The Royal Blue Breed

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"Sooty"

a pup from the second generation

...now 14 years old.

To commemorate the bi-centenary in Australia it was decided a new breed of dog would be created as part of the celebrations.
Wanting to show the tenacity and fight in the general personality of our fine young country and it's people as well keep the ties with from whence we came, it was decided to combine the breeds of our Australian Blue Cattle Dog and the Queen of England’s beloved Welsh Corgi’s and so with the aid of our IVF program the best ‘Bluey’ bitch was artificially inseminated with a specimen of the a Royal Corgi.
The official name of the breed is logically the ‘Royal Blue.’
It is a small breed not unlike a Corgi but that is where the likeness stops! From deep within the heart of this breed lies a beast strong and brave enough to take on any foe. As you can see by the photo it has the typical blue markings, including the patched eye, of a Blue Cattle Dog.
With the temperament of a cattle dog there is no amount of training or chastising that can stop the rounding up process by the animal; postmen, small children on bikes or in prams, neighbours chooks, cats or anything really and always with the surprise attack from the rear, stealthful and silent in their approach.
Not a breed for the faint hearted as any trace of a gentle and playful corgi disappears behind what the dog believes is a ferocious thick set monster that can bring down a cow and create fear and terror in hearts of grown men and the entire neighbourhood...well she thinks she can!

My Dam Overfloweth

There is enough water in the dam to let some go and flush the river clean. I love the force of the water gushing and spraying, showing its power, thundering and cutting a course through the usual dry riverbed. Our house is along this river and at the most it has a billabong that gradually dries during the winter. Not so today. A raging flood has covered the plain. The shed has sunk, there is just the roof showing above the brown surly waters! It never ceases to amuse me that we are drenched and mouldy while our brothers and sisters down south are dry and burnt to a crisp. Wide brown...no...green land for me!

A preamble.

It was an emergency call to my friend and counsellor . "I need it now, I can't wait till after Mass!"
Quickly the ingredients were fetched and dictated over the phone. "It's the creaming methed daughter...you know how to do that".
It was the whipping down to the shop last week, to get ingredients for the pudding of all puddings that we had the accident with Sheree. I will always associate this scrumptious delectable delight with how wonderful my fluffy poodle was. Both comforting!

A Recipe

Sr Monica’s Sticky Date Pudding

Ingredients:
200 grms chopped dates
1 teaspoon bi-carb soda
150 mls boiling water
125 grms butter
125 grams caster sugar
2 eggs
125 grms SR flour

Soak dates in water and bi-carb soda for 20 minutes.
Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy adding eggs one at a time beat till creamy and smooth. Add flour and date mixture and pour into a well greased flan dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 190 degrees.

Sauce:
Put 200 grams brown sugar in a small saucepan with 50 grams of butter and a cup of cream. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes. Glaze the top of cake with a small amount when it comes out of oven. Serve with sauce and custard. I cheat with custard and water down bought custard with cream. It is so rich you don’t need the flavour of too rich a custard. It’s heavenly!

Rain rain go away, little Kerry wants to play.

An early start to yesterday; earlier than I have been used to for the last few months at least. Tim and I drove to Bowen and back to deliver a pallet of our delicious goodies (soon to have blog of it's own). Anyway...did you know that Ayr has a new car n boat wash?

FULL MOON...I DON'T SEE A FULL MOON!

Ya wouldn' know it it was full moon up 'ere in the Tropics. It 'asn't stopped raining since Sund'y an as far as I can see there's no bloomin' sky! Oh and won't it be just stewy when the sun does eventually peep through those clouds! Move over 'Obart, ere I come.

Sad day.

Today was a very sad one. Our beloved pet Sheree was killed in our driveway. The worst thing was she ran in front of Maddie's car. There wasn't a mark on her; it was as though she were asleep. Not so our hearts; shattered and completely broken. She is buried down in the paddock wrapped in her favourite blanket. We all said a few words over her, thanking her for the unconditonal love, faithfulness and loyalty she gave. There will be no greetings at the gate from today; no excited little creature bursting with delight to see us arrive home whether it be an hour or a day or a month. It was quick at least and she suffered no pain. I couldn't believe she could be dead she looked so perfect. I kept touching her and putting my head to her still lifeless body trying to hear a heart beat or sense her breath. But no...she passed on. Poor Maddie. It was not her fault. Sheree ran into her car with excitement. I wish it was me who did it so my daughter didn't have to feel the pain of guilt that comes with such an incident. I wish today could be run again. I'd sleep all day and let Sheree snuggle up beside me, safe. Damn it.