ALRIGHT...

so everybody HAD to know the gory details.

Yes Rory succumbed to the sharp end of a spade ok.

I did some research and consulted some experts on the most humane way to euthanise a chook and this is it...

• You catch them at night when they are in their coop sleeping , that way there's no stress.
• You put them into a hessian (or similar) bag.
• You dig a hole.
• When the time comes, you quickly and forcefully 'chop'. Because he's already in the bag there's no mess, just a bit of flapping (which is reflex)
• Then you simply cover in the hole unless you want to 'dress' him - to eat .Don't have those details sorry you'll have to google it:)

There are other suggested methods involving alcohol or ether or carbon monoxide that sound much 'nicer' but they're not guaranteed to work. I didn't want him to suffer at all and I wanted it to be quick and successful.

Just so you know I didn't do it myself, I couldn't. A very experienced and very kind friend offered to 'help me out'. And incase your wondering why my darling hubby didn't do the manly thing and do the deed. He wasn't here.

I love animals and this really was a last resort. I tried to give him way (and Nettie you'll be happy to know that I called the wildlife parks including Zoo Doo) but no one wanted him. It's illegal to keep them where we live (if they are noisy) and the fine is a hefty one. Unfortunately sometimes we have to do stuff we don't really want to do. I've shed a tear or two for poor old Rory (actually he wasn't that old - only a youngen) and now I'm enjoying the quietness that greets us - and our neighbours - every morning.

On a nicer note. Our neighbour over the back fence was chatting with Matt yesterday and noticed that our brown chooks look just like the 'stray' one he has living with them. Some of you might remember my post about our 'missing' chooks last year. Well lo and behold it was her!! I can't believe she was living so close to us all this time. So now we have all of our girls back with us. Once she got over the intial shock of Rosie (our dog) checking her out she was happy as Larry scratching and digging with her sisters.

Funny how things turn out.

Going, Going, Gone...

Just a little update on Rory the Rooster.

HE'S GONE...

...to heaven.

Don't ask me any questions!

PJ's

I've been doing HEAPS of sewing lately. Roman blinds for a friend, 11 costumes for the school play, and today I made Charli some PJ's.

She loves them.

She has had them on all day since lunch time and even did a little fashion parade before bed tonight.

I thought these photos were funny and really portray Charlotte's personality so well.

don't you just love the pursed lips?

And this one is kinda weird... She looks like an angel with wonky legs!!

Tuckered out after we'd dropped everyone else at mutual and activity night.

I think the new jim jams are a hit!

KFC

Ok nobody guessed his name! I think Nettie is closest though 'cause at least she had the right letter...R. His name is:

RORY

I'm going to give him to Kim though because she needs him the most. I'll stick him in the post tomorrow. If you don't want him Kim I'm just gonna drop him off at Kingston KFC. I'm sure they'll look after him there.

Seriously though if you know anyone who wants him PLEASE let me know.

What's in an name?

This is our Rooster....

He's a pretty good looking sort and I think the girls (by that I mean the female chooks!) kinda like him 'cause they never seem to mind his 'advances'.

We got 'the rooster' from mum and dad after their chooks had babies (so cute) last year. Mum was hoping for a few more chickens but ended up with about 10 roosters!

We wanted to have our own babies too and things have been going quite well until about the last fortnight. Our rooster has never been an early riser, thank goodness, and will only crow at about 7.30am which is quite civilised.

BUT NOT ANYMORE !!!!!!!

He has changed his habits over the last couple of weeks and now he IS an early riser who crows at 6.05 am every morning. NOT GOOD seeing as though we live in a suburban area surrounded by (long suffering) neighbours. So we decided through bleary eyes this morning that he has to go!

I thought I'd make it a little bit more fun than just taking him back to mum and dad's farm, so if don't mind the sound of a 6.05am 'cockadoodle do' you might like our rooster.

All you have to do is guess his name.

If you don't want him but want to have a guess anyway that's ok too!

Or if you want him but don't guess the right name, you can still have him.

AND for those of you who are thinking "Just eat him"

forget it, that's not happening!

GREEN

What the heck is this??????

Yesterday after church Bethan came to play at our house. It was a grey, rainy day so we decided it would be a good idea to make something. So what did we make????

SHRECK BOOGERS!

MMMMMMM.......Tasty!

Well it's not REALLY boogers, but it did look like that.

So what did we make?

Feliz Cumpleanos

Today Reuben turned 11. I can't believe that it was 11 years ago we welcomed him into our family. Reubs was born on his due date at 12.26am after a very fast labour. I remember so vividly the 'quiet' after he was born. I panicked for a moment wondering whether everything was ok. The umbilical cord was around his neck and he needed to be stimulated to breath. I really can't describe the relief that filled me when he let out a tiny, gentle cry. I promptly gave him the 'once over' and realised that once again we had been blessed with another perfect little

baby. And he was such a gorgeous baby with smooth olive skin, big luscious lips and chocolate brown eyes. He pretty much went straight to sleep and woke up about two years later!! No really, he slept a lot, he was one of those babies who would sleep anywhere - even in a tepid bath designed to wake him! He was so easy to transport around because he LOVED his sleep and I could take him anywhere.

I distinctly remember taking Isaac to Bananas Pyjamas concert when Reuben was about 3 months old. We were seated right by one of the huge speakers but good ol' Reubs slept the entire time, not even stirring. This is something that remains with him still...once he's tired, he goes to sleep and stays asleep, that's it...It's GREAT! He hardly ever cried, not even when he was hungry or hurt. It didn't take me long to realise he expresses himself very differently from his 'vocal' brother. Reuben is much more subtle. His tantrums consisted of laying on the floor, face down, totally silent!!!

A trait I love about Reuben is that he is really selfless. He never asks for anything but appreciates everything. He is thoughtful and caring. He is creative and very capable but unassuming. He's a bit of a loner at times (he enjoys his own company) but his friend are really important to him. Most of all though, I love that he has the BEST kissable lips and never lets me leave the school in the mornings without planting one on me and topping it off with a squeezy cuddle.

This morning after Reuben opened his gifts, I surprised him with a day off. Instead of going to school he put on his new birthday clothes and we spent the day with Justine and the kids at mum and dad's in the Huon. Gus and Tilly are now having a sleepover at our home and are going to spend the day at school with Bella and Reubs.

I think he had a wonderful day.

Reuben scored in the $$$ department today

He is now well on the way to reaching his savings goal for our summer holiday.

I'm not sure which was his favourite pressie, the personally signed copy of 'Just Macbeth'

Or the IRiver mp3 player.

Now he doesn't have to bug Isaac to borrow his.

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Boy.

You are such a great kid and we love you more than you know.