This isn't terribly photogenic, but it's a handmade puzzle that came to California on a covered wagon, probably in the 1870s or 80s (as my dad told it, "after they built the intercontinental railroad"). The masking tape on the handle was a 1980s addition It takes about 1/2 hour to get the wire loop free of all the rings, and another 1/2 hour to put it back together again. Each ring takes exponentially more time to get off than the previous one.

Years ago, when my eldest was still little and my youngest not yet born, I was in Sydney on business when I saw this in a shop window as I was walking back to my hotel from a dinner. I ran in between meetings the next day to buy him and have him shipped home. Sometime after I left the shop, someone tied a handwritten manila tag on his leg. It didn't say "sold" or "Mtnrdredux" or anything you might expect. It said "this horse is going to New York" ... as if he were going on a trip! I loved the tag and kept it on him, until one day a helpful cleaning person snipped it off and threw it out. 😞 The whole family loves him. My SS has twins now, and we look forward to them using it when they visit!

The weekend here was all about the Australian federal election, so this is democracy, Aussie style: The polling station: Supporters handing out "how to vote cards" for their candidates (voting is preferential here, so there's a strategy involved in how your preferences are distributed) The all-important traditional post-vote "sausage sizzle" in this case raising money for the school: The results of the election? A change of government. The new Prime Minister and cabinet are being sworn in today (Monday). No messing around with the changeover!

Found in the park at work March 31 - it's a local project where people leave painted rocks around town for strangers to find. You're supposed to post a pic of the ones you find on their FB page...