Hi. Come on in and have whatever beverage you want. At the moment we have most apart from alcoholic spirits so if you need a stiff drink I probably won’t be able to help you.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you that my sister-in-law and her husband arrived from Germany on Wednesday. It is three years since we have seen them and we are all getting older so we cherish this time that we have. Our brother-in-law (BILL) is in his eighties and sister-in-law (SILS) has been battling illness and injury so will enjoy the two months they will be staying with us. What it does mean that due to my studies my already slow/late/nonexistent return visits may be even slower although I still will try. If I don’t make I hope you’ll forgive me.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you that Bill and Sils are a little frightened at everything Australia may throw at them. The spider on the bedroom wall was first, the frightening noise was next. Most likely a possum and not a cause for concern I persuaded. Last night Roger heard it and said “Cane toad in the pond.” I immediately donned protective gear and with two plastic bags and a torch in hand went in search of the poisonous critter. They are ugly creatures and can kill dogs. The tadpoles put the fish in the pond at risk. It had to be exterminated. It’s a big pond but I found it. Its rear feet were on the pond floor and he was standing upright with his nose out of the water. I knew if I missed him on the first swoop he’d be off and difficult to find again. I called for reinforcements. Roger came armed with a bucket and the swimming pool net. We missed on the first attempt but managed to keep it confined in the first third of the pool. Again we tried with success. It was in the bucket which I was holding when it made a leap for freedom and I jumped with fright throwing the bucket up in the air, the water sloshing all over me and the toad flying and coming down on the pavement outside the pond. It would have gone except luckily the bucket landed pinning its leg and finally we got him in the plastic bags and into the freezer. We are told that freezing doesn’t kill them only puts them into a state of hibernation and when thawed are again as large as life. I don’t care as if they do come to they are a long way from me, my dogs and my pond. My cane toad was twice the size and definitely more ugly than any of these. I assure you you wouldn’t be kissing it.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you that I have been really thrilled to read the responses to “Times Past”. It seems that even into Gen X, dining out of an evening, in a restaurant, was not a common occurrence. Certainly for my alpha generation nephews this is not the case and I wonder when the change happened. I’m hoping by the end of the month, with more responses, I may be able to answer that question. Feel free to join in anytime in the month.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you I am starting to panic about finishing on time. I was fine until I opened the email telling me my end date was looming (Sept 30th) and if I needed extra time then I should apply for student fee assistance now. Now that the panic has set in the work ethic has improved. I am spending 8 hours minimum a day on the thesis and each day starting to panic just that little bit more. Soon I will bump up the time to ten hours a day as I am determined I WILL finish on time.
If we “were having coffee” I’d tell you Muffin is an absolute darling of a dog. She isn’t 100% toilet trained because our concentration on walking her to her toilet area has lapsed a bit with Bill and Sils visit and the accidents have happened again. Apart from that everything she does has started to be endearing. She stares into my eyes with what looks like an adoring look (in reality she is staring to ensure she gets a treat) and my heart melts.
© irene waters 2015
What else would I tell you if ‘we were having coffee?” The weather has been simply perfect. Not too hot with little humidity. Ideal for swimming, or fishing. Temperatures are probably sitting around 32 degrees celsius during the day and 22 degrees of a night.
Thanks for dropping by and sharing a cuppa. Its been a nice break but I’d best put my head down again. SILS is starting the first puzzle tomorrow. She is going to start on one from the “If you had eyes in the back of your head” series. The puzzle makes what these people are looking at. I’ll take a photo when it is finished.
Thanks to Diana for hosting our coffee mornings. Have a good week.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
That toad is awfully gross! I had to chuckle at the mental picture of it and the bucket flying into the air! Sorry, but it is quite a mental picture!
So glad your family are able to visit you for such an extended amount of time. I’ve never heard of those puzzles but they sound quite interesting.
Muffin has come a long way and is a definite cutie. Can’t those eyes just reach into your heart and melt it like butter? Treat induced or not.
My ‘monster’ doesn’t calmed down enough yet to calmly take a treat. But she is learning. I definitely have a hyperactive pooch on my hands. But she will be a good watch dog and protector. Still uses the bells on the door to let me know if she has to go out, or to get my attention!
I’m envious of your weather! But soon the world will shift and I will be back on the mower soaking up those rays that cause the age spots! Thanks for the coffee!!
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Deb I could have sworn I had replied to your comment here but find I haven’t so my apologies.The toad is definitely gross and with an inquisitive puppy around a problem. I can just see you with Penny ringing those doorbells. I want a bit of attention – ring I want to go to the toilet -ring I just like the sound they make – ring. I’d probably be going crazy with it . She’ll calm down as she gets older. What breed is she? You have probably told me but I have forgotten. My memory is shot to pieces. But they are definitely great company when you come home from work and you see that tail wagging.
Dreams of summer. Keep warm and good to have you pop by.
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You did pretty much describe my time with Penny and the dang bells! So if she isn’t teasing the cat, or Abby, she’s bouncing off the door making the bells ring. She has eased up a bit on them.
No worries about replying to the frog…I sometimes miss answering things too. Sometimes other things just happen.
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Sure hope you finish your thesis on time. The last few months of work on a thesis is the hardest, I think. Your plan to devote several hours a day to it is good. Just think how great it will be to have it done!
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Thanks Diane. That is what worries me. It is taking me a couple of days to edit a page. I thought at the time I had kept a good referencing system but I’m finding page numbers missing and then finding extra references is so time consuming when my supervisor asks for a reference for something that as far as I know was an original thought. Ugh!
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I hope the in-laws have a good visit and aren’t driven out of Australia by all of the critters. On the other hand, I see that those Cane Toads are invasive, so not a wild Australia threat, just a threat to wild Australia. I wasn’t able to respond to your “Times Past” post earlier (I was confined to a phone), but I might go back and put something down.
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Leaving German winter for our perfect summer the in-laws are sure to have a great time. Apart from anything else those toads are just plain ugly. No way could I kiss one of those things like on the video.
If you get to Times Past your input fantastic, it will add to the mix.
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I enjoyed my time having coffee with you this morning, Irene. You made me laugh at the picture you portrayed on your toad hunt. Toad leaping, bucket flying, water sloshing. I am happy you were able to capture it, though. Muffin is coming along nicely and I always love to read of her progress even if it does slide backwards a bit. There is no doubt in my mind that she will manage just fine getting back on track with you. I have to tell you, I am envious of your temperatures. We are in the throws of winter and this morning it is -25 while I drink my coffee and watch the frosted day evolve outside my window.
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Hi Ann. Glad you enjoyed coffee and from your temperatures I’m glad it was at my place. -25 is almost beyond my comprehension but I bet you are cosy inside wearing summer clothes. It would be being stuck inside that would drive me crazy and piling on the clothes to go out and stripping them off when you enter a shop then back on to go out. I imagine mothers with toddlers in nappies must go beserk as they get their child dressed for a play outside only to be told “I want to go to the toilet.”
Glad you enjoyed the toad hunt and Muffin enjoys the attention. Have a good week Ann.
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I need a stiff drink so I’ll bring my own. Wow! With the visit, the spider 🕷, the poison frog…that’s an exciting week.
Ack! I haven’t written a Times Past post. I’m in a rubble. Good luck with your thesis.
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Thanks Sarah.I might be tempted to share your stiff drink. As for Times Past if you do thats fantastic if you don’t I understand. Don’t let it stress you.
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Oh! That toad! Pretty creepy! I’m glad you were able to catch it without too much hassle. A September deadline seems so far away but it is not! It’ll be here in no time!
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With the puppy around I’m glad we got him as well. I have to submit to the examiners, give them time to comment and get it back to me and then make the changes, additions that they may require and get it signed off or re-examined by Sept. In reality I have to have it finished and off by April.The panic is setting in.
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I had quite a laugh over your cane toad capture. Somehow those sorts of “critter” incidents seem to happen to me a lot too. You certainly handled him bravely! Best of luck with your thesis and I hope you enjoy the visit with your relatives. Of course everyone will understand if you’re busy in the real world.
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Thanks for your understanding Nooce and am relieved these critter incidents don’t just happen to me. Glad to make you laugh.
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Thanks for the coffee. The things we take for granted: spiders, possums, cane toads! I’m pleased you got that last one sorted.
I hope your visitors enjoy their stay. With you working 8 – 10 hours a day they won’t see much of you, unless you never sleep.
I look forward to seeing what all the people are looking at in the pic. These Wasgij’s sound fascinating.
Have a great week. Be successful with your writing!
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Thanks Norah. I have fears but luckily not regarding spiders and snakes or frogs. Toads are just a pain although I do worry about the dogs especially with an inquisitive puppy. Luckily they are here for so long that I should be able to have a lot of time with them. At the last minute she changed her mind as to which puzzle she was going to do. I’ll have to post another photo with its outcome.My Mum and Sils spend hours on it whilst I can do some work. Thanks
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Sounds like you’ve got things sorted out pretty well to suit everyone. 🙂
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You do have a lot on yor plate to wok though. Yor description of the apture of the toad was good. Company is always fun but can be exhausting. WORLD PEACE
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Thanks BettyLouise. World Peace a dream I hope we can make reality
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Love that puzzle!
But that toad…Oh nooooo. Nope. Nope. Glad you got it safely away from your creatures and yourself, but I do wonder when you’ll have a chance to take it out of the freezer!!
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Our German guests insisted on looking at it in its frozen state as they had not seen it the night before as they watched our capers from indoors. It will go in the bin on Thursday. Now to catch the tadpoles (or should I say toadpols)
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Yikes—good luck with all of that! Hope you were safe and successful.
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You are quite the Aussie Buckaroo, Irene, outside herding cane toads at night! They sound hideous and I don’t know I’d want it in my freezer too long! We have bull frogs that began courtship in May and they sound like bad tuba players. Enjoy your family and wishing you the best with your work!
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Love that Charli – ‘Aussie Buckaroo’! And I remember bull frogs in CA 🙂
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LOL. They are hideous and it is now out of my freezer. When Roger catches them he doesn’t seal the bag with a knot. The last one he did when I opened the freezer the next day there was the toad out of its bag. It had obviously been hopping around in the freezer till it froze. That, I didn’t like.
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Oh Irene, that Cane Toad is horrible! I am so squeamish about things like that…I love Charli’s comment about being an Aussie Buckaroo, I agree!! Ahh…32 degrees by day is my idea of perfect, for the summer of course 🙂 It’s colder here at last, but not much frost to speak of here in the south west. Sweet little Muffin…hopefully she’ll settle back down again as she gets used to your visitors. Our cats disappear for the first day of company (and Bunny too, into his house) then they’re fine again. I wish you the very best with your writing my friend. You’ll get there, I have every faith in you and don’t worry if you can’t visit us as often as you like, we understand, but you know that the door to the Summerhouse is open, night or day, rain or shine, and hugs of greeting await 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Sherri. I agree the Cane Toad is a ghastly critter and I enjoy being an Aussie Buckaroo. Great compliment. Perfect temperature for summer and the humidity hasn’t hit yet so it is really pleasant. South of us (which you’d think would be cooler) had temps of 41 and then yesterday it didn’t get above 17. I’m glad I live where I live. Thanks for your understanding. The next couple of months may be a little tricky but then it should start to calm down.
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Your temps sound just perfect as they are, but I do find humidity hard to cope with, even here in the summer and our temps are nothing like yours! You are in a beautiful part of the world Irene, no doubt about it. I hope you see another of those Cane Toads in your pond and yes, Aussie Buckaroo is a compliment, you’re great! 🙂 xx
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You make me smile. Thanks Sherri.
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I’m so glad Irene, so glad 😀 ❤
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The toad story if toadily creepy. No way would I put one in my freezer.
The best to you as you complete your thesis – can’t wait to hear you’ve been awarded your degree.
Enjoy your guests.
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You would Sharon unless you wanted to run a stake through its heart. At least the freezer way you don’t see it.
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