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  

Fairy Lights & Colder Nights

Every time I go to Centrelink, I come out feeling demoralised.
Not sure who benefits by my waiting for 40 minutes, only to be told they can’t help me, and I either need to wait an hour or so to see someone who can, or come back another day.
Added to that, one of my assignments today was to draw a self-portrait.
Let me just say – if you’re getting older and have to do this…
Be Prepared.
…and possibly don’t sit in front of the window, in full (harsh) light.
I found bumps and wrinkles I never knew I had!

At least I was able to stop in at a charity shop, on my way to the bus.
Fairy lights!

I couldn’t decide between the dragonflies, or the butterflies.

So I got both!
As the nights get colder I can see myself sitting in my chair, huddled in my dressing gown and slippers, listening to music, and bathed in the light of tiny winged creatures.
Bring on the winter!

Published in: on July 11, 2024 at 11:46 pm  Leave a Comment  

On Clouds, And Keeping Perspective

Someone round here is growing some beautifully perfumed flowers.
I don’t know who or where.
I just know that I sat in my comfy chair yesterday, with the dark storm clouds keeping the world outside close, and the sweet aroma of invisible flowers billowing in to my sanctuary.
The earth gives beauty in unexpected ways…

Today, I spent a good amount of time working on an assessment.
I felt it was turning out well, and even inked some lines in.

Then I stood back to check it again.

I was supposed to be doing 3-point perspective.

This is 2-point perspective…

Oh, well.
I can still get a bit of perspective on it. 😆
It turned out OK, and I can submit it as a bonus drawing.

Back to the clouds! 🙂
I like grey days – they’re cosy and somehow gentler.
But, sometimes, the darkness of the clouds emphasises the other colours.

The greens were brighter yesterday.
And my perspective shifted to peace.
❤


Published in: on July 9, 2024 at 10:20 pm  Leave a Comment  

Moving On/In

Possibly an odd thing to say, since we’ve been here nearly a full year!
I realised, the other day, that I would probably benefit from moving some things around…
When we came here, there were a lot of bits and pieces put down wherever they seemed to fit, with the intention to rearrange them later.
I sort of forgot “later”.

Anyway – I moved some bits around in the art room, and it feels brighter now. The bookcase that was in the middle of the outside wall is now next to the other bookcase, which means the front windows aren’t blocked now 🙂
There’s still a lot to do, but I’ll potter about this week.

My new configuration.
…and some sweet purply flowers for the lounge room, in a tiny bud vase.

I don’t know what they are.
To me, they’re “the-purple-flowers-that-pop-up-by-the-washing-line”.
They also go to sleep in the evening. You can see them drooping here.
They’ll be fast asleep now.
And so should I!

Published in: on July 6, 2024 at 11:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
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