My Life, As I Know It

It’s pretty good, really…
I had a productive day today. Did some stuff I hadn’t got to before.
Some days aren’t quite as smooth – I had a bout with pain the other night, something that tends to come roaring out of nowhere, and smashes my schedules.
Generally, it doesn’t stay long, but I tend to be quite tired the next day or two.
This was day two.
Suddenly – Energy! Ability!
What to do when I wake up and feel capable?

ALL THE THINGS!!
At least until my body goes, “Nope.”

But at least I got stuff done 🙂

Well – life as I know it.
Pretty good.
Just sometimes a lot slower than at other times…

Published in: on October 11, 2024 at 10:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
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What I Know

Had another pain episode this evening. Put a bit of a crimp in my plans.
Fortunately, there is always music.
And new artists to find…

Published in: on October 9, 2024 at 7:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Before The Rain

It’s been pouring out there for a bit.
Seems to have tapered off now.

I knew the rain was coming – there were warnings all over the place. Up until just over an hour ago, it still looked fine…
I did a big load of laundry yesterday, anticipating a few days of storms.
Also noticed a tiny nasturtium, popping up in the front garden. I don’t know where it came from – I haven’t planted any, and there hasn’t been any since we’ve been here.
It’s one of the plants I’ve been thinking about putting in, though.
And, suddenly – here it is!

A bright spot of colour, in amongst the mulch and the weeds…
Here’s a profile 😀

Yesterday was taken up with various tasks, so I didn’t get around to photographing the flora.
Today I thought I’d better do so before the storms set in.
Including some dandelion close-ups!

Published in: on October 8, 2024 at 5:04 pm  Leave a Comment  

Colouring My Day

I don’t know why I still take longer to do things than I think I will.
It’s not so much the time taken, but that I still underestimate the time I’ll need…

I’ve finally stopped procrastinating and done some more work towards my assessments.
I quite like the results, although the results don’t often turn out exactly the same as what’s in my mind. I tend to just start and see where it goes 😀

I’ve got some more writing to do tonight, and then I can stop for tomorrow.
Here are my latest creations!

I had to design two repeating patterns (this is the first one), and then present it on an item.
No, I don’t actually have this book – the site has mock-ups that you can design and download, and one of the options is to have your design “in context”.
I like this one – might even buy the book…
The roses are from my photos (of roses from my garden, and a couple from elsewhere).

The second one turned out ok.
Once again, from my photos – this one a series of photos of a glass flower dangly thing I’ve had for a while.

Again – not my wall, not my house.

This one was finished today.
The instruction was to “use colour”.

…which I did.
(but – is it the right colour??)
😆

Time to carry on with the rest of what I’ve got to finish today.
And remind myself tomorrow to see the colour in my world!

Published in: on October 5, 2024 at 8:40 pm  Leave a Comment  

Rain Likely

At least, that’s what the weather app has been saying!
We washed the duvets last week, and put them away, but it looks like I might have to have a blanket on standby…

I’m writing this on a new (to me) laptop – it’s not been that long since I upgraded the old one, but that laptop had issues, even after the faulty part was replaced with a brand new one. I took it back to the place I bought it (they sell second hand with one year’s warranty), and they gave me this one as a replacement. It’s worth substantially more, and works beautifully.
It also fits in a big, padded pencil case (for extra padding if travelling), which was too small for both the previous laptops.

I like the rain.
I also like the cooler weather.
Not sure how long it will last – the forecast is a bit up and down.
But my roses have started blooming – just in time for rain!

’tis the first rose of…spring?
Hopefully it won’t be left blooming alone for much longer.

Published in: on September 27, 2024 at 11:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Taking A Drive…

…just to have a walk.
Yes, I know.
A bit weird.

I had somewhere to be around 7ish this morning, so I went with my Babe to a nearby park before that.
He’s been stepping up his exercise regime, so I had a go too.
I got once round the (basketball?) courts!

Then I just enjoyed the view.

Been a bit weird this week. More than normal, anyway.
Still, there’s always room for oddities.
I might even go for a walk again, another day.
Who knows what could happen in this great, wild world?
😀

Published in: on September 25, 2024 at 11:18 pm  Leave a Comment  

Joy Crashed In

Got the sheets washed, duvets clean and aired, ready for spring to make its mind up and stay.
Or summer.
Whatever.

The last few days have been pain days, but I’ve still managed a lot more than I thought I would.
Watched lessons and zoom calls.
Maybe even understood most of them! 😆
I keep the laptop off on Sundays (except, very rarely, if there’s a deadline I need to meet), so I try to catch up by Saturday night.
Rest (and recharge) time tomorrow – yay!

I have refreshed my memory of beauty encountered on our getaway last weekend…

Fresh flowers by the bed 🙂

This giant on the patio!

A wealth of patterns, and textures, and shadows…

My studies have shown me interesting things.

…like the building blocks of creativity.

And I’ve been listening to music, to let the joy in…

I’ve had the lyric video for this on the blog already, but here’s the people version…
Rainbows and sunflowers!
(Of course, in my head, I will always hear Kermit ❤ )

This one came out of left field, but it’s something to think about.

May joy be unconfined!

Published in: on September 21, 2024 at 10:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Pearl Of A Weekend

Yesterday was our 30th (Pearl) anniversary.
Where did the time go?!

My Mum made us a photo framed with pearls.

I remember those youngsters!

We got back today from an overnight stay in the country.

Our room – the kitchen is behind on the left, and the bathroom on the right.
The price includes fresh bacon, and eggs from the onsite chooks, for breakfast.
It was a peaceful place, and we had a lovely time walking around the garden, sitting with a pot of tea enjoying the view, or talking over crackers with pate and a glass of wine.
Yes, we do know how to party!

A bit more of the view –

We reminisced about the years gone by, and talked about plans for the years to come.
It’s fairly common for us to take time to sit and talk, but there’s something about a cuppa tea on a wooden verandah, with mountains in the distance, that just takes it a bit above the ordinary…

We had hoped to see the stars last night, but it was too cloudy.
We caught the sunset, though!

Published in: on September 16, 2024 at 11:58 pm  Comments (1)  
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Remembering Priorities

Well, winter came back for a visit.
It’s still not quite as cold as it could be, but my toes are gently freezing…yesterday the wind was so strong that I didn’t even consider putting the washing on the line. I had visions of our clothes winging their way to the river, and beyond!
The asparagus has sprung up again, and is ensuring that we don’t have to buy any for a while.
It seems the wildlife is also finding its way to the garden – I surprised a snake in our yard today, just next to our back path. It was only about a couple of feet long, so mid-size, I guess… they can move fast, can’t they? Don’t know what sort it was, but I thought I’d stay out of its way.

We’re off on our anniversary jaunt tomorrow, or at least an overnight stay not too far away.
It’s been many years of winters, washing, and anniversaries. Not so many snakes, though. 😀
But, it can be easy to let things slide, and take all the good stuff for granted.
Time to take stock again, and remember what’s important.
We’ve had our moments over the years.
But we’re still here 🙂 🙂 And there are a lot more years to come!

Published in: on September 14, 2024 at 9:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Loving The Serenity

Finally, the rain came!
My weather app was promising full on rain most of the day, but we didn’t get that until not long ago, and then, not for long.

Here’s a bit of colour, if you want a break from the grey!

🙂

It’s pleasantly cool, and peaceful in my little nook.
I’ve had a “Positive Vibes” incense stick burning, and have been meandering through time.
This morning I started a book – a memoir of time spent in Venice in the summer of 1957, apparently a transition time between the days of the “Grand Tour” and the advent of the package tour.

I spent a small part of the summer of 1994 in Venice. It’s one of the places I would have liked to see again, and to see better. My summer was firmly in the time of package tours, although I wandered round Europe on my own.
Sometimes I think about writing my memoirs of my travels. They wouldn’t be as glamorous as the book I’m reading – no taking care of titled children in the palazzo, rubbing shoulders with the elite! More stumbling around in my big boots and Tyrolean hat, trying not to collapse in the heat…
I want to remember what I can, though,
while I can still remember it.
My travel style was a bit chaotic – turning up to places and finding hostels when I got there, finding interesting nooks and crannies, but probably missing any number of tourist landmarks. This was long before you could look up your itinerary online. I’m sure I would be more prepared if I were to go again.

But, if I close my eyes, I can just hear the sound of the canals, the gondolas (and other water craft) clunking against the docks, the sound of many voices and languages… I can still, faintly, feel the heat radiating fom ancient stone.
And, just for a second, feel the serenity.

Published in: on September 12, 2024 at 5:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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