Saturday dreaming

Relaxing on a Saturday makes me feel like a princess. A little sleep in, a trip to the gym with a friend, a Jarlsberg cheese and prosciutto panini from the European deli to say 'good work for getting through the pain', a large coffee, some drawing and painting, coffee later with friends, the arts section of the newspaper...



As I was drawing and painting this morning I watched a feature on the ABCs Message Stick about the new website '12 Canoes' which is a selection of "twelve video pieces that provide a visual portrait of the history, culture and environment of the Yolngu people of the Arafura swamp of north-central Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory".

In the video called 'Seasons', the Yolngu narrator notes that the people know when the oysters are ready because of the blooming of a particular flower. He states:

"The seasons are not about the passing of time. They are about how things work together. Everything is part of everything".

I thought it was beautiful. The world does work in mysterious ways and yes, I believe everything is connected. I will show my students these videos and there is even an education kit as a PDF file.

Happy changing of the seasons to you.

More of Autumn

Autumn Seasons Shelf...

I was lucky enough to visit two wonderful girlfriends yesterday and to spend quality time with their children also. Both beautiful souls and their kidlets inspired me to create my own seasons shelf. I don't have room in my house (otherwise known as the shoebox) for that special little corner so I used the windowsill. On my windowsill sits all the things that remind me of Autumn...

Dried flowers and feathers in miniature jars...

Dried leaves and my little dandelion print...

Little gnomes and elves, wooden pencils, ceramic birds, a hand-painted wooden Easter egg, and one of my oil paintings. I will keep collecting to add to my Autumn Seasons Shelf.

...

Today, as I parked my car in the local council carpark, I noticed a lovely big lemony smell - like the smell of pure essential oils. Then, as I turned the corner there was a huge lemon teatree bush. This made my day. Why buy cut flowers when I can fill my house with the heady fresh smell of lemon tea-tree? Bliss!

The frangipani is slowly dropping its foliage. Shady in summer and bare in winter, letting through much needed sun. What a perfect tree for me.

The owl and the gnome sit at the entrance to my house, keeping an eye out.

How are the seasons treating you?

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