Not much computer access

Our laptop is out of action unless we are on constant power as it does not start for ages and runs the battery flat before fully starting!  We have another desk top computer kindly given to us by friends but it uses a bit of our house battery!  So until we get solar blog posts may be quite sporadic!  We also don't have a way of uploading photo's with this computer as we've lost the usb cable and rely on the inbuilt SD card reader!

Life continues on with educating our girls (and Jireh), training the dogs, upgrading the inside of the bus and raising our cute puppies!  We are please to say they all have homes, although we still have 5 left in the bus with us.

The last week has been so wet we struggle to keep a positive attitide!  No sooner do you clean up the mess from one dog or small person than another is made!  Jireh is probably the only one actually enjoying the mud!!  He is constantly covered in mud to the point of being only in a nappy to save on washing!!

We met an interesting guy last week.  We were parked in a commuter carpark near the Egaleby train station on a Sunday afternoon.  There was very little traffic so we were not taking up spaces that others needed.  We did our shopping bought it "home" and unpacked the shopping trolly into the bus.  Mike then headed back to the shopping centre to return the trolly.  The little guys got out some matchbox/hotwheels cars and started playing on the curb.  It was very safe, there was a garden, a fence then a house.  As I was packing in the groceries, the guy that lived in the house called out through the lattice asking where we usually stop the night and if we'd be stopping there.  I told him, No we would not be staying there, we'd be having some dinner, then heading off  in about an hour.  He seemed happy enough with that.

Fast forward an hour ... we are just getting ready to pack away the toys and the puppies when we notice this guy taking photo's of the girls/puppies and bus through his lattice!  I wasn't very happy with this so called the children inside.  Not long after he comes out with his dog and camera and another guy asking all sorts of inappropriate questions about our family size, gender etc!  We told him it's against the law to take photo's of other people without thier consent.  He totally disregarded this and continued to snap pics of Mike and I!

He told us that if we report him to the police he'd report us!  What for?  He had no idea!  His reason for taking the photo's was "as evidence" just in case we threw rubbish over his fence!!!

We told him we were packing up and leaving ... not that he believed us!  Crazy guy, seemed out to cause trouble.  We told him we were going and walked off to start the bus!!  He continued on with his "walking the dog".

We didn't report him, but oneday I'd love to ask the police what our rights are in that situation. 

On a brighter note, we have met some lovely people recently!  We went to the unfuneral of Elijah Rainbow Fisher and made some new friends.  We got to park our bus in the driveway of one such friend and spend the night and next day with them.  Our kids did not want to leave they were having so much fun!

Our Week

Been a busy week!  With our bus registered in Queensland, every year we have to take it for a machinery check.  It’s always a bit of a concern as to what they are going to find!  Every year they find something – mostly minor, like windscreen washers not working!  This year we were pleased to hear – nothing needs fixing right away!  There are a couple of things coming up before next year so we’ll have to plan that into the budget!  All the rust work that Mike has done paid off as last year they told us it was becoming an issue and this time they didn’t mention it!

After our early-for-us start we stopped off at the playground to let the family run there excess energy off!

Jireh found the water fountain (called a bubbler here in Aussie) and had a lot of fun experimenting with how to actually get the water in his mouth!

Back “home” the younger three are enjoying riding their bikes.  Suzanna has recently taken off her trainer wheels and is now enjoying her new freedom!

 

Gabrielle loves to race on her bike … and she gets quite a speed up!

 

 

Suzanna gaining confidence!

 

 

Jireh doing his best to keep up with his sisters!

 

While the “little guys” are enjoying their bikes the “older guys” are having fun with their dogs.  Last weekend the local pony club set up for a Gymkhana but then unfortunately got rained out!  The girls have enjoyed the jumps though taking the opportunity to do some agility and flyball training with the dogs!

 

Sambo taking the jump!

 

 

Lassie stepping out in style!

 

 

Tess low flying over the flyball jumps!

 

 

Sparkie eager for the ball!

 

Who said puppies could not see?  This is the first time the puppies put themselves in colour co-ordinated piles!  OCD much!

 

The puppies are two weeks old today … eyes are open, they are almost “walking” and won’t be long before they start climbing out of the whelping box!  Not sure I’m looking forward to that!  I told the girls before they got Lassie pregnant that “puppies” were spelled “w-o-r-k” and yesterday I asked Jasmine how did she think puppies would be spelled once they stared running round and she said, “Extra w-o-r-k!”  I think she’s right!

Puppies!!!

At the end of March we intentionally bred our Working Border Collie with our Border Collie x Shepherd.

On 31 May Lassie gave birth to 9 adorable puppies!  She was a first time mum and found the initial experience quite overwhelming.  As her first puppy got close to being born she felt the need to empty her bowels … hence first puppy was born outside on the grass!!  As soon as we noticed that it was a puppy not a poop we raced over, opened the sac, cut the cord and carried it inside wrapped in a facecloth!  Unfortunately we didn’t get any photo’s of this!  We dried her off and showed her to Lassie who was definitely NOT interested!

Next four puppies were born at about 10-15 minute intervals.  Jasmine had to break the sac of each puppy, then she dried it a little then passed it on to one of the other girls after I (Sarah) had cut the cord!  Once it was dry we placed it in a towel lined drawer with a hot water bottle under the towels.

After puppy #5 it seemed as if Lassie was finished birthing so we gave her the puppies which she gladly accepted!  Whew!  We had wondered, after her rejection of the first puppy, if we’d have to hand feed the whole litter!  She settled down to feeding them all like a good mummy!

About an hour later … surprise, surprise … she started nesting again.  We quickly removed the puppies and prepared for another one.. two … three … FOUR more puppies!! 

All the puppies are doing well and so is Lassie.  She is a great mummy and we haven’t had to supplement feed any of the puppies even though its a huge litter for a first time mum.

 

<—SHAZZY

KELLY –>

 

 

<—CHARLIE

ROY –>

 

<—MAYFAIR

MIKEY –>

 

,

<—OXY

DIXIE –>

 

JUNIOR

And now she is 14!

On June 5 our second daughter Jessica entered this world 14 years ago!

True to family tradition, we all gathered on the master (family) bed first thing in the morning, often before Mike and I are even out of bed, where the birthday girl opens her presents!

Jasmine who this year has taken over the role of chief candle lighter – all except ONE who gets to be lighted by the birthday girl in this case …

Jessica!!!!

Amazing to see our “little girl” blossoming into a exuberant young lady!  I love watching our children grow up, going through the ups and downs of childhood, tween then on into the teenage years.  I personally LOVE teenagers.  They carry with them a certain vitality that I haven’t seen in any other age group.  I know I feel more alive when with teenagers!  We have two teens now and next year well have three! Yeah!  More life for me!!!

Fun Times

After the Wallumbilla Show we drove to Gympie.  Of all the places in Australia Gympie is the most like home for us.  It’s where our storage shed is that contains all our worldly possessions!

On our drive from Roma to Gympie we passed through 11 road works where teams were fixing the roads after the summer floods.  At one point it took us 2 hours to get 100k’s!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After putting some stuff into storage we headed to the Gympie Showgrounds for the Gympie Show which is always the highlight of the year for the girls.

This year they took home 13 ribbons!  Girls and dogs did so well reflecting all the work they have put in to training in the last year.

 

While in Gympie we caught up with some kiwi friends where the girls had a great time in tearing up the lawn in their buggy!

 

 

 

 

Wallumbilla Show 2012

Very successful day at the show today … the girls and dogs did awesomely!  It was Sambo’s first show appearance (he is 9 mths old), he was very nervous to start with so we did lots of heel walking to relieve his tension.  It must have worked as he was very focused on his tricks and did well.

We did three different shows throughout the day.  Tonight everyone is tried but happy! 

Next up, competing at the Gympie Show then … who knows!!

Chana, Lassie, Jessica, Tess, Sparkie, Jasmine, Chantel, Sambo

Jessica

and

Tess

 

 

Jasmine

and

Sparkie

 

Chana

and

Lassie

 

 

Chantel

and

Sambo

 

 

Fireworks to finish the night!

Happy Birthday to Miss 12!

Chantel was born 1st May 2000!  I was booked for a c-section on May 5 as the doc was sure I wouldn’t go into labour sooner!  Chantel was a breech baby and after 2 previous c-sections it was considered best to do a repeat section.

Around mid afternoon on 1st May my waters broke!  A quick trip to hospital and they prepped me for an emergency section.

To cut a long story short … when the opened me up they found a large mass which later tested positive for cancer!

Two weeks later I was in having Chemo!  It was a huge roller coaster ride!  After round three of chemo and a diet change I declared myself cancer free!!  Well I stopped chemo!  Continued testing for about a year with no signs of the disease!  Praise God!!

 

Watching on as Jasmine lights all but one candle that Chantel said she wanted to light!  I feel a new tradition coming on!!

Chantel lighting the last candle!  Wow 12 candles on her cake!

We are so thrilled to have Chantel in our family!  She is a delight with her sense of humour and sensitive heart.  When she was born the doctor said it was “remarkable that she was well”!!  She sure is one remarkable girl!