Caught Redhanded... NOVA!!!

Showing me her reward for being cheeky...

This little dog is rather a bit cheeky. Don't you think??? I do. Had people over last weekend and had some cut cake out. I love to bake extra so that when I have unexpected company or in my case, had just had an operation on my hand - I don't have to worry about baking something. There was already something in the freezer that I just had to defrost.

Once our visitors left, one of them had left their chair out from the table. Off course as far as Nova is concerned that is the perfect invitation...

So up she jumped and helped herself to a piece of cake. Then she comes and shows it to me, rather proud of herself... She even posed really nicely for me so that I could take the picture of her with the cake stuffed in her mouth.

Cheeky girl but not her fault. Leave a chair out and that is what you get. Now Bailey on the other hand doesn't even bother to jump up... he waits for odd crumbs to make it to the floor and he cleans that. Different dogs, growing up different ways I guess... Plus for him it would be too much hassle...

Anyway today will be another lazy day. The second dust storm in one week came through yesterday and today we have a horrific amount of wind still. Just the leftovers of the dust storm are left behind. Made it hard to breathe yesterday and hope that all people with breathing problems coped alright. I made sure the house was shut up all day so that Joshua would not suffer too much and he seemed to cope alright. Though his breathing last night in his sleep was a little more noisy than normal and a little laboured...

Cheers Damaris

The Cubby House has Arrived...

Wood, wood and more wood...

Well in one million pieces or so anyway... We have a DVD with instructions and a massive amount of slats of wood, nails and screws just to keep things interesting.

Russell is working on a job application this weekend so will not be looked at till this Friday when he is home again from working away from home during the week. We really still need to find a site... One that requires as little digging as possible as the black soil is very hard when dry...

I am thinking that we will have to have a few "Putting the Cubby together" BBQ's. Oh no can't do that as the BBQ is stuck behind around 45 bales of hay in the shed... Next idea???

Again wanted to say Thank you to Annette and Robert for getting the cubby pieces for us in their float (from Brisbane) and getting it to us. This is our Cubby from the Family Collective which makes it all the more special that Annette who is the Link Worker on the Project was there for the 'unveiling'. Also loved it that they enjoyed the Soggy Cake I made...

Now I wonder how long it will take to put up... hmmmmm

Cheers Damaris

Happy Birthday, Bailey...

My beautiful boy, Bailey...

On Wednesday was not just Low Electricity Day, which was a huge success considering I had Russell home and the kids were on Holidays but it was also Bailey's 6th Birthday... We certainly hope that we have many more years with him...

He has grown up so much over the last year. He was a little bit of the underdog when Nova and Poppy first came to stay with us, nearly two years ago but he seems to have settled with Nova really nicely. RIP Poppy. We miss you alot. We think of you all the time.

He had a haircut yesterday. I always give the dogs one when I do the humans in this house as well. Have always done the boys' hair and Russell has only ever been to the hairdresser once in his life, on our Wedding Day. lol

Yes, I certainly overdid it with my hand yesterday. Did Russell's and Timothy's hair first, then Nova and then Bailey. Joshua will be done today as he was at a friend's place for some respite (that is what I call it anyway...)

The photo above was taken on his Birthday and while he has no idea why we are so excited that he has turned another year older, he was very happy to pose for a few photos. This was the best one in the end. Sorry for the red eyes... He is not really evil. lol

Cheers Damaris

Dust Storm Ahoy...

Lesley Park, Warwick at 10am with Dust Storm in the background...

Well yesterday would not have been very pleasant for many of us living in the South East Queensland and Sydney, New South Wales areas...

Got up in the morning and saw this white stuff coming across the sky. Then it was all around us and I said to Russell: "Best just shut all the windows..." There was a terrific lot of wind that came with the dust and soon it was everywhere.

I am rather glad that I have a brick home as a wooden home would have had the small dust particles everywhere inside as well as outside. That was not a hassle at this home as we kept everything shut up all day.

The sky soon turned from white to cream and then to brown. That way it stayed all day. The wind also continued and yesterday, I am afraid it would not have mattered if you were a smoker or not. The choking feeling of the dust was quite horrible.

The boys were over it by lunchtime off course. In Timothy's mind the storm had been around for WAY too long and he kept asking when it would just go away. Joshua was having a few problems with his breathing as he has anyway and this didn't help at all. He survived though.

Yesterday was the first time that I drove my car into town since my operation and I wish I had of picked a better day but couldn't get out of it. The boys have been attending a Beginners Class in Pottery and there was no way that they were missing out on the last day. They have had so much fun and will have their work fired in the kiln and then will have to glaze their artworks and then eventually, after another lot of firing the masterpieces will come home. They can't wait for that... Neither can I.

Must say I was rather happy to see the sun out this morning and hardly a blade of grass moving as there was hardly any wind. Happy days...

Cheers Damaris

Operation update...

My three incisions...

Well Friday came and went and I was supposed to be in there and second on the surgery list (2pm) but equipment had to be cleaned and then cool down so I didn't make it into surgery until 4pm. I ended up having to wake up in a ward as Day Procedures Unit was shutting before I had had a chance to eat anything.

We ended up getting home at 9:30pm. I was happy to hit my head on my pillow that is for sure. As I understand it the surgery took 1 hour and they made three incisions. A scope was also used to locate the ganglion. It was removed which I am most pleased about. Doing the surgery this way means a little longer recovery time but at least there should not be any stiffness in my wrist in the future. I am back to typing with both hands this morning but still can't do alot of things.

I am rather fortunate to have Russell home for the week. He has been my hands and doing a fantastic job at that as well. Oh and the dinners, just Divine...

While my wrist is still very swollen and the cuts are still open the internal stitching will all hopefully heal soon. I am driving into Warwick tomorrow so hopefully will be ok. In the meantime, Panadine Forte is a great friend of mine that is helping me though the ouchy bits.

Cheers Damaris

I found her...

Happy days...

This has had me soooo excited since Wednesday night... For months now I have been trying to get ahold of my very best friend in the whole wide world but was not able to make contact.

I tried the old email. That kept bouncing... I tried the home phone. That was disconnected... I tried the mobile. Left messages but heard nothing. Tried to SMS that did no good either... The reason... Cause life is very busy right now. I feel for her. She has sooo much on her plate.

There is the two kids that are growing with each day. There is full time work as well as full time University. Mature age student. I take my hat off to her. I admire this lady beyond belief.

I was sooo happy to hear her lovely voice on the other end of the mobile that night. No it was not the answering machine but her actual voice. I heard her laugh and I heard her talk... I love her from the bottom of my heart and she knows it. All is well with the world now as far as I am concerned.

Needless to say I got her new phone number, address and email address as well. Just in case... hehe

No she is not getting away from me again... My next option was that I was ringing her Mum... That would have been a good look. lol

So in October we have made a date for one Saturday. I get her all to myself and I can't wait... She knows who she is... Have known this wonderful lady since end of Grade 8 in high school. We have had our ups and downs and been through more than I could have ever thought possible but we are here to stay baby...

Off for my operation on my hand today so will not be posting for a couple of days till I catch on typing with my left hand only. Will be slow... lol

Cheers Damaris

Operation time...

Love a peaceful sunrise...

Must say I didn't think the time would ever come. Over two years ago I was doing alot of repetitious work while working and ended up with a ganglion in my right wrist. I am right handed as well.

My GP tried injecting the area with steroids twice but it kept coming back. The injection is supposed to crystallise the ganglion and it is then supposed to disintegrate. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I also tried bashing it with an Encyclopedia book and that didn't work either.

I have been on the waiting list for Ipswich Hospital for 1 1/2 years now to get it seen to. It comes and goes and even when small it is very painful. Even driving is a pain for me. More so because everything is so far apart from each other out here. My hand can't be used for picking up heavy items which is no use to me out here either. Milking is also painful. It is under a tendon and is 1 cm in size. That is the reason for having to actually operate and not just getting it out under a local. If only...

I was supposed to have my operation in the beginning of September but at my preop ended up getting sick so I was advised that I was back on the waiting list. I doubted that I would be operated on before the year was out.

Due to some lovely Federal Government funding going into elective surgery, I was called up last week and told that I had won Lottery. The operation kind...

So at the moment I am trying really hard to stay away from sick people. That is always hard when the seasons are changing as they are at the moment. My operation is on Friday at this point in time. Glad I didn't have to go for the preop again as I didn't want to get sick again. Just in case...

I will certainly be out of action for a little while, during recovery time but am hoping that the 10% chance of it reoccurring will not apply to this hand. Will be fun mastering brushing my teeth with my left hand. lol

Cheers Damaris