I couldn’t resist getting a shot of this colourful stool outside a shop in Heidelberg, Germany. Do you think that if it hadn’t been chained up, someone might have been tempted to run away with it? 😀
PS: This is my 500th post here! Thanks so much to you all for sticking with me. I’ve so enjoyed your company. 🙂
“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know.” ~ ‘Through the Looking Glass’ Lewis Carroll
It’s been quite a hectic weekend here in New Jersey, with hardly a moment to open my computer. Today is Sienna’s 8th birthday, and yesterday was her party.
Here’s the birthday girl, showing off her lovely warm coat from Granny and Granddad.
In the morning, there was a trip to ‘Party City’ to choose some balloons. As you can see, there was plenty of choice.
The weather was perfect, and the children had lots of fun out in the backyard.
There were quite a few contenders for a ride in the car,
and cousin Rilee showed some of her hula-hooping skills.
The adults seemed more interested in the barbecue, and we had lots of delicious food.
What a beautiful birthday cake!
Three puffs were needed to blow out all the candles.
Lots of presents were waiting to be opened, and her brother and sister were most interested to see what she’d got, as the loot will no doubt be shared with them.
I also bought her these two books by Suzanne J. Rogers, who blogs at ‘A Window into the Woods’, and in a short while, I’m going to school to read the story of Bob the horse, to the children in Sienna’s class. I’m sure they’re going to absolutely love it.
Tomorrow we fly back down to Florida, but I’m sure this lovely little family interlude will be remembered for years to come.
Was ever a seaside guest house more aptly named? It’s like a billboard for a seagull show. They’re all lined up for the cabaret.
Good morning everyone. It’s still Thursday night here, but I thought I’d post this before I go to bed. This weekend, I’m going to have a brand new experience. I’ll be watching a Superbowl game in the company of Americans. We’ve booked for dinner at the club, where there’ll be a Superbowl menu to choose from ……probably serious junk food, quite different from the usual upmarket fare we usually get. The game is the 42nd annual championship and is between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. We are booked for dinner at the kickoff time, so shouldn’t miss anything. I haven’t a clue what the rules are, but I’m sure I’ll know when someone has scored. It could get very noisy. The Americans take their football, which looks like Rugby with crash helmets and spandex suits with huge shoulder pads, 
very seriously indeed.
According to a couple of guys I spoke to at the gym, this is THE game of the year, and not to be missed.
I thought you might all like a laugh to send you off into your happy weekend. This was filched off the Internet by one of our club members, and published in the magazine.
THINGS MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME.
1. My Parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished
cleaning.”
2. My Parents taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
3. My Parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next
week!”
4. My Parents taught me LOGIC.
” Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. My Parents taught me MORE LOGIC.
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the
store with me.”
6. My Parents taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My Parents taught me IRONY.
“Stop crying, or I’ll give you something to cry about.”
8. My Parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My Parents taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My Parents taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
11. My Parents taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. My Parents taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”
13. My Parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
14. My Parents taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION.
“Stop acting like your father!”
15. My Parents taught me about ENVY.
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have
wonderful parents like you do.”
16. My Parents taught me about ANTICIPATION.
“Just wait until we get home.”
17. My Parents taught me about RECEIVING.
“You are going to get it when you get home!”
18. My Parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that
way.”
19. My Parents taught me ESP.
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”
20. My Parents taught me HUMOUR.
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
21. My Parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
22. My Parents taught me GENETICS.
“You’re just like your father.”
23. My Parents taught me about my ROOTS.
“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”
24. My Parents taught me WISDOM.
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
And my favourite:
25. My Parents taught me about JUSTICE.
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you !”
I could tick quite a few of these, as I’m sure you can too, but to add to this, I found a cartoon which reminds me of my childhood. This what my sister and I had instilled into us from an early age. 
Have a great weekend everyone. I’ll see you when I wake up. Chat again soon.
A pinch and a punch for the first of the month. Can you believe that we’re already more than a twelfth of the way to next Christmas. Only 328 shopping days left! 
Before we know it, Valentine’s Day will be upon us, and I’ve been trying to find one of those big marzipan chocolate hearts wrapped in red foil, like the ones that Woolies used to sell until a couple of years ago. I can’t get one over here either, which is really sad, as hubby adores them. It was something I always gave him with his Valentine card.
I was really excited yesterday, as we went to collect my early Valentine’s pressie. We visited our favourite furniture store at the weekend, and I saw the ideal cupboard in which to house my music books, so with it being red, it was decided that it was ideal for Valentine’s. We went to collect it from the warehouse, and it just fitted in the back of the Jeep. We had just the right place for it, very close to the piano. I love it.
Today we’re off to our local beach. I’m sure that it will be much easier to find parking than the last time we tried a couple of weekends ago. I don’t have a bucket and spade, but we’ll probably just go for a long walk along the seashore, and then find a nice place to have lunch. Judging by this pic I got off the Internet, it looks gorgeous, and the sea is really calm; very different from the big waves in Umhlanga Rocks. There’ll definitely be no surfing going on here.
Hope you all have a great day too. Chat again soon.
people, places and green spaces in Canberra
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