Weather as our teacher!

I've got friends staying right now on our farm, and today we've woken up to heavy rain. Weather is a great teacher. It helps you know the best way to behave on any given day.

No gardening today - maybe we'll go for coffee instead!

My brother Bert and I ran out early to check the fences and burn off a bit of energy. It was so good to come back home and get towelled off so we could sit in front of the fire.

Rain can make you change your plans. Rain is a good time for playing in the mud, splashing in puddles or listening to the sound of rain on the roof. It's very relaxing, and sometimes even exciting. It is a great time for retreating inside, for relaxing, cooking, writing or reading. It's weather for being indoors.

If you're like us dogs, why not put on some boots and a raincoat and go for a splashy wet walk in nature? Rain makes everything clean and fresh, and you'll work up a good appetite for something tasty. Weather connects you to the world, and that helps you be more connected to yourself. Trust me - it's true!

Are you even aware of what the weather is doing today? Are you thinking about it and letting it affect your actions? Weather helps us go with the flow. It's a great teacher. Check out how this lovely man enjoys the rain!



Learning: Be aware of the weather - its a great teacher. How can you best enjoy the day? How can you be connected to the weather? How does it make you feel inside?

Clearing out!

I supervised my humans today while they did some gardening. It's a really old farm we live on, and it's a bit run down, but it's good good bones underneath. So we weeded a big old circular garden under a sprawling old jacaranda tree. My mum had put it off for the longest time because it seemed like such a big job. It was a real mess, but with some good friends co-operating and working together, talking and laughing, all the weeds and crazy tufts of grass were finally pulled out.

And what a treasure trove we found underneath the mess. Hundreds of bulbs, most of them sprouting and some blue bearded irises already in flower. Nature's wonders planted so long ago, that now get to see the light of day and share their beauty again.

So I wonder, what treasures might have been planted in you long ago, that just need to be exposed to some light? Piano lessons when you were ten, a love of sport, a language learned at school and forgotten, a great recipe your nana taught you?

Or do you have some area in your life that needs a tidy up and make-over? What treasures might you find in an old journal, or the back of the cupboard, or on top of the wardrobe?

Sometimes the neatest surprises are right under our noses. And if the job seems too big, remember you can always ask for help!

Learning: A little bit of tidying up, digging around or exploring can uncover all sorts of wonderful surprises. And the help of friends is invaluable.

Travel - there's a whole world out there!

Dogs get bored. So do people. Staring at the same four walls, or the same four fences gets tiresome. It's just not good for our health. One of the reasons we were designed with legs is so that we can rome around. Getting out of the house, and even further abroad by getting our of our street, our neighbourhood, our city, state or even country is an adventure that will expand us in so many ways.

I love being tied in the back of our ute (pickup for your foreign folks!)with the breeze in my hair, driving out into the unknown, even if's its just the other side of town.

Short trips are great for the soul. Just try going somewhere different, or go back to somewhere you haven't been for a while. When we're in town we love to roam through Chinatown, go to the markets, or old parts of the city with interesting architecture. Its also fun catching ferries and chugging around on the river.

Out in the bush we take endless walks through the countryside, or explore quaint lttle villages and festivals. We visit friends, and even go camping. There are lots of dog friendly camping and holiday places around. You just need to look.

My favourite travel is the type you have to plan for and look forward to. Where you might have to save some pocket money, pack a bag, and go a long way from home. Adventure travel, walking travel, exploring travel, travel on buses and motorbikes, surfing travel, history travel. It's all good. And the food... One of the best thing about travel is making new friends, learning things and eating new FOOD. I highly recommend it. Take your humans, if you're a dog like me. If you're a human then get out your diary and make a date with yourself. Its so much to look forward to!

LESSON: We need to have breaks - they restore the soul, and give us much needed creative, cultural and social input. They also help us burn off energy and satisfy our curiosity so that we are more settled when we come back home to our normal routine. And did I mention the food...