Stills: Weekend pottering.

This week saw me out of action early in the piece with a head cold ; fail at baking cupcakes; talking about Barracuda at book club; and lots of the usual pottering around - one of my weekend favourite things to do.

1. Green chrysanthemums are some of my favourites.
2. And again!
3. Sunday afternoon pottering and rearranging...
4. ...moving plants around...
5. ...close up with afternoon light streaming in through the blinds.
6. Toby looking wise.
7. Saturday morning bright spots and stripes.
8. Sunday morning omelette with fresh eggs from the chooks.
9. Missy came into town for a stroll around the Sunday markets.
10. Flamingoes, of course.

I hope you have a great week ahead!

Don't forget to make a pledge for Change Day, which is this Thursday 6 March. 

Linking with Em's weekly Stills.

Other places: Unexpected trip home.

After spending a week in Darwin for work, I got the news that my grandfather wasn't well. So instead of flying back to Alice Springs, I was able to change my flight to Sydney (and book in some last minute leave) so that I could spend a couple of days in Wollongong with my family. I was a little bit worried leaving Darwin that I wouldn't have warm enough clothes, given that I'd packed for the humid (horrible!) wet season weather. Not to fear - Wollongong was in the midst of its own 'wet season', with humid, muggy, rainy weather for most of the time I was there.

Going back to Wollongong, the place where I grew up, went to school and university, and started my adult life (real job, mortgage, marriage...) is always a funny thing. In some ways, things are exactly as they were last time I was there (and have forever been the same). There are friends I can call - without notice - and spend time with, or even surprise them at their front door (yes! I really did!). Then, in other ways, it feels like a different place - old buildings making way for new developments, new shops, restaurants and cafes, new people, old friends who have moved on.

It was very much a last minute trip, meaning I didn't have time to plan to catch up with all the family and friends I would normally try to see. (Sorry! next time will be better planned!) But it was so good to breathe in the familiar salty air, hug my grandparents (and parents, sister and niece) and catch up with my longtime besties for chats and Mexican food.

1. Coming down the freeway from Sydney to Wollongong with the drizzle and mist.
2. A hazy day at North Beach, still warm enough to swim.
3. diggies, one of my favourite cafes, in the old kiosk building at North Beach.
4. diggies again
5. Hazel, my niece, is 11 months old and always busy.
6. Makeshift toys at Nana and Poppy's place
7. Have top knot, will crawl.
8. And... back up the freeway.
9. Sunrise over Botany Bay and a glimpse of the airport.

Joining with The Beetle Shack's weekly 'Stills' link up!

Belated family Christmas.

My family of origin are quite spread out (NSW, VIC, NT) and it was too tricky at Christmas time for us to all get together. Instead, we decided a belated family Christmas was the way to go and, taking advantage of the recent long weekend, we made our way from Alice Springs, Darwin, Sydney and Wollongong to my sister and her partner's place in country Victoria. I love it when we all get together, even more so now that Hazel is here. We ate, drank, patted the horses, chatted, laughed until we cried (a certain book about poo is to blame for that!), drank coffee, ate some more and the menfolk got stuck into building a railing for the deck. Here's a snapshot of our time together. It might not have been a 'real' Christmas, but it was everything Christmas should be - without the stress of the silly season.

(Linking up with Em for The Beetle Shack's weekly stills collections)

Other places: A week in Puerto Galera {a 'stills' post}

We just returned from the most blissful week's holiday that I've had in a very (very) long time. I'll post more about the actual trip over the next week, however here's a 'stills' post to kick it off. Puerto Galera is a small town in the Philippines, situated at the northern end of the island of Mindoro, and sits about 130km south (and across the sea) of Manila. 

1. Looking up at the mist-covered peak of Mt Malasimbo from the back windows of the villa in which we spent the week.
2. Dappled afternoon light, coconut tree and thatched roof of the villa.
3. Looking down at a boat on the cove from the front balcony of the villa.
4. From the balcony, looking to the right to the dense foliage.
5. A busy morning in downtown Sabang.
6. A stairway, painted pot and beyond at White Beach.
7. The main supermarket at Puerto Galera is painted this shade of green - we saw it used so frequently and in so many applications. I named it 'dreamy green'.
8. Buildings and textures in Puerto Galera town.
9. In the busy hub of Puerto Galera's main local shopping strip, Conception Street. Festive decorations were still going strong.
10. After the busy chaos of town and the beeping of tricycle horns, back in our peaceful home-away-from-home the afternoon light catches the leaves of this plant.

Linking with the fabulous Em at The Beetle Shack for your weekly dose of life in pictures!

Stills: Warmth and home.

1. Glowing afternoon light from the backyard. We had a couple of cloudy days (some that ended in a little bit of rain!) and on this particular evening, the light was dappled golden through the gum trees.
2. The story of the kelpie who wanted to be a hen continues. Any chance for Missy to be near the chooks, she's there. She just loves to be around them. It's so sweet, except that she also likes to let them into the vegie garden - which the chickens also love.
3. Lantern-like window.
4. Quiet night in.
5. Colour and pattern.
6. On the wine rack.
7. It's the first day of the official summer season, but here in Central Australia it's been summer for a while, with quite a few months of searing heat to go. Swimming pool and air conditioning make it liveable.

All iPhone pics from me this week! Please excuse the graininess. 

Linking, as always, with the stills collections at The Beetle Shack.