Speechless...

Got this in my inbox this week.

It cracked me up.

Nothing hits my funny bone quite as hard as something written so very seriously.

Pretty much all of it makes me giggle like a silly schoolgirl.

Like the bit about avoiding exposing your husband to facecream.

And the completely 'in character' image of a satisfied wife to illustrate.

That peg bag looks positively dangerous.

Oh, and also referring to sex as 'congress'.

(No wonder politicians get so distracted!)
.

I was born at the end the decade this was (allegedly) written.

How the world has changed in my lifetime?

Whew... made it by THAT much!

Time

It's something I don't have much of at the moment. All my own fault of course... I like to pack things in, and I also like to soak things in. It's a recipe for poor time management, very ordinary packing efforts, exhaustion and also not enough sleep (and if I allowed myself enough of the latter, I wouldn't be producing sentences like that now, would I?).

.

I want to tell all about my wonderful weekend with friends. About my too-late-for-a-40-something-year-old nights, my horrified fascination with clubbing and my random Christmas shopping effort on four hours sleep. I wanted to share our experience attending my very first Stock Horse sale and confess to eating fairyfloss in the car with my kids. I'd also like to somehow show you the incredible clouds spilling soft showers onto faraway paddocks as we drove homeward.

.

But I cannot. Too damned tired.

Will a photo of an old tree trunk do you today?

Til the world steadies once more...

First Sunday in September...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY...

To my bloke who makes me skip a little like my daughter...

...and to the 'Old Fella'

...who should be skipping again soon!

(Hope that foot is better soon Dad!)

To my hard-workin' guys - thanks for everything!

...

Hope your guys had a great day too!

I'm not sure...

... but I believe there is some kind of magic caught behind horsey lashes ...

Image taken late this afternoon, of General's Mama, Jill.

Birthday blooms...

Some blooms for Jean-Jeanie today...

Whose birthday we finally celebrated this weekend...
With a couple of bunches of tulips nabbed from Woolies,
and a loud gathering of family and pasta and wine and carrot cake...

It was a rich and delicious affair - food by Jeanie, entertainment by her rellies...

We just weren't sure whether to sing

"I Love a Rainy Night"

"When the Saints Go Marching In"

or

"Tip-toe through the Tulips"

We settled on the latter.

And a stiff scotch

(or glass of milk, depending on our personal requirements).

Let's just say life is never boring in the bush!

Happy belated 40th darling...

(And Happy Up the Duff-ness, while we are here)

...

NB All non-Aussie readers: "Up the Duff" explained shortly...

Bovine Bonanza!

Honey, I'm HOME!

Have you missed me?

I did mean to twitter my way through Beef Week, but neglected to take my login info with me (how utterly surprising) so I basically abandoned my blogging for the longest stretch since I started this little black blog...

So much has happened in the past week, I hardly know where to begin...

...uh, how about arriving in Rockhampton (aka Rock-Vegas)

and seeing the familiar view of

the giant Brahman bull...

Giant fibreglass bulls (of varying breeds) have been posted at every entry point to the city. It's how you know you're in Beef Central. Natch.

It also says a lot about the Aussie sense of humour that since these bulls were erected a couple of decades ago, none have EVER been able to hang onto their testicles.... we blame university students (it's apparently a rite of passage) and the fake bull-builders have all but given up keeping their bovines in a proper manly state.

Simple things amuse us.

These bulls however, were intact.

(Requisite bull bottom photo)

They were all inspected thoroughly...
(OK maybe not JUST for their sac size, but it makes a good story!)

Requisite stern silent bloke image.

(Notice anything different about Mr Incredible?)

...

As you can imagine, beef was on the menu at most eateries at the Rocky showgrounds.

In order to gross out the vegetarians who visit me,

and make the mouths water of those who partake of red meat,

I give you...

The stone grill.

A fabulous way of do-it-yourself steaks

- your fillet is handed to you raw, and cooks on a sizzling stone on the plate beside your salad. How well done it ends up, is totally in your hands!

We also cooked some tomato (sorry, I can't stand it raw) and Dash's hot dog. This was not actively encouraged by the restaurateur, but was an effective method of keeping both Dash and I happy!

Among the (other) slightly disturbing sights at Beef Week were these blokes dressed as kangaroos bounding around on springed stilts... a number of cans of the local brew were required to fully appreciated the larrikan antics of these dudes...

It should be documented properly that Violet

- or as I like to call her: Little Ice-Cream Features -

had her way with a chocolate cone or two (or 30) throughout the week...

black t-shirts were a top idea!

Dash and Violet took advantage of boot polishing 'booths'/hay bales...
Of course a lot of behind-the-scenes action took place looking after our own team of cattle (more in a later post)
... activities that our kids took to other on-site exhibits...
Here is Violet hand-feeding straw to a bull for some other exhibitors...
Luckily they thought it was cute and took pics of she and Dash too!
I could be wrong, but I do suspect they work the 'cute factor' to the max as soon as a lense is turned their way, my offspring... ya think?

We all pretty much looked like this at the end of each day - unfortunately Violet was the only one given the luxury of a lift back to the car at the end of each day.

I was soooo jealous!

So, enough about me...

how did you spend your week in my absence?

While you are waiting, waiting, waiting...

Life is overtaking blogging here at Granite Glen.

(How rude!)

My apologies to those waiting with bated breath to see who won the Name the Foal contest... my excuse in the delay is that Mr Incredible has been home a grand total of 42 minutes today - none of which he devoted to choosing a winner (and this is all about making HIM take the heat!).

Bah Humbug!

We have a show to attend all day tomorrow but I promise I'll print out the list of names and shove it under his tired nose when we get back. Or else I will just make up a winner. You never know. Heh.

...

So to appease,

before I tackle a terrible mountain of housework,

pack up Salina's bag ready to return to Jeanie

and iron nice country show clothes for three kiddos and moi,

I leave you with this...

D'ya love me again?

:-)

BB

Favourite things... RM Williams catalogue

I got my hot little hands on this yesterday...

It's a catalogue.

But not just any catalogue.

It's a new, glossy, fabulous RM Williams catalague.

I love sitting down with a tall coffee and flicking through the pages of a publication like this.

It takes me away from the laundry and dirty fingernails and kitchen chaos for 20 minutes or so. My getaway.

Wanna come?

Hello RM.

You old devil.

Hope you don't mind me putting your image up unannounced...

I promise I won't take your name in vain!

(Check this earlier post for a mention of this Aussie icon).

...

Wanna see what what is on offer in this lovely shiny mag?

Coffee at the ready?

Let's go!

Firstly, there are lots of cute men.

(Not that Mr Incredible should be remotely concerned. He knows I like a little catalogue browsing! And he is secure in the knowledge that I think he is a hottie!)

I couldn't see any price tags for these guys. But I suspect I could not afford any.

Heh!

And there are lots of gorgeous photos of gorgeous blue-eyed women.

This one frightens me a bit.

Very Stylish, and Preppie and Icy all at once.

Of course I could be jealous that I have NEVER been able to wear a scarf like this.

And my eyes are muddy brown and not icy blue.

*sigh*

There are gorgeous items of clothing for people who have not yet lost their waists.

If anyone finds mine, could they please post it to me?

Thanks.

Appreciated.

And there are lots of gorgeous photos of gorgeous bridles and other leathergoods.

Like this AUSTRALIA-themed 'Drovers' leather jacket.
I won't tell you the price.
I will say that I needed a good scotch after I read it!
The cost of looking like Hugh Jackman is stiff.
Like my drink!

I totally heart this belt.
It's a divine hand-plaited 'Overseer' belt.
If Mr Incredible is reading this, my birthday is coming up!
*wink*
Now is it just me, or does this guy look totally like George Clooney?
In an Aussie, RM Williams kinda way?
Yum.
Or if you need something a little younger and less mature and experienced-looking,
how 'bout this dude on the right...

Nope. I agree.
Our George lookalike on left still wins.
*sigh*
I love catalogue browsing.
...
If I have whet your appetite for eye candy of the mankind, apparel or leathergoods kind, and you want to peruse some more RM offerings,
click here...
But have your coffee ready.
And a cinnamon roll.
And maybe a bottle of Glenfiddich.
Don't say you haven't been warned.

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.

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?

...

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

Don't just look...see! (2)

When all you can see is barbed wire and dry grass...

Look closer.
Where is the unnoticed beauty in your life?

Come on in, the water is clear! And a CONTEST...

CONTEST TIME IS UP!

...

Welcome to the Granite Glen pool...

It's a vital part of the setup here, with long, hard, hot dusty days a regular occurrence (and the men work pretty hard too! Heh!). Just the knowledge that a place to cool down awaits our hard-workin' musterers, tractor drivers, fence builders and truckies helps no end with the general atmosphere in our (very big) workplace! The fact that the musterers, tractor drivers and truckies are usually the same few people makes it all the sweeter.

...

But this pool is a pretty special place for other reasons.

It has some serious history.

It's one of the oldest pools in the region... more than 50 years old in fact!

It was the brainchild of my Dad.

Of course.

He was just 18 years old, but had already been running this place for over four years, when the hole was dug for this 'water hole'. It was not with my grandmother's full support - I believe Dad actually pretended that the digging was for a dam for watering animals. I cannot imagine quite how that conversation went, after it became apparent that this hole was perhaps a little too close to the house!

...

Anyway, after realising that a few logs would not provide the water-tightness required, Dad went in search of some more expert opinion and assistance. At the local pub, he discovered a gentleman who had some experience building pools on ships.

Bingo!

For days, he and this gentleman dug. Then carted sand. Then mixed up wheelbarrow-loads of cement which was wheeled into the big square hole. Then painstakingly formed up each load of cement with planks of wood. The faint marks of these boards are still visible on the walls of the pool. And the planks were turned into a fence which still runs along the bottom of our houseyard. Nothing gets wasted 'round here!

...
The pool - 17 metres by 6 metres and 2 metres deep at the deep end - would prove popular in this district. It has hosted many a party - family events, polocrosse break-up days, birthday parties. And for almost four decades of it's life it was UNFILTERED! You heard me. Basically, it was a glorified dam. Murky and mysterious. The leaves were scooped out, of course. No-one expected clear blue pools in those days. Mind you, the image of horrid cane toads floating around in the green rippling pool water (double and triple deck! Ewww!) still haunt me to this day!
...

Thanks to my brother, who about ten years ago put his mind and efforts to plumbing the pool up to pipes and a sand filter, the pool is now a place that is pretty much toad and muck free. We give thanks every day for this particular upgrade!

Your blood is worth bottling Pig!

Of course, seeing as how Sven the Pool Boy refuses to show his mug around these parts, it doesn't always reach the heady level of clarity and blueness shown in this pic. Mr Incredible is required to wear Sven's hat (because he doesn't already have enough to do round here!) after I was sacked from the role (with a chronic inability to remember lever positions on pool pumps). I sometimes ask him to take his shirt off while performing this duty. He usually ignores me!

...

This is our Sven-in-training.

He is quite some way off being trusted with the mechanics of the pump and chemical distribution. Can you see why??

Of course, he gets plenty of mileage out of our water hole.

And his Mum does enjoy his enjoyment.

And he is pretty handy as a lifesaver too!

My little Violet (aka TLW) seems to appreciate his efforts (well most of the time!)
...
There is just one thing about the pool that visitors do need to bear in mind when they take a dip in our great pool, however.
It's not the cane toads.
Or the green water.
Or the potentially shirtless pool boys.
*sigh*
It's this...

Can't see what I mean.

Well this brings me something I haven't done for a while...

it's MYSTERY PHOTO TIME!

..............

Can you guess what this hole is for, right beside the pool?

Best answer wins a BB print of their choice.

Leave your entry in the comments section.

Contest finishes Friday, 8pm Aussie time.

Hint: we live very very close to Mother Nature here at Granite Glen.

Postscipt: I should have made it clear in the post that ACCURACY matters little or none in any Bush Babe contest. You WILL get the answer from me in good time. In the MEANTIME however, let your IMAGINATIONS rip. Go wild. Go free. Go crazy.

Ask yourselves: What MIGHT POSSIBLY be down that hole?

I need lots of silly 'colour' in the answers. I need descriptions that make me spit my coffee. Please?? Cause what I really need is more housework to do!

So, go your hardest people! Make me spit!