The Week in Pictures...

 

A bit of a mish-mash of photos this week:

 

** I work in a small law firm where there is only the one solicitor. My level of busy depends on how much work they're filtering my way on any given day. If the flow is slow and sporadic, I tend to lose motivation and become bored pretty quickly. That was pretty much my entire week: Zero motivation, 100% boredom. That was until 4pm on Wednesday afternoon when the solicitor decided they wanted a week's worth of work completed in one hour. Boredom may drive me batty but the last-minute rush is not a preferred alternative.

 

** All day Thursday was First Aid training. It was nowhere near as boring as I thought it was going to be and I learnt a lot. One of the things I discovered is that I am not so good with open wounds, even the fake kind. However, if someone's not breathing and needs CPR, then I'm their girl - as long as they're not cut up and covered in blood or anything. Turns out I'm a bit squeamish. Who knew?

 

** Friday the rain came and stayed for two days. We ended up with more than 60mm, which is a phenomenal amount for this part of the world. Our water tanks are full, which means this week we can switch off the mains supply and return to running the house on rainwater. As long as we get regular, follow-up rain over winter and spring, we should have enough to get us through the summer. The garden has also received a good soaking. The weeds are loving it.

 

How was your week?

 

The Week in Pictures...

 

 

** It was another frantic-busy working week followed by a quiet, uneventful weekend at home. But you know what? I don't mind it so much. Although it does leave for little to write about on the blog.

 

** The past week was unseasonably warm with temperatures getting into the mid-30s (*C). Tonight we are waiting for the rain that the BoM promised, although so far the sky is clear aside from a few clouds puffing up over the Ranges to the south (in the wrong direction!).

 

** The sky seemed especially blue this week; the ocean particularly turquoise; and the wattles were bursting in red. These are our colours of autumn.

What are yours?

 

365 Mail Art Project: Week 26

I realise that Sunday is normally the day when I share my photos from the week, but this week I started a new job and I haven't quite figured out the new routine yet and no photos were taken.

 

Although my days are no longer as flexible as they once were, I still managed to find time for mail art, so I thought I'd share them with you today instead:

 

 

 

#90 of 365:

A shipwreck for Kelly in Malaysia...

 

 

#91 of 365:

Gift tag for Jennifer in Australia...

 

 

#92 of 365:

South Australian awesomeness for Riley in the USA...

 

 

#93 of 365:

Tulips for Flavia in England...

 

 

#94 of 365:

Sunny sunflowers for Ele in Italy...

 

 

#95 of 365:

And vintage bicycles for Louise in England.

 

 

How was your week, anyway?

The Week in Pictures...

** The week started as summer with hot days and humid nights, but by week's end it had morphed into autumn with cool, breezey days, bright orange sunsets and damp, dewey nights. Today it was only 11*C at 7.30am, a temperature we've not seen for at least four months and its sudden arrival gave us goosebumps. But that is what's so great about autumn: After months of seemingly endless heat you don't mind a bit of chill.

 

** We are eating the last of the summer fruits and veg (that which didn't die in the heat) whilst the weather forecast for the coming week only has one day above 35*C. Hopefully this means summer is well and truly drawing to a close for at least another 7 or 8 months, and we don't end up with an Indian Summer in May like we did last year. We pray for abundant, rejuvinating autumnal rains.

 

** Bailey-dog had his last "summer cut" this week. From now until next summer he'll only need a trim every 6 weeks or so. He's super cute all the time, but even more so with a bit of curl.

 

** Autumn has me unpacking my stampers and inks and decorating all sorts of items in the red, yellow, orange and brown of autumn leaves. This month I am taking part in the Love Notes Postcard Project and sent out my first postcard on Friday to J in Melbourne.

 

** I continue with the mail art, although this week I had to undertake a shopping trip to stock up on pens as I was officially penless. I think I've bought enough to last the next two months, but I have a terrible habit of scattering my pens throughout the house and then forgetting where I've put them, so when I need them I don't know where they are.

 

** I've been quiet on the blog these past couple weeks whilst I work on a novel critique and complete assignments for my editing course. I have many things to write about but just struggle to find the time at the minute, but I'm hoping the critique will be finished by the middle of this week. That should free up some time.

 

** Oh, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I hope your day is wonderfully green.



The Week in Pictures...

** Although it was a busy week with much to pass the time, there is only one thing you need to know: IT RAINED. It fell non-stop from 8am until 8pm on Wednesday. Nothing torrential, just 20mm or so, but it was absolute bliss regardless. We opened all the windows and doors and let the fresh, cool breeze flow through the house and enjoyed the sound of raindrops on our hot tin roof.



The Week in Pictures...

* Tried pruning. I lost confidence after the second branch.

* We have daffodils!

* Some liquid fertiliser, a bit of mulch, warm days followed by some gentle rain - all good for the garden.

* A slow week at work. A short week at work.

* Bailey-dog went to a new vet for his vaccinations and an ear infection. All good!

* Many postcards and a little mail art.

* Potted succulents.

The Post-Christmas Blog Post...

[Our super pretty Xmas Tree]

In true 2011 fashion, the past week has flittered by and I've barely noticed its passing.

Where does the time go?

I'm on leave from work until next week. During this time I'd planned to achieve a many wonderous thing, but already it is Thursday and I've not yet done even half of what I'd planned.

[Xmas cards decorate the dining room mantel]

Xmas Day was a warm one in our sunny, windy, thunderstormy part of Australia. It reached 36*C in our little town, and due to the thunderstorms brewing it was humid all day until around 9pm in the evening when we had a quick patter of rain followed by a cool change. So, the day after Xmas was wonderfully pleasant, as have been the days that have followed it, although tomorrow is supposed to be back into the high-30s, and it is possible that we'll have temperatures in the 40s for the next week or so.

[Useful Xmas gift #1: Don Burke's Organic Gardening]

But back to Xmas Day: A BBQ breakfast, followed by a feast of a midday meal, followed by a feast of an evening meal left us feeling quite gluttonous!

I love to give useful, practical Xmas gifts, and I tried to do that again this year, but I also received some wonderful useful gifts in return. I've already put Don Burke's Organic Gardening book to use and planted seeds for the next lot of planting, as well as having planned my vegie patch for autumn.

[Useful Xmas gift #2: Homemade preserves and dukkah]

And this morning for breakfast I had quinoa bread spread with a generous serving of homemade pear and vanilla jam, which my sister made. I didn't know she was quite so clever in the kitchen and it was delicious!

Now I'm spending this warm afternoon writing some letters, watching a bit of TV, cooking (in the slow cooker), and reading. I've four full days left free from the confines of paid employment and I intend to get myself back on track with all that I have planned...

Tomorrow I think I'll made some nachos. Gosh, it's been years since I've had those! I'll have to share the recipe...

How are you spending your holidays?

On my mind: Business Ventures...

After much discussion and deliberation, SJ has decided to start his own business. Having found himself recently unemployed due to company downsizing, he's struggled to find full-time work elsewhere.

So, he's decided that he might as well go with what he knows (and which he also happens to be very good at) and work for himself, running a business from home. It's scary and exciting at the same time!

There's been stressful moments, but as each week draws to a close SJ finds himself one step closer to becoming a sole trader in the field he enjoys. The simple thought of it makes him smile, which (for now, at least) makes the stressful moments worth it.

**~**~**~**~**

This is a Friday photo feature from Down to Earth that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to Down to Earth. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, go to Down to Earth and add a comment , with a link to your blog photo.