And so this long weekend comes to a close; its always the worst part of the weekend when you start to think about work and events for the upcoming week.

We have had a quiet weekend here at Massie Lodge - well not really when you think about it.

We weaned Northie on Saturday - he being the last of the foals - Southern was very happy to leave him and really didnt make a fuss or call out to him. She is currently in her own yard down the back until she stops producing milk, after then she is out into one of the large paddocks with her old mates, Nottie and Dirty (Why for Not and Dirtierre).

With this move, it meant that my girl, Pip (Epiphany, pictured above) and her bestest friend, Gossy were brought back up next to the 2 colts (Buck Rogers and Northie) to baby sit. Mind you, Pip will not have a bar of them and only will stay where she is because it is has a quick exit to the House yards where she and Goss are the resident lawnmowers. Still, it keeps the young boys happy that the 2 old girls are next to them.

Other than that, it has been a fairly uneventful weekend.

So, while I still have some time to relax, I will close this today's posting. There is a nice drop of white in the fridge, a book that I cant wait to get into and Evanski sitting on the lounge waiting for my company. Who could want more?

:)

A Special Moment

Evan and Ruby

Our Magpie Family...

The Secret of Everything

After finishing my last book (that I didnt tell you about!) - Nanny Returns - I was anxious to get into something that I couldnt put down. Mind you, it wasnt that I didnt like "Nanny Returns", but I was anxious for a good yarn that made me think abit - rather than a continuous monologue of Nanny being used by Mr and Mrs X again!

I like this book for many reasons, not just because it satisfies the "foodie" in me, but its a story about finding yourself, dogs, family, love and beautiful landscapes.

Barbara O'Neal wrote a book called "The Lost Recipe for Happiness" and I have to say that Iam enjoying it as much as her first book.

Being Pikey

People must be getting sick of me taking photos of my dear friend, Pikey ... but he is a dog that wears his heart on his sleeves and I cant help myself but to try and capture it.

Enjoy!

Northie Starts His Education

As with all of our weanlings, education prior to weaning makes life a lot easier - not only for Evan - but for the weanlings as well. Northie is no exception. While getting the halter on him to start with was a bit hairy, it hasnt taken him long to start understanding what is expected.

Weaning for Northie will happen this weekend. Southern will be happy to join Nottie getting back to being a mare.

I have to say that Northie is a funny little bloke.

I dont know about you, but I usually read when I go to bed and I think to myself that now Im comfortable I will be able to read and enjoy a few chapters before wanting to nodd off.....usually it turns out that I read a few paragraphs (or some night sentences!) and then the eyes start losing the gist of the words.... they shut a little bit longer when they blink ... and last but not least I fall into a coma sitting up and the book drops from my hands onto Pikey's head on the floor next to me ... causing the dogs to unsettle etc etc. Im sure its a funny sight and Im certain would make the finals of Funniest Home Video if Evan ever found out and captured it on video LOL

Last night I thought I would treat myself to an earlier night than usual so that I could indulge and hopefully get past a few paragraphs before lapsing into a coma. Ah Wrong! Once again I was all comfy nestled in my pillows, somewhere between sitting up and lying down and way too comfortable to keep awake! One of the best things about last night was that I could sleep in this morning and enjoy my cuppa brought to me on waking.

Once awake this morning and sipping the best cup of the day, I noticed that my bookmark was on the bed, the book was underneath Pikey on the floor and my lamp was still on.

Still I wont speak about when you're sitting up reading and you fall asleep and you end up throwing your head back and hitting it on the bedhead!

What can I say? lol


Today saw the start of educating Northie, the last of the foals to be weaned and the most difficult one we had suspected. After a bit of a scary start - Northie had no idea what Evan wanted from him - he settled down and started to understand the principles of leading and yielding. He's got plenty of time for the penny to drop and his mate Buck Rogers will be with him.

Evan will continue on with his education for the next week with mum Southern standing by and we will wean him next weekend.

We spent a very busy morning this morning with friends of our, Rougan and Ro Gerraghty and Craig Belford who came over to do some much needed maintenance welding around the house stables. Thanks guys for all your help today it was brilliant!

Before we knew it it was 1pm - the morning had just flown by.

I have been spending a lot of my free time at home with my camera taking photographs. Its funny when you realise that you have a passion about something - something that you really enjoy and you never really take any notice of it until its brought to your attention.

I have become a member of the Australian Photography Forum and have summoned up enough courage to post some of my pictures for comment. So far all the comments have been encouraging and most of the photos that I post on the blog have made it to the forum.

It has certainly made me see more possibilities for photos, rather than just the obvious. I guess it helps when you live on the Downs and the sunsets and sunrises are spectacular every single day.

I have entered my first contest at 4petsonline.com with Pikey featured as one of the entries. Which is a bit of a thrill.

Next is to save up for a new camera. lol

Maxine

Some good news about Maxine. Maxine has gone to a new home in Clifton where she will be retrained to play polo.

Oh well, time for me to start thinking about going to bed and reading... :)

Da Pikey Man

I love taking photos of Pikey... he has such personality and expression....

Possum is Back

Arriving back at Massie Lodge on Friday, Possum (aka Passiona) is here for a well earned rest after a big first preparation.

Once she sighted the green pick in her new paddock that she was put in today, it was a case of head down bum up - lets get back to being a horse!

lol

It never ceases to amaze me how stunning the mornings are here at Massie Lodge. I guess we get a bit blaze about them as every day Mother Nature puts on something different to gaze at. Evenings are no different with sunsets that just continue to change and rearrange and show the most amazing colours.

I have to admit that I missed sunrise this morning with a sleep in that was just as divine - yes - followed with that gorgeous first cup of tea in bed that just makes Sunday special.

Its been a great weekend this weekend with Warwick Show Day on Friday - which means a day off from the office... I ended up the farm with my dear friends Heather and David which I enjoyed immensely.

Last night we sat through The Godfather Part II which was twice as long as the first one and pretty boring as well. There were many meaningful looks from Al Pacino contemplating his navel that could have easily been a scene from the Young and the Restless. I enjoyed the original Godfather, however ... some people should just let alone after the first movie!

Other than that, all is quiet. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)

Wanted: A New Loving Home

Maxine (aka Maxetherm) is looking for a new career and someone to love her. She has had 1 preparation and is just a bit slow for racing. She is a 3YO, by Danehill Star out of a Centaine mare, Centority.

She is a lovely mare, easy to handle and look after and would be good for any equestrian sport.

If you would like some more details about Maxine, please dont hesitate to contact Evan on (0409) 470392.

Buck Rogers - He's A Big Boy Now

Yesterday we weaned Buck Rogers from his mum, Nottie (Why for Not) and it has been one of the easier weans. While Nottie loved Buck, she loves her food more .... so now she's in a paddock of pick, her attention is far away from Buck Rogers.

There has been a bit of calling out, but nothing major. Evan started his education process a week or so before, so he is used to doing the "obstacle course" - in fact I think it helped him this morning to stop thinking about mum..... who was eating "somewhere else".

Last but not least is little North Boy who I fear is going to be a handful.

Buck Rogers ... Next on The List

Son on Mustaneer, Buck Rogers is next on the Weaning List and has started education lessons with Evan. I must say that I thought he was going to be very coltish, however, so far he is just a sweet boy, willing to do what you ask. I guess there is plenty of time for that!

Come next weekend Buck, it will be your turn.

My City of Sydney..

Um not quite "my city" anymore with us living in Queensland for the past 7 or so years. In fact, I have no desire to go back there unless I really have to - and just for a visit!

These are some photos that I took with my Ricoh camera (with real film etc) that I so seldom use these days in favour of my Canon digital. Its funny how it just seems like yesterday.

I think Iam going to have to get myself a photo blog....

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

Unfortunately I never got to read the book (by John Boyne) - as they usually are better than the movie - however, last night we watched the movie.

When the movie finished I wasn't quite sure how I felt. Gobsmacked was the first word that came to mind when I was speaking with a friend about it today, however, after speaking with Evan today over morning tea, I jumped on to Wikipedia and found out that the book is purely fiction - with no historial claim to it at all.

Worth having a look.

The premise of the movie (if you haven't seen it) is:-

Bruno is a 9-year-old boy growing up during World War II in Berlin. He lives in a huge house with his parents, his 12-year-old sister Gretel (whom he refers to as a hopeless case) and servants. His father is a high-ranking official who, after a visit from the Fury (Hitler), is promoted to 'Commandant', and to Bruno's dismay the family has to move away to a place called Out-With (which turns out to be Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz).

When Bruno gets there he is immediately homesick after leaving behind his home, grandparents, and his three best friends for life. He is unhappy with his new home. It only has three floors, there are always soldiers coming in and out of the house and there are no banisters. Bruno is lonely and has no one to talk to or play with. However, one day while Bruno is looking out of his window he notices a bunch of people all wearing the same striped pajamas. As he is a curious child, Bruno asks his father who these people are, but gets a rather unusual answer. His father tells him that these people are not people at all. They are Jews...

Bruno finds out he is not allowed to explore the house or its surroundings. Due to the combination of curiosity and boredom, he is forced to explore. He thinks he spots a dot in the distance on the other side of the fence and as he gets closer, he sees it's a boy. Excited that there might be a boy his age Bruno introduces himself. The Jewish boy's name is Shmuel. He was taken from his family and forced to work in Auschwitz. Almost every day, they meet at the same spot and talk.

The story ends with Bruno about to go back to Berlin with his mother and sister on the orders of his father. As a final adventure, he agrees to dress in a set of striped pyjamas and goes in under the fence to help Shmuel find his father, who went missing in the camp. The boys are unable to find him, and just as it starts to rain and get dark, Bruno decides he would like to go home, but they are rounded up in a crowd of people by the Nazi guards who start them on a march. Neither boy knows where this march will lead. However, they are soon crowded into a gas chamber, which Bruno assumes is a place to keep them dry from the rain until it stops. The author leaves the story with Bruno pondering, yet unafraid, in the dark holding hands with Shmuel. "...Despite the chaos that followed, Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuel's hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let go".

In an epilogue in the book, Bruno's family spend several months at their home trying to find Bruno, before his mother and Gretel return to Berlin, only to discover he is not there as they had expected. A year afterwards, his father returns to the spot that the soldiers found Bruno's clothes (the same spot Bruno spent the last year of his life) and, after a brief inspection, discovers that the fence is not properly attached at the base and can form a gap big enough for a boy of Bruno's size to fit through. Using this information, his father eventually pieces together that they gassed Bruno to death. Several months later, the Red Army arrives to liberate the camp and orders Bruno's father to go with them. He goes without complaint, because "he didn't really mind what they did to him any more". (Wikipedia)

The Editor's Wife

Have you ever read a book and really haven't decided whether you liked it or not, but give it the benefit of the doubt just in case it gets better past the 10th Chapter?

That's how I felt with this book that was written by Clare Chambers. It was ok, kept my interest but never really made me want to sit up all night and read "just to the next chapter".

Its the story of a bloke named Chris who figures that writing is a good caper and actually gets an Editor interested in his manuscript. Problem is that he ends up having an affair with the Editor's wife and thats the end of the relationship - both with the Editor and his wife!

He has a drippy brother named Gerald who I really got annoyed with, an ex wife who has serious committment issues and parents who really got lost in the translation.

Next ...

I Have No Words For These Pictures...

These photos were taken on Thursday afternoon, around 5pm. How amazing to stand there and witness this. I havent added any filters to the camera, or done any funny tricks to bring up the colours. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. Mother Nature at her finest.

Some Pics of the Residents

Nottie and North Boy

Daisy

(Hey, Hey, Hey ... its fat .....) Harry

... and his mate, Buster

Buck Rogers (Next on the weaning List)

Friday... What a Day!

There's something extra special about waking up on a Friday morning knowing that you dont have to actually move anywhere - in fact knowing that you dont have to move anywhere for the next 3 days certainly brought a smile to my face this morning.

It was 6am, Evan brought me a beautiful cup of tea (always the best cup of the day) and my next thought was should I open my book and have a read, or should I get up and see what the day has to offer.

Im glad I did get up ... or otherwise I would of missed this fantastic show that Mother Nature put on.

Special mention should be made that Possum had her debut run during the week at Doomben. She drew the car park and all everyone was looking for was a good show - and that she did.

Miss Pixie - Well On Her Way

Miss Pixie (Conatus / Epiphany) is now well on her way with her education since being weaned. Today Evan brought her out to walk the "obstacle" course" and she was as cool as a cucumber. She just seems to take everything in her stride.

She seems to have now settled down after leaving mum, although mum (Pip) still misses her baby girl. Of course, I say that to Evan and he just rolls his eyes at me.

The 2 fillies (Molly and Pix) were branded last week and both behaved admirably.