Sadly, not mine…
(maybe next week 🙂 )
Went on an unexpected jaunt to the bright lights of the city.
Saw people we knew, and went to see the tree.
Yay!
Merry (early) Christmas!
We got there while it was still light, and had a look at the newly opened complex at the other end of the mall.
Complete with giant baubles…
The sky was beautiful
Lots of wafty bits 🙂
And – just like that –
Christmas steadily approaches!
❤
I need to start my oil painting assignment soon.
There’s still time until it’s due, but I’ve never painted in oils before, so I don’t really know how long each layer takes to dry.
I don’t really know much about it at all…
It would probably be easier to start, and work things out as I go.
I tend to think everything out before physically doing anything…I think that helps me to get it all sorted in my mind, so that I know what I’m doing with my hands.
Well…I can only try.
My first attempt will be a pear.
This one.
A pear-trait, if you will. 😆
I just need to follow the instructions I’ve been given, and I will understand what to do.
Ap-pear-ently.
Yes, I have them!
Many, many books.
But sometimes I get books from the library, as well.
This is by a woman who has a bookshop in New Zealand. The stories are about dogs she has known, and also about her interactions as a youth worker.
I haven’t read much yet, but I’ve had a few sniffles so far…
I have also been fixing some of my blank and writing books.
I have discovered the joys of washi tape! 😆
Hopefully I can keep the covers from shedding too much.
Now I just have to write/draw in them…
At least, it was…
Thought I’d take advantage of the break in general raininess to go on an Artist Date.
It’s something I’ve not been too consistent with, but today, everything came together.
I started off at the library, finishing off a book I’d been reading, and looking through a magazine. I enjoyed taking my time, and felt rested.
It seemed like a good time to check out the gallery, which is showing an exhibition of abstract art at the moment. It’s called “Arriving Slowly“, which seemed appropriate for my day.
It looks better in person…still time to check it out!
There was a little side room, which contained some paintings – one of which was a Rothko.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in real life before.
For some reason, I didn’t expect it to be so big.
I had a look at the rest of the gallery, and came across a lovely Margaret Preston.
I believe I have seen her work before, but it was nice to come upon this unexpectedly.
This one is called “Wild Apple”.
Next, I went down to the Community Gallery, where they were showing an exhibition called “Terrain“, an exploration of landscapes through ceramics.
I believe these are all pieces by Rachel North, although I wasn’t sure I was reading the labelling correctly.
Go and have a look, and tell me if I got it right! 🙂
There were a variety of pieces, which didn’t really photograph well for me…
probably best to go and see for yourself.
I’ll end with this one, which I believe was made by Kirsti Falconer.
It was a refreshing day.
And something I should do more often…
Very, if you can trust my camera phone.
My pots have been inundated with rain, and seem to be ok with it.
Our house has had some inundation as well, but hopefully that’s been fixed.
And I finally got the towels (all the spares in the house!) that were used to mop up, and set aside (for a rainy day 😆 ) clean and drying…
My mini(ish) rose flowered.
And the plants in the back were enjoying their shower.
Frog garden?
Presumably, the unicorns are hiding…
Happy space 🙂
My bee-on-flower ornament fell over with the storms, so I moved it to another pot.
And my frangipanis are glorious!
It was a bit of a storm tonight…
no inhouse flooding for us, thankfully, but some hail.
The hail didn’t last for long. Just long enough to get the car as far under the overhang as possible, before the rain drowned it out! 😆
There was a spectacular lightning display out the bedroom windows as well.
So, we’ve been checking the windows for flooding most evenings this week, as the rest of the world flows around us.
Feels like there are storms all over the place, and at least half the world has lost their collective minds.
Feels like time for prayer.
And no, not “thoughts and prayers”.
More like the warrior kind…
and a time to not forget that joy is coming.
Or, if you’re not quite there yet, and need to remember that you’re seen –
I’ve been out this morning – a women’s get together at church. We were doing “faithbooking”, which is basically scrapbooking.
Lots of fun!
It wasn’t as hot as I’d expected, even while I was waiting outside for my ride home.
I took some photos of flowers, just because they were there.
And I’m sure the sky was smiling at me!
😀
It’s Saturday night – time for some music!
Ok, I can fit in another one…
Whether scraps or smiles
flowers or fuzzy clouds –
it’s been a good day!
🙂
I don’t like this summery version of spring…
felt a bit woozy in the heat today. Lots of water/cordial was had.
Well, at least I finished my lino print!
Not perfect, but I quite like it.
I plan to call it “Ya Reckon?”
…which is sort of how I’ve felt today. Lots of thoughts rolling around in my brain! It’s been a bit difficult to process the news lately.
I found comfort in my Bible reading this morning. Someone made an interesting choice!
Also enjoyed listening to songs I’ve loved in the past, and reflecting on the variety of music in this world.
But this morning I also realised that, no matter what happens in the world, I can still create beauty. I think that’s sort of my job 🙂
And I can continue to notice the little bits of good in each day, whatever the circumstances.
Life grows, even through the cracks in the concrete, the dirt, or the bitumen.
Time to create – to burn bright in the dark skies.
Still haven’t finished my print.
I have done quite a lot of it.
It’s me! 🙂
Only in one colour, though.
I finished the carving for this colour yesterday, and printed up proofs and the prints for the edition.
There are always things you don’t quite expect – this time around, the pin holding the roller in the holder fell out, and there were a few ink-where-it-shouldn’t-be mishaps.
Overall, it went well.
I was achy this morning, but had hoped to get the last bit done.
My back argued with me, after hours of bending over the lino block. And my (cutting) hand wasn’t best pleased either. I decided that the best results would come from leaving the final printing until next week…
The (mostly) final block – it’s only while I’m looking at it now that I see that one area needs a bit of fine tuning. I’ll need to cut some paper to mask the bigger areas, as well.
Why am I thankful?
Well, for one, right now I’m comfortable in bed with the fan on, and a cup of tea by my side. 😀
But also – even though I ache from using muscles harder than I’ve had to lately, I was still able to do it.
And that’s just wonderful!
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
1000 Fields of Roses 