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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

The Weekend That Was ...

Hello Friends,

It's Tuesday morning, just after 10am here, as I write. I have taken Chicky to school, and thought it was time I caught up with you all. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Mine was pretty good, as far as weekend's go. Saturday was quiet, just a bit of housework, typing, cooking ... nothing out of the ordinary. Sunday we caught up with the friends who we are heading off to Broken Hill with in 5 weeks, and made our plans for the holiday. Had a lovely time, and know it will be a great holiday. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us, but I don't see why not. We will be in central-western New South Wales, which will undoubtedly be warmer than southern Victoria !! We will be away from the 16th September until the 24th September, and will be doing 2 nights in Broken Hill, 2 nights in Tibooburra, 2 nights in Menindee and 2 nights at Lake Mungo National Park. I guess it will be a bit of work, putting up the tents and dismantling them 4 times in 8 days, but it beats basing ourselves in one place, and spending a fortune on petrol going back and forth to all the places we want to see. Economy won over less work, this time around !!

Got a bit worried the other day, as Bambi went missing for the whole day (usually she comes in and out, all day long, just to have a pat, or a nibble, or a quick snooze in comfort, then she's off again). I was getting worried, but had no idea where she was. My next door neighbour phoned for some reason, and I per-chance asked her if she'd seen my cat scooting around her property. She said, now that I mention it, something very strange was going on in her garage, things were moving and being knocked off the benches. So, we went over, opened the door and called out. Guess who had climbed right up into the roof cavity (their garage ceiling is plastered, like a house ceiling, and there is a gap where she got through). She meowed a few times, and timidly finally came out. Naughty, sticky-beak cat ... just had to go exploring when the garage door was left open for awhile. Now, everytime I can't find her, I wonder where else she has gotten into. I'm not used to this, as my last cat was an old boy, who didn't want to get inside every open door, cupboard, fridge, drawer, whatever. This one is crazy, she even gets into cars (but not when they are on, thank goodness), so we have to be really careful.

The weather finally broke yesterday afternoon, and we got a bit of rain (only a bit, mind you!!). Typical, though, as Hubby had washed both our cars ... must've been his fault it rained !!

I just looked out the window and noticed my apricot tree has started blossoming (remember last week I posted a photo of it naked, with just a few buds happening !). Once it is in full flower, I will take another photo to show you all. It looks spectacular when it is all blossoming.

I just finished reading another great book last night (read until almost 2am, couldn't put it down, had to finish it !!). It's called "Birthright", and is by Nora Roberts. I hadn't read much by her in the past, but this one was wonderful. The blurb on the back of the book says ... "When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger and romance. While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project - fuelling rumours that the site is cursed. She must cope with the presence of her irritating - but irrisestible - ex-husband, Jake. Furthermore, when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she is forced to question her own past as well ... " If you can get your hands on this book, I recommend it highly. Not the usual thriller I read, although it has some of those elements, and a little bit of romance. Very nice reading, and very can't-put-down-able !!

I have put another couple of new postcards on my postcard exchange blog. Check them out here, or visit via the link on my sidebar. I have a handful more I need to write, as I still get a few requests each week for people wanting to exchange postcards. I am still enjoying it, although I don't seem to be getting the cards out as quickly as I should ... apologies to those people who are still waiting on cards.

I'd better get moving, other wise my day will be over before I have done everything I need to . I hope everyone has a wonderful, amazing, stupendous week !!

I'll leave you with a bit of what my friend calls "Mush" (meaning something nice and meaningful) ... enjoy.

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.There is a treasure in each one of us.

If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

Take care,

MEOW

27 comments:

Skye said...

Meow, Hi! I was thinking and remebering, break kitty of chewing on the speakers wires asap. Love ya! Skye. :)

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Skyeblue ... hi, long time no see. Hope you are well. I agree, gotta break the speaker wire chewing habit ... next time it might be a live power wire ... not good !!
Have a great week.
Take care, Meow

Jenn said...

"sticky beak cat" must be an Aussie expression. :0)

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

That cat photo above is really awesome. That cat really looks guilty. It's nice to know so many interesting things about you this week.
Thanks for stopping by.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Glad all is well with you, Meow. We've got a bit of rain today as well. It's cooled down to the low 70's F now, at a little after 11 pm.

I can't wait to see your apricot tree in full bloom. Hope it doesn't get frostbitten.

Have a good week, my friend. ;-)

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Jenn ... Sticky beak cat just means a very curious moggie !!

Fridays Child ... thanks, it does look guilty, doesn't it !!

Diana ... thanks. I don't think the apricot tree has ever suffered from frost bite, so hopefully not this year !!

take care, Meow

Greeneyes said...

Meow
Glad you found Bambi , it is a worry when they take off and you cant find them , we had a cat that got trapped in a neighbours basement for a week , I think they had to have mice , he was ok , a little stressed for a bit but OK .
sounds like you have a big trip lined up , wish you luck and hope you have a wonderful time :}
I like the mush on the end .....nice and true
hope to chat soon and sweet cheeks , you will be missed while away ! your friend
Greeneyes HUGS

Michelle said...

LOL, i love that pussycat picture :o)

Belizegial said...

Stopping by to see what's new Pussycat <<**>>

I am still getting my blog into shape. The lastest move is adding interesting links. If you don't mind, I will add your blogsite on mine.

Happy trails,
Enid

Peter said...

can't-put-down-able sounds like a new word to me Meow.

Anonymous said...

I would love to get some rain right now. It's hot and since I'll be home the rest of the week it would nice to have a nice rain shower and sleep!!!
Not getting much sleep right now:)

Hope you're having a good week!

JM said...

Just checking in. Have a great week!

Alice said...

Them there are profound words, so they are.

:-)

Hi Meow. I didn't get locked out for long. I'm back. And so is my email, for now, at least.

Thanks for the comment, and yes, deep breaths were had by all involved.

Glad Bambi is ok. Our cats get into scrapes sometimes, but not often enough for me to get, as you said; "used to it".

Sticky Beak Cat? That's a new one on me.

Bloody Little Git/Shit is the phrase used to describe any of our three when they drive us past endurance for one reason or another.

...But then, I'm not as refined as you are.

;-)

xxx

Jean-Luc Picard said...

That seems like a guilty-looking cat!

High Power Rocketry said...

Hi, your cat gave me a migrane.

Dick said...

I am glad that you found Bambi. They can sure disappear quickly and that is a good example of how easily it can happen. That is a nice poem with a good message. I think I will get the Leavenworth postcard to the box today before this afternoon's pickup.

Clare said...

Hi Meow

I *love* the Aussie term Sticky beak as they used to use it all the time on the Aussie soaps :).

Glad Bambi was okay :).

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Reverberate ... thank you. She is a naughty kitty ... open a door, drawer, cupboard, fridge ... she's there ... like she's got a radar !!

Greeneyes ... thank you so much. I'm not going for over a month, then only for a week ... not enough time to miss me !! But thanks for saying so, anyway !!

Michelle ... thanks.

Belizegial ... your blog is looking good, and of course I don't mind you adding me to your links.

Peter ... haven't you noticed that I like making up words !?!?

Nicole ... I often get hooked into archaeology and stuff like that ... sooo interesting. I've never been to Hervey Bay, looks beautiful ... one day *sigh*.

Dawn ... still so hot ??? Goodness, hope you get a cool change soon. Nothing worse than trying to sleep in the heat.

Angel ... thank you.

Alice ... glad all is sorted out for you internet wise !! Oh, what makes you think I'm "refined" ? *giggle*

Jean-luc ... it does, doesn't it !!!

Alex ... ooops, sorry !! Hope it's gone now !!

Dick ... thank you, looking foward to it !!

Clare ... thank you. Sticky Beak is quite a common term in this household !!

Daybyday ... yeah, I agree ... always excitement where the cat is concerned !!!

Connie ... *giggle* ... a cow bell sounds like a good idea !! The weight of it will keep her grounded, if nothing else !!!

Take care, friends ... Meow !!

Carole Burant said...

LOL love the cat picture!! When I was at my son's this past weekend, their cat Maple was forever being an escape artist...whenever anyone opened the door, out she ran between your legs!! Glad you were able to find Bambi, I know how worrisome it is when they don't come home as usual!! It's gotten much cooler here and I'm so enjoying it after the heat we had this summer! Take care:-) xoxo

Margaret said...

That graphic is so cute! Reminds me of my "Stinker". Nice blog. -Margie

Anonymous said...

I love the cat picture.
Nora Roberts is my absolute favorite Author. All of her books are like that, you can not put them down!

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Pea ... cats can be soooo naughty. Glad it is cooler for you, I know how unpleasant it is when it just won't cool down !

Margaret ... thanks, love the name Stinker !!

3catsmeow4me ... cool, I'll have to read more of her stuff. Thanks !!

Take care, Meow

Anonymous said...

I'm glad Bambi is okay! I love the story at the bottom, I'd heard it before but it's always a good reminder.

Hey thanks for a book recomendation. I haven't read a Nora Roberts in years, but have enjoyed her in the past. This sounds like a goodie!

Jamie Dawn said...

You've got a very curious cat!
I know what you mean about it raining just after you wash the car. I don't know why that happens, but it does.
We are in need of some rain. It has been dreadfully hot this summer and very little rain. It is a drought at this time. Generally, this part of the country gets a lot of rain during the summer. My poor potted flowers have really gotten baked. I have to keep them soaked or they will fry to death.
Enjoy the rest of your week. :)

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Barbara ... thank you. Nora Roberts is great, I need to get some more of her books !!

Jamie ... thank you. Ooooh, your poor potplants, it is awful in the heat. I hope it starts to cool down a little soon, and that you get the much needed rain, too.

Take care, Meow

Val said...

Mmm, I envy you that trip to Broken Hill, Lake Mungo etc. Nice to be able to share it with friends, Meow.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Thanks, Val ... should be heaps of fun, and more so with friends. Take care, Meow