More Koalas - Victorian Bushfires

One World One Heart Draw

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who visited my blog during this fabulous event.  

Earrings were drawn by Donna of World of Joy

Pendant was drawn by Marsha of Tumble Fish Studio

Kindest regards

Janine

The Koala and the Firefighter!

Local CFA firefighter David Tree shares his water with an injured Australian Koala at Mirboo North after wildfires swept through the region on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. Suspicions that the worst wildfires ever to strike Australia were deliberately set led police to declare crime scenes Monday in towns incinerated by blazes, while investigators moving into the charred landscape discovered more bodies. The death toll stood at 181   .(AP Photo/Mark Pardew)

To read more about this lucky little koala check out the video, story and pics here....  grab the tissues....

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25038852-2862,00.html

Victorian Fires

I have had many friends email to find out if everything is ok where I live.  The fires are located in Victoria, which is roughly 600miles away.....  although there have been a number of fires locally, they have been nothing compared to those in Victoria.

It is so hard to believe just how devastating these fires have been.....  they are estimating well over 200 lives have been lost not to mention the vast numbers of animals, both native and domestic.

I've listed a news site for those of you who are interested in keeping up with what has happened.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/

There are a large number of appeals being set up and the response has been amazing.

My sympathies go to all those families who have lost someone and heatfelt thanks to all the firefighters and volunteers who are helping fight the fires and help with survivors.  

I really do hope that they find the arsonists.....I just cannot fathom how anyone could start fires!

A very hot summer

As the weather has been so unusually hot, I decided to get the boys a haircut! You should have seen them when they got home..... it must have been such a relief! Next day we went swimming....... Harley decided that he had had spent enough time swimming and had a rest on Baillie!

Baillie, Harley and Roxy..... Harley just doesn't like having his photo taken! lol

Heatwave

Well, we are all experiencing a heatwave at the moment. In Victoria this little Koala nicknamed Star went into the Young's property in search of water. From the reports I have read, Star was hesitant at first and then drank some water from Ms Young's hand, then lapped up some water before hopping into the bucket! Star is now being cared for and will be released in the future. For those of you who don't know, Koalas get their fluids from the gum leaves that they eat, so for them to be actively seeking out water shows just how hot it is as the leaves would be dried out!

This little guy nicknamed "Lance" actually approached these bike riders who kindly gave him some refreshments! Koala's are usually very shy little creatures!

One World One Heart

Lisa Swifka, "Oceandreamer" is once again hosting "One World-One Heart" a worldwide blogging event which started on 19th January and finishes on 12th February.

For those of you who are not aware of this event, the following is an excerpt from Lisa:-

"The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet.

It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way...This is more than wanting to win something.......that is only the means.......in the end it's about finding kindred spirits.

Someone who may be fairly new to blogging, not sure how to navigate, find others and have others find them....

Some are long time bloggers and in some cases well known in the art community. Whatever the case it brings all of them together...

We are not solving the worlds problems nor are we curing anything nor are we changing the world. We are merely generating a closer community between humans through blogging."

I am participating in this event and am offering two items for the first 2 people to be drawn on 12th February.

This giveaway is open to anyone who has an active blog worldwide! All you need to do is leave me a comment and be sure to remember to link back so that I may contact you Once drawn, I will post the winners on my blog and organise delivery!

The first draw is a pair of Vintage watch face earrings. They have sterling silver earwires and jump rings and the wings are cast metal.

The second draw is this resin pendant with floating vintage watch parts!

I look forward to participating in this wonderful event once again. Many thanks Lisa for giving us this wonderful opportunity.

Visitors

While the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing winter, those of us down under are experiencing a strange summer! (Well where I am located anyway!) One day it is 40 degrees and then it falls to 16!

Tonight is one of those balmy evenings and I managed to take a couple of photos of a family of Kookaburras who where obviously enjoying the evening!

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Wonderful Wildlife in Alaska

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=aEG8A-YrTWY

If I Could

I Wish You Enough!

A little bit of inspiration....

Happy New Year

Well, where has the past year gone?


I'd like to wish everyone all the very best for the coming year....

Hours of happy times with friends and family
Abundant time for relaxation
Prosperity
Plenty of love when you need it the most
Youthful excitement at life’s simple pleasures

Nights of restful slumber (you know - don’t worry be happy)
Everything you need
Wishing you love and light

Years and years of good health
Enjoyment and making merry
Angels to watch over you
Remembrances of the happy years!

Merry Christmas

As you can see from these pics, the boys weren't too impressed with having their photos taken this year! Took a lot of time and many treats ... and even still, the pics weren't what I had hoped for!


Harley always look grumpy, but he isn't! He is the sweetest little guy and as for Baillie, well he is just too pretty for a boy! lol


Last Sunday I had a little helper, Kali (5 years) help set up my Christmas tree! What a delight to have a little one help with the Christmas decorations.






Isn't this little angel divine! A wonderful gift from Donna..... although my angel should be out in the garden, I have decided to keep her inside - at least for Christmas!

Six White Boomers

Merry Christmas everyone!

GPP Street Team Crusade No. 23 - Clean your plate

For this Crusade Michelle has challenged us to Clean Your Plate. She has asked up to wrap up loose ends to make way for something new. Michelle also suggests that cleaning your plate can be interpreted in our own way, whether it be simply preparing our home for a new season, i.e. downunder Spring has just started, clearing out our studio, etc.

I've been in my new home for just over 12 months, and still have many, many boxes yet to unpack. Having gone back to full time work hasn't helped and putting in extra hours hasn't been condusive either!

Last weekend I started work on cleaning the kitchen and dining room.... I admit to being a hoarder and managed to throw out quite a lot of items that I was holding on to! I'm one of those people who if they happen to have a horizontal surface it is quickly filled! As my studio is still in a complete case of kaos, I tend to do a lot of my work at the kitchen bench....

I actually took a photo to show a few friends.... and the comment was... whose kitchen is that!


Also put up a new piece of art on my bedroom wall... which has been blank for way too long.


Today I also decided to grab the camera and take advantage of the great weather (hard to believe that 10 days ago we were wearing multiple layers and today a tshirt!).

I've put up some of the photos of the flowers and fruit trees in my yard.... another thing I promised to do last year and didn't....

Sub Antarctic Fur Seal Slide Show #1

Sub Antarctic Fur Seal

GPP Steet Team Crusade - Pay It Forward #2

If you haven't been to Michelle Ward's website, it is a must! So far (as at 21st August) 612 pink socks have been received! Oh how I would love to be at the hospital when the socks arrive!

Received another call this morning that there was a stranded dolphin at Gerroa, approximately 20mins from my place .... When I arrived found that is was in fact a seal.... a wonderful male Sub Antarctic Fur Seal.

So, another glorious day spent out in the sun on a beautiful beach with a majestic creature.

I was also lucky to encounter some more generous people who waited for me to arrive, took me to the seal, offered to stay with me and others who offered to go and get food and drink!

This guy had hauled out onto the sand and was resting. No injuries were observed and he seemed to be content sunning himself. He was just above the tide mark and everytime the waves would move up, he would move relocate up the beach a little further.

Here he is yawning.... and just look at his amazing whiskers!

Once again, this is a popular stretch of beach with many walkers and although it is not a dog friendly beach, there are still plenty of dogs off the leash!

On the way back to the car I came across another heart shaped shell - a symbol of the generosity of the people I come across!

Polar bears and dogs playing

How amazing is this?

GPP Steet Team Crusade #22 Pay It Forward

In this month's crusade, Michelle asked everyone to think creatively. Michelle asked us to think about what we are grateful for - a kindness that has been directed our way, and to think about how we can honour that kindness by paying it forward to someone else.

Michelle recently lost her younger Sister Shannon. Michelle asked for readers of her blog to send her 65 pink socks which she would send to the nurses who cared for Shannon.

You may be asking why "65"- A little boy who could not pronounce his sibling's condition, Cystic Fibrosis, called it "65 Roses". Go and check out Michelle's website - at last count (13th August) there were 434 pair of socks from around the globe!


As some of you know, I'm involved in a marine mammal research and rescue group called ORRCA.



On Saturday I received a call asking me to investigate a fur seal that had hauled out on a beach on the South Coast. So, off down south for a lovely hours drive. Took me a while to find the little one who had apparently been chased up the beach by some dogs! He/she is presently in care.

Sometimes you may search for hours and never find the animal you have been sent to look for, so it is important to remember that if you ever find any wildlife to give as many details as to it's location as possible to the rescue organisation.

So you may be thinking what has this got to do with the Street Team, right? Well, I am constantly amazed by the wonderful people that I meet doing this volunteer work.

I couldn't tell you just how many people came back down to the beach during the day to check on the little seal and also to check whether I wanted anything such as food or drink.

I like to think that I am doing my bit for the animals and at the same time teaching people a little about our marine mammals too.

I've also sent off a little gift to a dear friend just because.... but cannot say too much as I don't want to spill the beans in case she reads this blog! lol

The weather on Saturday was fabulous and when there were no people or dogs around I managed to take some pics. (Some I had taken earlier prior to finding the seal pup .... when I was looking for him on the rocks he had been reported to be on.... well, a rock..... just my luck there were hundreds!)

Great crusade Michelle xoxo