Catchin’ Up, Flyin’ Out and Losin’ Apostrophes!
G’day? Hello? You still there, my blog babes (and blokes)?
Ah’s been busy… with CALENDARS, KIDS, CALVES and COMPUTERS (account paying actually, but the alliteration thing didn’t work and you KNOW how I adore alliteration!).
The calendar is at the printers for proofing as we speak. Still some technicalities to iron out no doubt, but basically it’s done. WHEW!
I always forget how much is involved – a tad more than whacking a few favourite images together. Well, it is the way I do it anyway (‘Making mountains out of molehills‘, as my Dad used to sing to me).
Shall we do the Good News, Bad News thing to make this catch-up more fun?
Right then. Let’s not muck about!
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Bad News:
These two images got the boot in the final calendar poll.
I know that will disappoint a few of you who valiantly voted for them to stay in the Top 12.
Good News:
I will make the cockatoo the back page of the calendar (I KNEW I’d find another spot there somewhere) and do my best not to stick too much writing on it. Forgive me? I just adore the wattle photo and will probably add it to my postcard collection soon. (And remember you can always order any of my photos as prints too! Subtle hint there…)
Also, my mother will be stoked that this image…
…made the cut. She said Happy Families (or Happy Jacks as they are often known) always remind her of Granite Glen. And she would know – she lived here for more than 40 years!
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Bad News:
This chick has left the country…
The one on the right – you are stuck with the one on the left, I’m afraid!
Ms Talia has escaped her adoring fans and winged her way back to Chicago to her loved ones (read link understanding she does standup comedy for a living and is rarely politically correct).
Good News:
She managed to make it safely, without getting lost. Which amazes the bejeezus out of me. Girlfriend CANNOT follow directions to save herself. Heh.
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Bad News:
This little vegemite has given up the bottle for the bucket.
You will understand this if you have ever had a poddy to raise. It means she needs so much milk its way easier to give it in a bucket than about 15 bottles worth. Downside is that she WON’T drink without my hand in the bucket – she sucks the tip of my finger to ‘drink’. I suspect my fingerprint might be sandpapered off. I’ve no idea why she won’t just DRINK like cattle do at water. I am cutting her some slack because she IS only two weeks old!
She also likes to BUTT the bucket (its natural for a calf to butt at a cow’s udder to encourage ‘let down’). Unfortunately the spill-effect of this action on an open-topped vessel is not pretty. We are several plastic buckets down and I smell like powdered milk most of the day. Noice.
Good News:
Little Bay Leaf is GROWING like a weed. She is voracious in appetite. And her poos are getting better.( Just thought you’d like that mental image with your breakfast.)
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Fun News:
And finally – cause I am rambling anyway, and if you are going to ramble then do it 200% I say – have you seen the campaign to Abolish the Apostrophe? Absolutely classic. Now I make as many typos as the next person (I am going to blame blogging after 11pm for 90% of them) but I do like my punctuation. I read this and was absolutely in stitches – even more at the comments than the article.
Moral of the story: People on high horses REALLY need to keep their apostrophe’s carefully mustered. (I mean APOSTROPHES. Heh!) (AKA Don’t take yourself too SERIOUSLY people!)
Another busy weekend ahead with lots of travel, appointments and family gatherings mixed in. Will try to get something bloggish up before we hit the road.
🙂
BB
PS I am scared to say out loud how many pre-orders for the 2012 Bush Babe Calendar I have taken (so I tweeted it – much better!) in case I don’t sell the remaining eleventy hundred. Thanks again for being amazing supporters of my Calendar Project. I am utterly humbled.
15 Comments
Pat Y
I never comment, but when I read about your calf and your poor sore finger the first thing I thought of were the “Nipple Buckets” that my grandparents had on the farm. Maybe it’s an American thing? Here’s a link that shows a picture of one if you’ve never seen them. http://www.behrensmfg.com/products/by-type/pails-buckets/8-quart-calf-nipple-pail/
Much better than spilled milk and a sore finger!
Love your blog…thanks for sharing a bit of your life down under. 🙂
Bush Babe
Welcome Pat!!! Love it when my lurkers come out… 🙂 BB
Kelly
Great newsy post! I must say I’m glad the cockatoo still made the calendar, even if it’s on the back cover. I thought it was a clever shot.
Thanks, too, for the update on Bay Leaf. 🙂
Kelly´s last blog post ..Are you a risk taker?
debby
I’m glad the cockatoo made it as well. And I was going to suggest a ‘suck bucket’, but Pat got to it first.
http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/cp8plcapawin.html
I would strongly suggest wearing a heavy rubber glove when calf feeding.
Bush Babe
Never seen a ‘suck bucket’… sounds like a nasty name you might hear in the schoolyard!
🙂
BB
Colin (HB)
BB – adding to the comments of Kelly and Debbie – I too am glad the cockatoo made the calendar.
Great memories re-jogged with the calf and the bucket – yep, the hand in the milk does help and just think how clean your fingers and nails will be!!!
The other hand is fully occupied holding the bucket steady – more difficult than it seems, especially when the calf starts the bunting routine.
Have fun with the bucket – ha ha.
Cheers
Colin
Lynda M O
Bay Leaf gets prettier every time I see her.
Jayne
LOL
Bay Leaf is a very pretty young lass!
And yay that her poos are getting more solid 🙂
Jayne´s last blog post ..Sunday saunter along the Hard Hills Track…and back again
Montgomery
I love the Cockatoo butt an that it’s stayed in your calendar. Bay Leaf looks healthy an you should have the hubby get you a suck bucket for her. I had never heard of one either but they look very clever.
Claire
i say you make up a few months and add those photos to the calendar
Claire´s last blog post ..Handmade Wednesdays: Candy Corn Banner!
debby
Now there’s an idea! I could use a couple extra months in the year…what do you say BB?
debby´s last blog post ..No Doubt
Barb.B
I am contemplating weaning my poddy to the bucket now too. He is 3 weeks old. I have bought 2 galvinised tin buckets, after countless plastic ones destroyed by bunting calves. Congrats on your calender being finished. Hope you are getting some rain, we have only had 13mls this month around Marlborough so hope for some good rain soon.
Norma in Alabama
I just finished watching a National Geographics report on the Australian floods and hurricane you had back in January. Such devastation is heartbreaking. I remember you posting about it and the pictures you included. It’s just amazing more lives were not lost. I want a calendar but can’t find the right place to order.
JENNY TALIA
I bet if I was there the poddy would still want the bottle…
I might even share some of my fruit tingles with the little bubba xx
Bush Babe
LOL = yes missing your gentle touch!!
Hows sunny Chicago?
A long way from poddies, methinks!
🙂
BB