tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24821190577140923562024-03-14T19:45:37.315+10:00Celibate and SaneLife as a Celibate Christian, foster carer, friend and student of life, mixed with a generous dollop of quirky humour.Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.comBlogger440125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-37841307034926700702014-04-12T19:21:00.000+10:002014-04-12T19:28:36.299+10:00Short Story: Food Nazis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I could
tell that the Food Nazis had been in my apartment again, although this time
they'd tried to hide it. Usually when they'd been, I came home to a shambles
with everything I owned strewn about the place. This time, I noticed that several
items in my fridge had been moved out of position and a small packet of salt was missing
from my pantry cupboard.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Food Nazis, or as they're better known by most of the population, the
Department of Health, probably visits several thousand people in our city. The
actual percentage of the population is unknown to most of us, because people
with genetic anomalies such as mine, are strongly discouraged from
communicating with each other, and the Government will not divulge the statistics
about those of us with abnormalities, claiming that it is irrelevant and
discriminatory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My
older brother and sister were genetically improved at conception like the
majority of the population. Unfortunately, I was an unexpected and ultimately
unpleasant surprise for my parents. By the time my mother found out she was
several months along in her pregnancy with me, it was far too late to ensure my
genes were enhanced. Most women in that situation aborted the foetus, but my
mother was one of an old-fashioned, frowned-upon minority who believed that
life was sacred. The Department of Health threatened my parents when they chose
to continue with the pregnancy, or should I say, encouraged them with disincentives
to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My
siblings don't speak to me. I like to think it's because they unconsciously
believe they'll catch what I have, though more likely it's because of sheer
embarrassment. My genetic anomaly is obvious: I'm fat. Some ancestor or two of ours
had the audacity to be born with fat genes and passed them down the line to me.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There
are others like me. I've seen at least three other fat people, a child with
curly hair and several women with overly large buttocks. For others in the
population, their anomalies are not so physically obvious such as improperly
functioning organs or learning disabilities. Although the law states that we
are not to be discriminated against, we are, and often not in very subtle ways.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Our
culture has reached a "New Zenith of Health,' (as Government promotions
tell us) because when people purchase food using their citizen's cards, they
are allowed wholesome options, based on their individual health status. This is
'for our own good and for the long-term good of our society.' For me that means
salads, vegetables and lean meats, although lean meats are the only ones
available any more. All animal stocks were genetically modified decades ago to
produce only lean options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
people like my cousin Janjhu, it can be quite challenging. When she was
modified at conception, a small error crept into the genes and she was born
with an exceptionally fast metabolism that makes it hard for her to maintain
the acceptable ideal weight. As Janjhu is a close relative and has been a good
friend of mine since childhood, the authorities don't stop us from meeting up,
as we did last week at the BPlus Government Cafe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
can't eat any more. I'm so sick to death of being force-fed," she groaned.
Her plate had included a protein-enriched mock-burger, mock-fries, and a
calcium and kilojoule-laced milkshake, which was followed up with ice-cream and
naturally-sweetened low-fat cheese-cake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
always, I tried hard not to look at her with envy, or to drool over the remains
of her half-eaten meal. No matter how much I ate, I was perpetually hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Check
out who's at your ten o'clock," I said, glancing at him from the corner of
my eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
couldn't be bothered," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"You
wouldn't believe the sneer on his face Oh, oh. Now he and his friend are coming
towards us," I added. "I wonder what witty observation they'll share
with us."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Hello
ladies," the first one said with a condescending smile as he looked at the
both of us. He was physically ideal with broad shoulders, a lean stomach and a
strongly handsome face. "You girls must be twins!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Without
even looking up from her plate Janjhu said, "Aren't you the guy I rejected
at the dance last week? The one who begged me to take him home and cried when I
said no?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Glancing
up at him she finished with, "Oh no. You're not him. He was actually good
looking."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Skinny
freak," he snarled as they walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Giggling
I said, "That was beautifully done."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Yeah,"
she replied with a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders, "I've got a million
of them."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Will
I be seeing you at the gym after work?" I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Yes.
Oh, the abundant joys of weight-lifting and muscle-building," she replied
with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"And
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to running 10km on the treadmill
and the ever-present delight of my daily cardio workout," I said. "And
of course, my firm favourite is the weekly weigh-in, followed by the
well-intentioned lecture."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Fat-ass!"
somebody hissed behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Turning
I saw the culprit and said, "Oh, my ass is not all that's fat. I have an
overly large stomach, huge legs and arms and I'm working on a particularly
magnificent double-chin. I see you've achieved you're goal of an ugly, fat
mouth!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Swinging
back, I linked arms with my laughing cousin and exited the cafe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Nice
work, Janjhu said. "You are getting so good at that!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Only
because I've learned from the best!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">* * * * * * * * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My
cousin was not only a nice person, she was also brilliant with computers and
worked in one of the Government's statistical sections. To me it sounded like
one of the dullest jobs on the planet, but she had schemed and worked her way
there with one ulterior motive: to help people like us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Circumventing
the normal channels, she'd begun quietly accumulating data from government
cafes and gyms. From these she'd been able to determine what other people in
our city were likely to possess a genetic anomaly from both their food intake
and their gym activities. She was unable to access medical data or school
records without raising suspicion and so had focussed her initial attention on
people like us who had metabolic disturbances and had to eat and exercise
differently from the rest of the population. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Once we
had a list, we each investigated potential candidates for our secret group. We
had no intentions of overthrowing the government, but simply wanted to meet
with similar people so that we could encourage and support each other. From the
initial investigation of 87 candidates, we'd found 64 who fitted our profile
and the group had been meeting in a disused building for several months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Does
anyone know if Kaelar is coming?" Janjhu asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"He
said he was going to try and make it to Tonga and try to hide away there until
the cruise-airship left," Arien said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"The
Government wouldn't permit any of us to go to the islands," I said.
"Not since seven of the island nations refused to become a member of the
United Nations Health Taskforce."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Can
you imagine trying to enforce such ridiculous physical restrictions on people
who are naturally, genetically larger?" Pearlice, the woman next to me
said. "Plus they felt it impinged on their cultural identity."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
know," I replied. "How many nations are still refusing to join?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Fourteen,
although I've heard that Greenland is reconsidering its stand," she said
quietly as Arien resumed speaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Kaelar
felt that because he had a fast metabolism, rather than a sluggish one, the
government may not have seen it as a danger to allow him to go where 'fat is
beautiful.'"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Considering
how many thousands of tourists go there to gawk at the fat people, he might
have been able to slip through unnoticed," Berzra said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Does
anyone have any news they'd like to share with us tonight?" Janjhu asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"You
probably know that my sister Berdha is a doctor?" Berzra said, "She
said that Merteen Charnigne is going to be euthanised later in the week."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
group let out a collective gasp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Three
months ago she was severely injured in a transmat accident and ended up as a quadriplegic,"
he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
never heard that," someone said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"It
wasn't released on the news," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"How
can they euthanise her?" I asked. "She's one of the best loved
musicians of the last quarter century. Surely she can contribute even as a quadriplegic!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"We
all know that the Government regulations demand that people be classified as a
burden on society if they fit the criteria of physically incapable of looking
after themselves; quadriplegic and/or mentally ill amongst many other standards.
Since the accident Merteen has been depressed and requires both a feeding and
breathing tube to survive. That more than fits the government's 'burden on
society' category."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"It's
disgusting!" I said. "I wish that ....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Several
candles fluttered out as the doors smashed open and a squad of officers from
the Department of Health burst in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"You
are all under arrest under Section 7A sub-section (b) of the Government Health
Act."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-68412706991097219392014-01-01T10:42:00.000+10:002014-01-01T11:21:47.613+10:00Blah! I Generally HATE New Year's Resolutions but ...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blah! I generally HATE New Year's Resolutions but ...this year's resolution is to reduce my size by dieting and exercise. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've never been a small girl, and I acknowledge that I'm simply not
built to be a size 6, but this year I'm aiming to be an 8, or at least an 8½.
There are a lot of dieting plans that focus on reducing weight for particular
parts of the body, though I'm having difficulty finding one that suits.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You're probably rolling your eyes at this point and thinking "Oh
crap! It's another one of those boring diet blogs!" Let me assure you that
this is anything but an ordinary diet blog because I'm not talking about
reducing my body size - I'm focusing on reducing my <u>foot </u>size.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Foot-outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Foot-outside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time I was 13, it was evident that I was going to have large
feet, and by the time I was 18, my feet had reached a ridiculous size 9½ to 10.
I'm thankful though, that I'm not ever going to have obese feet like size 11 or
larger though, and I do feel sorry for women who are simply not built to be
petite.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I usually feel so embarrassed about my feet, that I keep them covered
up most days. Summer-time is hell for me because my ankles tend to swell up and
get fat during the hot weather. As I'm getting older I've also noticed that my
feet are spreading sideways which is simply unacceptable.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the other embarrassing things about my feet is the size of my
big toes. First on my list of health "must-dos" is an hour's daily walk on the treadmill
which I am hoping will help slim down their roundedness. Additionally I will be searching
the internet to find specific eating plans for reducing the overall size of my
feet. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps this exercise and dieting will help to build up and reshape my
weirdly shaped little toes. I won't rule out plastic surgery in the future, but
I do hope this fitness regime will bring about a long-term toning and overall
slimming that will rule out my need to do that. I'm also hoping that as I
reduce the fat in my feet, their overall length will shorten to a more
acceptable, petite size.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Foot2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Foot2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps by this time next summer I'll be able to wear a tiny pair of cute
sandals on my slimmer, smaller and sexier feet. Wish me luck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Note: This entry is purely tongue-in-cheek, showing the ridiculous expectations there are on us to be a certain size and shape. The reality is, we are all built differently. Some of us are taller, larger-boned, fatter, slimmer, tinier, skinnier, rounder, shorter, bonier or bulkier than others. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If society told you that to be sexy, desirable or simply worthwhile, you must have <u>feet </u>that are no larger than a size 6, and no wider than 7cm, would you believe it? of course not! BUT If society told you that same message every waking moment of the day from the minute you were born, the brain-washing would eventually sink in - and you would come to believe and accept this as a "truth."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why is it that you believe society's message that you must be thinner or a certain body shape and size to be sexy, desirable or worthwhile? Have you considered the possibility that you have been brain-washed?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Let me tell a real truth. You are an ORIGINAL - there is no-one else like you. You are amazing just the way you are. You are worthy of a standing ovation! Your heart is worthy of a symphony. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now go out there and LIVE that truth! Tell society to go taking a flying leap because as you are, right at this very second, YOU ARE WORTHWHILE! You are <b>beautiful</b>.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">See also: <a href="http://www.operationbeautiful.com/">www.operationbeautiful.com</a><br />
Inspired by: <a href="http://www.intuitiveeating.com/content/10-principles-intuitive-eating">http://www.intuitiveeating.com/content/10-principles-intuitive-eating</a></span></div>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-67485653265793795312013-07-07T10:37:00.004+10:002013-07-07T10:37:31.751+10:00The Creative Process: Frustrating, Rewarding and Still Fun!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember that when I first heard the phrase "the creative process" I thought it sounded just a little pretentious. Now that I'm older and wiser, and having to had create either images or written articles on a regular basis for a number of years, I now understand it more clearly from my own personal experience, and realise that it is a step-by-step process.<br /><br />Sometimes it is filled with frustration, especially when the pressure is on to get busy and create something by a particular date. As the creative mind doesn't work to a schedule, putting that kind of pressure on to produce something inevitably leads to blocks, or to the production of something that lacks spark. This then leads to disappointment and even further pressure to be better next time.<br /><br />Strange as it may sound, I'm thankful that I've never gotten paid for my work. My written articles were for both my weekly newspaper column and my on-air radio program, both of which I volunteered for and were connected to the other. While there was pressure to produce by a particular date, I was not relying on producing items for an income, so to a degree, I was able to relax and let the thinking takes its creative course. <br /><br />There were other difficulties: because I worked elsewhere for my income, it left me with much less time to put into the creative process. One way to get around that was to take pen and paper with me everywhere and jot down notes, observations and thoughts as they popped into my head. Whenever I had a spare ten minutes, I would take the opportunity to expand on those concepts a little further.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also been writing short stories and books for over a decade now, which is another process altogether, and one I won't discuss here today :o)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The creation of graphic designs has been a later development in my life and one I have only recently been able to market - though I'm yet to make any kind of income from it. While it would be nice to earn an income from my graphic designs, I enjoy the fact that I don't have to work to deadlines and my mind can take as long as it wants to develop the ideas. Often, I have several concepts jostling for position in my mind at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was young, I wanted to study art at university, but my parents insisted that I undertake something which would enable me to have a "reliable" income. For years, that has lead to my creative side being rather frustrated. Imagine my delight as I grew older, that computers and programs have developed to such a degree that I can now finally allow the blossoming of the stunted artist in me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of my latest designs, some of which are a little on the quirky side:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyp3kP-OXI0/Udi0ruT0F9I/AAAAAAAADQc/p5SmBlYoVg0/s1600/Futuristic+City+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyp3kP-OXI0/Udi0ruT0F9I/AAAAAAAADQc/p5SmBlYoVg0/s400/Futuristic+City+SM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-em8vS996Sks/Udi0Pdlj97I/AAAAAAAADQM/4lBumwJrVFA/s1600/SpaceSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-em8vS996Sks/Udi0Pdlj97I/AAAAAAAADQM/4lBumwJrVFA/s400/SpaceSM.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmL52nOrkd8/Udi0sau7tgI/AAAAAAAADQs/phYe5wKmPII/s1600/Curse+of+the+Mummy+SquirrelSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmL52nOrkd8/Udi0sau7tgI/AAAAAAAADQs/phYe5wKmPII/s400/Curse+of+the+Mummy+SquirrelSM.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJVnNTLhqyA/Udi0r2yOWDI/AAAAAAAADQg/qwvHGsSlLrU/s400/Frankensquirrel+SM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Frankensquirrel</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YJVnNTLhqyA/Udi0r2yOWDI/AAAAAAAADQg/qwvHGsSlLrU/s1600/Frankensquirrel+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybv6RWzYWqM/Udi0bQGpWaI/AAAAAAAADQY/T4Z4RBDkP1w/s1600/Seeing+Eye+Squid+SQ+SM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybv6RWzYWqM/Udi0bQGpWaI/AAAAAAAADQY/T4Z4RBDkP1w/s400/Seeing+Eye+Squid+SQ+SM2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Links: </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vyp3kP-OXI0/Udi0ruT0F9I/AAAAAAAADQc/p5SmBlYoVg0/s1600/Futuristic+City+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissTerryWoman?ref=hl"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/MissTerryWoman?ref=hl</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Australia:<a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman" target="_blank"> <span style="cursor: pointer;">www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">USA: <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" target="_blank"><span style="cursor: pointer;">www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2</span> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Europe/UK: <a href="http://757631.spreadshirt.net/">http://757631.spreadshirt.net/</a></span></div>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-77619705611426948652013-06-12T02:56:00.003+10:002013-06-12T02:56:54.027+10:00And May I Say "Ugghh!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can hear me snoring from where you are, then you probably won't be surprised to hear that I have worn myself out, setting up the new European/UK store. In just one week, I uploaded/created almost 2,300 items in the store, and it was one of the laborious, most uninteresting and frustrating process I've had so far in any of the shops I've set up.<br /><br />BUT, my best images are now available to anyone in <a href="http://757631.spreadshirt.net/" target="_blank">Europe and the UK. Yay!</a> From this point onwards, it will only be one or two images to upload to the various products at any one time. So, for the first time today, I was able to get back into the more fun aspect - creating! Following is an image that I designed which should be going into the shops in the next few days:<br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5Nm5obcpb4/UbdTWnsVZdI/AAAAAAAADPc/c0iHwI-GjQ4/s1600/Galaxy+voyage+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5Nm5obcpb4/UbdTWnsVZdI/AAAAAAAADPc/c0iHwI-GjQ4/s400/Galaxy+voyage+SM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Galaxy Voyage by Miss Terry Woman<br />(Small image)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the other things I've been looking for is images of buildings, cars etc that were very futuristic looking at the time. There's some amazing stuff out there, though it can take a while to sift through hundreds and thousands of images just to find one to use.<br /><br />I loved the shapes and the perspective in this old pedestrian bridge.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55bUV4BVcFU/UbdVYREo5kI/AAAAAAAADPo/HjdJz3MhCWo/s1600/Bridge+tubularSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55bUV4BVcFU/UbdVYREo5kI/AAAAAAAADPo/HjdJz3MhCWo/s400/Bridge+tubularSM.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was an amazing old airport terminal building. While I had to edit and repair the image somewhat, the end result was worth it - remarkable shapes and design flow:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoRL4PDs97o/UbdWMTGpsmI/AAAAAAAADP0/q69btTLJiK4/s1600/Old_control_tower+no+copyrightSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoRL4PDs97o/UbdWMTGpsmI/AAAAAAAADP0/q69btTLJiK4/s400/Old_control_tower+no+copyrightSM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, I spotted this gorgeous old Porsche Spider - isn't it amazing!? I almost expect to see Batman jump out!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2Tl7L4UAhA/UbdWlOlFg5I/AAAAAAAADP8/GnnjYee5a9M/s1600/1280px-Porsche_550_Spider_RearviewSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2Tl7L4UAhA/UbdWlOlFg5I/AAAAAAAADP8/GnnjYee5a9M/s400/1280px-Porsche_550_Spider_RearviewSM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Catch you next time...</span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-45242082198392728102013-06-04T22:36:00.004+10:002013-06-04T22:38:04.713+10:00Lucky I Love My Work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's lucky that I love my work, because I have been crazy busy setting up my old and new designs in various online stores in Australia and the USA.</span><br />
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And just in the last few hours, I've set up a European store and have been laboriously adding one item at a time. Each country's product manufacturer/supplier has their online businesses set up very differently - some are much easier to use than others, and some are very time consuming and sleep-inducing procedures, lol.<br /><br />Here is the link to the new store: <a href="http://757631.spreadshirt.net/">Miss Terry Woman (Eur/UK)</a><br />Australia: <a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman (Australia)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">USA: <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman (USA)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following are just a sample of some of the varied products available in the stores.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5RLFEXIEnU/Ua3eZnUmxaI/AAAAAAAADMI/YAq263pMlAQ/s1600/Art+Deco+Canvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5RLFEXIEnU/Ua3eZnUmxaI/AAAAAAAADMI/YAq263pMlAQ/s320/Art+Deco+Canvas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2YPo14_ery4/Ua3eZkIg70I/AAAAAAAADMM/zHiOiG8iLzw/s1600/Art+Deco+Phone+Cover+Apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2YPo14_ery4/Ua3eZkIg70I/AAAAAAAADMM/zHiOiG8iLzw/s400/Art+Deco+Phone+Cover+Apple.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iC3TkCoAL0/Ua3ebObfGmI/AAAAAAAADMs/3N2upDeBhoU/s1600/Art+Deco+Woman+Backpack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iC3TkCoAL0/Ua3ebObfGmI/AAAAAAAADMs/3N2upDeBhoU/s320/Art+Deco+Woman+Backpack.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eu7Jt00TOSg/Ua3eaTHC2BI/AAAAAAAADMY/qfKEVFKCFOk/s1600/Bag+shopping+Art+Deco+Dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eu7Jt00TOSg/Ua3eaTHC2BI/AAAAAAAADMY/qfKEVFKCFOk/s320/Bag+shopping+Art+Deco+Dancers.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ac-pj-ESjKQ/Ua3eatvINOI/AAAAAAAADMc/JHRqDA2tzIg/s1600/Beach+Puggy+Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ac-pj-ESjKQ/Ua3eatvINOI/AAAAAAAADMc/JHRqDA2tzIg/s320/Beach+Puggy+Shirt.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejWyzhnWQZc/Ua3ea-jvphI/AAAAAAAADMo/Fqz_kPV55rE/s1600/Clothing+quirky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejWyzhnWQZc/Ua3ea-jvphI/AAAAAAAADMo/Fqz_kPV55rE/s320/Clothing+quirky.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CI0BbUHTeAE/Ua3ebDSvzyI/AAAAAAAADMw/HSfcgwlkJTo/s1600/Cushion+Art+Deco+Dancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CI0BbUHTeAE/Ua3ebDSvzyI/AAAAAAAADMw/HSfcgwlkJTo/s320/Cushion+Art+Deco+Dancer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NswuiquBu0/Ua3ebg3M3GI/AAAAAAAADNA/UOesaTmdxMc/s1600/Girl+&+Her+Unicorn+Apple+iPad+3-4+Case+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NswuiquBu0/Ua3ebg3M3GI/AAAAAAAADNA/UOesaTmdxMc/s320/Girl+&+Her+Unicorn+Apple+iPad+3-4+Case+.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzT1qztCxMg/Ua3eb810GyI/AAAAAAAADNE/EXRfH0zuSmg/s1600/Jewellery+Bag+Lorikeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzT1qztCxMg/Ua3eb810GyI/AAAAAAAADNE/EXRfH0zuSmg/s320/Jewellery+Bag+Lorikeet.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQy42zFEyq4/Ua3ecI1anSI/AAAAAAAADNQ/_QmzrZuV6OE/s1600/Money+Clip+Biplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQy42zFEyq4/Ua3ecI1anSI/AAAAAAAADNQ/_QmzrZuV6OE/s320/Money+Clip+Biplane.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gdGkVcCGLAU/Ua3ecatCWyI/AAAAAAAADNU/TxkkKjPFlDw/s1600/Mousepad,+Gel+Frog+in+Tux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gdGkVcCGLAU/Ua3ecatCWyI/AAAAAAAADNU/TxkkKjPFlDw/s320/Mousepad,+Gel+Frog+in+Tux.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABDF5WeQ6hM/Ua3ecknoREI/AAAAAAAADNc/znPRgGjRPvY/s1600/Netbook+Case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ABDF5WeQ6hM/Ua3ecknoREI/AAAAAAAADNc/znPRgGjRPvY/s320/Netbook+Case.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEsiC_0jdcY/Ua3edgovECI/AAAAAAAADN4/th9cI0Sn7XM/s1600/Peacock+Psychedelic+Handbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEsiC_0jdcY/Ua3edgovECI/AAAAAAAADN4/th9cI0Sn7XM/s320/Peacock+Psychedelic+Handbag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5GBxDluBF4/Ua3edAwV2GI/AAAAAAAADNo/MtyE5tXxI9I/s1600/Phone+Samsung+AD+woman+in+feathers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5GBxDluBF4/Ua3edAwV2GI/AAAAAAAADNo/MtyE5tXxI9I/s320/Phone+Samsung+AD+woman+in+feathers.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rS1k-N9kvpk/Ua3efbeWb-I/AAAAAAAADOs/bLFQs1qlTc0/s1600/shirt+old+electric+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rS1k-N9kvpk/Ua3efbeWb-I/AAAAAAAADOs/bLFQs1qlTc0/s320/shirt+old+electric+bike.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I hope you can drop by and check them out some time. May I also encourage you to let your friends and family know about my special designs. ... Thanks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://757631.spreadshirt.net/">Miss Terry Woman (Eur/UK)</a><br /><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman (Australia)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman (USA)</a></span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-30517618830583184172013-05-27T13:58:00.001+10:002013-05-27T13:58:49.984+10:00Busy, busy, busy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been working crazily to get more items into my online shops and have set up a new <a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/humorous-items_s21?start=0" target="_blank">humor segment in the Australian store</a>. So I thought I'd share some of my humorous items with you... Enjoy!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDEfETL30f4/UaLU_iv23XI/AAAAAAAADLY/Nd7H3Ba38fY/s400/Shirt+Lesson+in+Awesomeness.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="353" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=21&StoreProductId=36466779" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Link to this item <br /><i>(On some of these the reverse side<br />says "Lessons inhumility are free.")</i></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUcvKnX0jSQ/UaLVEKoIIYI/AAAAAAAADLg/xhZt6mFDjm8/s400/Shirt+Concorde.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="338" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=21&StoreProductId=36466781" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Link to this item<br /><i>(Gotta have a good pun in your life occasionally)</i></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=21&StoreProductId=36508066" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLrRDxU4z_4/UaLWiupN-oI/AAAAAAAADLw/5dddlst6KXM/s320/I'm+not+fat+mug.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=21&StoreProductId=36508066" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Link to this item<br /><i>"I'm not fat, I'm gravitationally dispersed."</i><br /><i>(Is this political correctness gone to extremes?)</i></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://c2.vip-stores.com/img/4-109534833-0-0-1?r=ixsqp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://c2.vip-stores.com/img/4-109534833-0-0-1?r=ixsqp" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=21&StoreProductId=36466891" target="_blank">"Link to this item<br /><i>"If there was one word to describe me,<br />incredible just seems so inadequate."</i></a></span></td></tr>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-41263872908813576642013-05-18T00:45:00.000+10:002013-05-18T00:45:18.804+10:00More Images For My Shop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to art deco, I love anything quirky - probably stemming from my overactive and quirky imagination and related sense of humour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following are some recent images that I created:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdenrY3MK5U/UZY_S83pCCI/AAAAAAAADKw/ONCPiLW1ASc/s1600/Aussie+Tourist+Paris+FlagSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdenrY3MK5U/UZY_S83pCCI/AAAAAAAADKw/ONCPiLW1ASc/s320/Aussie+Tourist+Paris+FlagSM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An Aussie fly tourist in Paris!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=%40aussie&StoreProductId=36508167" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This image is available on various<br />items including clothing</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9v37EZQnKo/UZZAGm6sB2I/AAAAAAAADLA/DDctPFLVn-A/s1600/Aussie+Tourist+in+London+with+flagSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9v37EZQnKo/UZZAGm6sB2I/AAAAAAAADLA/DDctPFLVn-A/s320/Aussie+Tourist+in+London+with+flagSM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Aussie fly tourist in London</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=%40london&StoreProductId=36604841" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dh2nJPCCuY/UZZAPW8e2TI/AAAAAAAADLI/BhlP23wIgCY/s320/Shirts+Fly+Aussie+Fly+in+London.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=%40london&StoreProductId=36604841" target="_blank">The image here is available on various<br />items including clothing</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a number of other quirky images and items as well which can be found <a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/missterrywoman/quirky-items_s20" target="_blank">on-line in the Quirky section of the Australian shop</a>, and in various sections of the <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" target="_blank">USA based shop as well</a>.</span></div>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-65495398477774976372013-05-16T00:42:00.002+10:002013-05-16T00:42:23.975+10:00Earlier Graphic Designs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had opened <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" target="_blank">a shop online last year</a>, and while the quality of the items was good, it was rather expensive to purchase, especially when including the cost of postage from the USA. About eight weeks ago I discovered <a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts/missterrywoman" target="_blank">an Australian based shop</a> which is much cheaper and with much more reasonable postage, at least for me here in Australia, so I set up a second shop. Both are called "Miss Terry Woman."</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFxKIbdnSKs/UZOcQV6crYI/AAAAAAAADKQ/kRV4eXXlgdI/s1600/MissTerryWomanLogo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFxKIbdnSKs/UZOcQV6crYI/AAAAAAAADKQ/kRV4eXXlgdI/s1600/MissTerryWomanLogo1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the earliest images that I created for the shops were based on photos from the early twentieth century, with one or two dating back into the nineteenth. I tidy up, cut-out and then recolour the uncopyrighted photos and then place with appropriate backgrounds and/or items.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkizKS_Say8/UZOasB33DpI/AAAAAAAADJ4/yra6bIeN1ms/s1600/AD+Woman22-b+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bkizKS_Say8/UZOasB33DpI/AAAAAAAADJ4/yra6bIeN1ms/s320/AD+Woman22-b+SM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHTQ4wxQeyM/UZOas1bGwMI/AAAAAAAADJ8/t4Ye7tjevb4/s1600/AD+Woman27+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHTQ4wxQeyM/UZOas1bGwMI/AAAAAAAADJ8/t4Ye7tjevb4/s320/AD+Woman27+SM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The program I use is called "Photo Studio" which is a lot like PhotoShop but at about 10% of the cost! I've been using it for quit a few years now and find it a great little program, allowing me to do the majority of what I want to do with my graphics. It still has its limitations, but I simply can't afford to buy PhotoShop and its add-ons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I enjoy the creation side of things, I also love to discover old photos, especially of people with interesting faces. The next image was taken in about 1930 I believe. I recoloured the woman and added other images with it - though I'm beginning to suspect I may have chosen the wrong penguins:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnzQt4cy-Cc/UZOdn8I23SI/AAAAAAAADKg/uE_OjNwtvvQ/s1600/Eskimo+Scene+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnzQt4cy-Cc/UZOdn8I23SI/AAAAAAAADKg/uE_OjNwtvvQ/s320/Eskimo+Scene+SM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-8875736058539395982013-05-15T02:19:00.000+10:002013-05-15T02:19:14.449+10:00LOVELY ITEMS IN MY SHOP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I'd share some of the graphics that I've put together recently. These have been a culmination of a few months work.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may have guessed that I love "art deco" and this has been a focus during the creation of my graphic designs. The following image is one I completed during the past day:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=0304&StoreProductId=36630878" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shrMpz25LUk/UZJgxgUwu3I/AAAAAAAADJQ/1F7Cxrjttog/s400/Bag+shopping+Art+Deco+Dancers.jpg" width="345" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=0304&StoreProductId=36630878" target="_blank">Art Deco dancers - Shopping bags</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on the shape of his chin, I have a sneaking suspicion that the gentleman above may well be an extremely young Fred Astaire.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've spent considerable time re-colouring and retouching the black and white photos that I'd found - sometimes it's got to be a labour of love, or I might just go crazy! Here is one I completed yesterday. The image of the dancer I undertook a few months ago, selecting and colouring each individual pearl by hand! And finally yesterday, I was able to create an appropriate background for the dancer to shine from. Of interest is the fact that the poor dear had rather a largish nose, which I trimmed, adding in the obscured eyelid and lashes.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=15&StoreProductId=36607992" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhZLXOccm_w/UZJht0XQcGI/AAAAAAAADJc/tE3I6wojLxA/s320/Cushion+Art+Deco+Dancer.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=15&StoreProductId=36607992" target="_blank">Art Deco Dancer - cushions</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/art-deco_s02" target="_blank">There are now more than 1,600 items in the Art Deco section of my store, with lots more gorgeous black and white photos to work on yet.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, time now to catch my breath (and a little bit of shut-eye).</span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-25978568631554313312013-05-12T13:08:00.000+10:002013-05-12T13:10:56.039+10:00Online Shops - Why I have been so busy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the big reasons that I have had little time to keep up-to-date with my blog is that during the last year I have opened two online shops. Creating graphics is one of my passions and there are several places where one can set up a shop. The company produces the product with my designs, and I make a little profit - a very small profit. I am hoping that eventually I will make enough to supplement my pension.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My initial shop was based in the USA and while their products are a good quality, I found the prices and postage a little too steep, at least for me here in Australia. Then about six weeks ago I found an Australian-based company which has some similar products where I can also use my graphic designs, where the prices and postage are much better.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The name of my shop is "Miss Terry Woman." So, without further ado, here are the links to my two shops:<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Australia: </span><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts/missterrywoman" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />USA: </span><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/missterrywoman2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I even have an online presence on Facebook: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissTerryWoman" target="_blank">Miss Terry Woman</a><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>I hope you can drop by some time and check them out, and I would appreciate it if you could share the shops with your friends.</b><br /></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also create specialised graphic designs to your own specific requirements: just let me know what you would like and as long as the product is available in either shop, I can make it for you. (There are some limits, ie I cannot create copyrighted images/icons and I do not use photos or images that are copyrighted.)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a little sample of some of my designs on the online products:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/art-deco_s02" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iNQ-XllqGjw/UY789o_qu9I/AAAAAAAADHM/11kSqfRnfao/s320/Art+Deco+Items.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/art-deco_s02" target="_blank">Art Deco Designs</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPuqJt4LXqA/UY78-J5SCZI/AAAAAAAADHY/J7-OvOMXcHI/s1600/Canvases+etc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPuqJt4LXqA/UY78-J5SCZI/AAAAAAAADHY/J7-OvOMXcHI/s320/Canvases+etc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/canvases_s11" target="_blank">Canvases</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PSF8vP5brs/UY78-YPki-I/AAAAAAAADHg/_3JMfHH9kik/s1600/Clothing+General.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PSF8vP5brs/UY78-YPki-I/AAAAAAAADHg/_3JMfHH9kik/s320/Clothing+General.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/clothing-items_s05" target="_blank">Clothing</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtJjFfdteC4/UY78_CSzGrI/AAAAAAAADHs/hW-3MXaSS1Q/s1600/Cups+mugs+coasters+and+plates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtJjFfdteC4/UY78_CSzGrI/AAAAAAAADHs/hW-3MXaSS1Q/s320/Cups+mugs+coasters+and+plates.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/cups-mugs-coasters-plates_s12" target="_blank">Cups, coasters and Plates</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTUVutx_Q2w/UY78-6f6tNI/AAAAAAAADHo/C3-p5mZn-2I/s1600/Handbags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTUVutx_Q2w/UY78-6f6tNI/AAAAAAAADHo/C3-p5mZn-2I/s320/Handbags.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/bags-purses-wallets_s03" target="_blank">Handbags, Backpacks and more</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNoaI-0m8pA/UY78_Uq-qJI/AAAAAAAADHw/pYLmhF01b1s/s1600/Jigsaws+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BNoaI-0m8pA/UY78_Uq-qJI/AAAAAAAADHw/pYLmhF01b1s/s320/Jigsaws+shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/jigsaw-puzzles_s19" target="_blank">Jigsaw Puzzles</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RnwogzlQI-0/UY78_7xsdDI/AAAAAAAADIA/YAundAUjh_Q/s1600/Miscellaneous+Shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RnwogzlQI-0/UY78_7xsdDI/AAAAAAAADIA/YAundAUjh_Q/s320/Miscellaneous+Shop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/miscellaneous_s10" target="_blank">Miscellaneous Items</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Some of my favourite designs can be found in the "</span><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/quirky-designs_s20" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Quirky</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" and "</span><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/fantasy_s01" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Fantasy</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" sections such as:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNfOI0RiKAQ/UY8CpsWNVQI/AAAAAAAADIM/LgAEtH1Y5gk/s1600/Dragon%2527s+cave+cushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNfOI0RiKAQ/UY8CpsWNVQI/AAAAAAAADIM/LgAEtH1Y5gk/s320/Dragon%2527s+cave+cushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=0103&StoreProductId=36105478" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dragon's Cave</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6RUpwhLplM/UY8DoOZTB-I/AAAAAAAADIU/OpsiTtZFt-E/s1600/Girl+&+Her+Unicorn+Apple+iPad+3-4+Case+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6RUpwhLplM/UY8DoOZTB-I/AAAAAAAADIU/OpsiTtZFt-E/s320/Girl+&+Her+Unicorn+Apple+iPad+3-4+Case+.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=0101&StoreProductId=35856541" target="_blank">A Girl and Her Unicorn</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyZE2C9O8V0/UY8ESoJABdI/AAAAAAAADIc/YCHAzfV28cI/s1600/Beach+Puggy+Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyZE2C9O8V0/UY8ESoJABdI/AAAAAAAADIc/YCHAzfV28cI/s320/Beach+Puggy+Shirt.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.aussiecustomgifts.com/MissTerryWoman/ReviewProduct.aspx?SectionCode=200202&StoreProductId=36408115" target="_blank">Beach Puggy</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I look forward to receiving your feedback ... and as mentioned earlier, please let me know if you would like a special graphic created just for you.</span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-55110423255306204432013-04-12T14:00:00.001+10:002013-05-12T12:08:00.515+10:002,000 Year Rainfall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late January this year, we had an incredible amount of rain. According to the record-keepers, we experienced a one in two-thousand year event. Around about one metre of rain fell in just a few short days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This resulted in lots of run-off including leakage into my downstairs rumpus room which used to look quite lovely:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8NyTVILanE/T7MqDTMrZBI/AAAAAAAADFM/wGxNxCEqHm8/s320/SMHouse+Rumpus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8NyTVILanE/T7MqDTMrZBI/AAAAAAAADFM/wGxNxCEqHm8/s400/SMHouse+Rumpus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>My rumpus room became a wading pool with furniture!</b></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some skirting boards will have to be replaced, as well as the very mouldy lino, and the back door will need to be resealed and refitted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's now April and I'm finally getting it repaired - lots of people in Queensland were making insurance claims because of the incredible damage, and there are simply not enough builders etc to keep up with the demand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also had to get my roof repaired where the winds were starting to lift the tin. Additionally I had to get the gutters cleaned out because of the debris that was clogging them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been very fortunate that I live up high on a hill and locally we didn't sustain as much damage as other Queensland towns. I even got some financial assistance from the government to help cover the costs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Update: as at mid May, I have had to obtain another quote for repairs and I am still awaiting the repairs.</span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-38833962305073374272013-04-12T14:00:00.000+10:002013-04-12T14:00:03.890+10:00Little Things That Make Us Laugh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 0.45cm;">I visited with my Aunt recently and while I was there she found a hand-written note in her letterbox. We had a good laugh when she discovered that it was likely written by one of her grandsons. Addressed on a lovely floral envelope and notepaper, the note read read:</span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3aOD9Q-PC8/UVCQl8YDsfI/AAAAAAAADGU/Txn2RMFCmsI/s1600/We+Are+coming+to+get+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3aOD9Q-PC8/UVCQl8YDsfI/AAAAAAAADGU/Txn2RMFCmsI/s400/We+Are+coming+to+get+you.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 17px;">
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DJ, one of the teenagers living with me is almost 15, and recently we found she has the most crazy, deep belly button we've ever seen. She says that with all the pets in our house, she's having to clean the fur out of her belly button all of the time - lol!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/485080_10200174644101236_107358194_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/485080_10200174644101236_107358194_n.jpg" width="383" /></span></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr Stanley is a very fastidious cat - if the litter tray is even
remotely dirty, he chooses to use our human toilet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/576587_10200257469771826_650000767_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/576587_10200257469771826_650000767_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-71419415851897749162013-04-07T14:00:00.000+10:002013-04-07T14:00:07.567+10:00Crazy Cat Lady? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.45cm;">According to one of the teenage girls I have living with me, I'm known as "the cat lady" at her high school, due probably to a previous child in my care who used to attend the same school.</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.45cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.45cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always striven to avoid being called things like "cat lady" because it suggests desperate spinsterhood and other such negative ideas, and despite the fact that I have both cats AND dogs, alas the label has stuck anyway.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.45cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.45cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">.....Please do not give me any kittens for my upcoming 50th birthday or I will have to throttle you</span>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/535389_10200131731028436_1647387559_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/535389_10200131731028436_1647387559_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-47067790019968513482013-04-05T14:00:00.000+10:002013-04-05T14:00:00.874+10:00Some Interesting Articles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working as a foster carer, I often come into contact with kids/teenagers that have been affected by sexualised images and movies. It's really quite heart-breaking to see these children who grow up with distorted images and ideas about what it means to be a girl or boy. It is especially frightening to see how girls are being harmed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May I encourage you to read the following article:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cdiv%20class=%22_1x_%20fwb%22%20dir=%22ltr%22%3EThe%20corruption%20of%20a%20generation:%20Our%20daughters%20are%20facing%20sexualisiation%20from%20primary%20school%20age%3C/div%3E" target="_blank">The corruption of a generation: Our daughters are facing sexualisiation from primary school age</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in the same vein, how our society is teaching us and our children to be unhappy, especially about our weight and the way we look:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://<div%20class="_1x_%20fwb"%20dir="ltr">So%20you%E2%80%99re%20feeling%20too%20fat%20to%20be%20photographed%20.%20.%20.</div%3E" target="_blank">So you’re feeling too fat to be photographed . . .</a></span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-39694515963483453812013-04-02T14:00:00.000+10:002013-04-02T14:00:03.478+10:00Some Photos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/419217_4111958149699_2024573021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/419217_4111958149699_2024573021_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The colour of a sunset in September 2012: peach</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/268600_4647742623976_19926014_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/268600_4647742623976_19926014_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2013, I spotted a mistletoebird for the very first time. He sang the most beautiful song!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/524715_4663144049002_936356045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/524715_4663144049002_936356045_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then a few days later I spotted a dollarbird. I'd never seen one before in my life, and now there's a family who have moved into the neighbourhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend Karen made me laugh after she raided my laundry:</span><br />
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-67738006484649383832013-03-29T14:00:00.000+10:002013-03-29T14:00:06.107+10:00How to NOT sell your house in one big expensive lesson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you are probably aware, I had my home on the market last year, with the hopes of moving to Hervey Bay. In June 2012, an offer was made on my home which I accepted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I had to dash down to Hervey Bay to find somewhere to live. While there I found a lovely home which was exactly what I wanted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We negotiated the price and the owners finally accepted my offer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I went back home with around five weeks to pack and make all the arrangements. I was SO excited. Then a week before the big move, the buyer of my home had his bank application turned down, even though he was supposed to have had it all pre-approved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the legal costs amounted to around $1,000 which is a lot of money when you are on a pension.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since that time the house-market has continued to decline in Gladstone and prices are down at least $30,000. While that was happening, the buyers market practically dried up and I did not receive any more offers on my home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, it's now March in 2013... my house is no longer on the market, though I may reconsider putting it back up for sale in August/September. It will depend on the market and a number of other important factors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I would still like to move to Hervey Bay, I have delayed the move for the next couple of years, because I now have three teenage girls in my care (foster carer).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tried to find part-time work without success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I continue trusting in God's plan, though I wish sometimes He would put the blue-prints for my life on a table in front of me so at least I can know what to expect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More news to come over the next few weeks ....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for dropping by.</span></div>
Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-91041505987848080062013-03-26T02:59:00.000+10:002013-03-26T04:09:44.099+10:00A Little Song From Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, let me apologise for the long delay in writing in my blog. It's been a tough year in a lot of ways, but I'm hoping to get back to blogging more regularly now that I have a more established schedule. I'll be doing some catch-up over the next few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to start ... a little music:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always loved the Amy Grant song "Arms of Love" and years ago had worked out a harmony for the chorus. Anyway, last year I recorded the sound-track and harmony for it, and thought I'd try and put my own music video together for it.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So without further ado, here is "Arms of Love" sung by yours truly: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3715869327726" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">"Arms of Love"</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure with a bit more time (and a good sound studio) I could improve it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it for catch-up time today ... more to come!</span>
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Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-22970547864318129742012-06-05T11:14:00.001+10:002012-06-05T11:17:39.516+10:00Catch up Time Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The house is ready and has been put on the market. I've had a couple of potential buyers through and have even been given an offer on the house, but the investor was hoping I was desperate enough to take at least $20,000 less than its market value - I declined, but offered him a reduction of $5,000. I'm still waiting to hear back from the other potential buyer as well but am happy to wait for God's timing and the right buyer to coincide.</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our cat Cinnamon</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I had only once been to a live footy match and that was 25 years ago (you can tell how much of a fan I am). Back then it was a very basic footy-field in Warwick and was a match between their team and Goondiwindi. We received a free family pass to the local footy match one Saturday night recently between the Devils and Capras and I took my friend Karen and my two foster kids along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I think I probably enjoyed more watching and listening to the crowd than the game itself, but it was a good experience and got the crowd very excited towards the end when Capras began to catch up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">There was a 5-6 year old boy next to us screaming out things like "C'mon Capras!" and jiggling excitedly up and down in his seat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Spud and MM both enjoyed it, though they got bored sitting in the one spot and wanted to run around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The atmosphere was really great and there was a really good sized crowd. I may even go again one day.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jz9lnPOd9BM/T81aiwX-ZsI/AAAAAAAADF8/xUkmi_AZp3I/s1600/156553_3596893273399_1005494829_33326273_1115591263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jz9lnPOd9BM/T81aiwX-ZsI/AAAAAAAADF8/xUkmi_AZp3I/s320/156553_3596893273399_1005494829_33326273_1115591263_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>One of the things I learned at the footy match on Saturday night, was to keep on eye on the toilet roll when going to the loo. As I pulled paper from the huge roll, it jumped off the spindle, bounced along the floor and began to roll away beneath the door. Fortunately I managed to catch it, but I'm sure the other ladies in the stalls were wondering what on earth I was giggling about.</span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IwSO21dweY/T81cHS5aaQI/AAAAAAAADGE/N50uY_DTrwk/s1600/410935_3596912473879_1005494829_33326280_439565640_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IwSO21dweY/T81cHS5aaQI/AAAAAAAADGE/N50uY_DTrwk/s320/410935_3596912473879_1005494829_33326280_439565640_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while we are on the subject of giggling, a few days later I spotted the following item at a local supermarket and thought "How appropriate for the menopausal woman!"</span></span>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-8611247492011401852012-05-16T14:45:00.000+10:002012-05-16T21:35:25.612+10:00House Overhaul: Before and After Photos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The last couple of months have been quite busy. Recently I have been doing some overhauling of my home in preparation for putting it back onto the market to sell. The wood on my back patio has been replaced and oiled. We've done LOTS of cleaning, and some furniture rearrangement and have even been putting some stickers up to make it look a little nicer. The front verandah has been painted with special marine paint to waterproof it. And the local Churches of Christ were kind enough to send along a working bee to tidy up my garden last weekend.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXBgV1-_YY/T7MlMChno0I/AAAAAAAADD0/x_FMuiHEZ_k/s1600/SMHouse+Patio+Orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXBgV1-_YY/T7MlMChno0I/AAAAAAAADD0/x_FMuiHEZ_k/s320/SMHouse+Patio+Orig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The old patio looked like this.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dqXnHvXTu-s/T7MlNzQXDLI/AAAAAAAADD8/0hu0XvN2J9g/s1600/SMHouse+PatioReplacement1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dqXnHvXTu-s/T7MlNzQXDLI/AAAAAAAADD8/0hu0XvN2J9g/s320/SMHouse+PatioReplacement1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The first stage of replacing the wood found<br />some lovely termites chewing on three<br />of the beams. Look out - increased cost!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-srCRXt4DMXU/T7MlPVFILZI/AAAAAAAADEE/CeIAYWGnsbU/s1600/SMHouse+PatioReplacement2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-srCRXt4DMXU/T7MlPVFILZI/AAAAAAAADEE/CeIAYWGnsbU/s320/SMHouse+PatioReplacement2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Murray tried to hide from my camera<br />as he was working.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdc0RrGH0Ow/T7MlQ-XMAII/AAAAAAAADEM/2ophvGanBoQ/s1600/SMHouse+PatioReplacement3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdc0RrGH0Ow/T7MlQ-XMAII/AAAAAAAADEM/2ophvGanBoQ/s320/SMHouse+PatioReplacement3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Getting closer to completion.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWAeiSOmAXU/T7MlSQubDFI/AAAAAAAADEU/N7zwN2Ks_to/s1600/SMHouse+PatioReplacement4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWAeiSOmAXU/T7MlSQubDFI/AAAAAAAADEU/N7zwN2Ks_to/s320/SMHouse+PatioReplacement4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The second last stage of the replacement.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoyKbVfy_Kw/T7MmVytfjLI/AAAAAAAADEc/4SMTX_JVKW8/s1600/SMHouse+Patio+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LoyKbVfy_Kw/T7MmVytfjLI/AAAAAAAADEc/4SMTX_JVKW8/s320/SMHouse+Patio+Final.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The new patio looks fabulous!<br />The old clothesline was also removed.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqb5ymx_XSo/T7Mm5NrQ-fI/AAAAAAAADEk/apezQwQEX0E/s1600/SMHouse+Clothesline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqb5ymx_XSo/T7Mm5NrQ-fI/AAAAAAAADEk/apezQwQEX0E/s320/SMHouse+Clothesline.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The clothesline has been placed outside<br />on the laundry wall, and can be lowered<br />to make more room on the patio.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RBwNrHYnAM/T7Mo1gBaSOI/AAAAAAAADEs/b31FDkwJup8/s1600/SMHouse+Entrance3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RBwNrHYnAM/T7Mo1gBaSOI/AAAAAAAADEs/b31FDkwJup8/s320/SMHouse+Entrance3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The front entrance has been tidied up<br />and there are some new plants.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lKk1GE8VDk0/T7Mo-KPf6uI/AAAAAAAADE0/WohOfPtELu8/s1600/SMHouse+OldLounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lKk1GE8VDk0/T7Mo-KPf6uI/AAAAAAAADE0/WohOfPtELu8/s320/SMHouse+OldLounge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Previously the old lounge room looked<br />small and shabby.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiIvvQ4NGnA/T7MpCHdIyhI/AAAAAAAADE8/uJKZovSKSY0/s1600/SMHouseLounge3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiIvvQ4NGnA/T7MpCHdIyhI/AAAAAAAADE8/uJKZovSKSY0/s320/SMHouseLounge3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Now there are new curtains that make it<br />look softer and more welcoming,<br />matching lounge covers and some<br />bright cushions to cheer the room up.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-ku-Mu9uQ/T7MvQrWvMbI/AAAAAAAADFY/TbFuXZlR7Os/s1600/SMHouse+FrontOrig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oj-ku-Mu9uQ/T7MvQrWvMbI/AAAAAAAADFY/TbFuXZlR7Os/s320/SMHouse+FrontOrig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The front of the house before the<br />gardens were redone.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eV-rhEheTM/T7MvqmOBUkI/AAAAAAAADFo/L_mGcTR06dI/s1600/SMHouse+FrontNow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eV-rhEheTM/T7MvqmOBUkI/AAAAAAAADFo/L_mGcTR06dI/s320/SMHouse+FrontNow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The garden has been overhauled now<br />and edging has been placed around them.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtrrqZAr6x0/T7MvmoRl1WI/AAAAAAAADFg/-caMlzOTlsw/s1600/SMHouse+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtrrqZAr6x0/T7MvmoRl1WI/AAAAAAAADFg/-caMlzOTlsw/s320/SMHouse+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Here's a closer view of the front gardens.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year the rumpus room had new flooring placed in it:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uaald2kGvLk/T7Mp-HIRIZI/AAAAAAAADFE/VR7gFVE4vJI/s1600/SMHouse+Rumpus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uaald2kGvLk/T7Mp-HIRIZI/AAAAAAAADFE/VR7gFVE4vJI/s320/SMHouse+Rumpus1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The rumpus room before the new flooring.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8NyTVILanE/T7MqDTMrZBI/AAAAAAAADFM/wGxNxCEqHm8/s1600/SMHouse+Rumpus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8NyTVILanE/T7MqDTMrZBI/AAAAAAAADFM/wGxNxCEqHm8/s320/SMHouse+Rumpus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>And with the new flooring, the rumpus<br />room looks lovely and spacious.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-24713471187431115622012-03-18T14:00:00.024+10:002012-03-18T14:00:04.210+10:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I am a foster carer and currently have two primary school aged children staying with me. Recently we got together and created a poster especially for their room:</span> </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/429422_3118073583206_1005494829_33108085_944069188_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/429422_3118073583206_1005494829_33108085_944069188_n.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Young MM decided to show off his best face recently, and I can't help giggling whenever I look at it:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/418212_3172590346091_1005494829_33133001_1814711726_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/418212_3172590346091_1005494829_33133001_1814711726_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spud and I went to the Gladstone Marina the other day and saw a number of boats transporting workers to a local island for the new gas pipeline being built:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419301_3172529304565_1005494829_33132961_1348236026_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419301_3172529304565_1005494829_33132961_1348236026_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And just a little bit of excitement to finish off today - late last year I entered a competition with a real estate that was running a nation-wide competition before Christmas. I was delighted to discover that I was the first prize winner of $500 vouchers at Bunnings:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427073_3135150730124_1005494829_33115711_229211760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427073_3135150730124_1005494829_33115711_229211760_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this money, I'm planning on buying new decking for my back verandah - I'll provide a photo of the finished product.</span>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-68581635482211107932012-03-15T14:00:00.009+10:002012-03-15T14:00:07.172+10:00Pets, Wildlife and Wild Grass<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently created a 'beautified' photo of Genevieve our dog:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407822_3023335894823_1005494829_33070949_1809853172_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407822_3023335894823_1005494829_33070949_1809853172_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Don't you just love those false eyelashes, lol?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recent rains have contributed to the jungle growing outside:</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/p480x480/65404_3123414876735_1005494829_33110890_849884297_n.jpg%22" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/p480x480/65404_3123414876735_1005494829_33110890_849884297_n.jpg%22" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can you spot the two dogs in my tall grass?</span></i></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-blsJ7liokpg/T11aVtM1zzI/AAAAAAAADBg/LBjpGnJ0XIA/s1600/SMDragonfly+flying1+Feb12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-blsJ7liokpg/T11aVtM1zzI/AAAAAAAADBg/LBjpGnJ0XIA/s400/SMDragonfly+flying1+Feb12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The recent wet weather has brought out the frogs,<br />
butterflies, ciccadas and lots of dragonflies at my place.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpxCdammFr4/T11bVWL6pCI/AAAAAAAADBo/9_fuBu9em5Q/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpxCdammFr4/T11bVWL6pCI/AAAAAAAADBo/9_fuBu9em5Q/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Our dog Scout slobbered all over her new ball recently and lost it under the printing cabinet - and I that's when I discovered a spot that might just need a little extra vacuuming:</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/423674_3121983400949_1005494829_33110205_528784054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/423674_3121983400949_1005494829_33110205_528784054_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, plug in your earphones for a short video of our dog Scout:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzoA0t4z7EonmrCzSaBATyrlNTPjX65EzZXzLxDIALVc_4cGdodpPO6HOjXtf4LE9Kkt5R1Fq1sTLFx6vtKdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-30743673579519902392012-03-12T11:40:00.002+10:002012-03-12T11:45:32.209+10:00Some Recent Events<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life has been pretty quiet recently, even with addition of two youngsters that I have been fostering for the past six weeks or so. I'm including a recent video and some photos about what has been happening.</span></span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Can you identify this? </span></span></b><b style="text-align: left;"></b></span></div><div style="color: #333333; display: inline !important; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UvY3mCvlZSA/T11Pe7KlvwI/AAAAAAAADBQ/tcDIKrrQdtM/s1600/PegBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UvY3mCvlZSA/T11Pe7KlvwI/AAAAAAAADBQ/tcDIKrrQdtM/s400/PegBasket.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span line-height: 18px;"> <b>Is it:</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">(a) a peg basket?</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">(b) a cleverly disguised nuclear device?</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">(c) a possum food holder?</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">(d) my car?</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">(e) all of the above?<br />
(f) ... think up your own answer<br />
<br />
To see the answer go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3016248197635" target="_blank">this link</a> for a very quick video.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Continuing with the wildlife theme, five out of the seven in our friendly laughing kookaburra family visited recently:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkJlXNcmxfY/T11MQsMiHuI/AAAAAAAADBA/RxIRm7fKyh0/s1600/Kookaburra+Five+Feb12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VkJlXNcmxfY/T11MQsMiHuI/AAAAAAAADBA/RxIRm7fKyh0/s400/Kookaburra+Five+Feb12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfhIq3t3PF18VhURwKqNSgZSeLqu7YGWkmUsth-r6Z9bPGC697fZ9P80ZQ3fkAGbT-BR_sfXizitlUTnp2cg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My flatmate JayCee seemed to be a little extra tired today and some of the pets shared her experience with her:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mP4I8l39kj4/T11THsX_aAI/AAAAAAAADBY/FRdYyGtSh5w/s1600/Casey,+2+cats+and+a+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mP4I8l39kj4/T11THsX_aAI/AAAAAAAADBY/FRdYyGtSh5w/s400/Casey,+2+cats+and+a+dog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-35010940467603128592012-02-29T12:42:00.002+10:002012-03-12T10:55:43.769+10:00How to Make Your Dog Truly Happy - Some Simple but Vital Information<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88djCwMKt4g/T02MajMxx5I/AAAAAAAADAI/1eyVsMIxAHI/s1600/SMCasey+and+Sammy+Feb12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-88djCwMKt4g/T02MajMxx5I/AAAAAAAADAI/1eyVsMIxAHI/s320/SMCasey+and+Sammy+Feb12.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our new dog Sammy</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I began writing today's entry because we recently added another dog to our 2-dog and 3-cat household. The latest addition was rescued from the RSPCA and is a year old maltese with the most loving, gorgeous nature. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first couple of weeks proved interesting as the dogs struggled to find their place in the pack. At first our second dog was jealous of the new intruder but the two have now developed a lovely friendship and enjoy a good tussle several times a day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially our second dog was very keen to show the new dog that it was superior to it, but a few weeks down the track, the two now accept an almost even level within the dog hierarchy. This was demonstrated recently when the two walked through the door together at the same time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to Make Your Dog Truly Happy - Some Simple but Vital Information</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrary to popular belief, cats do not think they are superior to human beings - they accept that they are simply different. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When God created the original dog species, they were instilled with a 'pack mentality' or instinct, ie the need to belong in a pack and to clearly know their place. This instinct has not changed much since then, though dogs now accept human beings and often other pets into their 'pack.' This pack instinct has to be followed for them to be truly happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Anyone that obtains a dog with the desire to treating them like a human being, or a cat etc is going to create both an unhappy family and even more miserable dog. To make a dog happy it is the human being that must change their thinking and adjust their understanding - a dog cannot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
To make them happy you must <b>actively </b>seek to show a dog its place in your family. You must behave in a way that the dog understands and everyone in your home must adjust their behaviours for this to work.<br />
<br />
Humans must always behave in a way that the dog sees as the right of its superior. For example, you can do this by ensuring that you always walk through the door first. If the dog rushes ahead of you or walks beside you, make the dog go back out through the door, and then allow them to follow after you. This will not make them feel bad or inferior - it will simply show them their place in the dog pack. Once a dog is reassured of its place and knows what is expected of them, they can relax. If they received mixed signals, it will only make the dog confused and unhappy.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zrzL8nxKVb0/T02NT4N3sRI/AAAAAAAADAQ/-tYRloizydY/s1600/SMSammy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zrzL8nxKVb0/T02NT4N3sRI/AAAAAAAADAQ/-tYRloizydY/s320/SMSammy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Smiling Sammy</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Training is essential - not just training of the dog, but training of the humans as well. The basic training a dog requires are: sit, stay, come, wait and heel. Once these are mastered, then you can focus on other techniques and tricks. Along with a simple voice command, also include a hand signal so that the dog can obey you if background noise blocks out the sound of your voice. All humans in the family must learn the same phrase and hand commands for consistency and be included in the training process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many times during its life, a dog will test its family members to see if it can become the lead dog in the pack. This is an instinct. You must firmly and consistently show the dog its place to reassure it that it still belongs.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">What Else Should a Dog be Taught?<br />
</span></b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTvWlDfWdVg/T02OIdEuTGI/AAAAAAAADAY/TaDCGVm9hag/s1600/SMJD+&+Genevieve+Mar+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTvWlDfWdVg/T02OIdEuTGI/AAAAAAAADAY/TaDCGVm9hag/s320/SMJD+&+Genevieve+Mar+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Genevieve as a pup</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Have consistent meals times and feed your dog several times a day</b><br />
<br />
In the morning I let the dogs out for their toilet time, saying 'pee pee' as I open the door. After that, I then give them a small meal of biscuits to start their day. In fact my dogs wait for my signal of "Ok" before they are allowed to start eating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My pets (both dogs and cats) know that the evening meal is at 6pm. Around 5.30pm they hang around me like a pack of vultures in anticipation of their food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
During the first year of its life, you should give your pup several small meals a day, slowly cutting that back to 2 or 3 meals a day by the time a dog is a year old.<br />
<br />
I always feed my pets food that has no artificial flavouring or colouring as it often reduces or stops allergic reactions. More expensive food doesn't necessarily mean that it is superior food. Sometimes the costs for producing the more expensive products stems from its expensive advertising rather than a higher quality of ingredients.<br />
<br />
<b>Regular play time is essential</b><br />
<br />
Play with your dog at least once a day. If you are too busy to play, then <b>don't get a dog</b>. Get a fish or a photo of a fish. <br />
<br />
Buy good quality, durable toys for your dog as they will last for longer and your dog is less likely to choke on pieces that it chews off. Make sure that the toy is a right fit for your dog's mouth and is not likely to be swallowed.<br />
<br />
<b>Should I smack my dog?</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxaWFz-fqE4/T02PPZRxdjI/AAAAAAAADAo/SwfbADsYVIA/s1600/SMStanley+&+Genevieve3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxaWFz-fqE4/T02PPZRxdjI/AAAAAAAADAo/SwfbADsYVIA/s320/SMStanley+&+Genevieve3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Stanley the cat playing<br />
with Genevieve</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smacking a dog often only confuses it because it would never happen in a dog pack in real life<br />
Worse, it may make a dog trust you less.<br />
<br />
<b>Never allow a dog to nip or bite</b><br />
<br />
It would be a HUGE mistake to allow a dog to believe it is acceptable to nip or bite. Oftentimes dogs start out nipping as a fun activity - it does this with its siblings and lower dogs in a dog pack. If allowed to continue, it can often lead to more serious and long-term biting. A dog must be taught to understand that ALL humans who come through the door are its superiors and it is never ok to nip or bite them.<br />
<br />
One simple technique is to command the dog to sit BEFORE it bites, such as when visitors come to the door, then stand with your head over the dog. This is a signal to the dog that you are its superior.<br />
<br />
It may be necessary to put the dog in another room when guests arrive and allow them time to settle down before letting them greet the new people. If the dog then still rushes out and nips at them, put a lead on the dog and gently but firmly constrain them so they are allowed to sniff and meet the guests, but don't allow them enough lead to be able to nip. Keep the dog beside you in a sitting position, and when you feel it is calm, give them a little lead so they can more properly meet your guests. It may be necessary for the guests to stand over the head or neck of your dog, so that the dog understands its place in the human family.<br />
<br />
<b>How do I stop my dog from barking?</b><br />
<br />
A very good question because dogs bark for different reasons, such as excitement, boredom, for protection etc. Some dogs are simply yappier than others because it is in their nature. Smaller dogs tend to be yappier.<br />
<br />
One answer is to make a room in your home, such as the laundry, the "bark room." When the dog starts barking, say "No!" firmly and then add "bark room." Then immediately put the dog in the bark room until it settles down. When you release the dog repeat "bark room" so that it remembers what it was put in there for. While it is separated from its pack, the dog feels unhappy. Consistently and regularly do this and the dog will learn that barking leads to separation from its beloved family.<br />
<br />
Bark collars should be a last resort, but are sometimes necessary in particularly obsessive barkers. Before you try a bark collar, try a water spray bottle filled with water and a squirt of lemon juice. When the dog barks, say "No!" firmly while at the same time squirting it in the face. Instead of spraying the dog, you may choose to use a high frequency device.in its place.<br />
<br />
<b>Should I allow my dog on my bed or on my furniture?</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9D5OeZubjU/T02QMZ_UsCI/AAAAAAAADA4/EVcCI-Nu0rY/s1600/SMGenevieve+Ears+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9D5OeZubjU/T02QMZ_UsCI/AAAAAAAADA4/EVcCI-Nu0rY/s320/SMGenevieve+Ears+Back.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cute Genevieve</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some trainers would suggest that it isn't good to allow a dog on your bed. It really depends on your situation. If you have a dog that is continually pushing to be the head of the household, then never allow it on your bed. Give it a bed of its own in your room if you wish or in another room such as the laundry. <br />
<br />
Only ever allow a dog onto your bed if it understands that you are the leader of the pack and that it is only allowed on there <b>after</b> you are already on the bed. Then you can give it permission to go up. The same is true for other furniture. Only allow a dog onto human furniture if you or a family member is there first and then ensure you give dog permission to come up.<br />
<br />
<b>Once I train a dog then I never have to worry about training again do I?</b><br />
<br />
Training of a dog is essential during its entire life. It will remind the dog that you are its leader and reinforce the training that it already knows.<br />
<br />
The first six months of a dog's life are an important time for its training. For the first few months, you should be training your dog for around ten minutes every day, several times a day if possible. Once the dog understands and remembers its training, you can start doing it less often. Decrease the training as the dog gets older but still regularly take the dog through its paces. My 12 year old dog still gets excited at the word 'training' as the old routines give it comfort and reassurance and she loves the praise she receives.<br />
<br />
<b>My dog is dumb and can't seem to learn anything - what do I do?</b><br />
<br />
Excuse my bluntness, but often times this situation is caused by a dumb and inconsistent human being rather than a dumb dog. Get some good and simple dog training books out of your local library. First train yourself so that you understands how a dog thinks and then introduce the basic commands one at a time: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sit, stay, come, wait and heel.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Teach the dog one command at a time until it begins to master it before introducing a new command. Praise the dog continually and ensure you have some nice treats on hand to reward it with.<br />
<br />
One of the main reasons that a dog can't be trained is because the human being is not taking the time nor showing the required patience needed for training to succeed. If you don't have the time or the patience, then <b>don't get a dog</b>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Some dogs take longer to train than others, but <b>all</b> dogs can be trained. The same cannot be said for all human beings!</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do I stop my dog from messing inside my house?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reasons that a dog messes inside a home can be complex. It may simply need more training or is just too young to get it right every time. Some dogs take longer to housebreak than others (smaller dogs can take more than a year.) It may be that the dog is confused about its position in the family pack and needs firm training - and not disciplining.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never hit a dog or rub its nose in its mess. You will confuse it, because this is not the behaviour that a dog would receive in a real dog pack. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the dog is new or young, take it outside every hour and repeat a phrase that you have chosen such as "pee pee" so your dog learns that "pee pee' means toilet time.Once the dog has completed its business, repeat your toileting phrase and praise the dog outrageously, while patting it. Also add in another phrase such as "Good girl/boy" which will be remembered by the dog as right phrase to aim for.</span><b><br />
</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can I praise my dog too much?</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtsuX4I6crk/T02PzTiJmOI/AAAAAAAADAw/21kH4O9ZXN8/s1600/SMScout+Playing+Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtsuX4I6crk/T02PzTiJmOI/AAAAAAAADAw/21kH4O9ZXN8/s320/SMScout+Playing+Dead.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Scout playing dead</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually not, but sometimes yes. Vary the tone of your voice so that the dog knows that an excited voice means 'really good,' and an ordinary voice means 'everything is ok.'</span><br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My dog is naughty --- how can I ...?</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have a naughty dog, feel free to add in your question in the comments, section and I will be happy to respond. I cannot agree to answer all questions, because sometimes I do not know the full details of the situation in your household and what else </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">may be influencing your dog.</span>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-42628175313763779812012-02-15T14:00:00.001+10:002012-02-15T14:00:02.251+10:00Living in Gladstone, Queensland - Entry 3<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's nothing quite like the sound of rain and a frog in a drainpipe - we had several weeks of rain that began towards the end of January.</span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK2nVjyNJog/TzUs0Xz4_EI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/4uTAR5WGwP4/s1600/Frog,+Green+Tree2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK2nVjyNJog/TzUs0Xz4_EI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/4uTAR5WGwP4/s400/Frog,+Green+Tree2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mmmm unngghh puuuu mmmmm slup" I caught our cat Larci sucking on his blankie.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqWZ2E9IoQw/TzUtsbDc0OI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Ta7eLdttcJM/s1600/SMLarciSuckingBlanketJan12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DqWZ2E9IoQw/TzUtsbDc0OI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Ta7eLdttcJM/s400/SMLarciSuckingBlanketJan12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early February I spotted a garden orb weaver spider setting up his dinner table for the evening. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OVo2q7zdMJ0/TzUuZGDpYaI/AAAAAAAAC_o/2NpigoI_67w/s1600/SMGarden+Orb+Weaver+Spider+in+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OVo2q7zdMJ0/TzUuZGDpYaI/AAAAAAAAC_o/2NpigoI_67w/s400/SMGarden+Orb+Weaver+Spider+in+Web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wagEsyDDucg/TzUuhXNi6kI/AAAAAAAAC_w/c8kjbrJC0CU/s1600/SMGarden+Orb+Weaver+Spider+in+Web3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wagEsyDDucg/TzUuhXNi6kI/AAAAAAAAC_w/c8kjbrJC0CU/s400/SMGarden+Orb+Weaver+Spider+in+Web3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also received a visit from a very noisy cicada that our pets wanted to chew on.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpqpQTuMvME/TzUvS65h8MI/AAAAAAAAC_4/_p5kOiGCKjE/s1600/SMCiccada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GpqpQTuMvME/TzUvS65h8MI/AAAAAAAAC_4/_p5kOiGCKjE/s400/SMCiccada.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second visitor was this tawny frogmouth who found our clothesline a good vantage point from which to spot their dinner.</span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcCYGfd-cQY/TzUvwQjVamI/AAAAAAAADAA/Bvtj7YCQQH4/s1600/SMTawny+Frogmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcCYGfd-cQY/TzUvwQjVamI/AAAAAAAADAA/Bvtj7YCQQH4/s400/SMTawny+Frogmouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've ever lived in Queensland, chances are you'll know the sound of the Common Koel (aka Stormbird) - a very appropriate sound with all of the floods in this state earlier this month, as the stormbird is often heard during summer before storms or rain.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRxKyCVYBHyz3PdYU9DZYRABIp1E8W1MocwECLZvh6y4TPvBTm2uRQEuMOvPNexVzAf25Uo_jf33bCIFo9CQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2482119057714092356.post-40614014566192043292012-02-13T14:00:00.002+10:002012-02-13T14:00:03.947+10:00Living in Gladstone, Queensland - Entry 2<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spotted a blue-faced honey-eater in my peg-basket on the clothesline, picking up the pegs and tossing them onto the ground. I'm not sure what it was trying to achieve, but it eventually grew bored with that and then attacked some string hanging there as well.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQEuy9gOYl0/TzUoyRxmihI/AAAAAAAAC-w/GeVl-d6utJI/s1600/SMHoney+Eater+Blue-faced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UQEuy9gOYl0/TzUoyRxmihI/AAAAAAAAC-w/GeVl-d6utJI/s400/SMHoney+Eater+Blue-faced.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days later I snapped a photo of Genevieve who believes in sleeping in the most comfortable position possible.</span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxsPpyPbaPg/TzUpORAiunI/AAAAAAAAC-4/fS7tQ3jdk88/s1600/SMGenevieve+fast+asleep+Jan12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxsPpyPbaPg/TzUpORAiunI/AAAAAAAAC-4/fS7tQ3jdk88/s400/SMGenevieve+fast+asleep+Jan12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For Australia Day on 26 January, I decided to create a very Australian hat to wear (if only on the net): </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HJ0Yv378I/TzUrbKOGYeI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/ux5top1WegU/s1600/VAussieHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HJ0Yv378I/TzUrbKOGYeI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/ux5top1WegU/s400/VAussieHat.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">And what could be more Australian than feeding a native possum by hand?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fS50yCxfg5k/TzUpnfv_BMI/AAAAAAAAC_A/kX85c_Yzmb4/s1600/SMPossum,+Brushtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fS50yCxfg5k/TzUpnfv_BMI/AAAAAAAAC_A/kX85c_Yzmb4/s400/SMPossum,+Brushtail.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYNmFKsPfQg/TzUpol_XcNI/AAAAAAAAC_I/vqEKyyo88go/s1600/SMPossum,+Brushtail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYNmFKsPfQg/TzUpol_XcNI/AAAAAAAAC_I/vqEKyyo88go/s400/SMPossum,+Brushtail2.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Vicki Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640474791994380213noreply@blogger.com0