Easter Just Isn't Easter Anymore

Yesterday I was looking for these:

To make this for my front door:

 But Australia simply does not have plastic Easter eggs or fake Easter grass.  Nobody's even heard of them, although some people have said 'oh, that does sound like a good idea'. 

How upsetting is that?  They hunt-- get this-- chocolate eggs.

?!?!

SO, will somebody in the States PLEASE go to Walmart and buy me a couple bags of those peralized plastic eggs and green Easter grass?

These Australians don't know what they're missing!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree! (alternatively titled: My Biggest Heist Yet)

Technically, it wasn't a heist. There was no stealing involved, no hold-ups or shoot-em-up scenes, and I didn't have a Bonnie-and-Clyde getaway. But it was such a good deal, I might as well have stolen it. What was the loot, you ask? For $2-- two dollars-- I bought a Christmas tree from Salvos. In the original box, still in the plastic packaging, never been used... they also had bags of assorted Christmas ornaments for $2-5 dollars, so I bought several of those as well... what a find! Our Christmas Tree: We wern't going to do a tree this year, on account of (1) the fact that we're not going to be here for Christmas anyway, (2) the expense involved, and (3) the likelihood that the dogs will just see the tree as a giant toy receptacle and eat all of the ornaments. But for two bucks, we can afford to lose a few ornaments!! So we're officially in the Christmas Spirit! And even though I can't wait to spend Christmas in Texas and put presents around Mom's big tree with ornaments she's saved since I was in pre-school, right now I'm enjoying our much smaller tree with ornaments somebody else's kids made. But, they're still homemade. It counts, right? This weekend we're working on Christmas Cookies. Oh, and, by the way... Alfie DOES have a collection of stolen Christmas tree ornaments on his bed.

Happy Father's Day!

That's right. I didn't forget the fathers in my life way back in June, it was just that we hadn't celebrated yet. For whatever inexplicable reason, Father's Day in Australia falls in September instead of June. I suspect that it could have to do with the fact that if it was in June it would be in the dead of winter here, but I could be wrong. I just don't know. So, for Father's Day we decided to go to the local Lake/Park and have a picnic breakfast. We invited Rory's dad, Kate, Connah and Ryan and had a lovely bbq'd breakfast of bacon and egg sandwiches. As it happens eggs are somewhat of a challenge to do on a BBQ, but they turned out okay, if somewhat charred.

Rory in action.

There is also an off-leash dog park at the Lake, and seeing as Alfie would trade me in for ten minutes' play at the park, we had to take the dogs along as well. Poor Alfie. He got yelled at by some silly poodle lady because he ran in full flight up to her dog from the other side of the Park. Not to hurt him, mind you, but just for a sniff or two. He clearly hadn't done anything even remotely dangerous to the poodle, but I think the sight of Alfie running up scared his owner, cause she had a go at us about 'controlling' our dog. Uuuuhhh, at an off leash dog park? Pretty sure he can run. Good thing, really, cause I was afraid he thought the little white poodle was a rabbit and was going to tear it apart. Good Dog, Alfie. I mean,

VS. ?

A mistake any self- respecting greyhound could have made. Anyway, Alfie L O V E S the dog park. He runs, he plays, he sniffs, he barks, he steals other people's tennis balls, and he won't let us catch him when its time to leave. Harry, on the other hand, hates the dog park. Anti-social to his core, he growls at other dogs, demands to be picked up, cowers behind my legs and is a Grade-A turd to be around. Here's Harry, watching the ball he was supposed to run after like a cute little terrier roll away, to be eaten by another dog: And here's Harry following within a few footsteps of me. See that little pug dog bounding towards him? He gave him a good growl and snap. Still, though, differences aside, they're still the cutest dogs at the dog park. And, we need another greyhound. Poor Alfie needs a better friend. But Rory says no. So, Happy Australian Father's Day, Dad, PawPaw and Jay!