Thursday, August 25, 2011
Drat and more drat!
Now the computer says that the CD I put stuff on to copy here was created with something newer than this computer has and it's going to take 25 minutes to download the update. Problem is that I only have 5 more minutes on the timer. Maybe you'll all just have to wait to see our photos. Amy set a baptism date of Sept 25 and called last night to say she told her husband what she was doing and now he wants to join her. We are soooooooooooooo excited. All else is good here. Sorry this is such a mess now.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
DUMB COMPUTER OR DUMB OPERATOR?
Last night I was having problems copying photos to the CD to bring here to the internet place. Finally a whole bunch of stuff was copied but I wasn't sure if it worked the way it was supposed to. New computers are for the birds!!! I even had a couple of bird photos. Anyway, nothing on the CD will copy to the blog and so you are out of luck this week. Hope you enjoyed last week. Love you all. Narrogin is still good. The weather is warming up a tad, but it's still freezing in the middle of the night when the heat is turned off.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Photos
World's largest ram in Wagin, West Australia. Part of our area.
"Portaroo" the closest we'll ever come to an Australian pet.Actually, she belongs to the our neighbor in our duplex, but she likes to visit while Staci is at work.
Look what we found tracting in the country.
"Portaroo" the closest we'll ever come to an Australian pet.Actually, she belongs to the our neighbor in our duplex, but she likes to visit while Staci is at work.
Look what we found tracting in the country.
MORE VISITORS
Spreading out fleece off one sheep
Fleece rolled up
Echindna "hiding"
Echidna up close
August 11, 2011 Thursday
Today Elder and Sister Innes came to see us. They are in charge of flats and cars and came down with stuff for us. They brought us a lawn mower. They were amazed at how large the yard is. “It didn’t look that big online!” We laughed. They also brought us a TV set, but it didn’t work when we hooked it up to the antenna cable inside the flat. So they took it back. Pretty much, we think they just wanted to see our flat and have a day off of the regular rat-race that they run. They brought rolls and cookies. I’d made chicken noodle soup and apple cake so we enjoyed lunch together. She was not impressed with the location of the toilet—in the farthest possible location from the bedrooms. They also brought us some much needed DVDs and pamphlets, a Bible we’d asked for, a rake, pruning shears and a few other things. After lunch we took them over to see the chapel and then they headed back to Perth via the “Mountain Road.”
Later this afternoon we were tracting out on a country road when we came to a place that sort of looked like there might be a house amid the farm buildings. We didn’t really see a house, but there was some wash on a line. Anyway, Orson went into one of the sheds and stayed a while. Then he came out, told me to bring the camera and we went in to watch some sheep shearing. One guy with a good sized pair of clippers would grab a sheep, sort of sit it down on its haunches and proceed to shear the whole sheep in one large piece of wool. The other fellow would then pick it up and flop it on what looked like a piece of chain link fence. Little bits of fluff and grass, etc., would fall onto the floor. Then he’d go over and sweep the floor where the shearing had taken place and then come back, spread out the wool, pull off the filthy pieces and parts that ran down the legs. He’d pull off any wool that had blood on it (some sheep were nicked during the process although they never bleated). He’d check a piece of wool to make sure it was strong, then roll up the whole pelt(?) and put it in the box that weighed and packed the wool into bales. He showed us what made the difference between good quality wool and mediocre wool. High quality wool grows in kinky strands and is all the same color. Bad food or a ewe who lost a lamb will produce weak fibers or discoloration in the wool fibers. He seemed happy to have someone to explain all to. He was bald on top but had a beard at least 6 inches long, and he stood at least 6’5” tall. The guy doing the shearing was a little short fellow who looked to be about 55 or so. We asked him how many he could shear in a day and he said 130-140 but that his “racing days” were over.
After we left that place, we drove on up the road a ways, and I spotted something moving near a tree about 8 feet off the side of the road. It turned out to be an echidna. It looks sort of like a porcupine but smaller. The quills were really pretty, kind of a yellow gold in color. When it sensed that we were around, it curled up into a ball and pretended to be “dead.” It didn’t move for the longest time. We tossed a few sticks near it and wiggled a branch lying near it, but it just laid there. We finally gave up and left. That was a real surprise to see it.
Fleece rolled up
Echindna "hiding"
Echidna up close
August 11, 2011 Thursday
Today Elder and Sister Innes came to see us. They are in charge of flats and cars and came down with stuff for us. They brought us a lawn mower. They were amazed at how large the yard is. “It didn’t look that big online!” We laughed. They also brought us a TV set, but it didn’t work when we hooked it up to the antenna cable inside the flat. So they took it back. Pretty much, we think they just wanted to see our flat and have a day off of the regular rat-race that they run. They brought rolls and cookies. I’d made chicken noodle soup and apple cake so we enjoyed lunch together. She was not impressed with the location of the toilet—in the farthest possible location from the bedrooms. They also brought us some much needed DVDs and pamphlets, a Bible we’d asked for, a rake, pruning shears and a few other things. After lunch we took them over to see the chapel and then they headed back to Perth via the “Mountain Road.”
Later this afternoon we were tracting out on a country road when we came to a place that sort of looked like there might be a house amid the farm buildings. We didn’t really see a house, but there was some wash on a line. Anyway, Orson went into one of the sheds and stayed a while. Then he came out, told me to bring the camera and we went in to watch some sheep shearing. One guy with a good sized pair of clippers would grab a sheep, sort of sit it down on its haunches and proceed to shear the whole sheep in one large piece of wool. The other fellow would then pick it up and flop it on what looked like a piece of chain link fence. Little bits of fluff and grass, etc., would fall onto the floor. Then he’d go over and sweep the floor where the shearing had taken place and then come back, spread out the wool, pull off the filthy pieces and parts that ran down the legs. He’d pull off any wool that had blood on it (some sheep were nicked during the process although they never bleated). He’d check a piece of wool to make sure it was strong, then roll up the whole pelt(?) and put it in the box that weighed and packed the wool into bales. He showed us what made the difference between good quality wool and mediocre wool. High quality wool grows in kinky strands and is all the same color. Bad food or a ewe who lost a lamb will produce weak fibers or discoloration in the wool fibers. He seemed happy to have someone to explain all to. He was bald on top but had a beard at least 6 inches long, and he stood at least 6’5” tall. The guy doing the shearing was a little short fellow who looked to be about 55 or so. We asked him how many he could shear in a day and he said 130-140 but that his “racing days” were over.
After we left that place, we drove on up the road a ways, and I spotted something moving near a tree about 8 feet off the side of the road. It turned out to be an echidna. It looks sort of like a porcupine but smaller. The quills were really pretty, kind of a yellow gold in color. When it sensed that we were around, it curled up into a ball and pretended to be “dead.” It didn’t move for the longest time. We tossed a few sticks near it and wiggled a branch lying near it, but it just laid there. We finally gave up and left. That was a real surprise to see it.
KANGAROOS
Can you see both? Mother nature does a good job of hiding them. 
August 9, 2011 Tuesday
Finally, we saw some kangaroos in the wild today. Late this afternoon we were on a country road just south of town when Orson spotted some kangaroos crossing the road a little way in front of us. When we got closer we saw some still sitting in the trees waiting to cross. We pulled up and took some pictures, then they took off back into the woods. When we came back a few minutes later there they were again. Eventually, they hopped across the road in front of us. We figure there were 9 or 10 in the group. One was quite small and there were two really big ones. Their gray and brown fur blended in perfectly with the bark on the trees. Nature did a great job on them.
August 9, 2011 Tuesday
Finally, we saw some kangaroos in the wild today. Late this afternoon we were on a country road just south of town when Orson spotted some kangaroos crossing the road a little way in front of us. When we got closer we saw some still sitting in the trees waiting to cross. We pulled up and took some pictures, then they took off back into the woods. When we came back a few minutes later there they were again. Eventually, they hopped across the road in front of us. We figure there were 9 or 10 in the group. One was quite small and there were two really big ones. Their gray and brown fur blended in perfectly with the bark on the trees. Nature did a great job on them.
SHE'S STILL WITH US
August 8, 2011 Monday
This morning we dropped by to see Amy. We had had an appointment for a lesson with her on Saturday, but she wasn’t there. We felt really bad about that. At church Sunday, Michelle Lode commented that when she was picking up her little girl from the sitter (Amy) on Thursday, she had seen the Book of Mormon there and commented, “Hey, I go to that church. You should come and visit us.” Amy replied that she had been going to come, but then something had come up. So when we arrived there this morning, she welcomed us right in and told us about “a lady she tended for telling her that she goes to the Mormon church.” She explained what had happened on Saturday and that she had read some in the Book of Mormon. She had some questions and we ended up staying almost an hour. She’s very inquisitive and wants to make sure she is making the right decision about where to take her children to learn about God. She made an appointment for next week so we can go back again. This Sunday is stake conference in Perth—I wish it weren’t. We’d really like her to come to church in Narrogin this week. She also told us that she and her husband are thinking of moving closer to where he works in the little town of Codington. The good news is that Codington is also part of the Narrogin Branch. It’s a good hour away from here at least, but other members drive that far each week. We talked to Michelle tonight and she said that Amy is acquainted with Jeremy and Marja Priest who are members here in Narrogin also.
We also went to visit Tracy Anniese this morning. She is a girl who has been in the hospital and is being treated for depression. The nurse at the hospital called and asked if we would drop in on her. The poor girl—she’s in her 30’s and has been diagnosed as depressed many years ago. She has an 8-year-old son, but he’s in foster care because she’s unable to care for him. She sees him once every two weeks and has lunch with him. She has no family nearby and lives in a one-room flat. Her life is depressing. She does have the J-dubs drop by. She says she likes to talk about God. It puts us in a bind. We offered to visit her as a community service; if we start talking religion with her, they’ll think we are using it to proselyte. I’m going to call Diane, the nurse, tomorrow and let her know the situation and ask her what her recommendation is.
We went tracting this afternoon and ran into a fellow who was at the potluck fellowship thing at the Anglican Church. He is in his last year of study to become a Baptist minister. He did say we could drop by next month between school terms next month and discuss things with him. He may not like hearing that his chosen profession is a sham. :o)
This morning we dropped by to see Amy. We had had an appointment for a lesson with her on Saturday, but she wasn’t there. We felt really bad about that. At church Sunday, Michelle Lode commented that when she was picking up her little girl from the sitter (Amy) on Thursday, she had seen the Book of Mormon there and commented, “Hey, I go to that church. You should come and visit us.” Amy replied that she had been going to come, but then something had come up. So when we arrived there this morning, she welcomed us right in and told us about “a lady she tended for telling her that she goes to the Mormon church.” She explained what had happened on Saturday and that she had read some in the Book of Mormon. She had some questions and we ended up staying almost an hour. She’s very inquisitive and wants to make sure she is making the right decision about where to take her children to learn about God. She made an appointment for next week so we can go back again. This Sunday is stake conference in Perth—I wish it weren’t. We’d really like her to come to church in Narrogin this week. She also told us that she and her husband are thinking of moving closer to where he works in the little town of Codington. The good news is that Codington is also part of the Narrogin Branch. It’s a good hour away from here at least, but other members drive that far each week. We talked to Michelle tonight and she said that Amy is acquainted with Jeremy and Marja Priest who are members here in Narrogin also.
We also went to visit Tracy Anniese this morning. She is a girl who has been in the hospital and is being treated for depression. The nurse at the hospital called and asked if we would drop in on her. The poor girl—she’s in her 30’s and has been diagnosed as depressed many years ago. She has an 8-year-old son, but he’s in foster care because she’s unable to care for him. She sees him once every two weeks and has lunch with him. She has no family nearby and lives in a one-room flat. Her life is depressing. She does have the J-dubs drop by. She says she likes to talk about God. It puts us in a bind. We offered to visit her as a community service; if we start talking religion with her, they’ll think we are using it to proselyte. I’m going to call Diane, the nurse, tomorrow and let her know the situation and ask her what her recommendation is.
We went tracting this afternoon and ran into a fellow who was at the potluck fellowship thing at the Anglican Church. He is in his last year of study to become a Baptist minister. He did say we could drop by next month between school terms next month and discuss things with him. He may not like hearing that his chosen profession is a sham. :o)
BLACK BROWNIES, ANYONE?
August 7, 2011 Sunday
This afternoon we went tracting. At the last house at the end of the street, we were invited in. It turned out to be a family that had emigrated from South Africa four months ago. The husband, Dieterick, was interested to see why a “man of God” would have knocked on his door. His wife, Madelin, admitted that she’s very skeptical about some religious things. She did most of the talking and had some really good questions that she wanted answered. We gave her little bits and told them we’d like to come back a few times to teach them the whole thing. I think they were both impressed that we assured them up front that it would be up to them to get the answer from God whether what we tell them is true. They’ve been attending a Christian group where there are several other South Africans attending, but they aren’t really attached to it. They have three children. The 10-year old daughter, Diedray, stuck around while we talked. The boys were younger and in and out a lot. It’s a beautiful family. They prayed about the decision to leave their homeland and immigrate to Australia. They feel like their prayers were answered in every way. Dieterick seems to be looking for more than the Christian church is giving him. We hope we can be guided to lead them along in the right way.
Church today was good. It was testimony meeting and almost all the adults bore their testimony. One of the teenage girls did and a couple of little kids did. I got to teach Cheryl in the Gospel Essentials class. She is so happy to have found the church. It’s just fun to be able to explain things to her. Then I taught RS. Sister Moulds, the RS president, had asked me to teach the visiting teaching lesson, “A Society of Holy Women.” That’s an interesting topic. I’d never thought of us as holy women, but Eliza R. Snow said we should all become holy women. Sister Allred, in the message this month, says that as we do the work of Relief Society which is a holy organization we will become holy. So the questions it brings up: 1. What did I do last week to increase my holiness? And 2. What am I going to do next week to increase my holiness?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! We don’t have a timer on the microwave in this flat nor is there one on the stove. So far, I’ve been lucky to have not burned anything beyond recognition. But tonight I made some chocolate chip brownies to take to the ladies in the library who were so kind to us last week. I checked them at 40 minutes and decided to give them 10 more minutes. At 50 minutes I decided to give them 3 more minutes. And I just remembered them after they had been in the oven for an hour and 40 minutes. They don’t smell terribly burned, but the test will be whether we will be able to cut them once they cool down. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
This afternoon we went tracting. At the last house at the end of the street, we were invited in. It turned out to be a family that had emigrated from South Africa four months ago. The husband, Dieterick, was interested to see why a “man of God” would have knocked on his door. His wife, Madelin, admitted that she’s very skeptical about some religious things. She did most of the talking and had some really good questions that she wanted answered. We gave her little bits and told them we’d like to come back a few times to teach them the whole thing. I think they were both impressed that we assured them up front that it would be up to them to get the answer from God whether what we tell them is true. They’ve been attending a Christian group where there are several other South Africans attending, but they aren’t really attached to it. They have three children. The 10-year old daughter, Diedray, stuck around while we talked. The boys were younger and in and out a lot. It’s a beautiful family. They prayed about the decision to leave their homeland and immigrate to Australia. They feel like their prayers were answered in every way. Dieterick seems to be looking for more than the Christian church is giving him. We hope we can be guided to lead them along in the right way.
Church today was good. It was testimony meeting and almost all the adults bore their testimony. One of the teenage girls did and a couple of little kids did. I got to teach Cheryl in the Gospel Essentials class. She is so happy to have found the church. It’s just fun to be able to explain things to her. Then I taught RS. Sister Moulds, the RS president, had asked me to teach the visiting teaching lesson, “A Society of Holy Women.” That’s an interesting topic. I’d never thought of us as holy women, but Eliza R. Snow said we should all become holy women. Sister Allred, in the message this month, says that as we do the work of Relief Society which is a holy organization we will become holy. So the questions it brings up: 1. What did I do last week to increase my holiness? And 2. What am I going to do next week to increase my holiness?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! We don’t have a timer on the microwave in this flat nor is there one on the stove. So far, I’ve been lucky to have not burned anything beyond recognition. But tonight I made some chocolate chip brownies to take to the ladies in the library who were so kind to us last week. I checked them at 40 minutes and decided to give them 10 more minutes. At 50 minutes I decided to give them 3 more minutes. And I just remembered them after they had been in the oven for an hour and 40 minutes. They don’t smell terribly burned, but the test will be whether we will be able to cut them once they cool down. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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