An interesting read....

My sister Angela sent me this link to an interesting read that I thought I'd share with you.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/25/health/brain-crafting-benefits/

Apart from knowing myself that my creative time is positively ESSENTIAL to my physical and mental well-being, the article is particularly pertinent as I am currently reading ''The Fibromyalgia Solution'
by Dr David Dryland, in an effort to understand and fight the condition myself. His theory is based around the fight or flight response which is on overdrive in people suffering from Fibromyalgia. This response totally depletes the body's dopamine levels.

I completely recognise this in myself.  But perhaps the article articulates why, in our busy lives with sensory overload, the "craft movement", and return to skills that modernisation rejected for a time, is experiencing a renaissance?  It talks about "flow", which many of us identify or call  ''the zone''.  I enter another world/level whilst I'm creating and come back to the daily world much calmer, happier and able to cope with what it throws at me, (translated to a much more fun person to be around).

I'm still puzzled by my forgetfulness/dementia/foggy brain though!!

Enjoy :)

another block for my slowing emerging 9 patch quilt.  Block number 26 I think.

Flower Power

So here's a few snaps from a funny old week.  Monday I was up bright and early to take Bridgie to have here wisdom teeth out - all four of them.  Lots of TLC required, including the making of lots of soft food...scrambled eggs, soup in an array of flavours, mornay, frozen yoghurt, drinks, regular icing and medication.  It's now Thursday and one side is giving her much discomfort. We watched a couple of feel good movies together...my all time fave...Mamma Mia.  God I love that film!  It is so much fun.  I love that age is no barrier to aphrodité!

Here's a pic of the patient - post op!  I had to snap a few (to store away for the 21st!)  I am a mean mother, remember?

Last night was a real treat - George is appearing in the play "'Illyria" a Curtin Uni production at Hayman theatre.  It's about war and new beginnings, quite intense and particular scenes incredibly confronting. Very well done.  George is a stand out in the production...of course!  It is absolutely incredible to watch your child perform.  She has such talent and I'm not just saying that :)).  It is so  so much fun to watch her theatre.  The roles she plays are so diverse.  She has great comedic timing too - not that last night was a comedy - her previous role was. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any post show photos (hopeless mother!) - hopefully on Friday night when I hope to see it again, ticket sales permitting - I was busy meeting all her co-performers and chatting about the performance.  The movement in it is very graceful in parts. 

This morning as I left for work I took joy in the wisteria flowering on my front verandah.  It is so true what they say about FLOWER POWER.  It is a great salve.  It is so beautiful.

And across the road is this divine tree, covered in flowers.  The delicate scent is beautiful.  I keep forgetting the name of it.....this time every year it puts on a great show.

 

 

Today I am off the funeral of a friend...2 deaths in 1 week...very sad. Dave was a very funny man, always making those around him laugh.  And so positive.  He was really pissed off he got cancer - he had so much to do with his beautiful Dorothy.  He leaves a great big gaping hole in a lot of people's lives.  What did he say...the glass is half full, and the other half was very nice...thank you!

It's taking shape

It's morphed again....I just wasn't getting my groove on with the quilt. I was feeling really pressured to make a BEAUTIFUL quilt...I want it to be very special and I think I was trying too hard, getting all het up about it.  So I did some deep breathing, grounded myself, drank a cup of reviving tea and sat and reviewed the blocks I'd made and took stock of the situation :)  Finally clarity and direction.  I would revert to blue and white - my original colour palette, drop all the green and pink and yellow....pattern wise stick with my version of  a half-log cabin as I'm loving the pattern and it represents crop lines. I can still link it the farm, the woods and fields, a boy and a girl, some animals, the domesticity of life together - cups of tea.... I've decided to use about 5 or 6 hero fabrics and base blocks around them. I've use Liberty Birdsong, Elevenses and the Scandinavian farm - can't remember the name of that one for the life of me.... so far with another couple to come...here's a progress pic....

I've now done quite a bit more but you can see the jist of it above and now I"am totally feeling the love, the mojo is on and it is all systems a go-go.

I had a lovely weekend, mainly due to lots of time sewing, me thinks, with sprinkles of cooking and baking and an evening of musical theatre seeing Jersey Boys LOVED it! 

Upon reflection of my weekend,,,,I realise I'm so much more content when I am creating something.  Having a purpose (ie deadline) to making the quilt has given me full permission to totally immerse myself in its construction.  Which makes me wonder whether I'm not giving myself "permission" to craft away when I'm merely doing it for pleasure.  (Don't get me wrong this purpose is totally pleasurable).  I'm just wondering if my underlying psyche is that expressing myself creatively and indulging myself in pleasurable art forms is a very selfish act and I shouldn't spend my time so?  I must work, work, work...keep housekeeping up-to-date...see that there is food for everyone, run the household, and deny myself other facets of my life that make my heart truly sing. Again, I don't want to sound as though I  begrudge all that I do...I don't.... it's life and bits bring me joy...clean washing...Am I weird?  But is there an element of self sabotage at play here or some deep seated Presbyterian/fundamental religious ideology?  Fun is not right...seriousness abounds.  Only when the jobs are done can we allow ourselves to relax.  Sounds crazy as I write these words...that I think I need to give myself permission to enjoy myself????  OMG am I sounding like a  martyr!! Maybe I just operate better with a sense of purpose?  Apologies for the stream of conscious mad ramblings!
See what creative play time brings out in me!  :)

I could scream Mr Bumble, I could scream

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I am so frustrated with blogger, I can't upload photos from my computer in any post. I've tried from 2 different computers.They have to come from a URL, phone, picasa web album or somewhere.  Why has it suddenly lost the option to upload from my computer? The upload option is there but there is no longer a search box there to use.  I am sure it is me being dense, but it is sooooooooooooo frustrating that something that used to be so simple has become complicated. What are my options?  Give up my blog in utter frustration, blog pictureless, use web images... I was really hoping to start the year off sharing all my projects etc.  Now I'm looking for a home computer tutorer...I've tried to create a new picasa web album after futile attempts to save to my existing picasa web albums.  I'm so fed-up  My fibromyalgia is flaring again and I just want to give up....but I don't really. I just want it to be simple like it was.  Today I could cry over it. Where is my fairy godmother?  Help...

Dreams

Dreams are so important aren't they?  I have many.  No different to the next person.  They keep me going.  I get excited at the prospect of them becoming a reality. At different times they take over my mind.  Want to hear what currently occupies my mind?  I keep conjuring up pictures in my mind of me living my dream.  I'm in situ constantly... floating off to sleep, daydreaming on the job, googling images and pinning away.  One day it will happen, or it may not, if by then I have a new dream.  But this one has long been with me and it comes and goes in its vividness. Right now it is all consuming, and I'm working out the fine details in my mind.  I can smell it and taste it.  I can feel the water, cool and refreshing.  I can feel the sun touching my skin. I can see the colours around me.  I can hear the distant natter of voices in a foreign language. I can taste the crisp cold wine I sip whilst watching the sunset.  I can see the supper of fresh fish and salad.  I can see the fishing boats resting in the harbour, that caught the fish i've cooked that very day! I hear a bell - around the neck of a donkey or goat clattering as they move.

My days are spent painting, reading, writing, walking the hills around me, crafting and swimming. Soft white curtains billow at the open doors. Days of coffee and friendly locals. Afternoon siestas whenever I need them.  I imagine feeling so strong and healthy, not a care in the world, blissfully happy and relaxed.  Finally feeding the creative me that yearns to be.

Welcoming visitors to share my slice of heaven.  Seeing them relax and recharge whilst there.  Lots of laughter and times shared. Crafty groups coming for week long stays and working on quilts and grannies.  My quilts adorning the beds and walls - alongwith artwork. Spending several months of year - my European summer home. 

I'm loving my dream right now, watching it grow and blossom in my mind.  Heaven.

Weekend in Review 5

A weekend plagued by headaches, that pounded away making me feel pretty lousy.  It's a regular once-a-month thing these days.  Pills help lots but it puts me in a bit of a fog.  Right now I can't even remember what I did on the weekend.

The one thing of note was that I finished "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski.  I really enjoyed the book.  It was different and beautifully written.  A story about a mute boy and his dogs.  I found the ending unexpected.  I gather that the ending of the book has been the source of debate which I found some notes about online. I was curious to find out what others thought of the book.  It's been around since 2008 so there's quite a bit on the web about it.  Read here if you're interested

I just discovered that it is the National Year of Reading here in Australia and it's almost half way through. (Must have had my nose buried in a book!) I worry constanTly that my girls don't read nearly enough. I have grown up in a family where everyone reads/trades/discusses/gives/is surrounded books. They inhabit desks, bedside and coffee tables, and shelves everywhere.  But my girls are that next generation caught up in all things digital and rarely pick up a book on a rainy afternoon.... I try to ease my concern by telling myself that they are busy teenagers with a wide range of interests.  They will come back to books and reading in the future and it is in their genes.  Their home environment exposes them to books.  They see me reading everyday...so fingers crossed osmosis is at work.  Because I cannot imagine a life without books.  Or does the future hold a life without books for future generations to come?

With the announcement of 2000 or so jobs to be cut from a newspaper printing house on the east coast.  It's a constantly changing world where the only thing certain is change as the saying goes.

I'm so glad wonderful artists captured reading.  Imagine people viewing this painting in generations to come. The description will have to explain what the subject is holding and why!

Weekend in Review 4

I feel as though the weekend was really very uninspiring.  It just seemed to pass in a blur and I don't have any real enthusiasm for recording it.

I baked on Sunday morning for a birthday afternoon tea for my besties birthday.  I made gluten free butter kisses

and a gluten free chocolate caramel slice.  All very yummy.  I also made osso buco and an interesting Persian lamb and rhubarb stew for evening meals.

I managed a grand total of possibly 10 treble crochets on my rug!  And I did did about 4 strips on one Russian doll quilt. 

The washing machine has broken down. As has the printer and the screen/monitor.  Part of the back fence has blown over in the massive storm we had here on Sunday. The wind also dislodged a couple of pickets off the front picket fence!  I managed to get grease and petrol all over my favourite red winter coat on its very first outing after the dry-cleaners so it's back at the dry cleaners!

I'm on anti-biotics again!  And now being treated for fibromyalgia.

Oh dear woe is me....I think I better eat some worms!  :))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5O4TaXY2gE

Weekend in Review 3

Ooops it's Friday and I haven't done my weekend in review post, although I've posted about a couple of things I did. My weekend was very very quiet. I blobbed in front of telly on Friday night.  Saturday morning did a few chores before heading out on my "Artist's Date".  I've read the book by Julie Cameron, The Artist's Way and try to incorporate random artist dates into my life.  I love that book and it sits beside my bed, so everynow and again I flick through it and re-acquaint myself with it. So with the prospect of a long weekend and time on my hands I decided to have an artist's date. I headed to Calico and Ivy to soak up some inspiration.  In particular I wanted to buy sock yarn and needles so I can learn to knit socks. 

The yarn for sale is heaven.  The colours are heaven.  I was in heaven.  My mind started jumping all over the place with projects I want to make.  It almost became stressful.  I had to take big deep breaths! I was there for ages fondly the yarns, flicking through books, looking at fabric, drooling over the Liberty bolts. Eventually... mission accomplished very satisfactorily!

Here are the socks I'm about to embark on!

Next weekend job was to buy myself some jeans.  With the weather turning, and not a pair in my wardrobe, I need to rectify this.  Again mission successfully completed - 2 pairs purchased - a dark dark navy pair and a red pair!  Thumbs up from everyone at home.

I also splurged on a wooden sign for the kitchen.  Very fun!

Sunday was spent doing chores and sewing my Russian Doll quilt - see earlier post.  Evenings were spent crocheted my wavy edging on my rug.  Almost finished - one and a bit sides to go.

A lovely walk down to the river on Sunday evening.  I'm so lucky to live so close to the beautiful Swan River.  As I approached the foreshore I could hear bagpipes.  I discovered it was coming from a small glen :).  A piper and drummer were practicing.  How special was that.  I stayed within earshot for the entirety of my walk.  It was very special.  I grew up learning Scottish dancing and listening to pipe band records with my Scottish grandfather.  I love the bagpipes, pipe bands.  The sound of them transports me to other times and places.

Monday was lost in running the girls around, chores and cooking.  I did squeeze in an hour of sewing, but that was it.

Foodwise I cooked a delicious chorizo and bean soup (thanks Bill Granger), a lamb and lentil stew, some delicious bacon, pea and parmesan mini quichey muffiny things and the dismal failure of a cake!

And that was my long weekend.

Long weekend anticipation

This weekend is a long one here in WA.  I am very much looking forward to it!  I'm piling a list of "My Favourite Things" to do.  It's looking ridiculously long...!  Saturday I'm going on a trip to a fabric and yarn shop.  I really want to look at great books with lots of knits etc.  Also crochet edges.  I've a yen to make a knitted shawl, knitted socks, beret and another crochet chevron rug, seeing as my previous one now resides in Doha, Qatar with my sister!  see previous blog gone to a new home! 

Anyway I won't bore you with my list - it's probably the same as most of my fellow bloggy crafters.  But I found a perfect little accompaniment for some of the activites ... a little sweet treat....

in a hexie box!  I bought a box of each flavour.  I'm hoping I can save the packaging to keep crafty bits in.  Imported from Turkey. I saw them and straight away though of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves... well I'll be stealing bits of delight all this long weekend. And dreaming of the day I actually get to Turkey...

oh and in case you're wondering... the yo-yos are multiplying...

My Quilts in Situ

I love browsing magazines and books beautifully illustrated with gorgeous interiors. They are sooooo inspiring and aspirational. .....SIGH!  Why a sigh?  Because my house never looks like that :)) My home looks like a real home, you know, lived in by busy people and their pets.  As I did the morning twice daily sweep of the kitchen/lounge/dining to remove the excess dog hair floating around, I noticed one of my quilts crumpled on one of the lounges.  I'd popped it on my daughter who was unwell yesterday, getting her comfy with a couple of pillows and snuggled under a quilt.  Then I glimpsed another one as I passed her bedroom door.  It made me smile - the quilt, not the state of a teenager's room! 

So here are 2 pics - destined never to grace the pages of books or mags.  Only a handful of people will view them here on my blog. They are not "shoot ready".  These photos are lousy. Their destiny is merely to grace my home with their presence.  And do you know what...they bring as much, if not more joy, than viewing beautifully photographed quilts in books and mags, because they are part of my life and an integral part of our household.



My black and white and aqua qult



A teenager's bedroom.  I dread going in there.....:)

Weekend in Review

Weekends pass by in a blur just as the weeks do.  I sometimes think I put too much pressure on "the weekend".  I want it to be the classic storybook kind of relaxing and fun time - you know a proper weekend ... off on a picnic, eating delicious home made food, lying on a rug, soaking up the outdoors, walking through beautiful scenery...yep I'm delusional!  That happens NEVER in my life.  My weekends are so rarely restful and rejuvenating. They can be busier than the week I just made it through and I end up completely happy to go to work where I get to see the stuff in the Inbox go to the Outbox.  My weekends are filled with errands, jobs, taxi-ing the girls and catching up so I'm ready for the next week.  But Monday comes and I don't feel ready for the week?  I haven't had my PROPER weekend.  But is there any such things these days where we're all so busy juggling, work, kids, home, fun? I don't know but I'm trying to deliniate between the 2. To find someway where I feel there is a little indulgence or down time or break from craziness.
This weekend was very rare though - my girls went away to a music festival, so I had a few hours alone in the house (except for the pets).  It was bliss.  I was conscious though that there is a lot more of this to come as they are both talking of travelling and living away in the coming years. So before too long I'll be missing them and having lots of alone time. So enjoy the busy times now.  Although I look at my mother who is one of the busiest people I know.
I actually felt as though I had a bit of a weekend.  I still did groceries, cooking and jobs, but I also sewed and crocheted more than usual . 

One border finished on the quilt - my first attempt at mitred corners.  Okay, I know lots of room for improvement. The black border really finishes the quilt off.  I'm loving the quilt all the more for the border. It makes it so much ...bolder.  The black fabric has some terrible fraying disease - I've never sewn with a cotton fabric like it.  Now for the backing...thought I had that sorted, but the piece isn't nearly big enough, so I'm going to have to piece the back as well.  I am going to attempt to hand quilt this one, so check back in a year or two to see how I'm going!  Ha!

Several rows of the border for my rug done.  Loving it too.  Sounds obvious probably but it is really really adding another dimension to the rug and I'm loving it all the more too. I'm not sure how many rows I will do.  I'm just trusting that the rug will tell me when there's enough.  Then an edging of some description.  Something new.

A bit of cooking - all scrummy.  A chicken curry on Friday night, a good ol' fashioned beef stew on Saturday, absolutely DElishous.  The smell filling the house whilst I sewed was divine.  The anticpation of the meal to come...

Saturday night watching New Tricks on telly crocheting away.  My colourful leftover quilt spread over me.

Sunday morning coffee with girlfriends at a patisserie in the Perth CBD. 

www.jpsancho.com.au

We hadn't been there before - well worth a vist.  Busy and vib-ey on a Sunday morning.  I bought the girls a treat...ah memories of Paris last year....

Some more baking - my current favourite soup, Sweet Potato and Lentil and a banana cake. 

And some herb patch admiring...planted in an old wheelbarrow about a month ago and THRIVING.

And a then a Sunday afternoon rugby match in glorious sunshine.  My team lost by a point - their 5th straight loss. 

And then settling in with a cuppa and Sunday night tv viewing - the return of Downtown Abbey and some more happy hooking!

Knock me socks off... if it wasn't a proper weekend!  It just snuck up on me... just like that!

More Autumnal Colour

These are taken in my front garden this morning.  The Ornamental Grape Vine is turning the most fantastic colours.  It is completely intermingled with the Plumbago.  I love the cascading colour over our fence and the neighbours.  It is absolutely stunning at this time of the year.  I love driving up to it every day.  It's a lovely feeling to admire your garden.  Such a peaceful oh-so-good feeling.  The wonder of mother nature.

Bloomin' marvellous!

Autumn Colour

Just a random photo snapped on my phone whilst I was out and about.  Some vibrant colour that caught my eye and gave me a thrill.  They were covering a bank in a car park I pulled into beside a highway.  Cars and trucks rushing past them constantly, but there they were quite still and glorious amidst  a very ugly suburban shopping precinct.

Black and white leftover quilt

A little teeny eeny bit of crafting has been happening on the mezzanine...I put together the left over squares from my black and white and aqua quilt.  An unfinished project getting a little bit closer to completion.  I'm thinking about whether to put a border on it...just a plain black border to frame it.  I think it will finish it off.  I wasn't planning it, but I think it needs it. Alas that will require a trip to my local favourite gorgeous divinely inspiring quilt shop!  Oh dear!  Poor me!

Spare time is in very short supply around here lately.  So I felt as though I was stealing a few hours away from other important tasks that require my time.  But it felt so good to back at the machine after months away.  Hopefully I can keep stealing more hours.  The weather is certainly helping.  Lovely lovely rain and cooler temps.  How I love autumn after our looooooonnnnng hot summers.  Rain falling after months of intense dryness is like a wonderful new phenomenum.  All of us oooh and aaah over it.  It's thrilling.  We talk about rain amongst ourselves.  Look out at it and marvel at it. Perth doesn't offer an integrated approach to rain.  You have months of dryness and not a lick of moisture falls. The sky is blue day after day for months on end and you truly begin to wonder if it will ever rain again.  You hear weather news for other cities and they mention rain and you begin to think how odd!  Rain.  Then it arrives again here and you remember rain.  Ah, yes, rain.  I think we're really lucky, because it's so fascinating when it arrives and we marvel at mother nature. the puddles, the gushing water on the streets. We don't take rain for granted.  I love the rain. 

Where's my head at?

Í'm all over the place lately - it comes of being sick for months on end I think.  I'm just not on top of my game.  Another couple of visits to the doctor, then a visit to emergency, then a heavy course of antibiotics to kill bad bugs.  Seriously one lot of them are horse pills.  Coupled with the odd day of extreme fatigue, I just know I exude vagueness at times.

So last Tuesday I had to remember to pick up my younger daughter from the airport, returning from a school holiday trip to Sydney.  I raced home from work, via the grocery shop for food supplies.  Raced in the house, donned the apron, started cooking tea, dished up tea, gulped down tea, grabbed keys and handbag and drove to airport.  Parked the car, raced in, my phone rang.  My daughter had landed early and was at the baggage carousel.  We raced towards each other, smiling in greeting.  Happy to have her home safe and sound and eager to hear the details of her trip...

"Hello darling, I'm so sorry I'm a bit late..." to be interupted by ...

"Mum, you do know you're wearing an apron? Don't you?!!!"

Me..."What?" A very blank yet confused look on my face.

I looked down (I didn't want to but I did) and shrieked... if I hadn't already drawn attention to myself, the shriek certainly did! Yes I most definitely WAS wearing an apron.  There was no denying it... the calico one with red gingham trim and Susie embroidered across the front.  I ripped it off and stuffed it in my bag as if that would erase the whole event - the walk from the car park to the terminal and to the baggage carousel. Then we both fell about laughing, continuing to draw attention to ourselves (see how I dragged her in?).

Bridge just shaking her head and laughing and saying "Oh mum!"

As one of my sisters said - I should have just owned it.  We have been known as a family to go to airports dressed up - particularly at Christmas time.  It just seems so appropriate to don elf costumes at that time of year!!

Memorable Movie Lines

Lately one particular line from a movie keeps playing over and over in my brain. It's said by Shirley MacLaine's character Ouiser Boudreaux in Steel Magnolias and goes like this....

'I'm not crazy. I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years!"

Sometimes lines just pop into my head like that randomly and I can't think for what reason. It's so weird, because I can go and see a movie and walk right out of it and not be able to recall a single line at the time, perhaps ever.  And then 20 years later they come back to me. (I've told my kids to enjoy me NOW, because Alzheimer's is gonna get me, but I don't know if my teenagers are listening)

This particular line is how I feel lately.  I've been sick since the 22nd of Jan.  Been to the doctor 4 times, Emergency twice, had X-rays and CT scans, been put on a drug regime, referrred to a specialist, seen a specialist, going back to the specialist.  I am so OVER it.

But I am getting better! 

But my sense of humour well and truly deserted me in my hour of need on certain days.  Please come back to me - you make life bearable.  And never, ever leave me again.

And because I really like a picture with each post -

Í'm gonna grab a copy from the video store and watch it this weekend with my mum who arrives tonight for a visit.  I doubt she's ever seen it and I think she'll relate to lots of the lines in it.

Incidentally, here's a link to quotes from the movie - Steel Magnolia quotes.  Google is amazing isn't it!

Ciao for now x

The benefit of being ill...

is that I've snuck in a bit of crafty time for the first time this year - my hexies are starting to turn into a quilt!

I have been sick for the last 3 weeks, no energy, constant coughing.  All sorts of tests, something suspect going on, more tests...but the worst has been the coughing and trouble breathing at night - just means I'm exhausted.  I have to sleep upright.. feeling a bit like Gypsy in this photo after one of her fits...just need some TLC and comfort that everything will be alright again soon.

Sitting quietly, recuperating doing hand piecing.  What a luxury! It has kept me sane over the last few weeks.

Gratitude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ

Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable career spans more than three decades providing breathtaking imagery for feature films, television shows, documentaries and commercials...

My favourite Perth beach....

is Port Beach in Fremantle.  Every beach in Perth is divine...white sand, brilliantly clear sparkling water in the most divine colours and the water is so cool and refreshing.  The Indian Ocean is a couple of degrees cooler than the Pacific which I grew up with on the East Coast.  I'll never forget my first swim of the year way back in '93...I was 6 months pregnant with my eldest daughter and I waded in to the water to soothe my hot, swollen body.  The coolness took my breath away and my tummy muscles tightened around my belly as if on instinct they were protecting my little girl...saying you're safe and warm in here! The coolness and the weightlessness are so soul calming. In the heat of Perth summers the water is insanely refreshing.  It's such a contrast from the blistering heat we experience during our summers.

Yesterday I headed to my fave again... Port Beach.  The water was strangely devoid of swimmers...helicopters were hovering... people were standing looking out at the water.  Beach closed due to shark sightings.  There have been more shark sightings this year than I can ever remember and with (sadly) a couple of deaths of surfers the patrols are not taking any chances with any sightings, even if they are the harmless variety. Yesterday there were 2 sharks - one harmless, the other a human eating variety, but they were nowhere to be seen and eventually the beach re-opened.

While it was closed I did brave the shallows though - a couple of very quick dip and rolls to cool down.  And then snapped a few photos as I sat and lay there. The wind whipped up....last night as i opened my current novel in bed sand fell out everywhere!  The wind had deposited sand in it as it lay on my towel!  Perhaps this is why trashy throw away novels make the best beachy summer reads?

How I love summer days at the beach.

My view looking up

My view looking out...

Isn't it heaven?

Happy New Year!

OMG!! December passed in such a rush.  Our Christmas Day was lovely, and the week surrounding it wasn't dull.  Trips to the hospital emergency room on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day with my elder daughter.  On the mend now but suffering a nasty infection - she spent the night being pumped full of IV antibiotics.  Then another day spent fixing tyres after my younger daughter - a learner driver - popped a tyre on a kerb!  Consequently she had her first lesson in changing a tyre.  She and I managed it together and B is very proud of herself.... "Girls Rock!!" 

Now onto the second week of my Christmas break I'm hoping for a more relaxing finish to my holiday, although today started with poor Gypsy having one of her seizures on the floor beside my bed.  I don't seem to by managing her medication well enough, but I've dosed her up now and hopefully she will have a restful day snoozing in her favourite spot on my bed.  I'm worried she needs higher does of pills.  The vet has said it will cause liver problems in the long term and her life will probably be shortened by being medicated. :((

The dog is on heat so is banished.  That is a job for the next couple of months...off to the vet for her op!  I braved the dog beach yesterday with her.  I say braved because I have a love hate relationship with the dog beaches.  It's so lovely watching all the dogs have such a frolicking good time, and the beach is so so beautiful, but it goes hand in hand with the dogs that run straight over you - the ones the owners have no control over because the hounds are just so so excited.  I came home crunching sand between my teeth!!  Tilly did a number 2 in the back of the ute on the way down!!! and then jumped and walked it all over the place.  Then there's the ablutions of the dogs at the beach...right beside me yesterday.  Picked up, but there's a lot that aren't picked up and lie hidden in the sand. 

Tilly is so incredibly excited in the car, the whole car rocks around as she leaps in circles all the way along the ride.  Holding her on the lead is exhausting and you come back with rope burn on your hands.  Any tips on training a blind dog, gladly welcomed.  Trust me food doesn't work!!  She goes ballistic trying to find the treat!

Anyway here's a couple of pictures of Gypsy sound asleep on the kitchen bench....

Mirrors how one often feels after the over indulgence in food over the festive period, don't you think? 

That's exactly how I would like to spend a few days before the return to the out of control treadmill of my life......