Home on the Main Range

  Implementation of the 10 days of #bliss commenced Christmas Day. Every day spending time focussed on what is ideal? reality? achievable? What brings meaning? What drains and what should be removed or diluted because it doesn't add to the quality of a life well lived? That's hard because there seems to be a selfish response (quite easy) and then there's a more considered approach, perhaps not easy and binary but a "better view" in the circumstances?  Each day is a new activity, something previously untried. Each day holds studio time, journal and sketching work. Some time with the indoor plants. Some space to be quiet and meditative in my work. Being quiet. Calm. Considered. Take life's pulse every now and then and adjust speed to suit.  These log cabin inspired blocks are the first in the "I Swear!" series of works. Might end up a series of 1. Backing fabric has tannin stains - from tea and ironbark - and provide a tainted base on which to build a ...

  Lost and found. A dog wandered across our busy road and in the absence of a tag or contact details, we took her in for the night. A lethal tail wag. A positive use of Facebook. Angel by name and nature was reunited with her family. A first for me - cheffing for a stray dog - a stray that understood the direction and flow of air-conditioning vents and best position on the rug.  First time we met, but didn't, our neighbours. Angel lives next door.  Cause to think about life and loss, of needy people who appear to exploit their position and the caring of those around them, and playing the "card". A week of much reflection and re-evaluating relationships. Running around after someone who has no perception of the disruption they cause and no care to minimise their impact on others. Being taken aback by their sense of self, and apparent faults of everyone else. Working it all out - one a catastrophist, the other a drama queen and then having to ask who am I in all that? The e...

  This week has been largely consumed with family, and getting my head around the futility of fighting the end of life, of making the absolute most of time we have and acknowledging there is no better moment than now. New to me this week was understanding that letting go is a total experience, or it's not letting go at all. Letting go meant no conditions or caveats and it's been an empowering process. New for me are the habits I'm forming - small and incremental changes, following through on commitments, keeping my mouth shut when the noise it emits doesn't really add to anyone or anything ( that might be a life time work in progress ). My indoor plants are alive, 2 months and one supportive gardener behind learning to test for moisture, read the plant, understand light, placement, being aware of the needs of the individual specimens. Bringing nature inside, and letting go.

  A weekend away with the siblings. Never happened before and unlikely to have the opportunity again. Much laughter, discussion and simply being together. Weird and wonderful. The Living Wake. The world's happiest orphans  learning how to be siblings. It's never too late, and soon it will be.