Friday, where did you come from?

I know this a common lament around here, but golly, this week has quite simply disappeared.

Perhaps I'm still wafting about in another time zone.

Perhaps it's that there's been a few happenings that have thrown me off.

The most pressing thing on my mind today is our poor Ray-boy.

Somehow, during our walk on the beach yesterday, he broke a toe.

Yep, I don't know how that happened either.

He's on doctor's orders to rest for the next 2 weeks. 

Somehow, I don't think that will be so much a problem!

It is heart wrenching watching the poor dog hobble about on 3 legs, and the stairs have us all holding our breath.

I've been sitting with him, and indulging in a little more cross stitch.

This little pincushion has proven more appropriate than I realised!

Just a walkin' the dog...

Walking the dog...

just a walkin' the dog...

if you don't know how to do it...

I show you how to walk the dog....

(with apologies to the Rolling Stones)

This little bit of madness brought on by spying this piece of gorgeousness this morning over at  Rob Ryan!

(and can be purchased here)

ps. See you in St Kilda! Where? Magnolia Square of course.

Sidetracked

My word, how cute and quirky are these?

A great big parcel of more postcards from Georgie Love to give out to all and sundry at the markets arrived today.

I'm trying to work to a list this week in the final run-up to Finders Keepers this weekend, but you know, I've never been very good at addressing the things that really need to be done. I'm fluffing about round the edges fighting the urge to do something completely off that list-of-things-that-must-get-made-this-week.

Like making myself a skirt out of green pinwale cord that's really meant to be used for belts...

Walking past our spare bedroom, I happened to glance in, and this is what I've just seen...

What a life.

My creative space

Working on more of the new skirts today.

I had company!

And even though this might have nothing to do with creative spaces, I've just come back from driving into the post office. Neil Diamond's Crunchy Granola Suite was on the radio and I just had to turn it up loud to sing along!

Then I looked out the car window and there were 5 big black cockatoos flying alongside me for a while.

Sometimes moments in your day can be wonderous.

See what other lovely people have been up to over here.

Friends

A happy new year to everybody!

I'm a bit late, but we've been having a few days with some good friends to visit, doggie friend Trev included.

What a pair of handsome boys, eh?

It's been walking on the beach, watching the cricket, eating and cooking some fabulous food (thanks Julie, you are the queen of the kitchen), playing hilarious games of 500, going to bed late and drinking probably a bit too much.

We've invented our own version of the Bellini - sparkling with fresh peach and ginger ice-blocks. Yum.

We've named it the Bellskeenie after Skenes Creek. It could catch on.

There's nothing as good as a relaxed few days with people you've known for years, a lovely reminder of the importance of friends!

On my wall...Ray, no Frankie

Really, I think I've been waiting for an excuse!

Thanks Wendy for giving me one.

My favourite boy (of the four legged kind) perfectly captured by Mischa Merz, a talented friend I used to work with. She was keen to try her hand at painting a greyhound, and I was keen to get a picture!

This amazing girl is a writer, a boxer, and an artist.

Is the sign of a good portrait that the eyes follow you around the room?

These big brown ones do!

Otherwise, on this last day of the year I've been doing a little cooking for dinner with some friends tonight, and waiting for the cool change to arrive.

It's too windy to go to the beach, and too hot to do anything else.

Wherever you are, have a wonderful new year, and thanks for joining me in my adventures this year. It's been a joy to be in this space!

Christmas comes early

Well, good morning!

Pia and I survived the wild weather in Melbourne yesterday to celebrate our last market together for 2010.

Thankfully, we got through the whole day with no incident until a thunderstorm hit right on 4pm, drenching all of us, and our stuff!

We exchanged our Christmas gifts, didn't eat ice-cream, but drank a few coffees and enjoyed a last catch-up with the market girls before the end of the year.

Here is the latest addition to my slightly kitch, and growing collection of greyhound stuff!

I love him!

Pia keeps raising the bar in the present stakes. She's the best.

I have nothing much planned for today.

I just need to address the slightly soggy pile of things unloaded last night and dumped on the spare bed to dry out.

Somehow it won't feel quite like Christmas until I'm sitting out on the deck in the warm evening, listening to cicadas, drinking a wine and eating cherries!

Greyhound Sunday

It's a greyhound kind of Sunday.

Lazing about, getting up late.

A good morning coffee out of my favourite mug.

A gift from my friend Pia.

Lusting after this to add to my collection!

What I'm craving...

Ah, January is nearly over.

A big month of busy markets and lots of lovely visitors has left me feeling a little bit, well, tired.

I've had a couple of catch up days in my workroom and made some more orders to fill the gaps in my stock.

Our new bed arrived yesterday, and I got up this morning without a back ache for the first time in months. Looks like the cats have given it their seal of approval too!

Santa's little helper

My very own Rayndeer!

(sorry, it was irresistable)

Merry Christmas!

Tips for keeping your cool

Find the coolest spot in the house.

Lie on your back on the floor and rest your legs against the wall.

Quite relaxing really.

Making me happy today

A sunny morning with no wind.

The first rose of the season, Just Joey (of course).

Baby nectarines on the tree.

Unexpectedly finding Frankie happily asleep in the pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded and put away.

Do dogs know it's their birthday?

It's Ray's birthday today! He's 7.

Here he is with his greyhound friend Lozza hanging out and drinking coffee in St Kilda before we moved to the coast. Lozza's human, Lou, is also having her birthday today.

Happy Birthday to both of you!

How do we know it's Ray's birthday? Well, we adopted him from the Greyhound Adoption Program, which means he came with all sorts of paperwork.

I've never had a dog whose birthday I knew exactly before. It's kind of strange, but in a nice way!

Blowing out the cobwebs

Good to get out and get a bit of fresh air.

Friday

There's not too much happening here this morning. I'm waiting for a courier to arrive...

It's raining too, so may as well have a little lie down.

We did have some friends pop in for morning tea though.

Sunday morning

Shhh. Everyone's still sleeping.