…before launching into the week ahead!
The Tiny Spark
Yesterday was a very big day for me.
Most days I stay home; some days I go out, but not generally for long, and not far from home.
It was my Babe’s birthday on Monday, but I couldn’t get a booking for his birthday surprise before yesterday. By surprise, I mean that I didn’t tell him where we were going until we got in the car, and he still had to wait until we got there to see what was happening. 😀
We went to the Planetarium to see the show. Last year was 50 years since “Dark Side of the Moon” was released, and they’d put together a planet/space/moon/light show to complement the full album.
Yes, it was spectacular!
It was also further from home than I’ve been lately…
We’d already been out in the morning, and we were out in the evening as well. Three events in one day!
…and today I’ve been feeling good too 🙂
I had some prayer the other night, for specific areas of my health. In the days since I have seen big improvements – it feels a bit strange. There are other things to pray for, but it feels like that first small spark that can turn into a flame.
There are things to do and places to be!
I have been noticing the “tiny” in my environment lately, whether it’s the fragrant white flowers in our hedge, with their bright little berries,
the nameless (to me) weeds flourishing in the grass,
or the rosebuds waking up to the sun,
they are all living their lives to their proper rhythm.
Some will quietly exist, and then fade away.
Some will open out into scented beauty.
I still have a spark to fan into flame.
…and I think you do too.
What I Know
Had another pain episode this evening. Put a bit of a crimp in my plans.
Fortunately, there is always music.
And new artists to find…
Joy Crashed In
Got the sheets washed, duvets clean and aired, ready for spring to make its mind up and stay.
Or summer.
Whatever.
The last few days have been pain days, but I’ve still managed a lot more than I thought I would.
Watched lessons and zoom calls.
Maybe even understood most of them! 😆
I keep the laptop off on Sundays (except, very rarely, if there’s a deadline I need to meet), so I try to catch up by Saturday night.
Rest (and recharge) time tomorrow – yay!
I have refreshed my memory of beauty encountered on our getaway last weekend…
Fresh flowers by the bed 🙂
This giant on the patio!
A wealth of patterns, and textures, and shadows…
My studies have shown me interesting things.
…like the building blocks of creativity.
And I’ve been listening to music, to let the joy in…
I’ve had the lyric video for this on the blog already, but here’s the people version…
Rainbows and sunflowers!
(Of course, in my head, I will always hear Kermit ❤ )
This one came out of left field, but it’s something to think about.
May joy be unconfined!
Remembering Priorities
Well, winter came back for a visit.
It’s still not quite as cold as it could be, but my toes are gently freezing…yesterday the wind was so strong that I didn’t even consider putting the washing on the line. I had visions of our clothes winging their way to the river, and beyond!
The asparagus has sprung up again, and is ensuring that we don’t have to buy any for a while.
It seems the wildlife is also finding its way to the garden – I surprised a snake in our yard today, just next to our back path. It was only about a couple of feet long, so mid-size, I guess… they can move fast, can’t they? Don’t know what sort it was, but I thought I’d stay out of its way.
We’re off on our anniversary jaunt tomorrow, or at least an overnight stay not too far away.
It’s been many years of winters, washing, and anniversaries. Not so many snakes, though. 😀
But, it can be easy to let things slide, and take all the good stuff for granted.
Time to take stock again, and remember what’s important.
We’ve had our moments over the years.
But we’re still here 🙂 🙂 And there are a lot more years to come!
❤
Gondolas On My Mind
I was dreading the advent of the hot weather this week.
I did have trouble yesterday – maybe hanging the washing in the sun (without a hat) wasn’t the best choice – but today has been on the right side of sunshine.
I’ve spent the first part of this week mulling over life, and living. A great evening service on Sunday night, and an inspiring Zoom call last night, have got me fired up for…something. Not sure of specifics yet! But I’ve been taking my time, and thinking through, and reading some books I’ve had waiting for a while.
The Sisterchicks book is one I bought a few months ago. The book series involves women (friends) coming to some sort of crossroads in life, and working out where God wants them to go next. They always involve travel 🙂 This one is set in Venice. The two women are middle-aged, and looking back on their lives, in order to go forward.
I thought I could relate.
The other book is one I’ve had for thirty years, but haven’t really used yet.I originally got it to put prayer requests in, and there are a couple in there – both long answered ❤ I’ve started writing in it now – I keep it with my daily devotional/writing books.
There’s no publishing date in it, but Google tells me it was published in 1870, and my copy has a newspaper clipping in it from 1869. I found it in a little second-hand bookshop in St Mary’s, Southampton (on the 10th May, 1994). And the preface is by J.C.Ryle, which I hadn’t noticed before now…
I feel like it’s been a good week so far!
I spent most of the afternoon in my cosy chair in the art room, with the windows open, an incense stick burning, and looking through papers while listening to old CDs.
Well, that’s a blast from the past!
Makes me feel young again 🙂
Also –
It also reminds me that I’ve been around for a while.
The sun is setting.
In the grand scheme of things, I don’t have too many years left.
Just enough to bring beauty,
add colour,
and let incense rise.
❤
Alien With A Camera
What’s happening?!
It’s not even officially spring yet and we’re looking at summer temperatures next week!
It’s like winter took a peek round the door, then slammed it shut and took off running…
Thankfully it was cool enough to do the cleaning during the week for our inspection. Apparently we’re good tenants. 🙂
When we moved here I thought I could keep most surfaces clear, and reduce the need for dusting. Nearly a year on, I have a variety of clutter. I still don’t need to dust as much as at other places we’ve lived, but I did for the inspection. I have a tiny duster to flick over my bits and bobs, but some things are still too small, and have to be dusted by hand.
I don’t know where she came from, but I do know she topples easily off the shelf.
I also didn’t realise she had freckles until I looked at this photo.
My boys collect Lego minifigures, which come in packets, so you don’t know what you’ve got until you open it. This means you can get doubles. I got one from Biggest Boy the other day – an alien tourist.
Sometimes I feel like an alien in this world.
And I do like taking photos.
So – a photo by an “alien”, of an alien taking photos.
Why not? 😀
…and, speaking of aliens…
It’s A New Day!
Well, it was this morning.
As it is, of course, every morning.
Each day starts new, and has 24 hours of potential in it…
I’ve been taking notes from lessons, each somewhere around two hours long.
I know I should summarise, just write down the good stuff. The trouble is – it’s all good stuff!
In the end, it was a good thing I had caught up on my notes (although there’s aways more to come). Today was a low energy day. I read for a bit, watched stuff for a bit. Got feedback for my first two assessments – all good!
It’s a new day for my favourite band (group?) as well – a new member, to replace an amazing singer, who is going on to do solo work.
I have to admit, I was apprehensive about what the new sound would be like.
Seems there was no reason to worry…
The new guy is the lead in this song.
His name is Adam. If you’re wondering about the “2 Adams 2 Many” sign – this is a five person group, and three of them are called Adam…
It’s good when something is better than you thought it would be.
Even if it’s a day that otherwise didn’t go the way that was expected.
🙂
And for days when there isn’t a happy new song waiting, I have my collection of cheery sayings!
There’s always night –
but there’s also always a dawn.
❤
Just Looking In…
I don’t usually post on a Monday. Weekends tend to be busy, so I don’t do too much the next day.
Today, I’m feeling good. Two deadlines met, so I thought I’d stroll through YouTube.
And saw this again 😀
Rainbows! Unicorns! (and robots…)
Just right for Monday.
I’ve never played the game it’s referring to, but I know the song. I used to listen to Erasure years ago – still have a couple of CDs somewhere. And this clip seems to have been filmed during the pandemic years, a time when all sorts of strange and wonderful things were created…
I hope you’ve had a good Monday.
But if not – have some unicorns!
Why Is Cold Pink? (And A New PC)
…or at least, a laptop. Which is new to me.
🙂
These are the things that have been on my mind lately.
I was able to get myself an updated laptop on Monday (yay!) and have spent the week getting used to it.
Transferring all my bookmarks wasn’t as hard as the last time I had to set up a new laptop (sometime in the dark ages) but there are still niggles to work out.
While playing with my superior power and speed (at least online) I have also been feeling the chill. It’s getting wintery! And that means the sky in the evening is that cold, bright pink.
You can almost feel the shivers…
I also seem to be working out night mode on my phone camera.
Somehow, still pink.
My evening view 🙂
I’m still happy with life.
Even when my mood’s a bit down.
I think I’ve lived through enough to know that good is always there, waiting, on the other side of… bleh.
And I have happy things to look at when I’m grey.
Squishmallow whale says hello!
❤
And, if in need of a remedy…
1000 Fields of Roses 