Wordless Saturday...

I know. There's no such thing as 'wordless Saturday' - and the Good Lord knows I can't keep my trap shut for a whole day!! So while I am away from the office supervising a little outing of Mr Incredible's making, I leave you with ....

A queue of bulls!

I'll try not to keep you waiting too long for the next post...

*ahem*

No bull.

Influences and thrill-seeking genetics

Mustering and working cattle is a lot of what happens here at Granite Glen. Sure there is other work to be done - building fences, making sure waters are reliable, machinery maintenance. Gathering and sorting cattle is a big part though - and something that almost everyone can take part in. The kids are starting to be allowed to go on little musters, either on their own steeds, or in front of Dad's saddle. It's pretty good fun.

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And there is no guessing that it is my Dad's very favourite job.

As I have shared previously, the sport of campdrafting derives directly from the kind of work we do on a cattle property. We use horses to muster in and then separate cattle in the yards, when they need sorting out. And while my Dad retired from the campdraft arena (where he won his share of competitions) many years ago, he still adores the thrill of a good cut-out.

The speed, the anticipation, the power of the horse, the sharp turns and the 'yesssss' of success in getting the chosen steer through the gate where it needs to be... it was the same adreneline rush that saw his parents, and his mother's parents, get deeply into the sport of campdrafting. They just loved the buzz and that edge of danger. I often wonder if he had been born in another place and time, if he'd have been a base jumper. Or a chopper pilot. The thrill-seeking part of him is what's kept Dad young really.

Not bad for an almost-70-year-old...

And if you have been keeping track of us lately, you'll know the campdrafting bug has already infected my husband. I suspect my father has had more than a little influence on Mr Incredible - who already had his own thrill-seeking genetics (the man was a footy player and mountain climber). So you will understand that I took pause when I noticed this little fella watching Pagi in action at the yards...

He was agog - he did not blink at all during the drafting. . And nearly twisted his little head off trying to not miss a second of the action.

And as they took the cattle back to the paddock, I wondered about the conversations going on.

And if the campdraft bug will infect the fifth generation of my family?

Blinking thrill-seekers.

Favourite Things: Filthy Rear View

I snapped this photo as we drove home from our trip last week.

The ingredients are kind of ordinary:

Dusty road.

Blurry green grass.

Peeling old horse float.

Dirty car.

And yet...

This shot makes my heart sing!
I know not why...
Life is just chock full of little mysteries, isn't it?
BB

Strange and beautiful...

We went for a drive last weekend.

To a 'nearby'* town for a party.

(*Interpretation: only 2 1/2 hour drive away)

We do this in the country - drive for hours for some social action.

Actually, I would. Mr Incredible would be more than happy to stay put at Granite Glen 24/7. He is not a social animal at all. Luckily the party was for one of his relatives, so I didn't have to twist his arm too hard!

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It was a strangely beautiful trip.

We have been very lucky and received some nice rain in this corner of the world over the past week... and yes I am willing a little of it down towards the bushfire areas... so the grass is green around our ridges and the air washed clear and clean. The precipitation even washed most of the caked-on mud off our famously-filthy Prado...

Sadly the windscreen was still pretty smeared!
But stick with me, and try and look beyond it to the knoll ahead.
It's covered in a native shrub - known as grass trees or as they are technically referred to 'xanthorrhoea' ... sorry, but that sounds more like a messy medical epidemic than flora to me!
*slaps own hand*

They are a wild and ancient-looking plant, even more so when they grow their long spear (which I guess is kinda like their flower) annually. They were once referred to as 'blackboys' which is now considered completely politically incorrect. I can imagine though, at first glance, they must have appeared to early settlers a little like grass-skirted figures leaning on a spear, with one leg tucked up. In some areas, these plants are called Yakka and it is believed that some Aboriginal tribes actually used the long spikes as fishing spears. Whatever their name, I find them utterly fascinating. They seem like a landscape designer's dream - simple and artistically crazy at the same time!

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And speaking of crazy, here's another thing that caught my eye on our journey.

I badgered Mr Incredible to STOP THE CAR immediately when we spotted these guys enjoying a bit of a kip under a stand of gum trees in a roadside paddock as we drove along the highway.

Now perhaps I am over-reacting, but to this little Aussie the very LAST thing I expect to see in a country paddock out here, are deer.

Cattle, absolutely.

Horses, of course.

Kangaroos, sometimes.

Emus, occasionally.

Rabbits, for sure.

But deer?
That's just downright queer!

Where are we? Norway?

Yes Bambi & buddies...

I am looking at you!

...

Apparently someone once had a brain explosion (and a deer farm) somewhere in the area, and had a little, er, trouble keeping their charges inside the fences. And the ancestors of those original escapees still roam farmland just helping themselves to grass, shade and water.

And freaking the hell out of passers by.

And causing them to stop their vehicles suddenly to take photos.

"Sorry inspector, the accident wasn't my fault, I saw a stray feral deer!"

Not really, but it's only a matter of time!

This is the road leading back to Granite Glen.

I look at this view almost every time I come home from anywhere... and I love it.

It's not bizarre and freaky.

It's gentle and sweeping and familiar and reassuring.

It speaks to me.

(You can hum John Denver any time you like!)

Of course I didn't ask Mr Incredible to stop the car for this photo.

He puts up with pausing a road trip for pics of deer, the occasional babbling brook and even grass-tree infested knolls. I assure him that he is definitely in the running for Husband of the Year. But expecting him to stop for me to shoot sweeping dirt roads that I see almost every day? If I even look sideways, he just shakes his head. So the photo above was actually taken today (on the way home from kindy). And my sleeping little passenger didn't complain at all about the delay!

These are the faces we most often get greeted with as we cross the grid near the Granite Glen house... meet Cherokee and Sampson. Mr Incredible didn't mind stopping for their portraits - they are in his team of steeds and therefore quite photo-worthy. Plus it's not far to the house.

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This pair are sticky-beaks and characters and like breaking into the house yard to leave piles of round green calling cards on my lawn... so I guess they don't fit the 'strange' criteria in the heading for this post...

But then, just we crest the ridge as the house is about to come into view...

Roly-Poly Shorty-Naughty Rob Roy.

The strangest little animal of them all.

Focus and weekends...

I have a little dilemma...

You see, last week, Mr Incredible went back to school.

But it wasn't just ANY school.

It was a campdraft school.

(Everyone scratching their heads at this reference, please go here before continuing. It's important, trust me. If you don't, it's all just eye candy from here on!)

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The campdraft school went for two days at our local showgrounds, with 16 other avid campdrafters fronting up with their steeds. Mr Incredible has never campdrafted before, but loves watching this amazing Aussie sport. It's tricky and demanding and depends on a strong partnership between horse and rider to outwit and manoeuvre a beast (steer or heifer) away from a mob and around a set course. It's nerve-wracking, a bit dangerous, often frustrating and it can also be quite exhilarating.

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And with my father (a long-time campdrafter, and son of two pretty exceptional campdrafters) as a keen influence, and his own natural competitive spirit seeking some sort of outlet, Mr Incredible finally made the decision to 'have a bit of a go' at this sport. So he loaded up (Super) Trooper into the horse float, and joined the fray.

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And let me tell you, despite searingly hot conditions over the two days of training, the man was a picture of unwavering concentration...

Of course, it goes without saying that my concentration wavered regularly, but you are all used to that by now!

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I tried not to hang around too much (i.e. decided against sunstroke and in favour of air-conditioned shopping/errand running/kindy drop-off-pick-up/visiting Mum etc) but did manage to be ringside in time for this - Mr Incredible's second ever run with a beast (bovine) around a campdraft course.

Wanna see?

This is my hubby on his gorgeous steed - he has already completed the first peg (loop around a white post) and is galloping through the centre of the figure 8 (between the first two pegs) of the course. I was so excited and proud that he made it this far.

This is as Trooper is 'changing over' and moving from one side of the beast to the other to turn him a new direction. It means he has to check his speed, change lead legs, and quickly move across without clipping the back of the steer - my heart is always a little in my mouth at this point. Clearly my mind wasn't properly on my photography, as I have almost captured what I like to refer to as "the old headless horseman" shot. Yar. Not cool shootin' Bush Babe!

They have almost completed the second peg here, and are heading back through the centre of that figure 8. Can you see both Mr Incredible and Trooper focussed completely on the creamy steer?

The steer is throwing a bit of a challenge out and the speed is on, but the concentration is unwavering from horse and rider... See...

And then, before you know it, Mr Incredible and Trooper are through that magic invisible loop, and heading around to the right, aiming for 'the gate'.

Oh my Lord. A full course. My rookie hubby.

Like wow, man!

And then I find out that his first run was also a complete course. And the instructor mutters something like "better tell that wife of his that he's gonna be addicted". And things start flashing before my eyes. Things other than how amazed I am by such a good showing today.

...

Because even as he picks up his hat and walks his panting horse back across the arena, I can see it in HIS eyes.

And in that toothy grin...
See that?

Flashing across in front of the camera? Or is it just berfore my eyes?

My weekends. My nice 'at home' weekends. They are fading away, and being consumed with a new found sport... trucks, horses, dust, leather, galloping, sweat, laughter, sunburn, cursing, exhaustion, weary smiles. And lots and lots of washing. These images flash and blur. A dilemma focusses in my minds eye: Photo opportunities versus laundry. Dear God.

Trooper knows it too, I can see the prospect of busy weekends in his eyes too

'Yeah Bush Babe'

(says Trooper, in his silent horsey way)

'But it's bloody good fun!'

Mystery photo/Favourite Things answer

How are you all feeling after the amazing Life's Funny Like That Virtual Party we had here yesterday?

Hangovers anyone?

I do, mostly from all that uploading...

but gosh it was fun!!

Who'd have thought virtual could be so ...fun?

...

Alrighty then...

where were we before the place got overrun by cats, dogs and wellwishers galore?

Oh that's right...

You were getting stumped by the mystery Christmas gift...
No, it's not a pencil holder, a peppermill, or AI tube holder...

All intriguing answers though guys!! It's a game...

A game based on a kids game, but slightly more challenging...

A simple, fabulous game of three-dimensional noughts and crosses...

Well, 3D coloured marbles tic-tac-toe!! Two players get a bag of marbles (in our case, yellow or blue ) and they take turns at placing them one-by-one in the holes of the three level game 'board'. You play till all marbles are used, and then count the rows achieved of your colour...

See there is a blue row along the left of the image above?

And down the right hand side too..

You get rows not just along each plane, but down and diagonally too...

It works your mind

(well it does mine anyway, the lazy thing!)

tests your strategy

and

if you are a bit competitive

it can test your friendships too!

Not that I would know... I'm not competitive at all.

Well.

Not much.

I love it.

But Jeanie won't play it with me - she's a cards girl.

And she doesn't like losing, let me warn you!

Something in the blood, you think?

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What's your favourite family game (boardgame or other)?

LIFE'S FUNNY LIKE THAT! The party begins...

Pour the chardonnay and break out the champers!!!

It's the fabulous Debby's final chemo treatment today (February 19) and I'd thought we (all her blog buddies) might try and help her put a smile on her dial and help her celebrate.

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Now seeing as how we can't hold an actual party for Deb at HER place
(Tim might get one of his guns out if I break and enter)

I thought I'd hold a virtual one here.

Well, here, there and everywhere!

Soooo... everyone who knows Deb...

- wonderful, witty, wise and (at the moment) a little weary -

is invited to get their party pants on to take part.

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My gift-wrapped offering is of Deb's favourite Granite Glen critter:

'Mine' the Puppy...

Hope it makes you smile, Deb!

No matter whether you feel like this, you seem to keep showing us all how to face trouble, hold yourself together, and eventually, look at the funny side of it all! You are a rare and special woman...

*blows whistle loudly and blinks hard*
...

If you'd like to join in the fun, all you have to do is:

1. upload your 'Life's Funny Like That' post to your blog
2. put your link in the comments field here (at the foot of this post)
3. I will add your name (and image if I can get hold of one easily) to the list below.

It's easy as pie!

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Hopefully we will have a nice little reading reference centre for Deb as she recovers from the final blast. Of course, all 'just comments' are welcomed too!
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Let the (virtual)

Kick Chemo to the Curb Par-tay

commence!
OK, let's look around...

Jeanie's brought some scrumptious cake...

Pam (A Novel Woman) has brought along her party pooch Buddy ...

Hal of Dispatches from the Away Nation Dad has gone wild!

Hal this totally cracked me up!

... is it just me, or is there seems to be some sort of canine theme emerging here?

Alison from Three Times Kewl has added some seriously kewl colour to the party!

Lavinia Ladyslipper of The Birdbath Chronicles has brought some stirring warrior footage as a tribute to Deb (when I work out how to work the clip I'll post a pic!)...

.

Scotty from The Frog Prince has joined the fray with a sparkling shiraz, some potato salad, and a big bag of Twisties for the kids... (so thoughtful Scotty, Dash and Violet are into them already!)

.

M+B from Me & Boo brought some extra nibbles...

Diane of Loess is More...brought a little animal attitude...

Heh... You can also find this great pic of Diane's at Deb's favourite site I Can Haz Cheezburger (or whatever the heck it's called!)
.
Shirley from Rhubarb Whine is here with more balloons and good wishes...
Annie of Don't Make Me Yell at You has started singing! Pam of Thriving in the Chaos has brought her boys and the root beer...

Mary Paddock of Jumping off Cliffs brought some music to get the groove happening,

The good doctor at Muse Swings has brought plenty of PINK and BUBBLES - essential party accessories!Jayne of Our Great Southern Land has been twittering merrily in her sidebar!

.

Pencil Writer from Pencils and PostIt Notes is here too with big hugs for Deb...
.

Donna from The Comfort Place is whoopin' up a storm,

.

Brenda of The Mother Trucker is ready to rock,

.

Kate of Utah Zen is making me see double and brought monster cookies!

I'm Julie of Blah Blah Blog ...

...brought some more laughs!!

Danielle Michelle of Buried in Colorado gussied up (another) dog...

isn't he handsome?

and Gem of High on a Windy Hill sends some hugs Deb's way too.

...

Holy cow people!!

You HAVE REALLY come to the party with this tentative little idea!

Who'd a thought an internet greenhorn like moi could host a virtual party...

it totally blows me away!!

Thanks so much for making it work...

If I have left anybody off this list, please forgive me.

It has not been intentional... leave your comment and link in the comments field for Deb and other partygoers to find...

I am left with this comforting thought:

There are some seriously GOOD PEOPLE in this world.

Cheers my dears!
BB