My Virtual Library ~ Carla Krae

Becoming Seven Year One (Carla Krae) Short Story. First in a series of three. 

Della thought she was a normal sixteen-year-old, until the night she met a vampire behind a drugstore and discovered a deadly power. Now The Order wants to recruit her, but who are they, and where does this power come from?

My Rating: "I read these before giving them to my granddaughters... got totally hooked. They're not your usual dark vampire stories.  My teenage granddaughters loved them too. In fact, wanted more, as do I. Give them a try they don't disappoint!"  

My Virtual Bookshelf ~ Chris Slusser, Joan Francis, Matt Williams, Sheila Mary Taylor

Fugue by Chris Slusser - A woman with no identity or name keeps waking up during bizarre and often violent experiences, sometimes murder.

A thrilling read - it kept me guessing right to the end. Each character's individuality shone through in this fast-paced action fantasy.  It was the sort of story that I couldn't imagine what the ending would be... it didn't disappoint. Well written with good editing.
I'd thoroughly recommend this book. My Rating: Oh Mumma... this is a teddybear-hugger - it scared me! ~ Susan, 25th July 2011

Old Poison (Joan Francis) - A Diana Hunter, Private Investigator, Thriller. When environmentalist, Evelyn Lilac is murdered, Diana begins a dangerous journey from California to New Mexico and finally to the Costa Rican rainforest.

A top story. Exciting adventure and mystery - totally devoid of any slow bits. Very cleverly thought out with characters whose personalities shine through. Narrative transports the reader to exotic locations. My Rating: Cook up a casserole in advance ... no putting this book down 'til finished!

Death's Memory (Matt Williams) Panic strikes as a man wakes and finds a dead body - and no answers. Has he been framed?

A short story from Smashwords - a great little mystery that kept me guessing.  Well paced, well written, well everything :)  I'm hoping Matt will write more in this genre. My Rating: Turn off the telly - this is much better!

Pinpoint (Sheila Mary Taylor) A lawyer, a murderer and a policeman - caught in a tangled web of love, loss, terror and intrigue. 

A high calibre mystery/thriller and it drew me into an emotional journey of intrigue. My Rating:  "Don't let the cover turn you off - it's a read I'd highly recommend".

Just being Cocktatoos

" [sqwark] Look what those [sqwark] flamin'
kids are up to over there [sqwark] "

"...quick, she's coming"

"Ok, I'm on it... "

"... point that camera at us 
will ya lady!!"

 "...well, picture this!!
[sqwark]"

Some more Supermoon shots.... viewed from East Gippsland.

Supermoon on the rise

Early morning

Supermoon setting

Wow... I touched the Supermoon!

Bean Bag Stuffed .... but its still hungry!!

Thanks very much to those kind bloggers, one and all, for giving suggestions, tips, encouragement, and laughs in regard to our bean bag making. A real team effort !


MD announced the final plan of action would be to leave a small hole open at the top of the lining and cover, peel back and anchor the edges with pegs.
Cut just a small corner of the plastic bag containing the poly beans, thrust the plastic bag as far into the bean bag as possible. So that is what we did. We held it very firmly and, very gently, shook the plastic bag to encourage a downward flow of beans.


It worked!! Yay. 
It should be said, however, that this was definitely a job for 2 people and, as we found, attention could not stray for even a micro-second.... those poly beans were just waiting to float up and out. In the end, only a tiny amount escaped because someone (and she shall remain nameless) moved.

We now find we've created the "Biggest Bean Bag in the Universe"!!  2 x 500g bags of poly beans are not enough.  So, off  into town tomorrow for more .... will seek out that shop assistant and bore her senseless with tales of our victory.


On to the second bean bag now, following a downsized width adjustment to the panels. 


Next weekend we'll go for a picnic ;-) 
Cheers :D

The Bean Bag Blues .... advice desperately sought

I thought it'd be nice to make a couple of bean bags for extra seating/lolling/relaxing by loved ones when they visit. 


So far so good.... 
Innocently I began. 
MD drafted a pattern. 
I've sewn endless seams on both the lining and cover, all the while not realising what, apparently, dangerous territory I would soon be entering. 

We purchased the polystyrene beans yesterday. I asked the Spotlight shop assistant whether there were any tricks to filling the bag with poly beans.  She drew in a breath, adjusted her glasses and cackled  "stand in a bath and do it... and" (with an evil glint in her eye) "make sure you have your vacuum cleaner handy".


It's also apparent that we are at risk from choking by inhaling them and suffocation from the plastic bag that contains them.


[a quivering] LOL ... What to do? We don't have a bath - it's just a cottage, a shower only!


Please, does anyone have any advice/tips up their sleeve as to how a bean bag can be stuffed without unleashing the fury of unrestrained poly beans throughout our home? 


Any advice will be gratefully received.

Bad Froggie

I'd harvested the remaining feral tomatoes for the season and
planned on a nice sandwich..... huh !

Once a year

Poor little Orchid, she's just had an
invitation to a party.... and not a thing to wear!

Off to the hairdressers.
Hair looks good.... now, what about her dress ?

Ahh, simply splendid.

Orchid gets a bit carried away during the
Rhumba,  lifts her skirts and kicks up
her heels.... on such a beautiful night.

She even loses a slipper and....
oh well, you know the rest.

The morning after....
Oh, her aching head.
Hmm, a nice cup of coffee perhaps?
(double shot no doubt)

Memories!
Same time, same place, next year.

Running away to Raymond Island (Final) stickybeaking

Couldn't resist a bit of stickybeaking on the way back to the ferry. 

We admired the individuality, charm and quirkiness in the styles of homes on the Island....

[click on photos to enlarge]

Time to jump back on the Ferry.
We noticed the lack of chains and locks on the bikes - definitely
no crime problem here!

Glimpses of Paynesville as we berth.

~ Thanks for joining us ~

Running away to Raymond Island (Part 2) around the bend

Another quick glimpse of the map. We got as far as Montague Point (the south west tip of Raymond Island) in the last post.

Leaving Montague Point and walking along the 

sand towards Harrington Point .......

.... we came upon enormous Kangaroo paw prints -
 it was at least a metre to the next (hard to show in a pic). 
A big fella this one!!

Nature's Artwork
exactly as we found it

[click on photos to enlarge]

Harrington Point on the right.
Look to the left, we took that track.......

...... and came upon a little church on the foreshore.

We had found St Barnabas Chapel.
To see this, on this particular day, was a very special find.

We loved the thought that on this Island, locks
are not needed. This is the way the side door
of St Barnabas Chapel is kept closed.

The sign at the front door reads
"St Barnabas Chapel, Raymond Island,
formerly located at Bundalaguah 1910 - 1990"
(Bundalaguah is a little town half way along 
the Sale to Maffra Road in Gippsland)

Raymond Island is famous for its Koala population.
While we didn't see any koalas on this walk, we have done on 
previous visits to the eastern side of the Island, 
and these are the photos we took then. 

Mum and baby. 

The baby was trembling with fear, (Mum was ok... she

 was obviously used to being stared at!)

so we quickly took the photo and left them in peace.

They're so clever how they sleep in the crook of a branch.

This will end up being the longest day in blog history I'm thinking  ;-)

The final bit later on ~