Evening Prayer.....

When eventide approaches
and light of day grows dim
I tiptoe to my sleeping child,
to gaze in awe of him.

Curly head and dimpled cheek
so dear, in sweet repose.
Soft sounds of slumber emanate,
melodious dreaming, I suppose.

No word can speak, nor tongue may tell,
the love that swells my soul,
as moonbeams shine on his dear face
his virtues to extol.

How grateful and how blessed am I
to simply stop and stare,
and I, in tender vigilence
intone a mother's prayer.

Bless my special little child,
and keep him safe from harm,
let other's love him, as I do
protect him from life's storm.

When the evening hour approaches,
and light of day grows dim
I tiptoe to my sleeping child,
to gaze, in awe of him.

c. Sally Meyer, 1997.

"A Man's Got to Have a Code".....

.....", a creed to live by, no matter his job."

And so said John Wayne, the quintessential cowboy himself.

H7's Cowboy Saloon (complete with the brokendown sign dangling off the verandah) is something she's very proud of, she saved her money and bought herself it, and nine cowboys in various poses that are forever hangin' round the joint, looking to clean up trouble in these here parts:



Cowboy Quote For The Day: "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday" - John Wayne

It's All In The Way You Hold Your Tongue.....

It's amazing what a difference a camera angle and the light source makes in a picture:



And even the flick of a camera switch - you'd never guess these were taken one after the other:

Sayonara to Pippins.....

She's officially an almost-grown-up now, because she's "Flown Up" from Pippins to Brownies. So she's sung "Dear God, hear our Pippins call, Thanks to you who loves us all....." for the last time, and she's made her Brownie Promise "I promise, With the help of my God, to be true to myself, to do my best to help my country, and to live by the Guide Law."

Here she is in her Pippin Popover for the last time:

The Greeblies.....

We got a case of the dreaded crawlies this past week, so it's the old conditioner-under-the-gladwrap treatment to cook them like little lobsters. Thanks to our mate Bella we have the hassle free version of nit control and we love it. Simply smother the hair in conditioner (really smother) then wrap the head in gladwrap, slap on a hat if you're going out and when you wash it out hours later (at least two, preferably 4-6), the crawlies are all cooked and red, the eggs slide off easily, and then repeat the treatment 5 days later to catch any who may have hatched from any eggs you may have missed in the interim, and that's the end of that cycle - Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy. Some people pay loads of money for "Deep-Conditioning Treatments" like that ;o)

Some of Da Whanau.....

Aunty Helen's (of the Zucchini Fritters fame) Mum and Dad were visiting them when we turned up to visit them also - I guess that's one of the hazards of having a weekend place - people keep wanting to call in and see you while you're there (which makes getting on with your jobs all a bit hard):


They came in the new car - which had loads of bells and whistles - very flash indeed!:


Aunty Helen herself:


Ruby's probably wishing she let me take another photo of her now, lol:


Uncle Bill:


Grandad (from off the wall at Aunty Vick's place):


The Butch Bevan Builders:


Aunty Jan's fab outdoor furniture:


And the fab garden sculpture:


Daughters of The World's Best Truck Driver (who cares what some two-bob gravel delivery boy says?!)


They don't get much cooler than Karz (even when she's just woken up):


Uncle Trev:


Sorry Shari:


The original Butch Bevan:


The Grandmother (who's having a birthday next week, but don't tell anyone.....)


Now there's an aptly titled "Great" Aunty:


Talk about cheesy - lucky he's mastered the art of holding on to a gorgeous woman (literally and figuratively):


Cheesy's brother, The Man Mountain (but check out that dining suite he's sitting at!):


And the view he's sitting in front of - Happy Birthday, by the way cuz:


The Girlie half of The Twins:


And the Boy half:


And their big sister (oh, uh, oh - as in Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"):

Three Strikes (or a 'K').....

These softball girls are awesome:


They can bat:





They can field:



They can get round the bases:



All the way home:



They can pitch:


Mate, they can even umpire:


No team would be complete without their very own qualified 'official' scorer:


With a family this talented, I can't help but wonder how come this is the first ever softball game I've ever been to!

Mothers With Brushes.....

You know you're getting flash when the Mayor (Mayoress?) is available to open your art exhibition:



And a funky jazz band can come and jam for ya:


How are these two for the cutest hostesses you ever did see:



The 'famous' Angela Bunce - you go girl!: