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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Gardening, Basil, And A 50c Fare

It’s been a good week.
I think most days now are easier for me. I’ve certainly been able to do more.
That can sometimes mean that some days are “getting-over-the-busy” days, where things just need to…stop, at least for a time. Today was a bit like that.

But – we have a new, tidy garden under the stairs.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the mini “Johnny Jump Up” violas will do.

I also have some windowsill herbs.

Basil..

…and some parsley. Apparently it’s Japanese. Not sure why.

Yesterday I had an early appointment, so I thought I’d stay in town and wander. I spent some time in the library, gathering notes for an upcoming essay. Like a real student 😆

A table all to myself!

I was able to take advantage of the new 50c fares for my trip home. They even seem to be keeping the follow on (free) trip if you catch a bus less than an hour after the previous one.

Today has been quiet, but still a catch up day.
And a reminder that there’s always time to stop and admire the flowers along the way…

Published in: on August 10, 2024 at 11:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

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!

Published in: on August 5, 2024 at 9:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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!
❤

– my rainbows proliferate!

And, if in need of a remedy…


Published in: on August 2, 2024 at 10:49 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Loving The Everyday Every Day

Been feeling better lately ❤
Very late (early?) to bed last night, though… but – got my first two assessments in!
Yay! 😀

I got up late this morning, and it’s been a lazy sort of a day.
I still did my weekly cleaning (it is still Saturday!), but I felt free of deadlines today.
I’m finding it so much easier to get things done here.
There’s an element of improving health, and also this place being a place to rest, and smell the roses.
At least when they’re in season…
This afternoon I spent some time just listening to the different birds outside my window. They were singing up a (metaphorical) storm!
I soaked in a bath, with epsom salts.
And I tackled a wordy, but interesting, book.

Even the everyday has joy, and colour.

And, if everyday things can still surprise us –

Why not a typewriter concerto?
Although typewriters are no longer “everyday”.

Or, if you could do with a better day –

❤

Published in: on July 27, 2024 at 11:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Honey Cake For Breakfast

Every fortnight we go out for coffee and cake – taking time away from the house, and talking about life as well…
This week I was also going to have a look for a laptop (this one is a bit past its use by date).

Tuesday night I had trouble sleeping, and had some sort of intermittent fever thing going on.
So – no coffee date. And no laptop 😦
But my Babe went out to get us some cake to have at home!

I had a honey cake.
Sweet!
❤

…and then drifted in and out of sleep for the rest of the day.
I’m pretty much OK now – just a bit of floaty weirdness going on.
And laptop shopping to schedule for next week!
🙂

Published in: on July 25, 2024 at 10:46 pm  Leave a Comment  

Rainbows, Roses, And A Good Cup Of Tea

It’s been clear, cold, and windy lately.

Sparkly!

Good to get the washing dry, but I’ve been using extra pegs – don’t want to see my clothes winging past the kitchen window, on their way to better places 😆
Still finalising the first of my assessments. I feel like I’ve been saying that for ages, but at least the drawings are done. Just waiting on some feedback from the teacher so I can finish the question part. I thought I was getting close to the due date, but it turns out that’s in just under a month…
Today has been a more relaxed day than I had anticipated.
After the cleaning, shopping, and washing.
I sat out in my comfy chair, catching up on reading, and listening to the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
I almost felt young again!
Had a long chat with the rest of the family, as the sun faded, and sent rainbows onto the wall.

…and the pink sky welcomed the moon.

Good night, Moon 🙂

On our grocery shopping rounds this morning, I treated myself to some rose jam.
Decided to have an “English inspired” dinner – rose jam with butter on toasted white (GF) bread, and a cup of nice, strong, milky tea.

Watching some things, a bit of music –
and so, to bed.
❤

Published in: on July 20, 2024 at 10:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Walking Further Down The Road

It’s been a busy day…
Centrelink this morning, but at least I got things sorted!
Walked down to the town, browsed the charity shops.

Saw some neon flowers along the way (no, I don’t know why they glow in photos…)

Sat in the library for a bit, read some magazines – I haven’t done that for a while 🙂
Then, a bit of shopping, and home on the bus.
I didn’t do the drawing I had planned to do, but I have finished most of the ones for my first two subjects.
Finalised the self portrait, and did a line portrait of my Babe.

It’s our 30th Anniversary in a couple of months.
Maybe these could be official portraits? 😆

Well, another day over, and the sun goes down again behind glowing pink curtains.


It’s been a good day for a walk 🙂

Published in: on July 16, 2024 at 10:55 pm  Leave a Comment  
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