Don't you just love animals....so glad to hear that foreign whalers had their poorest 'crop' ever. Go whales and Sea Shepherd!  Closer to the back mat are our gorgeous doggies, and I like the saying "Be the person your dog thinks you are".

The sun is out, lovely customers in over Easter and apparently the surf is up. Positive vibes all round.

OK. I'm breathing deeply, but so upset and annoyed at people taking photos of our products in our shop. So rude and actually illegal. Please don't put your phone on video as you walk around, please don't brazenly take a photo and say "Let's look online". It shows your ignorance and disrespect for people's ORIGINAL works. We feel that artists' original works are more important than attempts to copy. Sorry to rant but if you only ask for permission, you know what, we are here to help and let you know more about it and might even say 'yes' .

Just went to a family wedding and one of the quotes from the service was from Pooh and Piglet books : "If you live to be 100 years old I hope I live to be 99 and 364 days, then I won't have to spend even one day without you." Awwww...

Aren't animals the best! We have a new little blue tongue lizard in the garage, two ducks waddling past our shop, bush turkeys scratching everywhere, amazing flights of hundreds of bats across the skies every night. And our two 'girls' : Roxy the Ridgeback and B (Black Betty Bamalam)the Lab. They give us so much joy, every day. Love them. And then there are the other 4-legged visitors to Hearts and Minds Art's red carpet - like Cody. Blind in one eye, he's a treasure.

Interesting. I've been thinking lately how the weather affects our moods. Noosa is known for its beautiful weather but it's been rain, rain, rain lately. Not cold, just rain. Customers at our shop have been (sorry guys) grumpy, glum and down. A bit of sunshine came out today and Wham! change of attitude completely. I'm the same. Having lived in Melbourne all my life until moving to Queensland a few years back I, too, felt the Winter blues. Wonder why. So much more energy with the clear skies. I just feel like stretching and, well, taking flight with new ideas and dreams.

Release your love into the skies -
the universe will take care of it.
Rolled in stars and rested on clouds,
it will come back to you.
   Shiny, new and warm.
(Julie Holland)

I have always whistled and sung along to songs. Unfortunately not always with the right words. (Yes, I'm the one that unwittingly sang "There's a bathroom on the right" instead of "There's a bad moon on the rise".) I'm sure I'm not the only one...the important thing is to participate, sing along. It fills you with emotion whether it's happiness, sadness or just memories. Tra la, tra la...Feel free to contribute your singalong mishaps at www.facebook.com/heartsandmindsart (no awful YouTube karaoke clips tho!).

OK. So. It's done. My book of verse has been wrapped in hope and sent off to a publisher for consideration. Fingers and toes crossed. If they don't like it, I will darn well publish it myself because I know deep inside that people will enjoy, value and gain something from it.

Another day in Paradise here in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Sun is out, tourists are happy...and it's a countdown to Valentines Day. Check out our 'countdown IOUs' from today until V day at www.facebook.com/heartsandmindsart. Or why not wander into Hastings Street, check out our Valentines window at No.1, then stroll off for a glass of vino.

It's so important to look beyond the surface...I have written many verses about it. Every day in our shop this belief is backed up. No-one is how they appear to be, there is always so much more. That includes me, and that includes you. Be proud that you are individual, that you take the time to listen to others and not judge.