The World's First Ever Siting Of A Flying Dog. On New Zealand's East Cape...

It happened a few days ago at Opotiki Beach on New Zealand's famous East Cape.
Not a lot happens generally in Opotiki but this siting of this Flying Dog has certainly put it on the world stage or should that be runway.
Hamilton based biomedical student Megan Whiteley thought she was seeing things as she snapped this little dog with enormous wings.
It was all an amazing trick of perspective she says. The dog was obsessed with chasing seagulls and I zoomed in as it ran up to a sitting bird. I managed to fluke a perfectly timed photo just as the bird took off.
It's all in the timing.
The Flying Tortoise is due to touch down on the East Cape in the next few weeks...

Meet The Big Maroon. A Beautiful Mobile Home Atop A 1949 Federal Farmtruck...

John purchased this 1949 Federal flatbed farmtruck in 1971 for the princely sum of $125.
He's done a lot of work on this beautiful old truck since then.
There's more about what he's been up to here.
The Big Maroon is one very stylish old timer...

Jimmy's Got Plenty Of Nothing. He's A Lucky Man...

I met up with Jimmy Randell a few days ago at Reids Farm near Taupo.
Jimmy's a lucky man. Having plenty of nothing.
You know how the song goes. I've got plenty of nothing and nothing's plenty for me...
All Jimmy possesses is a horse called Angel, a tiny tent he calls home and now, a little book called How To Live Well On A Small Income that he keeps in his back pocket.
Everything he needs and nothing he doesn't.
Jimmy delights in owning so little, he's aware the less he has the freer he is and here's a man who revels in his freedom.
Apart from looking after his horse, having nothing means he doesn't have to maintain it, clean it, fix it, lend it, insure it, spend his precious time going to work to earn the money to buy it.
Jimmy's a lucky man.
He's got plenty of nothing...

Christopher And Merete's Tiny Rustic Home On Wheels In Denver Colorado...

Inspired by Tiny Home Blog, Tumbleweed, Lloyd Kahn's Shelter Publications, Deek's Relaxshacks, Tiny House Living, Tiny House Swoon, Tiny Tack House and all the others offering wonderful ideas and advice, Christopher and Merete took up the challenge of designing and building their very own tiny home.
And now, a hundred miles southwest of Denver and fifteen minutes down a gravel road just outside Hartsel their cosy, efficient and mortgage free 127 square foot house is their delightful little home on wheels.
There's more good stuff about it here.
I especially like the look of all that rustic wood and the solar panel array on wheels, a brilliant and proven idea to track the sun and get the optimum energy from the panels.
Congratulations Chris and Merete.
You had the dream and turned it into reality...

Keith Haring's 32,000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle For Masochists Who Don't Live In Tiny Homes...

If you love doing jigsaws and think you're up to the challenge, then have a look at Keith Haring's 32,256 piece jigsaw puzzle Double Retrospect.
I found it over at Boing Boing.
It's not a jigsaw for people living in tiny homes.
You'll need a floor area or a table that's at least seventeen feet long and six feet wide.
The puzzle comes with it's own hand trolley which is good because it weighs 42 pounds.
What it doesn't come with is psychiatric counselling so you're on your own.
Good luck...

Hi-Speed Images Of Orchid Blossom Paint Splashes By Swiss Based Photographer Fabian Oefner...

You may recall I posted some other amazing images here of paint filled balloons popping by Fabian Oefner.
Here he is again, this time the Switzerland based photographer has filled a tank with layers of coloured paint and then dropped a sphere shaped object into the tank.
Wonderful simple and bold images aren't they...

A Simple Stone And Driftwood Teepee With Stunning Sea Views In New Zealand's Nelson Region...

Many folk build all sorts of 'inhabitable' shelters along the coastline of New Zealand but one creative soul has been working hard to construct this wonderful driftwood and stone teepee on the appropriately named Boulder Bank near Nelson. 
Driftwood poles for are used for the main structural supports and framing and carefully placed stones complete the lovely organic exterior cladding.
The interior is described as minimalist.
And well ventilated...