Dear Son,

 My young man - centre

... my sweet young man, you make me, your Mum, so proud. Out of 160 young Year 7 men, you were one of 9 recognised for 'outstanding scholastic achievement' yesterday morning on 'Headmaster's Assembly'. I am so proud of the wonderful effort you are putting in to your school work, your passion for every assignment you are given, your time management skills and the responsibility you are showing in everything you do. I had buckets of tears of love and pride behind my eyelids yesterday morning, but I shed just one as I will save the rest for the many more moments of heart bursting pride you have in store for me. Thank you for openly appreciating all I do for you, your hugs and kindness..... and for giving back so much.
Love Mum.
P.S. I am sorry for not sewing your blazer sleeves up, making you roll them up instead. You know your Mum has other talents than sewing.... and photography is also not one of them.

Son and Headmaster 

N.B. Tears actually flowed when 1000 young men burst into song and sang "Morning Has Broken" - singing in assembly .... gets me every time... killer!

Emergency Roadside Love

I think we might need to get a cat. 

We stop by the roadside to pat many. 

A-M xx

Yuk

What is it with rentals?... why are they all so filthy? It's not rocket science peoples... it's called housework... and respect for other peoples property. Now, I'm no Martha Stewart, but I run a house, a business, motherhood and study and I still manage to keep my home disease free and pleasant to live in. I am not a slave to housework but I do things as they need to be done. If something looks dirty, I clean it there and then. Clean as you go, I say. Not difficult.

Some of these places... gag, I can't even bear to lean forward and look closely at them on the internet, let alone in real life. I see whatever is growing on the bathroom walls from way back on my sofa thank-you very much.

Yeah, you can guess what I'm doing this week! I chickened out last time and rented a brand new house. I just didn't have the intestinal fortitude to clean someone elses hair out of the shower drains. Unfortunately 'new' means out of town.. and with 6am soccer trainings and 7am guitar ensemble at school, we cannot afford to risk distance and live out at 'Gumnut Valley' (my boys name for our last suburb) again.

So as our contract has been extended until the end of June, and as a result I had to say goodbye to the beautiful 'new' inner city, 'hair free' rental I had almost signed up for... I'm on the hunt again. Wish me luck... and stay tuned. Never. A. Dull. Moment :)
A-M xx

Oh and P.S. Nigel (lizard) has made a remarkable recovery, but not without some spectacular side effects. We think he has mild brain damage (a side effect from the worm he should not have ingested) as he keeps launching himself off the heat rock, from a great height, and landing smack bang on his head... which is probably aiding further brain damage... oh well, boys are happy and slightly amused... with an occasional tinge of concern.
'John Whitley' (locust) passed away last week and so did 'Mr Crab' from the Comslie Beach Park, collected on the weekend... apparently he did not like living in bark.. with no food, water and sand.... and 'loved ones' (as big brother added... he always plays the 'you took him away from his family' card).

Before Anything....

 Look at my little tacker. He had just started Prep School. He was actually a bit chubby there, before he got all stretched out and skinny from growing. 

...well actually after we moved the original house away... but before 'anything'. 

May, 2008

I remember standing in this spot, taking this photo. I was pinching myself....now that the land had been cleared and I could see it all in it's 'naked' glory, I couldn't believe that I had found just what I was looking for... a big block (well, big by inner city standards, 31 perch)..gently sloping up from the road (so that I could terrace it and stack a 3 level house on it).... with potential views, from the top floor of the 'soon to be' house.

There are my boys... looking for bugs!

 There it is...the perfect block....15m frontage, 52m length, 5 metre fall. Can I find it again? 

If you find one for me... let me know!

Happy Tuesday!

A-M xx

Reliving Our Youth

On the weekend, hubby and I were casually discussing how music invokes such vivid memories. Every time my hubby hears Roger Whittaker, he goes back to his childhood in New Guinea and vividly remembers reading Phantom comics, while listening to his Dad's music. I said that whenever I hear Suzi Quatro, 'Devil Gate Drive', I think of going roller skating in the 70's, when I was a little girl.

As I said it, we both looked at each other.... OMG our boys have never been roller skating! ... we forgot.....quick.... so off to the nearest rink we went....which wasn't so near and was a bit of a road trip!

There were a few tears of frustration at first  (they thought it would be easy, as they can both ski!) but once they got the hang of it,  I have never seen them so joyous. I have never felt so joyous watching them being joyous!

We stopped off at our favourite restaurant for dinner afterwards and spent the rest of the evening talking about how "that was the best day ever".
It's the ANZAC day public holiday here today... so I am going to spend the day sorting, culling and packing! Is it wrong to say "love it"...am I mad?
Have a great Monday!
A-M xx

Anzac Day, 2010

My 'Pa-Pa'

Hugh Gordon Routley

2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion

Palestine, 1941

Aged 37, in photo
Also fought in New Guinea
Survived the war, passed away when I was 19
Never spoke about the war... not once
Can't imagine what he went through

RIP 'Pa-Pa' xx

More info about my Pa-Pa's duties HERE.

Guess What......

A trip down memory lane. This was my big boy back in 2005.

......I just realised that I'm what you would call a 'Soccer Mom'.. to my lads!

soccer mom  
n.  An American mother living in the suburbs whose time is often spent transporting her children from one athletic activity or event to another.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Well here in Australia I suppose they would say 'Soccer Mum' or as the little ones say, 'Mummy'.

It's Saturday... and that means soccer...... soccer, soccer, soccer.... three matches today... school and club.

Actually it all starts on Friday nights, with hubby's match, in the over 35's 'old cronies league'.....even though after 7 knee reconstructions... he should not be playing... at all. What were his surgeon's exact words?.... "and definitely no more soccer". Hmmm, 10 weeks after that conversation (and latest whopping operation... and just off the crutches) he strapped on a knee brace (that cost more than all our airfares combined) and skiied his heart out. I am bracing myself for the phone call that will come on a Friday night.... when my babies are tucked up in bed..... and I am required at a hospital somewhere. Why did we move back to Australia in 2000, with such haste, from living in Vanuatu?.... soccer injury...medical treatment....... he played in the 'Old Hebs' (Hebrides) team. Yep, I got the phone call on a Friday night in Vanuatu. And what could I do with one sleeping baby.... sort of living in a jungle... in the middle of nowhere.... with no car? He's foolish?.... yes... but it's his passion.... his joy... and his only real indulgence...I just grit my teeth every Friday night when he joyously skips out the door.

So I'm off to barrack for the next generation of knee surgeries... deck chair, insect repellant, sunscreen, hat - check.
Have a great Saturday!
A-M xx

Little tacker, before he was old enough to play. He must have been only 2 here... boy time flies. I remember that day vividly!

Pep Talk

Ahh Nike.....your slogan, 'Just Do It'..... has really changed my life (I believe I live it every day.... even in the little things. Huge ironing pile? ... blah... just do it). Love this one too.... it sits above my desk.... just begin it.... just start it.... start..... anything..... be bold.....just do it. I am married to one who lives this too....my lovely entrepreneur. Oh, the impulsiveness in our lives... and the occasional poverty!....not everything works!

Oh and subtle magazine hint in there too. Am I allowed to blab yet Rosanne? I have been so good.... haven't I?
A-M xx

P.S. June issue, out early May... rumour has it... don't quote me on that... only a rumour. Soon anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong someone. Oh I am a bit nervous.... actually ....very.

A Favourite Bit

So I suppose now is not the time to get all sentimental is it.... but I have always loved this elevation. It's the South-West one.

I remember this very day.. they had to take the newly installed front bay window out to get the gyprock walls in up onto the top floor. It involved a crane and me cringing and 'carrying on' in the background.

I just didn't want it to look like a boring box from the side. There is a builder in this area who has built San Fran style 3 story homes...they look great from the front with their wooden windows and cute elevations but down the sides... he cheated... cheap aluminium sliders and they're just a total box... a wall with boring windows..... he... that builder... inspired my side elevations. I had his boring boxes in mind when I schemed both sides.... and don't get me started on the back..... it had to look like the pool set from 'Something's Gotta Give'..... and it sort of does..... if you squint your eyes!

When the windows went in, I was so excited I had heart palpitations..... that was after I went around and planted a lipstick kiss on every one of them when they originally arrived on site. Oh, I found the faint outline of one of those lipstick kisses on one of the Great Room windows the other day when I was cleaning them.... a year later! Just caught it in the light.... I almost cried... see a sentimental wreck already. C'mon A-M.

Lots of scheming on my part.... and patience required by my window manufacturers when I was planning the windows.... 4 x 4's or 4 x 1's? ... should the x1's be just on the top floor? Lineaboard guys were lovely. I remember this photo too. They let me stand on the scaffolding and chat to them while they worked.. totally illegal... and loving every minute of it. Got my white card now... so I can hang from the rafters next time... so to speak.....legally!

  Much better with some paint.

Ahhh, gotta love that western sun... hence the big porch!... works a treat! Oh I must get a photo of the pretty little balcony off the laundry on this side. It's balustrade matches the porch balustrade. 

A bit of memory lane stuff for the next week or so? I'll get it all out of my system and then maybe bore you with my study woes...progressed on to metals yesterday.... almost as thrilling as screws.

A-M xx

P.S. Thank you for your support and lovely emails. I got a couple of nasties though...very angry that I am selling and stated that they are never going to read my blog again! Ahh, errr..... it's my life..... it's my story and I will tell it like it is...... and by the way....circumstances change.... there are no rules. Maybe I am too honest? Opening oneself up to blogging does hurt sometimes! Sometimes I ask myself why I am doing this? ... because I have a story to tell. My story. Carry on I say. Next chapter please.

Happenings

Well it was bound to happen. As much as I am yearning for 'the' knowledge base and to be technically qualified to design houses...I am finding the core subject on building products rather a drag, to be brutally honest. I'm up to the section on 'screws and nails'..... hmmm. Get me to the good stuff please. I'll get there. I can just see this subject taking longer than the others..... blah! Any good motivation tips out there?

Hmmm, what else is happening. Well Nigel is still with us... oh and so is 'John Whitley' the locust. Just. "He's fine Mum, he's just very sleepy". Hmmm... we'll see.

Oh yes... and I sold my house..... yesterday..... but we don't move out until the end of June. Circumstances.... don't ya hate them! 11/10 for those bloggies who found it on www.realestate.com.au and emailed me! Rest assured I am on the lookout for my next opportunity. Looks like I'm going to be a bit busy over the next few months. Plenty of blog fodder!
A-M xx
P.S. It's gently raining here this morning. Hubby and I are sitting in the 'pool shack', sipping our coffee, enjoying this gorgeous place before we move on. Get tough A-M, it's only a house :(

A Break From All The Fuss

Drama central here this weekend. Little one's pet stick insect didn't make it...... and he couldn't understand why..... as he had been carefully following all the steps in the 'How To Care For Stick Insects' fact sheet that he downloaded from the internet. Honestly he cried for ages... totally broken. Didn't help that Mummy and Daddy burst out laughing when he answered our "how do you know that he is dead" question with "well, he's lying on his back and not moving".

Big brother distracted him by encouraging another bug hunt. You wouldn't think we would have so many bugs being 'inner city with new garden'. They found the most disgustingly large locusts on some of our plants, to which Daddy promptly said, "get rid of them, they eat whole plants in a day". Little one was mortified, "what!??... you can't kill them, they're extremely rare".... another outburst of laughter from us and he was broken again... too much trauma for one day. Guess what... one said locust is being lovingly cared for in the bug hut until he meets his untimely end in a few days..... it's all the man handling and hugs that kills them, I am sure. He has been given the name 'John Whitley'... I have no idea why.... not 'John'.... but 'John Whitley'.

And in more tragic news, Nigel, the 'over-loved' Bearded Dragon Lizard Thing, keeping Brian (the other over-loved lizard) company, is in a very bad way and has entered into what appears to be early rigor mortis. Much tears from older son.... so they (all the lads in this house) have set off on a trip to the Pet Superstore for some emergency lizard care. I'm taking a breather from all the drama, sipping some tea in a peaceful house. Frankly I am a bit sick of all this bug/lizard fuss.... it takes over all our waking hours! Isn't my hubby a darling, he dropped everything to drive the lizard ambulance.

Once upon a time this blog used to be all about 'The House'.... it's the happenings in the house that are taking up all my time these days! Yep, no butterflies and rainbows here....still hard core creepy crawly stuff. Back to the books... told you I couldn't keep away... almost made it!
A-M xx

P.S. They're back, hmmm too short a tea break for me. Apparently the 'super worms' purchased last week are a no go for baby Bearded Dragons... they need 90% live crickets and only 10% veges.... bad case of indigestion perhaps?... he's still not looking too good... the car trip in a plastic container probably did not help much either. These 2 very spoilt lizards are now the proud owners of a 'heat rock' to keep them warm in their tank, during the winter. Oh my husband is a softie when it comes to our boys and their passions... but he summed it up beautifully when he walked in the door and whispered to me, with a big sigh, "I can't believe we are making such a fuss over something we would normally just step on in the garden".... boy did we belly laugh! The things we do for our children.... but they will remember these tokens of love, I am sure!

Have a great Sunday!

Back To The Books

American Gables

Enough of this blog stuff. My books are calling. I really do have to do some serious study..... so I will be back next week. I am going to try to resist all your bloggys for at least 4 days. Can I do it? I. Have. To.
Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments.... they warm my heart always.
Have a great weekend.
A-M xx

The Birds And The Bees

 

Oh my!.... last night was rather devastating for me. Turns out my little one knows more than we thought he did about the birds and the bees.... all garnered from peers at school..... in graphic detail. What do these 7 year olds get up to? How do they live? What are their parents telling them, exposing them to?

My eldest son came downstairs last night, aftering supervising my youngest's shower (I know we're very spoilt). "I'm so worried Mum, he knows so much more than I did at his age". I do remember back to that moment, when he was about 9. "Mum and Dad, all the kids are talking about it at school, and I am sick of not knowing the truth... so tell me". I looked wide eyed at my hubby and he mouthed to me "don't panic"... just as well we had his favourite National Geographic shows to fall back on, to use as examples.... and we're scientists.... so we went all technical with his favourite animal examples....and he was happy.

So my little one spilt the beans, stood in front of us and his brother (like he was presenting a dissertation) and told us the lot. My little darling, you are too young, I was thinking. You're my baby. Big brother had his head in his hands! Little one finished his spiel and then proudly announced, "but I know it's not true, they're just making it all up". "Some bits are true darling"...I spluttered... and then big brother took over.. he was in control... he knew how to tamper the gritty stuff and bring it all back to the nature shows on the National Geographic channel and the 'real' birds and the bees. Thank goodness for Foxtel is all I can say.... and big brothers....

I hugged my big boy later and asked how little one's friends could possibly know all that stuff. My son matter of factly said, "oh they have big brothers" . "But  so does your little brother", I said.... and he said, "but I protect mine"...... doesn't. get. any. better. I. tell. you.
A-M xx

Kitchen Love

Back to the house. It's been 'boy talk' for a while now. They're back at school so everything is so quiet now :( How about some decent photos of of my kitchen? This is a first I think - some decent photos.

To be honest, this is my most favourite part of my home. It's such a great work space and the centre of our home. It all happens here...homework, computer work, foodstuffs, socialising, caffeine overdoses (once the kitchen was functional in the build, with water and electricity, honestly I have never made so many coffees in my life... to every tradesperson, "oh you must start your day with a coffee"... and of course I would have one too... great for bonding with the lads... but oh the addiction... took me months to stop shaking).

Building again, I'd be hard pressed deciding on what I'd do differently. Oh, one thing.... I'd add a computer/home office nook, recessed right there where the Paris prints are..... the butler's pantry would have to be deeper to accommodate and the island would have to move down a bit. Then I would also have to do a matching coffee machine nook over there in the corner where the clock is... so then the windows and the stove would all have to move down a bit and then maybe, seeing I am doubling the size of it all, I could slip in a built in bench seat/breakfast nook at the other end and move the French Doors along a bit..... hmmmm. It would still be a variation on this theme as I love it so much.

Hey and I just sent all my specs to my "Instant New Best Friend Next Door", who abandoned me and moved back to Perth. She's building her new home and wants my kitchen and laundry. Did they arrive D? Did your builder have a heart attack?

I'm waffling....this is my only outlet..... as I don't do twitter, facebook ......Happy Tuesday!
A-M xx

Back To The Grindstone

Well this image just about sums up the last day of the school holidays... except the blurriness (sorry)...happy and carefree. We spent dusk down at Manly Beach, with little one's old nanny Carmen (or 'Tarboon' as he used to call her) looking for crabs, riding scooters and scoffing fish and chips. 'Tarboon' has been a part of our little family since my youngest was one and is now one of my best friends on this earth. She would do anything for us and loves my boys like they are her own. She's the chief birthday cake maker in this family and has made each of us a birthday cake every year for the past 6 years... they are the most amazing creations and they get wackier and more adventurous every year!  We cherish our time with her. I know she reads my bloggy, so I just want to say "we love you, Tarboon'. A perfect end to our school break. Back to school today... those school lunches are calling me. Have a great day!
A-M xx
PS Thought of you Andrea and Will, being back at Manly again!

Hugs Needed

Anne Naumann

Please head over HERE and give my dear friend, Amanda, much love and comfort and a big cyber hug. I can't imagine what she is going through. She is hurting so much.
A-M xx

Forever

It was so long ago I can't remember where this pretty came from. Flickr perhaps? It was forever ago.

Oh what is it? April 10th? I missed my 2 year bloggy-versary on April 1st. Rats. Forgot. Oh well, doesn't really matter as I am going to be here forever. Lots to do still.
Happy Saturday.
A-M xx

The B Word

I was never allowed to say that I was 'bored' when I was a little girl. "It shows a lack of imagination and intellience"... so I suppose that's how I feel about my boys and the 'b' word, especially in this day and age where one can't possibly be bored really can they. I mean things WERE really boring back in the 70's. Time went slow. Holidays dragged on. We just used to sit around and wait for things to happen or wander the streets until a bored friend came out to play.

So the 'b' word is not allowed in this house, in this generation (I promise I don't make them sit and eat stew after the lights are out, see 2 posts ago). Little one arrived home from his playdate at lunch time to find no brother (away on his own play date) and a busy Mum. He sat at the kitchen bench, chin in hand and knew, that when I said "what's up", what he was NOT allowed to say! "Just feeling a bit 'empty' Mum". "Oh I see. So what are you going to do about that?" I was not going to help him out in this instance. He has a big brother, who waits on him hand and foot, entertains him, reads to him, helps him. Time to be creative on your own son. I kept busy and he sat sighing. Out of the blue.... "I think I'll make a paper chain". Great. I excused myself and interrupted hubby's business meeting in the office, "ingredients for a paper chain required". His client looked bemused.

And there he sat for over an hour, despite having all the toys and gadgets in the world, a beautiful swimming pool and gorgeous lawn to play on (I could only dream of these when I was little).... making a paper chain.

... and then he rolled in it and got tangled in it... and dragged it through the house.... "no dragging sounds near the office please as Daddy has an appointment".... hours of amusement. Out of boredom comes creativity.... well a little bit!

Playdates at home today so the status quo has returned... no threat of 'b' today.
Have a great day!
A-M xx

Love This.....

Image Courtesy Kitchen Bath Ideas

..... BUT... I think I'd be tripping over it all the time... especially it being near the sink... and I would definitely be rescuing acrobatic boys from the top rung, on a daily basis.

Last few days of school holidays. Things are hectic. We are cramming in as many 'play dates' as we can. My boys are going in opposite directions today. Little one had a wonderful day at a friend's place yesterday searching and stripping their garden of all bugs (critter food). He came home with a full 'bug hut'... note to self... must vacuum out car.
Have a great day.
A-M xx

Stuff

I have had so many emails regarding my slow cooker! Which one do I have? After perusing it closely, I found that it's not a Breville, it's a Sunbeam. The Breville is my rice cooker... appliance junkie I am. A  mum at my boys school put me onto it. Thanks Nicole!... you have changed my life.

It's the Sunbeam Slow Cooker HP 5520 5.5 litre (good family with guests size!). Don't think you can only do stews and casseroles..... bleahhh..... I have some serious latent childhood issues following on from being made to sit in front of cold stew (and peas... never eaten one again in my adult life) until I had finished it.......  I'm talking hours of sobbing and pleading to not have to eat the stuff (too much information?... not the 'choicest' childhood.... another time, I digress). No, these slow cookers are even great for those who have a total lifelong aversion to stews and casseroles... you can do roasts and risottos, compotes, puddings... everything in them, even creme caramel!

As for my Mild Chicken Curry Recipe.... I am not ashamed to admit to total cheating..... McCormick's Mild Chicken Curry Recipe Base with 50 million veges added to the mix (capsicum, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes... lots of colour). Idiot proof and the scent will carry you from the front to the back door.... and it is nut free!  Overdosing on 5 extra portions of rice to soak up all the yummy juices is the biggest problem with this meal.... extra half hour required with the trainer the next day.

Another great recipe. This is the original slow cooker recipe my friend hooked me with (no recipe base cheating here):

Lemongrass and ginger scented chicken

Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 kg chicken thigh fillets, skin and fat removed
2 medium onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
5cm piece ginger, peeled, sliced
2 large red chillies, seeded, sliced
2 stalks lemon grass, trimmed, bruised
½ cup chicken stock
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
freshly ground black pepper
200g sugar snap peas

Method:
1. Heat oil in a large frypan until hot; seal sides of chicken in batches, then quickly remove from pan. Transfer to slow cooker
2. Reduce heat; add onions and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, place in slow cooker with remaining ingredients except sugar snap peas
3. Cover and cook on LOW 5-6 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours.
4. About 15 minutes before serving, add the sugar snap peas and gently stir through. Cover and cook until vegetables are just tender.
5. Garnish with remaining chilli and serve with steamed rice.

Verdict : TDF - to. die. for.

Still sort of in holiday mode here at The House, but have started off a little weekly project of mine over HERE, if you're interested and looking to put your two bobs worth in somewhere. I thought it might be fun. Tell me what you think.
A-M xx

Holiday List

7am - The House - on my return from my morning walk....such a gorgeous time of the day... and there, on that porch, is where I have my morning coffee.
Look how much our green stuff has grown following all our rain. Dams are now 97%.

Things I have revelled in, over this Easter break:

• The cool change in the mornings - makes my morning walk ever so much more pleasant - no more soupy, oppressive, humid mornings.

• The fact that everyone is away on holidays in my street - it is sooooo quiet. My front porch is bliss... deck chair, pot of tea, books to read.

• Foxtel's Air Active 'Special Events' music channel... such a secret they have been hiding under that title: an eclectic mix of Eric Clapton, Beyonce, The Choir Boys, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Tina Arena, a little bit of Creedence and goodness even some Devo....whip it good. Might have to pack away the Crooners channel for a while... seeing I can whistle every one of their programmed tracks... even backwards.

•  The last summer days in our pool. The swims are getting shorter but we are cherishing them as we know the cooler days are coming.  

• "Recycled friends"... as we have called the whole experience!  - a visit from 'The Boy Next Door' (from my childhood), his wife and little son.... all the way from Canada. Have not seen him since we were sweet sixteen, living next door to each other in the early 80's. People don't change!!!! 27 years just melted away and we were reminiscing over 80's music, the '82 Commonwealth Games, old friends and broken hearts!

• My Breville Slow Cooker - am in love - makes me a better mother - beautiful, fragrant meals... my boys just die when I do my 'Mild Chicken Curry'. I am not a cook by any stretch of the imagination. Baking?... hopeless... maybe that's why I have such skinny boys and a skinny husband..... but that slow cooker... puts rose coloured glasses on the boys in my life... they think I am fabulous!

And last but not least.. my happy, carefree, bug hunting boys.... they have not a care in the world and it is my mission to keep it that way at least until Term 2.  One more week. :)
What have you revelled in over the break?
A-M xx

Monday Nook

Today's 'Nook' is not the prettiest and not for the faint hearted..... I promise the pretties will resume after the school holidays.... but for the time being, it is 'Boy Central' around here. So... meet the corner of our garage.... downstairs on the lowest level of the house.

 Our holiday treat currently residing in our 'frog tank'!

I forgot....to pay up pocket money ... for the whole term... (no-one ever reminds me).... so as a consequence, I was putty in my boys hands when we found these little critters, at the Pet Superstore, during my bloggy break. Don't ask the price. What?.. you say .... you paid money for them?... ah yes.....and as they are restricted wildlife, I am now the proud owner of a 'Qld Recreational Wildlife Licence'. So... by the time we purchased the little critters, the licence, the baby Bearded Dragon pet food, the calcium powder (to ward off osteoporosis and joint ailments.... don't you just love it!), the water dish, the fresh vege dish, and the 'How to Love Bearded Dragon's To Death' Book, we could have paid for a nice little holiday down the coast. I have never heard so many "thank you Mum, you're the best Mum in the whole wide world"s in my life.

So the little darlings (the lizards, not my boys) are living in the frog tank... minus the frogs....yes 'Bill' the sole froggy survivor passed away....we got 2 good years out of him (he joins 'Pocket and Rocket, Tex and Rex' in froggy heaven). The froggy tank of course has been adapted to more desert conditions..... bark and leaves, rocks and tree stumps. My boys are joyous and they are loving the little blighters to death. They have been hunting in the garden for live bugs (most desirable critter food) morning and night. Last count, there were 15 grasshoppers, 2 small lizards, 4 flies, 10 green ants, 2 cicadas and a shiny blue beetle living their short lives in the tank also. Our dinner time now involves preparing a little dish of vege offcuts for the critters. Oh their names? ... 'Nigel' and 'Brian'.... of course! "The things you do", she says... with a shudder. No ballet tu-tu's and pink things in this house! We're 'hard core' here!
Happy Monday!

A-M xx

Holiday Reading

A-M xx