Changes... Incredible Changes!

I've been thinking... and watching movies with my daughter while I fold a MOUNTAIN of clothes. It's a dangerous combination of chores.

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Someone mentioned to me the other day that the names I have chosen for the Cast of Characters here on my blog are kinda mixed-up. They were suggesting it would be easier to have single names for my husband and daughter, rather than three letter acronyms. After all, 'The Little Woman' and 'Serious Sexy Bloke' (while apt) can feel a bit bizarre mid-conversation.

But this person said that 'Dash' was the absolute right name of my little man. Fitted him like a glove!

And I thought no more of this conversation... til today.

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Then this afternoon I was watching The Incredibles with The Little Woman. It's easily one of my favourite movies (we watch kids' movies a lot at this stage in our lives!). And as we watched Violet peer through her jet black fringe, I looked at my daughter.

Her (admittedly blonde) locks were in their usual disarray and her twinkling eyes peered out through the veil of 'bwonde haiw' at me. And the super force-field of her Mad Face came to mind. Hmmmm, I thought.

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And then, as I pulled burrs from socks, I noticed how Mr Incredible was blond (like SSB) and big (like SSB) and quite handsome in a super-hero-kinda way (like SSB).

Not that SSB wears tights.

Or lifts steam engines for muscle-building.

Well, not often.

Double Hmmmmm.

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And I thought:

Well, my butt is certainly bigger than it was in my Early Action Days.

Just like Elastigirl's...

And although I'm not as flexible as I once was, I DO have double jointed fingers.

That counts surely?

And if not, then the irony and sarcasm of such a connection would be worth a giggle!

Triple Hmmmmm....

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And I wondered:

Can one change the names of one's loved ones mid-blog?

And if not, why not?

Will y'all cope if I throw this kind of spanner* in the works?

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*Where spanner = changing names

Where Mr Incredible = Serious Sexy Bloke (SSB)

And where Violet = The Little Woman (TLW).

And where ElastiGirl might sometimes be Bush Babe in disguise??

(Cause a girl can never have too many aliases!)

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Oh, and I got a new sign-off.

It's not actually my real writing.

But I wish it was.

(Thanks for the idea Cher and Shirley!)

Yours in Super Hero Fantasy...

Sober and stormy thoughts...

Just a quick note to send my thoughts to those who live in my old hometown, BrisVegas...

Terrible storms have ripped through the city three times this week,

and I ache for those who have lost so much in the devestation.

So much damage has been done to property and at least two people have lost their lives in these storms.

Am hoping all those I know there are safe and well.

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We had a bad windstorm here yesterday which brought down big ironbarks and gum trees everywhere. The damage around the house was limited, as we are careful NOT to have big trees near the building itself. My bother's mailbox was smashed to smithereens by a huge blue gum and we have been snigging logs off the roads in order to get through. We are also hoping all the cattle and horses have come through unscathed. It'll take us while to get round all the paddocks to check.

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Hugs to those also involved in the terrible balcony collapse in Ascot.

Where an afternoon of happy celebration turned so tragic.

My heart goes especially to the son whose mother was celebrating his graduation, and who will not get to celebrate any more of his precious milestones with him.

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I will think of him when I pick my son from the schoolbus this afternoon.

Life is so bloody precious!

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(NB Images from this post courtesy of Brisbane publications - see links from photos)

Watch this space!

Drama is rife here at Granite Glen tonight...

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It began just as I was reading a bedtime story to Dash...
We were just one page into 'Top Cat' when my six-year-old son's eyes grew huge.

Well, even HUGER than normal...

Chewing frantically on his right index finger while his left hand clutched at his chest, he began stuttering:
Mum, Mum, Mum!

Imagining something dreadful, I sat bolt upright and grabbed his face in my hands.
What? What is it?
He opened his mouth and with half a fist still stuffed between his top and bottom teeth he muttered:
"Mah 'oof az 'obbig!!"

Pardon? said I

(my Dentist-speak not quite being up to speed for fist-muffled conversation).

I pulled his saliva-covered fingers from his mouth.

What IS WRONG?

He smiled the most beatific smile at me and announced:

My TOOTH IS WOBBLING!

Really, REALLY WOBBLING!!!

Watch (for) this space!

Dash's Summer Splash

It's been hot round the ridges here lately...

While snow falls in Canada and Pennsylvannia,

here the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees (C) in November and the battle to get the pool transformed back from murky winter green to clear summer blue has been on in earnest. Unfortunately, Sven my (imaginary) pool boy has been sacked more times than I can count. And I have sacked myself from the pool duties more than once (although the final pink slip was pretty FINAL after I pumped a third of the pool water down the hill overnight... oops!). The air may have been blue but the water was low and murky!

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But the battle is almost won. Thanks to my heavenly, hunky, handy hubby. And here to celebrate and to demonstrate the proper pool entry technique is Dash....

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Ready...

Steady...
Open mouth and leap forwards...

Come in for a full-belly landing...

And achieve maximum spash!
Spectacular Dash... well done.
Now Mummy just checked out the photos and..
Hang on...
that's kinda cool...

Hey, anyone else see the cool patterns in Dash's big splash?
To me it's kinda surreal and psycadelic (baby) ...
I see something that looks a little like cupped hands on the left...
(And no, I haven't been inhaling the chlorine! C'mon, a little imagination people!)

What can you see in this picture?

Besides only slightly-green water I mean.

Australia - should be Hugh-ge!

Tonight is the world premiere of Baz Luhrmann's movie, Australia.

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Despite the fact that the name of this flick puts me off (seriously, naming a movie after an entire nation? That's a long way to fall, man!)... well, I'm kinda cautiously excited about it.

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After all, Hugh Jackman with his shirt off... that cannot be a bad thing!

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And I also love 'Our Nicole'.

Despite the fact that she was married to Tom and owns a completely frozen forehead, she appears to have redeemed herself by marrying the fabulous Keith (oh, I do love his music) and topping it off by popping out sweet little Sunday. (OK, again with the names!).

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And I am a sucker for grand panoramas of our amazing countryside and sweeping outback vistas. And did I mention you get a glimpse of sexy Hugh sans upper body apparel? It's worth mentioning again... just in case you missed it the first time.

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So tell me, what's your take on this flick?

And do you reckon it's OK to name a movie after a country?

Seriously?

Conversations with Dash: the wedding photos

I was going through my wedding snaps last night. I wanted to send a couple to my sister to remind her what a lovely day her wedding had been, how much fun everyone had had, and how beautiful she is. (She needs reminding sometimes! She forgets.)

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My wise little six-year-old-going-on-old-man, Dash, was looking over my shoulder as I pulled up the photos on my laptop. I had this one, taken during the vows part of Jeanie and V's ceremony, on the screen...

And gazing at it, Dash said:

Mummy...

is Jeanie sad or happy in that photo?

I smiled.

What do you think, darling?

He pondered the image seriously and then declared:

Well her mouth is a bit down at the corners,

and her eyes look a little bit wet,

but she doesn't really seem sad...

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And what do her eyes say? I asked.

He looked more closely.

Then, with absolute conviction he said:

Her eyes say "I love you".

And once again, he was exactly right.

You asked for it...prints and prices

I have been asked on a number of occasions about getting prints from this blog. I am so amazed and flattered that people have bothered to enquire... and I have finally decided to look into getting some prints done up from my snaps of life here at Granite Glen.

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Initially I will put up some thumbnails of prints I have already sent out to winners of my Mystery Photo competitions. Below are my first batch for sale.

... Fence sitters

(Campdraft images)

Queensland Sunset

(Roads and Views)

Campdrafting Close-Up

(campdraft images)

Bunyip Reflections
(Roads and Views)

Bottle Tree Moon

(Roads and Views)

Campdraft Spurs

(Campdraft images)
Mustering Scene

(Mustering images)

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NEW AVAILABLE IMAGES

>

Ready to play!

(Polocrosse image)

Old Gate
(Old Stuff)

Jacaranda Petals
(Trees)

Action!
(Polocrosse image)

Wedgetail taking off
(Wildlife)

In pursuit!
(Campdraft image)

Purple boots

(Campdraft images)

Mustering in the rain

(Mustering images)

Waiting for the next mob
(Campdraft images)

Goanna in Gum Tree

(Wildlife images)

Old fence
(Old Stuff)

Emu parade
(Wildlife images)
. Afternoon Ironbark.

(roads and views)

Mama's eye.

(Horses)

Cool Clear Water.

(Roads and Views)

Prickly Pear in bloom.

(Roads and Views)

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Each will come as an 8 x 12" print. The price will be $35 (AUD) per print which includes postage (discount for batch orders). I will provide bigger prints if people are interested. You will have to work out the conversion for other currencies I'm afraid! I also use PayPal and will take orders via email (bushbabeaustralia@gmail.com).

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In this email, I will need to know:

1. Your name

2 Your mailing address

3. Which photos you'd like (name under each image above).

4. The number of prints of each image.

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I will then reply with your total owing and details for payment.

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I am also working on some montages and having them available in the same way soon.

Here is the very first of these for your perusal:

Equestrian Montage

Images selected by Kate (Utah Zen)

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Montages are 20x32" (will be posted in a cylinder) and cost $85 including postage etc.

Other prints and montages of images from this blog are possible, but may take more time to prepare. Patience is the key here.

Your patience. Heh.

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Thanks so much for your interest.

I am still humbled that people even take the time to come back and read my little blog!

:-)

Hugs

BB