[Tamara]

Thanks! We are currently enjoying coffee at Bindoon Bakehaus and then on to Perth hills. They have the best coffee this side of the blacks stump (and the cleanest loos!)!

[jay_1965vw]

I decided yesterday afternoon to walk to the Maternal Child Health Centre with the kids (Josephine turned 6 months on Saturday, and I like to get her measured each month to have a lovely filled in graph!). I took Josephine in the stroller and Audrey was walking by herself. We got down there fine, and Audrey was walking with me very well, holding my hand when we were anywhere near the road.

On the way home, we were walking along a path which is separated from the road by a strip of wide vegetation. Audrey went a few metres ahead of me, where there was a path to a bus stop – straight across the grassy/shrubby area. Then she decided the bus stop looked more interesting. I yelled stop (probably the worst thing to do, as she started running straight towards the (busy) road. I slammed the brakes on the stroller and ran after her… slipped or tripped, I have no idea which, and kissed the concrete. Fortunately, Audrey stopped running then – she did start laughing, but once she saw mummy’s face dripping blood she came back and started crying instead.

I somehow managed to get her ‘leash’ on one handed, and walked the rest of the way home at a snails pace. I have bad grazes on my chin and top lip, a deeper graze on the bridge of my nose, and I broke one of my front teeth (dentist on Thursday).

Horrible, horrible experience, but I’d rather have a broken tooth than a squashed toddler.

[Tamara]

Oh ouch! You poor thing. I do hope they can fill the tooth to look normal again, without having to extract it and have a false one. But you are right squashed toddlers aren’t a nice thing to have at all!

[jay_1965vw]

Thank you for the commiserations!

I think the tooth feels much worse than it is. It is a corner chipped off, so I think they will be able to put a cap on it. I have no experience with tooth repair though!

[Sarvi]

Oh dear, that’s just awful! How terrifying (and painful). Thank goodness your little one stopped short and all the damage is repairable.

[Nicole]

Oh no, you poor thing. Big e-hugs to you.

[mcholley1]

Poor you! Glad your face is the only casualty, but sorry for it also. Dentists can work magic.

[with love Heidi]

Oh, that’s awful! I hope you heal up soon!

[Tamara]

My dad was made to feel rather important today. He assisted in making sure some of those involved in the recovery mission for the most recent world air tragedy (I’m sure you know the one) got on their respective flight safely and fast – he works at the airport. Our thoughts go with all those who have been effected by this awful event and prayers for those involved in the recovery investigation.

We took the kids to the zoo on Sunday and were given a very special occasion to witness. We had just gotten to the elephant keeper talk and had sat down to enjoy watching the elephants hard at work painting, when one of the keepers turned around with a sign and next thing you know there was a marriage proposal being made down the front! Something that doesn’t happen when we visit the zoo and I feel rather privileged to be allowed to witness such a special event in this couple’s lives.

[Sarvi]

While the special occasion I witnessed this morning was less romantic than the one you witnessed, I felt no less privileged to witness my neighbor FINALLY picking up after his dog. I was on the verge of setting up a camera to capture the perpetrator. Any tips for keeping errant pets off front lawns without putting up a fence? A fence wouldn’t look quite right on our street. Maybe a border of some kind of discouragingly thorny ornamental bush?

[Tamara]

I am wondering if you can get an invisible fence – like the snake blockers Nicole talked about a couple of summers ago. Poles in the ground connected to some sort of thing the dogs detect and stay away from?

Other than that, a warning to the neighbour the pound will be involved has been known to be effective. The owner is obviously lax in his dog discipline techniques.

[Brittney]

The best advice I ever got concerning keeping dogs off the lawn was from my mother in law, she told me to water the lawn early in the morning before dog started coming out because they don’t want to go on wet grass. We had a huge problem with three different dogs on our street and since I started doing that we haven’t had a problem. I know you guys have water restrictions currently, but can you water at all?

[Sarvi]

Those are great ideas! Thanks, pals!

[jay_1965vw]

Good luck with keeping the dog off Sarvi!

I’ve been to the dentist this afternoon, and had my chipped tooth fixed. Incredibly fast (35-40 minutes) and incredibly cheap – $190, which the private health insurance covered. I am feeling so much better now! Now I just need my face to heal, and my sore muscles to feel better 🙂

[with love Heidi]

Great news about the tooth!