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She knew we'd appreciate it.
And we did. Some more than others.
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
-- W. C. Fields
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Neighbors
Our friend Em brought this over for us. It's one of three recently shed python skins they found on various parts of their house and landscaping. This is the entire skin, all nine feet of it, from the tip of its nose and eye coverings to the very end of its tail.
She knew we'd appreciate it.
And we did. Some more than others.
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
-- W. C. Fields
She knew we'd appreciate it.
And we did. Some more than others.
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
-- W. C. Fields
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday
After her school work was done, and after a little time on Toon Town, Elle had aikido. Miss D, the instructor's wife, and Elle knocked each other around a bit.
When class was over we spent some time cuddling and feeding Penelope, a rescued baby padymelon Miss D and her family are nursing until it can be released back to the wild. Penelope has been in their care for at least six weeks. She was hairless when they first got her. That small you never know if they'll make it or not. So far, so good.
Those are my hands. That's all you're going to see of me today. That's enough.
The five minute drive home was uneventful, but spectacular.
If you look real hard, up on the side of the mountain, just above the center line of the road, it's practically pointing at it, there's a little break in the trees, and right there, that little dot...see it?...that's our landlords' house. The guesthouse we rent is not visible but is located down a little to the left of the Big House. The first house we rented was on a street that turns off to the left just where the road seems to end. Pretty good photo considering it was shot through the windshield. By me. As I was driving. (Miss Booshay understands.)
We were in a hurry to leave the house for akido (blame the aforementioned Toon Town) when we discovered a baby snake under the carport on our way out the door. In our rush to leave, we tipped this container over him to take a look when we got back and maybe identify it. As you can see, it was still there.
Even though we let him go, he was not very happy. We suspect it was venomous. Pretty much anything but a python is around these parts.
A person can stand almost anything except a succession of ordinary days.
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
When class was over we spent some time cuddling and feeding Penelope, a rescued baby padymelon Miss D and her family are nursing until it can be released back to the wild. Penelope has been in their care for at least six weeks. She was hairless when they first got her. That small you never know if they'll make it or not. So far, so good.
Those are my hands. That's all you're going to see of me today. That's enough.
The five minute drive home was uneventful, but spectacular.
If you look real hard, up on the side of the mountain, just above the center line of the road, it's practically pointing at it, there's a little break in the trees, and right there, that little dot...see it?...that's our landlords' house. The guesthouse we rent is not visible but is located down a little to the left of the Big House. The first house we rented was on a street that turns off to the left just where the road seems to end. Pretty good photo considering it was shot through the windshield. By me. As I was driving. (Miss Booshay understands.)
We were in a hurry to leave the house for akido (blame the aforementioned Toon Town) when we discovered a baby snake under the carport on our way out the door. In our rush to leave, we tipped this container over him to take a look when we got back and maybe identify it. As you can see, it was still there.
Even though we let him go, he was not very happy. We suspect it was venomous. Pretty much anything but a python is around these parts.
A person can stand almost anything except a succession of ordinary days.
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Home School
No, we don't stand up and salute any flags saying the Pledge of Allegiance or singing Advance Australia Fair before beginning our school work. We don't have designated times for specific subjects or breaks either. Come to think of it, not much we do resembles a formal educational institution, but when I saw this at a neighbor's garage sale for a bargain price, I could not pass it up. The fact that it came from a local state school that recently celebrated its centenary makes it not only a true antique but a pretty cool souvenir.
Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children.
-- Albert Einstein
Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children.
-- Albert Einstein
Monday, April 14, 2008
No Worries
-- The kookaburras go off at exactly 6:00 AM. There is no Daylight Savings Time and no need for an alarm clock.
-- Our friend's husband, a local law enforcement officer, went off to the neighborhood pub early in the evening for a beer or two. Around 10:30 PM, the wife woke up to use the facilities, and while sitting on the loo on an otherwise still night, heard her dear husband belting out a tune down at the pub. He ended up staying until 2:30 AM literally closing the place down. He had to lend a hand at the bar after the publican sampled a few too many of his own wares.
-- Other neighbors who live on the main street in a rambling historic building, had a woman come rushing through their often-open front doors with some convoluted story about missing mates and mixed-up meeting places, asking questions, and hoping for some assistance. The neighbor and her husband were doing what they could to help the visitor and had offered her a cup of tea when looking around, the realization slowly dawned on their guest: Oh my God. This is your house. I thought it was an antique store...!
The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.
-- Julia Cameron
-- Our friend's husband, a local law enforcement officer, went off to the neighborhood pub early in the evening for a beer or two. Around 10:30 PM, the wife woke up to use the facilities, and while sitting on the loo on an otherwise still night, heard her dear husband belting out a tune down at the pub. He ended up staying until 2:30 AM literally closing the place down. He had to lend a hand at the bar after the publican sampled a few too many of his own wares.
-- Other neighbors who live on the main street in a rambling historic building, had a woman come rushing through their often-open front doors with some convoluted story about missing mates and mixed-up meeting places, asking questions, and hoping for some assistance. The neighbor and her husband were doing what they could to help the visitor and had offered her a cup of tea when looking around, the realization slowly dawned on their guest: Oh my God. This is your house. I thought it was an antique store...!
The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.
-- Julia Cameron
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Curtain Up!
I should have learned by now, that any time I say "I'm sure" of something, events usually prove me wrong. Like below, when I said I'm sure we will be back at least once more... in regards to visiting the creek.
The remainder of our break has been spent mostly hanging around the house watching rented DVDs. We enjoyed Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World, the Royal Ballet's Tales of Beatrix Potter, and (before you go thinking you see some Keira Knightley/Geoffrey Rush/British history/British lit thread connecting them all) Sicko, by Michael Moore.
Elle, a born entertainer, finally acknowledged her inclination -- a tendency I have reluctantly witnessed develop since she was an infant -- while watching Pirates of the Caribbean for the second or third time: Mom, how does somebody get to be in a movie? She thinks it would be great fun to get paid to work as an actor. Her sisters and I thought so too, but privately wondered how that would work with her persistent shyness.
One notable exception to our movie marathon was a taste of real culture, a concert we attended yesterday afternoon down in Port. A few local musicians, led by the neighborhood's World Renowned Cellist, put on a children's concert in the incredibly intimate 142 seat theatre. Prior to the final piece, three door prizes were raffled off for the kids. Elle leaned over and whispered that she was nervous in case they might call her number. Sure enough, she was the third winner. I barely had time to confirm that it was her ticket number when, instead of playing shy like the prior winner and insisting I go up with her or in place of her, she popped out of her seat, marched down the center aisle, and jumped up on the stage to claim her prize.
What did she win? A gift certificate for DVD rentals.
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
-- Oscar Wilde
The remainder of our break has been spent mostly hanging around the house watching rented DVDs. We enjoyed Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World, the Royal Ballet's Tales of Beatrix Potter, and (before you go thinking you see some Keira Knightley/Geoffrey Rush/British history/British lit thread connecting them all) Sicko, by Michael Moore.
Elle, a born entertainer, finally acknowledged her inclination -- a tendency I have reluctantly witnessed develop since she was an infant -- while watching Pirates of the Caribbean for the second or third time: Mom, how does somebody get to be in a movie? She thinks it would be great fun to get paid to work as an actor. Her sisters and I thought so too, but privately wondered how that would work with her persistent shyness.
One notable exception to our movie marathon was a taste of real culture, a concert we attended yesterday afternoon down in Port. A few local musicians, led by the neighborhood's World Renowned Cellist, put on a children's concert in the incredibly intimate 142 seat theatre. Prior to the final piece, three door prizes were raffled off for the kids. Elle leaned over and whispered that she was nervous in case they might call her number. Sure enough, she was the third winner. I barely had time to confirm that it was her ticket number when, instead of playing shy like the prior winner and insisting I go up with her or in place of her, she popped out of her seat, marched down the center aisle, and jumped up on the stage to claim her prize.
What did she win? A gift certificate for DVD rentals.
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
-- Oscar Wilde
Monday, April 07, 2008
Break
The girls are enjoying a week off school for the fall break between terms. I'm not having such a bad time either. We've already been to the creek twice in the past three days and I'm sure we will be back at least once more before school is back in session.
Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.
-- Leonardo da Vinci
Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.
-- Leonardo da Vinci
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