Kate from Sydney (Ku-ring-gai)

And a to you and yours, Kate!

Bribery ... it is truly a wonderful thing with kids! This method worked very well with our kids, and now our own children are using it with theirs! Find something she REALLY wants and let her "earn" the money for it. For example, if you want her to remain in her bed for 20 nights, and her goal costs $10, every night she stays put, drop 50 cents into a clear jar by her bed. She can SEE the results of her efforts and even count the money to see how she's doing. This technique allows her to fail, as there will be nights when she regresses ... but what she's earned so far will remain in the jar and encourage future efforts. It's just a habit you're breaking, and this might work for her ... I hope so! The first time we used it with our daughter, she was 6 ... and wanted a hamster VERY badly!

Kate, here's hoping 2009 treats you and yours wonderfully!

Happy New Year, back atcha, Kate. I really enjoy your photos and comments.

And a Happy New Year to you, too, Kate. I wish you and your loved ones health and happiness in 2009!!

Hi Kate - thanks for the good wishes and a to you and your family too!

Kate! Wishing you a great new year!

Hi Kate.Thanks for the New Year greeting All the best to you and your family too.I have a similar dog to yours and have the same problem as Plum;50/50 dog hair and sand in the vaccuum cleaner.

Thank you for your message, and I truly hope that you and youts have a marvellous 2009!

Happy New Year, Kate! I think this is the first time I have ever emailed someone in a different year... :)

Kate, best wishes to you and all your loved ones for the coming year! I feel certain it's going to be a good one.

Here's hoping you and your family have a happy an joyous 2009.

to you too, Kate, and your family as well.

Hi Kate,
Happy New Year, we are from a little town called Skipton which is 50kms out of Ballarat have only been here a few years semi retired I guess you could call it, built our own home out here. We were originally out Gail's way in Wantirna/Ferntree Gully for many years. Very flat out here not very beautiful mainly farming wheat and canola although the canola field are beautiful when they bloom, what about you, Beechworth is very nice.

Hi Kate, Hope you had a great (and safe) New Year. All over for another year - hard to believe isn't it!!

THANKS ....MAY YOU HAVE A BRIGHT YEAR AHEAD!

Kate and for 2009 ... hope it is a good one...

Hey Kate, too. 2009...it's gunna be fine!

Hi Kate

happy new year to you and yours... hope its a good one!!!

Wishing you, dear Kate, and all those you love the best of everything in the New Year!

Dear Kate
Thank you very much for your wishes and happy new year for you and your family

Hi Kate, Thank you for the wishes. I hope you have a peaceful New Year. Good health and happiness to you and yours. Take care good lady xx

I'll have to update my date, but I sure got a lot of really good cakes.

Hi Kate, thanks for your birthday wishes. I delayed my return to work by a day - it seemed a bit silly to be going back to work on my birthday after the Christmas/New Year break! Luckily I have an understanding boss so it wasn't a problem.

Thanks for the Holiday greetings hope you had a wonderful holiday may 2009 be great for you & your family.

PS - my U-tube is what I was working on between Christmas & New & Years - the televised presentation of our Animation Trophy Winner is the second "related" video.

Oh Kate...having a bit of trouble with your commas and your sssssss's yesterday...incorrigable little blighters...aren't they! I do believe they have a mind of their own..........
Catching crabs.....lot less crabs being caught with all these Brazilians about these days....

dang keyboard...when will it learn to spell?
incorrigable = incorrigible...DUH...

Hello Kate - a very belated Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Thank you for your good wishes and I'm sorry I haven't extended mine to you sooner but things were pretty hectic at my place over the Festive Season with family staying with me.
I had a wongerful Christmas with all seven of my grandchildren together for the first time, so it was extra special.
Take care and best wishes for 2009!
Anne

Kate and Schultz -

Sandy and I wish you a Happy New Year - belated because of an avalanche of guests followed by clean-up and getting back to normal in the midst of ice storms. Sandy worries me when she goes out on the deck to go to her potty yard - I see her slipping and fear her legs will splay out and she'll be damaged. Of course, the irony is that I am the one who fell while we were walking around the circle! No harm - it was a swan-like descent (since I live alone I can believe whatever I choose to believe!), and I wasn't hurt (just my dignity). We did make another foray yesterday before the storm, and she enjoyed more hamburgers (no bread, just the plain meat patties).
We are settling in to our winter routines, prepared for power losses and all that nonsense of country living! Sandy has enjoyed speaking her mind to all the squirrels and deer who come to hang out around our house, so she is gainfully occupied during her outings. The deer often parallel us on our walks, strolling along on their ridge as we stroll the driveway! Obviously Sandy doesn't intimidate them much!

We send to you and your family our best wishes in this new year!

Kate!

Your concern is much appreciated. I have just been extremely busy at work for quite some time. I took a part time R&D job at Nokia, and together with my (reduced) teaching load at Uni as well as two graduate students finsihing their doctorates I haven't had hardly any time to visit here. Now the outlook has improved in the sense that I can take time for myself, too. Some of it goes to Sudoku, but I had also neglected my family and some other hobbies, so I probably won't play quite as intensively as I used to.

I really, really hope that this will become a good year for you. Sorry about not replying any sooner.

Cheers,

Jyrki

Schultz is on tough today Kate.

Thanks for the birthday greetings. I had a nice day. Had lunch with Hubby, two daughters and Laura. So pleased it has started to cool down!

Thank you Kate, the words of so many has helped so much.
We miss her but she will always live on in our hearts.

Happy Australia Day, Kate!
Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Cheers!

Oh Kate - my condolences on the loss of Schultz
Losing a beloved pet is traumatic, especially one so special that helped you through the loss of your brother.
He's waiting at the rainbow bridge. RIP Schultz.

Oh Kate. My heart goes out to you darling.The only consolation is that you gave Schultz a wonderful life and you will always have fond memories of him especially when you needed him to get through your brothers death.Life sucks sometimes.

Oh Kate..... My heart is crying for you. Schultz was not only a very special dog, he was a member of your family who was always there for you.
Just try to dwell on all the good memories, and remember that your life was so much richer for having had him in your life for 14 years.

Oh Kate - I am just despondent with sadness over Schultz's passing and your story about your brother. To think he has someone on the other side of the bridge to be his guardian and love until you join him (which I hope is a very long time indeed) gives me some solace.
My prayers and love are with you at this difficult time. I know there are no words that can ease this pain.
Hugs dear one.

I am so sad about Schultz crossing that bridge, Kate. As I said a few days ago, I Schultz. Right now, our "dog of a lifetime" is showing obvious signs of aging, and our hearts skip a beat every time we look at her. She won't be around that much longer, and I am in tears as I write this to you. We just don't find that kind of consistent, unconditional love in our relationships with people. Bless you all.

My dear friend, Kate--I'm so very sorry to hear about Schultz. His pictures on the site brought cheer to us all as well, and I know how deeply you are grieving; I've been there myself, and losing cherished pets, especially those whose unconditional love sustains us during our troubles, is a blow to the soul. You provided Schultz with a loving home and many years of warmth and happiness; even in his final moments, you were with him. I'm sobbing as I write this, wishing there was more comfort I could bring you. God bless you and your family, and I know your beloved companion will have a peaceful journey home where he's sure to bring joy to your brother who's saved a place for him.

And Kate, if you want to share any stories of your great times with Schultz, you know where to find me. Maybe it'll help ...