Good-bye Sweet Phantom

It feels odd blogging for the saddest of reasons after so long away, and yet it seemed a disservice to do otherwise. My dear friend, Phantom, celebrated his eighth birthday last week, and celebrated in fine style with a choice of kangaroo, chicken or tuna. He ate them all. He was loved, and happy.`

Phantom passed to his forever home on Saturday morning, in his usual style - no fuss - no complaints, and yet it appears he was bitten by a snake or poisoned - his end was not nice.

I was Phantoms third mother, and he snurred (purred and snored) at my feet for five lovely years. Never flustered, never fussy he let me carry him around when I needed the comfort and never complained when I was busy or distracted.

This was the easiest of purr babies taking any medication with a noisy purr and an affectionate head butt.

I long to take this beautiful boy in my arms and give him a cuddle one more time, to bury my face in his fur or rub noses with him.

Phantom delighted in the existing family when he came to us, and welcomed Archer and Harvey as they joined the family.

I am inarticulate, it is hard to accept he is gone. We miss Phantom.

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.

February

Hester's Yard

sold

I name all my jewellery, sometimes I share the names and sometimes I don't. This another bracelet which explores change and and contrast. I enjoyed forming this chain; chunky copper links with contrasting silver solder and lots of bits, Hester's Yard.
I have so enjoyed my little vege garden this summer, and keep forgetting to take pictures of ripe vegetables, this little capsicum will eventually be red and sweet, if the marigold does its job and keeps the insects away.

The tomatoes are sweet and full of flavour, these lovely round ones, cherry Roma's and full size Roma all gathered in one dense patch.
The dappled light on the lemon tree epitomises summer, the scents, the drinks and an age old sense of security. Summer feels safe, as the warmth wraps around me and the light touches all corners of my space. Bliss.
Not art, not a fruit, and a little bit grubby, but something, or rather someone, that I like to pick often, a quick cuddle, a loud purr and a snuggle hug then he is asking if there is more food. darling Phantom.

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!

Just Sharing...

Another crazy couple of weeks and yet I have still managed some creative time and a laugh or two (usually at myself) so all is well in life. Many thanks to all of you who commented on the earrings in my last post, I am often uncertain when I try new things, this weekend I am aiming to do some more in a similar style. However, for this past week or so it has been back to paper and pieces of history floating on my desk.

One of these giant pegs has gone to a new home as a result of a monthly 1-4-1 swap I am a part of, the others will reappear at Christmas.

A page from an Altered Book Round Robin with the theme Still Life.

A breath of spring; the print I was blessed to receive from Julia's blog give-away.

Tags made for no reason other than the fact I felt like playing wi th paper and thread.
A rare picture: Charles and Phantom keeping each other warm on a cold morning.

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.

A Class With Stephanie Lee

I have put off blogging this class for ages because I wanted time to do something with my bits and pieces, but alas it was not meant to be.

I was lucky enough to spend two days with Stephanie, a blow torch and some other wonderful ladies. By lunch time of the first day I was in bliss, and said to my roomie, "If I go home now I will be happy with what I have learnt." Stephanie is an amazing teacher who shares of herself generously and has a wonderful positive attitude to life and learning. I appreciated her sharing about the properties of metals (a little science) and her reasons for both the ways she does things and her choice of supplies.

Just writing now takes me back to that lovely room with arched doorways looking out over grassy lawns and trees, with a river running below... all beautiful, but the buzz inside the room was even more amazing, thank you Stephanie.
I can't get enough of my babies at the moment, and photo's of them sleeping are so much easier than when they are playing chasey at full speed through the house or across the lawn!!

Trying to be still ...

Have you seen the wonderful birds Leighanna makes? I feel so blessed to have this one, he makes me smile each time I walk passed.

I really do need to make time to be still, to find my center to be with God and know it, to breathe and relax. I am trying, and most days there are at least a few minutes, even if it is those in the shower, or the blissful few minutes on the deck, late night. I love that, when the stars are out, my neighbours in bed, I will go outside to hang washing and then pause - listening to the quiet, gazing at the stars and being awed for the 'nth time.

This assemblage was a surprise/RAK gift from Melissa a blog friend my heart knows. I came home after a blue day to find a box on my doorstep and nestled inside was this rusted art work and a very kind card. Thank you.

I am so very excited to be going to Creative Soul Retreat in a weeks time.

OK I just scared myself again. By this time next week I will have delivered Archer and his belongings to my friend Nikki, popped Charles and Phantom in the Willows (5* accommodation for purr babies) organised with the boy across the road to see Harvey twice a day, prepared lessons for approximately 150 students and so much more.

Luggage tags - the only thing close to art I have worked on in the last week.

One of the "much more's" is creating a bigger need than usual for being still. Three months ago I had a spot removed which turned out to be melanoma. I had my three monthly check last week and my wonderful doctor removed two more suspicious spots. One of those has turned out to be another melanoma. So on Monday I am having wider margins cut around where it was. This one has rocked me, made me think, it paralysed me for a couple of days. Slowly I am processing the fact this will now become a life-long journey. Checking, having others check me, needles, cutting, stitching... Finding my humour, my ability to use trials to entertain, my coping mechanisms.
Can you guess what happened when Archer finally gave in to temptation and reached for the tail? Yes. Yet another game of crazy chasey.

Always the furies are my non-judgemental, cuddlers, all quite sure that they are the most important thing in my life, and I in theirs. Again, I am astounded at the depth of friendships and the care of my human friends.

While Charles tried to sleep.

Charles may have regretted his commitment on the weekend. I dropped a glass as I dried the dishes, he dropped onto it and off to the vet we went. One little cat with a slit paw one sorry Mum, who was (despite her sorrow) heard to mutter, 'On the weekend again!'. I can't remember the last time my animals were hurt between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Saturday... Perhaps I should give up glasses and just drink straight from the bottle - less dishes, less to drop... but no, it is never the same injury twice. Such is life.

How is your week shaping up?

Smiles, Joys and Gratefulness

The 'view' as I leave my room and walk to any other area in my little house. Fish (yes,that is his name) in the bowl, art by Natalie, Misty and I, a lone kangaroo paw in my favourite vase (an old milk bottle) and a light shade I still love after five years of looking at it.

Homemade gifts ready to wrap.

Sunshine and sun scented sheets as summer finally arrives in Western Australia.
The sunlight filtered through the native garden, the rather intense looking Phantom as he enjoys the space and the leaves on the lawn.
The delicious fruit salad chilling as I type.
This knobbly native flower in my back yard.
No more stitches; I had a nasty little melanoma removed just over two weeks ago and my wonderful Doctor had to take WIDE margins. It is so good not to itch, and I am so blessed Geoff was on the ball and picked this up.

The geranium blooming behind washing drying in the sun.
Planning a birthday gift for a special seven year old, to be.

The faded roses against decking stump.
Knowing there are five more sleeps until the school year ends and I can catch up; house work, friends, garden, cleaning and -yes - school work.
Archer's delight when he managed to roll the treat out of his ball, the pile of mulch (a gift from my parents) and the hibiscus (a gift from a friend) in bloom.

Cuddles with my handsome nephew.

In a year where I have had more anti-biotics than in the last dozen combined, and faced more issues than in the last five. In a year where the fur-babies have all had their turn to be ill and the rain has fallen to the point where I wondered about buying a boat. In a year where I have never ever felt 'caught up' there has been much to be grateful for. Too much for one post, so today I am sharing just some of the things which have brought me smiles, moments of joy and made me grateful this very day...