Sweet Fabric:
relaxing

til it's over.

We have been so lucky on our little break this year! We haven't had one bad day & have just spent a glorious afternoon at the foot of the lighthouse in the rockpools. The small girl gave me a sand bath which was really quite enjoyable.

But...I MUST work at remaining on holiday until the break is actually finished! I've tried really hard this year not to think about the packing up & going home until it was time to go.

I failed! Today, I've made all sorts of plans & began packing, cleaning & tidying. Packing me is notoriously ugly. I don't think I was too bad today but the date still had a dig at me.

I wonder why I do it? It's the same during the week too. I go really hard to get to Wednesday in good shape & then the rest of the week just runs away from me.

I've had a great time but I'm really looking forward to being home & to getting around to say hello to some lovely folk who've been stopping in to have a virtual cocktail with me on holiday.

Today I was given this pack of Japanese Fabric scraps.

My mother in law gave it to me to say thanks for rigging up a DIY grey water system at her beach house. The washing machine now flows out onto the native garden and the bath has a garden hose syphon.

This little gift in the middle of a craft-dry couple of weeks was a lovely surprise & so thoughtful. Gifts given for no reason are the very best kind don't you think?

It's a good life.

with a twist.

I made roasted strawberry & caramelised mango pavs as well as a few other yummy things. Of course I didn't photograph the finished product but these are the freshly cooked fruits.

Today was Mum's real 60th birthday. We had a lunch today with the family & some very old family friends.

It was a bit of a challenge cooking in the beach house kitchen which only has a micro/convection combo oven & very limited resources but I made do.

we have ever spent.

It's an ice crusher purchased from Go Low. This little baby crushes ice perfectly for all our favourite drinks.

Enjoying lots of icy drinks tonight with the family which will be lovely. Looking forward to 2008 with anticipation. So stinking, ferally hot today & I'm hoping the icy drinks improve my grumbly mood.

I hope that your farewell to 2007 is cool(ish).

in my shoes.

This morning I put my camera in my camel back before I headed out. The sky wasn't anything too remarkable but there were some beautiful scenes.

Lighthouse before dawn

Another reason to get up early

Sunrise over Point Nepean

Bandaids for the sand dunes

The camel back rubbed my neck & made me hot. It also made me remember one of the reasons I am not doing the trail walker in 2008.

better with age?

I know all about fine wine & friendships, but I've really been considering this question lately.

Not normally one to appreciate the views, flora & fauna I have found myself breathless at the beauty of my surroundings often recently. I'm pretty sure this isn't caused by low iron levels but a genuine appreciation of my life, the people in it & my world.

I used to roll my eyes at my parents when they stopped to appreciate the view or some other natural beauty. Is it true that we will one day become our parents?

Today I was lucky enough to witness the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen in my life. The cloud formation above the Lonsdale lighthouse was a flaming orange & a small pool of crystal clear blue sky appeared to be a mirage in an endless desert.

Sadly, running with an Olympus isn't really very easy but I'm pretty committed & I'm going to have a crack at it tomorrow morning.

Just a little aside: Due to the super slow & very relaxed nature of dial up I can't comment on your blogs or send emails but I thank you all for stopping by & look forward to catching up properly when I'm better connected.

mojito! I hate mojito but my date tonight (& forever) loves them.

Finally tracked down some mint in Queenscliff, I brewed the sugar syrup today & we are all set.

I made a double batch of sugar syrup...I wonder what girly drink I could make with that? Ah yes, the slushie. I'm going to the strawberry farm tomorrow!!!

performed on Ikea "poang" cushion. Presented with deep gash along spine. Discharged with 20 stitches.

on the beach this morning belonged to this little guy & my Asics.

There is something really exciting about being up when no-one else is & "breaking in" the sand for a busy day.

Things are going to be pretty quiet in this little corner as we slow down. Dial up does my head in.