Where Have I Been?

Round and about, really.
I hadn’t realised I’d been gone so long – nearly a month!
Well.
Hello! 😀
I’m enjoying the new season. These chilly nights feel languid yet full of possibilities…I’m not sure why. Some sort of sense memory lingering underneath the now…

These last two weeks have galloped by. I had to have a minor procedure up at the hospital two Mondays ago. I had thought I’d be OK fairly soon after, but it took a bit longer, and then I apparently caught a bug from one of my boys. They’re so generous! 😆
I’ve also been settling into doing a year long course at TAFE (online). It’s run through a uni in Central Queensland, and one of the preliminary tasks involved safety procedures on campus – even though I’m doing my studies online, I can still visit the campus if I happen to be passing through.
You can tell it’s a Queensland campus. One of the first topics cautioned us against annoying the kangaroos on the campus grounds, closely followed by what to do if you find a snake – in or out of the buildings. There’s even a dedicated number to ring.

Apart from that – I finally got the clock up.
It even keeps good time.

There was a rose on the bush at the back yesterday, clinging on to the remnants of summer.
The hibiscus bush seems to be exploding at the moment. They’re very vibrant.

And somehow frilly…

I have enjoyed cups of hot chocolate.

And a muffin or two!

Orange and poppyseed – a treat from my Babe, when I still wasn’t up to going out.

Yesterday I caught the bus (just up the road) to get some stuff 🙂 It’s the first time in a long while I’ve been out by myself! Had a good long look at the charity shops, and treated myself to some purchases, like a pedestal trinket bowl, to balance my pet crayfish on.

Also – books.
Lots of books.
😀

Nearly time for a new week to begin.
Lots to do!

Published in: on May 10, 2024 at 9:15 pm  Leave a Comment  

Glimpsing The Sunshine

I was surprised to see the sun today, since the forecast had been talking about rain over the week ahead, and we’ve had downpours here lately.
I love grey days, especially when they’re just on the comfortable side of cool. I often feel a bit more energetic on those days – not sure whether it’s the “grey” or the “cool” that helps…
Still, nice to see blue skies today!

I just finished a book about sunshine.

It was written earlier in the pandemic, when people were still trying to comprehend the “new normal”. It’s a compilation of stories about people making sunshine out of life’s storms…that sounds very airy-fairy, but it’s really about those people standing in their grey cloud realities and looking for the light. You can’t just wish tragedies away, or wish the good stuff in. You can stand where you are, and find where the cracks let the light in. Or let someone close to you see them, if you just can’t get there ❤
One thing that runs through the stories is the kindness of others. That’s something that we saw during lockdowns, and have experienced at other times in our lives.
Light will always overcome darkness.

Also, clouds come in different sizes, and shades.

Look for the blue sky.
Reach for the light!

Tonight I found out that a friend had died, earlier on in the year.
We only knew each other online, and there were many others in our group who knew him better.
Still, we had various interactions, and he sent me two books that are still in my bookcases. I will get them out to look through again tomorrow.
This song came my way tonight, and I thought it fitting for this post.

I don’t think that his life was “troubled”, as such, but a long life lived kindly and openly will have pain and trouble in it. And then – rest…for someone who spread ripples of love, and shone light where the clouds had formed.

Published in: on April 6, 2024 at 9:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Turn The Seasons

Seems like we’ve turned the corner into autumn.
I’m enjoying the feeling of being pleasantly chilly! The rain seems entrenched for a bit, and I can give the air conditioner a rest for a while.
We’ve had some interesting visitors with the rain.

He stayed for a while, but disappeared in the night…
My roses are lingering, but their best days are past. We seem to have a hibiscus in the garden, though!

I associate them with summer, but Google tells me they actually flower in spring and autumn.

I have been working out how to organise a cert 3 online. I have managed to enrol, but it seems to be up to me to decide what subjects I do, and when. What happened to the days when you enrolled in a course and the educational facility told you what your timetable was? I feel like trying to work out what I’m actually doing has been more work than I’m anticipating the course itself will be!

I will be studying visual art. I did an Advanced Diploma of Art somewhere around 35 years ago, and I’m expecting this to be much less involved. The tools and methods of creative processes have changed in a lot of ways over that time, so I’m hoping to learn more computer based skills this time around.
It’s all been dredging up previous creative endeavours, and thinking about ways to merge then-me into now-me in an authentic way. We’ll see what happens.
One of the things I’ve done in the past is ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), small works of art (2.5 x 3.5 inches) that were originally meant to be traded between artists. They’re often themed, and one theme I did a series on led me to this song, which I’d half forgotten.

I listened to it a lot back then, but I don’t remember seeing this video before I looked up the song recently.
I can’t remember the exact theme of the ATC series – something like “heavenly bodies” – but I used the stars motif for mine.
Well, once again it’s looking back before going forward.
Who knows what will be this time next year?

Published in: on March 26, 2024 at 12:12 am  Leave a Comment  
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Bugs, Mugs, And Handfuls Of Paper

We’ve done our voting – went down yesterday to the pre-polling place.
Been a bit off colour lately, and having to run the gauntlet of random people shoving paper in our faces wasn’t helpful. Biggest Boy found it difficult as well, so we both just put our head down and strode on through…
Maybe there’s a case for having a sensory friendly entry point for elections? There was a lane roped off for people leaving – maybe one on the other side for those who just want to get in and out? By the time we get there we’ve already done our research and made our choices. Does anyone really wait till they’re in line for the ballot box? The crumpled, discarded wads of paper left behind in the boxes seem to suggest not.

Well, we got there in the end.
To cheer me up afterwards, I decided to spend some of my birthday money, since it’s been waiting around for me to find something nice.
My big mug, the one I normally use, has been annoying me lately. The design on it wore off ages ago (no, it wasn’t “dishwasher proof”). I bought some ceramic paint to repaint it, advertised as dishwasher proof (Reader, it was not…). What I ended up with was a nicely sized cup, with purple globs in odd spaces.
Not the look I was going for.

And so – I went to Trottie Becke in the mall and treated myself to a new mug 🙂

Dragonflies, and bugs, and flowers – and a sweet little ladybug inside!

Here it is in its natural habitat.

😀

Published in: on March 14, 2024 at 11:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Here For…

Just taking a break from a strenuous programme of watching YouTube and episodes of Death In Paradise 😆
Seriously…I’ve had a good day of catching up with transcribing notes, and revisiting the concepts from the lessons they came from. It’s taking time, but is also inspiring.
I’ve been thinking about the “faces” we wear, and the importance of finding why we are here, in this life, in this place. I was watching a cover of a song from Barbie (the recent movie) – the original is hauntingly lovely/sad, but I thought I’d share this one. If you haven’t seen the movie, there’s a theme here of authenticity – of being “real”.

We all spend some amount of time finding out what we’re made for. Some work it out while they’re still young. Some never get there.
I think most of us get there at some point…but sometimes, when things change – we’re off again, trying to find our place in the world, and our people. It’s the question everyone’s asking, even if they don’t know it.

I’ve never been big on makeup.
There was a brief time in my life where I was an Avon lady. I had a lot of samples, and tried all of them out. It never looked quite right, and I’ve always hated the feel of it on my face. I found a more natural range, which felt quite nice, but still looked odd to me. In the end, I couldn’t really be bothered…my face is mine, and it’s good enough for me 🙂
There are a lot of boxes in the world – ones that people are supposed to fit into, and then stay in forever. By the time we’re in school, and often before, we’ve been put in a box somewhere. It’s generally one we haven’t chosen, and it’s hard to get out.
I don’t feel like I’ve fitted in any of the boxes I’ve seen. Maybe there’s room to make a box? One with open doors and transparent sides…flowers and colours and perfumes and songs!
After all my years, I’m happy with myself. Not perfect, of course. Still a weirdo to other people. But “me”, as much as me can be. I still have a lot to learn and grow into – that’s a lifelong thing, really – but I’m learning what I’m here for.
I hope you are too.

And here’s another song, for when people tell you you “can’t”.

Find your music.
I know it’s there.
❤

Published in: on March 9, 2024 at 11:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Couple Of Cacti And A Clear Path

We’ve had a tree by the front steps since we’ve been here.
It was quite majestic, towering against the front of the house, but partly blocking the concrete path.
It was also full of toxic sap. If you believe the online reviews, it also had a tendency to fight back when you break the branches. As it was right there by the steps (and front door) we’d already had a couple of people reach out to touch it when they visited.
It’s gone now, and the area seems a lot bigger. The little ex-garden under the steps will need sorting out, but we now have a path that we can use to get to the car when it’s raining, rather than trying not to get drenched by wet grass.


I hadn’t realised what was there, hidden and waiting. I could see the hanging basket and the concrete(?) birdbath/succulent planter, which both need to be replanted. But there are also two little potted cacti, just waiting to be brought back into the light!

And a little metal guardian 🙂

My “life” path for this year seems to be getting clearer as well.
There are still some things to be decided, and organised, but I’m feeling more optimistic.
And to keep the good mood going, I’ll have another listen to this cheerfulness…

Published in: on March 2, 2024 at 10:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Sleeping In

Well, it’s been the weather for it…
There seem to be signs of the autumn to come (some nice rain here), but how can it still be so muggy, even though the temperature’s dropped?
It’s been a week of fatigue – not sure why – but I still feel like I should be doing something. Even when my body’s saying, “Please don’t!” But I did have a day of reading today, and didn’t even feel guilty 🙂
The week started off with a scan. Just a check up sort of thing, but the department I had to go to is now in the process of packing up to move, and the only available appointment was a few hours after I phoned.
It was a nuclear scan, so I had to breathe in argon gas, and get some other radioactive tracer injected.

Sadly, I have yet to exhibit any superpowers.

On the plus side, I haven’t been called in by the doctor, so everything seems to be good.
I had to stretch my arms above my head to keep them out of the way of the camera thingy (it rotates around the bed), so that caused aches in more places than I would have expected…
The machine reminded me of the shuttlecraft from the original Star Trek.

You can just see a lifting trolley thingy at the back there. Somehow, I don’t think it would be much use with the scanner!

Today started with an involuntary sleep in. Probably the grey raininess, but I didn’t realise how late it was.
A friend came over to help my Babe cut down the firestick tree by the front steps. If you’ve visited us in this house, you can now be reassured of safety from the possible threat of toxic sap. Or tripping over the branches that were growing through the steps.

I’m content right now, with the day, and my part in it.
Maybe sleep will be earlier, and then the waking…
the rain will come, or it will disappear.
And the roses will die –
but not before capturing the last of the raindrops.

And if you need to feel a sort of nostalgic sadness to match the rain, here’s a song I’ve been listening to this week…

❤

Published in: on February 24, 2024 at 11:20 pm  Leave a Comment  
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An Angel On My Side(Table)

It’s so good to be able to enjoy a day without overheating!
I’ve still had the fan on, but today has felt like a taste of…not quite winter. Maybe autumn? My toes are a little bit chilly at the moment 🙂
This week coming, I start my course for the year. I’ve been writing out notes from the last year I was on the course (2021), and trying to keep my hand from cramping up.
Although I wrote up the majority of my notes at the time, there are still a lot to go. It’s easy to feel a bit guilty for leaving them for so long, but I’m also finding that I’m getting more out of them with the gap than I might have got at the time. It’s at least been quite interesting, and ignited my curiosity for what’s to come in the year ahead.

The weather has made my garden a bit straggly. I’ve left the flowers where they are, for the most part, but still get the nice ones inside where I can appreciate them.

It won’t be long before they’re too bedraggled to display, I think.

As for that angel in the title…
My Babe found a little angel in a vintage shop that he thought I might like.
It wasn’t even a birthday present – just a “me” present ❤
Here she is!

Not exactly on my side table – more my chest of drawers 😀
She’ll eventually go to the glass display case downstairs, but I’ll enjoy her up here for a while.
She’s the Angel of Freedom.
Something to look forward to this year!

(and just in case you need to smile…)

Published in: on February 10, 2024 at 10:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Searching Out Sparkles

I’ll be 55 tomorrow.
My first presents came courtesy of a lovely friend ❤

A hedgehog!
(It says it’s a raccoon, but I see a hedgehog 🙂 )

It came wrapped in a scarf. It’s been a bit hot to wear scarves, so I’ve draped it over my chair so I can just look at it…


Then my Mum gave me some things (and books…)

A bracelet (I got the necklace today).

Two wooden vases (silky oak and camphor wood), with feathers to display in them.

In other years I’ve spent my birthday combing through the charity shops for shiny, sparkly, colourful things. And books, of course. I like to go further afield, which has often meant closer to Brisbane.
This year I haven’t felt up to much in the way of travel, but I still wanted to go somewhere different.
So – off we went this morning to Rosewood, where I had a good look around.
I found books, and some clothing. And some pretty things.

Behold – the sparkles! 🙂

A shiny heart!

Just a reminder…

A couple of pots, and a word for the year.

A mug to take if I travel to Hobbiton.

Some more “indoor flowers”, and a use for the lustre pot in the earlier photo (I already had the incense sticks).

Shiny!

I don’t suppose I’ll feel much different tomorrow morning.
But I know there’s always room for sparkles!

Published in: on February 3, 2024 at 10:43 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Catching The Heat

What a week!
Monday was so hot, I felt like I might spontaneously combust. I eventually put the air conditioner on, but first tried to cool down with an ice pack. It worked OK for a while, but you know it’s hot when the ice cubes in your ice pack feel like they’re simmering on the way to boiling…
Thankfully, it’s been cooler on other days, although still not comfortable from time to time.
My week has been up and down in other ways as well…
Another visit to the government-department-which-shall-not-be named, after a highly frustrating appointment at an affiliated department, where the “help” seems to come in the form of saying they can’t help with questions, while also maintaining that they have answered those questions. I did eventually find a human (two, actually!) who took me through the process I should be following now, so that helped a lot.
I feel like I have more direction (I tend to need things explained to me in steps to take), although I have also come out of this week feeling a fair bit older.

What’s been good?
I have a new bedside table 🙂
It’s colourful, and large enough to hold all sorts of things.

…with lovely, although mismatched, drawer handles.

The drawers stick a bit, but I think I’m getting used to them.

With the heat the way it’s been, my roses have looked a bit sad.
I have lots of different flowers inside, though.

🙂
It’s Australia Day here, although we don’t tend to do much different in our house.
I’m not going to stray into controversy in this post.
Except to say – I think it’s quite possible to want to “change the day” and still be Australian.
And also, to listen to this song.

Published in: on January 26, 2024 at 11:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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