This week

I've just made myself a nice cup of Jasmine tea and ashes. Yes, we had another soot storm in the kitchen, and the whistle broke on the kettle, so its mouth is wide open ready to receive soot. Unbeknownst to me, at least until I poured it. So if you hear any stories from Down Under of the weird country lady with the black teeth and face, that'll be me.

I thought we were losing one of the calves this morning, it seemed to be feeding well, but then I found it on the floor of the pen, shivering and rolling its eyes. Apparently the little beggars do that, I was told by Aaron. 'Course, it really could die, but it seems fine now.

Wasn't it lovely with the Wedding in Denmark. Should be interesting to see how conservative the new bride is.

We've had a few days of sunshine, although some of the mornings it's been so icy I all but had to melt my breath before anyone could understand what I was saying. Now it's back to rain. The wind blew up a gale last night, and everything was rattling and creaking as though I was a master mariner on board an old sailing ship.

Mowgli has been having a rare old time of it lately, accompanying me just about everywhere I go. I even found him a very nice piece of sheepskin that was originally for a portacot. It now resides in the back seat of the ute. He knows it's his, I've seen the dirty looks as I put other things on his sheepskin. He's easily mollified though, I let him sit beside me in the front seat.

The turkey tom, Solomon, has started displaying. A strange site, with engorged wattle. Mind you, he's still pretty low on the pecking order with the chooks. Poor fellow tries to show off his manliness and gets beaked for his trouble by a passing, very much smaller lady of another breed.

I tend, like most Mothers, I guess, to give my daughter a bit more in the way of treats when she is sick. So tonight we went through Tower Hill. When we do that, we count to see how many kangaroos, koalas and emus we can spot. Fifty-seven 'roos tonight! A record! And the good news is that they have started replanting where the bushfires damaged so much of some areas.

Meanwhile, I am applying for jobs all over the place, and hoping that all will work out. Brian has promised that if I get a full-time job better paying than his, he will give up work and look after Alice. I can't give up my Articles, however!

We haven't heard back from Porgy's borrower yet, so he must be doing a good job.

Cooking

I travel on my stomach,

though not an invertebrate!

It's the smells,

especially at mealtimes

when I walk through a neighbourhood

Mmmmm!

Down the main street,

I try not to openly salivate.

Fried chicken, pizza, bakery

Mmmmm!

and, how annoying!

things that smell better than they taste.

toast, salt and vinegared chips, onions.

mmmmm!

I love those days when my cooking

has a fragrance that lovingly assaults my senses.