Before Jessie, I had never seen or heard of a dog who loved to sleep on their back. This is Jessie's preferred sleeping position, and if you were to move her, you would be growled at. She also enjoys cuddles in this position, although not as much lately. I think she's getting even grumpier and less patient as she gets older.
Testing out the camera on the weekend, and Sam was gracious enough to pose patiently for me. I love these two photos of him, surveying his 'land', and taking in the Sunday morning sun.
We're going to Bali. Can you believe it? This will be our first overseas trip - ever!
This does mean we need to get passports, and most likely injections and stuff, but it's still pretty exciting.
We're going for one week mid-January, to help Renee celebrate turning the big 3-0. The day of her birthday, we're going to go for a full day elephant ride. How cool is that!
Last Sunday, Renee and I went to Dreamworld to see the tiger cubs up close and personal. The previous week I had to get online to buy the tickets, and really didn't think I was in with a chance. Only 20 tickets each day are up for grabs, and I scored two. So then I had to convince someone to go with me, and Renee took up the offer. So the 'experience' was 20 minutes, with 20 other people, and what was supposed to be only 2 cubs, ended up being 3! They were absolutely gorgeous. The trainers tire them out beforehand, otherwise they are too much of a handful. One of the photos below show the constant bite marks in the trainer's hand.
I was suprised at how rough their coat felt. I suppose I was expecting them to feel like Jessie, but they definitely didn't. Also, unlike Jessie, their paws are not ticklish. The trainer said this was because they are not tactile animals. We got to play with their paws, but were not allowed to go near their faces, because they are in training. Seeing the marks on the trainer's hand was enough of a warning for me.
When the time was up for the cubs to leave, the trainers picked them up. Because two of them were so tired, they were happy to go, but one of them screamed its head off. I've never heard a sound like it.Afterwards, we had a quick look at the tiger island enclosure to check out the big cats. This whitish one was actually in the back enclosure when we were with the cubs, sleeping on his 'kennel', and we were within a few metres of him. They are such beautiful creatures, and I am so glad I got to get up close and personal with them. It is by far one of the coolest things I have ever done.
PS. Check out the new hardware hanging around my neck in the shots above. That would be my new digital SLR camera, and happier with it, I could not be.
On Saturday night, Jason and I attended the wedding of my uncle Ian, and his long-time partner Karen. It was a small but beautiful affair of about 20 guests. The ceremony and reception were held at the Church on Palmer. Kristen (Ian's daughter) played the violin during the ceremony, and Karen's grandchildren, Lakita & Drazic escorted the couple down the 'aisle' and handed over the rings at the appropriate point in time.
While Ian and Karen were signing the register, Kristen payed a bit more violin, but had inadvertantly left her case open (like a busker). I jokingly dared Jason to throw some money in. And what does he do. Yes, you guessed it. Everyone thought it was so funny, including Karen's family, whom we were yet to meet.
The food was beautiful. Jason and I both had the chicken and mushroom parcel for entree, and rib eye fillet for mains, with a chocolate mousse stack for dessert. All very yummy, and by the end I was pretty stuffed (the combination of red wine could have helped with that too).
Kristen and her brother Theo finished the night with a duet. Kristen sang and Theo played the guitar. I can't remember what the song was, but they did a great job.
We ended up leaving early due to Jason's lingering flu, but it was a great night.
Thought I'd post a couple of cards I've finished lately. The top one is the card I made for Ian and Karen's wedding (using the Cuttlebug to emboss the chocolate metallic card, before adding a white rubon and some highlights).
The one below is a 'thinking of you' card I made for a lady at WW who is in some desperate need of kindness at the moment. Marilyn did up a care basket, and I made the card. I hand cut 3 little butterflies out of the patterned paper and attached to the card with Pritt. The 'stitching' around the patterned paper is one of my newly purchased acrylic border stamps. I really like this colour combination, and the papers are gorgeous.
Before Jessie, I had never seen or heard of a dog who loved to sleep on their back. This is Jessie's preferred sleeping position, and if you were to move her, you would be growled at. She also enjoys cuddles in this position, although not as much lately. I think she's getting even grumpier and less patient as she gets older.
Well, it was finally Emma's turn to celebrate her big 3-0. She celebrated with a bbq lunch on Sunday afternoon at her place, with lots of family and friends. It was a lovely and relaxed afternoon, with lots and lots of food. There were also lots and lots of babies. We worked out that of all the girls between the ages of 20-40 that were there, if someone didn't have a baby under the age of 1, they were pregnant (except Kirsty and I, of course). Actually Kirsty and I started to worry about drinking the water or sitting on any chairs....
One particular little girl did not stop all afternoon, and loved the loads of attention she was getting.
Last Sunday, Renee and I went to Dreamworld to see the tiger cubs up close and personal. The previous week I had to get online to buy the tickets, and really didn't think I was in with a chance. Only 20 tickets each day are up for grabs, and I scored two. So then I had to convince someone to go with me, and Renee took up the offer. So the 'experience' was 20 minutes, with 20 other people, and what was supposed to be only 2 cubs, ended up being 3! They were absolutely gorgeous. The trainers tire them out beforehand, otherwise they are too much of a handful. One of the photos below show the constant bite marks in the trainer's hand.
I was suprised at how rough their coat felt. I suppose I was expecting them to feel like Jessie, but they definitely didn't. Also, unlike Jessie, their paws are not ticklish. The trainer said this was because they are not tactile animals. We got to play with their paws, but were not allowed to go near their faces, because they are in training. Seeing the marks on the trainer's hand was enough of a warning for me.
PS. Check out the new hardware hanging around my neck in the shots above. That would be my new digital SLR camera, and happier with it, I could not be.
On Saturday night, Jason and I attended the wedding of my uncle Ian, and his long-time partner Karen. It was a small but beautiful affair of about 20 guests. The ceremony and reception were held at the Church on Palmer. Kristen (Ian's daughter) played the violin during the ceremony, and Karen's grandchildren, Lakita & Drazic escorted the couple down the 'aisle' and handed over the rings at the appropriate point in time.
While Ian and Karen were signing the register, Kristen payed a bit more violin, but had inadvertantly left her case open (like a busker). I jokingly dared Jason to throw some money in. And what does he do. Yes, you guessed it. Everyone thought it was so funny, including Karen's family, whom we were yet to meet.
The food was beautiful. Jason and I both had the chicken and mushroom parcel for entree, and rib eye fillet for mains, with a chocolate mousse stack for dessert. All very yummy, and by the end I was pretty stuffed (the combination of red wine could have helped with that too).
Kristen and her brother Theo finished the night with a duet. Kristen sang and Theo played the guitar. I can't remember what the song was, but they did a great job.
Thought I'd post a couple of cards I've finished lately. The top one is the card I made for Ian and Karen's wedding (using the Cuttlebug to emboss the chocolate metallic card, before adding a white rubon and some highlights).
