Thinking…. | 1000 Fields of Roses

The Scent Of Rain

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As I write, the rain is starting again.
The fresh scent of growth and newness rises from the already drenched soil.
It’s hard to believe that, not so long ago, we were burning – beautiful rainfall like this can make it hard to remember the heat and drought of just a few weeks ago.

This is the sort of weather I associate with February, even though I know it can also be among the hottest months of the year. I remember streets running with water, trying to navigate to work in near floods, and that musty wet smell that never seemed to quite dissipate.
I love rain! I love the grey skies, and the thundering of a downpour on the roof, followed by a cacophony of birds shouting their glee, and often the littlies across the road chattering excitedly as they splash about! 😀 The pot plants still alive are breathing a sigh of relief as well…
This was the sky yesterday.

Looks like it’s gearing up for that again – seems to be the forecast for a while.
I can catch the scent of fresh rain – time to come awake!

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on February 8, 2020 at 3:01 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bethel, Fall Afresh

A Corvid Companion

After such a big day yesterday I decided on a much quieter schedule today.
That included a morning at the library, where we all found our separate corners and got on with what we had to do.
I know I’ve said this before, but libraries are amazing! Obviously there’s books, and that would be enough to endear them to me forever 😉 There’s also DVDs, CDs, and various online resources you can access with your library card – your personal passport to imagination, knowledge and just plain fun!
Do you want to read a book, but can’t afford to buy it? Check your local library – often they’ll have it, or they can buy it for the shelves or order it from another library. As we have homeschooled for many years, it’s been an invaluable asset for us – just down the road and easily accessible. Libraries do seem to be downsizing, or even dying out, in a lot of places, though. To prevent that, we need to support our local libraries. Get your card, and get some books – you know you want to! 😀

The other reason we love to go to the library was the reason we went today. Sometimes being at home has its distractions when you want to study, or do any sort of intellectual or contemplative work. The library is generally quiet, and ours has free internet and lots of powerpoints to plug in wherever you need to. There are lots of carrels along the wall where you can set up and ignore everything around you. There are comfy chairs and sofas to laze around on and read, and there are big swivel chairs with wall-like sides facing the windows, where I whiled away the morning, blocking out the world behind me and concentrating on my List Of Things To Do. I found it soothing to be able to stare out at the rain whenever I wanted to…

This was my view – right in the corner, comfortable and secluded. I don’t know what that bird was. Some sort of corvid (crow or raven?) but it sat out there staring at me for quite a while.

I didn’t particularly need human companionship at the time, but I enjoyed sharing my contemplative space with a corvid friend…

We’ll be back.
Perhaps we’ll see you there!

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Thinking....

on February 5, 2020 at 10:01 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: libraries rock!

Walking Under Lowering Skies

…and still my heart felt light!

Another birthday today – it’s becoming a tradition for me to take a trip to the city, and round to New Farm, to revisit my younger days. The skies looked like this.

Rain threatened all day, but didn’t actually fall. The wind was strong (my hair still hasn’t recovered) and it was a bit chilly, especially since it’s been sweltering lately.

I loved it.

I went in on the train with my Babe this morning; he got off at Roma Street for his first day of classes, I stayed on till the Valley. Took a bus from there to New Farm, where I wandered for a bit before having some coffee and cake (Baci Torte) at the New Farm Deli.

Apparently I’m reserved.
Who knew?

They had a fire last year, so there’s been a lot of rebuilding. It’s all done and open for business, whether you want the cafe experience, or fine foods to take home. Fancy some cheese?

Or cured meats?

Or a variety of other foods…

From there I went to a green space in Brisbane that a couple of people have told me about – it’s free to visit and to sit and have your lunch, and there’s great views as well. I had a bit of trouble with the escalator going up – it’s a two floor journey, and the angle felt too steep and unending… there’s also a lift to get there. I didn’t have as much trouble coming down…

There were views of the river on one side

and St John’s Cathedral on the other side.

As it was so close I went to have a wander round. I couldn’t get photos that showed the windows, but I love the vaulted ceilings and arched stonework.

And here’s my God heart for today, on the steps as I was going in!

I pottered about after that until it was time to meet my Babe at Roma Street to take the train home again.
We stopped to get dinner and cake on the way home.

Yum!

It’s been a quiet night since then 🙂

I got myself some little bits and pieces as I roamed…

The two at the top are glass Christmas ornaments, and the little pink angel is fair trade, hand carved stone from the cathedral shop. The other is a hanging ornament called “Song of Joy” (the bit to the right is where she’s kicking her leg up as she dances).
Here she is hanging up next to my chair.

It’s been a good, but long, day.
Sleep, now…

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Thinking....

on February 4, 2020 at 10:17 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: hearts, Hobbs Park, New Farm Deli, St John's Cathedral

Waiting For The Day

…or – “The Flower Lady Strikes Again!” 😀
There’s a lady at church who hands out flowers every week – birthdays, anniversaries or when someone just needs cheering up. Some are planned (she must have a list of special days somewhere) and some are given to people she feels God is leading her to. It’s an amazing and important ministry!
Tomorrow is my birthday (yay!) so it was my turn this week. Sweet tiny roses, in beautiful pinks and oranges – just what I wanted ❤

Aren’t they lovely?

My Babe is out all day tomorrow, so he took me out for breakfast this morning at our favourite place.

Looking around the place this morning, it felt almost like I imagine a run down, but formerly genteel, stately house in a jungle would look like…

…with added fairy lights.

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Also hearts…and dragonflies!

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It’s nearly midnight now.
I’ll finish with a song we sang last night – went with a friend to a church service, where we were replenished and inspired.
I think I may take this as my birthday song! 🙂

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on February 3, 2020 at 11:56 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Hillsong, rafter and rose

Here You Come Again…

The new school year, that is!
It’s two days in, and things are going well – looks like Sweet Bean will be able to keep on top of the increased workload, and he seems optimistic about it.
I still haven’t figured out everyone’s schedules yet… there are things I want to do this year, but I have to work out where the gaps are to fit it all in.

I’ve been feeling better this week, and have been managing to get to the pool for some exercise in the mornings. There are fresh flowers blooming each day, like this cactus flower next door (it was a bit more exciting earlier in the morning – obviously doesn’t do well with the later day, or possibly the heat)

Lovely fragrant frangipanis – I collect the fallen flowers for the house.

I don’t know what these are. Somehow, they remind me of pincushions.

And, of course, my favourites!

😀

We’re off to a good start!

Here’s the title song… just because.

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on January 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: frente

Come On – Join The Band!

We were watching yesterday’s Spicks and Specks at lunch today, and one of the answers was a song I haven’t heard in years! It was under the heading “Concept Albums” and, as Myf said, it used to be on children’s television All The Time… if I’m remembering correctly, there was Sesame Street, Play School, then “Butterfly Ball”. I saw it so many times as a child – I remember enjoying it, and I’m pretty sure I wandered around the house singing it 🙂
I had to look it up after (and share with Sweet Bean). I felt like the years just fell away… not sure I quite realised back then just how weird it was, though 😉

I wasn’t planning to post today. We don’t really celebrate Australia Day in our house, partly because the years spent living overseas made it seem less important to me, and partly because of the “Change The Date” views. For the record, I have no issue with changing the date. If the day is just about celebrating the whole of the nation, and all the good things in it, then there can be no reason not to change it, and the hope of healing and reconciliation if we do.
Nevertheless, I thought that something along the lines of “Love is all” would be OK to post today.

Just to finish – here’s a thought on changing the date…

Ring the bell and let the people know!

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on January 26, 2020 at 10:07 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Butterfly Ball, Change The Date, Spicks and Specks

Pondering The Circle

Here’s a song that’s been going round Facebook (and presumably other social media?), and for good reason…
It’s a beautiful song, with a heartbreaking backstory, and touches the spirit as well as the tear ducts. I am old enough to be looking from both sides of the generational circle, and pondering the cycles of life… I could try to wax eloquent here, but I don’t think the song needs my commentary. We’ll all hear with our own histories.

For some reason that song reminds me of this song – even though it’s completely different, and joyful as well! If you need cheering up, have a listen, and enjoy the cheeky cameo 😀

Live life forwards,
mindfully,
cheekily 😉
and with joy and camaraderie!
❤

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on January 24, 2020 at 5:18 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: George Ezra, James Blunt

Books, Grass And Ants In The Easy Chair…

Yesterday we went to the big annual Lifeline Bookfest, which is still ongoing – finishes Monday 27th January at 6pm. Friday night goes until 9pm, and there are bands as well! There are $1, $2.50 and high quality sections, and games, DVDs and stationery are included in the mix. I got some books to add to various series I’m collecting, and some cool stationery items as well.

I didn’t really look at the high quality section, and only skimmed the $2.50 section. I had somewhere to be at 2pm, and it tends to become a bit of a blur when you look at every table – there are a lot of books! I’m happy with my small haul, though 😀

In other news… there’s been some lovely rain, although not as much as we’d like. Our yard has been unmowed for a while, so there’s been tufts of grass, but it wasn’t until I sat on the patio that I realised that I can no longer see the planting boxes…

The rain (actual or threatened) has also brought out the ants, and I’ve found them in unwanted places. That includes my comfy chair – it’s hard to relax when you get bitey ants randomly roaming through your clothes… I vacuumed everything I could find, but I think it’s just that our chairs are on the ants’ pathway. I haven’t had any so far this afternoon!

The birds are singing.
There’s a breath of air that feels like a possible storm.
I’m feeling comfortable in myself – and I’ve just had some (raw, organic) cheesecake.

This is the sort of summer I can cope with!

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Thinking....

on January 22, 2020 at 4:37 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Lifeline bookfest

A Change Coming

It’s been a big year so far…
Australia’s just been through fire, and it’s going into flood (at least in some areas). As I type, I can look out my window at the black clouds gathering. There’s a cool breeze blowing, and the birds are getting quite noisy out there!
We haven’t had as much rain in our neighbourhood as was promised, but it’s more than we’ve had in what seems like forever. There are still some fires in Queensland, but not the state of emergency that we’ve had… instead it’s flash flooding in some areas.
A land of droughts and flooding rains, indeed…

A change is coming, but what that change will bring remains to be seen.
We’ve seen the outpouring of giving, and of community, these last weeks. Here’s hoping that the spirit of generosity continues and grows – even when there’s no catastrophes in front of us. May we be willing to change our minds, and change our hearts, if it is necessary for the future to be brighter!

We went out for coffee this morning – I’ve been sick and weary most of this year so far, and Babe was disappointed with a series of projects that crashed at the last minute. The coffee date was meant to be a celebration of finally finishing everything. We decided to celebrate the morning and being together anyway…
It was lovely 🙂

What will I reflect this year, in feast or in famine?
Who knows?
I’ll just keep enjoying the coffee
…and looking for the light.

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Thinking....

on January 18, 2020 at 6:08 pm Leave a Comment

Following The Light

We’re well in to the new year (or at least it’s been over a week – feels like longer!). I’ve not been 100% well, but today was better – got a lot done (Yay)!
Went to the cafe early on. It was very busy, so we had to sit at a wooden bench. Not overly comfortable, but lovely light through the pot plants…

This was a sweet little pot 🙂

It feels like a good time to be chasing the light – whatever that means in practical terms!
I was sitting on the patio the other day, and a dragonfly was hovering around the garden.

We get a lot of them around our place. I tried to take a closer photo, but it kept taking off if I moved. It came back to the same stick, though… apparently a bare stick is a dragonfly’s favourite lookout for prey.
They’re beautiful, in all their different guises. We sometimes get bright blue or red ones, but this was a bright gold, glinting in the sun.
Dragonflies appear to symbolise various things, in many countries, but most often the symbolism revolves around life, change and transformation. Watching my visitor gave me a chance to contemplate the possible transformations in the year ahead…
Not a bad way to spend a morning!

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