with his family again. I was glad we were at the right place at the right time.
2. I helped my husband with some pool work today, mainly wheelbarrowing and lifting which I needed badly as my exercise level had dropped to marginal recently. I feel refreshed.
3. I forgot to mention in yesterday's blog that we were part of a river drama on our way home from the lake yesterday. We stopped at a river to see if it was suitable for a quick dip. A woman and four children were there and we were chatting with them. Three of the children were under 5 and a boy called Richard aged about 8 or 9. Richard accidentally got into the swift flowing part of the river and I was the only one who noticed. I alerted the woman who tried to go to his aid. We managed to call out to him to grab a plant on the bank opposite, which he did. He was quite scared but held on tightly for a long time while we considered the options. We decided that, since he wasn't a swimmer, he should climb up onto the bank. He managed that with difficulty. My husband then found a way around to him via a bridge and helped him climb up the bank, including a vertical climb of about 3 metres through prickles and gorse. It was all quite exciting and the boy was very happy to be back with his family again. I was glad we were at the right place at the right time.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Lake visit,wild berries, pool
1. The family visit to the bach owned by my sister and her husband was a wonderful time out for us as an extended family. Very relaxing. Some went trout fishing with various degrees of success. Others read, chatted, cooked, ate, drank, played cricket, played cards, walked and generally chilled out. The visit to the natural hot springs was a highlight for me. Thanks, Jude and Tony, for your hospitality.
2. At one stage during our little sojourn at the lake my daughter and I went for a short walk and found some wild blackberries ripe for the picking. We enjoyed them very much. It reminded me of the times in my childhood when we would go to the paddock near our house to get up close to the horses and feast on wild berries. Yummmmm.
3. We had our very first family swim on our return from the lake today. It was great fun, with my husband being the life and soul of the party as usual. Great to see him playing after all the hard work he's been doing - and still has to do.
2. At one stage during our little sojourn at the lake my daughter and I went for a short walk and found some wild blackberries ripe for the picking. We enjoyed them very much. It reminded me of the times in my childhood when we would go to the paddock near our house to get up close to the horses and feast on wild berries. Yummmmm.
3. We had our very first family swim on our return from the lake today. It was great fun, with my husband being the life and soul of the party as usual. Great to see him playing after all the hard work he's been doing - and still has to do.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Long weekend, happy, movie
1. We have a long weekend looming, with time at a lake with our extended family thanks to the generosity of my sister and her husband who are having us all at their bach. We're only staying one night but it will be nice to have a change of scenery and for my husband to have some time off from the pool.
2. I'm feeling contented today and relaxed. It's not that common.
3. I'm about to sit with my husband and watch Flight Plan which I've been looking forward to for ages. Hope it doesn't disappoint!
2. I'm feeling contented today and relaxed. It's not that common.
3. I'm about to sit with my husband and watch Flight Plan which I've been looking forward to for ages. Hope it doesn't disappoint!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Home, unpacking, pool
1. I love being at home. I have to admit to being quite boring on that one. Home is cosy and friendly and everything fits.
2. I spent time doing my own thing today before unpacking the van after the beach. It was a good way to unwind and not feel pressured to do work after driving home. I was proud of myself for taking time out. I don't do it very often.
3. My daughter and I cooled down with a swim today and it was absolutely wonderful. Nothing like it on these humid, muggy days. I reminded my husband how great he is for creating this outdoor haven for us all. He works on...
2. I spent time doing my own thing today before unpacking the van after the beach. It was a good way to unwind and not feel pressured to do work after driving home. I was proud of myself for taking time out. I don't do it very often.
3. My daughter and I cooled down with a swim today and it was absolutely wonderful. Nothing like it on these humid, muggy days. I reminded my husband how great he is for creating this outdoor haven for us all. He works on...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Rain, beach, clarity
1. Our first day at the beach was marred by rain, rain and a lot more rain. We flagged away the tent and went for the cabin option instead. We managed by reading, mainly. The children were pretty good but the dashes to the toilet left us sodden. We were wondering about our beach decision but decided the next day could only be better...
2. And it was! Today dawned misty but not rainy. We breakfasted quickly and set off for the black sand and waves below our cabin. The water was warmish but wild so we only paddled. We enjoyed the fresh sea air, sinking into the sand, exercising our calf muscles at last and dabbling our feet in the water. We found plenty of driftwood too. it was definitely worth the journey and the wait for better weather. (For those interested and who have a map, we went to Mokau which is on NZ's west coast north of New Plymouth. It's about 1.5 hours drive from our home).
3. This morning when we were looking out to sea, enjoying the clear air and listening to the pounding waves, I had a strong moment of clarity about life. The change in weather reminded me that the bad experiences are there to help us appreciate the good times even more. The day was average, but it seemed exquisite compared to the rainsoaked day before.
2. And it was! Today dawned misty but not rainy. We breakfasted quickly and set off for the black sand and waves below our cabin. The water was warmish but wild so we only paddled. We enjoyed the fresh sea air, sinking into the sand, exercising our calf muscles at last and dabbling our feet in the water. We found plenty of driftwood too. it was definitely worth the journey and the wait for better weather. (For those interested and who have a map, we went to Mokau which is on NZ's west coast north of New Plymouth. It's about 1.5 hours drive from our home).
3. This morning when we were looking out to sea, enjoying the clear air and listening to the pounding waves, I had a strong moment of clarity about life. The change in weather reminded me that the bad experiences are there to help us appreciate the good times even more. The day was average, but it seemed exquisite compared to the rainsoaked day before.
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