Making do

May your weekend be full of sunshine and comfort ... even if it means making do with what you've got ...

Breathing Deep ...

Sorting through my photos I came across this little collection, taken when I was home sick a few weeks ago.

I was feeling pretty sorry for myself but Winter hadn't quite hit yet so I forced myself outside. About an hour later I stopped, took a deep breath and looked around me.

In front Astro's Garden, on my lap holiday planning.

Nutmeg on my left.

Samson on my right.

Blue sky above.

Much better for heart, mind and body than curling up on the couch feeling sorry for myself.

Sun, surf and sand ... an Aussie long weekend (pt1)

A few weeks ago, on the Labour Day long weekend, The Sparky and I joined the throngs of Melbournians driving out of the city.

We finished our so-called eight hour days, The Sparky loaded the dogs into the van and I jumped on a tram to meet him along the way. Roughly five hours later we arrived at our camp ground and set up camp in the dark ... trying hard to be quiet.

Two days of hot, hot summer fun followed.

We danced on the beach ...

... drank from rock pools ...
 

  

... okay, so that was only the dogs, but we did walk through them.

  

When it got too hot we jumped in the van ...

  

... drove to the Cape Otway Lighthouse ...

  

... which was a nice drive, but unfortunately the dogs weren't allowed so we didn't actually get to see the lighthouse!

From there we headed down to Port Campbell, past the Twelve Apostles and other sights that make this one of the nicest drives in Australia.

Because most of the drive is through National Park, we weren't able to stop and get out with the dogs. This lookout here though gave a gorgeous view of the entry to Port Campbell.

 

  The forest that you drive through is not bad either ...

... although a little difficult to capture from a moving car!

So Far, So Good

Blue skies, sunshine, happy dogs ...

... I think I could get used to doing our morning walk after the sun has risen.

Did someone say squirrel?

So much for my good posers!

Pick Me Up Quotes ... and you apparently too

So, I started this last week without any formal introduction ... in fact looking back it appears I said nothing at all! The basic idea being that I condense all of the weird and wonderful things that cross my screen and my mind into three thoughts to present to you on a Thursday. As evidenced here, things can get a bit out of control if I just lay out everything that's on my mind in one hit. So, hopefully narrowing it to three things will help to avoid random rants about children's toys that I not-so-secretly covet while confining the posts to Thursdays only will mean that sometimes you'll be able to come here and actually find a new Travelday post, or if you're really lucky, some new manifestos ...

Based on the response to last weeks quotes, and given where my own head is still at at the moment, two of today's three things are simply pick me up quotes found here and there -

The third wanders way off into random territory again, but I'm so excited I just have to share. Those of you who kindly read every word I type will be aware that The Sparky is mere months away from finishing his four year apprenticeship which means that right now he is doing refresher courses and sitting his three A-grade exams (an A-grade electrician being a fully qualified one). His first refresher course was on a Monday a couple of weeks ago and he came home that night a little concerned, not because it's a difficult exam but because it is known to be the easiest to fail as there are a few steps that if missed mean an instant fail. So, he rigged up a simulation at home and for three nights I sat there and mock-tested him over and over (and over and over) again. On the Thursday morning he ran through it a couple more times then headed off to to the test. His results came in earlier this week and ... he got 100%!!!! Not a single mistake or forgotten step! I'm so proud I could just about burst.

Phew, that ended up long winded. Here's another dog photo to get you back on track ...

Last Night ...

... I had trouble capturing this well ...

... partly because it was too dark ...

... and partly because I was trying to use my phone ...

... also, Nutmeg kept moving ...

... and then once Samson had curled himself up comfortable like ...

... I could only get two faces and a butt ...

... or a squishy face and not much else ...

... plus there's lots of furniture in the way of getting the right angle ...

... still, I had to try 'coz it was awesomely cute.

For Hannah and Agnes ...

(she hasn't looked like this for five years now but I won't tell if you don't ...)

Success!

A few weeks ago I tried my hand at my first piece of sewing in ... well to be honest I couldn't say. A few pieces of coordinating scrap material, a bit of cutting, a bit of sewing and some more cutting later (the edges are deliberately scrappy, just in case that's not obvious) and I had myself a little dog blanket -

To be perfectly honest I thought that it would end up in the bin shortly after finishing it. Instead I've found that both Nutmeg (pictured) and Astro (our cat) seek it out to sleep on in preference to the large bed. I've even found Samson trying to fit his big old bottom on it!

So, I'm gonna call that one a success ...

Awww ...

I think my all time favourite photo of Ms Nutmeg, way back when she was just a little pup who could hardly see over the grass