Hello Friends!!!!

Well here we are July already our second month of winter downunder..
A busy time Australia being the end of the financial year, I can see tha tax man rubbing his hands together..
Not much happening with me and the fids life go`s on week to week with some ups and downs as I guess with everyone , I hope anyone who is having a rough time with life battles on to brighter days.
Buddy has shown no signs of illness since his bout of vomiting caused by a bit of bone that my piggy boy must have swallowed , his yeast infection (caused by the same) has been treated successfully and he is his cheeky little self , at the moment sitting on my head (and hopefully will fly off if he feels the urge to Poop ) Sunny is sitting on top of the monitor getting blinkie eyed..I will be off to get some groceries shortly and they will be down in their room for a couple of hours.

We are taking possetion of a new moulding machine at the factory today this will be the third one with a monster one coming in about 18months, our new warehous has been completed and as it is on the block directly behind our existing warehouse we are breaking a door way through to join the buildings up..This week most production has stopped while we move things around (A BIG JOB) not like moving furnitue in your house thats for sure.

Well best get a wriggle on , wishing everyone well pop in and share some of your daily , weekly happenings, its a great way for us to get to know each other...

P.S A couple of piccys of the new factory..Probably pretty boring to most ...but a big achievement for hubby after arriving in this country with only $10.00 in his pocket 40years ago..
Looking from original warehouse to new connecting building....



Looking from new building to existing store/warehouse..


Racking waiting for new stock...

Wow Majj! I had no idea about hubby. That is a great story to be able to share with your family!

As for an update with me, I am moving right along with school. Kids' last day of summer school is today and we will all be able to finally sleep in unless we have appointments or some such thing. They got out of the regular school year on the 22 of May and the 3 younger ones wanted to go to summer school for the incentive of 100 dollars if they didn't miss any days.

As I posted in a different thread, hubby bought me a Wii (that I sometimes share with the family LOL ) a couple of weeks ago. We have been having a blast and tomorrow I am going to be bringing home the last new game for a while...Wii Play. What I have found to be interesting is that we are watching almost NO television lately and are all playing together more! The reward factor of completing chores/homework is really awesome as well. I love it!

We are hoping that wonderful friends will be able to come up on the 18 of this month to share our vacation with us. There's not much to do here in the way of entertainment, but with 7 kids between us, I'm sure we will be spending time at the beach, at the park, and cooking out! We are all looking forward to it...as long as our friends' work cooperates!

Pooder is doing great! He's ornery as ever and getting more spoiled on a daily basis. He is picking up new words that we hear when he decides to practice, but he's been spending a lot of time just enjoying his new "friend," the boing. Hubby teases him and says, "Pooder...I feel for you, man! I used to be in your shoes...or in your case...on your perch!"

Well, I had better sign off for now. Have a great day everyone!

Tari

That is your hubby's? That is awesome and you go girl! Post all those picture's you want. I would be SO proud of him!

I'm getting ready to go to the doctors so he can refer me to a Nero's special doctor so I can get this back surgery done. I can t bare the pain any long and sick of pain meds. I have a pharmacy in my cabinet.

As July 8th approaches I remember what I was doing almost 3 years ago today. I was at the hospital because my baby brother was there and passed away on July 8th. I miss him and think of him often, but I know his safe and is pain free wherever his at! But it's just hard this time of year for me! I go pick up my new baby tomorrow~!!

Whew, I can't believe it's already July!!! Pretty crazy, this year has absolutely flown by.

Updates...

My part-time job at Wal-Mart is going great. It seems that I may be in line for a promotion to customer service soon, which will definitely break up the days, as I can cashier in my sleep, lol.

Gracie (white-faced cockatiel) is doing well. She does her little tiny squawk to get our attention, and she's as loving as ever.

Red, my green MOSTER girl, ugh. She is extremely hormonal at the moment, and she laid 2 eggs, which she has been REALLY protective of. She seems to be upset with me because I've been working with Ferris, and she wants nothing to do with me. I think the addition of Ferris has pushed her over the edge. Before, she simply tolerated me, as she immediately chose hubby over me, which is alright. Mike still plays with her daily, but she really doesn't even like me around her cage. With the addition of Ferris and the new job, it's been a little tough for me to work with her a whole lot, but I'm sure she'll come back around once her hormones get a little more under control.

Ferris... oh boy, Ferris. He's absolutely the love of my life. I truly think that he was meant for me, and I can't imagine my life without him. So, that being said, we have decided to make the situation permanent. I have been in contact with the rescue director, and am in the process of making the payments for the adoption fee, along with the fees for his cage, playstand and carrier. I am absolutely THRILLED! I'm so glad that I won't have to worry about him leaving me!!! Yay! He had his first bath with me yesterday, with the water sprayer. I posted pictures on a thread, cause he's too cute.

Also, Ferris is extremely more comfortable with women than men, it seems. He gave Mike a couple of pretty bad bites on his arm because I was around, and Ferris wanted to get to me. But, thankfully, Mike isn't going to give up. I told him he's just going to have to work with him while I'm out of the house, because if I'm around, Ferris wants nothing to do with him, he only wants me. His squawking has gotten a bit better, and his trust with me increases everyday. He preens whatever shirt I'm wearing, and rubs his beak all over me. I'm teaching him to lift each wing on command (left and right), and he is beginning to let me stretch his wings out, which I'm hoping will ease wing clipping when it becomes necessary. He will let Mary (daughter) give him treats, and he even tries to step up for her, even though she's not quite strong enough to hold him up, so I have to help. BUT, the boys are a different story. He lunges at them when they walk by, and can be a bit of a brat with them. However, since he's permanent now, we'll have many years of socialization to help with that, and hopefully it will improve.

The kids are all doing well, I'm dreading starting potty training with little Mikey, but since he turned 2, I suppose it's time. Kyle made it through 4th grade, and is looking forward to 5th. But, he's really enjoying the summer. Mary got her first bike, and can already ride it with the training wheels. They are all looking forward to the fireworks this Friday evening at the lake, so that should be fun. The 2 little ones have also been having alot of fun in their little pools (they each had to have their own, of course!).

Well, I think that's all from this end, I hope you are all doing great!

*hugs and scritches*

Stef

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Stef, I'm so happy for you! I'm proud of you for going right in hands on Ferris that is amazing and I'm so happy for you!

I knew you would be so wonderful at wal mart before long you'll be manger. Your kids look so cute in their pool.

I'm so glad you did a update, please came in here more often give us a up to. How are you feeling with your ribs?? I sure have been praying about that whole thing.

I might be getting a new flock member, but I can't say anything until it's all done. I'm going to be having back surgery, I went to the doctors today and they set me up to see a Nero surgeon. I'm Little scare, but I'm so tired of hurting and my cabinet looks like a pharmacy.

We might not be in Arkansas for much long , some big changing may be happen. But there is alot of ropes to go through and we are still thinking about it so we are not sure just yet.

Well you all take care and I'll talk to you all tomorrow when I get back home with my new flock member.!


And I will get some picture of my baby Smeagol! I keep telling him I don't want him to grow up~!!! I want him to stay a baby. Because he will be my last and final cat. I have 4 now and thats all I want. I have a Abyssinia, Manx, Bengal and Orange tabby. I love all four of them the same, but his so sweet and cute.

Stef..Thats great news on Ferris...Love the piccys of the kids in the little pool (almost as cute as a wet fid )kiddding..

Had a nice visit with our Grandkids on Sunday , it was the youngests Genevieve `s first Birthday ..wow the year has flown..

attached a few piccy`s of Rick (son) and family Madelyn 2yrs and Genevieve 1year along with D.I.L Julie..

Its 7.30am here COFFEE TIME...
Have a Great evening all on the otherside of the world I have a pile of ironing to do today (FUN)...

Majj I know i sound like a broken record but your photos are awesome! Your family esp the grandkids are so gorgeous. The factory is really impressive and the story behind it all is proof that people can turn their dreams into a reality when determined to do so. Success stories are so uplifting and I love hearing about them!!!!!

Tari yay that summer school is out. You guys got any cool summer plans?

Stef I think its so cool about feris and how he just clicked in. I know you always wanted a macaw and its fantastic that he likes you over your husband Also great that things are going well with walmart.

As for me I have been busy since friday. I hosted a big party at my house (pot luck) and I counted 180 people that showed up for it. People brought so much food I had to bring out another table and it was a good eating holiday to say the least. I am so glad I rented a portapotty as I didnt want that many people going in and out of my house. I kept it outdoors and it worked out fine. We had a nice bon fire in the evening and fireworks and it was just lovely. My friends stuck around to make sure everything got cleaned up and I was so tired after that I couldnt wait to go to bed.

Saturday I went on a day trip to stillwater. I too my red mustang convertable out and meta drove it since I cant drive disntances yet (lol CQ fondly calls it a piece of agricultural machinery but he has no clue how fun it is). We did a bit of shopping and ate at my favorite german restaurant. I really need to learn how to make sauerbraten yum. Then we decided to take the long way home stopping for coffee a few times to break up the day.
I
Sunday I fired up my smoker and smoked about 30 pounds of bacon. I really like working with soaked woods to create it but it also permeated itself onto me so I smelt like smoked meat as well. Shower was in order lol.

Yesterday I had to go in to give some blood for a test so that by weds I can hopefully get the tube taken out of me and lead a normal life again. I am just so geared to enjoy life the way I like to. I miss running and I want to be able to swim again and drive etc....

With that said my gf was going to wisconsin to pick up some birds to deliver to another person so I rode with her after the doctors. It started out as a good day that went down hill really fast. A truck had hit and caused damage to tbe hridge we needed to cross and we were stuck in traffic while they inspected the bridge to make sure it was safe to cross again. When we were able to turn around we just found a cool place to relax so the birds didnt get overheated since it was near 90 degrees out until we got word that we could cross the bridge. I didnt get home until late but bleah stuff happens and we made the best of it.

Today I plan to relax and just take it easy. Trying not to think too much about tomorrow.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week.
Hugs
IMPy

Hey Everyone,

Gosh its been forever since I've posted in this thread. I haven't had much time to even keep updated. I had started a new job back in Jan. I work at the school so I have summers off. And my kids are always doing something. If its not one its the other. My sons baseball season went longer than usual. His team won second in their league, and went on to win the city-wide tournament. The team then participated in the annual Green Corn Parade, and they won that. I was in charge of the float, so that took up quite a bit time. And boy was that stressful. There was a chance of rain that night, so were going to take the trailer to a barn about 3-4 miles away. Well my husband was about a mile away when one of the arches broke. So I go and take another part for him and he fixes it, in the dark no less. We get almost there and it breaks again. Well he decides to just go ahead take it the rest of the way and park it in there for the night and we'll fix it in the morning The next morning he re does it all over again. Its cloudy out and the rain has past but it is windy as heck, so me and another mom get on the back of the trailer to hold it so to keep in from breaking again. It was tough to hang on when the wind is blowing and your on a moving trailer. When we get in back to our house we still need to do finishing touches on it, well what do you know it starts pouring. We had to have the trailer there ready to go 1 1/2 hrs before the start of the parade. Well it didn't get finished. But I guess it looked good enough to win. I'm glad that is over. Now that the season is over, he is doing a speed and agility camp for the whole summer. And my daughter is on the swim club. So we have been busy busy. My fiddo's are doing quite well. Bruno has been learning a few new words. Like peekaboo, and I love you. He's such a character. Peach is still Peach. He's a cuddly lil' bird. And there's Fawkes, and I finally thought I was going to have one choose me as his favorite. But it changed somewhere along the line, and he now seems to prefer my husband. I can still handle him or whatnot, but I usually try to in the morning and afternoon before hubby comes home.

Majj, it has been a while since I've last seen your grandaughters. And how they've changed, they are cutie pies.

Here are a few pics, hope you enjoy.
Jenn
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Gee nice to catch up on all the news ...Jenn love the piccys , Impy I hope you are relaxing a bit now BOY !!! you have been very busy , take care of yourself lady.. (HUGS)..
Its Saturday downunder nice and sunny but cold ...

We are going to the movies at 5pm then for dinner after ..off to see "HANCOCK" it looks like it will be a funny show , fel like some laughs .. saw the shorts when we went and saw the Indianna Jones new flick (which I was rather dissapointed with)

Daughter Anita is back to Sydney Sunday her 3rd term of college starts on Monday , my brother from Mexico is out for a visit for 2 months , we caught up(yesterday) Friday for lunch at my folks place ..

Here is a link to the orphanage he and his wife are running..They have finally managed to buy land and build a new place you can check the photo`s out ...They have lives in very poor conditions over the passed few years..
Volenteers are always welcome food and lodgings in exchange for some sort of help/teaching with the kids...

http://www.lovelifehope.com/

Have a great weekend everyone...
Bye for now..

Jenndas way cool on the job at the school! Its nice to have summers off to spend with the kids. Its good to hear from you again you have been missed!

Majj I really wanted to go see hellboy this past week end but got busy doing other stuff how was Hancock?

Brook how did you do at bowling yesterday?

My update is I am starting to feel allot better. I actually went out and did some fun stuff this week end. I went to target practice, did a bit of jet skiing, went on a mini road trip, ate like a piggy and just had fun hanging out with my friends. Week ends pass so fast when your having fun tho.

I really love this thread Majj it is a great idea. A way to catch up with everyone in one place. Plus I get to hear what everyone is up to and see pics all at once!

We had some pretty wicked storms roll thru last night here. Some tornados but thankfully none near me. It was just mostly a big light show in the sky. Today its really sticky humid out. We might get more storms in the afternoon. We do def need the water where I am. The bright side of this is I wont have to water for awhile.

I was paying my bills over the phone this morning as abby and sunshine were doing their morning flock calls. The woman on the phone asked me if I have any birds that make 'pretty' noises. I responded with ' you mean this isnt pretty? I am so ripped off'. Actually I love the sounds my birds make. Other ppl just dont get it.

Well on that note have a wonderful day.
Hugs
IMPy

Hey everyone.

Didn't that lady know that all bird sounds are pretty?

Not much new here except the tornado clean up. I'm already stiff from bending over picking up little branches. Cowboy cleaned up one tree yesterday. If it takes 1 day per tree.... We got the roof water proof. I know because it's already rained on it. I wish the afternoon thunderstorms would hold off for a week or so. Would definately make things easier. Anyone else not looking forward to hurricane season?

All the critters are doing great. Charlie is still a bit cranky but nothing showed up on his vet exam. Maybe it's just old age. He gets extremely upset when he can't see the ferrets and calls out to them. It's funny to listen to him try to lure Sako closer. "Here boy, come here pretty, that's it." lol They can't reach him at all and completely ignore him when they're out for play time but he's infatuated with them. I've got Bear here at the shop with me today and I realize just how badly he needs a bath. Pewww.

Other than that pretty much the same day to day stuff. I go pick my 4-wheeler up today. They finally got it fixed.

Hi Guys ,
Haven`t been here for a few days ...life go`s on a bit boring really but hey !! who needs drama and excitement NOT ME....
Impy Hancock was O.K not one I would watch again seems the funniest bits were in the shorts which we saw last time we went to the movies..It was nice to go out anyway , but the weather was freezing when we came out I was glad to get home...
Tamara Poor old cranky Charlie thanks for the smile...Glad you have a leak proof roof, I guess the seasons will be changing for all of us soon the way the months are flying bye...
I am off to do the boring old grocery shopping now , at least its my COOK FREE NIGHT and Hump day which is Great I love my Wednesdays and Fridays 2 favorite week days ..
Hope everyone and their flock are well and happy check in and share your daying happenings, can`t be as boring as mine..LOL..
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Me

Hey there,

Impy, Glad to hear you are doing better, although I've missed what exactly was wrong to begin with. I'll have to do some hunting.
Tamara- Sorry about all the clean-up you're having to do, believe me I know what you're going through. But glad to hear you all stayed safe.

For once there's not much going on. Just been hanging out, and working on my tan. Trying to enjoy it while I can. School starts in less than a month. Along with my son's football practices, and my daughter's soccer practices. And my daughter's birthday is next month as well. So once August gets here I'll be busy again.

Is anyone else waiting for the olympics to start? I always look forward to the summer olympics. I think my favs are, the swimming and diving.

Have a good day!

Well after a sweltering sweaty afternoon yesterday my power is finally back on. Yay! It got done at almost 9:00. Tommy was starving so I started cooking before it was back on and that of course made it hotter. I'm just glad everything is getting back to normal.

So I come to work this morning and guess what, my air conditioner was not working. It apparantly froze up yesterday and when the water melted it dumped out onto the floor. So I'm sitting here sweating this morning too. It needs to be serviced so hopefully it won't take them too long to get it back in. I've taken off so much time for the stuff at home I hate to leave just because it's hot. Plus I have to get payroll done.

Anyone have any big plans for the weekend? I think tommorow night we're going to help some friends install carpet in their house. Or I should say Tommy is. I'll supervise along with the guys wife. Then Saturday we're going back down to St George Island to go fishing again. Hopefully this time we'll catch something. It's so relaxing down there. One weekend I want to get a room and just stay the whole weekend.

Tonight we're supposed to go the Dark Knight movie. We were waiting until it's been out a while so hopefully it won't be too crowded.

Jenn I'm a bigger fan of the winter olympics. I guess becuase I used to participate in some of the sports recreationally of course. Does it seem to you that not as big a deal is made about the olympics anymore? I guess it could just be since I've moved but it's not covered like I remember on TV.

aww Wilywind.. glad your power is back on.. geesh in this heat that woulda been terrible! Try and stay cool!
let us know the Darknight is... my hubby wants to see it

Not too many plans for th weekend here.. hubby and I finally both have a weekend off together so we're going to celebrate a mini night away sat. night to celebrate our delayed anniversary.. kinda nervous about leaving Kiwi for the night .. my moms gonna look after him so i'm sure it'll be ok ..... but its just sooo hard leaving the lil fid... hopefully he isn't too bossy with my mom lol..!

This week was a monumental week for decision making,.... hubby and I are going to become lisenced boaters!!! We want to buy a boat in the spring..Wish us luck lol We took a walk by the pier the other night.. I'm looking forward to parallell park one of those babies ..lol

I have three statistics classes left and then I am fin! I cannot wait.. its been a long summer finishing that course up.. i figured out i only need a 40% on the final exam to pass! Whoot! lol... nice to know since I'm sure i can get a tad better then that lol

Enjoy the weekend everyone!!!

Saturday morning down under...we are off in 3 hours to lunch with the grand-daughters I need to go have breakie with the fids and wake up properly , its cool but the sun is shining so looks like a nice weekend downunder..
Wishing all my friends here a great weekend ...

Tamara what was The Dark Night like..??? next on my list of movies to go see..

Hi hi All!
Majj I can so relate to some excitement and drama not being a welcome thing. I just am happy when I am on an even keel of late. Infact for me no news is good news as well.

Waiting for Tamara to tell me how the batman movie was...tapping foot.

Thanks for the hancock review I guess even seeing it once will be fun just to get out and do something so who knows maybe this week end although xfiles movie started too I heard bad reviews on it but still want to see it.

Andrea so cool on the boating license. I keep watching this program on one of the stations about ppl who boat all over the globe and it looks like alot of fun. Where is your first destination and can I come with pweeese!!!

I have been keeping busy at work and then going home to more work. Story of my life. Its good on one hand getting back into the swing of things but on the other I just want to play all the time. Unfortunatly I am an adult and need to work so waaaaaah.

I did the shelter work this morning. I really look forward to Fridays for that reason as well as it being one of my days off of course! Came home and cleaned my own cages. I think my biggest challange living with an umbrella cockatoo is keeping the white powder in check it tends to coat everything and with that said I still havent found a good system to keep the dust down. Its a never ending battle.

I am planning to go on a long cycle with my friends thru the park system tomorrow weather permitting. I really want to go to the begining of the mississippi river and dip my toes in the water and of course walk across it.

Thats about it for me.

Everyone have a fantastic week end!
hugs
IMPy

Well its a freezing cold Tuesday afternoon here , I have just done a pile of ironing while watching Oprah and the birds have ben keeping me company too..
Last night my sister Julie came over for dinner it was her 55th Birthday she is the youngest of the 3 of us my Brother being the middle sibling...
Thought I`d share a picture ..



Here we are a long time ago (me 21 and 16 Julie)

Next a few piccys taken of David (son) Joe (hubby) and the grand-daughters Madelyn and genevieve on Saturday when we went for a visit...

Awww, you and your family are all so gorgeous Majj. I love seeing your pictures. I need to do better at taking pictures when we have things going on.

Okay, Dark Knight...

If you like movies with explosions, fight scenes and car chases then this is a movie for you. I absolutely loved it. It was a bit on the long side 2hrs 45min but was definately worth it. Heath Ledger as the Joker was shockingly good.

We didn't get to go the first time because the radiator in my jeep blew up on the way there. I've got a new sitting on my front porch, just waiting for hubby to put it in. I wish he'd hurry on up becuase the air in the jeep works better and it gets way better gas mileage.

Other than that nothing too exciting. We've been doing yard work and clean up from the tornado still. Nice quiet ordinary day to day stuff.

May August be as good for some of you and your fids as July was and better for some who didn't have such a good month!

Many of you added some great pictures here. Thanks for sharing those. Also for your funny experiences with your human families and your fid families, thanks. A good laugh is quite healing.

July brought happiness, excitement, thrills, sadness and a little disbelief to the group. We should all be thankful just to be here together. I am! This year is flying by and I'll soon be caught up in Christmas painting, so I'll be spending a little less time on line starting September 1st.

Hubby lost his father (95 years old) July 17, and it's been hard dealing with an angry 92 year old mother-in-law. She's mad at the world! I won't go into details because you all hear enough negative stuff without hearing mine. WHEW! It's been a long haul and may last quite a while longer!

The best August ever to all of you, wherever you go, whatever you do!
Be blessed.
Jo

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !! don`t scare me Jo...Christmas paintings ..Its the last day of the month downundere (31st) I cannot believe AUGUST will be with us tomorrow...its really scary how fast the months are passing...
Just popping in before I start dinner , hope you all have a good last day of the month up over ours is almost over....

This month has gone by fast, even the year has gone by in a hurry. At least for me it has. And I can bet that once school starts for the kids it will go by even faster. Between work, and son's 3day a week football practice and my daughter's soccer 2x week practice I'll be busy.

We had our pool break last week, and we had the hardest time trying to find another. But we managed to find one. It was one of those easy set pools. It has been beastly hot here with the temps in 100's. So the pool has been nice.

The remodel we are doing on another house is pretty close to completion. Just need to paint and put down flooring. We will prolly sell it, not rent. The houses are selling for higher than we were expecting. I'll post before and after pics once it is done.

Hope everyone has a happy August.

BYE BYE JULY! May August be rich in fun, giggles and hardy blessings with pretty feathers at the top of your "happiness" list!

LOVE and HUGS to everyone!