The Giveaway:

In conjunction with Mummified Times Five, I am giving away up to $1000 worth of Maimeri Classico oil paints!

Each prize pack includes 10 tubes of Maimeri Classico paints valued at $9.55 each…so with free postage, that’s a prize pack valued at over $100!! And we have 10 packs to give away!!

To enter, all you need to do is:

-comment on any post ON EACH of Kathy Shell’s blogs (listed in my blog side bar and below):

http://www.artslim.org/
http://www.cards-art.com/
http://www.kathy-shell.net/
http://www.doggiesblog.com/
http://www.gray-nomad.com/
http://www.bloggermuse.com/
http://www.postcards-art.com/
http://www.campfire-yarns.com/
http://www.fridgemagnetart.com/
- then go to the competition post at

http://mummifiedtimesfive.net/2010/02/01/spotlight-on-kathy-shell-giveaway/

and say why you would like to win a 10 pack of Maimeri Classico paints.

(Both steps are mandatory to be in the running to win this prize)

Giveaway finishes 15 Feb 2010

 This blog post has been illustrated by postcards from the art of Kathy Shell. These can be orderd through the artist's postcards-art web site or purchased 'direct from the artist', in her caravan awning studio

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

 

Support the Hope from Ashes Concert and Auction.
http://www.hopefromashes.com.au/

HOPE from ASHES – Toodyay Benefit Concert

Venue: Toodyay Town Oval – cnr Toodyay Road & Telegraph Rd

Date: 30 th Jan 2010

Time: 12pm – late (gates open 11am)

Tickets: $35 adult; $28 conc / pensioner; $10 child (4yrs – 15yrs); $85 family (2 adults & 2 children).

Tickets available from Thurs Jan 21 st at participating branches of Bendigo Bank and from Moshtix.com.au and 1300 Get Tix (438 849).

More information available on ‘hope from ashes – Toodyay benefit concert' on facebook or www.hopefromashes.com.au

Bar operating from 5pm. Lots of bands and dancers for entertainment.

Plenty of family friendly entertainment – Old McDonalds Travelling Farm; Bouncy Castle ; Circus performers and more.

Great food & refreshments for sale – also concert merchandise.

Bring chairs, picnic rug, hats and sunscreen.



Tickets will be available from the main gate on the day and from participating branches of the Bendigo Bank - (branch details TBA).

http://www.hopefromashes.com.au/concert.php

One for the Melbournites

or for those who might be interesting in coming to Melbourne for a weekend

Royal Children's Hospital,
Good Friday Appeal,

annual

 Run for the Kids.

14 March 2010

Two easy courses, depending on your fitness level.

You can walk or run the course; it is about raising money for the kids and participating.

There is a 5.2 km course

and a longer 14.6 km course which takes you from the city, over the Bolte Bridge, through the domain tunnel and back to the city.

Costs are for the long run $40 (of which $23 goes to the) and $35 for the short run (of which $18 goes to the Good Friday Appeal). 
Check the website.

 
If you are looking for a training program to be ready for this run, you could take up the Couch Potato to 5 km running plan, (www.c25k.com) and then be ready to participate in this charity fundraising event.   I will be walking the equivalent area, in the country and donating the fee to the Royal Children’s Hospital, (of which I am a ‘Life Governor’),  it's a great cause and a good challenge for those who are up to it - and it's a great day out too.

OMG,  What a goal that would be for me to do.

I am going to make a walk by the riverside in fresh country air.

 14th of March is highly significant to me, it was my mother’s birthday and my mum died at a younger age than I am now, partly due to obesity and partly due to smoking. She died from lifestyle disease. For me to walk that distance at two years older than when my mum passed away, on her birthday, will be proving to myself that I have overcome the family curse of bad health and I know my mum would be pleased for meJ.  

 Therefore, I am going to set it as a goal, make an action plan and begin training tomorrow.  I did a seniors walk around Victoria in the Narre Warren leg, 5kilometers at a 6klm per hour pace. They took us to walk beside a highway and it was 'gasp', smelly exhaust fumes and I thought 'never again', when I can choose parkland away from roads.  I will be walking the distance, not running it.

 

With a grandaughter turning eight soon, and aware of the enthusiasm for lfe and the eagerness to show what they are campable of, to us adults, I had to love this story about two eight year old boys, Jake Satherley and his nipper friend Spencer Jeams.

The two young boys saw a miggle aged man struggling in a rip, out side of the flags, in the surf at a south-east Queensland, Gold Coast's Northcliffe beach and they rescued him by pulling him on to their surf board. They  had completed 'nippers training' and used the knowledge they had learned.

Children are capable of amazing acts of humanity.
Do your children have the knowledge that could save their own or another's life?

How can we teach children to be capable of protecting themselves from harm and being capable of protecting others, even saving another's life?

The news just in from ABC. Nippers hailed for daring surf rescue By Sarah Collerton

Reg and I used to visit Werribee Park, long before it was a tourist attraction and an Open Plains Zoo.

It must be almost 50 years ago, back when we first met, and were just good friends. 
Werribee Park and Mansion was privately owned and the grounds were often used as venues for Dog Shows.  Reg and I were involved in the exhibiting dogs in the show ring for lol, opposing kennels.  

Werribee Park, is offering
Free, hands-on farm tours for children in January.

Children are invited to Werribee Park to discover what it was like to work and play at the Chirnside Mansion in the time of swag-men, sheep drovers and the feared bushranger, Ned Kelly. E

very Tuesday and Thursday in January at 1.30pm, free 30 minute tours will show what life was like at the Chirnside Mansion, where nothing was at the touch of a button.

Experience long traditions such as making hand made rope. Use antique tools and implements in the mansion’s laundry and in farm buildings occupied by the blacksmith and local farmhands.

Kids will love the activities as much as Mum’s and Dad’s. Let their imaginations run wild in the garden wonderland as they help Mary Mathilda find her lost toy or as they sneak around the mansion where children were rarely seen or heard.

Details: Tue, 5 Jan Mansion Tour.

Thur, 7 Jan Farm Tour.

Tue, 12 Jan Garden Tour.

Thur, 14 Jan Laundry Tour.

Tue, 19 Jan Mansion Tour.

Thur, 21 Jan Farm Tour.

Tue, 26 Jan Garden Tour.

Thur 28 Jan Laundry Tour.

At:     Werribee Park
From:   Sat, 26 Dec 2009
To:   Thu, 28 Jan 2010
Time:   -
Melway Ref:   Map 201 D1
Bookings Required:   yes
Bookings Details:     Tours are free but booking is essential as group numbers are limited. For information call 131 963. Cost:   Adult $14.00    Child $8.00    Concession $9.00    Family $33.00
Further Information:     Parks Victoria Information Centre
13 1963

I have wonderful memories of lake Catani, first of all, with my sister Iris. When we were children we hiked Mt Buffalo together, she was the leader as always, our four year age difference ensured she was the guide.

The Reg and I discovered Mt Buffalo together when i was five months pregnant with our first daughter.  We swam in the lake and completed all the best known walks in the park, it was a magic time for us.

This National Parks Victoria program, invites you to spend the morning exploring Lake Catani with a Bright Water Watch Co-coordinator, learn the importance of clean water and water quality testing. Learn which macro-invertebrate critter live in the lake and what they mean for our water quality. Discover the diverse ecosystem that lies beneath the surface. Great interactive fun for the whole family.
This activity will run on Tuesday 29 December, 5, 12 & 19 January – 10.30am – 12.30pm (Except 12 January 1.00pm – 3.00pm)
Activities are free and suitable for the whole family, however an adult must accompany children at all times.
We look forward to sharing the Alps with you this summer!

Mount Buffalo National Park
Beach in the Lake Catani Day Visitor area
From:   Sat, 26 Dec 2009
To:   Sun, 24 Jan 2010
Time:   -
Melway Ref:  
Bookings Required:   yes
Bookings Details:     Bookings essential. Contact the Mount Buffalo Entrance Station on 5756 2328. Further Information:     Parks Victoria
13 1963