Domestic Dogs

~ joannerambling ~ 3 Comments

Ok this was suppose to be yesterdays post but I forgot to post  it, silly   me

I have written in the past about domestic cats but couldn’t find a post about domestic dogs, so here is one.

What are domestic dogs well they are a subspecies of the gray wolf, belonging to the family Canidae. They are one of the two most widespread domestic animals on Earth the other is the cat.

Dogs were the first species ever domesticated, long before livestock or crops but maybe not cats.

Domestication is thought to have begun 20,000–40,000 years ago, archaeological remains of clearly domestic dogs appear 14,000–17,500 years ago.

It is thought that early wolves likely were self‑domesticated by scavenging near human camps, and that humans favoured wolves that were less fearful, more tolerant, and better at reading human cues.

Dogs evolved a powerful ability to digest starch-rich foods thanks to extra copies of the AMY2B amylase gene — often 7× more than wolves, with some dogs having up to 30 copies. This allows them to break down carbohydrates from human food scraps.

Selective breeding created the widest range of any land mammal think Chihuahua to Great Dane, also coat types, head shapes, e

Dogs are hyper-social animals shaped to live alongside humans. They communicate by barking to signal territory, threat, boredom, or desire for attention.

We all know that they sniff other dogs’ rear ends to gather chemical information about identity, reproductive status, diet, and emotional state.

Dogs excel at interpreting human gestures, tone, and facial expressions, a skill far more developed than in wolves.

The idea that 1 human year = 7 dog years is an oversimplification as small dogs age more slowly and the really large breeds age faster. Also breed differences play a part in their aging beagles age differently from similarly sized breeds.

Puppies begin vaccinations at 6 weeks, with boosters at intervals and later every three years for core vaccines. s

Dogs evolved to do the following, seek human attention, understand human cues, form strong emotional attachments.

In think we all know that the Great Dane is the tallest dog regularly reach 71–86cm tall at the shoulder, with some individuals standing over 7 feet tall on hind legs.

The heaviest Dog Breed is the English Mastiff which typically weigh 54–104kg or 120–230lbs. Other giant breeds include Saint Bernard, Newfoundland and the Irish Wolfhound.]

The smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua weighing between 0.9 -2.7kg or 2-6lb, there are other tiny breeds such as Russian Toy, Toy Poodle and Pomeranian. 

I may write more about some of the breeds.

History of Chocolate in Australia

~ joannerambling ~ 3 Comments

Well, here we are at another Monday and today we are looking at the history of chocolate in Australia.

Chocolate arrival in Australia sometime between late 1700s to Early 1800s, it came with European colonists, but it was rare and expensive. Which is why it was considered a luxury item for the wealthy, imported in small quantities.

By the mid–late 1800s with improved shipping, trade routes, and advances in manufacturing made chocolate more widely available. Confectionery shops began appearing in major cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia’s own chocolate industry began to take shape in the early 20th century, with several brands that still exist today. Those companies establish our chocolate identity by blending European techniques with local tastes.The turning point came in the 1920’s with the establishment of a major Cadbury factory in Claremont, Tasmania in 1922.

This dramatically increased local production and made chocolate affordable nationwide. Cadburys has shaped Australian chocolate culture. It is the go-to chocolate brand in most if not all of the country.

By the 1950s through to the 1980s, chocolate was to become deeply woven into Australian life. At Easter there was mass‑produced eggs became a national tradition. Cadbury began making Easter eggs in 1875, producing their very first chocolate egg from dark chocolate with a smooth, plain surface. Helping to transform Easter into the chocolate‑filled celebration we know today.

At Christmas boxed chocolates and novelty treats became common gifts.

Local flavours emerged, such as honeycomb, mint, and fruit and nut combinations.

In the 1970s and onward, boutique chocolatiers began experimenting with native ingredients such as wattleseed, lemon myrtle and macadamia.

Around this time Artisan producers focused on premium ingredients and craftsmanship, mirroring global trends.

Nowadays there is a thriving, diverse chocolate scene consisting of global giants Cadbury, Nestlé and Lindt. As well as historic local brands Haigh’s, Darrell Lea and Ernest Hillier.

Australia’s chocolate industry is now vibrant, competitive, and culturally significant, with strong consumer interest in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and premium quality.

Week 12 of 2026

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Good morning, all, I had a great night sleep getting 8hrs & 30mins and my BGL was 6.5, the temp is 15c or 59f although it is supposed to warm up.

My 11am it was nice and warm with the temp being 25c or 77f.

I had a good day felt like I got some things done like cleaning off my dressing table and the top of the chest of drawers and dusting and rearranging them.

Steps: 5,252= 2.6k’s or 1.6miles

Had a productive morning but a lazy afternoon, but that happens a lot.

Hello Monday, I had a good night, getting around 9hrs sleep been up since 4.30am it is 17c or 62f my BGL was 6.5 and it is going to be another hot day.

I have done the usual housework and yeah it left me exhausted.

I have had a good day; it has been a warm day but not hot.

Steps: 3,596 = 1.8k’s or 1.1miles.

Up early again 4.35am I was awake after 8hrs of sleep, so I got up it is 16c or 62f my BGL was 6.9

It is a nice warm day, when I was having my nap but after 50 minutes in was woken by the doorbell and then my phone going off. I found a parcel at the front door and the text was Tim asking who was at the door.

I have done a lot of little things today.

Steps: 7,882 = 4k’s or 2.6 miles

Another good night, no change that it was a great night, and I have woken up feeling awesome.

I have done the housework and I’m now waiting for Sue we are going shopping.

By the time I got home I was exhausted as per usual.

I spent some time sorting out the granddaughter’s money boxes, I bought new much larger tins for Sydney & Summer. Tim said it would take years   to fill them, I said that’s fine not planning to give them to the girls for another 4 or 5 years.

Steps: 5,545 = 2.3k’s or 1.4 miles

I slept well but was awake at 3.30am, got up at 4am, I had 7hrs & 40mins od sleep, I had a shower after Tim left at 5.30am.

At 4.30am it was 19c or 66f, my BGL was 6.0

It is a nice day, I feel good but around 11am I started to not feel good, so I went and had an hour-long nap.

Around 5.30pm I went downhill fast couldn’t concentrate and felt very tired I will be in bed by 7pm.

Steps: 4,692= 2.3k’s or 1.4miles

I slept through the night waking at 4.15am feeling awake so got up, it is 19c or 66f, I had 9hrs of sleep.

Tim left around 12.30pm for work and I went for a nap at 1pm.

It has been a warm day with the temp around 25c or 77f.

Saw Blain he came just to check on me and later in the day I saw Sam and Bailey.

Steps: 8,086=k’s or 2.5miles

The post with links to other posts

~ joannerambling ~ Leave a comment

 Hi all, I have been a bit slack this week should have posted this yesterday but didn’t

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/getting-to-know-you-or-me.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/share-your-world_0223717321.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-green-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/getting-to-know-who-you-or-me.html

.

Colours

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Good afternoon, all, I have been thinking about colours and the different shades of colours, when I was a child there didn’t seem to be as many different shades of colours.

When it comes to primary colours even, they vary like with traditional art/painting they are red, yellow, blue, these are the primary colours taught in many schools.

When it comes to digital screens the colours are red, green, blue. These match the three types of cone cells in your eyes, which is why screens use them.

Then we have the colours used in printing they are cyan, magenta, yellow, black. Printers add black (K) to make CMYK for deeper shadows.

However, compared to when I was a child there now seems to be an unknown number of shades of different colours. Once there seemed to be only about 6 different shades of each colour.

When we think of shades, we think of different shades of the primary colours.

Am I the only person who feels this was how it was.

History of chocolate

~ joannerambling ~ 6 Comments

Hello everyone, today we are looking at the history of something most people like, that is chocolate.

The word “Chocolate” is likely derived from Nahuatl words such as chocolatl or xocoatl, though scholars still debate the exact origin. The first record of the English word chocolate was in 1604.

Some say that begins with sacred rituals in ancient Mesoamerica maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t but here are some of the information I have found.

The earliest known use of cacao traces back over 5,000 years in what is now Mexico.

The earliest confirmed civilization to use cacao, likely as a ceremonial drink was by The Olmecs way back around 1500 BCE. The is archaeological evidence that shows traces of theobromine a cacao compound in ancient pottery.

Then we have the Maya who cultivated cacao and drank it regularly as a thick, frothy, often mixed with chili, honey, or water drink. It is believed that it was a daily ritual.

It was considered “the food of the gods”, sacred enough to be buried with nobles. However, it wasn’t just for elites; many households consumed it daily.

Moving on to the Aztecs who valued cacao beans so highly they used them as currency, worth more than gold.

They drank xocolatl, a bitter, spiced chocolate beverage believed to give strength and vitality. Cacao was considered a divine gift from the god Quetzalcoatl.

Around the 1500’s chocolate had found its way to Europe with Spanish conquistadors encountered cacao in 1519 and brought it to Spain.

It was initially used as medicine; but soon became a fashionable drink among European elites. It was around this time that sugar was added, transforming the bitter drink into something closer to modern hot chocolate.

Over the next three centuries, chocolate spread across Europe, sparking debates about its religious and medicinal value.

It was in 1847 that chocolate became solid when Joseph Fry discovered that mixing cocoa powder, sugar, and melted cocoa butter produced a smooth, mouldable paste, something no one had achieved before. This mixture could finally be poured into a mould and set into a bar, making it the world’s first solid eating chocolate.

It was during World War 1 that Chocolate became a global commodity, especially after World War I, when soldiers received chocolate rations.

Over time new forms emerged such as white chocolate, couverture, and countless others. Also, production skyrocketed, with major markets expanding in Asia and Africa.

By 2018, the global chocolate trade exceeded US$100 billion.

Week 11 of 2026

~ joannerambling ~ 2 Comments

Good morning, I had 8.5hrsn of sleep and feel pretty damn good. It is currently 22c or 71f, we are looking at a top temp of only 25, with rain.

It has rained on and off all day and far from hot, I had a nap between 11 &12. I think I should have had another one as at 6.30pm I went into have a wash and get changed for bed, but when I took my PD band off, I became unstable and confused, I improved after eating something.

I have had a lot of pain in my left shoulder all day, even had Tim apply some Deep Heat to it.

Steps:5,073 = 2.5k’s                

Good morning, Monday, woke to rain again it’s another cool start to the day, I had 9hrs of sleep and was out of bed by 4.50am.

I have changed the sheets and the cover on Tims chair, vacuumed and swept as well as sweeping outside the front door.

I washed the sheets toss them in the dryer and folded and put them away when done.

I have had a good day.

Tasha looks like she is in a lot of pain this is due to how much lifting and carrying stuff over the weekend and the fact that her pelvis is screwed.

Steps: 8,330=4.2k’s or 2.6 miles

Hello everyone, I had a good night sleep with around 8hrs, I was up at 4.40am as I was awake. It is wet outside but not raining at the moment, the temp is 21c or 70f.

It has been a good day not hot nor cold and I have felt good all day.

Checked the mail and found four letters including one that was returned to sender saying the address was wrong, but we will see as I just sent a new letter off to that penpal. The addressed was the same as the return address on the last letter I received from this penpal.

Steps: 5,876 = 3k’s or 1.8 miles

Hello everyone, I had a good night slept for around 7hrs, the temp at 5am is 20c or 68f.

By 8.30am I had vacuumed, swept out the front, feed the birds washed the towels and hung them up to dry, I cleaned the filters in the washing machine and cleaned the toaster oven. The toaster oven was disgusting and took a while to get clean.

I have read around 50 blogs this morning which is about normal for me.

Timm received to parcels today and so did Jessica and they all arrived around the same time. Then a short while later a parcel came for me.

By 5pm I was starting to feel really tired and will be in bed by 7pm

Steps: 4,664 = 2.9k’s or 1.8miles

I was up early 4.40am, it is a nice cool dry morning. I slept well managed around 8hrs sleep, my BGL was 6.0 and the temp was 23c or 73f at 5am.

I have felt good this morning and productive I like feeling like I can get things done.

It has been a nice cool day there was some heat between 11 and 2 but not overly hot.

The podiatrist changed my appointment for tomorrow from 8am to 8.30am

Steps: 5,729 = 2.9k’s or 1.8miles

Hello everyone, I had a good night sleep getting around 8hrs and 30 minutes.

It is 21c or 70f and it’s only going to be around 26c today.

Sue and I had podiatrist appointments all went well, then we went to the Square to do some shopping. As we left this morning it started to rain and has rained on and off all day. Not a hot day nor a cold day just nice.

The table I ordered for Jess yesterday was delivered this morning that was a shock.

Jessica went and checked the p o box and cancelled it as she will be moving soonish.

Also, this arvo Jess bought me & Tim a pizza from Crust Pizza, just a Hawaiian pizza I really liked it don’t know about Tim.

Steps: 4,160 = 2k’s or 1.2 miles

KELLI’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 32 TODAY

After a good night sleep, I was up at 4.30am, well it was a good night once I settled down, I couldn’t settle at first and decided to try wearing the Beechband and it made a bloody great difference.

My BGL:7.1 and 19c or 66f, a dark and overcast morning, Tim decided to walk down to the shops instead of driving due to the cost of fuel.

It cost Tasha $125 to fill her car with the prize being $2.18 per litre although many places had it at $2.45 per litre.

It did warm up and Tim ended up going out the back and doing whatever.

Steps:9,451=4.8k’s or 2.9miles