Meet Archie

There was an ad in the local newspaper saying that because of the floods in our town, the local RSCPA and pound were overloaded with strays and abandoned animals.  They were looking for people to foster or adopt animals so we decided to heed the need and go over to help out.  Walking around the pound is the perfect recipe for someone searching for a broken heart, because that place is SO SAD!!!  Not in the way of the conditions or anything, but because you know that all these lovable little critters are on "doggie death row".  Chris and I had to be strict about the criteria of what we were looking for because we weren't just fostering an animal temporarily, we knew we'd probably fall in love with it and want to keep it.  


We had already had a puppy in Wales named Koda, and to put it kindly...he was a challenge.  I spent a lot of time working with him and reading books.  Looks like he read a few of them too...

He also had just a TOUCH of energy...

He was really fun and we loved him a lot, but unfortunately we had to leave him in Wales.  We did however learn a lot of things that we did wrong, or would do differently.  Looking for a breed with less energy was definitely top on the priority list though!

Here is Archie!  He has been affectionately named Chad, Marty, Jeffrey and lastly Archie, but we have decided not to switch it.  Struggling to name an animal so much, how are were going to ever name another human life?  I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, and probably just have to 'rock, paper, scissors' on it.

We often keep the door open to keep it cool, he just chills there without so much as a dog nail over the line.  I knew I needed proof of this!

We have really loved having him so far and he is a really good boy.  He is really lovey and absolutely loves spending time around us.  The only problem is that recently, "houdini" has been having some separation anxiety when we leave and he has been jumping our fence.  He never just gets out to cruise around, it's only after us.  Hopefully we can stop him from doing that! 

1 Month down already...

It is ridiculous to think that there is already, only 11 months left of this year!  I thought I had done an earlier post but apparently I hadn't so, so take this opportunity to let you get a drink...maybe a light snack and settle in for the long haul.

We moved in just before Christmas and pretty much spent the entire holiday getting our stuff in, organizing it and learning how to take care of this new property!  There are so many plants I have to try and learn, and a pool to master.  The might not be pretty!  I did discover that we have a lime tree, and we have loved having fresh limes around.  So tasty!  The downside...they are FULL of seeds!  The last one I cut into I counted 27, and that is NOT an exaggeration.  However, at the end of the day-I am still just a small town Canadian that is baffled by the idea that this fruit can actually be grown right in my own backyard.  I mentioned to my boss, Ellie some time ago that we have "Christmas oranges" and she about died laughing.  She finally replied by saying, "what's so special about a mandarin"?  Then the next time I was at the supermarket I decided to take note of all the different kinds of citrus fruits, just readily available 365 days of the year...

The pool is another story, and won't be a skill mastered in a day.  Who knew there were so many components to regulate-salt, ph, calcium?  It is a slow process but I am learning.  We entertained for the first time around the pool for Australia Day which was on January 26th.  Fabulous weather, tasty food, and great friends.  I had to go buy sausages which are lovingly known here as "snags" and I was a bit out of my element.  Low fat, no fat, full fat, garlic/herb, cheese, beef, pork...I felt a little overwhelmed.  But being a permanent resident of this great land, I better learn the ropes sometime! hahaha.  Here are some pics from the day:

Our friend, Luke and his baby girl Maddie.  "I'm just going to dunk her".

The Mapps, and Sarah Dyer...and a scowl from me?  I must have been looking in disgust at our "coffee table".   I was takin savvy to a whole new level...

N'importe Quoi

• I'm not entirely sure as to why girls here think that it's nice to have the pockets of your jean shorts about 2 inches longer than the actual shorts.  If you ask me, that is a pretty good indicator that they are TOO short!  Hideous.
• I just watched the first episode of "The Bachelor", and I think I recognize one of the bachelorettes...does anybody else recognize Keltie (the Radio City Rockette girl) from Bev Facey?  If that really is here...she sold ol Sherwood Park out-she put her hometown as Hollywood!?! :(
• I always get sad at the close of the Australian Open...but for some reason this year hasn't been as good...
• I had my first Cornetto in 19 years (what the hell?! I don't even feel old enough to be able to use that expression) since I got one in France when my family lived there, and my mom would bribe my little brother with them if he went to school.

...and a HAPPY new year!

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's already 2011!  I feel like time has just fast forwarded in the blink of an eye, and to tell you the truth-I don't like how fast it has been going!  Gone are the days of being a kid and feeling like it was about 2 years between birthdays/Christmas' or any other fun holiday.  Maybe it's just the product of getting older.

2010 has been good to us.  We moved up to Queensland, Australia shortly after Christmas last and have been settling in ever since with 3 moves throughout the year, and then one final one into our own house!  So glad we won't be doing that for a while!  Other than that, Chris and I were both blessed to have good jobs and be enjoying PLENTY of sunshine (with the exception of the past few weeks since we are going through a FLOOD here in QLD!)

No food on the supermarket shlves...shiz is gettin real!

Worst flood in almost a century!

2010 was FULL of weddings as my sister Colette was married to Ian in the States, and 2 of Chris' best friends here in Australia and we were lucky to have been a part of all 3 of them!  We also got to add another nephew to the mix as ELI was born February 12th!

I have been thinking of some good resolutions for this year, and that can be a telling experience.  Delving into the areas of your life you want to improve, or where you have come up short etc can be a little overwhelming.  I know it's the cliche resolution, but I want to try and get back into the routine of going to the gym.  I really don't enjoy lifting/running, but I also don't want to become "soggy mcgee" over here.  Plus, the downside to living in a hot country...your body needs to be "bikini ready" a lot more frequently!  Aside from that, it just isn't healthy for me to be doing nothing.

My second resolution is to stop procrastinating (and in particular to finish the project that I have started).  So often there is something hanging over my head of something I have to do, or was planning and it just never gets done.  I wonder how much energy gets spent on being preoccupied with something that never comes to fruition.

I'm still trying to think of my third one, since I have limited myself to just 3 of the many things I'd like to change or be better at.  I am probably going to try not to be such a perfectionist when it comes to things that don't really matter in life...or work on my patience.

Anyway, 2010 has been a fun and busy year and I also have a lot to be grateful for.  I have a great husband, and good health, a job, and a new home!  I am also grateful for my friends and family whom I adore!!  I am also grateful for the country that I live in.  I wish it wasn't so far away from my home, but at a time where so many countries are in a state of unrest-I am thankful to live in a country with a good quality of life.

Well-that's me signing out, a few days late....(working on that resolution!)...but may 2011 be good to you!