Photos :) (finally!)

Our faithful old dog, Liz.




Part of our farm in spring. And some moos.



Bugsy! Well, her real name is Tikvah, but we call her mum 'Boogie' so she's 'Bugsy'.



This is a view through the bush of what the countryside is like. There are a lot of valleys and there a lot of bigger valleys and river flats, but other than that, this is pretty typical terrain. Other than this photo was taken in the middle of summer in the middle of a really bad drought! It's actually a lot prettier than this.



And this is what the bush is like behind our place. This is why we have such bad bushfires. So much undergrowth and dry grass. This is why the DSE does fuel reduction burns every autumn. This part of the bush is actually really damp (this photo WAS taken in the middle of the drought!) so it hasn't burnt in anyone's living memory.



Poddy calves. :D



Jerse. Isn't she beautiful?!




Now, these of the calves aren't the bestest photos ever, they're just for identification purposes, but I'm going to try get down a bit later in the day to take some nice ones.

Until next time!
Sar

A few of my favorite things... (updated!)

Now we all know this song, and this morning when I was making my coffee, I thought to myself, "Coffee is one of my favorite things." Instantly, I could nearly hear Julie Andrews singing, "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad. I simply remember a few of my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad!" How many of you now have the song stuck in your head?!
So, I thought, "What are a few of my favorite things, and why?" Now, I have a lot of favorites, but they're mostly confined to warm, comforting things; hot showers, coffee, spag bol. Lots of blankets on my bed! But then I have a few other strange ones: walking around shearing sheds and cattle yards (now I know that if you're from the city, you'll be thinking, "That's pathetic! Why would someone want to look around a smelly old shed or dirty yards?" I can't really explain it, but I guess when you're used to it, it's a familiar thing. Also it's incredibly interesting to look at the whole set up. Especially if the yards or sheds belong to someone else!)

So the previous part of the post I wrote about 2 days ago, and I haven't been back to finish it. And then when I thought, "I'll finish that post!" I accidentally publish it. Oops! Ah, well.

I think Autumn is definitely here. I'm glad... Autumn and spring are my fovorite seasns. Mostly because of the temperature and the colours. Around here in spring, everything is a vivid green and all the fruit trees dotted around the hills are covered in either white or pink blossoms. Autumn I love because there is still a hint of summer, but there is a bit of chill in the air too. And the trees in Corryong go an awesome colour! It's just a tad chilly sitting at the computer. And there is a thick blanket of fog sitting on us in the early mornings. Lots of dew, and the trees (well, the deciduous ones anyways. I know that not all people know that eucalyptus aren't deciduous) are turning, changing colours. And the DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment) are burning off (fuel reduction burns) the national parks. A lot of people complain about all the smoke in the air, but I love it. It makes it feel like autumn. I do like the fact that you have to wear a jumper outside in the mornings! I have to sit down one day and put some photos up here, but I just can't find the ones I want!

I have to go, my older sister, Ayala is coming home tomorrow so I have to go get things a bit organised. And of course, studying! ;)
With love,
Sarah

Boomerang, Charlotte Ritchie

This song is a lesson I'm still trying to learn, unfortunately. I'm getting better, but I do tend to say things without really thinking. Bad habit :P but still trying to break!

Talk is cheap no matter what you say,
You're gonna reap tomorrow what you sow today.
So don't take too lightly your deeds to men,
'Cos the winds of justice will blow again.

Hey watch what you're doin'
Watch what you say!
That boomerang's comin' back your way.
The harder you throw it the farther it flies,
It might hit you harder than you realise.
You gotta play by the golden rule in this game,
or you won't be ready for the boomerang.
Watch where you're throwin' that boomerang.

Don't point your finger at what others do,
'Cos there's three just like it pointing back at you.
You know, a little bit of love goes a long long way,
You might need a little back on a hard up day.

Hey watch what you're doin'
Watch what you say!
That boomerang's comin' back your way.
The harder you throw it the farther it flies,
It might hit you harder than you realise.
You gotta play by the golden rule in this game,
or you won't be ready for the boomerang.
Watch where you're throwin' that boomerang.
-Charlotte Ritchie


So my happenings today were slightly exciting :) I sent off my Diabetes unit of my course! Yay! It was really interesting, I would like to learn more about it. So after this, I have Woundcare (there's some gross bits in there, like puncture wounds and protruding objects. I have the most interesting job! lol) and another 5 books, then my traineeship is over! I think they're something like, asthma, complementary medicine (another BIG book...), men's and women's health, market and promote pharmacy services area, and pregnancy and maternal health. Then I am DONE!!! :D Whoo! I can't wait. I hope to have them all completed by May. So lots of hard work, but it'll be worth it. I have been working at this course (nearly a university course) for about 1 and a half years. It will be good to have it finished!
The other happenings were that Mum and Dad got their first batch of poddy calves for their contract rearing business. The little poddies are so cute! I'll post some photo's soon.

I just realised I have to update my 'about me'...
Gob bless,
Sarah

Apologising (once again!) for not writing...!

Hello!
As my title says, I am very sorry. I am not at all constant writing here, and I should be.

I as just reading over my blog, and was realising how depressing my blog was! Always complaining, not very encouraging at all. And I don't think any of it made any sense what-so-ever if no one knew me. Must have been retty boring for anyone to read it!

Well, on to news... I am now the oldest at home. Ayala (my older sister) applied for a job in Sydney as a nanny. She got the job, and moved up in the first couple of weeks of the new year. So since about mid January, I've only seen her once. But she's coming home this weekend!!! I'm so excited :D Then I think she'll be back down for the MFSR festival (Yes, I know. It's been a year already!)

In May, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound is coming to Australia. I really hope we can go to the concert. The theme is A tribute to the Cathedrals. Should be pretty good :)

Interesting things are happening at work, but just what I can't say at the minute. I'll post more about it when I actually find out. Well, for one, my boss is pregnant. She's due in August. Not sure what date.

Anyways, I have to go. I told Mum I'd make an apple cake. I haven't yet started... to busy looking at blogs! And studying of course. LOL.

Gruss Gott! <3
Sarah

ahh...

I haven't been writing a lot lately. I never have anything to write about... Really boring, lol. Been working, and studying (but still getting a bit behind!) Work has been really busy, and we don't have enough staff :P
I can't wait 'til summer!!! When it's nice and warm and we can go swimming and stay out 'til late. I'll also have my P's (Lord willing) so I can go places when I want without having to wait for everyone else :) and I can take my friends and my sister's and brother different places! I can't wait!!! And I don't have to worry about catching the bus or catching lifts everywhere.
I'll try write more soon :D
xoxox Sarah

Wow! I got an award... Thanks, Kathy :)

Wow! My first award... Amazing! LOVE YOU, SIS!




Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog. Thank you so much, Kath!

2. Copy the award and paste it to your blog. DONE

3. Tell us seven interesting facts about you.

4. Pass the award to around fifteen wonderful bloggers you've discovered. (Or as many as you can think of because I don't know if I can think of 15!)

5. Contact your nominations and let them know they've won.


Ok now for 7 things... I don't know if I can think of 7, lol!
1. I can be random. Only sometimes, though. The rest of the time, I'm just plain weird.
2. When the first fog (and frost) of the year comes, I get really excited :)
3. I love cows!!! (on and off the dinner plate.)
4. I don't like sheep, except on a dinner plate.
5. I used to want to be a vet. That idea got old real fast when I realised that I would, in the course of my career, have to put animals down.
6. Surgery is fascinating.
7.I love talking to people!

There we are, that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be :)

Now I tag Kate Lynn and Rachel.

Good night!
God Bless,
Sarah

A bit depressed...

Today, and the last few days, I have been feeling a bit down in the mouth. A head line on Bigpond News: "Aborted baby boy survives for 2 days"

"Friday, April 30, 2010 » 09:11am

A baby boy who was left to die after a botched abortion has survived for two days.

The 22-week-old foetus later died in intensive care in the city of Rossano in southern Italy.

The baby's mother opted for a termination after scans suggested the child might be disabled.

The procedure was carried out at the Rossano Calabro hospital on Saturday but 20 hours after the operation the hospital chaplain was praying to the baby when he discovered it was still alive.

Father Antonio Martello informed doctors who immediately transferred the child to a specialist neo-natal unit at a neighbouring hospital where he died on Monday.

Italian police are investigating if there is a case for homicide or abandonment because according to Italian law, doctors have a legal obligation to preserve the life of the baby after it survives an abortion.

The Italian government is also considering an investigation into the conduct of the hospital staff.

The case reopens the debate about the legality of abortion in the mainly Roman Catholic country.

The law states that the procedure can be carried out in the first three months of a pregnancy but is restricted to special circumstances, such as disability, in the second trimester.

This is the second time in three years a 22-week-old foetus has survived an abortion in Italy.

In Britain the legal upper limit for a termination is 24 weeks but there are calls for this to be reduced as an increasing number of babies born under that age survive.

An attempt to lower the limit failed in Parliament in 2008."

I can't help but feel sick at the thought of people murdering babies. 'Cos that's what abortion is. I have had a couple of people around me that have had abortions, one of them was strictly medical (the mother would have died if she hadn't have aborted) but the other ones have been the mother's choice. Why do you kill babies that can be saved from dying? Where is the love in that? But, no, we have to be "pro-choice". Not that the baby chose to die, it was the mother's choice. It's murder.

I'll write when I'm in a better mood.
Sarah

Tagged... :D

I love tags. Just love 'em :)
Rightio, here we go!

1. How many toes do you have? Umm, last time I checked, I had eleven. Wait. No, I got that wrong, it was 10!

2. How many bones have you broken? None, officially. But I suspected I've broken at least one.

3. Name an epic thing that you have done. Epic? Hm. Well, an epic thing I want to do is going sky-diving :D I once jumped down a huge slide, and that was really great. You go about 40+ k's an hour.

4. If you had a pet lemming, what would you name him? Squidgy.

5. What color are the clothes you're wearing right now? Black business pants, white shirt with a blue and red collar, and Ayala's gray and white jacket. And Black high heels.

6. How awesome are orca whales on a scale of one to ten? Ten defs!

8. How old do you want to be when you die? Old enough to be able to see my grandkids.

9. Name a pet peeve and an addiction. When someone tells me about a subject that I know more than them about, and they use a really patronising tone. Addiction: Food. It's an addiction I can't seem to break, lol! And chocolate, and champagne (non-alcoholic of course!)

10. Write a paragraph detailing your life. 100 word minimum.Ok, I was born in the spring of '92. The second child of the family and the second grandchild on both sides and I have 2 sisters and a brother. Ayala, Katherine and Daniel. I was one of the last kids to be born in Corryong Hospital. Before I was born, Mum almost had a miscarraige. (long story) And the doctor that delivered me was named Dr. Hatch. At age 5, I started being homeschooled. Just before I turned 8, we moved to our farm at Cudgewa. We had a good year or two. Then the drought struck. It was really hard. About that stage, Dad started his own business as a spray contractor. We lived on that for quite a few years because the farm wasn't making enough money to support us. Then the drought got really bad, so every farmer saved money, tightened their belts and decided to not get the sprayers in. We were in need of money. We started share farming on a dairy farm about 1/2 an hour away. That lasted about 18 months, and we went through a bushfire, then the boss started getting really nasty. So we left and came back to our farm. That was about 3 months ago. We are now rather happily settled back home :) I am a pharmacy assistant, have been for nearly 3 years, and I want to make ice cream and cheese and stuff for the local food industry. I am 17, nearly 18 years old.

11. Name one thing that isn't really a secret, but that you haven't really gotten around to telling anyone. I'm getting my own car in about 2 or 3 weeks! Ma own car!

12. Name another pet peeve. Another one? Rightio. Let me think. People saying, "Sar...? Guess what? Oh, don't worry, It's ok." That is so annoying!

13. Sprechen Sie deutsch? "Do you speak German?"

14. Tell a joke. If a plane crashes on the border of Mexico and the US, where do you bury the survivors?

15. How many of the questions have you answered in a witty manner so far? Only a couple...

16. Compose a haiku. What on earth is that?!

17. Have you ever noticed how sour candies taste even more sour if you rub them on the side of your tongue? Yeah, I know! That's amazing! I always do that!

18. What book(s) are you reading at the moment? "Sovay", The Bible, and my course.


19. How many doors are there in your house? About 8. Or 9 if you count the door that counts as a manhole.

20. How would you solve a problem like Maria? It's easier to "catch a cloud and pin it down"

21. Think of something about yourself. Anything. Go on, think of it. I know quite a lot of people...

22. What's wrong with your legs? They need a shave. And they have lots of bruises...

24. What's your favorite show tune? I have a lot of 'em! Like JAG.

25. Okay, you can tell us what that first thing you thought of for number 21 was. We all want to know... No you don't! I'm not saying!

And I tag, Anyone who either:
#1 Loves the country :)
#2 Has held a live wombat.
#3 Sews
#4 Loves reading

Mum and Dad are back tomorrow :)

Wow, that ten days went so quick! I will be very glad to see my parents, but I have really enjoyed the time they have been away. I guess it has felt very independant. Maybe it's time to move out... :D No, just joking. Not time for that yet. We have been very busy while they were away, we had visitors, been different places (i.e. Mama's and Pop's, the Festival and the farmer's market) and it was really good.
And I cured my cow! She had mastitis, not the normal white spotty stuff, her milk was all watery and browny/yellow. Eeww! But we got soem antibiotics from the vet and jabbed her every day for 3 days. It's all cleared up now.
There isn't actually very much to write about, so when there is something interesting I'll write again.
Bye
Sarah

Nearly Easter... Mum and Dad are going away tomorrow :)

Hi...
Tomorrow is Good Friday. It is also the day Mum and Dad are going on their holiday. They are going on a cruise from Sydney up the East Coast, to a few Islands and Port Douglas and Cairns. Then they head back to Sydney, and back home. And while they are gone, we aren't going to be bored at all. Mama and Grandma got together and (like all good grandmothers do) planned our Easter for us. I knew nothing about it until about Tuesday. Grandma is going to pick us up on Saturday afternoon and take us to Mama and Pop's place. We are going to spend until Monday there with our cousins. We will come back home on Monday, Grandma leaves Tuesday. Wednesday we have a barbecue at my workmate's place. Thursday, we have friends coming up from Melbourne. Friday the Man from Snowy River Festival starts. I might be working that weekend (the festival generally means the town grows by a few thousand people). And on Monday Mum and Dad come back :) Busy busy busy!
Anyways I gotta go xoxox God Bless :)
Sarah

Tired... haven't posted in ages :P

Hey guys,
What's going on? I have had a busy few months. Lots of work and study (I'm still behind in the bookwork from my course) and my boss went on holiday a month ago, it is getting busier in the lead up to Easter and the Man From Snowy River Festival It shoulb be really good. But to top things off, the shop manager quit very suddenly on Monday and I now have her job. I don't know how she did it! Really hard. I'll write more about it another time, but I'm so tired!

hey for the first time in a month. where does time go?

Hi...
I have been really busy not doing much. Have you ever done that? I am busy doing my everyday getting up, going to work, trying to get my course assessments off on time. Coming home, more course work, whatever needs to be done here, getting ready for the next working week. Doing so much then again, doing so little. And time goes by so fast! People say that you know when you are getting old, because time goes so quick. But it's not just old people! It's me! Last time I looked, I was 15! Now I am 17, working really hard, and in about 1 year and a half, I am going to be a dispensary technician in a little country pharmacy, if the Lord wills. Maybe living on my own, in my own house. Totally independant from Mum and Dad. I really can't believe it has all gone so quick.
Vanity, all is vanity!
Anyways, gotta go get back to the grind stone! (Not that I mind. It's better than being bored!)
Love you all,
Sarah