Our newest addition {a dog's tale}

Hi there, how have you been?

We've had a few ups and downs this week.

Firstly, the plumber dug the trenches for the stormwater drains and sewage.

They start at the front of the house, go through the courtyard and around to the backyard right next to the clothes line.

Then it rained

a lot

We're on clay here in this part of Melbourne.

So you can imagine the mud, mud, mud!!!

Mr 3P spent half the day in the pouring rain and the slop, trying to fill the trenches back in.

This is the only way from the car to the "current" front door, so when it was dug up and raining, it was insane. I came home from a cake decorating class with my friend Mrs Aunty Stage Mother and had to cross with cake in hand and I'd just straightened my hair, so I didn't know which one to "save" from the rain....the cake won. I felt like Bear Grylis in Man V's Wild.

Here's the cake. The CWA do the best cake classes.If you're in Melbourne and want to do a class you can find out more here.

I don't have a photo of my hair...

but if I did, I wouldn't show you anyway...lol

Speaking of scary, we had some creep break into our car the other night, while it was parked in our garage and stole my GPS!!! Not happy.

Freaked me out a bit. 

This was the decision maker for us about getting another dog.

We lost our beautiful border collie last year (from old age) and within weeks a fox took our chooks. It was just waiting...I'm sure.

Now, for me a dog is a family member that you commit to caring for and loving for it's life. We had been thinking about it for a long time and decided a large dog that was good with children would be best and be a deterrent for creeps.

So, with no further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to Pickle #4

Isn't he beautiful?

He's only 7 months old and weighs 27.5 kgs already!!

He had never worn a collar or lead until yesterday, so walks have been challenging, but he's getting the hang of it.

He has the most beautiful nature and we're about to start obedience training next week.

Wish us luck..will fill you in on his progress.

See you soon.

Night Walkies

It's been over three weeks since I posted anything on here. School holidays and sick kids (big and small) have kept me busy and away from this blog. And I've missed it.
My friend whom I'll call V and I have been very motivated to go for a walk every day, well almost ;)
We decided the best time to go was at night after dinner and dishes were done and all of the pickles (V's and mine) have settled down for "a long winter's nap" lol. It's just so much more relaxing being able to go for as long as you want and knowing that you don't need to rush back to anything, like school runs etc. We took our pedometers and found that in 1 1/2 hours we do about 10 thousand steps....plus lots of talking, which we decided must burn more calories? Right?
I'm too much of a Fraidy Cat to go alone at night, so it's great to have a walking buddy. Our friend Tash joins us from time to time too, we were hoping to eventually have a Forest Gump following....but that hasn't happened yet.
Last night I took my little pocket camera with me. Now I've never photographed stuff at night except for the occasional birthday cake and candle ceremony, so these shots (which I used the night setting) are, well, not great, to say the least. I hope you like 'em anyway.

Me and V ready to go. Night vision goggles "on"

V rugged up to face the 5 degree night.

OK, this IS actually the moon, but I think you need a tripod to get it right. I like it anyway.

The lights from distant tennis courts show how cool and eerie the fog is on our walk. About one minute after I took this shot we heard a strange noise and I nearly ran all the way home. Turned out to be some wildlife, frogs maybe?...but they were freaky possessed frogs...I'm sure ;)

Wow, something not blurry. Wattle doesn't move much at night......

Walkies!!

The path we take runs past a shopping centre, where there was late night trading. What kind of crazy person shops at night in this weather?

If you've ever read this blog before you would know that I like to attempt something a little arty farty. Well, that's what I'm going to call my wobbly night camera skills.

Look at the pretty circles.........

Before you go, why don't you look at the picture and just paws for a moment?
Forgive me, it's late and it's been a loooong day.

See ya soon.