Kmags

Just a couple pics from the weekend when Cam, Rob, and I went for a picnic on Balmoral Beach.  It was a beautiful weekend day and we had taken the dogs to lie in the sun.

Yesterday morning Ping Pong was struggling to breath so we took him to the vets and not 3 hours later we lost him.  He was only 10, but had a weak heart. Despite his condition, he was a little fighter and still (as always) had his tail thumping away when we scooped him up to bring him in in a blanket. 

Rob and I have been living with him for almost a year now, and I would say it took less than 24 hours for that little guy to make it into my heart. He was certainly part of the family and will be missed for the way he brightened all of our days.

Ping

Just some fun shots from the zoo this beautiful winter's Sunday.  I even got to see a platypus! 

Pillows

I completed the second pillow for the bed in Spain and also made 2 small ones.  Denise brought them over when she left and said they worked out well.  That's one completed project off my list, leaving about 9 left.  I'm also attaching a picture of Denise finishing off one last project on HER list: my wedding dress.

This is of me, standing on the kitchen table while I looked down at her while she finished the hem:

Denise_at_work

Mom and dad seem to be doing a lot more for my wedding than I am... In fact, everyone but me is busy helping out - Denise finished my dress yesterday and flew out this morning for Spain.  Jenn has been mocking up flower arrangements and emailing them to me.  I actually have to confess that being a bride on the other side of the globe is pretty good gig- no stress! Anyway- here's mom's garden:

This weekend Rob and I went up the Blue Mountains ( about 2 hours drive north of Sydney).  This was one of my first real trips outside of Sydney and I was amazed at how rural it becomes in such a short distance.  Nonetheless, the tourists spots were crawling with people as its both kids' winter break, and the 'pilgrims' are here to see His Holiness.  Still, the mountain ranges are impressive and the smells of gum trees nearly overpowering.  (kinda feels like being in a spa if you close your eyes and block out the jesus songs being hollered out behind you).

Lastly, here's a little picture of Galahs.  These birds were just hanging out on the side of the road and I had to take a picture.  You don't see them in the city, just out in the country, along with the brightly colored Rosellas.  "Galah" is a slang term used here to describe a loud mouth as they, much like the cockatoos, have a very loud almost- prehistoric sounding squawk.  It's a very pretty bird with a very ugly sound....

Galahs