And the winners ARE...

Alrighty then... tis done!

We giggled and scratched our heads and snorted at your entries...

as usual it was outrageously hard to nail it down to just one winning comment
but Jeanie has spoken and

The Winner of the Bush Babe 8" x 12" print of their choice is:
Jayne!

"You know, Dash, I think I used the salad oil instead of the saddle oil last night!"

We are arguing that it could equally be said vice versa - depending on the apparent discomfort level of our erstwhile father. Heh!

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It was a hard choice. I loved Stephen's hat angle, and those who guessed something gate-related must know my Dad in real life! He lives to get others to open gates for him (his knees protest all that getting on and off!). I am taking a paddle to Pam (A Novel Woman) and The Accidental Housewife for their extremely risque remarks - well, I would, but I suspect you would both enjoy it far too much. You made us totally snort. And I am currently holding my hand over my mother's eyes. I am afraid I might have to explain y'all! Too funny...
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Oh, hang on. There was another prize wasn't there?

The Winner of the fabulous Aussie DVD "The Castle" is:


Random number generated (for total of 31 comments) - 7
And I think comment # 7 belongs to: T Lee
Persistence pays off!!
(You will have to give us your review when you get the movie!)

Thanks to everyone for taking part! We loved your work.

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And I suppose you want to know the REAL story?

(Can YOU handle the truth?)

Well... it really comes from my uncle - Dad's little brother - the ex-rodeo rider.

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When we were kids (and he was a 20-something-year-old cowboy) he would ride up behind our ponies as we rode out to muster, and stealthily lift us completely out of the saddle. (Think buckjumping horses or bulls, and that dude who flies in on another steed to lift the hapless rider from his bucking animal and away to safety). If we were lucky, the pony would just keep on walking at relatively the same pace and we could maintain our dignity and slide back into the saddle calmly. If not, we would be left mid-air, legs flailing and begging to be put down.
He would laugh uproariously and say:

"What? You never been taken off by a professional pick-up man before?".

Which was really hilarious, because we had. About a hundred times. By him. Never failed to amuse him. We learned to have eyes in the backs of our heads. And we rarely volunteered to ride out on a muster in front of him!
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So the photo that looks like my Dad was gently patting his grandson on the back was actually a prelude the same playful threat:

"Ever been lifted off by a professional, boy?".

Dash has had little experience in this department, so was too naive to be nervous. I'd say Mr Incredible's body language says "I don't think that's a great idea!". And perhaps remembering that his daughter was documenting activities behind him, Pagi had second thoughts and kept on riding...

(If you noted the comments you'll see Jeanie-the-Judge spotted the scenario immediately).

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Hope you have a great day - we are headlong into branding today so posting might be sketchy. Will check in on y'all later though.

And winners - please email me at your earliest convenience.
Au revoir...
BB

Generations - and a giveaway or two!

There's been a heap going on behind the scenes here lately...
We are preparing for branding at the moment - one of our big annual tasks as cattle producers. Jeanie is coming over - with her mustering professional Salina ready and rearing to go. We managed a mini-getaway (photos still to come) to the beach, and the normal getting-ready-for-school events and packing-as-much-as-humanly-possible-into-holidays activites.

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So while I am juggling the myriad of events looming on my google calendars, I give you a sweet series of photos, shot just before Christmas. The set feature the three most important blokes in my life - my Dad, my husband and my son.

They were setting off from our house to muster in the cattle in the next paddock...

Sharing a special man-to-man moment together...

Savouring the anticipation of the muster ahead -

and trying not to stand on the madly cavorting dogs, all ready for action...

Mentally planning the strategy of gathering the cattle as they peruse the paddock.

Briefly soaking in the vibrant verde of the pasture, after a long dry spell, before...

Setting off to seriously address the task at hand...

And effortlessly handling the job as only men of experience can.

(Can a seven-year-old with six months mustering under his belt be considered a 'man of experience'? Ask Dash, he'll soon tell you!)
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But here's where you come in...

I wonder what is REALLY going on in photo number two?

If you've played my games before, you'll know I don't care about the truth.

(I can't HANDLE the truth!)

I shall give you the truth at the end of the game...

I want creativity and comedy.

You know I am just too lazy to provide it myself...
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So please, leave your guess in the comments section - the one that makes us laugh (and/or spit our coffee) the most will win a 8x12" BB print of their choice.

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I shall also do a random pick and give away this wonderful Australian movie to the lucky winner.

'The Castle' (remastered) DVD.

It's classic Aussie humour with some lines that have infiltrated the Australian vernacular -

'Tell him he's DREAMING, son!"

and

'Feel the serenity!".

Even the cover descriptions are taking the p***. I loved it's whackiness, Michael Caton as Darryl Kerrigan, the quintessential Aussie blue-collar battler - and a bonus is a young Eric Bana as 'Con Petropoulous... an accountant and amateur kickboxer'.

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CONTEST OPEN UNTIL MONDAY 9PM (Queensland, Australia time)
Feel free to enter as many times as you like!

So... what are you waiting for, my friends?

The comments section awaits your guess (and so do I!).

+++CONTEST CLOSED+++

Jeanie has been designated official adjudicator (we are all putting our votes in though) and I shall run the random number generator shortly.

Thanks for playing, girls and boys!

And the winner is...

Thanks so much to everyone who took precious time from their day to trawl through my posts to find their favourite images. I have added some suggestions to the selection I will be offering next Tuesday, at the Bush Melbourne Cup event at my cousin's property (that's our version of 'ranch' for you Americans!).

I decided that rather than choosing a favourite myself, I would go all slick on you, and use the random number generator at Random.org - hey, I can pretend I'm as wildly popular as Ree, The Pioneer Woman, can't I? Heh. (Actually having 40,000 people respond to my blog would probably give me a heart attack - I love that I kinda know you all!! Feels like a party of friends.) Anyway, I worked out how to run the generator and got this number:

Number 17 - which correlates to commenter 17...

...Anonymous Bill!!

Please email bushbabeaustralia@gmail.com to send your details...

and here is your suggestion which I shall have printed up (8x12") specially for you!

Wendy also suggested this shot, so if you email me, I will send you a version for your desktop.

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Aside #1 : I don't mind at all if people pop their blog site addesses into their comments, especially if you are forced to post under the 'anonymous' section. I love to know who is visiting me. And share in the 'linky love'.

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Aside #2: Cactus Jack Splash - I loved your idea of the electronic display and

will use my laptop to slideshow images on the table. Thanks!

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Here are some of the other suggestions made which I am adding to the stockpile... please note that Bottle Tree Moon and Bunyip Reflections also made the cut as did a couple of roo shots which I will post soon.

Afternoon Ironbark.

Mama's eye.

Cool Clear Water.

Prickly Pear in bloom.

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Here's hoping someone likes 'em enough to actually buy them!! I will also pop them over shortly to the 'ready to purchase' post here in case one of my readers wants an Aussie Bush image for their wall or Christmas offerings.

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And...speaking of Christmas...

A friend suggested to me yesterday that I should make a calendar of bush photos...

What do you think?

Would it be something you might put on a Christmas list?

HELP me choose... and WIN twice!

Right, enough with all the serious stuff.

Time for some fun...

It's been WAY too long since I had a competition here, don't you think?

It's time for me to entice you to help me with promises of goodies, anyway!

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I have taken on ANOTHER little project (I know) and I need your assistance.

I am holding a photography stall at an event my cousin is hosting for the Melbourne Cup.

It will be an amazing day - with lots of talented bush people bringing their wonderful wares to her lovely bush home, and everyone will be frocked up to the nines to watch the 'race that stops a nation'. You know... dressing up, driving ludicrous distances, to stand in a paddock and cheer on faraway animals we've never seen before.

Very Australian!

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Anyway, she convinced me to be part of the stall-holding stable, and I am now doing a major panic... what to get printed up? What will people want to buy?

I am keeping the theme "Aussie Bush Images" (no kids pics or face shots).

I have ripped through the archives and chosen a few shots - see below.

But it suddenly doesn't seem enough...

Here's what I have:

1. Ready to play!

(Polocrosse image)

2. Old Gate
(Old Stuff)

3. Jacaranda Petals
(Trees)

4. Action!
(Polocrosse image)

5.Wedgetail taking off
(Wildlife)

6. In pursuit!
(Campdraft image)

6. Purple boots

(Campdraft images)

7. Mustering in the rain

(Mustering images)

7. Waiting for the next mob
(Campdraft images)

8. Goanna in Gum Tree

(Wildlife images)

7. Old fence
(Old Stuff)

7. Emu parade
(Wildlife)
...................................................

So do you have a favourite shot from this blog?

Maybe it's already in this lot, or maybe I have missed something special?

Go for a wander through the archives and choose a shot that grabs you.
Then then add your suggestions in the comments section
(either the photoname, or the post in which is showed and description)
and be in the running for an enlarged print of that photo.

Note, your entry can be one of those images listed above too...

While I am feeling like giving stuff away, I notice the 'Who Rides With Me' section on the side is inching towards 100 followers. I reckon I should also throw in a bonus print to the 100th mad person to sign up for this Bush Blog?

(I still can't believe I have 10 people interested, let alone 88!)

Thanks so much for your help (in anticipation).

What would I do without y'all?

CAPTION WINNER: If only they could talk!

I feel a little like that Pantene shampoo commercial -

the Rachel Hunter one:

It won't happen overnight, but it WILL happen!

Life has once again overtaken me at 200km/hr, thanks to my ability to take on way too much extra-curricular stuff, but I have finally found 5 minutes to announce a winner for my little caption contest of the other day.

(I love that expression: the other day. Covers a multitude of tardy sins!)

Can I just say how FABULOUS it was to read through the imaginative entries - from Australiana yarns to Willy Wonka dialogues! What clever readers I DO have...

Here we go:

Thanks Deb, for this insight into the harsh workout regimes of the stars of Granite Glen. After all, these animals are in the glare of the GG paparazzi day in, day out. The pressure to maintain that swelte yet furry physique is enormous!

Gave me a giggle anyway.

I suspect that (in reality) Axel was actually being severely intimidated by Rob Roy (he's pretty much intimidated by every animal on the property! Think Scooby Doo...). The Shetland fairly sashayed away from the scene so goodness knows what really went down in this scene.

If only they could really talk...

Deadline extended - win a BB print!

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Get your entry in by 4pm today (GG time - see clock at right).

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I am cold and I am brain-dead after attempting to teach a class of 4-12 year olds how to use Photo Elements at Dash's tiny one-teacher school. I have made the startling discovery that I am not a teacher. Please remind me of this if I ever have a grand idea that I can share my limited knowledge with the world at large.

BUSH BABE IS NOT A TEACHER.

(My new motto)

I shall print it out and plaster it above the computer I think!

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Anyhoo, enough of my whinging. What I really wanted to do was extend my laziness to new horizons, and get my readers to help me out with a little pic-story I have whacked together.

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It features two of my favourite subjects:

Axel the 4-month-old gangly, eager-beaver Great Dane puppy, and

Rob Roy the cranky 6-year-old chronically overweight Shetland pony.

They have absolutely no clue what to make of each other and it entertains me endlessly...

Think you can you help me caption the slideshow below to make it even funnier?

Winner will get an 8x12" print of their choice from this little black blog.
Comp open til Monday afternoon (GG time).
Have fun kids!
Cannot wait to read your entries...