The Popular Pet Show

Never would I have thought I would type the words "great paintings by Ken Done". But there you have it. This exhibition included some touching pet portraiture from Ken Done - a lovely series commemorating the dogs he has owned over the years. And a dog that is the spitting image of B Dog, no?

Other standouts - Nicholas Harding's beautiful watercolour portaits of famous folk with pets. I didn't take any photos because I was too busy looking. Amazing paintings - personalities captured in the immediacy of watercolour paint in a larger scale. Made me itch to paint like that again. I guess we'll need to wait and see on that.

The exhibition is over now, but there is much information available at: http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/the-popular-pet-show-2016

Weekend in May

Turns out a lot can happen in a year. 

You make friends, you drift away from friends. People get sick and then get well again. Friends go away, like the best person I know from Dubbo - and then they return. Some move to lands far far away and stay.

Beautiful friends get married, people have babies, some make house. And if you're lucky, a year later, you might be getting records bought for you by a gruff punk. 

Needless to say, my weekend looked very different to this time last year. Hope your weekend was different in a good way too.

Half glass full or half empty - either way I miss my dog

A few months ago a certain gruff punk pointed out that I always (without fail) leave a little bit of water at the bottom of my water glass. Yep - I never, ever, ever finish a glass of water. 

What a quirky habit, I thought.

Then the other day I was in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water and I automatically turned around to empty the little bit at the bottom of the glass into Barney's water bowl. 

B.I.N.G.O! I remembered why I have this habit. I was terrible at filling up his water, so I used to empty my water glass into his bowl (which was in the corner of the kitchen) towards the end of every drink.

It's nearly been a year and it looks like some habits are totally unbreakable (including the habit of missing his cheeky little chops) but now my quirky little water glass thing just turned into a very sweet reminder of the best dog I've ever known. 

What’s the time Mr Wolf?

One of my procrastination tasks is to sort out my emails, which really just means I spend time reading and deleting really old emails. Like this one (based on a real life event).

Dear J, Dear B, and Dear A

Today I went for a walk in the early morning sun. The sky was full of pink clouds and dappled light.

Barney and I walked towards the bad oval, the one with all the leaves. There was a black little puppy scooting around, all clumsy and nice. As we walked towards the oval there was a horse sized dog. It was big and fluffy with a funny amble. It kept on walking towards us, and every time we would stop – he would stop. I felt like we were playing “What’s the time Mr Wolf” because when we moved I could see it creeping closer and closer.

Before we knew it, the big white dog was right next to us. I looked closely and he had a big scar under his eye. Then he bow wow wowed and said it’s DINNER TIME.

Barn Head and I had to run away. I drew a picture for you.

The end

Making olives

Next to Olive's house, out the back, is a big olive tree. It was heavy with fruit this year and the ladder was pulled out and the first lot picked the weekend we said goodbye to Barney. Or maybe that was when we picked the last lot? I can't remember now, because goodness knows a lot has happened in those few months. 

Some cured in salt, some soaked in brine and while the salt ones are too salty, they still go well with wine.

Bring It Back 5 x's Septembers

Pip made a cute game over at Meet Me At Mikes. Check it out here. It's called Bring It Back and I'm playing.

5 years ago Barney was stealing slippers: here 
4 years ago we were saying goodbye to a Gypsy who was going to London: here
3 years ago was the start of the top 100: here
2 years ago I was hanging out in my lieblingstadt Berlin: here
1 year ago I received this lovely secret note: here

Sometimes it is good to look back. Thanks Pip.

Barneydog-cakes

I made these cupcakes for RSPCA cupcake day. They are black and white just like Barney.

Makes 12

125g butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
150g 75g dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 1/4 cup pouring cream
1 cup desiccated coconut

1 Preheat oven to 160C.

2 Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer and beat until pale and creamy.

3 Gradually Add the eggs, beating well after each addition, until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and milk and beat until just combined.

4 Spoon the mixture into 12 x 1/2 cup-capacity muffin tins lined with paper patty cases and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.

5 Place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and glossy.

6 Refrigerate until cool. Spread the cooled cupcakes with the chocolate and sprinkle with the coconut to serve.

PS we raised $570!

Rainy mornings and remembering

It's not that I forget he is gone, but some moments I just remember it. Like this morning. 

Thank you

So it has now been a week, and yeah... I'm still sad (and I miss him) but things are okay. Thank you for all your lovely thoughts, calls, hugs, emails, company, flowers, bob sledding ideas, coffee dates, baked goods, distractions, cards, more flowers, picnics, stories and checking that I'm doing alright.

Here's to you bdog. Most loved dog in my universe.

Looking up at the nighttime sky, looking down at the city lights below

What is with me and cars and planes? 

I always become so melancholic - thinking just a little too much. Sometimes I daydream about things that end well, but then I temper that with the reality of how things really are. It's a roller coaster of daydreaming, that's what it is. That, mixed with a bit of turbulence and some terrible biscuit snacks.

This morning as I flew into the sunrise I thought that it was lovely to be so close to you in the sky. Then I realised I don't believe in any of that and wondered where that thought came from. 

And as I flew into Canberra tonight, I couldn't help but see myself sitting on the back step of the little yellow house, looking into the dark. I often took a moment there to sit with you and to look at the Melbourne planes coming into land. And here I was on that very plane looking at the city lights below. I closed my eyes... and for a second I could see myself looking up at the night time sky, with you sitting next to me. Like you always did. You know, there was just the perfect amount of room for the two of us there on that back step. Moments like these, I hope to never forget.

A lifetime of wonderful - 24 hours of it in photos

A lifetime of wonderful right up until the last 24 hours. It started with a sky filled with whispy clouds and bold vapour trails and ended with the biggest halo around the brightest moon.

Heart breaks

I'm writing this to you as you sleep - light little breathes with your paws running in your dreams. I've dreaded this moment. It's been a week of lasts. The last Sunday night you will get a gentle goodbye and your ears scratched. The last dinner, the last night you'll sleep in the tiny hallway and then, sometime tomorrow, the last time you will lick my tear stained faced.

I can tell you now that I've never cried so much in my life, and there have been some very cry-able moments - but the difference is that you have always been there. Always. 

I spoke of this over the phone lines to a world away and we talked in sadness and fondness about you and there was more crying. It is funny how things turn full circle. It wasn't so long ago that you and I would walk down big boulevards in Canberra and I couldn't stop the tears and you would look up at me worried. Such a sensitive dog you always hated it when I cried. How we both missed him then and now he and I cry together because we are going to miss you. Did you know that polaroid photo of your first winter in Canberra, with snow falling around you in Barrallier Street? That photo sits beside his bed in a big city in Pakistan. I didn't know that, but it's something good to know. I can picture that photo so clearly even though I haven't seen it in years and I can picture you. Just shy of being a grown puppy, all lean and slight with big bright eyes and big fluffy snow drops floating through the sky. Just like yesterday.

But then there is today and I'm surprised at our good fortune that you and I have someone so generous and kind hearted to see this thing out. What a bloody brave soul and I'll never forget this, because in my mind, it is probably the nicest thing a person could do for you and I (that and buying you premium chicken breast and devon).

And you should know I've been quietly telling those who you love about this, which is why each of the gypsy girls said goodbye in sadness this week. The best person we know from Dubbo has been checking in too, she likes to know how you are going - but to be honest I think she is more worried about me. And that's nice too. Then the phone call with lots of tears from the big sand pit of Dubai. If anyone was to be in this house tonight it would be her, just because we could cry together all night and it wouldn't matter. So many other people have sent the nicest messages and have asked me to tell you they love you. And I have told you that each and every time.

What will I miss? The pitter patter of your feet clipping the floorboards, they way you look back at me whenever I open the door for you to go outside, the clinking noise your tag makes on the water bowl as you drink, that every morning you still walk to my side of the bed to see that I'm there. I will miss your beautiful spots, the way you always look to me, your snoring, and that even though you are tired and old - when you see my for the first time in hours you wag your tail in happiness and bound towards me. Lets face it. I will miss every single thing about you. So many other people will miss you too.

We are the very best of friends and I would do anything for you - which is why I am doing this. And by the time this is read, it will all have been done.

Love you forever B Dog Xx

Tuesday night sounds

As far as song lyrics go - the best. It's true dogs are the best people.

Slow and steady

These days walks are so slow and quiet they can be accompanied by a cup of tea. Such a change from years gone by.