Where's Etienne?

I had such a chuckle at this picture:

Now where, pray, do you think Etienne, the escargot is dashing off to? What destinations does this petit gris have on his travel itinery?

The rain has been steady all day. It's wonderful and comforting and peaceful. I went to the front door to just watch the rain (as I often do when it rains). To my left, is the native garden and part of the large arbour:

Straight ahead is the courtyard and front gate. Note the Number One Son's riding jacket sprawled over the chair. Note the carpet of banksia petals, waiting to be raked. Hey, just keeping things real ....

To my right is a perrenial border, leading to the lawned garden:

Then, exhilarated and turning to go back indoors, look who I found on the door post -

It's Etienne!!

Old Country Places

"To have a small country place requires determination and faith in the future, and a cash income, small or large. You can't make a fabulous fortune raising things, whether it be mushrooms or muskrats.

Of course, if you buy an old house, you must be very strong minded, or it will eat up all the money you have as fast as you get it. An old house demands.

You may dream of living in it as it is, camping out, but just move in and you will be bending every effort to satisfy the little darling"

Gladys Taber - The Book of Stillmeadow

Acai Berry Fool

I was doing a google search the other day and found a couple of websites with information on Acai berries - the mother of all antioxidants. I ordered some. I take a heaped teaspoonful in the morning and (when I remember) another one at night. Although I haven't noticed anything different over a short period, mam was watching me work in the garden, hauling heavy wheelbarrows of soil and scooping them out.

"When you order your next lot of that good stuff, will you order some for me, too, Helen?" she asked.

Mam, being a mam, had obviously noticed something about me that hasn't come to my attention as yet.

Often waking in the night with so many plans and ideas, and finding it hard to fall asleep again, I have decided not to lie in bed and wait for sleep, but rather - to go and do something. That something could include making lists, researching, doing the washing or trying to read a book. Sometimes, I can occupy myself right until the sun comes up, devising game plans and great intentions for the day ahead.

One game plan was to have the acai berry drink really early, so that I wouldn't forget it and end up taking it past mid-morning. I felt so righteous, taking the glass of good health so early, and not long after, that pleasantly sleepy mood came over me. I succumbed.

On waking from slumber, I heard the Machinist say "Cup of tea, Helen?"

"Yes please"

"Would you like me to bring it here?" (he's so considerate with my hayfever and insomniac ways)

"No, it's ok, I'll come to the kitchen"

I felt lethargic, and not the usual jump-out-of-bed-and-greet-the-beautiful-morn self. I rubbed my eyes, fluffed my hair and headed to the kitchen, where I could hear the sound of the kettle boiling. The Machinist looked at me. Then he looked again. Then he said nothing.

I smiled at him, again, fluffing my hair and battering my eyelids. Still, he said nothing.

I went to the bathroom, glanced in the mirror and gasped at the person looking back at me. The acai berry had left a wide purple 'moustache' on my face, that would put Heath Ledger, as the Joker, to shame.

What a berry fool ....

Happy Birthday to Emma-Lee

It was my eldest daughter, Emma-Lee's birthday yesterday. I had wanted to post something about Emsie and her special day, but by the time we were home, had watched several movies, and gutsed out on scrumptious food, I had missed the blogger time/ day cutoff.

Typical.

When Emma was three, she would run as fast as the wind, - barefoot - and seeing as she was born in South Africa, we nick-named her Zola, after Zola Budd - the champion sprinter (who, incidently, could have easily had Mary Decker eat her dust!). Emma changed her sporty ways for books, art in various mediums and - well - dreaming.

She has the most vivid imagination, the quickest wit, the bestest ears for listening, - especially when others need comfort and support, a tender heart - worn best on her sleeve, an irresistable humour and a hearty chuckle that causes those who hear it to roll around on the floor...

At the moment, Emma is following her dream; 3D animation for gaming and film.

I love you, Emsie! Go for it!

Midway

In the schoolroom (the room we started off using as a schoolroom when we first started home-schooling the children) there is a cupboard full of see-through plastic boxes. The boxes are labelled and every so often (because I like changing stuff around), I sort and re-pack the boxes, as our needs change.

One box which has remained constant throughout my box storage career, though, is the one full of information on opening a shop - my own shop, which will be the culmination of nine-years-worth-of-dreaming. The information in this particular box is detail information; the finer points, the decorative style, the supplier contacts, the floor plans, the legalities, the real fun stuff. The information to be used as the opening day draws nearer. I'm not saying that preparations for the refurbishment of the shop aren't fun. (Well, some are, some aren't). But, oh, - the fine detail...

Sigh....

I had a peek in there this evening and found myself nodding approvingly (longingly), as I probed through the paperwork and samples (nodding is surely better than talking to yourself - it's less worrying).

This moment in time is bittersweet, because there is a lot of dirty and dusty work ahead, scraping, grinding, painting, scrubbing, plastering and who knows what else, before we can apply the decorative touches, but it is also nearing the time that contacts have to be made, orders placed and deliveries arranged.

There is a recognition and acceptance that my insomnia, - it's root cause in mirth - reigns!

Pet Parade

This is Miss Blossom - a thoroughbred Pekingnese. She has the heart of a lion. Now living with the Grands...

This is Miss Polly. She is a Staffordshire terrior, crossed with a Silkie. She is my shadow.

This is Bob. He is a Staffordshire terrior. He was 'adopted' for the Machinist, but likes to hang out with us girls...

Beautiful Young People

This is my homeboy, Sam (right), with his best friend, Luke. They're always having a good larf and somehow make others larf with them.


They love to do this:

And ride these:

Sam's dearest friend, though, whom he loves to be with is his gorgeous Hayley. She's sweet and funny and delightfully playful. They've known each other for over a year now.

Today, was Hayley's year 10 Formal. Sam and Hayley have been looking forward to going for some time. Luke was also invited to the Formal.

It's seldom an occasion we see the lads dressed like this, though.

They look rather smart and - well - civilised...

Sam wanted to impress his lovely young lady so much. He even took his hat off...

I'm sure he was VERY impressed with her. Isn't she beautiful?

Hope you have a wonderful evening, young 'uns!

A Christmas Home

Wind, Dust, Weeds and Flies

For the past two days, the girls and I have been doing more clearing in the parking lot at the Shop. This involves digging out weeds from the cracks in the tarmac, removing tons of dirt, in different stages of decomposition, cutting down branches that hang over the parking lot, loading, then unloading all of the above on the next door block which adjoins the Shop Block (Another story for another time).

A strong westerly has been blowing, resulting in many dusty, puffy mini whirlwinds, causing havoc with our tender sinuses. It's really gruesome, - digging, raking and loading soil, leaves, twigs and pushing wheelbarrows, while our hands are tied and noses are running. As if that isn't bad enough, there are about five flies at one sitting, feeding on said snot.

Yes, really gruesome.

Fortunately, we were finished by midday, just in time for lunch. Later, though, the Machinist and I returned to the Shop, to trim and mow the Grand's garden, as well as spray poison on tiny tufts of grass that have started to show on a previously weeded side of the parking lot. As the Machinist sprayed the Roundup on troublesome spots, I walked alongside him, telling him how to spray ... as well as pointing out areas that he had missed.

Ha! Just kidding...

Half way through the ghostbusting.. er ... I mean weed spraying, the sprayer stopped working. The Machinist disassembled the various parts of the sprayer, but couldn't find any reason for its refusal to work. He was utterly baffled.

Poison Content: check
Pressure pump: check
Release valve: check
Spray wand: check
Spray nozzle: check
Lizard floating in poison:

What the...

Sure enough - there was a tiny lizard, clogging up the top of the inner tube.

And with that, the Machinist emptied the rest of the poison (and tiny lizard) over a stubborn cluster of blackberry roots and plum tree stump and we called it a day.

Happy Birthday to Sarah

Today was my middle daughter, Sarah's Birthday. We have a family tradition of waking the birthday person and singing happy birthday to them, while bearing gifts. (I've told of this before).


I had a number of photos and more to say about Sarah's birthday, but I've forgotten, because our internet has been down, and if I don't do it the same day, facts escape me! Besides, the little scamp has beaten me to it, as she has written about her birthday here: http://middlepaw.blogspot.com/2008/12/yesterday-was-my-20th-birthday.html


One thing I wanted to show you, though - not that this has anything to do with birthdays and presents, but it is something about my homegirl that always makes me smile:

Her workboots!

She is feminine and classy, has great taste in many things, is friendly and fun, motivated and encouraging. She is of slight build with the hugest biceps I've seen on such a tiny young woman. She works hard in whatever she does, with good conscience. In the workshop, alongside the men, she likes to retain her feminine look; - wearing foxy earings and pillar box red nailpolish. It is her workboots, though, that make me smile each time I see her in them. They are such a far cry from the beautiful shoes she owns, and the personality she possesses.

But I guess that's one of the umpteenth reasons I love her - for she has such flexibility. So it's not "put on your dancing shoes, birthday girl", but rather "put on your steel-toed, hob-nailed boots, Esmerelda"

As Sarah explains to me: "Mam, if you want to get some, Redbacks are the best. They are so comfortable and conform to your foot shape. You'll have to buy some thick socks, though. You can wear thinner socks, but the thicker socks are even more comfortable".

Yeah. Whatever.

I love you, Beaver Marple!

Australia

Australia - the movie - go see it!