To my computer, my husband and my my sanity! Still, if this works, then all will be rosey and I’ll know it was just a downtime in the wordpress server.
Homeless Posts Posts
A Troublesome Two Year Old
I know, ‘find me a two year old that isn’t troublesome’ is what you are thinking, but my problem doesn’t seem to be solveable at all.
Our two year old daughter is a screamer (like all my kids have been) and a massive tantrum thrower (to the point of self harm) and nothing we have done has even made the slightest difference.
We ignore her, we growl, we remove her from the situation, we smack (to get her attention and only on her well padded bottom) and we huff and puff until we are blue in the face. None of these work. On occassion, we are able to distract her by going on a Tedda Bear hunt, but once Tedda is found, the tantrum resumes, often with more ferocity than before.
Having just move into a really nice house, we are wanting to look after it, being much better than we expected and all. All the doors and windows have fly/security screens so we want to look after them. Frequently, we let the girls outside, but just as frequently, we say no just so they get used to hearing it.
Alas, saying no to a feral child (Mad Max feral we are talking here) does not make for keeping a house nice. The screen door out the back is no buckled and threatening to come of the runner (and all this in 2 1/2 weeks). Not only will that mean insects can come in and the girls can get out, but it then means the house can’t be secured properly when we need to go shopping. (more…)
No Babies After All
Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind when it comes to your loved ones. Recently, we had to be cruel to our finches, and we removed their eggs from the cage.
Don’t get all huffy on me now, I had good reason for it. Firstly, many of the eggs had been laid in the seed dish and were practically 
abandoned. Then there was the fact that the finches themselves kept tossing them out of the nest box and lastly, some of the eggs were damaged.
As each egg was removed, I carefully broke them open to see if they had been fertilized and how far away from hatching they had been. Some were fertilized, but most weren’t. The ones that were, had stopped developing at various stages, with the last seeming to be only days away from hatching.
Les had done his research on finches, particularly about their breeding habits, and found that at first, they aren’t the greatest parents in the world. His research uncovered the fact that it can take 5 or more clutches of eggs before they get the nesting and hatching part right, and a further few broods before they are successful at raising their babies to adulthood. Sad, but it is the way they are. (more…)
With The Tragedy Of The Victorian Fires I Want…
To see each and every person directly affected to take some of the debris from their now ruined homes, or those of neighbours. Why? To make a tribute to what they have lost, lived through and a reminder of what they want to achieve in life.
If I had been down there and lost everything, I’d be rebuilding for sure, and making a memory nook in my garden where I could go and remember the lives destroyed by the fires. I could also be there and remind myself of the strength I have gained and would certainly use the memory nook to help me keep my life on track.
I actually had some strange dreams about it and thought I’d share my ideas, no matter how corny it might sound. In one dream, I saw a garden with a table made out of burnt bricks and metal from a ruined roof with chairs that were somewhat melted. It was surrounded by the beauty of native plants and the bird life was amazing. I woke up in tears, and I am hoping that someone does it because the dream was too real for it not to come true.
My thoughts continue to be with my fellow Aussies who have been through so much, even the ones who are facing homelessness due to flooding. A strange and beautiful country I live in, but scary at the same time.
The Tragedy In My Country
There have been bushfires in the state of Victoria, Australia, that have claimed lives. Thousands of people are homeless from it and several towns have been destroyed.
Some of these fires were deliberately lit, which makes it all even more of a tragedy. Humans deliberately harming humans and causing death, and what for? Their own amusement of course.
It has taken me a few days to be able to write about it as I have been in shock from it all. I have not been directly affected by the fires, but I am still affected by them.
For the past week, I have been trying to find the words to convey the way I’m feeling about it all, but nothing I have come up with compares to the suffering of those right in the middle of it.
Sorry is a cliche, and as it is so widely used, is inadequete for me to repeat in the context that other people have been using. My sorry is for not being able to fully comprehend the magnitude of the events and for not being able to find the words to convey what I am feeling for the victims.
Yes, the nation, and the world, are pulling together and generously giving what they can to the victims, but it doesn’t change what has happened. No matter how much money, clothes or other supplies we give, it is not going to take away the hurt or bring those who have perished back.
In our small town, there has been no collection point for much needed goods, which we just have sitting around. Required are toiletries and other such items, of which we have more than 100 soaps and shower gels that we can donate, but the cost of sending them would virtually bankrupt us, and would cost more than the items themselves.
We don’t have a credit card, so donating money hasn’t been easy. Yes, there are other ways of giving money, but getting to these other places means putting more financial hardship on my own family too.
For days, I have been racking my brain trying to find ways to do my bit. Friday 13 January was the day. Coles supermarkets were donating their profits for the day to the appeals, so we spent up large, getting those items we have been meaning to get an never got round to. A multipurpose shop you could call it, where our needs were met and about $110 of what we spent will be heading to those who need it- it still isn’t enough though, not really.
The animals have been suffering too, so some of my shopping was pet supplies. These are the only things being sent to Victoria from my town, so I did what I could. Animals aren’t able to talk to us and tell us what they are feeling, so are often forgotten. Not by me, and I have donated goods for birds, fish, small mamals and cats and dogs. Not a lot, but it is at least something.
As my tribute to those who have suffered, there are no graphics on this blog to convey the somberness I feel writing this. I will not assign a category, which means that it will fall to the default- Homeless Posts- which seems to be the most appropriate.
My heart is truly breaking for my country, and yet I am so proud of the generosity that has come at a time like this. I’m sure it is greatly appreciated by one and all.
Humans can be cruel, but they can also be compassionate, but it usually takes a tragedy like this for it to be really noticed- and that itself is a tragedy.