It's still only 23 degrees at 8.00am. After four days of 40 plus degree heat, it is a welcome change!! We got to sleep in our own beds last night, it was cool enough.
Thank goodness it did cool down, because we had a power out at 7.30pm that lasted through until 11.30. No lights, no air-con, did I mention no lights?? Oh, and no water either - the tanks require water pumped to the house.
By the time I got home, unpacked the shopping, waved farewell to Michael's guest and got changed, it was after 8.30 and the pub kitchen was shut (too dark to cook on gas). Michael still opted to go to the pub for drinks - the clientele were all out on the front steps drinking. Viannah, Paul and Julie's daughter, chose to come up here and spend time with Caitlin and Mim.
So we got the candles out, and I made the girls scrambled eggs for dinner and we watched the world get darker, and darker, and darker. They played murder in dark for a little while, then decided to watch a movie on Caitlin's portable DVD player.
I had to stop Mim from opening the fridge, we were trying to keep things cold as we didn't know how long the power would be out.
"Mim, close the door of the fridge! You can't open the door."
"Why?"
"Because there is no electricity to keep the fridge cold."
"What happened to it?"
"Somebody used it all up."
" I didn't use it all up Mummy."
"I know you didn't sweetie"
"I used most of it, but not all!"
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Response to "Unwelcome Visitor"
A girlfriend with experience emailed this in response to the previous blog:
I would say your visitor would have been a carpet snake. They tend to travel at night. If it was fairly large in size they may get to the chooks or possibly even Gomez as they dislocate their jaw, but unlikely. More likely after the eggs and mice etc as Michael said. He may be back if he has made residence close by. If you catch him, he has to be relocated at least 10 km away or else he will be back, but the best snake is one that has multiplied into many pieces (with the axe or my preference is if the snake eats some metal in the form of a bullet).
I totally agree with you, E! Unfortunately I'm a bit wary about letting Michael get a shotgun, I don't think I could cope with the blood when he shoots three fingers off, or a toe. Or gets pissed off with the dogs once too often.
Snakey hasn't been back (or hasn't been sighted, and I've kept a close eye on the pen). Neither have any of the dogs gone beserk. Lots hope we scared him/her off for good!
I would say your visitor would have been a carpet snake. They tend to travel at night. If it was fairly large in size they may get to the chooks or possibly even Gomez as they dislocate their jaw, but unlikely. More likely after the eggs and mice etc as Michael said. He may be back if he has made residence close by. If you catch him, he has to be relocated at least 10 km away or else he will be back, but the best snake is one that has multiplied into many pieces (with the axe or my preference is if the snake eats some metal in the form of a bullet).
I totally agree with you, E! Unfortunately I'm a bit wary about letting Michael get a shotgun, I don't think I could cope with the blood when he shoots three fingers off, or a toe. Or gets pissed off with the dogs once too often.
Snakey hasn't been back (or hasn't been sighted, and I've kept a close eye on the pen). Neither have any of the dogs gone beserk. Lots hope we scared him/her off for good!
Friday, 30 January 2009
An Unwelcome Visitor
Caitlin stayed at a friend's house last night. I got to sleep on the couch as Mim had commandeered a bit more than half of the queen size air mattress (she's her father's daughter).
I'd let the dogs out about 9pm, it was getting dark and cooler than it had been so they needed their run around time and toilet time. After 30 minutes, I heard Gomez persistently barking. This is not unusual, he'll bark at any perceived movement - cockatoos in the trees, lizard through the bush, sheep grazing. I went out to yell at him to shut up..... but he was standing at the chook pen fence line barking.
I wandered over, in my thongs, to see a SNAKE on the other side. Inside the chook pen. It was too dark to make out what sort it was, and I wasn't going to peer over the fence to get a better look, but I think it may have had diamond type markings (or was that just the chook wire I could see)! I grabbed Gomez, called the other two and spent ages trying to get them inside. Then called Michael to come and look. He grumbled and put on his socks and boots, and collected the axe and torch before getting outside. By this stage, it had disappeared. Not sure if I was relieved it had gone, or more worried about where it had gone.
Michael assured me that the chooks should be okay, it was just after their eggs, or any mice that were scouting out the chook food. Whilst I love my chooks, no way was I going to check on their safety last night.
Jemima has been given strict instructions that she is not to collect eggs anymore, or even go outside without a parent. And she must always wear closed in shoes. It may have been a harmless snake, but with browns and tigers common in this area, we're not taking any chances. The damn dry weather has been good for snakes.
The chooks didn't lay any eggs this morning, and I don't blame them either. My clacker would be tight shut too if I'd been inside the same enclosure as that!!
I'd let the dogs out about 9pm, it was getting dark and cooler than it had been so they needed their run around time and toilet time. After 30 minutes, I heard Gomez persistently barking. This is not unusual, he'll bark at any perceived movement - cockatoos in the trees, lizard through the bush, sheep grazing. I went out to yell at him to shut up..... but he was standing at the chook pen fence line barking.
I wandered over, in my thongs, to see a SNAKE on the other side. Inside the chook pen. It was too dark to make out what sort it was, and I wasn't going to peer over the fence to get a better look, but I think it may have had diamond type markings (or was that just the chook wire I could see)! I grabbed Gomez, called the other two and spent ages trying to get them inside. Then called Michael to come and look. He grumbled and put on his socks and boots, and collected the axe and torch before getting outside. By this stage, it had disappeared. Not sure if I was relieved it had gone, or more worried about where it had gone.
Michael assured me that the chooks should be okay, it was just after their eggs, or any mice that were scouting out the chook food. Whilst I love my chooks, no way was I going to check on their safety last night.
Jemima has been given strict instructions that she is not to collect eggs anymore, or even go outside without a parent. And she must always wear closed in shoes. It may have been a harmless snake, but with browns and tigers common in this area, we're not taking any chances. The damn dry weather has been good for snakes.
The chooks didn't lay any eggs this morning, and I don't blame them either. My clacker would be tight shut too if I'd been inside the same enclosure as that!!
Thursday, 29 January 2009
It's Hot
It's 5am. It's still 31 degrees. Lovely temperature for being at the beach, not so great for trying to sleep. There's a northwesterly 'breeze' blowing, bringing hot air from over the dessert.
Today reached 45 degrees here, according to the car temperature gauge - which has always been reliable in the past. But it was bearable, being a dry heat. Early this morning, we closed all windows, blinds and doors and that kept the house cool, well, relatively speaking. Probably low 30s inside the house.
The girls and I hit the pool when it opened at 1.30pm. The plan was to only stay half an hour so we wouldn't get too burnt - but it was soooo lovely. Water temp was 27 degrees. We stayed an hour. I took the life jacket off Mim and she practiced swimming. Up one length of the pool, across the width and back the other length. Probably 120m in total. Of course, this was all in two to four stroke stretches with much gasping whilst holding onto the side of the wall afterwards - but she's getting there! When we hopped back in the car, the temp gauge read 49 degrees (because it had been sitting in partial shade) before dropping to the realistic 43. It only hit 45 when I was driving to work at 3pm, in my lovely plastic work shirt, that doesn't breathe!!
We're all sleeping in the lounge room tonight - Caitlin on the couch, Mim on two cushions and Michael and I on the blow up mattress. It's the only room with air-con. Hadn't realised just how much the girls mutter in their sleep.
D Weather tells me there's no relief until Sunday. Whatever Adelaide gets, we get two days later.
Today reached 45 degrees here, according to the car temperature gauge - which has always been reliable in the past. But it was bearable, being a dry heat. Early this morning, we closed all windows, blinds and doors and that kept the house cool, well, relatively speaking. Probably low 30s inside the house.
The girls and I hit the pool when it opened at 1.30pm. The plan was to only stay half an hour so we wouldn't get too burnt - but it was soooo lovely. Water temp was 27 degrees. We stayed an hour. I took the life jacket off Mim and she practiced swimming. Up one length of the pool, across the width and back the other length. Probably 120m in total. Of course, this was all in two to four stroke stretches with much gasping whilst holding onto the side of the wall afterwards - but she's getting there! When we hopped back in the car, the temp gauge read 49 degrees (because it had been sitting in partial shade) before dropping to the realistic 43. It only hit 45 when I was driving to work at 3pm, in my lovely plastic work shirt, that doesn't breathe!!
We're all sleeping in the lounge room tonight - Caitlin on the couch, Mim on two cushions and Michael and I on the blow up mattress. It's the only room with air-con. Hadn't realised just how much the girls mutter in their sleep.
D Weather tells me there's no relief until Sunday. Whatever Adelaide gets, we get two days later.
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Musical Seats
I moved my car for Michael this morning so he could back his out of the garage. The dogs thought I might be going out, so came charging out and the minute I hopped out of the car, they both jumped in. No amount of calling would get them to move, Jess in the driver's seat and Sarah in the passenger's.
I went inside to get the camera and Jess followed me, but Sarah remained in the car.
No coaxing got her out of the passenger's side, so I walked around and opened that door. She immediately hopped into the driver's seat.
When I went around that side, she jumped into the back into Mim's carseat.
By hook or by crook, she wanted to go for a car ride!!
I went inside to get the camera and Jess followed me, but Sarah remained in the car.
No coaxing got her out of the passenger's side, so I walked around and opened that door. She immediately hopped into the driver's seat.
When I went around that side, she jumped into the back into Mim's carseat.
By hook or by crook, she wanted to go for a car ride!!
Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie
Whilst Sarah knows that she's in trouble and will sleep happily in the laundry (away from Michael), Jess still thinks she's queen of the world!
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