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Wednesday, 27 May 2020

A week in winter

Hi everyone, the last few days have disappeared as we have been hunkering down away from the wild storms that have lashed our Western Australian coastline. Lucky for us we haven't sustained any damage around our property, though there was a very sleepless night on Sunday as I lay in bed and listened to everything rattling. We really need the rain, especially in the agricultural regions, and now that winter is on it's way it has suddenly turned cold, so the fire has been on every night.

So I don't know if it was that, or what, as we haven't had any "appointments" the last 3 days, but I forgot about my blog on Monday. So thought I'd better do something about it. 

In the meantime however, Covid cases in Western Australia have thankfully remain low, I have been starting to get out for some short walks which have been lovely, and playing around more with my eco printing. 

So here is this week's collage for my photo-a-day project -




 Monday - 18 May 2020 - we went down to the Balingup Tree Park for the day. It truly is beautiful this year with the colours of the autumn leaves from trees planted from around the world. 
I've blogged about it several times - last time was last year - Autumn colour in Western Australia

 Tuesday - 19 May 2020 - laying out some of those autumn leaves on paper for botanical eco-printing. This is Red Maple.


 Wednesday - 20 May 2020 - Tonight I did two zoom meetings, one a photography workshop and the other a catch up with my Spanish dancing group. It seems to be the new normal these days.


 Thursday - 21 May 2020 - beautiful red flowering gum tree on our afternoon walk.


 Friday - 22 May 2020 - playing with dyeing natural Eri silk thread with colours made from leaves, flowers and bark.


Saturday - 23 May 2020 - leaves of the Sea Urchin Hakea - Hakea petiolaris


 Sunday - 24 May 2020 - fresh quinces and granny smith apples bought from a grower from the Boyanup farmer's market.



Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
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Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Simple Pleasures

Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are doing ok. I am continuing my photo-a-day project, but this is a quick post from me today. Do you find you are enjoying, savouring, time out and appreciating the simple pleasures in life now you have the space in these social restricted times to see and enjoy things that have passed you by before as we rushed through our lives? 

I think this is the silver lining to the Covid nightmare - having the time to enjoy the simple pleasures, to appreciate the beauty around us and to just be in the moment. 

"Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment."
                                                                                         Buddha

 These are some of my simple pleasures this past week -
 Monday 11 May 2020-  The simple pleasure of enjoying the late afternoon sun in my lavender bed.


Tuesday 12 May 2020 -  The simple pleasure of going for a walk under the trees - something I am just getting back to since my ankle operation - only short walks, but so lovely to be out again


Wednesday 13 May 2020 - The simple pleasure of a brilliant sunset - even with powerlines! 


 Thursday 14 May 2020 - the simple pleasure of baking biscuits - the aroma in your kitchen and the taste is so much better than bought varieties!



 Friday 15 May 2020 - the simple pleasures of having time to sit and sketch and paint - continuing to explore making paints with leaves, flowers and bark. These are Marri eucalypt leaves and nuts.


 Saturday 16 May 2020 - the simple pleasures of sitting around a campfire at my son's block with our family and eating damper, stew and chocolate pudding cooked in camp ovens over the flames

Sunday 17 May 2020 - the simple pleasures of finding new eucalypt buds opening. 


I hope you and yours are safe and doing well, that you are ok economically, and that you are enjoying the simple pleasures in life.

Here in Western Australia, and Australia as a whole, numbers of new infections are very low, and they are starting to ease some of the restrictions. Some of our internal border controls within Western Australia have been relaxed and now 20 people can go to a restaurant or cafe, and 20 people can go to an exercise class. 

I have just finished reading Jackie French's "A Year in the Valley". You might remember Jackie from when I introduced her and wombats to you -  Wombling with Wombats - back in March. 

 This book takes us through the seasons at her home in a valley in eastern Australia along with stories about a collection of wild animals that visit - including lwombats, wallabies and lyre birds - the trials and joys of country living, and the produce of her garden and orchard - along with recipes. It really is a delightful read for anyone who has ever dreamed of living in their little corner of paradise in the country.

This paragraph in the last few pages of the book really rang home for me, particularly now - "A good life is made up of tiny luxuries. Matt's bread, eggs with yolks like darkened sunlight and jam that smells of fruit. Quietness and bird noises. Kids laughter, or just that sort of mutter when they decide to cuddle".  Jackie French. 
How are you enjoying simple pleasures? Perhaps you would like to share with us in your comments. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
at 18 comments:

Monday, 11 May 2020

Don't think you are alone

Hi everyone, how are you? I hope you and your families are ok. 

It was Mother's Day here on Sunday - was it for you too?  A little different this year as many families were not able to physically come together with their mothers due to social distancing and our internal border restrictions. People found innovative ways to connect. Evidently florists were sold out! Lucky for me, both my sons live close by, so we were able to enjoy a meal together.


In Australia our numbers of virus cases remains low, and next Monday some of the restrictions are being eased in the hopes of getting the economy moving again. I am hesitant for this to happen, and hope that cases will not rise as a result. Slowly slowly.

One of the sad things about the Virus is the increasing cases of domestic violence and suicide. I sadly lost a friend to suicide last year. It was a terrible shock. Judging by the hundreds who attended her funeral, she was much loved and respected by many. She was a person who was always smiling, always helping, always including others, and belonged to many groups. However below that shiny veneer there must have been a vulnerable soul. 

It was so sad and tragic that she didn't think there was anyone she could have rung in those moments before she made that fatal decision. 

A few years ago the son of a close friend nearly took his life, but at the last minute he rang his sister, who was beside him in minutes. He is now living a fulfilling life. I remember how helpless his parents felt, not knowing what he had been going through. 

 Suicide is not the answer. Think of those you are leaving behind. They wouldn't want you to take this path. There will always be someone who will help you. They might not be able to see what you are going through. You need to open up. Make that call. Reach out. Asking for help is not a weekness. There is strength in knowing, accepting and asking for help.
So my message today is:

Reach out - you don't have to feel alone - there is always someone who will help you.


Here is my Covid photo a day collage for this past week


Monday 4th May 2020 - a wild storm is brewing outside- a good time to just sit with a book and listen to music


Tuesday 5th May 2020 - the rain and wind hits - battering the garden and ripping apart the last of my rose blooms. It was an awful night as I lay in bed listening to the wind raging outside.


Wednesday 6th May 2020 - the ocean is wild after the storm. There are trees and branches down everywhere and many people have lost fences or parts of roofs. We were lucky and came out of it relatively unscathed.


Thursday 7th May 2020 - a silver lining to Covid restrictions and my bung ankle - I have started sketching again - I haven't done this for years. And I have been experimenting with making paints from leaves and flowers. Not botanically correct drawing and colours and I have a long way to go, but I am enjoying it.


 Friday 8th May 2020 - we went out to my son's small acreage and cleared up some trees that had fallen down in the storm. I sat and took photos and sketched in my sketch book.
These are Western Australian peppermint tree leaves. 


Saturday 9th May 2020 - Paella for dinner - not as good as made by my Spanish friend Mon who taught me to make paella, but delicious. 


Sunday 10th May 2020 - we had a picnic at Wellington Dam. The water is low, but winter will be here soon. A group of Splendid Wrens were flitting around our table looking for crumb. They move so quick I was thrilled to get this half decent shot. 


How has your week been? I hope you and your family are doing well. 

 Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

 Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
at 15 comments: