Looking at life from another point of view

I've been thinking about the animals.  I don't really think about them all that much normally, but because the girls are away for a week, it's down to me to feed ALL the animals, instead of just the dog the turtle and the fish.  Now I have to also feed the cat and the rats.

What I was thinking, as the cat rubbed his arrogant self against my legs was about what HE was thinking.  Since the dog arrived, the cat has become much more cat like...certainly toward me, but in general too.  So I imagine that having to come near me, let alone make physical contact with me must be difficult....he flicks his tail whilst he's doing that...is that because he's pissed off?  I sort of identify with him though. There's a part of me that's arrogant as those of you that know me will no doubt testify, and it comes with a price.  Jack's life must (I imagine) be impoverished by that notion.  He can't just hang out with the rest of us, he has to posture and puff himself up...because he KNOWS he's something else!  Well...!  Doesn't that sound like me?  OK, perhaps I don't KNOW it, but I certainly FEEL like it...which is why I'm often overconfident.

Ned is a case.  Like most dogs, he's always happy to see me, always follows me around, jumping up from wherever he's flopped at the rattle of keys or the sound of my footsteps making for the door...even just the general direction of the door...whether i'm going out, or coming in.  He eats everything that gets put in front of him and wants more.  He loves to chase things...dogs, kangas, cats, small kids....but he always chickens out before the kill...(cept with small kids).  Again, I can identify with that!  OK, I don't do the following and jumping up thing for NOone!  (Too much cat in me)...but I DO try to take a positive upbeat approach to the twists and turns of fate...and whilst I no longer 'wag my tail' (Prostate opp to blame)....ha ha....I do hold my head to one side when I'm really listening to you.  One thing I DON'T do though....I don't stand up as soon as the plane pulls up at the terminal like all those other lemmings/dogs...nose to the crack of the door to race out...only to be waiting at the luggage carousel to start...just the same as me (the last one off usually).  Oh....and I don't eat Kangaroo droppings either...disgusting animal that Ned is...and then he leans over my shoulder on the drive back...yuck!

I'm like Squirtle the turtle, because I can't remember where I've just been.  I'm like the turtle because I can't remember where I've just been.....and I'm nearly blind.  However, I do get fed up with routine eventually....and I have a much softer shell.

I'm like the rats because I stink... but I'm cute!  (Daile says I'm OK anyway!)

....and I"m like the goldfish because I feel like I'm going round and round, and because it's hard to conceive of a reason for my existence sometimes....partially at least due to the diminutive size and functioning of my brain.

We often appreciate the futile and pointless nature of our pets....and their 'purpose' in life.  But really, are we any different?

So the moral?  Oh, I don't know....I'll ask Ned!

Charming little ditties....

I found these on the web today...and thought I should repost them for your amusement:

They came from here; http://artandlair.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/artist-and-home.html 

I also went out to take some pics of the local landscape for my art class students to paint next week....and here's 3 of them. I lost my glasses bending down to take the first one, and spent about 20 minutes retracing my steps back to there (where I found them)...or else I might have taken a few more than I did.  

Walking the mutt at the beach....

Had a good day at the school fair today.  I set up a stall there and had some inquiries about portrait drawings....which was good (cos that's what I can do), so I'm hoping some of those will convert into commissions.  Then, after we'd got home it was still around 4pm and we decided to make a dash to the Gold Coast to walk the dog...since he'd missed his morning session this morning.  Good call, it's always nice down there this time of night, even if, like today it was a bit windy.  Ned LOVED it of course, and so did the kids as you can see.

Love the light at this time of day....

Hot chocolate and chips for tea!

Transitions...

Today we've  been engulfed in preparations for the forthcoming robotics competition down in Canberra that the team are going to having placed second in the State finals.  This is Vienna and Feeb...doing the Charlies Angels thing.  Vienna is increasingly good mates with the girls which is great, cos she's lovely, and they're all going down to Canberra together, along with Aiden.  Nearly the same team that went to Tasmania last year, but this time without Laura, and with the Feeb.  

Looking back at the entry for last year...they've all grown up so much.  Aiden's voice is beginning to break now...snicker snicker!  Matilda is still the same little squirt/mould breaker though...and here's a pic of her from today.  All in camouflage!

Increasingly, Tild and Feeb are like chalk and cheese....a typical thing as the younger one becomes more independent from the older one.  It was a bit like that for Josh and Molly as they grew up...but with luck, (if Molly and Josh are anything to go by) they should be able to stay close. 

....all you can do is watch and wince!

:-)
 

Knackered

The land has gone back on the market.  Today we showed someone around it.  After 5 years of dreaming about building on that land, it was quite hard to do....but see how we selfishly prostrate our dreams to bring you Chris Martin the artist!  

....and we do need to keep a roof over our heads one way or another eh!  Not least of which for the opportunity to see moments like this, where Ned and Feeb fell asleep watching Prince of Persia....  Tild and I were riveted to it, but it was all too much for our socialites... both of whom have been out making lots of friends today.  Bless! 

Matilda....predictable...as always!

Phoebe found this note today in an old diary thing that Matilda kept for a while....funny eh?  

Uh oh.....

This image is, I think, a significant one, because Phoebe has been experimenting with eyeliner.  The exercise was, ostensibly to mimic 'Thalia Grace' from Percy Jackson, but I feel like it's the thin end of the wedge.  She's 8!