Outfit: Black and white and red all over

I've found it really hard to get back into the swing of blogging since the holidays, despite all my best intentions to keep blogging through the holidays life apparently had other plans! Now Mark is back at work but I was struck down my a nasty cold and my productivity slowed to a snails pace... but tomorrow I'll be back at work and the world moves on so I'm making every effort to shake off the dust and get back into a routine. So without further ado here are the outfit photos I promised last week.

These photos were taken at the lovely Sevenhill Cellars on the steps of the church. Sevenhill Cellars is one of my favourite places as it offers so much - even if you aren't a wine drinker. You can stroll through the grounds or have a picnic on the rolling lawns and, best of all, they host Shakespeare in the Vines each February. This outfit is a bit of a departure from my norm as it has very little colour in it, just black, white and navy blue, but I thought it looked good with the pop of red that my hair adds in. I'm certainly not planning any permanent departures from my beloved colourful outfits but it was fun to experiment with something a little different.

Outfit Details:
Hat, shirt, skirt - thrifted
Scarf, jacket - eBay
Boots - Target
Socks - Big W

Introducing: Dana Scully

Meet Scully:

Scully is a Dutch Rabbit who I rescued from the AWL. I had been looking at adopting a pair of lops but when I called up to enquire about them they had been adopted out that morning, not quite ready to give up on adopting another pair of rabbits I kept looking at the AWL webpage until a 'Fox Mulder' appeared on the list. This felt right but I wanted a pair not a single bunny, a few weeks later Scully was put up for adoption and it felt like fate. Scully and Mulder (who I'll introduce you to next week) were not bonded and had never met before I went into the adoption centre but I asked the lady there if we could introduce them - they were calm and sniffing each other within about 5 minutes of meeting so they both came home with me that afternoon! Here's what you need to know about Scully:

• While Scully is a Dutch Rabbit she also does not fit the breed standards as her white stripe does not go all the way around her body.
• She was the first of the two little ones I cuddled at the AWL and we bonded almost instantly, she relaxed for the first time since we had come into the room and snuggled up to me and from that moment I knew there was no way I was leaving without her!
• Scully is very shy and has taken a long time to relax into her environment, she isn't completely happy unless Mulder is by her side and I walk past her play pen and talk to her and pat her regularly. 
• Scully is much younger than I was originally told - the people at the AWL said she was fully grown but my vet told me she was still a baby - she's grown a fair bit since coming home with me too!
• Dutch rabbits are not a dwarf breed making her the largest of all my bunnies, she weighs about 2.2KG and could well put on another 300-400g before she stops growing.
• She likes to sit on my shoulder and lay her side against my cheek.

I love my little baby girl to bits, here are a few more of my favourite photos:

Reillys Wines

On Sunday Mark and I went for a drive into the Clare Valley to spend some quality time together. Our first stop was Reillys Wines for lunch. The restaurant is bigger than it first appeared with little rooms tucked away for an intimate and cosy atmosphere with fires going to keep us nice and warm. I failed to get photos of the interiors as we shared our room with a small birthday celebration but the decor was very cosy and cottagey (yes, I know, not a word!)

Wanting a lighter lunch option we ordered bread and olives and a platter - this did not turn out to be a light option and filled us up considerably! The food was good and definitely filling, my only complaint was that some of it was not really suited to a share platter and was very difficult to eat. In the grand scheme of things this is not really a big thing and I would definitely like to go back and try some more of their menu sometime soon! Overall, it was an enjoyable place to have lunch and fit in with what we wanted for the day.

In other news - Hutchinson's test results finally came back and he is in the clear, we will have to keep an eye on the lump incase of further complications but it appears to just be a fatty lump and, at this stage, he won't need surgery.

Stay tuned for an OOTD post, in the next few days, of what I wore out to lunch.
A xx

Life Lately: Why the long break?

It's been well over a week since I posted and I thought it was time for a little update. The reason for my long absence: I took a few days off to celebrate my birthday and then on the night of said birthday I found a lump on Hutchinson's chest. Since then it's been visits to the vet for tests and an anxious wait to find out what it is (the vet thinks it's probably just a fatty lump but samples have been taken to rule out anything worse). I had hoped to update with the news that it was nothing of any consequence however the results are not in so we are still anxiously waiting. In the mean time I've been struggling to concentrate on anything much. Hopefully we get some good news soon and it will be back to regular content! So, Just a quick update:

Watching: Zootopia - it was as good as I hoped it would be.
Reading: The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin.
Listening to: An audio book of Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon (on Overdrive).
Cooking: Very little - I've been relying on dinners out and easy meals while I've been busy worrying.
Feeling: Worried.
Planning: One day at a time.
Loving: My little boy - Mr Hutchinson.
Enjoying: Being on holidays.

Little things of note:

• After spending a few hours last night suffering from a migraine, today has been a lazy one - some house work, some reading, comfy clothes and a warm dog.
• Labelling things makes me disproportionately happy (for someone so disorganised, organisation is very calming!)

I've tried very hard to be honest in this post and, unfortunately, that means it's not the happiest place right now, fingers crossed it's all sorted out soon - I'll keep you all posted.

A xx

10 things that have made me happy this week

source

For some reason today words just won't come - don't get me wrong the happy list was surprisingly easy to write this time but trying to come up with an introduction just seems like hard work. Might be  because it's the last day of the term and my brain has switched into holiday mode or it might be the lack of sleep I've had this week (Thanks so much animals!) In any case, I wrote the list first and have been trying to add the words and something to giggle over - blogger is not behaving! If the formatting on the post is strange it's because I've given up... let's see how we go!

1. Planning for the holidays and catching up with lots of my lovely friends.
2. My appointments all falling into place - no awkward clashes, extra days added or long boring waits.
3. A few unexpected days at work this week - so welcome before the holidays.
4. Scully Kisses - she's usually the least affectionate of the bunnies but she showed me some love this week.
5. Cadbury Oreo bars - yum. 
6. Left over pasta for lunch two days in a row.
7. Cooking real meals again - I've been feeling flat and lazy recently but this week I upped my game and it was so good to have real homemade meals again.
8. A birthday card driving in the post from one of my main ladies (Thanks Amy, it really made my day!)
9. The unfettered joy that permeated the school I worked at today - That real end of term feeling.
10. The great pile of books sitting and waiting for me to get stuck into over the holidays.  

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***

Life lately: Wednesday update

A quick update on what my life consists of during these dreary winter days (someone bring back the sun already!)

Watching: Early episodes of Haven
Reading: Horns by Joe Hill
Listening to: Marina and the Diamonds and Alex Winston
Cooking: Crockpot Quinoa Chili, one of my favourite recipes, looking forward to dinner!
Feeling: Cold, also cautiously optimistic
Planning: Many good things! Including a potential puppy, house and holiday - details to come
Loving: Looking back on all my animals' baby photos for my 'Introducing' posts (if you missed them: Jack, Tribbles, Hutchinson, Daisy)
Enjoying: Endless cups of hot tea on cold afternoons

Little things of note:

• I've been up since 4.30 this morning when Jack decided he didn't feel well and needed cuddles - fuzzy brain caused by lack of sleep made me forget to put dinner on this morning and Mark had to dash home at lunch! He's such a trooper.
• Mark bought Tribbles a laser pointer and whenever we stop playing with her she starts to meow  at us- she know exactly where that dot is coming from!
• Thermal scarves are the best. Hands down. That is all.

Hope you all had a good Wednesday - only two more days until the weekend!

A xx 

Introducing: Daisy

This is Daisy:

Daisy is the only one of the bunnies that I bought, I had found Hutchinson about 5 months prior to meeting her and, rabbits being such social souls, he seemed a bit lonely. I found Daisy through work, I took part in the Animal Learning Centre at the Gawler Show and she was not only one of the bunnies we had at the show but one of the bunnies we borrowed a few weeks prior to the show to teach the kids how to handle the rabbits. Due to our timetables I ended up babysitting her in my office for the rest of the day - it was clearly love so I organised to buy her after the Show. Here's what you need to know about her:

• Daisy and Hutchinson are a bonded pair meaning they are very much in love and would be depressed if they were separated. 
• Daisy is named after Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby.
• Despite the origins of her name we call her Miss Daisy Darling because I didn't want her to think she should be a beautiful fool, plus she is a darling.
• I was assured by the breeder that she is a dwarf lop but her ears never lopped, they range from standing all the way up to sticking straight out like an aeroplane. 
• The first day I met her she ended up sitting on my lap in my office as I marked maths test - it was the best time I've ever had marking!
• Daisy is definitely the dominant one in her relationship, although she does let Hutchinson get his way occasionally just to keep the peace.
• Daisy's favourite food is the mint flavoured pellets they get for breakfast.

I'll leave you with some photos ranging from that first day in my office through to some quite recent ones.

10 things that have made me happy this week

source

This week’s line up of happy things is such a blogger cliché – I don’t know whether that means I’m making it as a blogger or failing dismally! I thought this little image of Sheldon was perfect as winter seems to have really taken hold, we had the first proper frosts of the season this week, which saw us scraping ice off of windscreens at ridiculous o’clock in the morning. I can’t say I’ve been sad to have a few day’s at home this week to focus on my writing from the comfort of my warm little shoebox! All said and done, it was a good week, here’s what made it that way:

1. A bouquet of fresh flowers on the bookshelf – they really brighten up this grey weather.
2. Reading Charlotte’s updates on her little baby girl Olive and Janssen’s sweet post in appreciation of maternity nurses – me, clucky? Never!
3. Eating leftover Easter chocolate that I found in the back corner of the cupboard.
4. Having a hot water bottle on my lap in the early mornings to stave off the chill.
5. Mark bringing me cups of tea to help me relax – He’s a keeper.
6. Finishing watching season 6 of Pretty Little Liars spoiler free.
7. A very productive Tuesday – photos taken and edited, posts planned and layout issues fixed.
8. Getting into the routine of getting up in the mornings, getting ready and then writing – definite progress.
9. Wandering through the Peterborough Library – it’s small but it has a great selection.
10. Snuggles with my favourite bunnies – the cold weather does have some advantages.
11. And a bonus! (Just because this post is up so late) Port Adelaide's much needed win last night - made me grin from ear to ear (and yell and cheer and sing at the top of my lungs) 

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***