Thursday morning walk

This morning we walked by the High School Ag (agriculture) plot.  We mentioned before that agriculture is a subject in Australian High Schools.

The horses were gone. 

 We think they are only there in the Spring Term. 

 But we found these:

 They stared at us!

The one on the left got a crappy shearer.

 And we stared back.

Roxy and Daisy in a staring competition.

  But look at that sheep in the back!

She's got a puppy!

Wordy Wednesday

....because SHE accidentally deleted our Wordless Wednesday photo!

So we'll do a Aussie post as part of our new roles as Commissioners for All Things Down Under known as CFATDU from now on.

Today was the first day of the new school year for most of the children in our state (New South Wales).

We thought we'd showcase our school bags that Sarge (and his talented assistant) made for us last September.

(They did such a fabulous job, we almost wish we were off to school ourselves.)

We said most of the kids because, in most cases the kids in years 1-6; grade 7--the first year of high school AND the year 11s went today.  The rest of the high school kids will return tomorrow and t kindergarten will gradually be added...each school is different.

However the schools to the west of us will not start until next week.  It's one of the incentives to get teachers to work in those isolated areas--they get an extra week off.

The school year is divided into four 10-week terms..some terms might be 9 or 11 weeks depending on Public Holidays..with two weeks off between the terms, and five off over the summer....adds up to 200 days per year.

The school system is state-funded, which means that all teachers no matter where they teach are paid on the same scale, school funding is the same and all schools are expected to cover the same curriculum--the way it's covered is up to the individual teacher.

 

As you can see NSW is one of the smaller states--it's the same in area as Texas and Virginia together.

Now, how does this affect us, you ask?

We have five schools within walking distance.

We are not allowed access to the front of our house in the mornings and afternoons when kids are walking to and from school, because we bark at the kids and they tease us.  Some even throw stuff at us!!

We have to have a VERY early walk, or go after 9:30 when all the schools are in session.  The kids take their snacks and lunches to school and usually eat on the way

 dropping foodables.  We come by later and CLEAN UP!!!! Bonus!!

Oh, sometimes SHE disappears for a whole day and comes home smelling of children. 

It should also be getting cooler in a few weeks and we can go on mid-day walks.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm......

Which do you prefer?

 A long walk on the road where you have stay on the lead...

Or

A shorter walk where you can run 'free'

 all over the Sports Ground....?

*   *   *   *   *   *

For Ernie

I rolled in this 'specially for you, Ernie......BUT.....

SHE washed it off!  Again!!!

We've seen Fire and We've seen Rain

Luckily for us, it has been on the News.

There have been huge fires to the south and north of us, and now huge floods to the north and east of us.

We did get a huge downpour on Saturday night.

 It moved around some mulch, but refilled our little water tank.

So the clean up won't be difficult.

 Sunday morning we were able to go for a quick 'business' walk.  We had to stay on the roads and not get wet.

This morning, we went to the Sports Grounds, so we could run around.

You can see by the sky that we were in for more rain.

Bella and Roxy...it's about 6:30 a.m. and the street lights are still on.

 Bella and Roxy ran around like crazy dogs. They chased each other and loads of birds. The pictures were way too blurry to get them in action.

 As you can see, we had the whole place to ourselves.

We needed a good run.  Just as we got back into the car, it started sprinkling.  We had a whole day of gentle rain.....while we watched others frantically, trying to sandbag their houses, or being rescued on the News.  We wish them luck.

Official Post

For our first official post as 

'Commissioners for all things Down Under'

 in Mayor Madi's new cabinet.

We'd like to report on our Australia Day. 

As it fell on SATURDAY this year, we started

our celebration at the river with our friends.

There were 11 dogs there today, and we ran, swam and played bitey face for 2 hours.

Then, of course it was home for that 4-letter word

 beginning with B. 

Hurry up...get the picture so we can get these stupid hats off!

 While the rest of the country celebrated with barbecues, beach activities, official ceremonies, parades, naturalisation ceremonies,

21-gun salutes, Air Force fly overs, thong throwing (sandals--not undies) contests, fireworks....etc.

We celebrated with snags (sausages).

 Then because it was hot here (37 C or 98.6 F) we spent most of the day snoozing in the air condtioning.

And now we're having a storm with RAIN! 

 And do we ever NEED it! (We're not near the floods)

So Happy 225th Birthday Australia!

For Ernie....

Kitten catches the laundry. Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Do you remember the Crocodile Bones we got for Christmas?

We were NOT ALLOWED to take any of our treats to camp.....BAH!

 SHE said they were an outside treat. When the temperature cooled  a bit, we could finally have them. 

 They were delicious.  We made short work of them, though it did take us a bit longer than most of our treats.

Bella just plopped down at the first place and got to work.

I moved up a bit further.

 Bella and I were not too far from each other.

 But look at Roxy. 

 She's the one who usually slinks around trying to get OUR treats.

She was eating under a bush, trying to protect it from US!

Hey, Roxy, we are NOT the ones who steal!

Although, those croc bones are worth fighting over....believe me.

A Surprise!

On Saturday, Kevin came over from next door and he had a package addressed to US!  

He collected it for us while we were at camp and NEARLY FORGOT he had it!

It was from Frankie and Ernie

and had travelled half way around the world!

Roxy tried to hog it because it smelled of Ernie.

I can smell Ernie.......sigh

 We got it away from her and opened it.  

First we found this note.....it was a Sniff-O-Gram

 Frankie and Ernie put some of their furs, mixed together in a bag so we could sniff them!

 BUT 

When SHE put it down for us to sniff, Bella ATE it!

Sorry, I thought it was a treat...

 Would you believe it!  SHEESH!

Under the Sniff-O-Gram that Roxy and I never had a chance to sniff, was a REAL, GENUINE, FAIR-DINKUM,

DEER ANTLER!!!

 

 WOW, we'd been wanting to try one for ages--ever since Frankie told us how good they are. Frankie's dad gets him one EVERY year.

 When Bella and my attention was diverted for a Nano-second, Roxy grabbed it and ran!

She said she and Ernie had a date to chew their antlers at the same time every day.

She didn't even care that the Sniff-O-Gram said we had to SHARE!

This date Ernie and Roxy have for the Valentine's Ball is just causing havoc

in our house!

THANKS FRANKIE....and Ernie.....for this PAWSOME present.   You're a real PRINCE.

SHE didn't forget....

Saturday!!!

Sometimes we have to retrain HER when SHE's been away.
 

We went to the river.....

and it wasn't as hot as it had been the day before.

We walked the loop first........THEN....

 Last one in is a squirrel!!!

 'You'd better run, Bella.....I'm right behind you!'

 When are the others coming?

 Bella missed the river.  She swam for about an hour.

 I dare you to come out, Kelly!!!

 Ah, soft grass!

Daisy

 I, Daisy, helped this bloke launch his kayak.

Do you need a push?

 Bella had a rest from all the big dogs' wild games by sitting in Kelly's truck.

 'Say squirrel, Kelly and I'll let you up!'

Bella covers their backs.

A BATH????!!!!!  You're kidding, right?

Snicker Saturday

 Hi Blogville.

  As you know, we just returned from 'camp'.

 This is a picture of our 'camp'.

It's way out where we can bark as much as we want.

 And would you believe that this is the letter box.  

Check out the street number!

BOL!

Simple Maths.....

Temperature of 42 C (107.6 F)

Yes, SHE miscalculated and one bone has been filled in with extra yoghurt.

 plus frozen sweet potato/carrot yoghurt bones

  

equals.....

What do you mean we only get one each......

Three cool pups.