Kirislin

I should probably do that too. Hope I didn't drag you back sooner than you'd planned.

yes, I'd love to see some more pics, and I'd like to hear an update on our little weightloss queen Bindie too. I know breeding is fraught with dangers and heartbreaks. I've only bred 2 litters so far from whippets who are reputed to be incredibly easy whelpers. I've had medical emergencies with both litters, for different reasons but so far I've been 100% unlucky. Not sure if I'd be brave enough to do it again even though once the emergency side of it was over it was so much fun, I loved having the puppies here.

wow, this is the second story of a dog being lost on an island. there was one about a year ago, a cattle dog I think. very similar story otherwise from memory although the other dog might have been lost longer.

Bloody hell, there needs to be a law against this much cuteness, it's hard to take.

yes. They are aimed at people just starting out. Some people prefer to just buy the body and then decide for themselves what lens they want. As to Nikon and Canon both are good it seems. I have Canon and I love it.

I used to live in Narracan (Gippsland) and I found a little spider there with a tail. I thought I'd discovered some weird new species so I rang somewhere, cant remember who now, but they said it was known and it was called the tailed spider, not very imaginative but if ever a spider was cute, this one was and I agree with crazycresties, jumping spiders are cute, as long as they dont jump on me.

ugh, I made the mistake of following more links from the one Persephone gave, brrrrrrrrrr! the stuff of nightmares. :D

Not a red back but might be related to them. Similar shape. Maybe it's an illegal import.

woo hoo another one, those Canons are selling like hotcakes! :D

What an ordeal for you all. I can see you must really love your dogs to go through all this for them. I hope Happy gets used to it all soon and little Prada will be safe and loved where ever he ends up. I can understand your reluctance to send him to China as well, such a little thing, good luck with what ever you finally decide.

very dark moody, but fascinating photos.

It was my dogs who alerted me to her in the first place, they were going psycho at the fence. I think they'd stay in and I doubt she'd jump over into my yard. She might be a bit nervous after I cracked the whip anyway, she took off like a scalded cat when I did it. I hate that she chases the roos, I've hardly seen them since she did that. There's so many houses here now and not much grazing areas for them. I used to love that they'd come here. I doubt wandering dogs could be shot here, it's too built up now.

Well my neighbour just rang back. she said the dog is supposed to be on a chain when they're not at home and her son didn't do it. I told her the dog came up to my boundary fence and was barking in a threatening manner towards me. She said let her know if it happens again and they will have her put down!!! I thought that was a bit drastic but she might be trying to make me feel guilty, I decided to not give an opinion on it. Hopefully they will make more efforts to keep her in from now on. I'd say the poor dog is pretty bored and she can see my big inviting paddock just over the fence, no wonder she comes over here.

Brown

yes, mine love them when they're black and dried out and almost crunchy, they have a sickly sweet smell to them. Mine also like dried watermelon peel.

I hope he will be OK. He's been through a stressful time no doubt, I hope he settles and starts eating soon. What are the vets like over there. Even if he isn't sick yet maybe it would be a good idea to sus out the vets for when you need one, hopefully never. I too would love to hear more about your move to China. Pics would be great too. Sending good thoughts to your boy Happy, and hoping he's feeling much better now. Did little Prada make the trip too?

How to instill a phobia into your kids.

There's a couple of ways to handle that, you either increase your shutter speed so you freeze the action, or you have a slower shutter speed but pan with your camera meaning you move it to follow your subjects. I love these sorts of shots although I am yet to master them myself. They will be blurred but it shows movement, what you hope to get is at least part of your dog in sharp focus (which I have not managed to do in these examples )and the background looks like it's moving because you've been panning the camera. Here's a couple of not great examples. They need to be side on shots, it wont work coming towards you. When they really work they look amazing.

thanks everyone. good to know she is OK. Please let her know her absence has been noticed and she's been missed here

this is exactly what I'd decided when I didn't hear from them. I'll put the note in their front door this time instead of their letter box and it will be along the lines of what you've suggested. great minds..

You dont have to justify it to anyone. Buy one. Luvlottie, that's a good friend you have there to lend you her camera. I especially like the second pic and the running one, even though it's blurry, they look so happy and it is full of fun.

what a fab day you all had. and pics to prove it.

Oh Baykinz, what a gorgeous pup, great pics you've taken.

No, they're not new to the area. I would prefer they be responsible and keep their dogs in rather than me have to go to the expense of putting electric fencing on 10 acres to keep their dogs out.

I remember the feeling when I got mine, all boxed up, so much to unpack and look at, so exciting and daunting, well, it was for me. I think it actually might have taken me a couple of days to take a pic cause I was scared.