This is Sheep Cat

This is a bench

 
This is a Sheep Cat


An Inquisitive Sheep Cat


A Happy Sheep Cat


This is a Sheep Cat Eating Grass


Eating More Grass


This is a Pinecone


A Scary Pinecone      

The End..

2nd Penitentiary & a Linky Party

 
I have thought up quite a few posts lately that I wanted to show you all but because I am a very busy bee today I will show you some more beautiful shots of the Port Arthur Penitentiary that we took with Andi’s phone.

 

But before we get partying I would like to open your eyes to the many wonders of a linky party. A very odd thing has happened with my party’s, something I have not heard of happening before.


Not many of you are linking up. Why? I haven’t a clue. But a LOT of you are viewing the few links there are. I have had most everyone that has joined my linky parties tell me just how much more traffic and even followers they have been getting from linking up here.

I have a couple of posts about linky parties in my community at the moment if you’re interested. This one is about what I’ve just discussed:

        

           

               

                                   

                                    By Kirsty
                    author of                     Kirsty Girl                            

           

Linky Parties, love em or hate em?

           
So I have just posted my first ever linky party!
I'm very excited. I love linky parties and the traffic that comes with them.
Do you ever join them? What are your favs?

Please join mine, I'd LOVE it!

        

                       

                            Visit the "Linky Parties, love em or hate em?" Discussion                        

And this one is all about linky parties, there are even instructions on how to link up and what a linky party is:

        

           

               

                                   

                                    By Kirsty
                    author of                     Kirsty Girl                            

           

Linky Party Info!

           
So.. recently I have started hosting my own blog linky parties at Kirsty Girl and I have found that I don't get too many links. Normally about 8, though today I have only just hosted my 3rd party so maybe I'm getting a head of myself here, but though I don't get many links, I do give these links quite a bump in traffic (so they say) and I get many comments on the links from my 400+ followers so I know they're being viewed and commented on.

This strikes me as somewhat strange!
If you're getting a bump in traffic and more comments etc. which let's face it is the whole point of joining a linky party then why wouldn't you link up?

What has someone got to lose?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you hosted a linky party yourself? What was the outcome?

        

                       

                            Visit the "Linky Party Info!" Discussion                        

Ok! On to the party! Woo Woo! Just remember only link up cruelty-free projects, photo’s, anything you love to blog about! That means no un-vegan recipe’s, fur fashion finds or hunting posts! Just keep it clean and cruelty-free!

Just a few notes:
Please link to the url of the post you want, not just your blog.
Please link back to me!
Please follow or subscribe (this is not a requirement but I would love it and it would make it easier for you to come back and link up again!)
By linking up you are permitting me to feature your blog
Please no spam or rebelling against the rules, I have the right to remove your link.
Now grab my button and get partay-ing!

 

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Linking up with: A Beach Cottage

Janet Hill Oil Paints & Prints

Yesterday it was announced that little ol’ me was the winner of a fabulous giveaway over at The Empty Nest! Yay! I was lucky enough to win my choice of print from Janet Hill’s Etsy store.


All of the prints are of Janet’s original oil paintings. Not only was I more than happy to win I also got to take away so much inspiration for my own oil paintings with me.

 
This portrait is what first captured me. I just love the delicately soft lines and tones. So pretty. I think next time I do a portrait I might try going a little softer myself, think more Janet Hill less Andy Warhol. I just love playing around with different styles. I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to stick to one.

I had such a hard time of choosing, of course I had to consult Andi and we both agreed that this was one of our favourites!

The beach house, the boat, pretty awesome right? But in the end I had to go with this little baby here:

Can’t you just picture it in a beautiful white country kitchen in Australia? I can!

If you click on any of the pictures above you will go straight to Janet Hill’s Etsy shop for that image or of course click anywhere you see the name Janet in this post and you’ll go there too! Excellent! I love links!

Linky Party & Government Cottage Featuring Le Chaise Parfait

This is the gorgeous green view from the Government Cottage in Port Arthur. I love the sky and shadow in this photo. And here are the ruins:

As always, if you have missed my series of posts on Port Arthur here they are:

The Penitentiary
Convict Church
Mason Cove
The Officer's Quarters
Smith O'Briens Cottage

Le Chaise Parfait

Now on to my feature! I know I said it would be a rarity to be featured on my blog but I had to share this one with you! Cindy at Le Chaise Parfait linked up to my linky party last week and her tutorial on a Ruffle Back Chair she made is amazing!

I really don’t think much needs to be said other than, there is absolutely NO SEWING involved!

   
Now head on over to Le Chaise Parfait’s tutorial and check out the before and after pics!

Linky Party

Now it’s your turn to link up to this weeks party! Woo! Just remember only link up cruelty-free projects, photo’s, anything you love to blog about! That means no un-vegan recipe’s, fur fashion finds or hunting posts! Just keep it clean and cruelty-free!

Just a few notes:
Please link to the url of the post you want, not just your blog.
Please link back to me!
Please follow or subscribe (this is not a requirement but I would love it and it would make it easier for you to come back and link up again!)
By linking up you are permitting me to feature your blog
Please no spam or rebelling against the rules, I have the right to remove your link.


Please grab my button here and link up!

 

<a href="http://kirstygirl7.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Kirsty Girl" src="http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/kirstygirl7/kirstygirllinkypartybutton.jpg" /></a>

linking up with: A Beach Cottage

Leaf Insect

Today I am having a break from my series of Port Arthur posts and instead offer you up a GORGEOUS photograph Andi has taken of a Tasmanian leaf insect. We spotted him lazing about on a pretty rose in the garden.

Isn’t it wonderful?

Linking up with: 504 Main, Serenity Now and Chic on a Shoestring.

2nd Kirsty Girl Linky & Smith O’Briens Cottage {Port Arthur}

Once again this is from my series of photos from Port Arthur. This is a photo looking out of Smith O’Briens Cottage. Smith was born to Sir Edward O’Brien the 4th Baronet of Dromoland Castle. He received an upper class education in Cambridge, England.

As leader of the Young Ireland movement Smith was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. However, a partition for his release was signed by 70,000 Irishmen and 10,000 Englishmen. Thus resulting in transportation for life in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania).

Upon Sighting Maria Island (just off Tasmania) “To find a gaol in one of the loveliest spots formed by Nature in one of her loneliest solitudes creates a revulsion of feeling I cannot describe.” – November 1849.


These two shots are of the incredible skylight in one of the cottages in Port Arthur. I tried to figure it out from the map but I am unsure just whereabouts we took these ones. They could very well be from Smith’s Cottage. If anyone can help, let me know!

If you’re interested and you haven’t viewed them yet, or would like to see them again! Here are my series of Port Arthur posts:

The Penitentiary
Convict Church
Mason Cove
The Officer's Quarters

Now! Time for the my 2nd linky party! Are you all excited? I am.  I would love more people to join up and just a note: please, please, please link your post back to me! Last time I had less people link back than people who didn’t! Such a crime, people. A crime! hehe

The only rules I have as to the contents of your post; let it be clean and vegan (meaning absolutely NO hunting, recipe’s with animal content or fur). That’s right I want my party to be absolutely cruelty-free! 

Of course you do not HAVE to visit others, I know we all lead ridiculously busy lives, but I give you my permission to take a break, get yourself a coffee (non-dairy obviously) and sit yourself down to enjoy the linky love!

Just a few notes:
Please link to the url of the post you want, not just your blog.
Please link back to me!
Please follow or subscribe (this is not a requirement but I would love it and it would make it easier for you to come back and link up again!)
By linking up you are permitting me to feature your blog
Please no spam or rebelling against the rules, I have the right to remove your link.

Please grab my NEW! button to put with the post you’re linking up! You can grab my NEW linky party button here (just copy the code) or grab my NEW blog button from my sidebar (up top)! Isn’t it cute?

 

<a href="http://kirstygirl7.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Kirsty Girl" src="http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/kirstygirl7/kirstygirllinkypartybutton.jpg" /></a>

Linking up with: Life at Fire Lake Camp, A Beach Cottage and Elements Interiors.

Kirsty Girl Features: Stamping Still & Desire Empire

I have been nominated for my first ever blog award!

By none other than my gorgeous Mummy! Yay! Thanks Mum. Haha. Apparently now I have to tell you 8 things about myself that you might not know. Scary!

1.  When I was a little girl I was obsessed with witches!

2.  Now that I’m a big girl I love mermaids!

3.  Cookie and Chicken, my two wonderful little sisters, are my best girlfriends.

4.  I taught my Mummy how to blog.

5.  For my birthday I am getting a mandolin off the beautiful Andi!

6.  Over the course of a very long time I plan to be able to skateboard and surf.

7.  Even though I want to, I know deep down I wouldn’t make a good mermaid because though I adore them, fish scare me.

8.  The average age people assume I am is 16.

Yay! All finished!

Now I have to nominate 8 bloggers to pass this lovely blog award to! So I nominate those who joined my first ever linky party! Which you can still link up to here.  Thank you! You’re all so very Stylish. I’ve also nominated a couple of favs!

CeCe's 20's Life
A Perfect Dose of Life
Journey Keeper
Beader Bubbe
Trails Net
Desire Empire
I'm Downtown
Proper Prim

Now on to the features!

Stamping Still

Stamping Still is my lovely Mummy’s blog! You should all go and check it out. She’s very crafty and talented at what she does. Here are some of her wonderful crafts:

Click on the pictures if you would like to see the post they were in.

 

Aren’t they gorgeous? Aside from just showcasing her cards, she also offers tutorials on different techniques and crafts. She is a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and loves her job.

If you get a chance please stop over and say hello at Stamping Still. You’ll be glad you did.


Desire Empire

For my next feature, I literally found this blog just this morning, as I was lucky enough for her to join my linky party, which is still open for entries here. 

Desire Empire, from Sydney, Australia, has been around for only 7 days! I’m so happy that I get to jump on the band wagon of this blog so early in it’s life! This blog is definitely destined to become a Queen in the blogging world. Go check it out!



I think this picture sums up my love for this blog perfectly! The gorgeous white jug, the vintage Coca-Cola tray and the hanging surf board, what more could you want?

Please join my linky party while it’s still open! You may be my next feature!


Linking up with: 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring, LambAround and Serenity Now.

The 1st Kirsty Girl Linky Party @ The Officer’s Quarters {Port Arthur}

Today I have something a little different for you! I have been toying with the idea of starting my own blog party for a while now and I finally perked up the courage to give it a try. So to reward me for my bravery you all better link up!

If all goes well over the next few weeks the Kirsty Girl linky party will be a weekly deal. Generally posted on an Australian Tuesday! That’s Monday for most of you! I wanted to start one earlier in the week in order for my party people to link up their first post of the week or something from the week before that needs some more love.

I know a lot of blogs out there do weekly highlights from their parties. But I wanted it to be a little more special. Let’s not say less generous, but it will be a rarer occasion to be featured at Kirsty Girl. I will only showcase things I fall absolutely in love with. And if deemed true love I may just make a new tab to show my collection of loves.

 
Please link up your latest post or one that you’re proud of that you think deserves more traffic! Of course other than the pure joy of being a social butterfly on the internet the wonderful thing about linky’s is getting more traffic and attention to your blog!

Of course in the style of linky parties everywhere, I ask you to pretty please include a link back to Kirsty Girl or add my button to your post or sidebar.

 

<a href="http://kirstygirl7.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Kirsty Girl" src="http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4386/picture358blogbutton.jpg" /></a>

The only rules I have as to the contents of your post; let it be clean and vegan (meaning absolutely NO hunting, recipe’s with animal content or fur). That’s right I want my party to be absolutely cruelty-free!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, these are some photos of the Officer’s Quarters in Port Arthur. Now get to linking and enjoy yourselves!

 
Of course you do not HAVE to visit others, I know we all lead ridiculously busy lives, but I give you my permission to take a break, get yourself a coffee (non-dairy obviously) and sit yourself down to enjoy the linky love!

Just a few notes:
Please link to the url of the post you want, not just your blog.
Please link back to me!
Please follow or subscribe (this is not a requirement but I would love it and it would make it easier for you to come back and link up again!)
By linking up you are permitting me to feature your blog
Please no spam or rebelling against the rules, I have the right to remove your link.

Linking up with: A Beach Cottage

Mason Cove {Port Arthur}

These photos are of Mason Cove, once again from the historic site of Port Arthur. I love these shots and how blue they are. I’m always amazed at what a little camera phone can do!

The peninsula was a naturally secure site, much like Alcatraz in that it was meant to be an inescapable prison. Of course, some got away but most who tried would have been caught and lashed.

One escape attempt was made by George “Billy” Hunt, who tried to disguise himself using a dead kangaroo… he gave himself up when the starved guards started shooting in need of a meal. Billy reportedly received 150 lashes. Ouch.


Of course this water was told to be shark infested, whether that was the case or not I’m sure it helped deter prisoners from trying to escape.


A little past this point to the left is The Isle of the Dead. Visitors can now get a short ferry ride and tour there. I’ve been twice. I think you can decide for yourself what the Isle of the Dead is.



This photo is a little blurry but I just had to include it because of the colour of the water. Isn’t it beautiful? This is very much how it looked the day Andi and I went. So pretty. Across the water you can see the ferry just leaving for the Isle of the Dead.

You can learn more about this at the 

Port Arthur historic (web)Site 

And here are my other posts on the subject, in case you missed them:

The Penitentiary

The Convict Church 

Linking up with: A Beach Cottage, Chic on a Shoestring, Serenity Now, 504 Main and LambAround 

The Convict Church {Port Arthur}

I have a sort of series to get through with you, on these Port Arthur photos. The different ruins throughout the site are amazing and a testament to the convicts that built them.


 
Built between 1836 and 37 the Convict Church overlooks the settlement and would accommodate over 1000. Because the Church was built for the convicts from many denominations to attend, it was never consecrated. Throughout the site at Port Arthur it is made very clear that the authorities worked hard to instil religion amongst it’s convicts.

Once again, these are just a few pictures of the beautiful structure that were taken on Andi’s camera phone and I have played around with. I hope you enjoy! Of course, if you’re interested, you can view the Port Arthur Historic (web)Site here. And you can view my last post on The Penitentiary here.

   Just a side note: Thanks to Holly @ 504 Main for the info, you can now view my mobile/tablet enhanced site on a mobile device near you!

Linking up with: LambAround