Snuggled In The Corner Chair

It was probably only a few days ago when the days decided to tip over into winter.
It’s been SO COLD!!
Comparatively.
And really, only in the mornings. Late afternoons. Nights.

I like this time of year. It’s sort of crispy clear, and good for snuggling in to warm duvets, and unicorn slippers. I even did a bit of a “spring” makeover – washed the sheets, which dried quickly in the breezy cold.

A beautiful sight!

I chose the blue skies duvet cover for me, to remember the hot sunshine by.

I have also (finally) been using my art room – something I hadn’t been able to get together in the last couple of places we’ve lived in.

My desk.
Where I’m actually doing some work!

And here’s my corner(ish) chair, snuggled in its little spot, and so far still warm during the day. It’s for reading, and writing (definitely no ‘rithmetic!)
I hadn’t realised there was so much colour around it…

Rainbows, and hearts, and toes about to become toasty warm!

I am tired right now – it was a big day of cleaning and washing – but I feel like I’ve been able to do more lately. Even though I lose energy over the day, it feels like I’m starting from a higher point. It’s lovely to be able to actually do something!
Having a bit more strength in the day is great, and there are times when I feel like a child again.

Not quite to this level of activity, though.
Everything else in the song is possible 🙂

This world may be crazy.
But it is beautiful.
❤

Published in: on June 8, 2024 at 10:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Thinking Of Thankfulness

Mothers’ Day again!
My sweet boys are a lot older than the kids in this video, but I’m still thankful every day to be their Mum.
They’re still the funny, weird, wonderful beans they always were.
❤

Published in: on May 14, 2023 at 12:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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Freckles And Wildflowers

So, Betty White died the other day.
I mostly remember her from The Golden Girls, and from her internet presence over these later years. She seemed like someone who it would have been fun to know, a role model for living (and aging) joyously. As I’ve read a couple of times lately – it says something about your life and legacy that you could die at 99 years of age and people are still saying it was too soon…
If I look at her age, and others who are in their mid to late 90s, I can literally think of myself as middle aged! It’s a time of life when you start to ponder your own mortality, though – especially when your health is not great. I’ve been reading an anthology of Mary Oliver‘s poems, and it has been interesting to read some of what she was writing when she was around my age. The two anthologies written around the age I am now are “Dream Work” and “House of Light“; they each contain one of her more well known poems. Maybe getting closer to death triggers a greater introspection; maybe it’s because there are often big life changes in these years. Or maybe some people are just more naturally thinkers…

I want this year to count, and I am aware that I have less time to do that with each passing day. Probably a good idea to get on with things then! 😀

Here is a song that I enjoyed listening to. It does come across a bit as focusing on those who have health and families to enjoy in their old age, but the sentiment is still applicable to those who are struggling with brokenness. Yes, you are still beautiful, and you can still learn how to be settled in your own skin!
May your path this year be paved with wildflowers, and your heart be soothed by oceans ❤

Published in: on January 3, 2022 at 10:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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All Is Calm

…and peace has come!

Published in: on December 25, 2020 at 6:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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Pausing The Adventure

Last day of this school year for Sweet Bean.
He’s happy! It’s been a hard year for him in a lot of ways. Time to stop for a bit and breathe more freely…
This is (I think) our 13th year of home schooling. There’s one more to go, and then the grand adventure will move further out still, at least for Sweet Bean. Both boys are pretty much adults now, and I’m so proud of them both!
❤

Time to pause, and rest.
Soon it will be time to run forward again…

Published in: on November 26, 2020 at 6:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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August Storm, Appearing

This afternoon a storm came up unexpectedly – at least I didn’t expect it! I was reading on the patio in intermittent sun when suddenly the day seemed to drop into darkness. I looked up into deep grey clouds rolling in fast, closely followed by thunder and rain.
Here’s a snippet 🙂

This whole year has felt a bit like that…
Fires, pandemic isolation, not to mention all the individual challenges we’ve each had to face so far. Sometimes it all gets a bit overwhelming, and the storm descends while we’re still unprepared.
I’ve noticed the songs YouTube recommends to me often have a “let’s get through this” theme lately. We’re all walking into each day, wondering what will happen. The creative people of the world are sharing those thoughts in song.
We’re prone to being taken unawares by the eccentricities of nature, whether flood, fire or global health crisis. For all the great strides science and medicine have made in the last century or so (and I’m grateful for what’s available!) we seem to forget that we don’t completely control this world – and sooner or later we have to come to terms with that.
I believe that God holds my life in His hands, and that helps when everything is uncertain. It doesn’t guarantee a life free from challenge or pain, but it does provide help and comfort when the clouds descend…

“My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.”
– Psalm 73:26

Published in: on August 15, 2020 at 9:39 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Holding Out My Hands

For my boys…

Published in: on May 12, 2019 at 9:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Real

Today is Good Friday, a day to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
We have no trouble visualising the “Jesus as God” part of the equation – there are so many paintings across the ages that give an ethereal depiction – but we sometimes find it harder to remember the human side of Jesus. He was fully God, but also fully Man, able to identify with us and reconcile us to God. He is not remote – He knows our weaknesses, and has compassion for our frailties.
I came across this song recently, and thought it was a reminder of the man Jesus – the one who had a real, flesh and blood body, who lived a real life and took on real suffering for us, bled real blood for us, who had a real mother he loved as a son.
Real pain.
Real blood.
Real love.

For us.

Perhaps we gloss over the real story because it’s easier to distance ourselves; to not have to engage our emotions or think about what it really means for us.
If tradition is right, both about Mary’s age when Jesus was born, and Jesus’ age at his crucifixion, I am now about the same age she would have been when she watched her little boy die, in blood and pain.
I don’t know how I could have handled that. But it makes it seem more real. And it compels a response, one way or another.

 

Published in: on March 30, 2018 at 9:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Catching Up…

…with assignments, with my spirit, with other things…

Isn’t it a beautiful day today? It’s grey and gloomy and cool, and I have been revisiting songs that I love. There’s still a lot to do, but I’ll get there.

I do like rainy days. They’re quieter. And softer. If you’re feeling a bit too gloomy, though, here’s some colour 🙂

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Yes, they’re real, although I don’t know how they got the colour in there – I would think it’s something to do with dye and split stems…

The end of the year is coming, and all the “have to” deadlines seem to be hammering on the door. I got some hours done last weekend for my course. It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it might be, and I got to meet wonderful people – even had a cuppa together on the last day. One of the things I miss with online study is input and encouragement, given and received, in actual classrooms. I got some of that last weekend, and it was invigorating… hasn’t yet translated into actually finishing work (but there’s still time!) 😀
The Sunday was all about case-taking, which I felt I’d already done by the time I got in. I sat down on the train, which was mostly deserted, and inadvertently caught the eye of an old bloke sitting three seats away. He started talking and didn’t stop until we got to Roma Street. I could tell you his life story… He was on his way to Dreamworld last week, but seems to have had quite an interesting life. People are, on the whole, lovely. And quirky, surprising, and fun.

Yesterday I didn’t make it to church, but I watched some stuff on TV/DVD, and sat on the patio listening to God songs. Sometimes you just have to stop and breathe.
Went to the markets at church Saturday night. My regular chauffeur wasn’t available (he was in Brisbane with Sweet Bean for a seminar) so I took the bus – more walking than I’m used to, but fun. Got a stack of Christmas shopping done, and got to try gluten free doughnuts (yay!). Lovely, but why does gluten free often also mean extra sugar (and oil, in this case)? Glad I could try one, though – I had “Paris Time” flavour – lavender, pistachio and vanilla bean.

What else have I been up to? Went to a cafe a couple of weeks ago…

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And it was in a book shop! What more could you want?

Went for a walk yesterday and came across a garage sale. There were two tables of freebies, and I got a stack of sale stuff for $5, including a body pillow and case. Took it home and put it through the wash, came out good as new.

Still grey outside. Here’s a sunny day flower…

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…and a hopeful song.

 

Published in: on December 4, 2017 at 3:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Breathe, And Be Still…

The holidays have started – for Sweet Bean, anyway. He finished up with a Sports day at his Community Homeschool day on Thursday. I think it’s the first sports day he’s ever been to – he won ribbons – excitement! 🙂 After a shaky start to the term he ended up accomplishing more than he thought he could, as well as getting a good report.

As for me, I finally got to do a couple more of my clinic practice days (I was unable to get there last time). Not only did I pass both days (while enjoying them as well), I managed the travelling, even though I had to walk from the station to the college and carry all I needed for the day. That’s the first time in a long time I’ve managed long days away from home and the strength needed to get there and back! I’ve taken it easy for the last two days…
There’s more work to be done, so I don’t get two weeks holiday. I’m feeling more confident, though.

Here’s a couple of songs I’ve been enjoying lately. Have a listen (and click through to YouTube to hear some more…)

Published in: on June 24, 2017 at 10:16 pm  Leave a Comment  
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