Holy guacamole

Well I can't quite believe it, but I have finally finished the 4 book series I have been working on for the last 7 months.

All I have to say is woooooohoooooooooooooooooooooo!

It has been a lot of fun, but I am happy to get back to a slightly more normal life -- seeing friends, enjoying the last vestiges of summer, painting just for fun. 

That said, to avoid the post-project blues, I am signing myself up for an online Children's Book Writing class. Erm, yes... writing! In an effort to make good on my New Year's Resolution.... we'll see where it leads...

Happy Valentine's Day

may your day be filled with strawberry hearts.....

I-F: (A very, very sad) Time

A bit of a departure from my normal cheery cute stuff - I have just been so affected by the stories from the raging bushfires in Victoria. 170 people have lost their lives, with the number expected to climb, and many more have lost their houses and their only refuge is an emergency military tent. How do they go back to a town which no longer exists? How can you rebuild from cinders and ashes?

The worst part is that some of these fires were deliberately lit. It's just atrocious.

The best part has been the rallying together and the strength of communities. I can only hope that it is enough for the people who have lost friends and family. and hooray to all the courageous firefighters, the local heros known and unknown, the people who made sandwiches and took clothes to those who needed them.

We, luckily, are far enough away from the disaster (thank you for your emails/comments of concern), but close enough to have friends who were directly affected (their property, not lives, thank goodness).

If you would like to help with the cause, here are some avenues (via flossy-p):

Donate to the Australian Red Cross

Sparkly Green Knickers is donating all her etsy sales to the appeal

Grandy and Baa is having a clothing make-along for the babies and children

The Toy Society will be gathering handmade toys to donate

Handmade Help is co-ordinating craft donations to auction off and raise money. (click on the graphic in the sidebar)

Thinking of all those who were affected, trying to stop crying....

I-F: Flawed

I grew up in Montreal, Canada, and I used to love waking up after a heavy snow and seeing that flawless blanket of white over everything. But even more, I loved being the first one to run across it and ruin that perfection!

So this is for all my friends and family in Montreal, Boston and Portland, OR, who have been getting record snowfalls (which I am appreciating vicariously as we have been sweltering under 43C+ (110F) days, though much milder today thankfully)

I was also inspired by this cute animation and equally lovely song, via Natascha. I've had the song in my head all day.

Good luck keeping cool/warm depending on your hemisphere!