The dog and the possum

 

What do you do when your dog catches a possum?

Ignoring it doesn't cut the mustard when she's wandering around with it in her mouth and looks so pleased with herself I think she's going to bring it inside.

In New Zealand (where I'm from for those who don't know), possums are pests. Farmers shoot them. In Australia (where I live), they are a protected species. You are not allowed to kill them.

But dogs are dogs and their instinct is so strong they can't help themselves. The poor little possum had been taunting Ruby for days, weeks even, scuttling along the fence and fossicking in the trees. Every day Ruby would run outside to try and find it so I suppose it was inevitable something bad was going to happen. I've no idea how it got down to Ruby's level (an accident I imagine - maybe it fell?) but Ruby being as quick and strong as she is took the opportunity to pounce.

I was not impressed. Especially not at 7 o'clock in the morning on the front lawn in my pyjamas trying to get Ruby to drop it. In fact, I felt sick.

I hoped it might survive.
I was wrong.

Rest in peace furry friend.

Need a laugh?

You can't not laugh at this ...

Daughter #2 took this photo, among others, of The Dog one lovely fine day. Her choice of angles is genius!

Look what I found ...

Naughty, naughty, naughty!

Never has Ruby been allowed on our bed. Ever.

And yet ... one rainy day she decides to make our bed her bed!

I think she thinks if she ignores me, I'll go away and leave her be.

Fat chance, my friend!

Ruby the Red Nose Reindeer Dog

Well, folks, it's that time we call the silly season and what better way to end the year than with a silly-looking dog!

Ruby did this all by herself a couple of months ago and of course I snapped away knowing just when it might come in handy.

I hope you all have a super Christmas, merry New Year and relaxing, fun holidays. I'm taking some time off now from the blogging world and will be going away too, so you won't hear from me again until mid-January.

Take care
Jane xx

A Ruby-proof Christmas

Image via Philadelphia Weekly

I'm just watching Ruby our dog eating my daughter's toothbrush. Mmm ... yum. And wondering how we are going to get through Christmas without something special - or even not so special ie socks - getting hijacked and destroyed. (Please note Mum and Dad, when visiting, all items must be stored in the overhead locker ... I mean, anywhere out of Ruby's reach).

I've had to make the executive decision (love that phrase - makes me feel all suit-ish!) to not have a Christmas tree this year. I know, shock, horror - since we always get a large, real, fir Christmas tree and decorate it like mad, inhaling its gorgeous smell. But no, this year we will sadly have to make do with a fake table-top tree.

This is, I might add, partly because we will be up at the bach which is so cosy that a full-size tree would take up most of the living space and require the removal of furniture. But it's also because Ruby would have a field day with the decorations, the presents, the water keeping the tree alive and the tree itself.

Cue: every possible decoration we have that can be hung, placed up high or strung somewhere out of reach. You'd think I had a toddler roaming around! So, I've retrieved the large box of decorations that has been stored in the garage since we moved house and I'll get the girls to work when we go up the coast on the 18th!

What are you doing for Christmas decos this year? Has anyone got some original, nifty, unique takes on decorating for the festive season?

P.S Check out the blog where I sourced the image above - it may be a year old but it has some great ideas for original Christmas tree ideas ie magazine-style and post-it note-style!

Queen Ruby and Chesterfield Sofas!

Who could resist this?

Our big one-year-old puppy decided to make herself at home on a newly purchased Chesterfield sofa. (Hey, just because I was sitting there doesn't mean ... you know ... that you can push me off!)

But no guesses who was keen on this wee Union Jack number to reside in our new rumpus room ... yes the Pommie man of the house! But I'm thinking it's going to look quite good with a backdrop of the original exposed brick, my grandfather's old trunk and a pool table.

And, just for the record, Ruby isn't allowed on the furniture!

Enjoy the weekend folks!

Rock Chick Ruby

I got back from Byron Bay last night and have so many ideas from Shannon Fricke's interior design workshop which I will tell you all about in the next post.

But I couldn't resist showing you Ruby's new look ...

She looks both ridiculous and too cool for school! Have a great day, J :)

What are you looking at?

Huh?

Didn't you know this was the perfect vantage point for watching you guys eat dinner? Mmm, yum.

 

But right now, I'm looking at my last items on e-bay. With only 2 hours and 48 minutes to go, the countdown is on! Yesterday it was goodbye girls' wardrobe, two sets of shower screens, one mixer, one tap, one laundry tub, a toilet roll holder and hand towel rail. All dismantled meticulously by one guy and his Dad, and a young couple about to renovate. Thanks guys for finding homes for our stuff!

Bye bye robe ...

Ruby on Deck via Phone!

I am very excited as I have just worked out how to blog via the fancy-pancy phone I've had for a few months but had been too scared to fiddle around with and figure out how to do it. But since having such features was the whole point of getting it (as well as the fact that my old phone died), I thought I should really learn how.

The only problem is I accidentally published the post before I'd written any text. So here I am now back on the computer!

Nevertheless, I feel quite proud to have mastered this wee piece of technology. I can see how useful it will be on my future travels both near and far when I find something I want to share with you all.

By the way, the photo is one I already had on my phone of Ruby - now four months - being nosy on the deck at Hardys Bay. Isn't she cute?

Warlu Art

Am loving the work by the artists of the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in Yuendumu in the Northern Territory (from where we got our beautiful desert dog, Ruby).





On behalf of the artists, workers and volunteers, I'd like to show you a little of what they do that can be purchased via volunteer Sandra from PAWS Rescue who has recently brought some of the canvases and jewellery down to Sydney to sell for the community and is doing so solely for charity.



Here is an example of how some of the smaller canvases can look when hung as one artwork from the owner of "White Home" in Woollahra. They are 30 x 30 cm and come unmounted but can be easily stapled to a canvas and she is selling them for $90 (which is pretty good considering the new ones on via the artists' website are for $120). All the paintings come with Certificates of Authenticity as well.

Plus she has brought back a huge selection of necklaces (which range in price from $35 to $60) and bracelets made by the women. The photos don't do them justice ...

Email Sandra if you'd love to see the wares @ paddopetals@optusnet.com or check out the art gallery on the Warlu website to see more.

Designer Dog

I couldn't resist submitting this photo of Ruby to Desire to Inspire's Monday's Pets on Furniture and this Monday she featured and I'd love you to check it out!

The blog's weekly posting is not only a look at some very cute and spoilt pets but an interesting mix of furniture pieces from readers around the world.

For those who don't know, Desire to Inspire is a well-known and long-established design blog created by a Canadian and an Australian who have never actually met but share the same interest - the search for the perfect room! I wonder if they will ever find it ...

Puppy Love

This weekend has been very exciting for us as we got a new addition to the house which has nothing to do with the build, the interior design or choice of fixtures and fittings: a beautiful puppy called Ruby. While one could argue that her colouring is right up my colour scheme alley, she is so much more than 'designer' dog - in fact, she is far from it.

So named because she was found in a rubbish bin, Ruby comes from an Aboriginal community in Yuendumu in the Northern Territory that not only has a dog rescue programme but also a very successful arts community - the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation.

The dogs - all mixed breeds, many cattle and kelpie-based mixes like Ruby - are found and looked after by Gloria Morales, the art centre assistant manager (and originally a Chilean arts conservator!) who runs the dog program. The desert dogs are then re-homed around NSW by rescuer and foster carer Sandra from Paws Rescue who brought back Ruby for us. What an amazing job and what a beautiful dog ...

If you're a dog or art lover - or both - the program is always looking for volunteers to help up in the NT or with helping look after the dogs before they are found homes. It's definitely going on my bucket list!