Meditation

Walking or running for me is like a form of meditation, our Big Dog gives me an excuse to get outside and walk or run and I pretty much follow one or other of a couple of tracks every day. What I find inspiring is being able to observe the same scene day by day as it unfolds, in effect a slowed down, back to front version of those speeded up films that show a flower opening, or traffic in a city condensed down from a 24 hour period.


Today I could see that the blossom on the wild peach trees had finally burst open, the cows had muddied the walking track into a luge down to the beach,  and yes there were even ripples at Ripple Bay!


We had been asked to make suggestions to the school's physical environment and as I walked it became clear as crystal that the school and the children are missing a community garden where they can plant, pick, sow, eat, cook, learn about compost and all those things that connect us so tightly to the natural world. My walk/meditation having solved the pressing issue of the day, I came home and had a virtuous coffee!




There are some great innovations like this one here so the next job will be working out how to realise the actuality of a school garden, and making a plan.

 Happy weekend, Blue x

Intrepid Journeys

After a light downpour this morning the outside world looked so clean and shiny. Perfect for a walk through the nearby gum trees and bush. I wasn't the only one venturing out.

I met two hens taking their clutch of new chicks down to the river. I stopped to chat with the mums and admire their offspring. They came very close hoping I had something tasty for them (sorry girls - next time). 

 

Further into my journey I watched the Tuis calling to each other from the tree tops, the Wax Eyes dining on monkey apples and the Fantails hunting mosquitos.

I thought I had left the noise behind in the school playground - instead I found a whole symphony of noisy birds, rushing water and the sound of me huffing and puffing up the hills. But I loved it.

I must remember some bird seed tomorrow!

Home making

I love browsing 'home' magazines and books. There are so many interesting ideas on everything from making chalk boards for your kitchen through to decorating cupcakes.

I find these magazines far more appealing than 'house' magazines showing emaculate houses with subtle lighting, spotless kitchen benches and tastefully arranged bath towels.















A home has those personal touches ... the birds nest that the wee people found walking home from school... an old vase from my grandmother... the cushions I made one wet afternoon. Of course it also has a pile of unfolded laundry hiding in a spare room, hand prints on the windows and in my case piles of fabric, pots of paint and a box of scrapbooking paper tucked into a corner!

I guess a home really is what you make it.