Snip, snip

Jack awake, but standing on shakey legs
Buster with Evan .. "Whats going on?"

Harry looking on to Jack ... "No way Im going back there..."

"You still alive Harry?"

"'Ive just had the weirdest dream.. I dreamt that I lost my manhood... nooo it's just a dream"

Boys Being Boys

.. and the Conatus boys are growing up very quickly indeed. Its funny with yearlings, especially when you have had them since foals, you tend to forget about them and just let Mother Nature do her thing and the boys have been doing just that: quietly growing up.

Buster is now part of the gang, however, Harry (Pictured above and below), is certainly the leader in this paddock!

Tomorrow is "G" day for the boys... snip, snip, snip!!!

Harry (By Conatus out of Epiphany)
Jackie (By Conatus out of Local News)

and .. Buster (By Conatus out of Tycoon Diva)

The Lads

A Weekend of Golden Oldies

I guess Ill get in trouble for saying this but last weekend we had a great time watching TCM (Turner Classic Movies) as they are having a "Month of Oscar", showing all the Oscar winning movies, that included all the favourites, Gone With the Wind, Waterloo Bridge and of course, An Affair to Remember. On the Sunday night, we watched, "I am Legend" with Will Smith and we both hated it as it was crap!

They certainly dont make movies like they used to! Next to see is "Dark Victory" with Bette Davis - can't wait!

Miss Trixie

No longer a baby, Miss Trixie is certainly growing up quickly. It only seems like yesterday that she was with her mum, Joie. She stll has a long way to grow up, but she is coming along in leaps and bounds.

Bad Moon Rising

Mother Nature in all her splendour. We all know how Mother Nature is when she is not happy. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone, not only in Victoria but also up North Queensland.

I wonder how they are seeing the moon tonight?

Meet Frogger ..

the Massie Lodge Frog, who sits outside my study window every night waiting for his dinner to appear. I was quite taken aback by the size of him .. it looks like he eats well and he is very attractive for a frog with yellow spots on his back.

Not that Iam a fan of frogs, as I have lost 2 washing machines due to them getting into the mechanical bits and getting stuck and ultimately blowing up the machines, but while they are living in communities outside the house, there must be no snakes in the near vacinity of the house.

Well, I would like to think so anyway!

No, This Isn't Mine ...

Yeah, as if my wardrobe looks like this. My wardrobe (which is a walk-in), looks like a bomb has gone through it and all the fall out from the devastation is still on the ground.

Its a bit of a momentus occasion when you finally decide to go through all the shelves and hangers and decide what stays, what goes to St Vinnies and what gets taken to the dump. Don't get me wrong, I did not have a Martha Stewart moment, rather, I got told off by Evan who couldn't put the clean folded clothes away due to all the mess and thrown in bundles of clothes on every shelf.

So, I decided today seeing as it was too hot to go outside that I would put on some music, take a deep breath and dive into the bowel of my wardrobe to see what the hell was in there!

I have a terrible habit of getting very bored with the mundane things that we have to do in our lives (i.e. ironing, folding clothes, etc etc) and find it difficult to complete these tasks as I always come up with something more exciting to do while I am doing it.

But not today.

Surrounded by my trusted canine companions, I noticed that the piles were starting to grow very high and the clothes that were actually being put back into the wardrobe were less and less.

A very shocked Evan came into the bedroom and gasped with shock to think that I was actually completing such a manual and tedious task.

But finish I did, and I have to say that after putting all the clothes back in, in some semblance of order, I need to buy more clothes!

I still have the shoes to tackle, but I will save that for another day (in the next 10 years!).

A Big Welcome!!

To Massie Lodge for Conatus Colt "Buster". Buster is out of racing winning mare, Tycoon Diva and is surely a sprinting type.

Jack has become firm friends with Buster already (Harry is in denial that there is another colt in the paddock!) and all 3 boys will all be a few pounds lighter pretty soon when they get gelded.

Conatus has certainly come on with 3 winners and a placegetter in the last 2 weeks. Go Connie!

Buster and Jack

What Im Reading ...

Move over Marley, Enzo has taken the wheel!

I was very lucky to have been given this book for Christmas by Monika and I am so glad that she gave it to me and introduced me to Enzo.

I started reading this book on Saturday and have just about got to the end of it. It's just fantastic and Im loving every word of it.

The premise of the book is follows:-

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.

Hi Mum and Dad

Look at me.... Im fat, Im happy and we have had over 30mls of rain and I'm .... DIRTY!

Love from Dirty Girl xxx

Joie and Miss Trixie

Funny how when leave a youngster in a paddock full of pick and even though you're still feeding them every day, you forget about them for a little bit: its amazing just how much they grow .. Miss Trixie is going to be a big girl just like her mama (Joie, pictured above).

I spent some time with her today and she really is a sweet gal, who loves to have cuddles and attention (and to be scratched just behind her right ear!)

Being a Little Angel ..

She is just a sweet little Angel.

Gossy and Angel Get a Makeover

Guess Who's Having a Baby?

Another Southern was tested 14 days positive in foal to Mustaneer last week. Southern, like Nottie will be a maiden mum but I think she will be a good mum as she is so quiet and such a sweet mare.

Nottie was also tested 30 days positive in foal to Mustaneer last week. Gossy, unfortunately, was tested 14 days negative to Hidden Dragon. However, thats no matter as she has her hands full with the little Angel. Gossy will be Auntie to Pip's bub this year.

It certainly will be Foal City next year at Massie Lodge!

Wee Jimmy...First Race Start

(well, he will always be wee Jimmy to me!)

Private James (Private Agenda / Sweet Air) had his first race start to day at Townsville over 1000m and all owners would have to admit that we are all pretty amazed with what he did!

He drew Barrier 2 so had every chance. "Ding" and they were off. Jimmy was last to leave the barriers and then he jumped awkwardly and the field was away and gone.

That didnt deter our boy though. He managed to catch the field and ended up circling the field and missed running into 3rd place only by a short margin. What a great effort for a first start!

I had to smile when I found these baby photos of Jimmy and what a sweet baby he was.

This photo was taken shortly before he left Massie Lodge to go on his big adventure up north. I know he achieved only 4th placing, but still what an effort! A big congratulations to all owners of Jimmy and of course many thanks to Fred Wieland - his trainer.

Don't They Grow .. Especially When You're Not Looking!

Jack and Harry (and Evan)

Daisy

Trix & Daisy

Trix .. It only seems like yesterday that they were babies!

Fat Girls ...

Southern

Nottie

Dirty

Joie

Creds .... and loving it!

No Words Required

*Sigh*

What I Have Just Finished Reading....

I just loved this book and couldnt put it down! I am a great fan of David Baldacci's and one of the reasons is because he hasnt lost the hunger or the enthusiam of a good story with this his 4th book in "The Camel Club" series. Each book seems to be as good as the first one ... which is important I think as it shows the writer cares about the story and isnt writing it for the hell of it!

Definitely worth the read.

The Massie Lodge Mowers are on the Job....

Our 2.5 Mowers ... Pip, Gossy and Little Angel


Mum stands still for a milkbar stop

Angel with Aunty Pip

Diary of a Broodmare ... Cont.

Hoof Date: 1st January, 2009.

See, even mares know what year it is.

Day 12,648 of having to have my leg bandaged and quite frankly, Iam over it. However, the missus tells me that it has healed over the bone and is looking good. Hmmm. She doesnt have to stand there and have it cleaned etc. Hmmpf.

If you ask me it still looks horrific. Luckily there are no boys around that I need to impress ... well I spose I dont have to impress anyone anymore being in foal.

I wonder if Gossy is in foal.... She went away for a few days to see a boy and quite frankly it was very stressful for me to be here on my own without her. I was so happy to see her and the little shrimp when they returned, I whinnied and kicked up my feet - mind you it was all for show. She's not letting on about her experience away or if she has a bun in the oven but I think she is, as she just adores being pregnant and fat. Oh well, time will tell but she is certainly keeping it to herself - most unlike her.

I must tell the missus that I need more to eat as I am eating for 2. Hah as if!

A Thought for 2009 ...

If I had my life to live over, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, be much sillier than I’ve been on this trip. I would be crazier; I would take few things seriously. I’d take more chances, I’d take more trips. I’d climb mountains and swim rivers. I would eat more chocolate. I would have more proper troubles and fewer imaginary ones.



You see, I’m one of those people who have lived conventionally and sanely and sensibly, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and they were wonderful, but if I had to do it all over again, I’d decide to have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, over and over.



I would go barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way until late in the autumn. I would go to more dances. I would ride on merry go rounds. I would own more horses and more dogs and listen more carefully to their conversation. I would walk through the summer evenings and stare at the sunset.

And I would pick more daisies.
(with apologies to Nadine Stair, Readers Digest ,1953)

MAY 2009 BE FULL OF LOVE, HOPE, SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS FOR YOU ALL -
Helen & Evan Robinson