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and there are other benefits: the dog is more amenable to your being boss, the dog has an interest, rather than being bored deathless lying around the house, contemplating eating wildlife. So far, Mowgli is resisting efforts to edoocate him, he does crocodile death rolls, so I have some work ahead of me. The only thing more stubborn than a daschund is a hooman.

The crows have been egg stealing. I am now trying to find a recipe for crow. And a use for the feathers. Perhaps the nests? Maybe I should reverse their kindnesses. How big are crow's eggs anyway? How many does it take for an omelette for one?

I have been de-sooting the chimney in the kitchen. Black as the ace of spades, and I have had some pretty interesting patterns appear on my face and arms. I wear rubber gloves, but that stuff seems to be smaller than your average neutrino, and I still end up with hands that show up every line, wrinkle and fingerprint, so that I could shortcut the local Police. Meanwhile, all of that yummy soot has to go somewhere (other than being a tribal decoration, making Mel Gibson look like he's just been through a car wash in comparison), so it is falling behind the stove, and we have an interesting dark landscape. Now, if I could just apply enough heat and pressure, we would have our own diamond mine. Brian suggested tonight that we (that is, I) use the wet vacuum cleaner to suck it up. I look forward to doing this in the near future. It's bugging me, I have to admit, as I consider it a possible fire hazard.

I was really blessed last Friday. Went into my Warrnambool branch of my local Library, and lo and behold! they had the latest in Permaculture books - Paradise in Your Garden - Smart Permaculture Design by Jenny Allen. Yes, it aimed at sub-tropical Queensland, but I always believe, if I only get ONE idea out of a book, it's worthwhile. And this has such gorgeous photographs!

Also found a copy of Frugal Living for Dummies. Now, those of you who are aha-ing me, having seen my hints in previous Articles, and already knowing most of them, will think the same of this book. Read it anyway. There is, for example, a really good section on helping your kids cope with peer pressure, the old whine, "But Mum, all the other kids in my class have one."

Kitty litter, as another example, can be made by you. Use a paper shredding machine (often you can pick up the shredded paper at offices or printers for free - which is a hint direct from me) and shred newspaper. Put 1/2 cup bicarb. soda in the bottom of the tray. You will, says author Deborah Taylor-Hough, need to change the litter more often - perhaps once every two days.

I have also been blessed in that I received through the mail the Australian Organic Gardening Resource Guide from Green Harvest. There are wonderful seeds to be bought, books, including de Baircli Levy's excellent The Herbal Handbook for the Cat and Dog and one solely on Tagasaste. Wow!

The one I really want to get, however, is Weeds and What They Tell by EE Pfeiffer (USA) 1970. You may remember that some time ago I mentioned that you could diagnose your soil type, including deficiencies, by the weeds growing therein. I knew that I had seen this somewhere, but could not remember specifics. This is one I will be buying retail, and I can't remember the last time I bought a book that wasn't discounted.

If you want to get in contact with this marvellous firm - www.greenharvest.com.au.

The Dreamer

journeying through a vast storyland

all my hopes and fears laid bare

images mix with logic there

and life is a siren's call

each vivid adventure scores my soul

and when awake part of me

hankers back to that nebulous

non-time to see

to know

to realise

what will happen

can it be altered

can my life be changed

what of the characters, existing somewhere

leading lives of rich colour

But dreams fade, though the idea fixee

may haunt

and Life in the Real

calls me always to be who I am