nibble and grin

Eye Spy "a bit of bling"

We were off celebrating early Christmas with Mr You's family yesterday, so I missed sharing Hoppo Bumpo's topic my eye-spy bling. But here it is. We also shared this bit of bling and the news that goes with it with that side of the family yesterday too. That was fun! :)

We'll be celebrating Christmas day with my side of the family this year (which is rare), so we're looking forward to it. I'm already in holiday mode, not wanting to do anything but potter around aimlessly, nibbling, and grinning.

I'll be taking a much needed break away from the computer screen for a week or two. So, if you're celebrating Christmas, then may it be a wonderful one. If you're not, then may you have a wonderful time anyway. Stay safe, be merry, nibble and grin!

See you in the Happy Happy New Year :D

flossy-p .xx.

curiouser and curiouser

You know those times when you go for a walk on the beach and there are heaps of bluebottles washed up on the high-tide line along the shore? Well, we found the same thing while walking on the beach the other afternoon. But because we live in some sort of fairyland, instead of bluebottles there were hundreds and hundreds of lady beetles!

I've never seen anything like it before. It was so very very odd. But pretty and enchanting at the same time.

It raised many questions; What were they doing in the water? Why were there so many of them together when we're so use to seeing them solo? Do they usually travel across the sea in swarms?

Most of them hadn't survived, some had. But they weren't sharing any answers.

So curious...


(p.s. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, bluebottles are a type of, um, stinging jellyfish I guess. Except they're not jelly, they're like little inflated air sacks, and blue in colour. Photo's here and here).

Sadly I have no photo's of the lady beetles on the beach. Sorry. You'll have to attempt a painting of that one yourself. :)

little red tree

"Eye Spy a burst of colour"

While I was in Sydney last weekend, walking through Hyde Park, I noticed this little red tree. Small against the ancient fig trees, it seemed determined not to go unnoticed. I could almost sense the little tree, like a child in a classroom, with his hand in the air, bursting to get the teachers attention over the other children. Being as bright as he could, on the opposite side of the colour-wheel, to his counterparts.



I wonder if he's still bursting with red this weekend? I'm not sure he could have kept it up for long, he may have popped. But at least for a while he stood out, stopped people in their tracks and had his picture taken. :)

For anyone who's ever come across Shaun Tan's book "The Red Tree", you'll know why I stopped and took notice.

another weekly wrap-up

Another weekly wrap-up post. Hope you don't mind...

The week before this one (and this one too) was filled with sad news, close friends breaking up, not just one set, but a couple. Children involved... very sad. Which had me feeling like my trip to Sydney would be bitter sweet. And it was. But the sweet was great.

I had a really really fun time in Sydney. Just a few action packed days, but filled with all the right stuff, good friends, good food, and some very very good news...

The city was in full Christmas swing, with the David Jones window displays delighting crowds. My Grandfather used to bring my mum to town to see the windows every year when she was a little girl. A very sweet tradition.



While I was there I had a business meeting at the Art Gallery of NSW (that's our State Gallery, currently showing Monet), and the good news that I mentioned earlier is that from the new year they will be stocking a range of my greeting cards in the gift shop. Not just a couple, but a few of every single one in my catalogue. I can't even begin to describe how shocked and excited I was by this. SHOCKED and ELATED! I got some really great feedback and encouragement from them too, so I had alot to celebrate. And as usual, I now have something fun that will be keeping me very busy over the next couple of weeks. Did I mention the "shocked and elated" part?!!!



I went straight from that to my god-daughter's 4th Birthday party. It was very pink, and there was a fairy there. I took way too many photo's of my cute little bean, but she's so lovely it's hard not to. There were some great "kid" moments too... The best being when the Fairy (who's name was Pinky) told them it was time for her to go back home to Fairyville, one of the little girls asked if they could watch her fly away. That had me chuckling since I'd seen the fairy arrive in a hatchback and get changed behind a van parked on the street.



Later that day I met up with a bunch of friends at the Finders Keepers Artist Markets. There was nothing like this in Sydney when I was there, but since leaving just over a year ago, they've been popping up all over the place. It was all I'd dreamed of, and I over-spent, slightly, but you have to support each other, don't you? I circled Kareena (the cute girl with the pink hair in the photo below), eventually plucking up enough courage to say hello, but then far too star-struck to talk any further, despite really wanting too. She was really nice too, and so cute. I spent the rest of the time circling her stall some more, pointing and whispering to my friends, how awesome and famous she is, and how I idolize her... Then when she spotted me taking this photo from a distance, I'm quite sure she thought I was a complete loony. Quite rightly. Oh, well. :)



So I returned from my trip feeling very fulfilled.
_ _ _

Then as you all now know Mr You and I became betrothed, hehehe.

More shock and elation, I can assure you. I want to thank you all for your lovely comments on my previous post. It's been so exciting for me to share the squeals. I spoke to my sister on the phone yesterday, and it was SO SO hard not telling her, but I want to tell her in person, which I'll be able to do in just over a week.

Mr You and I have been so giddy ever since the other night. The night he proposed was our 12 and a half year anniversary together. I had thought that because we've been together so long, that if we ever became engaged I wouldn't really feel too different. But I can tell you, even after all this time together, the proposal still shocked me (perhaps even more so) and felt just as special and exciting as if we'd been a new couple.

I've also never really been a jewel girl. Never owned a precious stone in my life, so when Mr You told me he had all the "carat" information for the white gold and stones written down, my response was "It's got carats!!!??" I don't even know what that means really, but I know it's the real deal. And although now my left hand looks like it belongs to someone else (someone very ladylike and royal), I must confess I think I may be giving myself carpel tunnel from bending my hand back to look at the ring so often. I turn every light switch on with my left hand, and keep doing uncharacteristic things just to gain an extra glance. I've turned into such a girl! :)

One of my favourite things about it (who am I kidding, everything about it is my favourite thing) is the profile, which looks like an art deco building rising from the cityscape of my fingers. Like the Chrysler Building of downtown left hand. Heee.

And while I'm still not yet knowledgeable enough to call myself a jewel girl, there are so many things about it that hold significance... the colour of that stone looking like tropical water; and being given it on the beach. The aquamarine being in the same family as the emerald; and the proposal was on Emerald Beach. The fact that despite me not being a jewel girl, and Mr You having nothing to go on by way of my taste, he chose something more perfect than I ever could have. And much more...

So I almost feel guilty, while others seem to be having such a terrible time at the moment, I just had the best week ever. :D

aquamarine

Late last night something special happened.

The air charged with electricity from a recently passed storm, the sky still flashing dramatically in the distance.

A quiet lull in sound and breeze, air fresh and clean.

A moonlit beach.

Waves gentle and slow.

Wet sand under foot… then under bended knee

Sweet and passionate words

Giggles tears nods kisses hugs expletives and this…




eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :D

- - -

We haven't told any family or friends yet. I'd like to keep it just between us for a while, to extend the private moment, at least for a few days, maybe even a week. I'll see how long I can hold out for. I'm absolutely dying to tell, which is the reason for this post. I had to tell someone. :)

- - -

I could say soooo much more about the night and the ring, but for now I'll keep it brief. I did want to say that Mr You chose the ring all by himself, I had no idea. And although it looks big in that picture, it's actually tiny and delicate. I adore it!

eye-spy a burst of colour

With so many possibilities for eye-spy it took me a while to settle on one for this week. But I have narrowed it down and chosen: "Eye-Spy a burst of colour".

Colour where it isn't expected. A tiny bit of colour peeping through the grey. A contrast of colour against the rest. A brave choice of colour that stands out in your wardrobe. Or just so much colour you can hardly bare it. :D

Come, play along, go to eye spy to join in on Sunday.

gold in the garden

"Eye Spy something in my garden"



I'm kind of cheating because I showed this same picture of the golden christmas beetle that I found in my garden earlier in the week. But I just got back from Sydney and I'm far too tired to go looking round the garden now, and... well, I think the beetle is well worth a second look :D


A lovely eye spy topic chosen by Curly Pops this week!

Oh Gosh, and I get to choose next week! I'll have a think and let you all know soon :)

packing it in

"Don't come home all tired and crying" Mr You told me, with the cheeky grin, sparkly eyes and that tone of voice that goes with it.
It was in response to my taunt, "You're lucky you're not coming with me to Sydney this weekend, there's no way you could keep up with my social calendar."
Hehehe. We're such smart-arses! :D

First thing in the morning I'm off to the big smoke for a few days to pack in a whole bunch of fun and socialising. I'll be back on Sunday, and I fully intend to be tired and crying from over stimulation and social-exhaustion, not to mention full of good food and maybe even a little tipsy. I'm packing it in! Bring it on...

all you will ever need

It's happened before... and now it's happened again. A package arrives, unexpected. It's a gift for me, for no occasion, for no reason, just a spontaneous, sincerely generous gift. And again it's from Renee. Full of love, generosity and heart, Renee.

It's a book. It's called Imagine a Place, and is filled with the most amazing illusion illustrations that grab hold of your imagination and make it fly. Each illustration is accompanied by a prose, here's one of my favourites:

Imagine a place...
...where your ship holds
all you once knew
and the horizon offers
all you will ever need.

And here's one of my favourite pictures from it:


(The lady at the back is holding a big saw)

Thank-you Renee. I love it! I really really love it.

As I discovered yesterday (the postie delivered it bright and early), it's great book to browse through as you're waking up over a cup of tea. It puts a new boundless perspective on the day ahead. So not only has Renee given me a great book, she's given me days with no bounds, imagination, inspiration, and of course she always gives her love.

The book is Imagine a Place. Words by Sarah L Thomson. Paintings by Rob Gonsalves (he's from Cananda).

revitalizing

ouch... so... busy... ouch... brain hurts... eyes about to pop...

I did manage to sneak down the street for a swim yesterday, and I was SO glad I did. It was perfect. Small gentle waves, clear clear water, just the right temperature... perfect. We did have to share the beach with about 4 other people though (busy day), hehehe.



In fact I've just tempted myself, I might sneak out for another quick dip now! (shhhh don't tell anyone) It's great way to wash the stresses of the day off, and get the joints (seized up from sitting in front of the computer too long) moving again. And it's magically revitalizing.