how long has it been?

Yeah - I've neglected this blog for ages.... you know what.. I'm not even gonna go there. Lots has happened since my last post in April (?!) and I couldn't begin to cover it all.

In 1o points:

1. We lost many of our furkids. We are now down to three permanent residents. However, that said, we've just taken on a foster - pregnant female (was) ... so we currently have Shi (mummy) and her ten darling 5 week old babies. They are separated now (rats become sexually mature at 5-6 weeks, so we separate a bit before 5 weeks to be safe). We're trying to adopt out as many as we can - but I think we'll keep a couple + mum.

2. D and I went for a trip (in Sept!) to visit my brother in Perth. We had an awesome time, and also saw the Phoenix play (read: horribly lose) while we were there.

spooky pic of my bro @ Freemantle prison on a night tour!

the beautiful Combo

It certainly gave D and I inspiration to do a whole lot more "real" travel when work and finances allow!

I promise I didn't make him carry the bags alll the time!!

3. I got a new job... or perhaps two new jobs since I last posted. I'm still within the same company, but I've now moved to IT. Which is amusing for some, as I'm not exactly an IT guru. I'm doing ok - and really enjoying the change. There are some big changes afoot in my company - so its an exciting time to be involved.

4. I'm still Guiding.. its been a full on year and I'm really proud of our girls. We've been on two camps this year and have achieved so much! We awarded four senior Guide awards and our unit has grown from 20 at the start of the year to 35! This is awesome - go Girl Guides! Its especially cool because this year we celebrated 100 years of Guiding!

5. D and I have the camping bug I think! We've been slowly acquiring gear so that we can go away camping on our own! Our car getting broken into and all my camping gear getting stolen didn't help matters - but we're getting there. We've got leave in Feb next year, so hope to go away and "rough it" for a week.

6. The whole weight-loss thing isn't going so well right now... I was really good, but I rolled right off the wagon! Back on I jump - I'm back at the gym and trying to eat well - December is the worst (yet best) month!!

7. I've still been baking up a storm and have had some great success with new cupcake variations. I'd like to get into the habit of baking a new thing once a week... so I can take pretty pictures and feed my work-mates!

chilli-choc cupcakes with chocolate ganache icing


birthday cake I made for a colleague's daughter

8. I've bought D a couple of cook books (I know, I know, gifts for him that are really for me!) and we're trying to cook two new things a week. Its been fantastic and we feel all chef-y! I definitely need to make/find us some funky aprons to style us right.

borscht (beetroot soup)

sweet potato frittata

9. I removed my 101 list... it was big! and long! I think I need a shorter list - both in term and number of items. I haven't deleted the list - I still want to work on it - but it was daunting and made me not visit my blog. So watch this space for my new short term goals!

10. I finally gave in to Facebook - so if you know me in real life - look me up! I hear its cool to have lots of friends. I've even uploaded some photos.....

That my dears, is it for tonight!

x x xM

goodbye little man..

We lost one of our little darlings over the weekend. He was only young - it just isn't fair.

Goodbye Hiro - we love you....

another one bites the dust

While the 101 list has fallen by the wayside just a tad lately, I realised I have completed another item!

#63: Buy/build a new cage for the furkids

Also - you'll note the shelfs have liners!! However, I got our fabulous Ratclub shop to make those liners. I think I need to make some myself before I can cross off:#64 Make shelf covers for furkids(new) cage

I believe that takes me to a grand total of 14 out of 101 completed...

*scans list for other completed items.....*

M

farewell two furry friends...

Sadly, our Christmas season wasn't quite as festive as it could have been. We lost two of our precious darlings; kohana and shadow. Kohana passed at the vets after discovered severe internal tumours which caused some nasty bleeding. She wasn't even two years old.

Shadow had tumours also and life sadly got too much for her. She was a sweet girl who was ever only meant to be with us temporarily. However, we were lucky and got to keep her :)

Full post on the furkids blog here. Rest in peace my girls.

M

tired and burnt

Well two guide camps later, I can cross off item 32 - Go camping and stay in a tent. I am VERY sunburnt (can't understand why - I lathered on the sunblock) and very tired. But we all had a great time! We got a wee bit of rain the first camp weekend, and then this weekend it was gloriously hot (thus the sunburn). I learned lots of new things about camping with Guides and really enjoyed hanging out with the girls.

Life has been a bit chaotic lately with things very busy at work, all the camping preparation and just general busyness. D has a bit of a cold, but managed to play cricket this weekend and go to the Phoenix game. (I was at camp - so D took his brother). The Phoenix drew with Sydney FC - one all. A wee bit of a disappointing finish as it was 1 - nil to us until 92 minutes - when Sydney were a awarded a penalty shot. That said, a draw is better than a loss!!

We received a package from our favourite online ratty store this weekend also. Full of new hammocks for the crew once we have finished their new cage....(not quite sure when we will have that done...). The Ratclub store has a fantastic range of rat related supplies, including an awesome range of bedding and hammocks. Its fantastic not having to visit a pet store!!

I'm off to spray my burns with after sun stuff and head to bed.. early start tomorrow....

M

bento, *yawns* and work

Bento #3
fruit salad with banana, plum, mandarin & raisins (with nutmeg+cinnamon), cheese wedge, haw flakes, mochi & lime jelly
rice with mixed furikake and boiled egg with nori flowers
left over deviled sausages with peas
instant miso and a citrus herbal tea

I've been pretty slack this week, with only one pretty bento. D had a day off sick and I am feeling pretty rundown. Work has been uber busy and I am moving into a new role which is very exciting! I have a lot of work to do before I can finish up where I am. I am really looking forward to the challenges of my new role - I will be quite self sufficient with a varied task list.

I've been meaning to send photos and thank-you cards to everyone that sent us cards and gifts for our wedding. So far, I've only managed two but I am working on more this weekend!! We are so blessed that so many people thought of us.

The Phoenix play Queensland Roar tonight (11pm NZ time) so I am doing my best to stay awake. It is proving difficult and I need to get up reasonably early tomorrow as I have a baby shower for D's brother's partner, which sounds like it is going to be fun. I love looking at cute baby stuff, I was hoping the baby would be born this week so we'd have her to play with! (and yes before you ask - I am extremely clucky but NO I am not having babies anytime soon!!)

Speaking of babies, the furkids have had their issues lately. While the boys are completely moved into the aviary - there is still a lot of scrapping. Also Geisha had a tumour removed last week. She is recovering really well, but I am starting to realise that the bulk of our crew are approaching (and passing) two years.

I'm off to snuggle with my hubby on the couch til the Phoenix play...

M

Our wee fighter...

Last Saturday (30June) we discovered two small tumours on Dora. We booked her in for surgery with vet man on Tuesday (3Jul). She came through the surgery great (it seemed) vet man called us and all was well. Then later on Tuesday, DeeDee became very lethargic and it seemed we would lose her. D and I rushed out to the clinic, where vet man had DeeDee on oxygen and under a heat lamp. It was one of the most heartbreaking things ever. She could barely lift her head and had lost the spark in her eyes. We were going to lose our darling Dora. Vet man said he wasn't giving up and that he would keep her on the oxygen and under the heat lamp for few more hours and see how she went.

Amazingly, she perked up a bit and after vet man spending most of the night at his surgery (which he didn't charge us for at all - amazing, lovely vet that he is) she was off the oxygen by morning and we were allowed to take her home. I have to admit I had nearly lost faith. Today we took her back to vet man and he removed her bandage (which amazingly stayed on!). Dora is back to her normal licky lovely self and I am so grateful to vet man.

here she is this morning, rugged up warm...

Kaida also had her stitches removed on Tuesday from her facial abscess. Vet man was VERY happy with how well she'd healed and there was no sign of a lump. We took her back today with DeeDee just to show vet man how well she'd really healed. There is no sign of the abscess other than a patch of shaven fur. It is truly incredible how quickly these guys can heal. I think vet man was quite shocked that the wound had actually totally disappeared!

Heres a wee pic of Kaida's healed abscess (believe me, you don't want to see the unhealed pic. And yes, I did have to bribe her! ;p)

Vet man has been utterly fantastic. If it weren't for him, I am sure we would no longer have our darling DeeDee and he did a fabulous job on Kaida's abscess. And on top of all this, he really kept the cost down. I hate to think how much this would have all cost at our old vet! We really want to do/give him something to show our thanks. We were thinking some home baking and/or some flowers. I am definitely going to make him a rattie thank you card! Let me know if you have any ideas!

Yay for healing ratties!!
M

**yawn***

I've had a lazy day today, reading and browsing awesome crafty sites. Work has been tiring this week...

In other news... D got a new job!! At the same company as me! I didn't assist in his application at all and wasn't sure how I felt about him working at the same company (and in same building!!). But we are in totally different departments and very unlikely to run into each other in the course of business. So I think I can cope :) He doesn't start for a few weeks so he is relishing his freedom. (Its sooo not fair!!!)

Rattie update - Kaida developed a huge cheek abscess literally overnight. She had it removed by vet man on Wednesday and he said it went right down her throat. (icky!!). Kaida now has a stitched open wound that we get to flush out twice daily... (ew..) She is as bright and bouncy as usual so I am sure she is going to be OK. I decided against pictures - you don't really want to see pictures of an open wound do you???

Hiro is still snuffly and I'm at a loss as to what to do. Going to take him to see vet man when Kaida has her stitches out and see what he thinks.

D is watching rugby and apparently staying up to watch the sailing.. I think I might go to bed! I sooo love getting to bed first and being able to stretch out right across the bed....

We are off to Dad's for dinner tomorrow night, he has promised a roast!


Nighty night.

impossible quiz

I recently got linked to the Impossible quiz. Apparently it is not impossible, but it sure feels like it!!

One of the easier ones - they seem to get harder as you go on...

Its basically a flash game (a very flash one too.. ;p) with 110 "questions". Some are easy, most are odd and VERY frustrating. I've managed to get to 87 however each time you lose, you have to go back to the start!!

I think I'll leave it for a while and give it another go when I have time to waste..... Let me know if you manage to crack it!

D and I are both off out tonight.... separately! I'm going out for dinner + cocktails with some work mates and D is going to his football mate's flatwarming . [Oh and they won again this weekend!! They have now won 3 games in a row! I think that means they officially don't suck!!]

Furkids are feeling the cold methinks. We took all 10 of them to the vet last night to see vet man. He seemed a bit overwhelmed, it was cool. We have 3 on meds - Kaida, Wocket & Hiro. I hate it when they are sick. Ando is growing sooo much quicker than Hiro - he makes Hiro seem like a baby still.

While we were at the vet, we saw pictures of a monkey he operated on!! How often do you see a monkey at the vet? Come to think of it, last time we went, there was a hawk who'd just had his wing amputated. It seems, vet man gets some really interesting cases.

M

addiction to craftster

Thanks to S introducing me, I think I am addicted to Craftster. I can spend HOURS perusing the forum and looking at everyone's wonderful creations. I really wish I was half as crafty as some of the peeps on there. Oh, to be a craftster.

On another note; what is happening with the world??? I read this article in the Herald about the ridiculous number of drink drivers that have been caught this weekend around the country. Including a fourteen year old! Where are the parents??!!! I just can't believe that people are so stupid!! Admittedly I don't really drink at all, but even if I did/when I did, I never drove!! People have been caught four times the legal limit!

The NZ TV show Downsize Me is looking for obese animals, and in particular it seems rats! They have contacted Ratclub to see if anyone has any overweight ratties to go on the show! Regrettably, its only in the Auckland area, I'm sure our Geisha would LOVE to be on TV!! LOL.
I don't know if anyone from RC has applied, but I'd be really keen to know what they are planning to do to help an obese rat lose weight!

I can smell the casserole cooking in the kitchen, it smells devine! Will let you know how it turns out tomorrow!

Bedtime for me.

M

meh

Well its been another weekend of non-accomplishment! My dear friend K came to visit from Nelson which was great. Its always good to hang out.

K, S and I rented Marie Antoinette to watch on Saturday night. It was good, but not a fantastic watch. Much time was spent with us trying to remember 5th form History and trying not to get confused between the French & Russian Revolutions. While I understand the point of the movie was to tell the story of Marie Antoinette, I feel the film would have been improved by showing an indication of the struggles and starvation of the French at the time.


I really must make more time to read about history, I always wish
I knew more about stuff!

It seems it is time for D and I to tighten out belts as it were.. things are D's work aren't looking so good, and he could be out of a job very soon. He's looking for a new job of course, but we can't afford to live on my income if it doesn't happen quickly! I've promised to give him a chance to find a new role before making any drastic decisions (sell the car, disconnect the internet/TV, stop eating...) but I do still worry how we'll cope.

On a more positive note, D and I bought a SlowCooker/CrockPot today. (on sale of course) the plan is to make cheap yummy meals in the Crock Pot that we can freeze and reheat. Tonight we are making a beef, lentil & vege casserole. So far it looks yummo! Should be done by breakfast time! Stew for breaksfast anyone? (I did joke about plugging it in in the bedroom so we could wake up to the smell of fresh stew.....)

Furkids aren't doing so well either, with three on meds. Wocket is on meds permanently and is doing OK. Hiro seems to be constantly sneezing, so has ABs which will hopefully kick in sooner rather than later as I'd hoped to have him and Ando neutered by now. And D's lil favourite Kaida has developed a severe rattle, so we've started her on doxy tonight. I suspect the change in season has something to do with it and I have plans to start them all on manuka honey and elderberry tincture as suggested by a good friend in the States. Manuka honey is just plain good, and elderberry is supposed to be good for lung congestion and respiratory issues. Sounds like just the ticket!

quiet weekend...

I really don't feel as though I've accomplished much this weekend. One of the reasons I wanted to blog was because I felt it would inspire me to do stuff. :) Can't say its working yet...

I did bake two huge as banana cakes with the multitudes of banana's I had stored in the freezer. (I want to defrost the fridge/freezer so needed to have a clear out.) This is all that is left, so they must have gone down well...

D's family came to visit today so they had some and took some home. It was a very full house with them all here, but its always lovely to hang out with family. D's niece Abby also came with them.

She's a bit unsure about the rats, she feels much safer when they are in their cage.

The furkids gots lots of cuddles with everyone and their fair share of banana cake. Here is Hiro (he's grown so much!!) enjoying a snack that Abby kindly left for him..

I also coerced D into helping me clean the house today too. We've been slack lately and "stuff" has been piling up everywhere. So we had a huge tidy up, here hoping we can keep it this tidy. Also managed to scan a few more of the old school photos for my frames... including this (albeit blurry) pic of me out in the rain...

D had an exciting day yesterday, his football (soccer) team won their first game of the season! It was the 6th game of the season so they've taken some serious warming up time! D's excuse is that they were bumped up a grade this year and they aren't used to doing ANY training! D is managing the team this year and he has organised regular training sessions for the guys so hopefully they win a few more!

I've spent a lot of my time this weekend online reading craftster and random peoples blogs. There are so many amazing crafty people out there. I don't know how they do it! I'm trying to start small and work my way into the crafting world. I've been wanting to make myself a pin cushion and have been inspired by these amazing squarish pin cushions. However, I really don't know where to start! It makes me sad to think that I don't even know how to make a pin cushion!! I often wish I'd paid more attention in sewing at school, or to my darling mum who is an amazing craftster. Well, surely 25 isn't too old to start.....

the new additions

Kimiko, Hiro & Ando are 8 weeks old today! We got them from an accidental litter born in Otaki. Which really is a story in itself (involving a road trip from Chch, a stumpy tail, and Levin). The bubs are all agouti hoodeds, a colouring I just LOVE. (we lost our special gooti girl Yuri in Jan.)

Kimiko is a little nutter, as hyper as Kohana was when she came into our crew! It took a few intro's before she was fully intergrated into the manor but we got there in the end. There are still often scuffles - in fact right now as I write this I can see an agouti blur running from a white blur.
Pretty in pink:

Hiro & Ando are such characters! These boys are the first boys i've ever had and I am really enjoying them. They are far more chillaxed than girls and they love to curl up in my hair and snooze. That said they are babies too and go mad chasing each other around the cage. They are living separate until they can be neutered and go to live with their harem of girls!

Hiro:

Ando:

Its nice to have a big furry family. :D I wish I could stay home and hang with them all day, maybe become a real craftster?!!?! But alas, to work I must go.

Speaking of work, it is insanely busy at the moment. We are short staffed and our work load seems to have doubled. I suspect I'll be doing a fair few hours this week! I must say it is nice to come home after a full on day at work and not worry about study or the current assignment. My brain and my body are thanking me for the break.

I spoke with a university friend today who I haven't spoken to for a week so she didn't know I'd taken a break from school. It was really good to talk to her and I've found most of my friends from school are really supportive and agree with my decision. Many have said they think its a great idea and hope that when I go back that I go back fulltime and doing my Honours papers. We'll see what happens. I am quite happy enjoying life right now :)

And before I forget - today's word of the day:

vomitorium

• noun (pl. vomitoria)

1. each of a series of entrance or exit passages in an ancient Roman amphitheatre or theatre.

2. a place in which, according to popular misconception, the ancient Romans are supposed to have vomited during feasts to make room for more food.

— origin Latin.

and again - still not sure this is the kind of word extension I am looking for. Might have to take to reading the dictionary... I mean really!! "vomitorium"?? I could have guessed/made up the second meaning!!! (must remember for the next time we play taboo at D's folks' place)

I can hear D blending up the pumpkin soup I made this evening. I'd better go and give him a hand.

M

new camera

I've wanted a half - decent camera for a long time. I've never justified spending the money, but I've finally got sick of the cheap digital camera we got free with our computer :P I am going camera shopping today with my good friend S. S is a photography graduate and knows a fair few things about cameras.

D would rather that we buy a Playstation 3. To be honest I can't think of anything worse! I don't enjoy gaming at all. I've played things like 'Singstar' before but thats about my limit. (and I can't sing!!) I tried compromising and said that the winner of a rock, paper, scissors match could choose what we buy, but he won and I still don't want to buy one. :) No wonder people say I'm mean to him! I can hopefully get a camera cheaper that a Playstation!

Most of our girls are tucked up in bed as I write this, its a cold day and clearly one best spent in bed. Someone is destroying the tissue box we put in there for them, I can hear the sounds of cardboard ripping.

Well S has text saying we can pick her up in half an hour so I'd better get a wriggle on and get dressed.

M