With Cicadas singing outside and Christmas tree lights glowing, I am reflecting on the year that has been. In the stillness and heat that Summer has brought this evening, it is almost hard to imagine how busy it has been. The year began with moving house, and creating a garden in the backyard that makes the house feel like home. We now have a wonderful vegetable garden, fruit trees and fishpond with lilypads! 2012 was the year of creating a video about being an illustrator, creating my first book trailer, playing on Instagram, tweeting now and then, collecting pictures on Pinterest, venturing quietly into the world of facebook, the release of Peggy, the release of Today We Have No Plans and almost completing a new book to be released in September next year (another lovely project with Jane Godwin!). For the last few months wherever I go I have left small trails of paper.

Finishing books at Christmas time can be a bit stressful with trying to keep up with making gingerbread, ballet concerts, end of year parties, sewing Christmas stockings for nephew and celebrating the season with friends and family. The tricky part is I don't want to give any of it up! I think all the hard work has been worth it though, am very happy with the way the book is shaping up so far - still have a way to go but hopefully will make the deadline! Below is some of the time spent working on the skin colouring of the little characters.

Like the three bears on holiday (wooden dolls from BLANK), it is time for holly, mince tarts and taking some time to patter about with no shoes or lists.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

x anna

Not so long ago, the rabbit escaped again, and was returned looking miserable. To keep her warm and safe I put her in with the chook (not sure why I did not think of this earlier) and after four years of looking cranky she is finally smiling! They look so happy together sharing apple cores and parsley.

I am playing a 'one word Meme' that Pip began at 'Meet Me at Mikes'.

Its actually quite tricky using one word! I might have stickied two words together now and then. Visit Pip and you can play too!

1. Where is your mobile phone? couch

2. Your hair? messy

3. Your mother? chat

4. Your father? advice

5. Your favourite food? biscuits

6. Your dream last night? rainy

7. Your favourite drink? coffee

8. Your dream/goal? animation

9. What room are you in? loungeroom

10. Your hobby? creating

11. Your fear? worry

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Melbourne

13. Where were you last night? bookclub

14. Something that you aren’t? extrovert

15. Muffins? pear

16. Wish list item? cat

17. Where did you grow up? Eltham

18. Last thing you did? print

19. What are you wearing? woolies

20. Your TV? Olympics

21. Your pet? asleep

22. Friends? heart

23. Your life? bubbling

24. Your mood? smile

25. Missing someone? Grandmother

26. Vehicle? Minky

27. Something you’re not wearing? slippers

28. Your favorite store? bookshop

29. Your favorite color? poppy

30. When was the last time you laughed? tonight

31. Last time you cried? lastweek

32. Your best friend? kindredspirits

33. One place that I go to over and over? chookhouse

34. One person who emails me regularly? Georgia

35. Favorite place to eat? street

I sometimes wonder where my place is in the world of twitter, facebook, instagram, pinterest, blogging and generally seeing all the wonderful things different people are doing. . .I enjoy pinning and snapping pics, watching snippets of conversations on facebook but at the same time, I often feel a bit overwhelmed by it all! I read an article on the weekend and the part that I loved were the words about not worrying about what so many others are doing but thinking about what is important to you and trust in that. On Sunday we made a wooden frame for a vegetable garden,  I sewed two cushions, the kids made 'melting moments' and with the rain outside we enjoyed pottering around our home together. The afternoon made everything seem clear, and helped me to continue shuffling happily along the village path, with the occasional snuffle and tweet.

It was a quiet weekend with the clouds and the rain keeping us close to home, spending treasured time with the family.

In contrast Monday arrived, along with a friends' puppy which we are babysitting for a few days. From the minute the puppy arrived it has been very busy. 'Sunshine' our labrador taught the puppy to swim in the pond within minutes of arriving. Fortunately I saw the golden haired pup scrambling among the goldfish and pulled her dripping to safety! (The pond is now safely covered!) Not long after, I discovered our wayward bunny had escaped, and this time from our yard. In between making sure puppy was going to the toilet outside, I hear a knock at the door and let in a very kind lady with a miserable looking rabbit tucked under her arm! Flopsy was up the street, if rabbits could only talk . . . We bundle Flopsy into a towel and pop her safely in the chook house. I can't believe I didn't think of putting her in with the chook before now. The chook and rabbit are so happy together they are even sharing apple cores (this makes me laugh!). And the chook house (made by my clever dad) is light, warm and has room to jump around! Perfect.

Sunshine and the puppy have been capering around in our muddy back yard most of the day - and dancing in the rain. I had to give Puppy a bath and make her warm and dry again this afternoon. As a result of all of this, I have not been doing much work but there has been much wagging of tails!