My Friend Made Me This Blog

It's My Birthday and I'll.........

....eat all the fund raising Caramello Koalas if I want to!

Yet again I have fallen into the trap.  Would I mind selling some fund raising chocolates at school to send my friends kids to Qld for a gymnastics camp thingy?
Sure...no problem ...and really it isn't ...except.......................
Now I owe the find raising choc for 12 koalas and a Freddo Frog.
Sigh.
I also had a birthday...not a "special" one so no fanfare. A couple of nice dinners out, wine, friends...you know the sort of thing. I was quite quite spoiled but it is too embarrassing to list all the booty but I will say that even as I type I am wearing my new trilobite beanie and Episode 1 of the new digitally remastered gold box edition Pride and Prejudice is on the telly. Yes...I did just accidentally watch it the other night as well....so sue me for my obsession.

The sun dial is yet to be calibrated...but as soon as there is actually any sun...or someone can point out north to me I am sure it will be a useful and decorative addition to my new garden complex. In keeping with my anti green policy ...in terms of garden maintenance that is...Mum bought me purple coloured grassy plant thingies.

I did get a couple of Lotto tickets too but I haven’t checked them yet…but the jackpot didn’t go off so I can’t harbour any secret hope that I am the missing owner of the winning ticket for 40 million!

And now I have to work. It is once again report writing time plus I have a bunch of books to mark and I haven’t got my act together at all for the Science conference I have to do a little thing at Tuesday week. SO really I should be using my computer time on all of that. But of course I am in TOTAL avoidance mode so I am doing everything but.

I have read all the new Icanhascheezburger and Cakewrecks, checked Zazz and the online newspapers, emailed and generally fiddled about. The washing is even being done, dishwasher unpacked, cats fed, the one billion beads accidentally spilled on the carpet have been mostly picked up so soon I will have no excuses.

BUT I DON’T WANNA WRITE REPORTS.

Ok whine over….mmmmmmmmmmm wine…………..at 10.30 am?????

Drat…cant do it. That is too much avoidance even for me.

Toast???? Coffee????? Yep…….that is my next move.

Oh yes...I did move one of the cat towers to the front window and guess who LOVES being able to sit up there surveying the street and keeping watch?

Bye All. We'll be watching you!

 

Garening Rocks (actually- it doesn't)

See the back yard? See my rock art ? Seem me not having enough to do?
See the person who really does need to get a life?
Who else has time to hunt for rocks too big to lift, lift them and then make a mini homage to Stonehenge? And my idea of some Standing Stones. The third one is a bit weird....stop laughing....it is representing the alien life form in Encounter At Far Point, the first STTNG episode. To be honest I dont even know WHY that stuck in my head since my idea was kind of rock things from around the world...I am still considering how to do a pyramid.
Here is a view up the yard...all rocked and FINISHED!!!!! (unless I do convert the snake into a small Great Wall Of China which is on the cards...depends on the rock situation.) The brown rocks are free...I collect them in the field behind the house so it is all sweat equity not actualy money. I have about half a load of the 20mm gravel left for patching the thin spots as they appear but apart from that...FINISHED.

         
And because the garden was finished I decided to modify the Cateau and give them a lookout.
AND THEY LOVE IT!!!!!!!
The kittens love being up high and climbing on the branch...also sourced for nothing from the back field although it took nearly 2 hours to pick all the buzzies out of my trousers and jumper.

Here they are exploring for the first time. Caramello sat at the end of the tunnel meowing desperately for me to hurry up and finish and let her through.
They slink down the very long tunnel at a great pace and because they can see down the back road, the field and up into the tree where all the birdies sit. They are in 7th heaven. I know they would be much happier roaming free...but it just isn't suitable. I have another green dome cat run to construct and set up but that will have to wait till better weather I think....it is damn cold and damp and uncomfortable working down on that cement.

Here are the Watch-whers in action. Nothing can sneak up on us now!

So the injury list is 1 bruised knuckle, 2 skinned knuckles, one bruised foot where a wheel barrow of rocks landed on it, another bruised foot when a big rock mashed it slightly, a scraped and bruised knee where I fell over nothing  which also gave me a big chunk out of the heel of my hand, various strained muscles and dirt in my hair. This wasn't all in one day..that's the total over the last couple of weeks. I really wasn't designed for life outside the house at all but I am making an effort.
So now we are all inside with the heating running full blast and the girls are napping...lucky girls!
Last day of the holidays is nearly over...so sad. If I had just one more week ....or 2 or 3 it would be nice. Yeah...go on ...moan about teachers and their holidays.......see if I care. I only had to go out to school once this holidays which was good...usually it is a couple of days, but the rest can wait till I go on Monday. Got some laminating and trimming of activity cards to do this weekend but that is just mind numbing work for in front of the telly.
So I am off to copy the kittens and have a wee nap....It's still my holiday and I'll sleep through it if I want to!

  




 






 

Holiday Activity

Ok.......getting up counts doesn't it?...as an activity I mean. If getting out of bed and drinking coffee don't count as legitimate holiday activities then I have done VERY LITTLE!
Go on ....be jealous!

Don’t get me wrong…there have been lunches, sushi, wine, dinners, visiting and

Babylon

5 watching. I managed to spend ALL of Saturday reading. It was fantastic. I managed to read 3 ½ of the Pern books……..cried, laughed, cried, hid from thread, kittens substituted for Fire Lizards….they creeled for food but they are somewhat less light when the land on you and wont eat raw meat! I accidentally watched Secret Millionaire in the middle of the reading marathon…cried. So it was an excellent day. Of course I have an eyestrain headache still so the aftermath of marathon reading is a bit like a hangover. I go for an eye test and undoubtedly expensive new glasses tomorrow so maybe I can marathon again with less Panadol.

Gardening…not a lot. If I could find my camera I could show the rock creations but somehow it is hiding. If only I could manage to do some house work…pause for laughter….maybe it would turn up.

So…today…Queen’s Birthday

Holiday…..plans? Well I got up didn’t I…what more could be required?

At Last...Something Green in My Garden.

Ah...gardeners of the world....despair.
Kittens of the world..be green with envy!
Cateau' 09 Stage 1 is complete.

And The Girls love it. Click to embiggen the kitten smugness.

So things are really coming together garden wise around here.
I plugged in the leaf sucker vak but all the magic smoke escaped and smelled funny so that was the end of that.
Back to the Big B Warehouse of Stuff!!!!
Buy new Leaf Sucker Vak after looking at them on the shelf with hoplessness. I was eventually assisted by a nice man...who knew about as much about LSVs as I did.
Now I have to put the sodding thing together!!!!! Haven't I assembled enough for one weekend?
Apparently not.
So LSV is what I am off to deal with now before the leaf drifts prevent me from leaving the house at all.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Thinks.
Maybe the LSV can wait. I have food, Vodka and chocolate. I can hold out for a while!!!!!

Things Achieved...Finally

I started a bit of a Georgette Heyer reading marathon in the Christmas holidays and I am now done!

There are one or 2 still floating around the bed, under the bed, knocked off the bundle by you know who ! But here are most of them. 39 novels...not the detective ones, just the Regency Romances and her autobiography. I need a new marathon now. I think Anne McCaffrey might have to be next.
I have done the seasonal shoe change over...moved the summer sandles to the back and the winter shoes to the front and also swapped the short sleeved stuff for long sleeved....and found my warm vests to wear under the shirts.
I am sooooooooooooo organised!
And I have finished shovelling sodding crushed rock. I have adjusted the last tile and filled in the gaps....yay. I would celebrate except I haven't the strength to open the wine...or cheer. I am really totally unsuited for this kind of life. I am designed for sitting type activities, lounging and quaffing
and nomming.
Shovelling of food and wine yes!
Not rock.
Here is before...........

     

............ partly done                                                                        ......... And finished.

The new cat run will sit over the 4 dark tiles and the new Pride Rock arrangement- eventually. I have cat mint and cat grass to plant for them too the wont have to live on rocks all the time. I do plan for them to have some greenery...just not so much I have to deal with it. There is some weldbonding and chicken wiring to be done first but it should be in the next couple of weeks.
Please don't leave any comments about the slightly wriggly setting out of the tiles.
They aren't wriggly...they are ARTISTIC!

No AmyP, you misunderstand!

I didn't just LIKE the new Star Trek movie   ...........................................  

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.

Let me see...can I phrase it better????????

NOPE! 

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    

  

I didn't just LIKE the new Star Trek movie   ...........................................  

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.

Let me see...can I phrase it better????????

NOPE! 

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.    

  

New Star Trek Movie...

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. cried I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. gasped  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. laughed  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. giggled  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.squealed I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. giggledI loved it. I loved it. I loved it.hid my eyes behind my hands  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.cried I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. squealedI loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.hid my eyes behind my hands I loved it. I loved it.laughed  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.gasped I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.gasped I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.gasped I loved it. I loved it.cried I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.giggled I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.hid my eyes behind my hands I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.gasped I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.laughed  I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. laughed I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.squealed I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.cried I loved it.

If we weren't committed to going to sewing 2paw and I might just have stayed and watched it again!!!!

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it.

A Brief Blog

No ...I am not blogging in my underwear...there's and image you will need to scrub with ajax to get out of your mind.
Dad's in hospital, the family are more or less all home right now, I have been on Auntie duties and ignoring my reports and not blogging. I thought I'd just call in and say where I am though.
I am down loading 174 photos....The Devil Spawn has been using my camera...viva digital cameras !!!!!
About 10 are my pics so all the rest are heading for the bin!
The girls have new cat grass.
Caramello says 'nom nom nom'

Cleo says "Paws off my grass. I hunted it. It's mine!"

And then they were tired! Sooooooooooooooo tired!
                                      
 

Not That Interesting

I am blogging these pics so my sister can see the work that has been done so far in my garden so it isnt going to be a very interesting post...unless you are into garden make over shows on TV..and even that it is still pretty boring. I am fairly pleased with the change so far but it isn't what you wouldexactly call cutting edge landscaping design.
Before                                                                                     After

After                                                                                 Before
 

And here is the new bit. which MAY end up with a pond in it ...I'll have to speak to the  Gardener's Boy and see how he feels about digging me a large hole! Although after wheelbarrowing the rocks to edge the new bit I feel  like I might have to just lie down in the hole! Notice the paving tile things I am going to use on the corner. They will be better organised of course.

Sorry about the shocking photography but I think you can get the idea.

Peel Me A Grape

How comfy does her Majesty look in these pics? There is no couch room for anyone else and she was snoring ever so quietly.
Children- So cute when they are asleep!