Powerpoint

After searching as to how to put a powerpoint presentation online I discovered a hosting site and uploaded the "Foodcapes" pictures to it and was surprised to find the editors of the site featured it this morning at
http://www.slideshare.net/category/howto-diy
This is an interesting site and would be good for all sorts of educational powerpoint presentations.

Food and Art

Someone shared these pictures with me and I thought they were so great I would share them with some more people. This creative person in England, takes common foods found in the average kitchen, builds pictures and photographs them.

The picture above is made from edible ingredients in this Italian-inspired rural scene include a lasagna cart, fields of pasta, a pine nut wall, mozzarella clouds, trees of peppers and chilies and a parmesan village.

The link below is to the full power point presentation and to appreciate the full artistry of the photos I suggest that you make them full screen and you may have to manually click to go to the next picture.

http://www.slideshare.net/lehiltz/foodscapes-1070573

Cruising

My parents are leaving on a cruise from Sydney today on the Queen Mary 2 - pictured above. They travel to Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, India and get off in Dubai in a months time - have a great trip folks!
We are staying at home this week - we go to Crufts in England next week.
Took some photos of our new youngsters this weekend - this is Zoey (age 4 months)

Old Dogs

The trouble with having dogs is that they age so fast. Pictured above is Java, who is now over 14 years old. He has had a hard life, being attacked by a Rottweiller when a puppy (in other ownership then) and severely injured, he was then "rescued" by a beagle breeder in Arizona (thanks Pat) but she found she could not keep him as he jumped and climbed fences (which was how he had got injured initially - he climbed into the Rottweiller 's run) So Java came to live with us 10 years ago and I think he has had a good life here and has been a pleasure to have in the house.
He does however have a new title "Very Expensive Old Dog"
This is brought about by the several surgeries he has had - releasing the tension on his scar tissue from his earlier attack, removal of most of his teeth about a year ago and then this week, he was obviously in pain again, and a visit to the vet determined that another couple of teeth needed to come out and then when he was on the table my vet called me to say he has a couple of small growths in his mouth, which she removed. I collected Java last night and he was happy to see me and come home and bounced into the house like a young pup (pain meds are great!) Apart from medication and soft food for 10 days, no special treatment is needed.
Life is good for Java again.

Signs

Some of these signs amuse me...

Unprepared for cold weather?
I guess I wont catch a bus here.
Directionally challenged?
I wonder what the danger can be?
End of story
The sign says it all.

A Good Weekend

On Wednesday Herbie cut his foot and so the shows this weekend were in doubt for him, but fortunately time heals everything and by Saturday he was not limping and he went on the win the Hound group on Saturday and a Group 3 today.

I travelled down to the shows and we went out with friends to a local Italian restaurant for a Valentine's dinner.

Good food + Good friends = Good time.

A quiet few days

The past few days have been life as normal and fairly quiet. Today David headed off to a show in Oregon and I will join him tomorrow and we have plans to get together with friends for dinner on Valentine's evening.

Snow & Fire?

There are wet white flakes falling here again...what's with this global warming thing - it's sure in effect in Australia see this link to the bushfires, which has some fantastic, yet at the same time horrific pictures. But warming is clearly not in our part of the world today.

Good news to report - the frozen semen finally successfully arrived at the university in Europe and so the breeder Susan ,is now testing progesterone levels on her girl - hopefully she will have a nice litter.

A Good Day

Well the frozen semen has arrived back in Amsterdam -it was delayed overnight in Atlanta, so it did not arrive there until Saturday morning, and so will wait until Monday for the Customs agents to successfully (we hope) clear it through and onto the vet who will do the insemination. And hopefully the timing will all work out for Susan

We had a lovely sunny day here, in the mid 50's and so David and I enjoyed a long invigorating walk.

Our beautiful puppies (and their mother) arrived back from Terri, who raised the litter for us - and did a marvelous job - Thanks Terri.

It was a sunny day here and our new Danish dogs enjoyed the sun

Above & Below is Thomas
Below is Susan

A day of frustrtion

I seem to have spent all day on the phone or the computer. I was trying to find the real story behind why the frozen semen that was shipped from the USA to the Netherlands by FedEx was sent back to the USA after less than 12 hours in Amsterdam. The claims were incorrect paperwork (we followed the directions); package contained dry Ice (it did not); and no reason at all. Not sure I really got to the bottom of the matter, but the semen was reshipped again today and hopefully this time will arrive sucessfully at its destination on Friday. The bitch it is to be used on is in season, so we dont have all the time in the world.

Retirement

Today we said goodbye to Chelsea, who has provided us with many beautiful puppies - she did not however go to the Rainbow Bridge, but to live with Carol & Van, who are former Beagle owners. With them she will have a wonderful, spoilt life with 2 people to cater to her every whim - walks, treats, cuddles and a life not lacking in anything. Whilst we were sad to see her go, we know that she will enjoy this new stage in her life - Thank you Carol & Van.
We are also minding some of Carrie's Beagles, while she is vacationing in Kauai - have some of that Hawaian seafood for me - have a great week of relaxation. We will be thinking of you.....

Great Tennis

Just finished watching the final of the Australian Open Tennis between Nadal (Spain) and Federer (Switzerland) this was a fantastic game with lots of long rallys and incredible shots. Nadal was the winner. It was played at about 9pm local time (in Melbourne) until well after midnight - to try and avoid some of the very hot temperatures, that they are having at the moment.