For those of us over 30.....time to feel appreciated

Another Forward... email clean out time at the moment :) The thing about emails like this is they can't help but go over the top :)

For those of you who haven't got to 30 yet.....something to look forward to

For those of us over 30.....time to feel appreciated


THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY A MAN.

This is for all you girls 30 years and over... and for those who are turning 30, and for those who are scared of moving into their 30's. AND for guys who are scared of girls over 30!

This was written by Andy Rooney from CBS 60 Minutes. Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

• A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.  ·          

• If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it! She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting. ·          

• A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. 

• Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or what she's doing. ·          

• Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it. ·          

• Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. ·          

• A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.  ·          

• Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her. ·          

• Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 30. They always know. ·          

• A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. ·         Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her  younger counterpart. ·          

• Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her. 

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons. 

Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. 

For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.  

Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free". 

Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage, why? 

 Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire PIG, just to get a little sausage.

Beer Can Chicken and New Years

Like many across Australia cold meat and salads will be the main stay for tomorrow night.

I love nibbles so that will be first on the agenda from 7pm to about 8.30pm.  

Then will come the mains which everyone brings a couple of plates.

This is followed by desert which some of the ladies around here excel at.. (I am looking forward to cooking from good bush women)

Tomorrow morning I will be up early cooking Beer Cab Chicken and Cheesecake.  After that I will arrange the nibbles ready to go.

I really hope this recipe works...never cooked it before but looking forward to stoking the Webber up.

Beer Can Chicken

 Recipe courtesy Bob Blumer

Prep - 10 min 

Inactive - 10 min

Cook - 1 hr 15 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy

1 (4-pound) whole chicken

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons of your favorite dry spice rub

1 can beer

Directions

 Remove neck and giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper and dry rub. Set aside.

Open beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps so that the can is half full). Place beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, plunk the bird cavity over the beer can. Transfer the bird-on-a-can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can like a tripod.

Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat (i.e. no coals or burners on directly under the bird), with the grill cover on, for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F in the breast area and 180 degrees F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Nut Allegy People Need Not Read

I am a recipe collector and over the years have known some of the best cooks the outback has to offer.  I have decided to share otherwise these great recipes will stay in outback kitchens. 

The other thing is life is so busy in the lead up to Christmas that I don't seem to have time to blog all the time.

Enjoy 

Outback Girl

Savage Satay Chicken

½ cup crunchy peanut butter

1 cup chicken Stock

2 tblespoon dry sherry

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp lemon or lime juice

1 teaspoon grated green ginger

2 tblespn honey

1 clove garlic

1 onion

2 tspn curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1tsp ground coriander

Marinate chicken.

While cooking chicken Simmer left over sauce for 12 minutes to accompany.

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

Thanks to people who email great jokes ....  Not sure if this competes with the friendship poem which Bushbelles also posted but when I first found this I was having a week which I had used 3, 6, 8 and 9 several times. 



   9 WORDS WOMEN USE     
              

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up. 


(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house. 


(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm.  This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.   


(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!     


(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing.   (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.) 


(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.   

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all.  DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ..... that will bring on a 'whatever'). 


(8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F@!K YOU! 

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

* Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology. 
* Send this to all the women you know to give them a good laugh, cause they know it's true.

Old Windows - New Windows

Sometimes new windows open up and old sunsets are left behind.

 

My very last sunset at my 2011 job.  I will miss the family madly and stayed until the 17th of December to attend the local Christmas Party.  Below was my very last sunset.... what a magic end to a fantastic year.

No tears as I drove down the drive as they will always be in my heart.

What will the sunsets be like from my new window next year.  I certainly won't be looking out to the west I don't think.

None of that sissy crap - Friendship by Anon.

"True" Friendship
None of that Sissy Crap!

Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-

Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad 

-- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against  the sorry bast ard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue 

-- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile 

-- I will know you finally got laid.

4. When you are scared 

-- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried 

-- I will tell you horrible stories about how much  worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused 

-- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick 

-- Stay the hell away from me until you are well  again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall 

-- I will point and laugh at your clumbsy ass.

9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask;  "because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants:

Everyone can see it,

But only you can feel the true warmth.

Food and Recipes - Cream Cake Desert

The problem with reading blogs of talented food loving people is they make you HUNGRY...

Reading The McGrath's Kitchen made me crave roasted carrots.

Then I went over to The Shady Baker ... now I realise I need to food shop.

I could keep listing blogs but that is enough.  Here is a favourite recipe I use for desserts and birthday cakes.

Cream cake Dessert

cake

1pkt vanilla cake mix

1 instant pudding

½ cup butter

1 cup water

4 eggs

Beat cake mix, pudding mix and butter until crumbly.  Add water and eggs.  Beat for 2 minutes.

Pour into tray bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes before putting on cake rack.

Filling and icing

5tblspn flour

1 cup milk

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a saucepan combine flour, milk until smooth.  Bring to boil and stir for 2minutes. (It will end up very thick).  COOL completely

In a bowl combine the rest of the ingredients. Then beat in milk mixture until sugar is dissolved.

Mixture will be very similar to whipped cream.

Split cake into layers.  Spread filling in middle and ice cake with it.  For great effect decorate with strawberries.

Cake is a big mix and I use a roasting dish to cook it in.

Remembrance Day ... an opportunity

What a busy week that ended with Remembrance Day.  I didn't have time to blog this week

I love days of national importance and history.  The kids have so many opportunities to learn.  All that needs to happen is a little Google Research on my behalf.

I really should finish packing up the sets.  Avoiding them and sitting in the PJ's this late on a Saturday is just too much fun.

The count down to the end of the years is on.  I hope all the govies across Australia are enjoying the closing moments of the year.

Monday Magic ... when no nagging is needed

Some Mondays are a pleasure.  Kids are happy, helpful and don't need to be nagged.

This is one of those days.  I came into the schoolroom feeling slightly behind schedule, I now have finished all the annoying jobs and I am just waiting for the marking to come in.

When the kids are well rested and get to bed early on a Sunday night you notice the difference in a week.  Instead of getting behind on a Monday.  Hounding the kids all Tuesday.  The kids feel pressured and rebellious on Wednesday.  Everyone is tired and grumpy on Thursday.  By Friday we are grateful it is all over.

This week we will get through all Mondays work with a happy attitude in the classroom.  Plenty of laughter and everyone chatty.  The quality of work is a lot better.  The handwriting is less rushed.

There is much research about kids and sleep, while I am not going to quote links I am going to tell you that kids need  10 to 12 hours.

For example ... 

• Wake Up at 6am  - Bedtime 6pm to 8 pm
• Wake Up at 7am  - Bedtime 7pm to 9 pm

I know it can be hard on a property to get the kids to bed early and maybe that is why as a child my mother made us have 1 to 2 hours resting on our bed until we were 9 years old.  We could read but we couldn't talk and had to lay down.

Some other families and govies I talked to the other day actually let the kids have a 40 minutes rest in a big comfy day bed in the schoolroom.  The govie would sometimes practice relaxation techniques where you get them to close their eyes.

Isolating, living in the outback ??? I'm in desperate need of a quiet weekend

I had a great weekend and thought I'd share some of the joys of outback life.  I can't show to many pictures as only a few are appropriate. So I have put together a snapshot of various weekends. 

Life is what you make it ... I have never found like in the outback isolating or lonely and I have worked in some very remote corner of Australia. Often I have found myself looking for a quiet weekend.

Governessing can have a fantastic social life, it is just what you make of your time...

A couple of years ago I went out for 8 weeks straight to all different types of activities

• sometimes to a local event; gymkhana, rodeo, races
• the pub in a town
• a weekend out on the station camping or with the bosses at the nearest lake
• road trip with the govies sightseeing and having fun
• weekend at a govies cottage

The list could go on.  

If you don't have a car then share costs with a govie or worker and jump in their car.  I am lucky enough to have a car and enjoy picking up govies on the way

Sometime the weekend may be a spontaneous weekend in which the bosses and locals head to the nearest lake.  BBQ, sunburn and drinks are the order of the day.

 

Other time you head out on a planned weekend with other govies and station staff to an event...

 

Meeting each other and road tripping together

 Swags at the ready ...

Nibbles and drinks on the nearest tailgate

 

Ready to dance up a storm in the dust or mud

 Some drinks fall victim to the fun and laughter but all will be rescued and consumed.

 Sunday brings a big bottle of water

 AND swags to roll up

 

Some weeks end up in a pub in town devouring cocktails by the jug

 

Leaving your belongings at the door of the motel as you rock back in the early hours of the morning.

Sometimes a weekend at one of the govies cottages on her property

Plenty of nibbles are required...

  

For a relaxed weekend catching up

Eating is not cheating because life it about stayers

Nothing better than a sunrise after staying up all night

2007 Birds Nest

Found these pictures of a ground loving birds next under a tree for a couple of years ago.  Pretty amazing adventures when you are on outback property.  

I think from memory it is a bower bird nest.

Moaning Myrtle Moment

I am having a Moaning Myrtle Moment

I hate the end of the week! Do you know what happens at the end of the week in my Outback Schoolroom?  

I can hear the murmurs from other home tutors ...

1. Packing up the weeks work, 
2. making sure it is marked AND 
3. writing Bl*&dy feedback.

The kids are great at putting their work into the send in drawer.  Its a great acheivement for them as they don't have to deal with it again.  With tricky pieces of work they jump for joy as the put it in.

I then have to get the coloured pens and star stamp out.  Many activities I get the star stamp out and mark as they do it, especially when they are needing help.  Many times they call the answer out in draft work and you answer back....but still this all needs a tick on it just to please the teacher.  Sometimes I feel like ticking everything right or wrong just to see how well they (the teachers) are looking. 

The star stamp has been the answered to many of my dreams... I have started just putting a stamp on the page corner if it is all correct.  The kids do remind me to do it as I go now.  

One of the worst things to mark is quick maths ... a page of additions and subtractions.. no answers.  You have to quickly do them ALL as you go.  With Mr Procrastination this can be 50 wretched sums.  Do the teachers think I need practise????

Another horrible think to deal with is grammar sheets.  My grammar is my weakness and as such I prefer teachers to check.  Also when you are dealing with a multiple choice question for a Year 6 student I am at odds.  To be honest I don't mark english sheets UNLESS I am given answers now and asked to... certainly solved all my problems.  The teachers have got the hint and now supply answer sheets.

Then there is feedback, for me that either happens on a Friday as the kids work on Monday.  Usually Monday because after a hectic week of school my brain is fried.  I always think better on a Monday and don't rush through the set marking.

It's like an exercise in creative writing and I really wonder at times if some teachers actually read it.  Especially when any questions I put in go unanswered. I am NOT saying all teachers are like that some are brilliant at getting the sets back.... but then you get those who send it back 6 to 8 weeks after you post it in.

Anyway I have finished my feedback now.  

Kids had a great day at school.  

Sets ready to be posted on Friday or by next person heading to town.

 

Late Mornings - Late Nights

Many businesses you go to work at 9 and go home at 5.  Station life is just not like that! 

Even doing school in my little Outback Schoolroom is not regular no matter how hard we try we always seem to be having late mornings and late nights.  

Late nights mean tired children.  Often in the afternoon that will mean beanbag or lounge time.  Very handy area the reading corner in the schoolroom. 

Late mornings means they have been up at the crack of dawn, out on the station helping and have got back to school late.  Usually there is a flurry of text messages sent to me to tell me that they will be late.

On my big northern station life is busy, we have sheep, goats and cattle to deal with.  As Mr Boss has a mob of sheep, this can take a big chunk of time to complete each activity.  Sheep involve many jobs; crutching, shearing, jetting, putting rams out, getting rams in, jetting AGAIN and lambmarking.  

On a regular day my 2 students, Mr Pinocchio and Mr Procrastination, would come in just before 8.30.  Chatting to me about everything that has happen since yesterday afternoon especially if I haven't eaten at the main house.  

We do all the morning schoolwork and they head to smoko at 10am to 10.20.  The kids comeback for the second session, attend air lessons and finish work.

Off to lunch at 12.30.  We now have 50 minutes for lunch, far better than 60 minutes as it give them 10 minutes to get organised.  I don't tell them that.  :)  I now get back all the time they spend dawdling.  

After lunch they finish work between 3 to 3.30pm.  It use to be to just 3pm but I would find at about 2.45 they would pack up all the unfinished pieces of schoolwork so they could get out at 3.  A lot of school time would be wasted and schoolwork unfinished at the end of the week.  Now they don't look to pack up early as the time we finish is when I say pack up. 

Extra info about my living arrangement: The joys of having a couple of bedrooms cottage to live in means I get to have meals at my own place.  I have lunch at the house school days and sometimes smokos.  Once a week on a Wednesday I go over for tea as do other staff.  I do have other night meals over there when we have visitors.

oooh ... can't write anymore, we have visitors    

.

Computer Guru .....Crazy Nut

Sitting in an outback school room is no longer about crackly HF Radios and car batteries.  Gone are those simple days. It now involves lessons over the computer and the daily wrestle with the internet, websites, printers, scanners and emails.  Once you have finished dealing with all that there is still MP3 players, cameras, xbox's, headphones, microphones and touch screens.

Did I miss anything?  

Every morning I head in early just to get the computer on track, I no longer shut it off each night because it take too BL&#DY long to start up if I do.  To start up, get the email and morning messages up it takes for usernames and passwords.

I do love computers ... its just slow education department ones that annoy me.

Computer knowledge in the outback is often a curse.... there is always someone on the station that needs your help OR at times I just have to do something to make their lives easier because I can't bear to watch them struggle.

Some of my favourite tips ... to start with

Internet Browers: 

Stay away from internet explorer if you can.  Download Firefox and Opera and use them as browsers. I have a lot less viruses since I started using them.  Hackers and Viruses target microsoft.

Emails Programs:

Rather than using Outlook Express or Outlook I use Thunderbird.  Once you get into it, it is a fantastic email program.  I also have about 4 email address for business which I like to keep separate.  Thunderbird is great for this.

If you want a more social email program then try incredimail.

Photo Resizer:

Microsoft has a great little powertoy photo re-sizer.  Which after downloaded and installed to use all you do is right click and resize.  Google it and download. 

Don't email massive photos.

Remember pictures in WORD documents can be compressed.  Looking in the help

Gadgets: Found in Control Panel > Appearance & Personalization

Windows 7 & Vista uses gadgets which can be downloaded and installed to help with lots of things.  My favourite gadget is the Bigpond Usage Meter which keeps an eye on your usage without logging into telstra or waiting for an email.  You can search online and find many useful gadgets.  I actually only have 2 on my desktop, otherwise it gets cluttered.

Desktop:

Keep the desktop unclutter.  No more than 10 icons.  Such as Email, Internet, Accounting Software, Music software, Camera/photo software, mapping software.

I also create a new folder on the desktop and each time a game is installed I put the icon in there. Easier for the kids to find.

Remember Desktop icons can be deleted because they are always in the menu.

OKAY ... now time to look at the window then head out the door

So nice to look out the window and see grass waving in the breeze

 

Getting To Know Outback Girl

Thanks to Bushbelles for these questions ...

I am OUTBACK GIRL and welcome to my blog LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW .. full of quotes, photos and insights about governessing, living on an outback property and my own philosophical view on life.

Town or Country :   

Outback Australia looking at a sunset anywhere

 Music or Books:  

That is a hard choice, I love turning up the music (mostly country) but on a day when I am worn out a good book is a must.

Perfect Day :  

Good friends, laughter, drinks and nibbles ANYWHERE

Clooney or Pitt: 

Men in moves often remind me of botox, make up queens. Give me a sporting hero any day .. Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Peter Brock, etc. 

Romantic Hero or Action Hero: 

Romeo's overrated but a knight in shining answer would be great
 

Prince Frederick or Prince William:  

What a choice ... flip coin ... Prince William

Princess Diana or Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge:  

The Queen of Hearts, most always go for the original
 

Heels or favourite winter boots:  

Boots are the best

Australian Stockman or Surfer:  

Aussie Stockman with broad shoulders covered by a fantastic RB Sellars shirt 

Chocolate or Coffee:   

Chocolates .. Nestle Milkybar, Smarties, TimTams or Cadbury milk

Great Shoes or Gorgeous Underwear:  

Gorgeous Underwear always improves a girls mood

Pedicure, manicure or massage:  

All three at once :)  ... massage if I have to choose

Talk it out or keep it to yourself:  

Talk it out until I have analysed every issue

Karaoke - first to sing, last to sing or absolutely-no-not-ever:  

First to dance but usually in the cheer squad for the singing

One Beauty Product that you would recommend or can't live without:  

Palmers Moisturizer and lip balm

One book you would recommend to anyone or that you love and can read over
and over again:  

Sherlock Holmes books or Authur Upfields Bony Series ..can't help being a kid at heart 

Summer or winter:  

summer, swimming, long days, drinks on the verandah, gardening in the evening, watching the sunset

One life-changing moment:

When I realised that I can do anything I want to do if I just believe

 Rodeo's or Picnic Races:  

Love both but the races always has a more local and easy going atmosphere 

Camping or 5 star:   

A swag on the ute ALWAYS

One movie that makes you cry every time:

I remember watching Annie the first time as a kid

One moment you would like to revisit if  you could

Sitting up in Outback QLD with some girls who turned into some of my best mates

Favourite movie/song:  

The Sweetest Thing .. cracks me up  

or Just Looking For A Good Time by Lady Antebellum

Who would play you in the movie of your life:

Christina Applegate .. funny as and I could handle a body like that :)

Who would play the handsome hero in the movie of your life: 

Some unknown Aussie Stockman  :) making his big break

How long have you known your oldest friend :  

21 years for a mate I talk to ... not a FB friend

 
3 things you have yet to do:   

1- Go on an Ashes Tour to England (I'd love to do that)

2- Get Married, etc (Family would love me to do that)

3- Hire a Wicked combi and go down the coast on a walking frame with 2 of my good mates (we always joke that we will be on walking frames before we do this).

School days - happy or sad, good or bad memories:  

Happy to say they are finished, being a teenager sucked, did meet my oldest friend there

 
What - or who - always makes you feel better on those more challenging days:  

Looking at pictures of my good mates or sending them a message

Recommend a blog/website

LOL - apart from my own outbackwindow.blogspot.com

gritandgiggles.blogspot.com  ---  great insight into governessing

or governessworld.blogspot.com -- from the govie queen

OR for farming laughs and insights farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com

Something you are passionate about now

the outback lifestyle and community
 
Happier now than you were at 20 - honestly

YES, I don't want to go back to a girl with low self esteem and a narrow outlook

Describe yourself in one word only

Facetious

Words to live by

so many to choose from but my latest favourite quote 

The basic rule of human nature is that powerful people speak slowly and subservient people quickly -- because if they don't speak fast nobody will listen to them.

What is the one thing you know for sure 

Support those who support

Family and friends first, last and always

My Work Family

2012 - 13 Work Family

1 Miss Strong-willed ... the oldest of the crew
2 Miss Always-rushed ... the middle child
3 Mr Little-lucky ... the little one

Lady Chief

Mr Chief

The Station - my out west home away from home :)

2011 Work Family

Mr Pinocchio - the youngest student
Mr Procrastination - the oldest student

Mrs Boss - the mother

Mr Boss - the father

The Station - the place I live and work, the lovely up North sheep station.