Sky Watch Friday

This is another photo from along the Bridle Trail - this time at Easter after a few days of light rain. It's remarkable how quickly it greens up again. It was simply beautiful up there but it seems that half of Sydney was out there camping.

For more Skywatch Friday photos visit here.

Photo Challenge - MY FAVOURITE COLOUR - PURPLE

I love the colour purple - in nature, my home and my wardrobe. There is just something about it that I'm drawn to.

The tibouchina next to our front door. It's just starting to
flower here in the autumn and it is glorious.

A must have for every girl - purple nail varnish (OPI of course)!

Pretty purple patchwork fabrics :-)

For more participants go to Brenda's Photo Challenge blog and check out their favourite colours!

Sky Watch Friday

I took this shot on the way home from the local shops. We saw this great cloud formation and I slowed down while my daughter took the snap out of her window.

For more great sky photos from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

My Punky Fairy

Today is Shelby's last Easter parade. She is in Year 6 and going to High School next year. The theme this year is "Wings and Masks" and she was determined to borrow my wings, even though she is always telling me that she is NOT a girly girl, she's a tomboy.

We had everything for the costume but a top and I admit that I had to bully her into this top. She thought that it was too pretty and bright but I was adamant that it would be perfect. When we got home from the shopping trip and she tried it all on, even she had to admit that mum was right :-)

My husband must think he lives in a nuthouse sometimes. I bought the wings on our last camping / touring holiday and he was hassling me about why I needed them. He really wasn't happy when he ended up with fairy glitter all over his bag...LOL. I have quite a few wands too. And Shelby already had the black tutu.

It was very busy this morning doing Shelby's face up until she was happy with it. It turned out really well. I think that she looks absolutely gorgeous and she is happy that there is a punk look to her outfit. Like her mum, she's a girl who likes to look a little different :-)

I had to drop her off at school as she had most of her costume on, the wand poking out of her school bag that was on her back, wings in one hand and a basket of goodies for the market stall in the other.

My little girl is growing up.

Sky Watch Friday

Welcome to Skywatch Friday. For more skies around the world, visit here.

This is another shot from the Bridle Trail on the way to Hill End. I just love the wispy clouds against the blus sky and the old fence rambling along.

Sky Watch Friday

Welcome to Skywatch Friday. Visit here for more beautiful skies around the world.

This shot is from out near Hill End in New South Wales, off the Bridle Trail. It's really dry out there and they desperately need some rain - the river is almost non-existent in places. It's still beautiful though.

Sky Watch Friday

A sunset last year out near Orange in country New South Wales. It's raining here now and the skies are dismal, but we need it.

For more beautiful skies from around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday.

Been Lazy I Know!!

I have been very lazy lately in regards to my blog. Sorry about that.

I had my gall bladder out two weeks ago tomorrow. I had been getting dreadful chest pain for over ten years and been on Nexium for reflux, but it was getting no better. I finally had an ultrasound done on my gall bladder after seeing a new specialist and they found a large gall stone. I then got referred to a surgeon who had a look at the results and then basically asked when I wanted the gall bladder removed. Two weeks later I was in hospital - thank the gods for private health insurance. The operation was on the day that I was supposed to go back to work after the Christmas holidays :-) The operation went well and after an overnight stay I got to go home to relax for two weeks. I have now finished watching all those movies and television series dvd's that I had stocked up on for the enforced rest.

I go back to work on Wednesday after a morning appointment to see my surgeon. All has healed pretty well and I feel good. I am not looking forward to the amount of mail and stuff on my desk though, apparently it's overflowing. Seven weeks of stuff to go through (I was on holidays for five weeks before the operation) will probably take me the rest of the week.

I am at home today watching the dreadful, horrible news coming out of Victoria about the bushfires and all the lives lost. I sit and weep it's so awful. I hope that all those who survived can get through it.

I will try to get back to more regular posts. Going back to work and getting back into routine will help, I'm sure.

Photo Challenge - LOOKING UPWARDS!

We have been on a few excursions into Sydney over the past few days and I found some great views when I looked up! Thanks to Joan from Joan's Journeys for hosting this challenge. It certainly changed my point of view :-)

A light pole near the Circular Quay. It just looked so interesting, simple and elegant. I love the reflection from the sun.

The Opera House sails are just so beautiful and iconic that I had to include them.

We went to the Australian Museum in Sydney and this was the ceiling in one of the rooms. Gorgeous!

I couldn't resist adding this photo. I took it in the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour. It is a view of the roof of one of the pavilions in the gardens. Just beautiful.

For more upwards looking photos go to Brenda's Photo Challenge.

Sky Watch Friday

We usually go away this time of year but this year we decided to stay home and enjoy the city. I could not go past a photo of the Sydney Opera House as my first contribution for 2009. There was not a cloud in the sky.

For more Sky Watch Friday, visit HERE.

Coffs Harbour Butterfly House

On my recent holiday with my sister we visited the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. There were so many butterflies and we were lucky enough to have a couple land on us (much to Andy's horror...LOL). They have their own breeding and hatching program to keep the butterfly house stocked and there are usually about ten to fifteen species living there. A great experience! Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

A Male Varied Eggfly Butterfly on my shoulder

Male Cruiser Butterfly

Male Cairns Birdwing Butterfly

Female Varied Eggfly Butterfly

Common Crow Butterfly

Andy gets a visit from a Male Varied Eggfly Butterfly

She sure is popular with the butterfly's, much to her horror....LOL

My Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me and my hubbie, Tony. Yes, we share the same birthday but he's a year older. What a coincidence, huh!?

Holiday with my Sister

My sister, Andy, and I went on a holiday together after New year. We left the kids and husbands at home and embarked on a road trip up the coast.

First stop was Morpeth, near Maitland, where we did some shopping. I bought the most beautiful embroidered jacket. We had lunch and were on our way again, only to get stuck in the most horrendous traffic. It took us two hours to travel about 50 kilometres because of road work - and there was actually no road work crews working that day! We finally got to Forster and stayed the night.

The second day we traveled up to Port Macquarie and enjoyed some leisurely shopping and a laze by the pool after we checked in to our motel. We had a lovely dinner at a bar overlooking the river and then retired for the night.

The next day we went to Bellingen, did some shopping and enjoyed the most delicious lunch at the pub. I have never had such divine antipasto. We then travelled on to Coffs Harbour, were we stayed for three nights. We enjoyed plenty of shopping and a little sight-seeing, went to the movies one night to see The Day the Earth Stood Still and ate out for dinner at a lovely restaurant one night. We visited a butterfly house (more in the next post about that). On our last day we also indulged in massages.

We spent day 6 travelling home - a long trip but the traffic was much better. Home after a great trip. I think that I bought more for the girls than myself, but that is usually the way. I kept seeing things that they would love and couldn't help myself.

A great, relaxing holiday :-)

New Year's Eve

We celebrated New Year's Eve at my sister's with a Bollywood party. We had a great time getting into the spirit of things and dressing the part. Most people stayed the night - they even used the neighbour's backyard as a camp area with three tents and two caravans. We got the spare bedroom, so had comfie beds. It was great fun - just a shame those cocktails did me in early...LOL.

Shelby and Tegan looking fabulous!!

Shelby, Tegan and her boyfriend Lucas.

Tony and I dressed to the nine's Bollywood style.

Shelby and a little friend.

Tony, Darryl and Matt Indian style.

Maddie, Katrina and Shelby (in the middle).

Andrea, mum and I.

HAPPY 2009!!

Photo Challenge - ANYTHING NEW

Sorry that I'm late - AGAIN! I've been on a holiday with my sister (I'll put up a post about it in the next few days). I got plenty of new things on my holiday, although my two girls ended up with more than me, as per usual. Whenever I go away without them I end up buying them lots of nice things.

Thanks to LauraBelle of Simply LauraBelle for hosting this round of the challenge. To see everyone else's entries go to The Brenda Photo Challenge Blog.

This is my new bracelet. The amethyst beads are for peace and wisdom, the Capricorn is my star sign (practical and loyal), the jade bear claw is for good luck, confidence, power and inner strength and the female goddess represents love and compassion.

This gorgeous little statue is Jizo Bosatsu, a protective family deity and protector of children.

These wind chimes were made from aluminium from dis-used electrical cable stripped from mine sites in Africa. The stones in the wind chime are made from melting and setting recycled glass and recycled buffing stones. It is a beautiful piece and sounds lovely.

I hope that enjoyed my 'Anything New' contribution.