Waratah

Today we were at Tullycavan labouring to rebuild a retaining wall. As I barrowed soil to a pile I glanced at the waratah and though it has passed its best, its elegance amongst the foliage is still bright. 

Names for the Sea

I just enjoyed Names for the Sea by Sarah Moss. The book brought up so much stuff about cultural expectation and differences set in a landscape and environment that is itself a striking difference. She brings an enjoyment, curiosity and openness to the task of living with her family in another culture and teaching there. As she digs deeper into the history and culture to grow her understanding my appreciation of Iceland was enlarged and enriched. A really good book.

A delight in stencils

 'To the studio today after some time in the garden. The thought captures my mind that asymmetric stencils have worked for me, perhaps other sorts will help as well and so I begin to cut and to paint. For the moment delight tickles my heart, but I can see more to do.

It's a lovely feeling

Yesterday I took myself back to painting. The under-painting was made using up paint that I'd mixed up for another painting. So I placed my shapes and worked on the colour. I had a feeling comfort to be dealing with decisions that have such potential to lead me to delight.

Just Finished Reading

I've just finished reading this book by Michael Katakis. There is something about the timbre of the writing that appeals to me. A certain sadness about the world as we live in it, but a delight at being alive. For me a sadness about a life that seems to meander around without a spiritual centre to place any hope in. For myself Jesus sacrificial self giving love provides a focus and a hope that the quotidian is much more than it seems at first glance. 

Watercolour

On holidays with watercolour and I'm discovering its delights.

The Effect of WInd, (don't read this to avoid boredom)

A little obsession of mine has been infecting me. I like the idea of natural movement in a scene to create interest and today's high winds gave me something to photograph.

The Need For My to Have Something to Do

On holidays with time a more malleable entity I can find myself in a position of long ago. What do I do next? Read or write or draw or surf the internet, which I feel is the equivalent of staring blankly into space often, but as I write this I see it has its own value. So I think I'll read and perhaps try to engage other senses, such as listening to environmental sounds and engaging my sense of smell. To approach time in a meditive way.

Bike Tracks

It's holidays for us and today we did some riding on bike tracks on Philip Island. First around Churchill Island and then through some bush and wetland reserves. I find something wonderful about riding these tracks. No cars removes a latent tension and the speed of travel is, I think, right. The drawback compared to walking is that I need to make a conscious decision to stop for an image that draws me. I delight in the sensations of the experience.

 The next day or so we rode the Great Southern Bike Trail we rode, but I had 2 flat tyres and had to hitch a lift back to Leongatha to collect the car to collect the bikes. 

 The bike trail had an interruption that we didn't expect, but I'd already had a flat tyre and it turned quickly into 2 so we turned back.

 Once there was lots and timber and trestle bridges were everywhere.

Just Before the rain

I had to start the pump after fixing the line. As I walked down to the water hole the threatened rain began. Hiding in the pump house till the rain finished would have meant an interminable wait and pumps don't sound so good. So back through the rain checking for leaks.

At Play

Watching TV and keeping my hands busy and finding that I've lost the plot of the show.