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

Onyx and Dalmation Jasper Pendant

In between doing end of year financials..... I took some time out and made this pendant. I just love the black rectangular Onyx and decided to match it up with the Dalmation Jasper.

It has a drop of approx 65mm or 2 5/8".

Baillie & Harley

My old camera managed to come back to life.... and I was able to retrieve some photos from last year.

I think perhaps the boys could do a commercial for Pump Water, don't you think? lol

Creating at last!

I have been busy making earrings over the last couple of weeks, have some on consignment and need to concentrate on using up my supplies!

I purchased some watch hands from Julie H ages ago, and together with the large stash of watch pieces I decided to actually make something as that was the intention when I bought them! These are listed in my Etsy shop.




I just love these Dalmation Jasper gemstones.... need to play with them a bit more!


These are some wonderful new findings.... just love the colour of the freshwater pearls and also these hammered disks are fabulous!

Baillie Watching TV

Baillie really has a *thing* for TV when there are dogs or other animals present. He does sit there for a while but once they start making a noise I am sure he really wants to join them!

Harley, on the other hand just wonders what all the fuss is about!

Kangaroo Valley

Usually, when I leave for work and the sky is blue, once I get to Cambewarra Mountain and before I start the desent into the valley, this is the view of what the fog is like. We sometimes have it for quite a few hours before it burns off!

Remembering Corky

Yesterday, my sweet Corky crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Corky was 14 weeks old when I rescued her and has just turned 15. As I was moving and having to rent, Corky and Jessie went to live with my ex.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers.

Suddenly she begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Meeting up with friends

Last Sunday we had a wonderful lunch with Suze & Lenny Weinberg, Phyllis, Jo, Richard and Hugo at The Harbour Front Restaurant in Wollongong that lasted for over 5 hours..... lots of catching up, laughter and fun was definitely had!

Enjoy the rest of your trip downunder Suze & Lenny!

Humpback Whale Migration

As some of you know, one of my other passions is Marine Mammals. The Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae will soon commence their northern migration and ORRCA holds an annual Whale Census Day on Sunday 29th June.

Groups of people gather at certain spots along the coast and spend the day counting the number of passing whales.

We record all types of observations e.g. species, behaviour and of course number. The statistics are correlated and available to anyone with an interest in cetacean research; the National Parks and Wildlife Service add our figures to their data on marine mammals and it all goes towards managing our ocean in a manner conducive to the well-being of marine life.

Apart from providing useful data it’s a terrific way to spend a winter Sunday.

No special equipment is required, just a comfy seat, food, drink, warm clothing and, of course, a pen. A pair of binoculars is a great help as is a camera.

There are particular places that are used every year but if you would like to participate at your own favourite spot that is fine too.

The count goes from 7:00am until 4:30pm but not everyone can manage a whole day, however even a couple of hours will help. If you are interested in participating, please email me and I will arrange to have the recording forms sent out to you!

These photos have been supplied by my dear friend Wayne. Wayne and I started up a land based whale watching many years ago observing the Humpbacks on their migration north. In the photo above, you can not only see this humpback's throat pleats, but if you look carefully you can even see his/her eye in the bottom right.

A great pic of a "tail slap".

This pic shows the humpback feeding. He/she is on their side, they scoop up a mouthful of water and then the krill/etc is forced out through the baleen which acts as a sieve.

A spyhop.... some times you wonder just who is watching who!

A pic of the flukes. Photos such as these are used for identification purposes. This one appears to have a "bite" taken out of the left hand side! More than likely an encounter with an orca.

And finally, a photo of a Common Dolphin delphinus delphis. See the hourglass shape on the sides?

Many thanks for these great photos Wayne....