and…
Grape Expectations
The last few weeks have seen changes in schedules, various appointments…
time for a late morning and good reading!
I’ve been doing well lately. Early starts are still not my favourite, but doable.
I think things caught up with me a bit today, though.
Still, I feel like I’m more able to plan ahead.
Yesterday we did our fruit and veg shopping, where I decided to try out these MASSIVE grapes.
(disco version)
They’re sweet. And a meal in themselves.
My garden experiments are doing well.
Seedlings from the lime seeds I planted a few weeks ago.
The sage plant, which was just a tiny sprig when I picked it from the garden at church.
A month (?) or two (? can’t remember exactly…) in a glass of water, to help it throw out roots, and it’s obviously very happy!
I finally got my hair cut.
My last (professional) cut was before Christmas 2024. It was very short then.
I decided to keep the length as much as possible. I have one, sometimes two, side ringlets that turn up when my hair gets long. The hairdresser complimented me on my “waves”, and also my “natural” colour (in other words – silver. 😀 ) She also thought I was in my 40s, so that cheered my day!
Next week will be busy, so I will conserve energy where I can.
Read.
Rest.
Listen to music.
For some reason, this has been on my mind lately…
Not sure why…
Cooling Down
…at least, it should be.
Where did autumn go?
I was enjoying chilly toes and comfy rooms at midday.
Then we were up in the 30s again – just as our air conditioner decided to give up, and trip the fuses all along the back of the house.
That’s been sorted, but only by disabling the faulty air conditioner.
At least the nights have been cooler 🙂
And there seems to be autumn weather on the horizon (again).
Hopefully, it will all be fixed soon. Just in time to need the heat settings!
Here is the song I’ve been playing on repeat the last few days.
Nothing to do with air conditioners.
I just like it…
Actually Tuesday
I was talking to someone this morning – we had to remind ourselves that it was not Monday.
It’s a bit like that after every long weekend.
I have finished the last of my Easter eggs, and tried out some bunny bao buns (filled with veges in hoisin sauce).
Hungry bunnies! 😀
And so, the week spins back into normality, and there is work to be done.
But not without stopping to see the unexpected rainbows on the wall!
(Here is the culprit…)
❤
And the song that comes to mind…
Rocks (All Over The World)
I have recently read a book about rocks – how they are formed, what they are made of, what their significance is in their environments…
Amongst my various collections is a sizeable hoard of rocks.
Some are polished, bought from bowls of multicoloured stones.
A large portion are those I have picked up from beaches, neighbourhood walks, or random driveways.
There are some that are reminders of my years in England – mostly found on beaches, although I am not sure now which beaches…
I don’t know what their origin stories are.
What they’re made of, or how they got to where I found them.
Just that they caught my eye.
All different materials, wildly different colours (the speckly round one at the front shows up as pink/green/bluish grey when wet) – all beautiful.
Some others 😀
The big flat black one is vaguely Australia-shaped, although hard to see here.
When we think of rock, we think of something that is durable. Long lasting, sitting in the landscape, regardless of what the world of humans is doing.
And although it is shaped and polished by the weather, rock does tend to move to a longer timeline than we do.
Easter is nearly here.
The world is furiously turning. Burning. Never standing still.
And I am glad that we can place our feet on the eternal Rock, to Whom we can run when the mountains shake.
❤
Appreciating Order
Once again, I had plans for today…and then ended up doing something completely different.
Not that I mind, really. I’ve finally got around to sorting through my stored clothes, and weeding out the excess.
Some things I won’t miss much.
Others are pieces of clothing that I’ve held on to for far too long.
It’s probably time to realise that I will never be 25 again!
I’ve kept things that haven’t fit in decades, just because they hold memories.
Soon they’ll be off to grace someone else’s wardrobe 😀
I like order.
My surroundings are often not orderly.
Then I have a clear out, and revel in tidy surfaces and organised items.
Or sit and stare at annoying piles of stuff, hoping they’ll sort themselves out…
depends on the day.
My garden gets out of hand when I’m not looking, but even then my succulents keep on growing in their own orderly way. I took time out after watering today to enjoy them.
❤
A cluster, with a tiny water droplet.
And this one, which can’t seem to decide which colour to be…
It’s been a tiring day.
But I am happy at how it eventually arranged itself!
❤
Dressing For A Purpose
It’s been a resting kind of day.
Yesterday, I had an appointment in Brisbane.
With trains, transfers, and walking, it was a nearly four hour round trip. All for a ten minute meeting that could have been done on the phone.
Enjoyed the travelling, though.
Today was OK first thing in the morning, but the tiredness caught up with me.
Rested. Read. Drank coffee (and tea).
This was part of my reading the other day –
“Your strength, God, is the king’s strength.
Helped, he’s hollering Hosannas.
You gave him exactly what he wanted;
you didn’t hold back.
You filled his arms with gifts;
you gave him a right royal welcome.
He wanted a good life; you gave it to him,
and then made it a long life as a bonus.
You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud,
then dressed him in rainbow colours.
You pile blessings on him;
you make him glad when you smile.
Is it any wonder the king loves God?
that he’s sticking with the Best?”
– Psalm 21:1-7 (MSG)
There are the clothes that we put on every day.
And there are the clothes we are given when we need them.
Long journeys? Strength needed?
Seems I’m dressed for whatever the day brings!
❤
All The Colour In The Mess
I went to a Women’s Creative Day at church this afternoon.
There were three tables to choose from – I chose painting.
We had a canvas board, paints and brushes, and painted what we felt God was giving us to create…
I had something I was going to do – right up until I picked up my pencil to sketch. Then it changed, and I ended up with lots of bright colours.
Paint palettes can be serendipitously beautiful 🙂
Generally, I will sketch an idea.
Think about it a bit.
Sketch a bit more.
More thinking…
Sometimes, I even start painting.
Today, it was a “slap some paint on the canvas” sort of day – not that I didn’t do some sort of planning. I tried to do the best I could with what I had (I forgot my “other” glasses, so it was a bit of a blur 😆 ) And I only dipped the paintbrush in my coffee once!
Gloriously messy, bright, and fun 😀
It’s helpful to let loose sometimes. I like to be more precise, but that can easily veer into perfectionism, which then translates to procrastination.
My painting is not finished.
But it’s certainly started!
It’s taking shape. Exuberant. Needs some more light, I think.
I will be happy for today, and work on it tomorrow.
A bit like life, really.
❤
Also – we saw a steam train today.
Yay!
1000 Fields of Roses 