She's the Voice

A funny thing happened eight days ago, on the other side of the world...

A few minutes of something special was recorded, giving the world a clip that should inspire people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, anywhere.

...

This woman happened.

Have you seen her yet?

If so, you are probably among the more than 30 million who have watched her on U-Tube. I don't actually watch that much TV anymore - a few hours a week really. But I caught this clip from Britian's Got Talent about four times on various talk shows this week, and then searched for it today on U-Tube. And every single time I watch it, it moves me.

Alright, I admit, I cry.

Every. Single. Time.

Why?

One middle-aged woman making strangers on the other side of the world weep with emotion - seems bizarre. I guess she touches me because she utterly transforms from ordinary, from so-called 'ugly duckling' - as seen through the eyes of a critical audience whose reaction to her was recorded - into powerful, beautiful woman. Because, Lordy Lord, this girl can SING.

...

She bursts forth with this unexpected voice from heaven ... a voice I always wished I had, kinda imagined I might have had with all those hours of practice in the hairbrush and behind the wheel of the car. But alas... my darling husband always wonders aloud who is standing on the cat's tail when I try to get melodious! (I am hoping my talents lie in other areas!)

...
But back to this amazing amatuer singer who has so gripped the world. The Britain's Got Talent clip is amazing for the shift in attitude that happens in an instant.

This single 47-year-old from a small Scottish village, with barely any singing training

wiped this nasty eye-roll from Simon's Cowell's face...

And replaced it with this slightly gobsmacked look...
And halted this unkind mimicking of her dancing ...
Into this shocked appreciation...
If you have not yet seen Susan Boyle in action...
Do yourself a favour:
click here.
You MUST...
And you will do this...
I promise.
On her already-erected Wikipedia page, Susan is quoted having no idea who twittering supporter Ashton Kutcher was, before going on to star beside him on American TV show Larry King Live. How refreshing! (I wonder if Ashton thought so too?)

...
She is also reported to have observed
(referring to BGT audience's initial reaction to her on stage):
Modern society is too quick to judge people on their appearances. ...
There is not much you can do about it; it is the way they think; it is the way they are. But maybe this could teach them a lesson, or set an example.

Well I think she looked beautiful...

especially when her confidence rose alongside that soaring voice...

and I hope she never gets a makeover.

What a marvellous gift she has.
Her voice, her story.
What a woman.
What an inspiration.
Wouldn't it be great if all the Susan Boyles of the world find their voice, their gift, and share that beauty with us.
We should be so lucky...

Cutestuff #1 gets a name!!

Well ... it took quite some time to trawl through the deluge of fabulous offerings from my amazing readers who so willingly gave up their precious time and brain cells (well, lend them at least) to help us find a handle for our little colt.

I DID manage to get the elusive (and rather tired) Mr incredible to actually sit here at this very office chair tonight to read through the entries (he was a bit bamboozled by the amount of people having a shot at this)... the following got honorable mentions:

Heather: Nelson (very clever and a personal fave of mine)
Wendy: Admiral's Star Trooper (except we already have a Trooper!)
Diane: everything you suggested (the explanations made my head spin, and then blame the chardonnay!)
Gem: Char-do-neigh (oh you know me too well! Bonus points!)
Marty: Captain Jack (brings to mind Pirates of the Carribean! Ahoy!)
Wrensong Farm: Admiral's Larrikan (oh the shoe fits!)
So hard to choose, so many to pick from... but we did love and lean towards the military and naval connections from his Daddy's side of the family. When we first started talking names, we kinda liked General (which I think Debby suggested originally?) and then someone (I cannot recall who now, and if it was in person or via email) suggested Brigadier which we love - I think it had something to do with one star in the navy being a Brigadier? I'm sure one of you will correct me if I am wrong.)So in a roundabout and convoluted way, the winner of this competition (who kinda came close to that last choice of name in spirit) is....
Lydia: with her offering of Private Star
(I think Mr Incredible just like the connotations of 'Private' - something he'd like me to be more of!)
So email me Lydia! And start choosing your photo.

I wonder what Mama Jill thinks of all this?

Did you notice her worried muzzle in the above pics of Private/Brigadier's most recent handling? She is a gentle soul (you can tell by her wonderful soft eye) but a great mother...I think she'd be proud of the outstanding names you guys have come up with here.

They are all certainly better than Cutestuff #1.

Your time and brain cells have been appreciated.

Signing off to go and regenerate the latter.

BB

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

Seven...

It's been a momentous day here at Granite Glen.

We started pretty early - Salina and Dash were up with the birds,

and with this little little fella...

the Amazing Axel.

Amazing if he ever grows into those feet.

Amazing bodily function control for a nine-week-old

(no house/car messes yet - touch wood!)

...

Oh, and there WAS something else happening today...

What was it again??

Oh...

That's right.

Dash turned seven.

And after tearing into his presents (yes that is a giant Bumblebee Transformer, for all you other Transformer afficianados out there!) I had a moment or two to reflect on the seven years that have passed since Dash arrived on the scene.

On the seven years since the obstetrician held up a strapping, big, vernix-covered baby boy to show Mr Incredible and I.

Seven years since I first heard those words: You're a Mum!

Seven years since I first learned the real meaning those words: the sheer terror and simultaneous explosion of joy that accompanies that realisation as you gaze on the squirming bundle in the cot beside the hospital bed.

Seven years since I embarked upon one of the most incredible rollercoaster rides of my life - emotionally for me and my husband, physically for my son.

Seven years ago today, I had no idea of what lay before me.

Thank God.

...

If I did, I might never have embarked on the journey proper, and learned that from duress and unimaginable obstacles, can come something so pure and hard-won and delightful, that it makes you forget the 'tough stuff' ever happened.
...

I might never have known this grand little man

with his extraordinary long fingers

his expressive wide brown eyes

his determination and his desire to please
His love of guns and Ninja turtles

Tranformers and horses and Great Danes.

Happy Seventh Birthday, little Man.
Don't be in too much of a hurry to grow up on your Ma.
She's savouring this bit of your life like crazy!
And thanks for being such a great big brother

to this little minx...
The cake-only-no-icing fusspot Queen
(who adores the heck out of you too!)
...
As you nod off tonight with The Bear tucked beside you
We thank you for seven years of being the sweetest son...
We hope the next seven are as boring as heck.
Hugs
Mum

A new member of the family...

I write today's post with some serious bags under my eyes.

You see, yesterday was a huge day.

It went a little like this...

I climbed into the Prado with Dash, Violet and my niece Salina at 7am.

We arrived back at Granite Glen last night at 9.20pm.

In the interim we:

• covered almost 800km of bitumen and dirt roads,
• completed tasks at a dozen different businesses,
• made four 'pit stops' for little bladders,
• ate our once-three-monthly allowance of drive-through food from 'Ha McDonalls'
• walked approximately three kilometres at a shopping mall
• and helped three kids try on a dozen pairs of shoes each (remind me not to do that again when I am pressed for time!)
• picked up enough Chinese takeaway to last us a week
• ...and we completed a little adoption I had been thinking about for a couple of years...

...

If you are long-term readers, you will already know about the love I have for a certain breed of dog... after falling head-over-heels in love with a pooch called Cosmo before Mr Incredible and I were married. This dog (often half-jokingly referred to as our 'first-born') sold me forever more on Great Danes.

That's right - practical old Bush Babe loves ridiculously enormous dogs.

Very non-practical creatures, but how they make my heart swell.

It took me a little while to get over my grief at losing our old fella two years ago.

Finally, we bit the bullet and went pup-hunting on the web.

And we found a little boy with the sweetest face...

Would you like to meet our newest addition?

...

After completing the majority of our jobs in town, we drove a further hour north and arrived at his home with rain bucketing down and three already-tired kids dozing in the back seat. It was marvellous how quickly they came to though, when I announced we were finally 'where the pup was'. They hurled themselves from the car and immediately immersed themselves in the animals.

We had brought an old towel with us, and the kids rubbed it over the Mama Dane.

We wanted her scent to reassure her little/big son with for the big trip to his new home.

Isn't she beautiful? And huge?

She was very patient with the attention.

The pups meanwhile gambolled all over the place...

around legs and off into the garden...
the boldest being this little fella!

Hellllloooooo Axel!

Isn't it a great name?

He was already christened when we got him, but it just suits him completely!

He is the biggest pup of the litter (although I didn't know that when I chose him).

I just liked the look of him, and the fact that he was different in marking (he is a Black Mantle, compared to the Blue Merle coat of his predecessor, the much-missed Cosmo).

And he is a curious little man...
he was fossicking here in the rock garden with his sister.
He only nine weeks old but already heavy to pick up and move. His feet are almost as big as Violet's hands - a pointer to a rather large grown-up pooch!
...
He was a little whimpery when we first put him in the car (with his Mama's giant head pushed in beside me to see what was going on!) but once the trip was underway he fell asleep on Dash's lap - much to my son's absolute delight (and Violet's silent chagrin!). I was worried he would mess in the car, but despite being almost five hours in transit (with a couple of dry 'pit stops') he didn't disgrace himself once. Not bad for a baby!
...
He had a little bit of a wakeful night (just checking on me mostly) but he is gradually coming out of his shell today - although he tried to play with Middy last night and got swatted for his troubles (emitting very sad yelp!). Both have recovered from the encounter, but apparently she is not interested in a little rough-and-tumble Great Dane style!
...
Axel is also coming to terms with the roar and action of kids trikes and constant patting... all a bit new and overwhelming for him.
He is coping pretty well... although the laundry has become a favourite spot to avoid the melee...
Regular 'time outs' are required to maintain the stamina required to be around kids on school holiday.

It's totally tough work being a Granite Glen puppy! Brace yourselves for an onslaught of puppy pics, people.
The question is:
Can you handle the 'cute'?
:-)
BB

Don't You...forget about ME!

Click on my cute face to join the contest!

OPEN TIL THURSDAY 9PM

GRANITE GLEN TIME

Name this foal: the contest

Righto.

The time has finally come.

Is your imagination ready for a workout?

You may have forgotten our gorgeous Stock Horse foals, born here at Granite Glen just before Christmas? Here is a quick refresher for late starters and those with a memory like mine...

There was Cutestuff #1 (a bay colt)...

And CuteStuff #2 (a chestnut filly)

who I managed to photograph within an hour of birth

They were born within a day of each other, both by the same Daddy, the amazing Admiral.

(God rest his gentle chestnut soul).

...

As I explained at the time, when pressed on names, only one of these delightful fluffy equine beings is ours.

The little filly belongs to a gent from up north who will one day come and claim his little chestnut filly and dam back. There will be a couple (maybe more than a couple) of sets of sad brown eyes when that happens, I can tell you...

...

Then there is this guy.

He's quite a character.

Strong right from the start.

Not really gentle like his much-missed old man...

The colt has been wary and cautious with people initially...

He has calmed down a lot from his first couple of handling, but showed plenty of spunk each time. The little filly needed some surgery at one stage, and he fretted a lot while she was being treated (about a 3 week period) and got quite naughty.

The little blighter even tried to nip and kick me on a couple of occasions.
Cheeky brat!
Of course, once she was OK and back in the paddock with him, he calmed down.
They are inseparable, these two...

Often hiding out in the long grass together...
But the whole "Cutestuff #1 and #2" thing has gone far enough.

We need a proper name for them...

I cannot promise that the filly will get to keep hers, but if your suggested moniker gets the thumbs up from Mr Incredible, the colt could wear a name of your choosing!
And if you feel like throwing a name in for his half-sister, please do so.

We might as well have a proper handle for her while she's visiting!

You can win your favourite horsey photo from anywhere on this blog,
and the lifelong honour of naming a horse!
(I promise not the be offended if the latter tickles you more than the former.)
The vital facts:
Sire: Admiral
Dam: Jill
Grandsire: Cadet (a famous Australian Stock Horse)
Nature: bossy and naughty and cute
Colour: bay
Markings: a crooked white star on forehead and two white socks
(and weirdly bendy knees...check out above pic closely!)

Alrighty... let me have it.

I'll leave this open for a few days to gather ideas, and post up the winner mid-week-ish.

Gosh I'm precise and organised.

It really is a wonder I don't home-school.*

Hugs

BB

*serious sarcastic overtones for those who missed it!

ENTRIES CLOSED - WINNER ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND!

Thanks for playing...