It's hard to stay down ...

... when you happen upon scenes like this ...

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!

Mystery Solved

But first, a reminder of what mystery plant looked like a few weeks ago ...

... and now ...

... I can't even fit it into one photo!

For all the space it's taking up, it has only managed to produce three butternut pumpkins ...

they had better be good for all of the inconvenience this plant is causing us at the moment.

(Yes, Samson likes to know exactly what I'm up to when I'm outside)

It's just about time to start planting some more seeds, the golden nugget pumpkin,

the cucumbers and the zucchini have all given up for the year ...

there's still a bit going on though, certainly enough to keep up entertained ...

... we have tomatoes finally starting to ripen ...

... mini capsicum (bouncing back after the possum attacks) ...

... one lonesome corn and The Sparky's beloved long sought Christmas Bell chilli ...

... and last but not least, the Harbanero is finally fruiting as well.

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.

A Horse on the Beach and a Kangaroo on the Rocks

* despite not taking a camera with me I still have approximately forty photos

from the two days we were away so rest assured there will be more to follow ...

Happy as a Pig in Mud ...

... or in this case a dog in wet, sandy, oh-my-goodness-I-can't-breath-stinky muck ...

(he's not looking quite as happy now as when he did it 'coz he knows the hose is coming).

Hot Diggity Dog

We've just recently booked in to spend the Labour Day long weekend at a dog friendly camp site along the Great Ocean Road and I am really looking forward to getting back to the beach. It's silly actually that we don't get to the beach more often given that Melbourne does actually sit on the bay but the local suburban beaches just don't have the same appeal.

I started looking at some of our photos from the last time when we were there, when Samson was just a new pup, to work out how long it has been since we were last there* and came across these gems which I think just about sum up both how wacky he was (and still is) and how much he enjoyed himself -

* six and a half years!

Samson fought the fence and ... well, Samson won!

Sorry for more blurry photos but I discovered this while getting ready this morning ...

by the time I get home tonight I will be just as dark so no better for trying to get a good shot.

Did someone say squirrel?

So much for my good posers!

A Breath of Fresh Air

~ It was refreshingly (comparatively) mild outside this morning. So much so that I decided to walk to the station instead of catching the bus. In fact, I strolled rather than rushed, breathed deep instead of stressed, savoured the blue sky and fluffy pink-lined clouds, smiled at the gum tree at the oval (I'll take a photo of it for you one day Emma) and just simply took my time.

~ Then it started raining.

~ and then it stopped, right in time for me to go for a lunch time walk ... which I did, again breathing deep the (relatively) fresh post-rain air, the Korean Barbeque, the Chinese bakery, the Indian spices on my way to make some sale purchases (Torchwood Season 1, The Office (US) Season 1, Castle Season 2, Camelot and the latest from The Temper Trap - in case you were wondering).

~ I have a bad habit of checking my Blogger stats, I don't really know why but I do find out some interesting things. There are a lot of people who stop by but don't ever comment, that's fine I don't comment on every post I read either. I get more traffic when I'm actively commenting on other blogs, obviously. Posts with more photos and less words seem to attract more comments, not sure how to take that!

~ Last Friday Two Thursday's ago (seriously where did the extra week go?) I popped in to my stats to see that I HAVE MY FIRST FOLLOWER!! Sorry, I know it's really not that exciting but seriously Ali, it had been a pretty rough day and you put the bounce back in my step.

~ Speaking of bounce, we're babysitting The Sparky's niece on Saturday ... she's a great kid and it should be fun but we've already decided that if she has a melt down or an 'accident' then she's going outside with the dogs!

~ Just kidding (of course)!

~ and speaking of the dogs (because it's Friday after all) ...

another oldie, way back when he was still less than a year old

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.

Because You Asked so Nicely ...

Samson - first day at home