: ( Saddened to hear that our oldest great-granddaugher was taken ill today but glad to know she is now safely home with her mum. A setback in her health regime which hopefully will soon be rectified. I await further news when it becomes available. This lass has had enough problems in her nearly 18 years and we can only send her our love and wish her well.
: ) Glad to hear from Choices that they have the go ahead to do our carpet and hopefully we will be able to go there tomorrow to choose type and colour etc. Maybe next week it will all be done and dusted. Big sigh!!
: ) I've spoken about Mother's Day and the two lovely frangipanis I received and that daughter and her hubby popped in for afternoon tea. Great day.
?? Phil had ultrasound of his liver yesterday and we await results. There was a 'something' showing up on the chest ultrasound he had a couple of weeks back.....doctor thinks perhaps a cyst.
: ) Phil has appointment with dentist for 5 June. This is good as a tooth broke a few months ago (no pain fortunately) and they say they can put a false piece on the front of it. He is so fortunate at 84 to still have most of his own teeth. This dental clinic is subsidised by our state government and with our private health insurance, usually the total amount is covered. Thank goodness for that.
: ) Although it is spadmodic we are still getting the odd shower so garden watering (hopefully) is now a thing of the past, at least for several months. Those green things springing up everywhere? Oh no, damned weeds!!!
: ) The weather has remained nice and cool (averaging 22ºC) so yours truly can enjoy being outside which is always a plus.
More news next week re carpet and liver ultrasound and great-granddaughter as well. Hope your week has been a good one and that next week will treat you well.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
TELLING IT ON TUESDAY (Part 19b) (1959-1962)
I threatened I'd show more photos of my children and here are some I'd like to share just for the sheer fun of it and because I can. No photographic prowess involved but just great family pics. Bear in mind that Karen was born in July, 1955 and Steven in September 1957.
1959-1960: Karen and Steven (1 and 2 at Fitzgerald Street and 3 and 4 at Walcott Street):
1. Proving to his big sister he really can walk on his own now:
2. Playing in the sand heap at Grandma's (seems the buffalo grass is trying to take over that sand heap):
3. Enjoying the winter sun:
4. Looking very serious. I wonder what had I just said to them?
Having fun down at the Swan River:
Sitting on the retaining wall at the front of the house in Walcott Street. Did I tell you that the road had been built after the house and was so much higher than the house that a walkway (bridge) had been built by either the Council or Main Roads Department across to the upper storey of the house and this retaining wall built at the front of the bottom section. In the background you can see how much the ground rises up toward road level.
In 1961 missing her front teeth, Karen aged six and a half.
October, 1961...morning fun:
Finally, a picture I've always loved. It is Mother's Day in 1962 and we had gone to visit Grandma Harring (Aub's maternal grandma and Karen and Steven's great-grandma) to take her a bunch of flowers. This was taken in Gran's garden and at the time she was 82, exactly the same age I am now.
The dress and jacket I had made Karen was always one of her favourites and the little trousers Steven is wearing were made out of an old pair of dark green gabardine slacks I'd had for years. Fabric back then seemed to last so much longer than modern fabrics. I just love the braces don't you? Karen at that time was 2 months away from turning 7 (she was in Standard 2 at school) and Steven was 4 years and 8 months.
P.S. Remember when I was a teenager back in 1947-52 we had lived just across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Harring, long before I had ever met Aub. Once again, a small world.
Gran was just 4'11" and Grandpa would not have been much over 5'3". You can tell Gran was tiny as Aub was about 5'6".
1959-1960: Karen and Steven (1 and 2 at Fitzgerald Street and 3 and 4 at Walcott Street):
1. Proving to his big sister he really can walk on his own now:
2. Playing in the sand heap at Grandma's (seems the buffalo grass is trying to take over that sand heap):
3. Enjoying the winter sun:
4. Looking very serious. I wonder what had I just said to them?
Having fun down at the Swan River:
A basketful of trouble:
Sitting on the retaining wall at the front of the house in Walcott Street. Did I tell you that the road had been built after the house and was so much higher than the house that a walkway (bridge) had been built by either the Council or Main Roads Department across to the upper storey of the house and this retaining wall built at the front of the bottom section. In the background you can see how much the ground rises up toward road level.
In 1961 missing her front teeth, Karen aged six and a half.
October, 1961...morning fun:
Finally, a picture I've always loved. It is Mother's Day in 1962 and we had gone to visit Grandma Harring (Aub's maternal grandma and Karen and Steven's great-grandma) to take her a bunch of flowers. This was taken in Gran's garden and at the time she was 82, exactly the same age I am now.
The dress and jacket I had made Karen was always one of her favourites and the little trousers Steven is wearing were made out of an old pair of dark green gabardine slacks I'd had for years. Fabric back then seemed to last so much longer than modern fabrics. I just love the braces don't you? Karen at that time was 2 months away from turning 7 (she was in Standard 2 at school) and Steven was 4 years and 8 months.
P.S. Remember when I was a teenager back in 1947-52 we had lived just across the street from Grandma and Grandpa Harring, long before I had ever met Aub. Once again, a small world.
Gran was just 4'11" and Grandpa would not have been much over 5'3". You can tell Gran was tiny as Aub was about 5'6".
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
TELLING IT ON TUESDAY (Part 19a) 1958-1962
In Parts 18a and 18b I told of the birth of our son Steven, of Karen's walkabout and pictures of both kiddies. I also told how I had taken the two children and we were living with my mother and it was while we were still living there that Steven began to talk quite well and actually took his first steps....at eighteen months. For quite a while he had seemed as though he would do so but continued to cling on to fences etc as you can see here...on mum's front verandah and also on the fence in her front garden. These would have been taken in February and March, 1958 when the weather was still very hot:
and here I think he'd just given up the idea and decided to sit down.
Although Steven's hair had been quite dark and straight when he was born by the time he was 18 months it had gone fair and was very curly. So, it was talking, walking and a new hair style all at the same time.
These 3 pictures of Karen and Steven were taken during 1958/59 while we were still staying with my mother. I had to include them as I think all three are worth sharing. Not sure why one is black and white and the other more sepia tone as all taken with the same camera.
I eventually gave in to Aub's pleading for us to go back to him, but not before I gave him a list of things that needed doing to the house before we returned. The most important item was to have gates at the bottom and top of the stairs so I didn't have the constant worry of one of the kiddies climbing up or falling down. This he did straight away plus a couple of other small things I felt were needed to make the house a better place for all of us to live.
We returned to Walcott Street about mid-1959 but unfortunately a few items on my list never did get done. Perhaps I should have insisted on everything being done before we went back but then I am far from perfect, nor have I ever been perfect, so not my place to criticise too harshly.
These two snaps show Karen at 4 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months (still with that teddy bear who now seems to have his/her own clothes:
I guess everything returned to something like normal but looking back I doubt it was ever the same as during the first few years. Aub was often away weekends fishing or shooting and he had begun to drink more than before. I often joked that I'd perhaps driven him to drink but those that knew us both very well denied that was the case, even recently, but I guess he'd just begun to enjoy drinking with his mates and that was all there was to it. Perhaps he didn't like being tied to a wife and kids all the time......who knows what gets into a person's head. I do remember him saying on one occasion "If it wasn't for you and the kids, a bloke could get on." Not the kindest of remarks by any means. I think it was that type of remark he often made than rather deflated any confidence I'd originally had in myself.
At about this time there were several changes in Perth as well. We had had trams since 1899, mainly to the northern suburbs but also east and west and one line that ran to the Perth Zoo, south of the river. From 1949 the tram service began to be wound down with the final tram (#66 on route 18) travelling from Inglewood to Perth on 19 July, 1958. From then on we had trolley buses running past our home in Walcott Street and, very conveniently, the bus stop on the homeward journey was right at our front gate.
We were still having money problems even though Aub had a full-time job and made furniture for people in the big workshop he had set up in the shed in our back garden. I've said before and I'll say it again, he was a first class cabinet maker and some of his work was quite beautiful. I always laughed as he would always test anything he'd made to make sure it was strong enough by jumping on it after carefully putting a cloth on it in order not to spoil the surface. He was very proud of his work and once asked a customer if he could bring me to see a built-in bedroom suite he had built for her and her husband. I must admit it was a stylish piece of work, even down to a drawer that was fully lined with formica so she could keep her stockings in there without fear of them being snagged.
Unfortunately money mismanagement came to the fore. With his full-time job and his work on the side we should have been doing really well but I couldn't get him to see reason when it came to handling money. When he was given a job to do he would request a deposit for the cost of the materials that would be needed but instead of collecting the timber and paying for it he would bring it home and when the account arrived he would have spent the money on something he wanted. Thus, when the job was done he had to use the money to pay the account for the timber and fittings. We just never got ahead and when one day he suggested he give up his paid job and work on his own if I would keep the books for him, I refused point blank as I could see us getting into all sorts of strife, possibly worse than we'd been in before. Maybe this was a bad decision on my part but I just couldn't take the risk with two children starting school in the near future. I am sure he resented me refusing to go along with his plan.
I think television began in Perth in about 1958 and of course it wasn't on all day or through the night as it is now. If I remember rightly Channel 7 was the first to appear (then channels 2 and 9 and later 10) and I remember them having a children's show each evening which my two used to enjoy watching. (I won't talk about when my two went to channel 7 as Karen may show it in her family funnies segment). As time went on more programmes appeared but I tried to have my two kiddies in bed at a reasonable hour on week nights. One night in 1961 I remember Karen asking if she could stay up to see a later show and I said no as she had school the next day. She stomped off down the shed saying "my dad will let me see it". They both came up from the shed and Aub said she could watch the show. Now, I don't blame Karen for trying it on as children will but I was cross as she knew already, at the age of 6, that it was quite likely if I said one thing her dad would say the other. I did try on several occasions to persuade Aub that parents should should put on a united front when dealing with problems but he just couldn't see it.
Karen began at North Perth State School in 1961. They had no uniforms in those days but I always made sure she wore nice dresses and long sock with usually black shoes. In later years she has told me she always liked the clothes I made for her and had felt well dressed and that made it all worthwhile. Karen had quite a few friends at school and each year I would give her a birthday party which everyone seemed to enjoy. She did very well at school and was popular with the teachers as well as the other children.
This was Karen in the summer of 1962 having changed into her shorts and top after being for a swim. At that time she would have been six and half:
My mum at that time was Director of the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Perth (she had actually started the CAB in a small office in Boans department store) and she would go into Perth and return at night by taxi as she had never driven a car. Karen (and Del's daughter Diane) would both walk around to my mum's place and she would drop them off at the school by taxi each morning. They were very capable girls and would walk home quite safely in the afternoons. I do have a photo of the two little girls waiting outside mum's home but just can't find it. It's obviously in that wonderful place called 'somewhere'.
Unfortunately Aub was very hard on Karen and almost from the time Steven could crawl she would be held responsible by Aub for anything Steven did wrong. I tried to explain that a child of 3 shouldn't be held responsible for a younger sibling but I couldn't seem to make him understand. I think it was then that Karen began to feel resentment that her dad treated her that way. When she was older he was, I thought, almost mentally cruel to her. If she did something wrong (in his eyes) instead of punishing her there and then, perhaps with a smack on the bottom, he would say he would see her in the bathroom at 5 o'clock. I tried my best to prevent him from doing this but he had this idea that if she had to wait for punishment it would teach her to behave. It just built up more resentment against her father which has, unfortunately, stayed with her to this very day.
I have never really believed in smacking children unnecessarily although I must admit I can remember two occasions when I did give Karen a good smacking as she had been very naughty. She could be defiant and if I threatened to smack her she would say "All right. Smack me then!" That was a difficult one to get around. Fortunately it didn't happen too often and I found that time out....sitting in her chair in the corner....usually worked well. Steven didn't like to be smacked at all and if he knew I was cross he would say "Don't smack me mummy. I'll be good." That of course was when he was still quite little. Both of them changed as they got older of course.
It was strange to have Steven home alone with me after having the two kiddies to care for but he and I got on very well but we still had the problem of him being so terribly shy. I remember one day walking around to see Del. Steven was with me and all was fine until suddenly a lady he didn't know (it was actually Del's mother-in-law) was coming out of the their front door. He literally screamed and it took me quite a while to settle him down. Had it been Del at the front door it would have been fine but a stranger.....no. I had been very shy but was never that bad and it was a problem we had to somehow eventually overcome. His shyness became quite a problem as he grew older.
I think Aub did his best for the kids but I don't think he was ever one of those people that thought his children should have better advantages than he'd had. His dad had died when he was only 8 and left him and his mother not very well off. Fortunately, she being an excellent dressmaker, was able to work at home and still be able to care for him and and his big sister (who at that time was 18). He'd gone to a state (government) school and could see no reason why they shouldn't do so as well. Fortunately North Perth school was as very good one with great teacher so I was quite happy for them to attend that school, at least for the time being.
This picture was taken of the kids with their dad somewhere at the beach in the winter of 1960. There seems to be a young dog in the photo and I have no recall of it. The only dog I remember is Jenny, the labrador we were given when she was fully grown.
Life sort of went on (not a good way to describe it) but it did go on for better or worse (I think I remember saying those very words in 1953) but I can't say it was a happy one for everyone. Karen enjoyed school and Steven was no trouble at home but I had to begin to prepare him for him beginning school in 1963 and I was concerned how well he would cope.
Once again, I hope I've not written too much. It's all rather boring really and it's difficult to make a good story out of it. I may do the same thing on Wednesday that I did last week and share some more family photos. Apart from those when Karen was a baby I don't think there are many photos that include me over the years. I guess in most cases it was always me behind the camera and not in front of it, which perhaps is just as well. : )
and here I think he'd just given up the idea and decided to sit down.
Although Steven's hair had been quite dark and straight when he was born by the time he was 18 months it had gone fair and was very curly. So, it was talking, walking and a new hair style all at the same time.
These 3 pictures of Karen and Steven were taken during 1958/59 while we were still staying with my mother. I had to include them as I think all three are worth sharing. Not sure why one is black and white and the other more sepia tone as all taken with the same camera.
I eventually gave in to Aub's pleading for us to go back to him, but not before I gave him a list of things that needed doing to the house before we returned. The most important item was to have gates at the bottom and top of the stairs so I didn't have the constant worry of one of the kiddies climbing up or falling down. This he did straight away plus a couple of other small things I felt were needed to make the house a better place for all of us to live.
We returned to Walcott Street about mid-1959 but unfortunately a few items on my list never did get done. Perhaps I should have insisted on everything being done before we went back but then I am far from perfect, nor have I ever been perfect, so not my place to criticise too harshly.
These two snaps show Karen at 4 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months (still with that teddy bear who now seems to have his/her own clothes:
I guess everything returned to something like normal but looking back I doubt it was ever the same as during the first few years. Aub was often away weekends fishing or shooting and he had begun to drink more than before. I often joked that I'd perhaps driven him to drink but those that knew us both very well denied that was the case, even recently, but I guess he'd just begun to enjoy drinking with his mates and that was all there was to it. Perhaps he didn't like being tied to a wife and kids all the time......who knows what gets into a person's head. I do remember him saying on one occasion "If it wasn't for you and the kids, a bloke could get on." Not the kindest of remarks by any means. I think it was that type of remark he often made than rather deflated any confidence I'd originally had in myself.
At about this time there were several changes in Perth as well. We had had trams since 1899, mainly to the northern suburbs but also east and west and one line that ran to the Perth Zoo, south of the river. From 1949 the tram service began to be wound down with the final tram (#66 on route 18) travelling from Inglewood to Perth on 19 July, 1958. From then on we had trolley buses running past our home in Walcott Street and, very conveniently, the bus stop on the homeward journey was right at our front gate.
We were still having money problems even though Aub had a full-time job and made furniture for people in the big workshop he had set up in the shed in our back garden. I've said before and I'll say it again, he was a first class cabinet maker and some of his work was quite beautiful. I always laughed as he would always test anything he'd made to make sure it was strong enough by jumping on it after carefully putting a cloth on it in order not to spoil the surface. He was very proud of his work and once asked a customer if he could bring me to see a built-in bedroom suite he had built for her and her husband. I must admit it was a stylish piece of work, even down to a drawer that was fully lined with formica so she could keep her stockings in there without fear of them being snagged.
Unfortunately money mismanagement came to the fore. With his full-time job and his work on the side we should have been doing really well but I couldn't get him to see reason when it came to handling money. When he was given a job to do he would request a deposit for the cost of the materials that would be needed but instead of collecting the timber and paying for it he would bring it home and when the account arrived he would have spent the money on something he wanted. Thus, when the job was done he had to use the money to pay the account for the timber and fittings. We just never got ahead and when one day he suggested he give up his paid job and work on his own if I would keep the books for him, I refused point blank as I could see us getting into all sorts of strife, possibly worse than we'd been in before. Maybe this was a bad decision on my part but I just couldn't take the risk with two children starting school in the near future. I am sure he resented me refusing to go along with his plan.
I think television began in Perth in about 1958 and of course it wasn't on all day or through the night as it is now. If I remember rightly Channel 7 was the first to appear (then channels 2 and 9 and later 10) and I remember them having a children's show each evening which my two used to enjoy watching. (I won't talk about when my two went to channel 7 as Karen may show it in her family funnies segment). As time went on more programmes appeared but I tried to have my two kiddies in bed at a reasonable hour on week nights. One night in 1961 I remember Karen asking if she could stay up to see a later show and I said no as she had school the next day. She stomped off down the shed saying "my dad will let me see it". They both came up from the shed and Aub said she could watch the show. Now, I don't blame Karen for trying it on as children will but I was cross as she knew already, at the age of 6, that it was quite likely if I said one thing her dad would say the other. I did try on several occasions to persuade Aub that parents should should put on a united front when dealing with problems but he just couldn't see it.
Karen began at North Perth State School in 1961. They had no uniforms in those days but I always made sure she wore nice dresses and long sock with usually black shoes. In later years she has told me she always liked the clothes I made for her and had felt well dressed and that made it all worthwhile. Karen had quite a few friends at school and each year I would give her a birthday party which everyone seemed to enjoy. She did very well at school and was popular with the teachers as well as the other children.
This was Karen in the summer of 1962 having changed into her shorts and top after being for a swim. At that time she would have been six and half:
My mum at that time was Director of the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Perth (she had actually started the CAB in a small office in Boans department store) and she would go into Perth and return at night by taxi as she had never driven a car. Karen (and Del's daughter Diane) would both walk around to my mum's place and she would drop them off at the school by taxi each morning. They were very capable girls and would walk home quite safely in the afternoons. I do have a photo of the two little girls waiting outside mum's home but just can't find it. It's obviously in that wonderful place called 'somewhere'.
Unfortunately Aub was very hard on Karen and almost from the time Steven could crawl she would be held responsible by Aub for anything Steven did wrong. I tried to explain that a child of 3 shouldn't be held responsible for a younger sibling but I couldn't seem to make him understand. I think it was then that Karen began to feel resentment that her dad treated her that way. When she was older he was, I thought, almost mentally cruel to her. If she did something wrong (in his eyes) instead of punishing her there and then, perhaps with a smack on the bottom, he would say he would see her in the bathroom at 5 o'clock. I tried my best to prevent him from doing this but he had this idea that if she had to wait for punishment it would teach her to behave. It just built up more resentment against her father which has, unfortunately, stayed with her to this very day.
I have never really believed in smacking children unnecessarily although I must admit I can remember two occasions when I did give Karen a good smacking as she had been very naughty. She could be defiant and if I threatened to smack her she would say "All right. Smack me then!" That was a difficult one to get around. Fortunately it didn't happen too often and I found that time out....sitting in her chair in the corner....usually worked well. Steven didn't like to be smacked at all and if he knew I was cross he would say "Don't smack me mummy. I'll be good." That of course was when he was still quite little. Both of them changed as they got older of course.
It was strange to have Steven home alone with me after having the two kiddies to care for but he and I got on very well but we still had the problem of him being so terribly shy. I remember one day walking around to see Del. Steven was with me and all was fine until suddenly a lady he didn't know (it was actually Del's mother-in-law) was coming out of the their front door. He literally screamed and it took me quite a while to settle him down. Had it been Del at the front door it would have been fine but a stranger.....no. I had been very shy but was never that bad and it was a problem we had to somehow eventually overcome. His shyness became quite a problem as he grew older.
I think Aub did his best for the kids but I don't think he was ever one of those people that thought his children should have better advantages than he'd had. His dad had died when he was only 8 and left him and his mother not very well off. Fortunately, she being an excellent dressmaker, was able to work at home and still be able to care for him and and his big sister (who at that time was 18). He'd gone to a state (government) school and could see no reason why they shouldn't do so as well. Fortunately North Perth school was as very good one with great teacher so I was quite happy for them to attend that school, at least for the time being.
This picture was taken of the kids with their dad somewhere at the beach in the winter of 1960. There seems to be a young dog in the photo and I have no recall of it. The only dog I remember is Jenny, the labrador we were given when she was fully grown.
Life sort of went on (not a good way to describe it) but it did go on for better or worse (I think I remember saying those very words in 1953) but I can't say it was a happy one for everyone. Karen enjoyed school and Steven was no trouble at home but I had to begin to prepare him for him beginning school in 1963 and I was concerned how well he would cope.
Once again, I hope I've not written too much. It's all rather boring really and it's difficult to make a good story out of it. I may do the same thing on Wednesday that I did last week and share some more family photos. Apart from those when Karen was a baby I don't think there are many photos that include me over the years. I guess in most cases it was always me behind the camera and not in front of it, which perhaps is just as well. : )
Monday, May 12, 2014
MONDAY MURMURINGS
Actually I'm not murmuring about anything today....just murmured out for now with all that's been going on and more to come. Hopefully carpet problem has been solved. I had to ring GIO and check it out with them. I think I've sorted out the confusion and am looking forward to hearing from local firm Choices sometime this week to say their head office has told them to go ahead with the work. It will mean more upheaval of course but will be great to have it over and done with.
I hope all mums had a great mother's day yesterday. I know I did. Karen and her hubby came here for afternoon tea and I received a frangipani and a lovely card from them. Phil also gave me a frangipani so now I have three of them. Karen has lots of them and I decided they were one plant you don't have to do a lot to keep them happy so look forward to some lovely blooms next season and all different as well. These new plants both have a pink tinge and the one I have now is the standard white/yellow one.
More medical stuff ahead....dentist for both of us this afternoon, doctor for me tomorrow to have my B12 injection and off to SKG for Phil tomorrow to have liver ultrasound to make sure whatever it was showed on his CT scan is nothing to worry about. Better sure than sorry.
After that, once the carpet is done and dusted, perhaps we can look forward to more peaceful days. Younger folk probably wonder why I seek peaceful days and it is difficult to explain. Small tasks that I once took for granted now take so much longer to perform so when all these extra 'things' come along I feel crowded if that makes sense. Not enough time to be properly organised but I guess in the end we'll get there....we usually do, eventually.
Have a great week everyone and thanks, once again, for bearing with me when I have a bit of a moan. Normally, I'm a rather cheerful soul but sometimes events catch up with me and then I just have to have a grizzle.
I hope all mums had a great mother's day yesterday. I know I did. Karen and her hubby came here for afternoon tea and I received a frangipani and a lovely card from them. Phil also gave me a frangipani so now I have three of them. Karen has lots of them and I decided they were one plant you don't have to do a lot to keep them happy so look forward to some lovely blooms next season and all different as well. These new plants both have a pink tinge and the one I have now is the standard white/yellow one.
More medical stuff ahead....dentist for both of us this afternoon, doctor for me tomorrow to have my B12 injection and off to SKG for Phil tomorrow to have liver ultrasound to make sure whatever it was showed on his CT scan is nothing to worry about. Better sure than sorry.
After that, once the carpet is done and dusted, perhaps we can look forward to more peaceful days. Younger folk probably wonder why I seek peaceful days and it is difficult to explain. Small tasks that I once took for granted now take so much longer to perform so when all these extra 'things' come along I feel crowded if that makes sense. Not enough time to be properly organised but I guess in the end we'll get there....we usually do, eventually.
Have a great week everyone and thanks, once again, for bearing with me when I have a bit of a moan. Normally, I'm a rather cheerful soul but sometimes events catch up with me and then I just have to have a grizzle.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
SUNDAY DOGS
This is alas is the final Sunday dog and the only "Y" dog I could find. I am sure they are a delight to their owners but, like so many people, larger dogs are my choice. However, he does have a delightful little face and if you needed a smaller dog I am sure he would be a good choice, although in Australia it would more likely be the *Silky (see below).
The YORKSHIRE TERRIER is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the country of Yorkshire, England, to catch rats in clothing mills and also used for rat-baiting. The defining features of the breed are it maximum size of 7 pounds (3.2 kg) and its grey, black and tan coat. The breed is nicknamed Yorkie and is placed in the Toy Terrier section of the Terrier Group by the Federation Cynologique Internationale and in the Toy Group or Companion Group by other kennel clubs, although all agree that the breed is a terrier. A popular companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier has also been part of the development of other breeds, such as the *Australian Silky Terrier.
This breed originated in Yorkshire (and adjoining Lancashire), a rugged region in northern England. In the mid-19th century, workers from Scotland came to Yorkshire in search of work and brought with them several defferent varieties of small terriers. Breeding of the Yorkshire terrier was "principally accomplished by the people - mostly operatives in the woollen mills - in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Details are scarce. **Mrs M A Foster is quoted as saying in 1886 "If we consider that the mill operatives who originated the breed.....were nearly all ignorant men, unaccustomed to imparting information for public use, we may see some reason why reliable facts have not been easily obtained.
What is known is that the breed sprang from three different dogs, a male named Old Crab and a female named Kitty, and another female whose name is not known. The Paisley Terrier, a smaller version of the Skye Terrier that was bred for a beautiful long silky coat, also figured into the early dogs. Some authorities believed that the Maltese was used as well. "They were all originally bred from Scotch Terriers (note: meaning dogs from Scotland, not today's Scottish Terrier) and shown as such ....the name Yorkshire Terrier was given to them on account of their being improved so much in Yorkshire." Yorkshire terriers were shown in a dog show category (class) at the time "Rough and Broken-coated, Broken-haired Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers. Hugh Dalzeil, writing in 1878, says that "the classification of these dogs at shows and in the Kennel Club Stud Book is confusing and absurd" in lumping together these different types.
In the early days of the breed, "almost anything in the shape of a Terrier having a long coaat with blue on the body and fawn or silver coloured head and legs, with tail docked and ears trimmed, was received and admired as a Yorkshire Terrier", but in the late 1860s, a poplar Paisley type Yorkshire Terrier show dog named Huddersfield Ben, owned by a woman living in Yorkshire, **Mary Ann Foster, was seen at dog shows throughout Great Britain, and he defined the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Huddersfield Ben was a famous dog. His portrait was painted by George Earl and in 1891 an authority on the breed wrote "Huddersfield Ben was the best stud dog of his breed during his lifetime, and one of the most remarkable dogs of any pet breed that ever lived, and most of the show specimens of the present day have one or more crosses of his blood in their pedigree." A show winner, Huddersfield Ben quickly became the type of dog everyone wanted, and through his puppies has defined the breed as we know it today. He is still referred to as "the father of the breed".
Yorkshire Terriers - Mrs Foster's "Huddersfield Ben" and Lady Giffard's "Katie" ca1870.
The Yorkshire Terrier was introduced in North America in 1872 and the first Yorkshire Terrier was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. During the Victorian era, the Yorkshire Terrier was a popular pet and show dog in England, and as Americans embraced Victorian customs. so too did they embrace the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed's popularity dipped in the 1940s, when the percentage of small breed dogs fell to an all-time low of 18% of total registrations. Smoky, a Yorkshire Terrier and a famous was dog from World War 2, is credited with beginning a renewal of interest in the breed.
All the above information and pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
This breed originated in Yorkshire (and adjoining Lancashire), a rugged region in northern England. In the mid-19th century, workers from Scotland came to Yorkshire in search of work and brought with them several defferent varieties of small terriers. Breeding of the Yorkshire terrier was "principally accomplished by the people - mostly operatives in the woollen mills - in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Details are scarce. **Mrs M A Foster is quoted as saying in 1886 "If we consider that the mill operatives who originated the breed.....were nearly all ignorant men, unaccustomed to imparting information for public use, we may see some reason why reliable facts have not been easily obtained.
In the early days of the breed, "almost anything in the shape of a Terrier having a long coaat with blue on the body and fawn or silver coloured head and legs, with tail docked and ears trimmed, was received and admired as a Yorkshire Terrier", but in the late 1860s, a poplar Paisley type Yorkshire Terrier show dog named Huddersfield Ben, owned by a woman living in Yorkshire, **Mary Ann Foster, was seen at dog shows throughout Great Britain, and he defined the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Huddersfield Ben was a famous dog. His portrait was painted by George Earl and in 1891 an authority on the breed wrote "Huddersfield Ben was the best stud dog of his breed during his lifetime, and one of the most remarkable dogs of any pet breed that ever lived, and most of the show specimens of the present day have one or more crosses of his blood in their pedigree." A show winner, Huddersfield Ben quickly became the type of dog everyone wanted, and through his puppies has defined the breed as we know it today. He is still referred to as "the father of the breed".
Yorkshire Terriers - Mrs Foster's "Huddersfield Ben" and Lady Giffard's "Katie" ca1870.
All the above information and pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
SATURDAY BIG CATS
I love cats so much and was sorry to end the A-Z I was doing but have now found there are lots of big cats out there and thought it would be interesting to check them out. Unfortunately some of these beautiful creatures may be at risk of extinction even though so much is being done to prevent that from happening.
The AMUR LEOPARD (Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis), also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Rusia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjian). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea.
The cat is listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently, there are less than 35 Amur leopards still living in the wild. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered wild cats on the planet.
The Amur leopard lives father north than any other leopard and is the only leopard subspecies that has adapted to a cold climate. Its fur is thick and soft and overall the coat is a pale colour, which helps the cat hide in the snow.
Amur leopards are relatively small in size. Males range from 42 to 54 inches, with a rail length o 21 to 35 inches. They weigh between 70 and 100 lbs. Females are smaller weighing between 50 and 95 lbs. The cat's coat ranges in colour from various shades of yellow to gold and is covered in spots. The leopard's fur is usually much lighter during the winter months.
These leopards maintain individual territories approximately 20 to 120 miles in size, usually in a river basin. They generally live between 10 to 15 years although they can live up to 20 years in captivity. Their prey consists of musk deer, roe deer, moose, wild pig, Manchurian wapiti (elk), hare, badger, fowl, mice and at times, young black bears. They usually hunt at night.
Female leopards start breeding between 3-4 years of age and have between one to four cubs during the spring or early summer. Most recently, the average size of a litter has only been two cubs. The young cats leave their mothers within 1 to 1.5 years.
The serious decline of the Amur leopard population is the result of poaching, deforestation and loss of habitat due to fires. Another key conservation concern is inbreeding of the remaining cats. The zoo population of Amur leopards is believed to be approximately 176.
I found this information on bigcatswildcats.com where you can watch a video about the conservation of these beautiful creatures.
The AMUR LEOPARD (Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis), also known as the Far Eastern leopard, is a big cat that inhabits parts of southeastern Rusia (Primorye Krai) and northeastern China (Jilin and Heilongjian). A few leopards have also been reported in northern Korea.
The cat is listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently, there are less than 35 Amur leopards still living in the wild. The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered wild cats on the planet.
The Amur leopard lives father north than any other leopard and is the only leopard subspecies that has adapted to a cold climate. Its fur is thick and soft and overall the coat is a pale colour, which helps the cat hide in the snow.
Amur leopards are relatively small in size. Males range from 42 to 54 inches, with a rail length o 21 to 35 inches. They weigh between 70 and 100 lbs. Females are smaller weighing between 50 and 95 lbs. The cat's coat ranges in colour from various shades of yellow to gold and is covered in spots. The leopard's fur is usually much lighter during the winter months.
These leopards maintain individual territories approximately 20 to 120 miles in size, usually in a river basin. They generally live between 10 to 15 years although they can live up to 20 years in captivity. Their prey consists of musk deer, roe deer, moose, wild pig, Manchurian wapiti (elk), hare, badger, fowl, mice and at times, young black bears. They usually hunt at night.
Female leopards start breeding between 3-4 years of age and have between one to four cubs during the spring or early summer. Most recently, the average size of a litter has only been two cubs. The young cats leave their mothers within 1 to 1.5 years.
The serious decline of the Amur leopard population is the result of poaching, deforestation and loss of habitat due to fires. Another key conservation concern is inbreeding of the remaining cats. The zoo population of Amur leopards is believed to be approximately 176.
I found this information on bigcatswildcats.com where you can watch a video about the conservation of these beautiful creatures.
Friday, May 9, 2014
MORE FRIDAY FLOWERS TO ENJOY
This morning I need cheering up so decided on flowers again. Why do I need cheering up? I have no idea. Just one of those days that happen when you're old I guess. So many things going on lately and perhaps it's all caught up with me.
I am not sure that the first picture is of a flower but rather a fruit perhaps. Can anyone confirm that for me? I have shown it anyway as it is very beautiful and the colours so lovely. I am sure you will recognise a few of these.
Take the memory and beauty of these into the weekend and I hope you have a good one.
I must apologise for not visiting some blogs over the past few days but I promise to try and catch up. I enjoy reading them all so much so just give me time and I'll pay a visit soon.
I am not sure that the first picture is of a flower but rather a fruit perhaps. Can anyone confirm that for me? I have shown it anyway as it is very beautiful and the colours so lovely. I am sure you will recognise a few of these.
Take the memory and beauty of these into the weekend and I hope you have a good one.
I must apologise for not visiting some blogs over the past few days but I promise to try and catch up. I enjoy reading them all so much so just give me time and I'll pay a visit soon.
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