Morning Swim

Where we live we are lucky to have a really nice swimming pool only 10 minutes from home. Now that summer is here I am enjoying swimming for fitness in the mornings. Most of the time I use a swim snorkel which makes me look like an alien :) but I love the way it works. I can just swim without worrying about the breathing etc. I am also using a kick board to mix it up a bit. This morning the pool was just beautiful, when we got there it was just after 7.00 am and there were only about 6 people there. There is a 2 hour window between squad and schoolies and that's the time all the lap swimmers arrive, many are much older than me and its good to see. Some are quite overweight and it is good to see them there too. There is a `pool etiquette' to learn with the use of lanes etc. and I have found that everyone is very friendly - so no `pool rage' LOL. It is a wonderful way to start the day and everyone is in a mellow frame of mind. Added to that a season pass is only $100.00 and then we can go any time. Bargain!!

A Holiday in Tassie

`If we can revise our attitudes towards the land under our feet; if we can
accept a role of steward and depart from the role of conqueror; if we can
accept
the view that man and nature are inseparable parts of the unified
whole - then
Tasmania can be a shining beacon in a dull, uniform and largely
artificial
world'

We have just returned from a wonderful 2 week holiday in Tasmania. I have always wanted to visit Tassie and when I found out someone I knew was organising a tour group to visit in October we decided to join in. We were lucky enough to have perfect sunny weather for our whole trip and the whole experience was perfect. We travelled right around the island, missing nothing :), and the place we both loved best was Strachan, closely followed by Cradle Mountain. This is a `World Heritage Area' and incredibly special. We loved the scenery, the parks and gardens, the history, the food and wine and the friendly people. We also loved having a break from our hot and humid weather. The air in Tassie was fresh and cool and I loved having the chance to `rug up' in hats, scarves and jackets and sit in front of log fires during `happy hour'. Here are just some of our photos.

A `Fairy Pathway' near Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain
Coles Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula.

The beautiful Macquarie Harbour at Strachan

An Arch of flowers

18 months ago my sister Anne gave us a little Star Jasmine plant in a pot which she had found at the local Market. It was Winter and there were no flowers on it but we knew we had to find the right place to plant it. I knew it was a climber so we went off to buy a Garden Arch. Then we had to find a place for the Arch and we decided to use it to frame the view and our Birdbath which the birds love. I planted a Honeysuckle on the other side, we fed and watered both plants and this Spring we have been rewarded! Not only do we now have `join up' we have loads of sweet smelling flowers. Thanks Anne!!

A Holiday in Yamba

This is the view from the Lounge Bar of the Pacific Hotel. The tables are all arranged along the windows and it is a wonderful place for a Sundowner.

This is Main Beach Yamba and this is a place where you could easily spend all day. The Kiosk has little tables and you can buy Lattes and even Sushi as well as the usual hot chips and ice creams

We have just returned from a holiday in beautiful Yamba. The Caravan Park where we stayed was right on the Clarence River which was especially beautiful at Sunset. There was a walking path along the bank which allows people to walk along the river from the beach to the Marina. With 5 beaches, lots of great beach walks (with just a little rock hopping), a cute little main street with coffee shops and bakeries and other interesting little shops, the smallest Cinema in Australia and some great Restaurants (including the Pub), this was we felt the perfect seaside town for a holiday. We plan to go back next year to celebrate Alan's 70th which will be in the October school holidays so everyone is invited to join us :)

Some Digital Art

I haven't posted much of my Art recently but I have been doing quite a bit and here are some examples :)

Tate turns 3

Our little Grandson Tate turned 3 yesterday so he started partying early on Sunday and I think he is still going. We stayed overnight on Sunday and we all had Pizza. Monday morning he had more presents to open and we had a much quieter day. His `big present' was a Trampoline but he received loads of great presents and had a ton of fun. So did we :) Abbey is now 6 months old and as you can see is just totally cute and adorable.

Spring has arrived

Spring has arrived here in South East Queensland and I know this because:

* Today I wore flip flops all day and bare feet around the house on our tiled floors
* We had to use our sun windowscreens on the car windscreen today to keep the heat out
* We have taken our comforter off our bed and I am putting our throw rugs away
* And finally the definitive indicator is that the first Jasmine flowers are in bloom

So now it is time to clean out our fireplace and fill it with pine cones for a summer display, I'm not looking forward to the heat of summer but I am loving the change of season. I took this photo of some wattle yesterday at Noosa where we went for a picnic by the river

Lazy Sunday

Yesterday Alan's sister Margie and her husband Ross came to visit. The weather was perfect so a ride was first on the agenda.

Max was on his best behaviour.
Alan helped groom Max and Ross watched from the sidelines, I took photos :)

Margie and Max enjoyed the ride.

After the riding we had lunch - a Leg of lamb which had been roasting in the Weber, Ratatouille
and bread with cordial. This was followed by an apple tea cake with Greek Yoghurt for Dessert and later a cup of tea. Before they left Alan took Margie out to harvest some fruit to take home - all in all a perfect day was had by all!

Being Tourists

Last week we had family visiting from overseas and we all went to stay at beautiful Noosa. It is hard to believe this stunning place is only 45 minutes drive from our home. Last Friday was a perfect sub tropical mid winter's day and we decided to take the 4k round walk through the Noosa National Park. Thank God for National Parks which have saved all this beauty from the dreaded Developers and even campers in this case. All you are able to do here is walk, watch nature, swim and picnic and all you can take are photos :) And all of this is only a few minutes walk from one of the most crowded and expensive resort towns in Queensland.

Here I am looking back at Noosa Main Beach. It has been a little decimated by recent high tides but is still beautiful and on this day there were quite a few people swimming. The building right on the beach is the re furbished Surf Club which is a great place for brunch or lunch on a day like this.

I love this photo which I think I may get printed on canvas. I took this from the pathway, not even a footprint on the beach let alone a human being. This got me thinking about what it must have been like before the white settlers arrived in this part of the world. Truly a paradise.

A visit to an Art Exhibition

Last Wednesday we went to Brisbane with my Art Group to visit the Queensland Art Gallery. This is a beautiful Art Gallery in an Arts precinct on the South Bank of the river. Here there is also the Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library, The Performing Arts complex and the
Conservatorium. We went to see an exhibition of American Impressionism and Realism. Works from the Met in New York City were juxtaposed with works from the same era (around 1900) by some Australian Artists. We were lucky enough to receive a guided tour and it was a wonderful experience and a special day.

Here you can see some of the beautiful landscaping at the Gallery.

And here is a photo of the City of Brisbane taken from outside the Gallery.

A Great Weekend

Last weekend a team from our Gympie RDA Centre went down to the Gold Coast for the Annual State `Riding for Disabled' Championships. A large group of us camped and Alan and I slept in the back of our Ute. It was a huge weekend with Mounted Games on Saturday morning, Carriage Driving on Saturday Afternoon, a big Dinner with a pig on a spit and lots of other great food on Saturday night and Dressage on Sunday. Our team performed brilliantly and we all had a lot of fun. In these photos you can see our `camp' and Alan with Darren who is receiving a first prize ribbon from the judge. Notice Bobby's beautifully plaited tail and his hair ribbons :)

Here come the Judge

Alan and I were up at 4.00 am this morning as we were heading out to be Judge and Penciller at one of the obstacle/challenges at a Competitive Trail Ride for horses and riders. There were over 40 riders competing. The challenge Alan was judging was all about mounting and dismounting from the `off side'. The riders had to dismount from their horse onto this log, lead their horse around the log and then remount. It was very interesting and a lot of fun. For non riders reading this - a horse is always mounted from the same side and it is quite difficult for both horse and rider to do it in reverse. We were home at lunchtime and now we have lit our log fire for the first time this year as it is a very overcast and cool day. So nice and cosy to have a fire going :)

An Art Exhibition and Big Morning Tea!!

So here I am at our Trading Card Exhibition with my cards in the background - `Art in Your Pocket'. Here in Gympie the Art Gallery combined it with the Annual Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for Cancer Research. We all contributed $5.00, watched a wonderful parade of hats and then had an awesome morning tea which was so good we didn't need lunch. Our local State M.P. was there and the Lady Mayoress....... and us :) All our cards were displayed on a black background and they looked great. It was a really special morning and raised heaps of money for a worthy cause.

A Relaxing Holiday

We have just spent the last 2 weeks holidaying in our Camper at Noosa right on the river. In this photo you can see Alan barbecuing a `just caught ' fish, it fed 4 of us for a great lunch.

Here is our luxurious 5 Star set up. It was really comfortable with the annexe. Inside is a kitchen, dining table and bench seats and a lounge. The beds pop out at the ends :) We also took our bikes and our boat.

This is the beach at the campground. We spent a lot of time here reading and fishing or just watching the action on the river.

This is how we spent most days.

I bravely took my camera out in the boat and got this shot. You can see my pink fishing rod in the rod holder. We had a really great holiday, I also got in some retail therapy, we went to the movies to see Star Trek (loved it), and on the last night we went to a great Restaurant on the River and had Dinner while we watched the sunset. Now it is back to reality and we are once again weeding, mulching and cleaning.......... and looking forward to our next trip :)

In This Moment

Art in Your Pocket

I love making Artist Trading Cards and I am excited about an exhibition that our Art Society is holding at our local Gallery. Eight of us are each showing 12 of our Trading Cards and mine include some that I have swapped at Digital Art Quirks and also some with the Art Society members. One of my cards is included on the brochure and you can pick it out easily as it is upside down :( Well it was one of my Quirky swaps so I'm not too worried LOL. The opening will be fun as it is being held in conjunction with the annual `Biggest Morning Tea', raising money for cancer research. Everyone will be wearing decorated hats with a prize for the best and quirkiest and lots of yummy treats to eat. So it will be fun and a buzz to have some of my Art actually `hung' in a Gallery :) Probably for the first and last time.

Family

Last week Alan and I travelled interstate to attend my mother Doreen's funeral, She was 81 and it was her time to go; she had been living in a nursing care facility for some years, battling Dementia and none of us wanted to keep her here in this life which she could no longer enjoy. We hope now that she is with our Dad as they were so much in love all their married life. It was a beautiful service attended by friends and family and we all felt she would have fully approved of it - in fact maybe she did have a hand in it. Afterwards we had morning tea and later we all went out for lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the sea at Terrigal. One of the best things was getting together with my family - my brother and sisters, nieces and nephews and uncles and aunts, I hope its not too long until I see them all again as they are just `the best'.


This is one of my favourite photos of Doreen, taken when she was 19, in Germany with the Navy and just loving life. In the Eulogy my family described her as being `passionate, creative and intelligent' and she certainly was all of those things.

As always at a gathering of our family we took the `group photo'. I love this one which really seems to show all our different personalities. If we all look pretty mellow, well we had just had a glass of wine or 2 with lunch and I think we all had that feeling that we had passed Mum's `final test' with flying colours.

Where did March Go??

March has flown but it was a lot of fun. We spent the first 2 weeks in Caloundra with Louise, Jeff, Tate and Abbey and we walked to the beach, went swimming, went to the markets, went out for breakfast one Sunday and just had fun being with family.

One morning Alan and I took Tate down to Moffat Beach for morning tea and a play in the park. Here you can see Alan and Tate watching the surf and having a deep and meaningful conversation.

On another morning we went out for Breakfast to a great restaurant called `Bucket and Spade'.

This is me cuddling Abbey, I think both of us had just woken up.

We were back home mid March but then our computer died - or the Graphics card did so we were off line for another week. Now we are kind of back to routine and we are enjoying the cooler weather. Wednesday this week we have to go back to Caloundra for Alan to see an eye specialist and I feel sure we will just have to call in and see Louise, Tate and Abbey on our way home :)

Being Creative

Most of the Art I make is done digitally but I also love making `mixed media' art and playing with collage, crayons and glue and a whole heap of other stuff. This is fun and really takes me back to being a kid again. Our Art Group always has a monthly Trading Card Swap and this year we have added an `altered book' Round Robin. To do this we all foraged around for an old book to `alter'. I found a book about dreams at an Op Shop for a couple of dollars. We will all start in our own book and then pass it on and receive another, create a double page spread and pass it on again. My theme is `Voyage of Discovery'. Altering books is so much fun. You can keep some of the text to create a new story, add your own artwork, cut out, paste, draw............ the possibilities are endless. I don't have a dedicated space to do this so I drag it all out onto the dining room table and set to.


I need music for inspiration so my iPod is part of the action. Here it looks like I am listening to Herman's Hermits - `There's a Kind of Hush'

On this day I was also assembling my Trading Cards, I made them digitally but they then have to be cut and glued.

Then I had to clean it all up and put it away :( I can't wait now to start on the book that's coming my way in March. At the end of the year at our `break up' we will have the big reveal and be able to peruse all the books together.