Giving Thanks...

Short and sweet tonight as I pack for a few days away...

during my absence from Granite Glen,

I will share some images of the amazing rain

we have wallowed in over the last couple of days.

I will (of course) be checking in while I am gone.

(Don't come between me and my internet connection!)

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Here's a teaser of what's been bringing smiles to our dials round here ...

The bureau is hedging their bets on some more clouds headed this way...

Keep it coming, Huey!

What I would NOT do for a macro lense.*sigh*

"I will not be greedy, I will not be greedy..."

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OK. Let's make this the first BB Weather Watch post of 2010 ...

Forecasts and reports from your corner of the world,

please Ladies and Gentlemen.

(I can say that now - look at those boys joining my posse!

Ye-hah!!)

Tears from Heaven... and some Soapbox

I am looking for some distraction today - as you may have guessed from yesterday's post, we had some terrible news yesterday. A family friend, a fabulous lady I have known my whole life, passed away suddenly. She was a woman of the city and of the country too. A special woman. A survivor who had endured much but smiled for the world. The shock has yet to ease, and my heart goes to her beloved husband and daughter.

This morning we woke up to rain - heavy, steady, soaking, gorgeous rain. And my first thought was "Jan is at work already". And I knew it for sure when we rang my brother and found the rain is widespread (for a change). They are getting it at their house too - up until now the rain has fallen in strange isolated areas. Last storm we got almost four inches (97mm) while my brother's place got less than half an inch (10mm). So call me a sentimental fool, but this rain I am crediting to Jan.

So while the rain falls steadily outside (and my dryer gets a workout) I have been trawling the blogs to distract myself. One in particular has given me pause today - Stephen Baird's wonderful photo blog Nikon Sniper, in which he discusses a comment I made there recently. I found myself rambling in response, and decided to re-post the comment here to share with my wonderful (unfailingly positive) readers.
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I had mentioned that I found Stephen positive and encouraging and a non-photo-snob, despite his obvious talent with a camera. I abhor photo snobs - those who think that the measure of a photographer is their technical know-how and the cost of their latest camera. Don't get me wrong - I love me a shiny expensive camera, and an all-the-gadgets lense. I work with a battered Nikon D100 and a bashed-up, scratched Nikon 17-200mm lense. That's it. And I am aware of my dearth of expertise in the technical field - I have much to learn, and I am quite possibly too lazy to take it all on board!

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Photo snobs (for those lucky enough to have avoided them til now) can be found in many places, but I had discovered them mostly in camera shops and printing businesses. They have the knack of making people self-consious about their abilities, their expertise, their equipment. Who knows why? I have overheard some awful things - things that would make people put down a camera and never try again. And it makes me cranky. I watch these people walk away dejected and think:

"What a loss! What photos will never get taken because the joy and confidence has been stolen from that person?"
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For those newish to this blog, I should confess that I'm an ex-news photographer, so my teeth were cut on pretty action-packed imagery. I learned on-the-run rather than from a text book. I still cannot believe I got a real job with such little technical experience... but I did. And I took some horrific photos, and the occasional pretty nice photo. THE MAIN THING was that they told the story. They captured a moment or an emotional or a relationship. I am still catching up on the technical stuff. Oh Lord, am I wanting in this department.
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But I reckon I can capture a moment pretty well - and seeing as how all I am doing is documenting MY life, and the pics make ME happy (and show my kids what their world was like when they were little) then I reckon it's all OK. (Of course I still yearn to improve. I'm quite normal!)
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I love that people like Stephen encourage everyone. This world is full of knockers (and I don't mean of the ribcage variety!). I am very lucky that positive people visit me and comment - I am sorry that not everyone has this kind of experience. They should.
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To me, my comments section confirms what I think I know - that people would love my part of the world, given a chance to glimpse it. That they might find something here to identify with. It's the little bonus I never really anticipated in blogging. And it's one I look forward to every day. Every comment made is appreciated - I am not frightened of constructive critisicm either. If people want to share their knowledge or tips with me, I am all ears.

How else do we learn?

But what I really love is that people seem to feel like they have experienced something, the thing I am trying to show, without getting caught up in the photo itself?

Does that make sense?

So expect more random images from my world this year. Expect some slightly fuzzy and out-of-focus and not technically perfect shots that are there because they help me tell my story. I hope I never press the 'publish' button just to make my comments count skyrocket.

And even if I my posts are all written just for my kids and for me, I hope you keep coming back to share them anyway. You are part of my community.

No words today...

Quotes to start the year off right...

Pam at A Novel Woman had a lovely selection of quotes for the end of 2009...

It gave me pause and brought to mind a calendar we had received for Christmas from a stock and station agent filled with great Aussie quotes. In the spirit of a shiny new decade, feel I should share a couple (with brief explanation for my overseas visitors)...

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"Don't wait for the light to appear at the end of the tunnel...stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself."

Sara Henderson - a strong Aussie bush woman who married a successful, charismatic American, survived a tumultous marriage to him, raised her kids, ran a cattle station almost single-handedly, won many awards and wrote inspiring books. I met her a couple of times - she had a Great Dane at her side both times - and I carry with me an image of two strong imposing figures. I shall never forget either of them.

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, iconic Aussie war hero. A courageous leader, a compassionate doctor, a champion rugby player and all-round good guy. Nicknamed 'Weary' for his enormous energy. I never met this amazing man, but I do admire his energy and ability to stay focussed despite the shocking obstacles he faced in wartime. )

"I am the proudest Australian bloke on the face of the earth."

Steve Irwin, much-missed madly-passionate nature-lover and all-round superstar. In the name-dropping vein of this post, a man I met numerous times when I worked on the Sunshine Coast. He really WAS the proudest Aussie you ever met. He was very real, despite his over-the-top manner. I believe he helped show Australians - despite our tendency to knock successful compatriots, a terrible habit known as the Tall Poppy Syndrome - that it was okay to be loud and proud.
So there you go...

These three quotes sparked my 2010 resolutions:

1. To be responsible for my own failure or success. And by extension, to get up out of my comfort zone and not be afraid to try new things.

2. To be whole-hearted, to harness my energy better, to take on board the lessons the success of others might offer.

3. To be a proud Aussie. I think I already am, but to wear Aussie-ness without self-consciousness is sometimes a challenge. I am also a proud country girl, a proud ex-city chick, a proud wife and mother. (I think you already know that last bit!)

So how 'bout you?

Would love to hear your favourite quotes, and your resolutions?

Best Band-Aid of All

I was a little rough on everyone last post.

I am very sorry.

But ... it kind of had to be done, had to be written.

I needed to clear the air, and I simply couldn't ignore various readers' pleas for an update, or Tuffy's right for his short little story to be told. He's got a special place in my heart.

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Are you OK?

Can I do something to make it better?

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You know I think I might already have a little something

tucked away here that might help....

Ah... here it is.
The very best band-aid of all: A BABY.

Not MY baby of course -

Violet gets violent if I refer to her as my 'baby' any more -

a borrowed baby.

YOU know who I'm talking about:

Paris.

My clever sister's divine little being who loves to point her pinky.

My gorgeous niece Salina's scrumptious little sister...

Oh, and I believe my brother-in-law V may have had something to do with her too...

(No photos. V is shy. But his father's love for this newcomer is so great it almost busts the walls from his home!)

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JOB WELL DONE, PEOPLE.

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But wait... there's more.

My brother, his wife and their three children will bring THEIR new baby home this weekend.

And oh, he is a CORKER.

Texted snaps and emailed images already have me clucking.

I cannot WAIT to hold him and inspect him and adore him.

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Just as this one was held, and inspected and adored.

Isn't it amazing how babies can steal your heart by doing nothing?

And how love and arms can extend so easily to encompass one more?

Some of the sweetest mysteries of the world...

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Hope that salves the sting of Tuffy's tale...

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE.

The Big Dipper: A tale of Tuffy

If you recall, I alluded to a bit of a bumpy rollercoaster-ish kind of ride in these parts, in the pre-Christmas period. And I'm guessing I shouldn't keep people hanging on through the New Year (cause I have BIG THINGS planned for the New Year in this little ol' black blog...)
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You ready?

Coffee and tissues at hand?

Okay then...

Remember this calf?

Our amazing little injured bull calf and his incredible Mum...

To catch people up, this little boy was discovered beside the public road running through our place. He was badly injured after apparently being hit by a vehicle. We had thought his mother had abandoned him, but when we reunited the two after bringing him home for nursing, she showed her true colours by standing over top her injured baby to feed him.

Well, in the lead-up to Christmas he became the House Pet, as my visiting niece Salina followed the rest of the family in completely falling in love with him.
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As well as being (pre-accident) the perfect package physically of a baby Brangus bull, he showed us the most calm, gentle, optimistic nature. Despite never being much around humans before, he was quiet and happy to lay his head in welcoming laps as we tended his needs. He seemed to know we just wanted to help. We consulted a couple of vets, brought him water daily, injected him with anti-inflammatories, moved shade and offered hay - and in return he never stopped trying to recover.

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And while ever an animal is TRYING, we tend to keep trying to help them. He was nicknamed Tuffy for his resilient attitude despite clearly being in pain with his injuries.
He continued to try to stand, regardless of the fact he could never actually get up.

His legs simply would not hold him.

His mother continued to come back to him a few times a day to check on him and feed him. The wonderful Bay Lulic (the real name for this amazing cow) kept K114 (the 'name' we gave Tuffy's Mum when she was a calf) company in the paddock by our house. Bay Lulic's adopted orphan would frolic around the game little Tuffy as if encouraging him to 'come and play!'
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Our place is very hilly, and each effort to stand would take Tuffy further and further away from the house. A couple of times each day we would re-tie the blue tarp over his newest position, refill the knocked-over water containers, push the hay closer and give him another cuddle.

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But it just wasn't enough. It was very hot and he would breath terribly heavily. One shoulder swelled up massively and he gradually lost weight. Then about 10 days after we brought him home, I saw it. That dull look in the eye that an animal will get when they start to fail.

And I knew. I just couldn't let it go on.

He was just never going to get up.

He would never recover.

So I decided (such a heavy, heavy decision),

Mr Incredible quietly agreed,

and we waited until Salina went home.

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The next morning I took Tuffy a drink, a small sheaf of hay, scratched his jaw in the spot he liked the most... and then I took the kids for a drive in the truck.

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Mr I and Lila (our lovely neighbour who discovered Tuffy initially) put the little guy out of his pain. Afterwards they did a bush autopsy and discovered terrible, extensive bruising, one severely dislocated shoulder and a broken back thigh bone. (Someone asked me in a previous post if we would eat the meat if we put him down - I have to say it would have been hard because we had bonded with him, but this really wasn't an option at all with such injuries).

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Tuffy had put up such an incredible fight - we couldn't believe how shocking his injuries were. He didn't stand a chance really. It made the pain of the decision we made a little easier, mixed with guilt that we should have done it earlier.

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The kids were upset initially but we explained how Tuffy would now frolic pain-free up in Heaven, just like all the other calves. Dash accepted this, but for a while Violet was beside herself that she hadn't said goodbye properly. I assured her that he already knew how much we all cared. We wiped away our tears and climbed from the truck.

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But our job was not over. We had to take K114 back to her paddock - she had been patrolling the house paddock looking for her Tuffy and we needed to re-settle her as best we could. So we reloaded the truck and drove her home.

She was reluctant to get off the truck on arrival - she knew she was missing something.

Why am I here? Shouldn't someone else be getting off the truck too?

Is he hiding somewhere in the shed?

And off she went...

Straight back to the creek where she had seen him last in this paddock.

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I broke up a bit at this point, I admit it.

A Mother's Love is a powerful, powerful thing.

She did her very best.

We all did.

R.I.P. Tuffy.

I hope you are frolicking free...

Fa La La La La!

Hello there... did you survive Christmas unscathed?

The Granite Glen gang came through pretty well.

Completely sated really.

Food-wise, present-wise, loved-ones-wise.

We had a relatively low-key and quiet Christmas Day (which was kinda nice) and a rowdy Boxing Day with rellies (which I love). There is nothing better than sharing special days with special people, is there?

Even special pooches help make the day stand out...

We did try some reindeer antlers on Axel, but he was not a quiet study with lurid green fake horns atop his scone. Not this this old fella. Never mind. Tinsel was festive enough!

This is my favourite Christmas card - handmade by Dash.

I adored the meticulous work.

And the gorgeous pop-up figures.

Even the completely inappropriate weather depicted made me smile.

And here is my favourite gift - a set of pots from Mr Incredible.

He was a little horrified at giving me something so domestic.

But it was all I really wanted - besides a happy family.

And it was something I badly needed as illustrated here.

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A regular Canadian reader, Theresa from Alberta, asked last post about what Aussie eat on Christmas Day. (Besides cashews of course. They're obligatory the world over, aren't they?)

So I decided to share a little selection of the snaps from our day - illustrating what THIS Aussie family considers good holiday fare. Keep in mind that it was over 30 degrees celsius here on Friday - that's over 86 degrees farenheit if my converter is working. Toasty. Sweaty. Tummies don't really require much warming up, that's for sure.

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And while the full roasted meal is often served on December 25 Down Under, "traditional" was kind of thrown to the wind in this household this year. This was partly 'cause it was only the four of us for lunch, and partly cause my kids don't get into the whole roast thing too much, and partly because Mr I was under the weather. I see no point in slaving over a hot stove for one person. Especially when that one person is me!

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I shelved the lamb and chicken I was going to roast. And the Twice Roasted Potatoes I so love in this cookbook which lives on my kitchen bench...

(Bonus points for anyone recognising the famous Aussie in the recipe book behind Ree's).

Reconsidering the needs of my little family, I instead cut open the foam icebox containing seafood I had picked up a couple of days ago while visiting my gorgeous niece. And I let it dictate our strange little menu...


Violet won't touch seafood unless it's fish fingers. She won't even eat ham. So she got some leftover noodles and bolognaise. (She could NOT have been happier). Dash got a bacon-and-BBQ-sauce-sandwich. Which he didn't mind, but then he tasted the seared Moreton Bay Bug meat, and devoured that instead... talk about adventurous, expensive tastes! Ah, but it makes my heart sing to see him revel in food of any kind. Who'd have thought?

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For those who have never been introduced to Moreton Bay Bugs check this site. It's amazing - to me, the best of all seafoods. Anywhere. Seriously. I marinated this lot in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt before searing in a pan on the gas stove. And I whipped up a little creamy pesto side sauce. Which also goes well with the spinach and roasted pumpkin salad (with bacon and roasted pine nuts).
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And don't forget the oysters. Kept chilled, then topped with bacon kilpatrick sauce and grilled. Mmmmmm.

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And of course, the fruit...

(Ignore the bananas - I try to. They are there because they are the ONE fruit Violet will deign to eat - in smoothie form only. I detest them. *shudder*)

However I just adore mangoes - they say 'holidays' to me like no other fruit.

And I have a serious crush on lychees at the moment.

Soooooo juicy and refreshing....

*groan*

Oh and that most traditional of Aussie foods:

Ferrero Roches.

(Yes, I know. European. Whatever.)

So... your turn for a Christmas review.

Your menu?

Your wild and crazy antics?

(Feel free to leave relevant links)

:-)