I've moved!

I've moved blogsites to Tumblr:

http://spices-for-violet.tumblr.com/

I won't be updating this site any further.

Steph xx

Couldn't find Atticus anywhere...

... until I looked in the only patch of sunshine left in the lounge room and found him inside the knitting basket...

Couch Cat

Atticus le Catticus

Atticus it is. Kitson sounded really silly to call out.

Atticus is proving to be quite a distraction - I have done NO school work all weekend, plus my sleep is very interrupted. He kneads my hair and neck and purrs for about 20 minutes before nodding off, then is wide awake at 6am playing with my hair again. I am trying to get him to stay out of my bed but he is a wriggly little thing who managed to weasel his way under the covers. A kitten nose in your belly button at 6am is a bit strange. Well, it's strange at any time of the day or night really...

Eagles of Death Metal

No, they don't play death metal. They play good old dirty rocknroll. They covered the Stones, they played that song that goes "here I am, stuck in the middle with you", the audience stomped on the ground to call for an encore, their lead singer is hot in a dirty old rocker kind of way, and the crowd was generally pretty cool. (Except for the girl in front of us who smoked throughout the entire show, despite people around her saying it was now illegal. She tossed her head and said that she was from Germany, and we were a bunch of tight wankers. Basically. Hmm.)

Kitten Name

I think I am leaning towards Kitson, after my favourite comedian Daniel Kitson... 

Both hilarious and slightly bumbling, plus I love the play on 'Kit'. 

I think he isn't perhaps refined enough to be Atticus, or cutesy enough to be called Frankie. 

Last night he was fascinated my the laptop, today he is doing battle with a bra on the floor (still a boobs man all the way).

He has also taken a liking to sitting on my bedside table under the lamp.

Still no name...

Sleepy Kitten

A new arrival... Meow!

Today I adopted an 8 week old male kitten from a shelter in Wallan.

He is currently scooting around the kitchen, chasing a ball, his own tail, looking out the window, making a bed in a washing basket... When I am able to get him to stop for a second, for a cuddle, he climbs up onto my shoulders, and happily settled onto my chest for a sleep just before.

He has very blue eyes, grey and white stripes, and white chest, feet and tummy.

Best of the V-Fest

Some phone pics of my Polaroids...

Miss Piggy’s AEROBIQUE Exercise Workout Album

America’s most talented and glamorous superstar shows you how to keep fit and stay slimme and trimme with a few minutes of daily dance movements so simple you can actually perform some of them in your sleep!
- No heavy lifting things
- No boring calistheniques
- No getting-out-of-breath
- No messing up your clothes
- No dippy double-talk from know-it-alls
- No Smart de Pants lectures on “bad food”
- No brain-numbifying instructions before you can begin
- No feeling like a wet noodle after you have finished

Luckily...

OK this meme is making the rounds, but I do find it amusing!
Google "Luckily (your name)" and see what comes up!
Here are some of mine...

"Luckily, Stephanie has a good sense of humour and the bad date didn’t sour her toward Andrea at work."
(Phew, I was worried about what Andrea would think)

"Luckily, Stephanie doesn’t have the task of looking for Ranger. She’s got her own cases to track and a family situation interfering with her personal life."
(I'm so relieved I don't have to look for Ranger!)

"Luckily, Stephanie brought along some snacks: caramel popcorn, mixed nuts and chocolate covered raisins, plus Patti brought some sugar cookies."
(Thank Christ for Patti's sugar cookies. I know my popcorn, nuts and raisins just weren't enough)

"Luckily Stephanie got away without having to pay for damages."
(Yeah, it's true)

"Luckily, Stephanie is still talking to me."
(Yes, you ARE lucky - bitch)

"Luckily, Stephanie still has plenty of wit and grit (and a full wardrobe of spandex)"
(HOW DID THEY KNOW?!)

"Luckily, Stephanie not only did what I wanted, but I think she was able to magically read my mind, hence the great haircut."
(If you take the haircut bit out, it's soooo much better)

"Luckily, Stephanie was already up and dressed. She was there in under 10 minutes."
(Somehow I doubt that very much)

"Luckily, Stephanie is tough. She gritted her teeth and smartly made a big effort to join some local English speaking groups."
(Closer to the truth than you realise)

"Luckily, Stephanie finally gets to display her weeping skills."
(HURRAH!)

"Luckily, Stephanie and I had a conversation last week that reminded me that I forgot."
(WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!)

"Luckily, Stephanie was available to do the project with him."
(And just what IS this project?!)

"But, luckily Stephanie came to my rescue and we went to a Snow Patrol show at Canes in San Diego."
(I am that kind of girl, what can I say?)

"Luckily, Stephanie stopped her Whale song when she began speaking real words."
(PHEW)

DIY Bunny Mansion

Today I completed a project I have been thinking about, planning for and procrastinating over for some time... Milo's hutch renovation, taking bunny accommodation to the next level!

The wire squares are from Bunnings and over 4 years of rabbit ownership they have been remodeled into many different configurations for 2 bunnies, as well as temporary enclosures for holidays and sick bunnies. I can't remember how much they are - I remember getting some from Big W for about $13 for a pack of 8. I suspect Bunnings was cheaper. They can be tricky to come by but bunny owners are notorious for hoarding them for various structures to house our little munchkins.

So, the hutch is made from these squares that are about 35cm square... 5 in length, 2 high and 2 wide. I used hardwood garden stakes (some cut to size, some not) - $13 for 6 from Bunnings. I got 10 small stakes for about $3 as extra supports. I drilled through them and attached them to the wire structure with cable ties.
The top deck is simply 7mm plywood cut to size and attached with cable ties after some strategically drilled holes were placed around the edges. The plywood was about $10 from Bunnings.
Milo is quite attached to the blue storage crate on its side, which he has used as a shelter since he was first adopted and brought home. It fits perfectly in the wire squares, and was about $7 from Kmart. (He has chewed through the handles - maybe for windows?!)

The roof has been a tricky thing for a while now - we need to be able to reach in to get him out when necessary, amongst other necessities like cleaning etc - so I used a garden stake as a central support, and created a tri-fold roof section. It’s held down with clips (surprisingly secure) and works quite well.

The roof is a salvaged piece of ‘Colourbond’ roofing in a delightful olive green (splattered with plums that recently fell from the tree above!) that just sits on top over night. Sometimes I weigh it down with a brick if there is wind about!

These wire squares (Google “NIC cubes”) are great because they are plastic-coated so that they don’t rust, and little paws can’t be hurt on thin wire. It’s important to have a wire floor as bunnies are natural diggers and can at times escape an un-floored hutch on the lawn. They are structurally very sound for smaller enclosures, but now that the hutch is more of a mansion, I needed it to be very sturdy for being moved around on the lawn on a daily basis.

The other advancement in bunnyland today was the purchase of a portable/indoor hutch. It was $120 from a pet store (ouch. But I did shop around) and means on hot days or cold nights or holidays, Milo can be enclosed safely but have some room to move. Also good for mansion renovations or times when a certain fluffball is being naughty inside when running free, chewing cables and armchairs and hiding in bookshelves… a time-out hutch, one might call it…

Op Shopping Adventure MOSAIC!

Op Shopping Adventures
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Here they are in condensed form... Lovely!

Op Shopping Adventures

Today I made use of being in a country town on a week day (only happens in school holidays!) and had a lovely time fossicking! I've given up on clothes, which means when I DO find something that I like and that actually FITS me, it's a bonus! Being a 14-16 means that there are many things that I don't just slip into anymore... anyway... today's finds will be posted from Flickr, it's just easier for now...

Close up of vintage apron print

Close up of vintage apron print
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Vintage Apron and Dress

Vintage Apron and Dress
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

This apron was WAAAAAY too cute to walk past!

Vintage Dress

Vintage Dress
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

It's a perfect fit!

Basket

Basket
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

My new handbag!

English china plate

English china plate
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

(Shadows make this look "inside-out"!)

Woodsware Plate

Woodsware Plate
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Johnson Brothers Plate

Johnson Brothers Plate
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Too cute!

More Vintage Patterns

Vintage Patterns
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Vintage Patterns

Vintage Patterns
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Children's Picture Book

Children's Picture Book
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Beautiful black and white illustrations.

Little Golden Books

Little Golden Books
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

I had some of these as a child - The Saggy Baggy Elephant, The Scared Little Kitten... oh the memories!

Picture Dictionary (inside)

Picture Dictionary (inside)
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

GREAT for cardmaking and collages!

Picture Dictionary

Picture Dictionary
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

Leather Belts

Leather Belts
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

These are great on the waist, and at that price, for LEATHER, I could not pass them by!

Vintage Chair

Vintage Chair
Originally uploaded by Spices for Violet

$10! How could I pass this up?!
AND it fits in the back of my little car - BONUS!

Kootoyoo's Op Shop Finds

This Is by best Op Shop Find
Originally uploaded by kootoyoo

NICE photo.

Shop-love

vintage party dress
Originally uploaded by Wonderlane

Found this on Flickr...
I wish I could teleport to this shop asap!

60's vintage dress

60's vintage dress
Originally uploaded by Yara

I'm dreaming of my op-shopping adventures tomorrow here in Warragul, where my dad lives... I can't wait to delve into the moth-ball scented racks of country op-shops again!
Today I'm posting some vintage pics from Flickr just to update the blog - after a number of months lying low, being busy...