Exo's Exposé

Hello @Bunniekins ❤️ No leeches in the dam, the dirt hasn't even softened around the edges,
even in the middle it's only a little soft {we hopped in again yesterday :)}. I remember
when I'd sink in the mud up to my knees! The puddle's already shrinking, I think there's
a porous side to the dam; the staffy was still able to swim in one spot - so that's the spot
he stayed in 😄 I know how quickly the dam dries up, I think that's why I waddled in again 😉
I figure, while we've got a private waterhole we should use it! I think the water's desperately
trying to get back down to the underground water basin, it's just wrong what they're doing
with that. My area has coal seams gas wells, last I looked {I've deliberately stopped looking}
there were over 30 of them; they use millions of litres every time they hydraulically fracture
the underground veins that they think have gas in them . . . millions of litres - as if it's
not dry enough out here. More often than not, the underground water supply is all we've
got. Take good care of you too ❤️
Hello @Emelia8 ❤️ I don't always have responses in me, in fact I think they're there less &
less now. Thank you, & everyone here, for listening when I have them ❤️ I think my sisters
hubby is more than a little selfish, I think he picked my sister because she can't have
children, what better way to remain spoilt rotten by her? All the more chance of her
tolerating the bike rides that last for days, that he regularly takes with his mates; & the
reoccurring accidents that cost a fortune, with his insistence to replace the bike, insurance
premiums rising, medical costs & usually (as this time will be) up to a year of him being
unable to assist with household finances. I wonder whether that had something to do with her
decision to quit her job.
Not many critters in my dam, particularly in the past . . . decade, though there's frog fluff
in the grassy reeds this year & a fantastic frog chorus each night - which is wonderful as
it's been years since I've seen any sign of frogs! Though if we get the rain we're promised,
that does probably mean snakes (oo), mostly browns we get out here.
I would have liked beautiful Bessie as my neighbour 🙂 I used to have chooks, I tried a
couple of times, out here it's mainly wild dogs & dingoes that are the problem; when the
season gets harsh it gets to the point where the chooks are being taken in broad daylight
& I can't keep them locked up 24/7, so when the last of the second lot went I decided it
wasn't fair on the chooks & didn't replace them.
Your property with the spring fed dam sounds absolutely wonderful - like the kind of
place I'd like to camp on! 😄 I used to have the black poly-pipe for my water inlets, I had
to make sure I put some water in containers at night because through the day, in the heat
of summer, it came out to hot to drink - reckon you could make a cup of tea with it! I also
had to wait until dark to have a wash because the water was too hot to touch! I bypassed
that system years ago & it runs through a garden hose now, it still gets warm, but it's
usable 🙂 Many years ago I had one of those chip heaters, well it was a drip heater, it had
a little tank for kero & dripped down to keep the flame going; but when there was no
kero it could be used with wood chips. It worked well but it was messy, that soot gets
everywhere! & it seemed to me the more you try to wipe it off, the more it smeared
everywhere! 😄 I've got a little portable gas hot water system now, pretty darn flash 😄 😄
I can understand you feeling fragile, Human Beings are. I think many of us feel particularly
weak during the times when we're actually being our strongest - it's hard work! - it's worth it!
You've shared your strength with me, I sense them in these words "It matters not how long we
are around, of much more importance is that the time we do have here on earth, is spent being
happy, feeling worthwhile and doing no harm to others." Whether they are your own words or
not, you chose them & I resonate with them ❤️
Hello beautiful @Shaz51 , I hope everything is going well for you ❤️ I'm not sure where your at,
but I've got a feeling you might be near where the cyclones are starting to form . . . stay safe!
Lots of love to you ❤️
Hello @Faith-and-Hope , I see & feel your support, I hope life is being kind to you ❤️ Thank you for
listening to me ❤️
Thinking of you @CheerBear , your a beautiful person & I think you can't help but take on the stress of others - it is part of your beauty. If someone close to you is hurting, you hurt. I feel for you ❤️ I don't know you, I haven't communicated with you in a long time, but I want you to know, I
like you ❤️

Yes I agree with you @Exoplanet about the loss of groundwater due to fracking etc. It is a serious concern. Hmmm interesting observation re your brother in law ... I suspect you are probably right. Ohhh yes, my Bessie would have loved to help you out with your chooks. She was a really beautiful dog, with a lovely termperament. She was fantastic with our grandkids, but was also quite ferocious when it came to any intruders that should not have been in her territory. And she was also very protective of her furbaby sister, my current little dog. I still miss Bessie, even though its 8 years since we lost her. 😔 Yes very true ... we could not shower during the heat of the day, you would be scalded from the black polypiping. Even after dark, we had to have the showerhead high up so it would cool on its way down to you. You adjust the temperature by adjusting the height, a system which worked pretty well most of the time. Yep, so true ... its very hard work, being strong. Its tiring and constant, no breaks in between.

The words I wrote to you "It matters not how long we are around, of much more importance is that the time we do have here on earth, is spent being happy, feeling worthwhile and doing no harm to others." are my own words. Exactly as I thought of them while writing to you. Perhaps others have said something similar? I certainly was not quoting anyone or anything I've heard or read elsewhere. The statement is how I feel, and I am happy that the words resonate with you and/or mean something to you.

Sending you some love and a hug. And a chewy treat for your Staffy.

Emelia 💞

s @Exoplanet and all others here xoxo

I got a mower, I ended up getting a brand new one & what really surprised me was it was from the local hardware store! It was more than I could really afford, but it was under 200 & when they're asking 100 to mow your lawn {if you could find someone to come out to where I am, as long as it does the lawn twice . . . it's paid for}. I'm about 2/3's of the way through it now, though my body is telling me all about it, the grass is now quite a way back from the doors & windows. The local hardware gave me this little card ages ago & whenever you buy something from there you accumulate points & once you get enough points you can use them as cash towards a payment, so I got the best part of $10 off 😉 I've had to rob Peter to pay Paul, but the lawn had to be done! I had to pull one of my inverters apart as it had stopped working, the only thing I know to do is check the fuses. Turns out they were fine, so I don't know what's wrong with it & I'll have to replace it {the other system is still managing on it's own}, but it had a ruddy great big centerpede in it! YUK! It's a sign that the bugs are begining & if the bugs are begining . . . so are the snakes! I looked & I looked but I could not find a 2nd hand mower or someone who would come out to where I am to mow, even if I was in town they wanted $100!! I even asked at the community centre if there was a service for someone with a disability pension card & was flatly told 'no'. I don't know what I'm going to do once I truly can't do it any more, there's a real opportunity for a bright young lad {or lass} out here . . . I know they're out here - young people still at school. With seasons like this {although they are rare now days} the lawn can need doing every week! I call the Universe, fate & everything 'Hughey' & I figure Hughey is telling me I've got to keep pushing my body for a bit longer yet 😉

Love to all that need or want it

Great news you got a mower even though you have to go without in other areas @Exoplanet Hope you don't encounter any snakes while you are doing the grass

Have you thought of putting an advertisement in the local community centre, hardware store and/or supermarket for someone to do the lawn? You may find a young lad or lass that would happily do it for some extra pocket money - you have the mower so you would just be paying them for their time.

The lawns done, in fact it's about ready to be done again {uugghh!} I had the blades up as high as they could go because the grass had gotten pretty long, next time I'll drop them down a bit & start trying to get a bit more time inbetween mows. The dams still got a substantial puddle! It's gone down a bit, but we had a little rain again last night & I'm hoping that'll top up the pool 🙂 It's the longest the puddle has lasted for years! I think I've realized why the staffy is so besotted with it, I think it's the first time he's been able to swim in it, in his lifetime! {he's about 5 years old, he's a canine drought baby!} I've gotten into a routine of cutting our walk a little short {just cutting one corner off} & heading to the dam - so the staffy at least, gets a walk & a swim! I take a little bag with insect repellent, a smoke & ashtray & a jar of water or cordial; I throw a couple of towels over my shoulder as I have a couple of seats down there that the little fella & I sit on, but they're very weathered & the towels make them more comfortable - plus offering to rub the staffy down with one helps get him out of the dam 😄 I hop in with him on occasions, yesterday was one of them, even the little fella is wading in further & further as it's starting to heat up again out here. I fell over yesterday, the dam walls got lots of little loose stones on it & over I went, hurt my foot a little but was still able to walk & get in for a dip 😉 I half expected the foot to swell, but it hasn't, though I can still feel a bit of discomfort. Moments like those give me a bit of a fright, something as simple as slipping over could be quite a problem for me.

I've got the spot I want to camp next picked out & I'm thinking of going in a couple/few weeks, though I do need to do a mock set up as I won't be sleeping in the back of the car. I have a little tent that I'm hoping I can fit, with the puppies portable cages & a few essentials {camp stove, sink & large water container [& of course the camp recliner :D!]} in the portable gazebo I use. Problem is, the warmer it gets the less motivation I have, but maybe it'll give me incentive to mow again, so I have somewhere to play 'camp set-up' 🙂

Well, I think I've rabbited on for long enough. I don't expect anyone to read or respond {hence no tags}, I just felt like rabbiting 😄 Love you Zoe ❤️

Love to all that need or want it ❤️

Not rambling at all @Exoplanet I loooove reading your posts

Your staffy seems to be in his element in the dam - loved the description of him getting more adventureous - and loved hearing about all you take on your shortened walks. I am the same with Tobes - have a 'go bag' with everything in it I need so I can grab it at the same time as he is jumping in circles, so excited we are going somewhere lol

I do understand how a simple fall could be very bad for you - especially being so far away and alone - so please be careful my dear friend I hope your foot is okay quickly.

I hear you about the grass. My parents' have a large backyard and land but have been unable through poor health to do any of it for a few months so the grass was out of control. You have done the right thing not cutting it too short but yes it does mean it would need to be done again sooner than you would like. You will get it done though and being able to set up your little site at home would be fun. I do hope you get to go on your next trip soon though - can't wait to hear all about it when you do get there 👍

Love and hugs coming your way Hon

@Zoe7 @outlander

👋💞 @Exoplanet ....