A flowering gum

Not flowering yet, but I love it when this gum tree in our backyard gets to this stage. I'll have to take another shot in a few weeks when the brilliant red flowers are blooming.

A glimpse of middle America

I was thrilled to stumble across this liquor store in Tarneit today; it reminded me of something you'd see on the outskirts of Cleveland or something.

A street festival

This festival was held in Barkly Street Footscray today as part of Melbourne's Chinese New Year celebrations. The actual New Year's Day was on 23 January, marking the start of the Year of the Dragon. It was a really hot, sticky day, which added to the intensity and excitement of the occasion.

A butterfly mural

My very talented sister Cal painted this sunny butterfly mural on a wall in her backyard. She's one of those creative people who are good at numerous things: painting, drawing, singing, writing, designing, hula hooping. Stay tuned for her updated website.

George Harrison

I've loved the Beatles for a long time, so I can't believe it's taken me this long to appreciate George's solo career. His music makes me weep with joy. This is the album I currently can't get enough of.

The number 19

I see the number 19 everywhere I go; it's my lucky number.

Community

This is Sonia who works at a fruit and veg shop that we frequent. She's an absolute treasure and always brightens my day. She is off to India in three days to spend some time with her family. We will miss her - people like her really strengthen a community.

Watching the sun rise

The block behind our house is currently empty so we have a clear view of this man's place. Whenever it's a nice morning, he gets up on his roof and watches the sun come up. He stands there so still; it's beautiful to watch. Soon a double-storey townhouse will be built on the vacant lot, and I'll really miss seeing his morning meditations.

Window boxes

Mick made me my own window boxes last year, but the flowers in them aren't quite as established as these ones at this lovely Williamstown house.

A shoulder ride

This is my husband Mick and daughter Jeannie. I remember shoulder rides being one of the most thrilling things as a small child.

Street art

This is one of several pieces around Melbourne's western suburbs done by a wonderful stencil paste-up artist called Baby Guerilla. This one's in a fairly obvious spot just off Victoria Street in Seddon, but others brighten up pretty drab and out-of-the-way places. It's always a delight to stumble upon one.

Dancing

This is Maya and Iyla, two extremely cute girls involved in a shoot I did today for my sister-in-law Cait's gorgeous kid's jewellery range, Little Lamb. It was so much fun watching them dance and express themselves.

A pony ride

Who doesn't love a pony ride?

Grandparents

This is Maureen and Arthur, my daughter Jeannie's grandparents (and my husband Mick's parents). They are two of the most wonderful people I know and they have such a beautiful relationship with Jeannie and their other three grandkids.

A temple

This is the Heavenly Queen Temple in Footscray, which was officially opened on the weekend. It's been in the making for 10 years so it's very exciting that it's finally finished. Right next to it is a beautiful giant golden statue of the Heavenly Queen, or Mazu, herself. Part of what makes the temple and statue so intriguing is their location, tucked away off a dirt road next to the Maribyrnong River on what was previously semi-industrial wasteland. You get a great view of both on the Sydenham line train.

Fluffy Floyd

This is Fluffy Floyd. He lives next door and often visits our house. He and our cat Giddy used to go out, but they had irreconcilable differences so decided to call it quits. We're happy that he still feels comfortable enough with us to drop by, despite the love/hate relationship he now has with Giddy.

Sunday afternoon at the Sun

Went to see The Iron Lady with my friend Melissa this afternoon at Yarraville's Sun Theatre, a beautifully restored Art Deco cinema. Sunday afternoon at the movies seems like the perfect way to start/end the week to me.

A big orange ship

We were driving down to Williamstown today and passed this massive ship zooming into port. I'm not sure why it was so exciting to watch; I think perhaps just because it was so big and travelling so fast. I also love wondering about where ships like this have come from and what cargo they're carrying.

Babushkas

Russian nesting dolls are the inspiration for so many things at the moment, and I can see why: they're just so darn cute. These ones double as (very accurate) measuring cups, and you can also get a measuring spoon set.

Radio interviews

Today I was listening to ABC Radio National while driving along and a really interesting and amusing interview with Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, came on. I've never been particularly interested in reading these books, but after hearing him speak, I am now.

Growing food

This is some rhubarb I grew and cooked and am about to eat. Next to potatoes, rhubarb's about the easiest thing in the world to grow, but no matter how easy, there's still a great feeling of accomplishment when you grow your own food I reckon.

A new pair of specs

Now I can read the ingredients of things again - hooray!

Amusing graffiti

I'd heard a rumour that Jose Feliciano had moved into my neighbourhood, and this confirms it.

A secret message in a laneway

I found this today down an obscure dead-end laneway around the corner from where I live; I've walked past this lane a thousand times and never even registered that it was there. But this little cardboard person caught my new keen eye for spotting small unexpected joys. I love that someone went to the effort of putting this here, in a spot that no-one's likely to see. Although it's a bit sad that the cardboard man's balloon has popped, he really made my day.

The first cup of tea

The first sip of my first cup of tea each morning is unfailingly one of the highlights of my day.

A friend visiting from overseas

This is my friend Mere. She moved to Germany three years ago and I miss her so much. But she's in town at the moment, so all's well. She has the ability to make me laugh until I feel sick. In addition to being very funny, she's also an extremely talented writer. Her latest book is a young-adult novel titled Shift (which was published under her pseudonym Em Bailey).

Out-there architecture

Melbourne's got some fabulous architecture, like the relatively new Pixel Building in Carlton. I love it when architects aren't afraid to make a statement, and was also excited to find out that this is the first carbon-neutral office building in Australia.

The sound of wind

I hurt my back gardening yesterday so I spent some time today resting in bed. It was really pleasant listening to the wind in the tree outside our bedroom window; the sound was almost as good as rain on a tin roof. I find being outside on a windy day quite unsettling, but I love listening to it when I'm safely inside.

Other people's front yards

I love walking the streets around where I live; there's some truly creative front-yard expression going on. Like this basset-hound fence - there's a dog like this one on every post. Love it!

Pop-up books

Especially very old pop-up books, like this one about the Queen's coronation. I saw this in the window of a great vintage shop near where I live. (The tin money box in the form of a children's book also made me smile.)

Homemade lemon butter

This is lemon butter my sister Cal received from one of her neighbours as a Christmas gift. We had it on our toast at Cal's place this morning. I love the idea of hand-making gifts and have vowed to make lemon butter for everyone this Christmas. I know it says 'lemon cheese', not butter, but lemon cheese just doesn't sound right to me. Perhaps its creator liked the way cheese rhymes with Louise.