a peek inside a much appreciated giveaway win...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those who know me well know that a book is one of the best things you can give me...so I was really chuffed when last week I was lucky enough to win this one...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH9H46wckE2Jg6E7PZ0F-j182dBOZnxeU0ZCkeWwUJZaAPaMoyEgMnnoGbL1kM9zW-phbZ5c4RfsKJ-eOp0iMUttkNpifVSGzjLEphGWIEO6pwAkBO0-NCgIEQQONS4LDTCIE9qy1yf9G/s1600/ikea+book+beloved+homes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH9H46wckE2Jg6E7PZ0F-j182dBOZnxeU0ZCkeWwUJZaAPaMoyEgMnnoGbL1kM9zW-phbZ5c4RfsKJ-eOp0iMUttkNpifVSGzjLEphGWIEO6pwAkBO0-NCgIEQQONS4LDTCIE9qy1yf9G/s640/ikea+book+beloved+homes.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the fabulous Posie (aka Jennie) at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://posiepatchworkblog.blogspot.com/">Posie's Patchwork</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.  That woman is a marvel...she exhausts me just reading about the things she manages! Go and say hi if you don't already know her.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdl0quQQ8JiQJ0O8BThNk1NZi4bjQA7v8T_aUV7GOP4Gl0zFInFbkD6y2CnSu8on6A1ETI3qFrn77UAY_AC_bmBBusdaehi7ldJfUH228437bQHva5CmBitrQgNfO-Euv9zRByF-pkgpL/s1600/ikea+book+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdl0quQQ8JiQJ0O8BThNk1NZi4bjQA7v8T_aUV7GOP4Gl0zFInFbkD6y2CnSu8on6A1ETI3qFrn77UAY_AC_bmBBusdaehi7ldJfUH228437bQHva5CmBitrQgNfO-Euv9zRByF-pkgpL/s640/ikea+book+007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So for those who weren't as lucky as I was...I thought I'd share some of the pages...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9dxbmDMgzzqb1EY6VEv_qw06fn2Sy3Wdr0X9D1NK_BWAnbTKnX9GJlm-WQPdpfaLLcRnCt8PMkU-yY_pJpcKbqjCIYwUjrejb00hHwLo0YWDO-vpcLlt6X8xJ3xAeAPPfZzT76c1GmRn/s1600/ikea+book+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9dxbmDMgzzqb1EY6VEv_qw06fn2Sy3Wdr0X9D1NK_BWAnbTKnX9GJlm-WQPdpfaLLcRnCt8PMkU-yY_pJpcKbqjCIYwUjrejb00hHwLo0YWDO-vpcLlt6X8xJ3xAeAPPfZzT76c1GmRn/s640/ikea+book+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Given that this book showcases nine Swedish homes I expected it all to be very white on white...and there was definitely that...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmtX8F_4zcmT98fLFUzcM6jyfvaTyCANCD8DnizKZlNPZq5jj82tNf4x3qDXd6dRekxXHPqzkic75AANVWJHJaWiXPlI1RKGP7UK_AoV6P0qlTx3UouUZU9HwpoU4Uv4fV5zNIuBFRm5p/s1600/ikea+book+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmtX8F_4zcmT98fLFUzcM6jyfvaTyCANCD8DnizKZlNPZq5jj82tNf4x3qDXd6dRekxXHPqzkic75AANVWJHJaWiXPlI1RKGP7UK_AoV6P0qlTx3UouUZU9HwpoU4Uv4fV5zNIuBFRm5p/s640/ikea+book+010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnA5KT5AMXzM6jGe_egex9QTT1MJSTxdmqVKA4E7a_teRNV6d_qWXYeEf0M8LkXcYLwyndMBBaGvrGsxK8DJds1tOww72-5YSg0aTMhzAt8W6TCQtXqjAs53crBLYFxV03Da4ZEMpKUVP/s1600/ikea+book+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnA5KT5AMXzM6jGe_egex9QTT1MJSTxdmqVKA4E7a_teRNV6d_qWXYeEf0M8LkXcYLwyndMBBaGvrGsxK8DJds1tOww72-5YSg0aTMhzAt8W6TCQtXqjAs53crBLYFxV03Da4ZEMpKUVP/s640/ikea+book+011.JPG" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but also masses of colour...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-fPG492canK53nimVBooglLqveAhN1T3SZUWetuQPgT-vg3Qcq1p8whJWIq6DNwYwoT4oWYvScd1VVX1-vgeNvQLi-V-1DTR2qCCOc6orGdG4Evwg9FeaBbicV-tBLmcXkn1qDmuJHui/s1600/ikea+book+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-fPG492canK53nimVBooglLqveAhN1T3SZUWetuQPgT-vg3Qcq1p8whJWIq6DNwYwoT4oWYvScd1VVX1-vgeNvQLi-V-1DTR2qCCOc6orGdG4Evwg9FeaBbicV-tBLmcXkn1qDmuJHui/s640/ikea+book+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">which suits me down to the ground (although I do love looking at those all white heavenly spaces)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxUUrFQKn8Aay1GsynnbAJ1rhgxy2q103uWdt0Rxo416vIFjLkIBhwhbEXetDKe0Ri_vLDhXsYiZsIdPyrWWETosNdloeuoHHRJlTeWTkvr3Im1vIDlE7SeW67wqpAQoBwxNNJ0Tp3D7Y/s1600/ikea+book+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxUUrFQKn8Aay1GsynnbAJ1rhgxy2q103uWdt0Rxo416vIFjLkIBhwhbEXetDKe0Ri_vLDhXsYiZsIdPyrWWETosNdloeuoHHRJlTeWTkvr3Im1vIDlE7SeW67wqpAQoBwxNNJ0Tp3D7Y/s640/ikea+book+012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is such a fun book...witty, pretty and wise :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnH1uLNAfuF04IkWEsNevAsk4W9fMvFN91dzVCeCPDCRewq8yyyYz3uNCaZsDtaFAMcYI8iq_vT2HhUJbw3kXnkRsv_r1SyMKs1jYJRgP6xNEmq6_S4QuIk_gHWJO0_FacIPodpuKL2ab/s1600/ikea+book+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnH1uLNAfuF04IkWEsNevAsk4W9fMvFN91dzVCeCPDCRewq8yyyYz3uNCaZsDtaFAMcYI8iq_vT2HhUJbw3kXnkRsv_r1SyMKs1jYJRgP6xNEmq6_S4QuIk_gHWJO0_FacIPodpuKL2ab/s640/ikea+book+013.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to have lovely dreams of this balcony...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAu0valgv7ItqaxLtqkp4pQvdICb0yxvsdnf5C255QDprkG_3wG4gNcGQUFXdFd94VPcqvbNwpkVLVgYn1GD_kT8bZ4_QYaymTwot9-io3TDq7HbsIoirQ9cLBygJZnhhee5QDSkPGq0I/s1600/ikea+book+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAu0valgv7ItqaxLtqkp4pQvdICb0yxvsdnf5C255QDprkG_3wG4gNcGQUFXdFd94VPcqvbNwpkVLVgYn1GD_kT8bZ4_QYaymTwot9-io3TDq7HbsIoirQ9cLBygJZnhhee5QDSkPGq0I/s640/ikea+book+014.JPG" width="545" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you <a href="http://posiepatchworkblog.blogspot.com/">Jennie</a>...you rock.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because I haven't posted one for a while, here's the slayer doing what she does best...being on perpetual holiday...and looking decidedly unglamorous (just the way I like it!!)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYp-43dONXjvQ2rtFp5rCpePD200fLY1U4WSLGqKGwP-d-cg0HKkV7ylzxw4thNeGhVWZ4OaLg9dHegoeKF3uFcwbQ3vJGnZDGf44cqReaM_u1dmAsidaoDnhrV_fwu7AxodvmT_YkWLXn/s1600/buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYp-43dONXjvQ2rtFp5rCpePD200fLY1U4WSLGqKGwP-d-cg0HKkV7ylzxw4thNeGhVWZ4OaLg9dHegoeKF3uFcwbQ3vJGnZDGf44cqReaM_u1dmAsidaoDnhrV_fwu7AxodvmT_YkWLXn/s320/buffy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">all images by a tranquil townhouse from the book Beloved Homes published by Ikea Family (except for the slayer of course...no way she's making it into a book!)</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

a peek inside a much appreciated giveaway win...

Those who know me well know that a book is one of the best things you can give me...so I was really chuffed when last week I was lucky enoug...

Read more »

a little trip to the big smoke...and an IKEA headache

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do like to visit Sydney. We don't do it as often as we should but this week it was on the manageable list. And where else in the world can you take a stroll after dinner and see things like this! And look...Mary McKillop on the bridge pylon...now officially Australia's first saint.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf1zp1OrV8ud5MtJTJuizkv09marfP7Dr9Hy8ZmpPWt-nTfWoTKEoWBnSRQOcmyn6ZZm-hBm-u9DJ8HtLUohJ-PZ019vlOjBECx8BKR229nvJqJZ3Zg_5oq60bw4tauU_IUqjnxDsPitf/s1600/sydney+harbour+bridge+and+opera+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf1zp1OrV8ud5MtJTJuizkv09marfP7Dr9Hy8ZmpPWt-nTfWoTKEoWBnSRQOcmyn6ZZm-hBm-u9DJ8HtLUohJ-PZ019vlOjBECx8BKR229nvJqJZ3Zg_5oq60bw4tauU_IUqjnxDsPitf/s640/sydney+harbour+bridge+and+opera+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you have free tickets to something, you should take advantage if you can. So we did.  Off to the Better Homes and Gardens Live Event. We were alas, a little late getting out of Canberra...there were eggs benedict to be scoffed and a carpark to get lost in (that was NOT me by the way).</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway... the live event. It wasn't too bad at all.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I think it would have been a lot better though if we were doing major renovations, building a house, furnishing a house, needing lots of pots, pans or emu oil! The best part for me was the Prints Charming stall...really nice people, beautiful fabrics...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO5KCxfJM-yRZdX5PygDbHIHpkUf0iHTvrE_TRbC0S6zoC_z6EECmfsvjcqvRXpvBsrdBiW18gBtMQHLwZPYtKhix7A0a_NjcSptLQyIniTAjyN-emYsszGJiuwp625RE8IIC-Xk51fuM/s1600/prints+charming+stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO5KCxfJM-yRZdX5PygDbHIHpkUf0iHTvrE_TRbC0S6zoC_z6EECmfsvjcqvRXpvBsrdBiW18gBtMQHLwZPYtKhix7A0a_NjcSptLQyIniTAjyN-emYsszGJiuwp625RE8IIC-Xk51fuM/s640/prints+charming+stall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and of course, being the book freak I am...I had to buy this one. And I'm itching to stitch! Look at that fabulous display of screen printing bits and pieces.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUykK_0BOSNmL3kIRJMGTrFJDlEnpeYIgz6_zjE_D-us0d14LaDwsuhYShmmRus4Iyllh7iHrEX1ewegmbEVYh1Gn3dsp6A7Fc7xBz53WKmcQ4d7kWOhWlu5jv8qVkczgP2-T5FJOnsTLa/s1600/prints+charming+stall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUykK_0BOSNmL3kIRJMGTrFJDlEnpeYIgz6_zjE_D-us0d14LaDwsuhYShmmRus4Iyllh7iHrEX1ewegmbEVYh1Gn3dsp6A7Fc7xBz53WKmcQ4d7kWOhWlu5jv8qVkczgP2-T5FJOnsTLa/s640/prints+charming+stall2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if I'm really honest, I was also itching to get to IKEA.  I had imagined that it would shut at 5.00 and time was slipping away. Had I been organised I would have looked up the website before leaving home and discovered it stayed open till 7.00. Never mind. More time to battle crowds and be tempted by things I don't need! Here are a few more snaps from the live event...I love those chairs and aren't those mushrooms magic!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fQFQLYXOeqjOUu_CPzHU5A0yBf8X1ii6LZstT146Dy5uPsjuITmmdqFaEN6UGESksz79O2OHy0gDkKhkDjggaN9gbChAUdS8kgPEZ3pdcICMiq5brwRFOGEkia5TZnrJZjah_rQU9MnB/s1600/BHG+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fQFQLYXOeqjOUu_CPzHU5A0yBf8X1ii6LZstT146Dy5uPsjuITmmdqFaEN6UGESksz79O2OHy0gDkKhkDjggaN9gbChAUdS8kgPEZ3pdcICMiq5brwRFOGEkia5TZnrJZjah_rQU9MnB/s640/BHG+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvTAGP6sM0LvHp-_mvu2tOm1nrA98nI9V0LxSuX-e19N-Dx6YdhEnrzqthPyR4CNKo0s5ns19RDPBqoO1gRHy1-1pj10-kp39GZkB6Nuv60A9g1v0rb67VjIY3i0qU4AlP9sFk2b51a5O/s1600/BHG+collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvTAGP6sM0LvHp-_mvu2tOm1nrA98nI9V0LxSuX-e19N-Dx6YdhEnrzqthPyR4CNKo0s5ns19RDPBqoO1gRHy1-1pj10-kp39GZkB6Nuv60A9g1v0rb67VjIY3i0qU4AlP9sFk2b51a5O/s640/BHG+collage2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And on to Ikea...I can't take photos there...too scared I'll miss something good if I'm looking through a lens. I went for frames, fabric and a floor lamp...all F words, so easy to remember. I came home with frames and a floor lamp but no fabric, but that's ok.  Here's the lamp I bought. I love it to bits but I did have a mighty Ikea headache by the time I got to the lighting section! I'm not showing you a photo of it in situ though...not until I lose the revolting living room wall colour I've inherited. Don't worry...it's on the list!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMZknoa9YpOIoNsNIESxfkhu7yBY-sWnSpcBP1zCV5AO9rDHtt6R2BVvR7BW4VBvNsnAl5QKMD-rpK2JUZiqQny-kNg9aNS-ux4lxcFuZoyCAYOyyUsIyVKR260SHg7Iob6c_UPG29PxD/s1600/ikea+lamp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMZknoa9YpOIoNsNIESxfkhu7yBY-sWnSpcBP1zCV5AO9rDHtt6R2BVvR7BW4VBvNsnAl5QKMD-rpK2JUZiqQny-kNg9aNS-ux4lxcFuZoyCAYOyyUsIyVKR260SHg7Iob6c_UPG29PxD/s400/ikea+lamp.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday already.  Where do the weekends go?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget to leave me a comment on <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/10/tales-of-travelling-cupcakewho-wants-to.html">Cuppie the travelling cupcake</a>. It's looking for a new adventure on its trip around the world and it could be coming to your house. Go on...it's fun...promise!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

a little trip to the big smoke...and an IKEA headache

I do like to visit Sydney. We don't do it as often as we should but this week it was on the manageable list. And where else in the world...

Read more »

our little mountain holiday ~ the scenery edition

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello bloggy people...I'm back from my few days away...it went so quickly but was oh so lovely! Hope you enjoyed the food edition on Monday...we know how to eat that man and I...and as some of you pointed out...yes, I am lucky he loves to cook. He makes me wash up though, which hardly seems fair, especially seeing he's the messiest cook ever.  A bit more adoring on his part required I think. Really easy to adore this scenery though...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgMLpgVbtk8OJtjtHJKeBLqTCDhGs5icXWRZSfZeKylTdw038e_KpdPlnpgsqoSge-YjceFWEAmTxVYyAbtvxg7U6bCa7bzWEmJhBMKpRtM96TBPQtPZvM-0DS5V18V3Mw2SkTsYAtyw/s1600/leura-scenery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgMLpgVbtk8OJtjtHJKeBLqTCDhGs5icXWRZSfZeKylTdw038e_KpdPlnpgsqoSge-YjceFWEAmTxVYyAbtvxg7U6bCa7bzWEmJhBMKpRtM96TBPQtPZvM-0DS5V18V3Mw2SkTsYAtyw/s400/leura-scenery1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These views were only about a 500 metre walk from where we were staying...how spectacular are those mountains...called the Blue Mountains...because, well, they're blue...off there in the distance...perhaps not quite so blue right up close! Now, for educative purposes only...this is why they're called the Blue Mountains:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The Blue Mountains is densely populated by oil bearing Eucalyptus trees. The atmosphere is filled with finely dispersed droplets of oil, which, in combination with dust particles and water vapour, scatter short-wave length rays of light which are predominantly blue in colour."</span></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvUxEKtTW_AJM9HH0KiyWKGc1UqglXyUZY0Ehhyphenhyphenm8um-J0tuCyvvu8WONWS_p9axlYWkw-Vj3CmPvP3rQbGYOdlVVF1cXew4CoCBf21Ohbu78rE50chQcMeiqFRJrHNtkYZ-2g9YEqQc/s1600/leura-scenery-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvUxEKtTW_AJM9HH0KiyWKGc1UqglXyUZY0Ehhyphenhyphenm8um-J0tuCyvvu8WONWS_p9axlYWkw-Vj3CmPvP3rQbGYOdlVVF1cXew4CoCBf21Ohbu78rE50chQcMeiqFRJrHNtkYZ-2g9YEqQc/s400/leura-scenery-2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you get the idea... The next picture is of the famous Three Sisters...but a rear end view...their backsides you could say. Most people see them from Echo Point...the opposite side to this, but that vantage point is the most popular and we had this view almost entirely to ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac2-sAvlmw883B_gFDDUZ0l97ShO81cdcwrjLZ6r82UsTsILw9jNsG2xGy8v8uSdKxbhvPcKs4rhQMWgXi826yHbHjGJopkEi3oj4ibjsdLJ_6HtZTZEuvn2NNOxzG0Df58DBiN2G_gQ/s1600/3sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac2-sAvlmw883B_gFDDUZ0l97ShO81cdcwrjLZ6r82UsTsILw9jNsG2xGy8v8uSdKxbhvPcKs4rhQMWgXi826yHbHjGJopkEi3oj4ibjsdLJ_6HtZTZEuvn2NNOxzG0Df58DBiN2G_gQ/s400/3sisters.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you see the three lovelies...it's ok if you can't...I've numbered them for you...I'm so getting the hang of this photoshopping stuff (I don't know what all the fuss is about...it's not nearly as good as real shopping though, and quite a bit more complicated than Picnik which I have been using...this is the danger of having a bloke around who teaches Photoshop to his graphic design students and thinks you should know it as well!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsULgINvozqLuzvSffNtTLFnTQWUgBHWkf8cJ-2IsXOGLcCE86WmFrg-5IxX9V8-DhulXrPs-JbX974sjuHZn-opl6RhgeA6RXZfr_PFIVA9hinE1lyAsZL4uZvNsGDHIS22iipijkomo/s1600/3sisters+numbered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsULgINvozqLuzvSffNtTLFnTQWUgBHWkf8cJ-2IsXOGLcCE86WmFrg-5IxX9V8-DhulXrPs-JbX974sjuHZn-opl6RhgeA6RXZfr_PFIVA9hinE1lyAsZL4uZvNsGDHIS22iipijkomo/s400/3sisters+numbered.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for your further education, the three sisters are called that because:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle.</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to  return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come."</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The best laid plans of witchdoctors hey? Don't say you don't learn stuff here!!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what do you think it would be like to live here...you'd need a good back fence wouldn't you! A tumble down that hill could be a little inconvenient to say the least. Still working on how to do arrows...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIaQBZx4CvW2O7e3i99s9hZozFJ5Wqkd_c9ob1PYIVOP-OutYq8DwBqgxVyuHeIKSzPaZkYEcx7OZxJuZMo0WX5PsaoFeTmpkSeST3He6XjPy9sUaNRRditU9QtqlXNmzD7iZ9E5UXWg/s1600/house-on-hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIaQBZx4CvW2O7e3i99s9hZozFJ5Wqkd_c9ob1PYIVOP-OutYq8DwBqgxVyuHeIKSzPaZkYEcx7OZxJuZMo0WX5PsaoFeTmpkSeST3He6XjPy9sUaNRRditU9QtqlXNmzD7iZ9E5UXWg/s400/house-on-hill.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arty farty fern shot at the outdoor auditorium...very pretty place...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnGcd-KV-xGPZ0rWsQqgv_a7ayx_olBS0xr7UIKKLkcV7qVWmK83ak9i9_C1ZcKW0qCT8eiUXkMVcKYQZ5h92jKlSlsBtq8Lv46pPfGllX3N-AQrLeCJ3L0TsLYwqFujWfInsT-EyVsc/s1600/leura-ferns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnGcd-KV-xGPZ0rWsQqgv_a7ayx_olBS0xr7UIKKLkcV7qVWmK83ak9i9_C1ZcKW0qCT8eiUXkMVcKYQZ5h92jKlSlsBtq8Lv46pPfGllX3N-AQrLeCJ3L0TsLYwqFujWfInsT-EyVsc/s400/leura-ferns.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and then there was the man-made scenery...this was a cute little art gallery...love the frames on the outside</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhci5BG7JGiu0fY138CI4U9hxxfaDeeOPqUggHPfsnbRZ0myvljFIjiacDhg3twktEMp9TUfISpbtvpIY3t4QNVZiqeZX1QeWknSaEOuT-HanOy_TKNgwShh1xNzdZ1vdN760mZ5kyb9uQ/s1600/leura-art-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhci5BG7JGiu0fY138CI4U9hxxfaDeeOPqUggHPfsnbRZ0myvljFIjiacDhg3twktEMp9TUfISpbtvpIY3t4QNVZiqeZX1QeWknSaEOuT-HanOy_TKNgwShh1xNzdZ1vdN760mZ5kyb9uQ/s400/leura-art-gallery.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The art wasn't great to be honest, but I did like this little vintage glass display...sitting next to the American Express display...which I moved (I put it back though, promise)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58MnleIKICEq6xEsCq0ujX-e8_eSrFsmq3-v27tz_RVmm18zecGr9ovgQaOdBIQbnFFWxLHhW_786r11R8yGVITP4az2Ik3-d1TJeyICy_dXDf9rBPC_qthgm7n3-PjKvT02_P52JnUY/s1600/leura-glass-bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58MnleIKICEq6xEsCq0ujX-e8_eSrFsmq3-v27tz_RVmm18zecGr9ovgQaOdBIQbnFFWxLHhW_786r11R8yGVITP4az2Ik3-d1TJeyICy_dXDf9rBPC_qthgm7n3-PjKvT02_P52JnUY/s400/leura-glass-bottles.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cute painted chair in our bathroom...with the very 'unusual' painted floor finish.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLs-HFBJ4rmh8haBVc22H1Kw5kyRGXqDecPBhr3mP1stkYwP26noz_lF8WExITyRA98mdFx1CC2tp3agIe36GaHGISzbXM6fjtYFLbveg_bqyXsog3Zp35TT89Bm6Z_DnHq9qxmjmk54/s1600/leura+bathroom+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLs-HFBJ4rmh8haBVc22H1Kw5kyRGXqDecPBhr3mP1stkYwP26noz_lF8WExITyRA98mdFx1CC2tp3agIe36GaHGISzbXM6fjtYFLbveg_bqyXsog3Zp35TT89Bm6Z_DnHq9qxmjmk54/s640/leura+bathroom+chair.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">..and even though it wasn't all that cold...we had to have a fire. There was a fireplace...it was begging to be lit...it was romantic...I used to be a girl guide...it called to me. And I will say no more about the romance factor...and I just bet you're REALLY glad about that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahRA4oCrz2sUkoiv7sY6MDNS53XnsPogUSGIbFbWZUuZTavYceDnGSxhdmOHc_UwaSqYHnoc4lWq7TPJGKStu1sMH5QJ1EHp06KtuhNzVrxchblIweGf8lipV8cCnh-qzTvVn7hYYPng/s1600/leura-fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahRA4oCrz2sUkoiv7sY6MDNS53XnsPogUSGIbFbWZUuZTavYceDnGSxhdmOHc_UwaSqYHnoc4lWq7TPJGKStu1sMH5QJ1EHp06KtuhNzVrxchblIweGf8lipV8cCnh-qzTvVn7hYYPng/s400/leura-fireplace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leura has the most beautiful array of little and not so little cottages...every time I go on holidays I get all restless and want to move somewhere new...buy a little old house...do it up...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwd49tImcOmLJEvOrKKQnNjblSnAUG5UVffG-qrb0EQLJWLKevW9VnMQ3Q_T0rwnxDS2V9rtGTTlSzg2yEvkNkKtu4S98wTdf-yDxrKjdIptxd3-hokmW908M_G0bV1HyBYMBvo3WFAA/s1600/leura-house-for-sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwd49tImcOmLJEvOrKKQnNjblSnAUG5UVffG-qrb0EQLJWLKevW9VnMQ3Q_T0rwnxDS2V9rtGTTlSzg2yEvkNkKtu4S98wTdf-yDxrKjdIptxd3-hokmW908M_G0bV1HyBYMBvo3WFAA/s400/leura-house-for-sale.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KZZHVoRYrGY1AaUvURUVTMT55V5uf3XaMNaM4V-K5LAevT80OX66INXDZYvv8tS5FMx3ybKTaXRg-mFeGvPXpnbVTQMK7gAs3NBqCoKa3lZkF-gKgCQ8JEFZYMftLotzB-_I-I0S-2Y/s1600/leura-gazebo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KZZHVoRYrGY1AaUvURUVTMT55V5uf3XaMNaM4V-K5LAevT80OX66INXDZYvv8tS5FMx3ybKTaXRg-mFeGvPXpnbVTQMK7gAs3NBqCoKa3lZkF-gKgCQ8JEFZYMftLotzB-_I-I0S-2Y/s400/leura-gazebo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cnUBfXSIjxGH9BULUtoEfDFSxxa2hscfxMGvubBpbmbLcxoK7p6NIZAqGn2dXksuIPdo1Q6V1piYeBV1jG9xYrSLGCjv6vLyXydT2mKHNBUd4GoobzbHOk3yHcmYNmgc2LigbgtUfV8/s1600/leura-dovecote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cnUBfXSIjxGH9BULUtoEfDFSxxa2hscfxMGvubBpbmbLcxoK7p6NIZAqGn2dXksuIPdo1Q6V1piYeBV1jG9xYrSLGCjv6vLyXydT2mKHNBUd4GoobzbHOk3yHcmYNmgc2LigbgtUfV8/s400/leura-dovecote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and there was certainly a lot of shopping scenery...but this is a sneaky back-room shot...I got glared at if I took the camera out in most places.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKXBo2sR5flYoPbtPmrLES0cZBVdmADzj8rnPQqPX6-Dq4ybEFWo22rdWm1_PrhGR6_uPXYlKzvEjZoDDpNzkKvQjs6i9aeMcLnYWUnDEy1AqcQhkKhMSHaBqXnTFD6ehmnkMYf4Q9rA/s1600/leura-shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKXBo2sR5flYoPbtPmrLES0cZBVdmADzj8rnPQqPX6-Dq4ybEFWo22rdWm1_PrhGR6_uPXYlKzvEjZoDDpNzkKvQjs6i9aeMcLnYWUnDEy1AqcQhkKhMSHaBqXnTFD6ehmnkMYf4Q9rA/s400/leura-shop.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually didn't buy much in Leura apart from a candle and two fantastic fabric hangers that look a bit tribal weapon-ishy and could come in handy if anyone breaks in. Leura, unlike it's neighbouring suburb Katoomba is very 'well heeled' shall we say and the prices absolutely reflect that and its status as a tourist destination. Still, it was fun to look...and there may have been a slight detour via Ikea on the way home! So, a brief break done and dusted. Short on time...long on relaxation. Blessed I am.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">All images by me. Factual information (as opposed to my nonsense) is from <a href="http://www.bluemts.com.au//default.asp">here</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a></div>

our little mountain holiday ~ the scenery edition

Hello bloggy people...I'm back from my few days away...it went so quickly but was oh so lovely! Hope you enjoyed the food edition on Mon...

Read more »

my study in red

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have never in my life decorated with red...until now. My study is...well, to put it bluntly...a study in red....yes, bad pun intended, sorry. I've convened a meeting of anything and everything that I own that is red...and put them in my working space where they talk the same language. I've even painted some things to match so they don't feel left out. Here's a peek...you don't get the whole room because it's far too messy right now. I'm too occupied at the moment with all sorts of work busy-ness to clean it up...papers all over the floor, mugs of tea on the desk, even a tape measure (not sure why that's there...to measure my staying power perhaps?)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine15UZV_IdWuiGn0n6mlJ3Se4k19E0JflzF6LDikjTl_QPo9TmefcGE6o4jlXCNVkeSnGxqPPmLy3OSz984FjFhYkCiW7EvK4jYxRHrS8hOigi-XQzb1n0ZrWNdeLXJeGReXUdVW-5SI/s1600/study+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEine15UZV_IdWuiGn0n6mlJ3Se4k19E0JflzF6LDikjTl_QPo9TmefcGE6o4jlXCNVkeSnGxqPPmLy3OSz984FjFhYkCiW7EvK4jYxRHrS8hOigi-XQzb1n0ZrWNdeLXJeGReXUdVW-5SI/s640/study+2.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The red cabinet used to live in the guest room when I had the luxury of one of those...no more I'm afraid, so now it holds the printer paper and anything else I don't have a place for...hmmm, maybe that's where I put the battery charger The head in the foreground belongs to an antique rocking horse...falling apart at the seams as all well loved rocking horses should be. The painting was bought from a dodgy art 'student' in Beijing...because I liked it and it reminded me of the doors of the Forbidden Palace...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpYeT7Ezxgg9UNY12509U_O3hXjCv7OeoT9NCtJrYntLkt1QB5LPI-0MkR7zpv2jlgEhdGh0tzqefFNz19SOiNRcshyphenhypheny4VArNXLjHDTtFAI9Dbrr9HWhC_ZUW7zcMr86X4UHpfbSi3H0/s1600/study+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpYeT7Ezxgg9UNY12509U_O3hXjCv7OeoT9NCtJrYntLkt1QB5LPI-0MkR7zpv2jlgEhdGh0tzqefFNz19SOiNRcshyphenhypheny4VArNXLjHDTtFAI9Dbrr9HWhC_ZUW7zcMr86X4UHpfbSi3H0/s400/study+4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <i>'stuff I need to deal with'</i> reminder makes me laugh like a drain...it's a nice principle...but do I do it very often? Ah, nah! The lava lamp was a gift and I don't care what anyone says...I still think they're cool...even if they're not really. The pen holder is one of the vampire slayer's old cat food tins painted with gloss enamel...that cat's got to be good for something! The eskimo sculpture was a gift from Canadian friends we lived with in England a very long time ago...thanks Mary and Mark. Apart from lovely memories, it reminds me that while it gets cold in Canberra, it doesn't get <b>that</b> cold!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rdZdEWP1MbINoeMzm27I1UOjyqk9xyq8sgj8L0utTWF7quxk2Jl3vMx9C1t_s9zXW4AX3AGScX2bTstEm9v8xcufbEjNmFPDqKa34C1KOGOV8_I71g1aoZeBVN2yet2g1a2auPRASas/s1600/study+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rdZdEWP1MbINoeMzm27I1UOjyqk9xyq8sgj8L0utTWF7quxk2Jl3vMx9C1t_s9zXW4AX3AGScX2bTstEm9v8xcufbEjNmFPDqKa34C1KOGOV8_I71g1aoZeBVN2yet2g1a2auPRASas/s400/study+6.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The red thing started with me changing my mind...a fairly frequent happening in that space between my ears...when I called my friend Chris who was on her way to Ikea from Canberra (a 3 hour trip) who had kindly offered to pick me up an item (or twenty-three).</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Chris, could you possibly change that white Lack shelf to a red one please? Are you sure Kerry? Yep, let's live a little dangerously"</i> said I...and I'm glad I did. I quite like it...for the moment anyway. And besides, it matches my kitsch parrots! Just noticed my desk needs dusting...sigh.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcWQjdxZL-eFfV8SXwGBXAUqWkgr8nQmqHVjf2T2FJIVWBwfiY6aTyqcyFP9TExPqaG24pfX5ZOGHwhi2dTPOboJ-8Tpy_mcf4qHr3atIfmgwBQrIHrTZaCZDd37ka1VU8sSwf09loIA/s1600/study+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcWQjdxZL-eFfV8SXwGBXAUqWkgr8nQmqHVjf2T2FJIVWBwfiY6aTyqcyFP9TExPqaG24pfX5ZOGHwhi2dTPOboJ-8Tpy_mcf4qHr3atIfmgwBQrIHrTZaCZDd37ka1VU8sSwf09loIA/s400/study+5.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still much to do in this room where I spend such a lot of my time...like painting the walls white, getting rid of the very ugly terracotta coloured vinyl venetian blinds...whoever heard of that colour blind for crying out loud? I'm thinking maybe some nice roman blinds instead? But the main thing is that this room works for me...and I can sit at my desk and look out the study door across my living room to a view of my courtyard...and that's quite nice. It'll do me anyway. That pile of unread books is still in here though!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpC_02wtP9HKfMebthAacdVYVy5wljUR_O9wYaZdMW2m02wLbUsHgahbMCVfulE7f4s7F_Wl2Q-2Q68LC5W5ThP4EjrQzxfojm6W81i5i50TCKicgN9jJpweEqZLmGJDTHrrDGvMTa6Q/s1600/books+yet+to+read.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpC_02wtP9HKfMebthAacdVYVy5wljUR_O9wYaZdMW2m02wLbUsHgahbMCVfulE7f4s7F_Wl2Q-2Q68LC5W5ThP4EjrQzxfojm6W81i5i50TCKicgN9jJpweEqZLmGJDTHrrDGvMTa6Q/s400/books+yet+to+read.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">all images by me - yep, need to take a photography course!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

my study in red

I have never in my life decorated with red...until now. My study is...well, to put it bluntly...a study in red....yes, bad pun intended, sor...

Read more »

rain, rain, rain...matching my mood

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When you get unwelcome and completely unexpected news and you can't go out and sit in the sun so you feel better, you have to content yourself with pretty 'wish I was sitting out there' pictures</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">next 3 <a href="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5967&g2_serialNumber=2">living etc</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5967&g2_serialNumber=2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5967&g2_serialNumber=2" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5876&g2_serialNumber=2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=5876&g2_serialNumber=2" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1255&g2_serialNumber=2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1255&g2_serialNumber=2" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and then you go and bash the whatever out of an ugly piece of built in furniture<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvo4THCDt0UYFCZxqK9ln_5l-qhyphenhyphenAaJM5KagmAtQXRHwRbOKyrMa5JY6NkUZ7160CJceUzLFTaqytNMfTh3av9sS7oTDIfL6XC9ADkE0USpOdtVP9BrKTfOwEvIsHXyIkloTlubrH-l8/s1600-h/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvo4THCDt0UYFCZxqK9ln_5l-qhyphenhyphenAaJM5KagmAtQXRHwRbOKyrMa5JY6NkUZ7160CJceUzLFTaqytNMfTh3av9sS7oTDIfL6XC9ADkE0USpOdtVP9BrKTfOwEvIsHXyIkloTlubrH-l8/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">so that you can take delivery of this to replace it</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/82463_PE208316_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/82463_PE208316_S4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/82463_PE208316_S4.JPG">ikea</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>

rain, rain, rain...matching my mood

When you get unwelcome and completely unexpected news and you can't go out and sit in the sun so you feel better, you have to content yo...

Read more »