Hello ...

Hope you have all had a wonderful week. Mine has been hectic, and I have a few projects to complete this weekend, but I hope to drop by all your blogs at some stage over the next few days.

I received this in an email today, and thought it was too lovely not to share ...

I've never made a fortune,
and it's probably too late now.

But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow

and as I go along life's way,

I'm reaping better than I sowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,

and sometimes the goings tough

But I've got loving ones all around me,

and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings,

and the mercies He's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed

I remember times when things went wrong,

My faith wore somewhat thin.

But all at once the dark clouds broke,

and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,

about the tough rows I have hoed.

I'm drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,

When the way grows steep and rough.

I'll not ask for other blessings,

I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,

to help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

When I think of how many people in this world have it worse

than I do, I realize just how blessed we really are.

Hope you all ...

Catch you soon...

Take care,

I'm Haven't Forgotten About You All !!

Hello Everyone,

It's been extra busy in the world of Meow lately ... what with work, Chicky's birthday and party, and all manner of other stuff, it has kept me away from my beloved blogging. I'm not happy !!! Well, I am happy, but not with the lack of blogging situation ... it is very frustrating. I want to sit and play and visit you all, but am not finding the time (or in some instances, the energy). Please perservere with me, life will begin to slow down again soon, work will ease off (it is apparently the busiest month of the year ... I am working 4 days ... soon it will be back to 2 or 3 days again!). I hugely miss you all, and drop by to read as often as I can, however I don't always comment.

Oh yeah, Chicky's party went magically, I catered adequately (thank god for that), and the kids all had a ball. It was a long afternoon, but a hugely successful one. Thanks, everyone, for all your Happy Birthday wishes for her ... she loved them all xxx

I'd like to share with you a great quote I found ...

You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them -- no matter how old or impressive they may be -- as if they are children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much -- we simply grow taller. O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.

--Leo Rosten--

Gotta go ... bye fore now. Have a great week.

Take care,

Happy 13th Birthday Chicky ...

CHICKY

Well, it's the morning after the day before (Saturday morning, to be precise), and my baby girl is now a teenager !! OMG, that makes me feel so old !!

She had a lovely day, even though she had to go to school LOL !! We had the family over last night, so she got some wonderful pressies. It was a great evening ... I got to be around 1am !!

Today she has netball, then a friend coming over for a sleep-over.

Sunday is the big party, with 20 of her closest friends (!?!) at the Monash Aquatic Centre (an indoor swimming pool with a wave pool ... great fun !). We are heading out shopping this avo to get supplies for the party, as we are bringing our own stuff, with Hubby going out and getting pizzas for dinner, before the kids go home !! It works out cheaper, and you get more and yummier food doing it this way. AND, the mess is still not in your own home ... yay !!

So, I hope to do my blog visiting this afternoon ... fingers crossed ... while Chicky and her friend put together the lolly bags for the party. They have planned to watch movies, and just have fun !! Hubby is sleeping (worked night shift last night), and I am all done with housework (other than a couple loads of washing), so I can do my own thing (finally !!).

Catch you all on your blogs.

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

OMG, what a week (so far !!)

Goodness, am I tired. Since i wrote my last post, Tuesday morning, I have been at work almost not stop during daylight hours. I did a bit of shopping Tuesday, after posting, and was called in whilst at the shopping centre. There is so much work at the moment, and they need all hands on deck ... I couldn't say no (although I wish that I had've, as I got nothing done that I wanted to that day!). I come home from work so tired, from focusing on the computer screens (the work I do is a lot of editing / formatting of text, meaning a lot of staring at the computer !). I have barely had the energy to turn on the computer when I get home, let alone do anything with it!!

So, please forgive me, I haven't forgotten you all ... I miss you, and can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've been up to.

I will finish now, and try to come visiting. Wish me luck.

(Don't know if I'll be able to do much tomorrow ... Chicky's birthday ... as I have to do stuff I should've done Tuesday. You know, housework, washing, baking, same old, same old !! We are having the family over for coffee and cake tomorrow Evening. Busy day !!)

Take care,

I'm Back ... Finally !!

Hello Dear Blog-Friends,

It seems like ages since I last posted, and got around to reading all your blogs ... and I guess it has been ages ... since before Easter (excepting the brief post I did whilst away ... but that doesn't really count !!)

So, what have I been up to ??? More to the point, what have you been up to ??? OK, me first !!

We went up to Bonnie Doon on Good Friday, for a week and a bit of R & R. The weather was totally wonderful ... blue skies and sunshine all the way through.

It is a games and fun weekend, Easter weekend, up at the caravan park we stay at (Peppin Point). We played darts on the Friday night (well, the boys mostly did, we girls watched !!). Saturday had lawn bowls, tennis, and various other games. I played lawn bowls (which was held on the tennis courts), which I hadn't played before, and made it through to round 2, where I bombed out. Great fun, though.

Saturday night was Trivia Night. My cousin and I run this ... I had spent hours and hours putting together the questions in the week prior ... he calls the questions on the night, and I do all the scoring and sorting of results. The night was deemed a great success, with lots of fun (and drinks!!) had by all.

Sunday (apart from being Easter) was the finals of the lawn bowls, tennis, as well as BMX racing and something else (oops, I can't remember what it was !!). There was also an Easter Egg hunt, with the Easter Bunny making an appearance !!

As well as the Easter Bunny paying us a visit on Easter Sunday, so did my mum & dad. We went for a bit of a cruise through the lake-bed (no water, remember !!) with the 4WD, and ventured upon a river and bridge we hadn't seen before. So, of course, out came the camera ...

We had a wonderful day with my parents, we always do. We just get along so well, and have lots of fun.

Hubby went home Monday afternoon, as he had to work Tuesday through to Friday. Chicky and I stayed at the caravan park ... car-less !! Fortunately, there were a few others around, so we weren't totally stranded !!

Some friends took the kids out to a water (mud) hole, to try and catch some carp that had become stranded there. Well, the kids thought the pleasant art of fishing was no fun, so decided to have a mud fight. They had a ball, got totally covered in mud. Here's the end result (I have only chosen to share a back-view of these kids, as I'm wary of posting pictures of kids, other than my own, on the internet !).

During the course of the week, they ended up doing this twice more, each time coming back more filthy. Got some spectacular photos, though ... and the kids had so much fun. They do say mud is good for the skin, don't they !?!?!?!

Apart from the kids having fun, so did I. I read a couple of books (I loooooooove to read), crocheted a bit (I've been working on a blanket for years, but only do a little bit each Winter ... it should be finished this century sometime !!!), and attempted a bit more of my cross-stitch. The cross-stitch is another project I started some time ago, and it keeps getting put aside. One day !! It is a gorgeous picture of a cat (how unusual !!) laying on a tree branch, with his leg dangling down ... absolutely beautiful (at least it will be, one day !!). Also caught up with some friends, chatted heaps, drank some, ate a lot !! Well, isn't that what you do on holidays !?!?!

Overall, a wonderful week. Didn't take as many photos as normal ... but didn't really go anywhere, either.

Arrived home Sunday 1ish, dumped our stuff from out of the car, got changed, and headed out to a party !!! OMG, what a busy day.

Worked yesterday (Monday), so haven't had a chance to fiddle on the computer properly yet !!

I have a day off today, and I need to go out shopping (it's Chicky's 13th birthday on Friday), and then come home and do some long overdue housework (getting visitors on Friday night, not sure if I'll have a lot of time for housework Friday ... so it's today or never). Then back working Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is for groceries, and preparation for visitors !! Gosh, hope I have time to relax !!! We also have a pool-party for Chicky on Sunday afternoon, at the local wave-pool ... 20 kids !!! OMG !!!

So, that's me taken care of ... what about you ??? I guess I will have to drop on by your blogs, to see what you've been up to. Keep an eye out for me, I'll be there soon.

Have a wonderful week

Take care,

Greetings From Bonnie Doon

Hello everyone, and greetings from Bonnie Doon.

My lack of posting is due to the fact that I am away from home, and am having a wonderfully, relaxing time, catching up with friends, books, crocheting, cross-stitching (and not a lot of computer-playing !!)

I haven't even taken many photos ... have barely left the caravan park. We did, however, discover a bridge, uncovered by the receding lake waters ... I will share them with you next week, as I don't want to use up my upload limit on my portable internet doodad !!

I recently submitted my bog to CRITIQUE MY BLOG ... just out of curiosity. I had noticed a few of my blog friends had also done this, so had to give it a go, also.

Anyway, here is what he (Bill, at Critique My Blog) wrote ...

Alright Cat lovers...pour yourself a cup of coffee and settle into the Varieties Of Life brought to us by..well...who else...Meow. She has a blog where the main theme is cats and although I'm not a big cat fan...I could find some humor and interest in the blog. Her post Cats On Tuesday #13-Rules for cats who have a house to run is a purrfect (couldn't resist) example. The blog is set up in a busy manner with lots to look at and the posts are well written. Cat lovers and blog lovers alike should check this one out. Well done.

I must say, I was quite chuffed with this critique ... Thank you Bill.

Must go now, time to go for a walk !!

Will talk again soon.

Take care,

I'm Getting In Early ...

Hello Friends,

Not sure if I'll get a chance to post again before we leave on Friday, for an extended Easter break at Bonnie Doon. So, here's a basket of eggs for you to share ...

Ooops, a naughty little bunny has stolen some ...

Hang on a minute, one of them is hatching ...

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Easter, and hope you get to enjoy the time with family and friends and loved ones.

Don't eat too much chocolate (but, then again, it IS Easter ... who can resist !!).

Have a wonderful time, everyone, and I will catch you all soon.

Take care,

CATS ON TUESDAY # 13

RULES FOR CATS...

WHO HAVE A HOUSE TO RUN...

I. Doors:
Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get door opened, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. After you have ordered an "outside" door opened, stand halfway in and out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, or mosquito season. Swinging doors are to be avoided at all costs.

II. Chairs and Rugs:
If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug. If there is no Oriental rug, shagpile is good. When throwing up on the carpet, make sure you back up so that it is as long as the human's bare foot.

III. Bathrooms:
Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything - just sit and stare.

IV. Hampering:
If one of your humans is engaged in some close activity and the other is idle, stay with the busy one. This is called "helping", otherwise known as "hampering".
Following are the rules for "hampering":
a) When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted.
b) For book readers, get in close under the chin, between eyes and book, unless you can lie across the book itself.
c) For knitting projects or paperwork, lie on the work in the most appropriate manner so as to obscure as much of the work or at least the most important part. Pretend to doze, but every so often reach out and slap the pencil or knitting needles. The worker may try to distract you; ignore it. Remember, the aim is to hamper work. Embroidery and needlepoint projects make great hammocks in spite of what the humans may tell you.
d) For people paying bills (monthly activity) or working on income taxes or Christmas cards (annual activity), keep in mind the aim -- to hamper! First, sit on the paper being worked on. When dislodged, watch sadly from the side of the table. When activity proceeds nicely, roll around on the papers, scattering them to the best of your ability. After being removed for the second time, push pens, pencils, and erasers off the table, one at a time.
e) When a human is holding the newspaper in front of him/her, be sure to jump on the back of the paper. They love to jump.

V. Walking:
As often as possible, dart quickly and as close as possible in front of the human, especially: on stairs, when they have something in their arms, in the dark, and when they first get up in the morning. This will help their coordination skills.

VI. Bedtime:
Always sleep on the human at night so s/he cannot move around.

Take care,

Tuesday Tidbits ...

Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.

--George Kneller--

Well, what do ya know, it's Tuesday again !! I can't believe how time is flying ... someone need's to clip it's wings (time's wings, that is !!).

We had a lovely day on Sunday, going to the Caravan and Camping show. We were there for hours (4 to be precise !), and looked at absolutely everything. We collected heaps (and I do mean HEAPS) of brochures and booklets about all the places we want to see, and things we want to buy ... gosh, we sure do need to win Lotto !!

We spent some time looking at the TVans ... we really do want to get one of these ... here are a few photos (they are fairly small), but it gives you an idea about what the heck I am talking about !!

OK, basically it is a camper trailer, but where it is different to a normal camper trailer, is that the tent part of it doesn't sit on top of the bed whilst travelling (so no wet canvas when it rains will be dampening your sleeping area) ... the tent bit lives in a zippered (water tight) compartment inside the hatch/door. Also, it is like a little pod, so you are completely enclosed when you sleep. There is ample ventilation, and the little tent bit is big enough for a couple of mattresses and other stuff (well, Chicky does need to sleep somewhere !!). There is heaps of storage inside, and it is easy when you are at home to pack the thing, withoug having to put up the tent (unlike the other type of camper trailer) ... you just open the door/hatch thingy!! It looks kind of funny (Hubby reckons it looks like a T-Rex head !!), but it is incredible. It has room for 5 Gerry cans (for fuel, I guess), and has one or 2 water tanks (whichever you want) which hold 70 litres of water each (that's 140 litres of fresh water ... heaps) ... there is plenty of room on the outside for heaps of other stuff, too. As you can see by the third picture, the TVan can go anywhere your 4WD can ... it's wheels run in exactly the same path as your car's wheels. There is a pull-out kitchen on the outside, and a shade roof you can put up over it (if the weather looks dodgy). You can also get an annexe to attach, so when you are camping in one place for an extended time, there is more room to spread out !! We watched them put it up ... takes a whole 3 minutes (I guess it would take practice, but it looks very easy). Overall, we just love the little critter, and want one NOW !! Hopefully sometime this year ... we have to sort out a few other things first !! (Anyone want to buy a boat !?!?!)

It is school holidays for the next 2 weeks, so I have Chicky at home. Hubby is on night shift, so we need to "tip-toe" around a bit, as he is sleeping through the day. That's always a bit of a pain, but oh well !!

I worked yesterday, but only for 4 hours ... it is very quiet at the moment, but in a couple of weeks we will be working around the clock (apparently!). I am also working tomorrow (Wednesday), but for how many hours, I'm not sure. It's OK by me, if it is a short day, as I have things to do to get ready to head up to Bonnie Doon on Friday. Not sure if I've mentioned it, but we are heading up there for Easter. Hubby will be coming home on Monday, but Chicky and I will stay for the week. Hubby will come up again the next weekend, and we will all come home together on the Sunday (the 15th, I think !).

Well, I had better come up with a Cats On Tuesday to post, and come on by and visit you all. And I've gotta go out shopping for Easter Eggs and stuff ... the Easter Bunny's got to have something to share on Sunday, doesn't he !?!

Hope you have a great remainder of the week.

Take care,

April Fools Day 2007 ....

A PINCH AND A PUNCH FOR THE FIRST OF THE MONTH !!

I'm not going to be mean, and play any April Fool's Day tricks. I just wanted to say ......

Hope your weekend is going well.

We are off to the Caravan and Camping Show, to drool over the camper trailer we want to buy ... hopefully we'll remember to take a photo, so I can show you tomorrow.

Take care,