How time flies..

The last month has flown by, I have had fun etching various items and included a few pieces on this story bracelet.

I am still knitting scarves full of lace, ribbon, beads and pearls - and wearing them too as the cold weather settles around us.

Mr Phantom went missing for a day and a half, and returned with a 'mashed' shoulder and concussion, but seems to be on the mend now.

Archer continues his love affair with Harvey and enjoys keeping warm with Charles or Phantom if they are near by.

I continue to teach, to tutor and to nurture as best I can. Life continues; mostly it is good, very good.

Moth and My Boys

This is the underside of a fairly common white moth as viewed through the pale blue glass window in my bathroom, at night time. a thing of beauty, almost ethereal. What have I been busy with as the boys slumber and slink through the house? A little family, some sewing, planting a vegetable patch, and enjoying the sunshine which has finally come to this corner of the world.

I took photo's today of some wonderful art I received over the last month, and will post again soon. for now it is off to sleep, to enjoy the coolish night with my purr babies and woofy boy - all snoring at various volumes!

Snippets from an Enchanted Wintery Week

Beautiful metal and mother of pearl buttons selected from a huge basket, in a local op-shop; you would have laughed to see me cross-legged on the floor surrounded by mounds of little plastic bags, I laughed at myself. The precious friend I was with smiled to see me happy as she browsed among clothes. The cost of these little treasures, $2!

Of course we could not visit just one store, or select one treasure, somehow by the end of the day I had spent the princely sum of $12 and had ties, fabric scraps, tortoise shell knitting needles, a little set of drawers, coasters, books, toast racks and more. Why toast racks? they are the best for standing my board journal covers in when they need to dry and I don't want to spread throughout the entire house.

Sweet Harvey who played happily with the cord from a skirt carelessly thrown on the top part of his tower.

Charles, who seems to get prettier as he gets older was rolling in the sun, delighting in the rare rays coming though the glass doors.

Phantom asleep, apparently comfortable on top of the little garden shed, able to keep an eye on all of us, and claim he had been outside for some fresh air.

My darling niece calling, "Come and find me!" as I stood not two meters away folding washing. Of course I indulged her and searched the whole garden before finding her in among my dry washing.

The same niece delighting in the large tub of plastic beads we spent hours stringing. Butterfly bracelets came first (one for L and one for her best friend S), then a bracelet for Gran (Shhh, don't tell her, it's a 'prise), a key ring for Daddy, a necklace for L and then a necklace Mummy and S can share(?)!

A little happy creativity, some different brighter colours - Winter you won't make me grey!

See Mum, I told you I look best in the morning sunlight, I really am orange you know.

Do Pelicans flirt? I am sure this one was as Archer and I went for a bracing walk along the foreshore.

Why didn't you tell me it was cold? What do you mean I smell? It's the weed that smells not me, promise...

I am going to shelter under the jetty, perhaps you should go inside for yet another cup of steaming tea, or hot coffee, another chat with neglected friends, another play with a borrowed child, another quiet hour in the cave, another enchanted moment.

Harvey Here

Harvey here, She says you have been asking about me so She needs photo's - yawn! Normally a yawn is a non-event, and I was more concerned about cooling down on the floorboards after too long in front of my heater, than discussing a yawn. But She says my teeth are looking good, and I guess she would know, it is just over a year since she paid a man to take the rest out and then didn't want to bring them home.

I have lived here a year and a half now and I am very healthy, She says I getting cuddly, I hope she's not getting any ideas about picking me up. That enormous black and white cat likes being picked up, so does Archer, must be a colour thing... The food's good here , I really like Indian bread with a little dal or curry spread on it, or vegemite and butter on toast, but I don't get those much. Dry bickies in the morning and chicken porridge or mince for tea, She has given up trying to figure out which one I want and just gives me both. Phantom will eat the one I leave behind.

Archer is still my best buddy, he protects me from the big sucking machine and keeps an eye out for me. I play chase with him during the day and when he is asleep at night I play with Charles, wouldn't want to hurt the young fellow's feelings. He worries so much. Look at him here, watching us both, she is chatting away to me and I am considering checking out those ridiculous socks she wears at night.

The socks were not tasty at all so I would really have liked a pre-supper nap . I like to sleep. And still she has that camera out flashing away, really, I am six and a half now, I need my sleep. Do you see how Archer is right here too. This post is all about me, so one face photo and one with the tip of his feet is more than enough.

It doesn't look like she is going to let stop, next she will want to check my ears and squirt the cold stinky stuff on my neck, gosh she may even want to take me back to the tooth man for a check up. I think there is some cheese in my bowl, perhaps I will get up. In a minute...

I look more handsome in the mornings with the sun shining on my freshly groomed hair, this lighting is not good for me, I'll pose a bit later in the week and see if She notices.

Harvey, and the Car - aaaghh!!!

It is just over a year since the rather handsome Harvey joined out family so I was pleased to take this picture. It is just after midnight here, and Harvey likes to sleep in his basket from about midnight through until we get up in the morning. He was ready for bed, but his little mate Archer was 'borrowing' the space. How I laughed as Harvey first rubbed noses with Archer, then backed slowly up and wriggled into place, giving plenty of time for Archer to move over. I am not sure however, that either of them are completely happy with the end result...or perhaps they just did not want their photo taken.

On another note the car is still missing and I am looking for a replacement. I am completely, 100%, totally over car salesmen, it doesn't matter how nice they are they just can't stop the patter:

This one is exactly like your Viva (except it is 2 years older, has a 100,000 km on the clock and is a hatchback).

I have just what you are looking for (except that it is a three year old Astra and I am looking for a 12 month old Viva).

We can get you a new one, exactly the same - except the tinted windows (and the alloy wheels, floor mats, mud guards and cd player) for just an extra thousand dollars, and you will have a brand new one (with '08 compliance plates, and mine only had 18,500 on the clock anyway).

I'm looking after you, there's nothing in it for me.

Whinge over, there are a lot of people worse off than me and I will end up with a car soon. Have a good weekend.

Hello

Antique bisque doll head earrings

Archer: Are you in there?

Hi everyone, time has flown since I last blogged and so much has happened good and bad.

I have been sick, and truly the list sounds like the Lament of Job, my foot continues to be an issue, a winter cold, conjunctivitis, mouth ulcers and more - just when I though I had escaped winter without being sick. So there was not much art completed at all.

These earrings have been sitting waiting to be constructed for ages, it is nice to finally have them finished and dangling merrily.

I thought you might like these pictures I managed to capture during a game of hide and seek, often the pace is too fast as the game is combined with chasey in the furry world and I get pictures that are a blur.

Last week my new nephew was born - he is smoochalicious and i am besotted already! While he was arriving my Mum had my niece to stay and we had a giggle playing hide and seek -it was nice to be a participant.

Work has been difficult. I have to be careful what I say, but essentially for the first time in my life I had to raise a concern about some abuse I was experiencing. The decision about how to handle that was taken out of my hands and some interesting decisions were made which ultimately left me feeling unsafe at home as well.

More houses for the Creative Soul Retreat village.

Now I am feeling almost 100%, the dark cloud that has come as I battled situations and sickness is lifting and I can enjoy the outdoors as summer saunters in with the help of daylight savings! Long afternoons in the garden are coming, furries all coming to pester and chase the weeds as I pull them. Early evenings on the deck with a cup of tea or a glass of red and all while unconstrained by jumpers, jeans and joggers (OK, I couldn't resist the j's).

Harvey: At last she recognises my Indian roots - dahl on nahn bread.

I just checked I have well over 200 blog posts to catch up on so there will be a nice night or two browsing for inspiration and catching up as well.

Phantom: Can't a bloke have a bit of privacy while he cleans.

Thank you

I don't like those crutches I don't, what if my tail gets caught?

Thank you so much to everyone who sent mails and left comments over the past week. It has not been an easy time, however my foot is healing, and some work issues are being resolved. I have been so blessed by your kindness and checking in online has been a joy.

This beautiful ATC came from Genevieve, a West Aussie who surprised me by sending the ATC while generously sharing her stash of a fibre I particularly liked. Thanks Gen.

These three ATC's are all stunning, all different, and all one-of-a-kind they are the results of a swap with Debbi.

Debbi has her beautiful work published in almost every issue of Somerset Studio and I was so thrilled to be able to swap with her. Debbi is another West Aussie.

While my foot healed I stayed out of the art cave and read a stack of books, Harvey, however, maintained his rituals and spent part of each day watching the birds through the window, while keeping the arm of my chair warm.

Bits and Pieces

I made the notebooks above using some of my scrap paint backgrounds and my Zutter (current favourite tool) for the binding. Quick easy and satisfying.

The bag on my left is a "Just because ..." gift from my friend Ky and her Mum. It is a bag which folds down into a pocket on the front and is one of a collection they have made for the Animal Protection Society fundraiser. I am so blessed to have received this, and in a work week that has had some particularly difficult times it was especially nice to come home to. The dollies there will appear listed in my Etsy just as soon as I get time.

This wonderful copper (and you know how much I love copper) collage is my INKrediblyRt Mystery Muse gift from Vanessa. I keep running my fingers over that embossed background.

I couldn't resist this picture of Phantom and Harvey - but I get the impression Harvey wishes I had :)

I am hoping the shame of having a blog photo up revealing my dirty windows might also make me clean them...I will let you know how I go w ith that one.

Enjoy the weekend.

Winter Friendships (and the Heater)

Archer and Harvey

Harvey

Harvey, Phantom and Archer

Not feeling photogenic on photo day: Charles

My Gummy Babe and a Story

Dear sweet Harvey has had a big week, On Saturday he went to the vet, the first time THE VET was to touch him, and was vaccinated among other things, boy was THAT an experience.
I planned carefully, put some catnip in his carrier, took Archer with us and arranged to go in just before usual hours so he could avoid crowds.
Oh the best laid plans of mice and men...
My lovely vet gave him a sedative to make checking his ears and teeth easier, and said, 'I will be back in ten minutes, he will be out to it then'.
Ten minutes later the vet walks in,
I scoop Harvey out and hold him loosely,
The door opens...
Out the door...through the now crowded waiting room...past reception...through the cages and kennels, then the operating theater... back through the waiting room....up the stairs....through the staff room...and the store room...into the office. All the while I am saying, 'please don't chase him' and " I am SOOOO sorry' about 50 times each. Eventually he jumps onto Jim's chair and sits waiting for me to scoop him up and take him back down the stairs.
We treated his ears on Saturday and he has been Mr Smoochy all week. His reward, I took him back today to have all but a handful of his teeth out. And again, the vet visit has made him really appreciate home and his Mum, it should, do you see that sludge in the background? Chicken breast, poached and blended with organic rolled oats and little sea salt.
It's hard to describe how much I love this little fellow, and the journey he has taken me on. I have grown as a person because I have him, because I have had to earn his trust.