Facing The Fear

I don’t do Halloween.
Our neighbours do…

Yes, it’s not very clear – had to take it quickly because there were people walking around it and I don’t like to put random strangers (at least their faces) on here without permission.
That’s just one section of the yard – there’s lots more to see. And at least some of them are movement activated, so we’re getting strange sounds drifting across from time to time.

Skeletons don’t scare me, but I have been putting off carving my lino block for my next assessment.
I’m very good at procrastination.
Got started on it today and, as usual, it wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it would be. Not the design or design transfer anyway. The actual carving requires more energy than I had today, so I’ll continue tomorrow. Of course, it would all be easier if I didn’t take aeons to think about everything that could go wrong!
The block that I’m using is 40 years old, so it might not be as easy to use as these new-fangled lino blocks…

Yes, I have carved a bit more than that!

I think I’m so tired today because we were out yesterday (I pretty much came home to bed). Glad to be able to be out and about, though 🙂
We went to our favourite place.

🙂
Checked out the flowers before going in.

I don’t know what these are, but they look like tiny parrots.
Pink seemed to be the order of the day.

…and a welcome cup of hot chocolate.

I did find my own little monster for the windowsill.

A…dinochicken? Chickosaur?

Like I said earlier – I don’t do Halloween.
I do, however, do “silly”.

😀

Published in: on October 31, 2024 at 9:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Books On My Mind (And Money Too)

Today I don’t feel like I have a coherent theme, or possibly a coherent brain, so I’ll just round up some interesting things from my week…
I am continuing to feel better than I have in a while, but I have also managed to do something(?) to my neck/shoulder/both. Apparently this occurred because I did the very strenuous thing of…sitting on a chair.
No – not the action of sitting down on a chair.
Just…existing on a chair. 😆

Anyway.
Interesting things.

As I’m doing an art course, I am seeing different artworks, from different eras and styles.
This one came up yesterday.

This is called “The Librarian”, by Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
It was painted in 1566.

I think I may have looked similar to this lately.
I do love reading. And books. And libraries.
Currently, my library basket is full, with due dates coming up on some of the books.
The problem is – they keep getting new books! Which I then borrow because they look interesting!
And, added to that, I have also started trying to catch up with some of the books I own, but haven’t got around to reading yet.
It’s been a (personal) book week 😀

What else have I come across?
A live version of a classic Sesame Street song.

😆

I have no idea who these people are, or what they do when they’re not mimicking muppets.

Also, here’s the latest from one of my favourite artists.
I haven’t shared any of Ren‘s work on here so far, because there is some language used that may not go over too well with some readers…it’s not really gratuitous, and I think it’s worth hearing what he has to say. If you want to know more it’s probably a good idea to start off with Hi Ren, and maybe Sick Boi. Then have a look at more of his views on money, and move on from there...

You might want something pretty and light now.

My garden says hi!

Published in: on October 25, 2024 at 7:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Musing Into The Weekend

…before launching into the week ahead!

Published in: on October 19, 2024 at 9:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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.

Published in: on October 17, 2024 at 9:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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…

Published in: on October 9, 2024 at 7:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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!

Published in: on September 21, 2024 at 10:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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!

❤

Published in: on September 14, 2024 at 9:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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.


❤

Published in: on August 28, 2024 at 6:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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…

Published in: on August 24, 2024 at 10:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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.
❤

Published in: on August 15, 2024 at 9:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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