Charli

Last Tuesday we very nearly lost Charli. We were woken by his screams at 6am. Martin went to check on him, and Charli tore through the house, his eyes wide with terror. I grabbed him, wrapped him in a blanket ( it was cold and he was trembling) and refused to let him go. I am sure he'd picked up a bait somewhere and was so sure we were about to lose him too. Through his screams, seizures, frothing at the mouth and wanting to run, I held him, tightly, refusing to let him go. I walked with him for 4 hours, occasionally stopping to check if his heart was still beating.
At about 10.30am he began panting, as a dog does when it's hot. I moved out of the sun but still kept Charli wrapped up as I couldn't bear to see that terrified look in his eyes again. Slowly, he moved his head out from under the blanket and the look was gone and he looked peaceful but a little inquisitive. After 11am I lay him in his bed with the blanket on his body to keep him warm. He lay there exhausted, watching everything, but not moving.A couple of hours later, he sat up and practically drained the bowl of water I'd placed near him.
I don't know how Charli survived but we are all so grateful that he did.
Now...it's hard to believe the horror my little dog went through. He's showing no ill-effects of what he went through.

Khloee and Killer

We recently lost 2 members of our family, Khloee (aka Miss K, Princess Khloee) and Killer (aka Kilbey) to 1080 baits. Coming home and finding them was hard for us all.

Martin really misses his mate. Killer went practically everywhere with him. I can still hear Killer's 2 barks as Martin crosses the front grid in the Nissan. I can still hear Killer whimpering as he watched Khloee and Charli  play on the front lawn...he wasn't allowed in the garden. (That didn't stop him jumping over the fence when no-one was watching.) I still go to say "Don't forget to tie Killer up" when we hang the washing at night. Killer had a heart of gold and he adored Miss K..she behaved like an absolute floozy around him.

I can still hear Miss Khloee going in and out of the dog door. I still look for her wagging tail under the blanket in the dog bed in the laundry. I still see her dancing up the hall towards us. I still feel her jumping up against my legs, letting me know she was there. I still hear her playing with Charli. She was an absolute delight and while she was the only female dog, she kept the boys in their place. Charli adored her and was always cleaning her face and her ears. From the beginning she was always a "Princess with Attitude." She bore 2 beautiful litters of pups and of those there was one little female, we called her Princess and she was just like her mum.
We may have had them for only 2 1/2 years, but Killer and Khloee will never be forgotten.

It's Show Time!

Our local show is held on the long weekend in May. This year, we hosted the Queensland State Merino Sheep Show as well and as it's also The Year of the Farmer, some sections of the show were adapted to fit better with that theme.
After storms around on the Thursday afternoon, we were blessed with glorious weather for the weekend...even the nights weren't too chilly. Out of necessity, I became head steward of the Arts and Crafts pavilion. I will admit, I thoroughly enjoy working in there and when working with judges, so much can be learned, but boy is it hard work. I spent 3 days in the pavilion prior to the show and while it took hours to classify everything, judge and then display....it took no time at all to pull it all down. By Sunday night I was so exhausted that for the first time EVER I didn't enjoy the fireworks. 
Nathan and I did very well in the pavilion. I won the aggregate for scrapbooking and venerables, the Trophy for the Best Knitted Article, first prizes for photos and handicrafts and the Cultural Assoc Aggregate for highest points on the sections.
Nathan won the aggregate for photography in his age group, the aggregate for handicrafts in his age group, some first prizes for his artwork and the highest aggregate for boys in the pavilion. Next year he goes up to a different age group so the competition will be much stronger.
Martin and Nathan came home on the Sunday morning to get sheep for the mutton busters and was shocked and deeply saddened to find two dead dogs, Killer and Khloee. They must have picked up a 1080 bait put out the with wild dogs as we'd done an aerial bait on the previous Thursday. There were lots of tears throughout the day.

ANZAC Day

Yesterday we took part in the ANZAC Day march. This has become incredibly important to me. The men and women who lost their lives in honour of their country will never be forgotten...not in Australia, New Zealand, England, or any other country in the world.

I lost my great grandfather in WW1, when he died from his wounds in a POW camp in Antwerp, Belgium. Ernest Brant left behind a beautiful young bride Florence and a daughter Violet who was almost 2 years old. Here was a little girl ( my grandmother) who would grow up never knowing her father.

Yesterday Nathan and I laid a wreath in his memory, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It may seem strange but when you research family history,  the information learned has an incredible impact.

Sir

Sir - would it help if I shed a tear
I swear it’s the first time since this time last year
My spine is a tingle - my throat is all dry
As I stand to attention for all those who died

I watch the flag dancing half way down the pole
That damn bugle player sends chills to my soul
I feel the pride and the sorrow - there’s nothing the same
As standing to attention on ANZAC Day

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
To your mates that are lying from Tobruk to the Somme
The legend of your bravery will always live on

I’ve welcomed Olympians back to our shore
I’ve cheered baggy green caps and watched Wallabies score
But when I watch you marching (Sir) in that parade
I know these are the memories that never will fade

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
It’s the least we can do (Sir) to repay the debt
We’ll always remember you - Lest We Forget

Damian (Dib) Morgan 1998

Check this out!

Like this?? I think it's pretty amazing.....

because it's not a real bearded dragon on a rock.....it's cake and icing! The rock is actually a chocolate sponge...and the lizard is marzipan! One very talented lady made this!!

My nephew Billy recently turned 18 and he's always had unusual pets...first a rat by the name of Angel and now a bearded dragon by the name of Todd.

Happy 18th birthday Billy! Sorry we couldn't be at your party.

Garden Club

Yesterday I hosted Garden Club here in my garden. I had 14 ladies here and we had a lovely relaxing day and I received a lovely variety of plants and many helpful tips about the problem areas of my garden...yes we all have them! I have also taken over being the co-ordinator of Garden Club. I have found it so useful and it's great to talk with like-minded people and be able to pick their brains.

I had invited someone else to join us and her reaction was "So you're happy with your garden?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I don't remember what I said/did. I was shocked that someone would say that! She walked in to a ready-made garden and doesn't know the history of my garden. I am absolutely thrilled with the way it's looking at the moment.

This is what we began with in November 2008.





Now I have this:









For more photos of my garden have a look here.

Happy Easter!

Did you have a happy Easter? We certainly did...and a very busy one too!

We were so very lucky to have quite a few family members home..all four of our boys, two of their partners, my Mum, sisters and brother and some of their family too. It was absolutely fantastic to have them all here. The kids had a wonderful time together and Nathan, Megan and Ben received way too many Easter eggs....they wouldn't think so though! Wendy even organized an Easter egg hunt in the garden for them...there were eggs hidden everywhere!

Here's a few photos to share:

Mum with us kids.

Our boys

Our boys with their girls

All of us
My wonderful family

April is almost a big month for birthdays in our family. Our nephew Billy turned 18 on Tuesday, our granddaughter Zhia turned 7 on Wednesday, my sisters Lea and Wendy turn 42 today and daughter in law Kathryn has her 24th birthday on 28th! SO of course we had cake and some girls had lots of candles to blow out!!


And of course a cake for Zhia


And I just had to end with a photo of the parents to be...not long now till our grandchild arrives...