I bought this glass ball today at an ‘antiques and collectables fair’. It caught my eye and I thought I might be able to use it for fun with my photos. I have seen people do clever things with glass balls! Here is my attempt to do something a bit different.
With the days slipping by and my lack of blogs for my 30 days of Creativity I think I will take the liberty of changing direction! What’s the worst that can happen?
That being said, I thought the words below could apply quite well to creativity. It could be Rules for Being Creative!
We had a lovely visit to Green Head on the West Coast of WA around this time last year. I had fun snapping what ever looked interesting at the time.
I was recently gifted a capsicum plant that looked like it may not survive. I put it on my kitchen bench where it gets lots of sunlight. It seems to be thriving now and has some baby capsicums!
I have slipped behind in my blogging for a few days but there has been some creativity that I failed to capture with MY camera.
I made some crusty white bread.
I made a quiche using some leftover Christmas ham.
I got some new glasses that are made from recycled water bottles! Now that’s creative!
I just made this trifle this evening for Boxing Day. It has layers of cake (I have used left-over Christmas pudding from our early Christmas last Sunday). The cake can be soaked in sherry but I used fruit juice. Layers of cale, custard, cream and jelly are added and then some chopped nuts go on the top.
Favourite musicians
I enjoy most types of music: the 1970s was my era. I enjoy pop music, light classical, country and much more …
I am listening to Billy Joel as I write this (Piano Man). I am also a fan of Bob Dylan, Creedence Clear Water Revival, Carole King, Buddy Holly, Gene Pitney, Bee Gees, Adele, Kasey Chambers, Leann Rimes, Janis Joplin, Eagles, Rod Stewart and many more I can’t remember until I hear the songs! Music really has the ability to bring us back to a moment in time. I wonder if you have heard of all these musicians. Some go back to the 1950s.
On Sunday my son and daughter-in-law joined us for an early Christmas lunch. For dessert we enjoyed pavlova and plum pudding.
Some photos I took using my mobile phone while at the beach (Geographe Bay) while walking my (borrowed) dog, Roy.
Today I will write on the following prompt: Would we be happier if we were living closer to nature?
It is easy to say a resounding YES to this question however I can only answer for myself. I love nature and enjoy watching the birds, kangaroos and cows that I sometimes spot through my back fence.
We had a full height fence and earlier this year replaced it with half-height to enable us to see what happens on the other side. It is just a small stand of peppermint trees based in the corner of a farm that has been partially redeveloped. It is fenced off from the public so we get exclusive viewing rights (along with some of our neighbours.
It is wonderful to stand in my kitchen and be able to see kangaroos nibbling on the grass. We get plenty of magpies, willy wagtails, silver-eyes and sometimes we get parrots (who annoyingly like to eat my geraniums).
Farmer Bell occassionally allows his black angus cows to graze in the area as well. They are big impressive animals that seem to freeze on the spot when they spot me looking at them.
With the warmer weather coming on we may get some reptiles visiting us as well. We have had two tiger snakes (deadly) in the past few years. We also get skinks, bobtail lizards and frogs.
Ours is a small ecosystem but so very easy to access. I find nature to be calming and inspiring and that has to be a good thing!
I did an exercise today that I think could be considered creative. I was actually feeling that “end of the year” tiredness and “not ready for the New Year” anxiety!
I decided to do a review of 2021. I was amazed to see how much has happened, both positive and negative. I have also experienced some personal growth that I didn’t want to slip through my fingers. I made a note of all the things I have learned (and the books I have read to support the learning). I want to be able to refer back to my list next year and refresh my memory.
I also did a bit of a plan for 2022. There are a few things I know I will be involved with so I did some mind mapping for each of them so that I can start doing some preparation now (to hold off some of that anxiety!)
I also reflected on friends who I hope will be part of my life in the New Year. I lost my closest girl-friend this year and she is irreplaceable. However I am open to new friendships in the year ahead. We all need friends and even more so as we get older, I believe.
Today I would like to share a piece of music that my husband, Tom, composed. At the start of the pandemic he taught himself to read music and has gone on to compose over 45 tunes on his computer using music composition software. He has done many online courses about the different aspects involved.
Here is one of my favourites:
Today I will respond to this writing prompt: “What do you do when you find yourself stuck?”
I have many strategies for becoming unstuck. Here are some of the ideas that I apply:
Is frustration a part of the creative process? Wanting to see the finished product unleashed?
I ask this as I am experiencing some frustration with a current project that I am working on. It is with a community organisation and I have spent quite a few hours developing a new website. It is ready to go “live” and people are waiting for that to happen. The only thing we are waiting for is the transfer of the domain name. This should be a simple process but it has hit a few hurdles (are hurdles part of the creative process too?)
Anyway I am waiting on an email from the new host to say that the domain name has been transferred. Once this has taken place I can then make the website live. I can see my work go public. I can get feedback and make improvements based on that. Hopefully the new website will create some new interest in the organisation.
I have been obsessed with checking my emails for that magic one to arrive that will make it all happen. So I think I have answered my own question. We can create something and get pleasure and satisfaction from that activity. The process of making it public is a separate part but an important one that enables us to share our creativity. We have less control over this part of the process.
I should remember the teachings of Stoicism that “some things are up to us; others are not.”
What is CREATIVITY?
C is for Curiosity about the world, people, thoughts, emotions and our environment
R is for Remembering our childhood and life experiences
E is for the Energy that is within us and all around us
A is for Art in its many different forms
T is for Talent and this can be very subjective and sometimes elusive
I is for Inward journeys to explore ideas
V is for the Variety of forms of creativity
I is for Ideas that can lead to all sorts of possibilities
T is for Treasure and how we feel about a creative work
Y is for You as creativity is best when it can be shared with others.
I have a ‘still life’ photo for today:
“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions. The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses
I thought it would be worthwhile to look more closely at what things are, and are not, in my control.
| Things in my control | Things not in my control |
| Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Such as: My perspective and opinions How I treat other people How I respond to how other people treat me What hobbies and interests I choose to pursue How much exercise I do What I eat and drink How I wear my hair, makeup, and clothes How I spend and/or invest my savings and my time What I study, read, watch or listen to What I choose to do in my garden How generous or not I am with my possessions and time Who I choose to spend my time with What values I have | Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions. Such as: Getting older Other people and their opinions of me Whether other people agree with me or not Whether other people listen to me or not Whether other people understand me or not Actions by other people The weather My genetic code The stock markets Other peoples’ actions Death and illness Disasters such as pandemics, bush fires, floods etc. Wars The past and the future |
For today’s post I chose to do some cooking! I made a date and walnut loaf. The recipe follows:
1 cup chopped pitted dates
I cup of boiling water
I cup of chopped walnuts
I 1/4 cups of plain flour
3/4 cup of rolled oats
2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar.
Directions: Mix the chopped dates with the cup of boiling water and add maple syrup.
Mix all the dry ingredients together and add the date mix when it has cooled a little (about 15 minutes)
Stir the date mixture into the other ingredients and then place in a loaf tin.
Cook in oven heated to 175C for about 45 minutes.
Lovely served in slices with butter.
For today I will write in response to the writing prompt “What is something that made you happy this week?”
I walk a dog named Roy every Thursday morning at 9am. Roy is a cross between a labrador and a golden retriever and he is ten years old. I got involved through a local not-for-profit group called POOPS (Pets Of Older Persons). It was set up to enable elderly people to keep their dogs with them even when they are no longer able to take them out for walks.
At first I could walk faster than Roy but now he is more energetic than me. He lives close to the beach so we head there when we leave home. Once at the beach I let him off the lead and he loves to run and have a dip in the water.
His nose is continually busy sniffing things that I can’t see – I do wonder what he is thinking when he is concentrating so intensely! He does have a strong idea of where he wants to go and lets me know by refusing to move or just sitting down. Sometimes I have to let him know who is boss!
What made me smile last week was when we returned from the walk and rather than run into his yard without looking back, he walked a little way and then turned and waited as if to say, “Aren’t you coming too?”
I was fortunate to be given a lovely bunch of carnations this week. I took a photo with my 10x magnification lens on my digital camera. I also took a photo of the flowers in vase with my iPhone and then played with it in LiteRoom software.
Here they are:
Do you feel like joining me in attempting to do one creative activity each day for the next 30 days? If writing is your thing maybe you can find some ideas in the file below:
But it doesn’t have to be writing, it can be anything creative and it doesn’t have to be a big thing – the challenge is in making the effort each and everyday and recording it in your blog. I am going to give it a go (partly as a distraction to the festive season craziness). I have also been absent from my blog for many months so this is a good way to get back to writing. I hope you will join me.
Could you please include a link to my blog so as I can check out what you have done (www.allaboutwordswa.com)?
We recently enjoyed four nights staying at Jurien Bay (around 440km north of Busselton where we live) on the West coast of Australia. The weather was good as was the company. It took us about six hours with coffee breaks and going around Perth rather than through it!
Cervantes is close to Jurien and is well known for The Lobster Shack so a visit there was essential.
The view from the Shack was pretty good too!
Some other pics of our stay. These are from Green Head; a short drive north of Jurien.
I have wanted a new dining setting for a long time. We ordered one and were pleased it arrived after only one week when told it would be two. I enjoy the task of putting the pieces of the puzzle together; having tackled a few Ikea projects in the past. I really do enjoy the challenge of focusing on what is in front of me and being lost in the task. At times I was more lost than others! The table package came with no instructions so it took a bit of figuring out.
First the boxes
The table top box was EXTRA large and heavy.
The four chairs were in two boxes – they took me about 20 minutes each.
And then the biggest challenge: putting the legs on the table (without the instructions!)
FINAL OUTCOME
We are just back from a couple of days away in Bridgetown – just over 100km to the east of where we live. I took some photos of flowers from the garden where we stayed and one of the view from the back verandah. It was very quiet and peaceful. Just what I was seeking!
My Mum loved poems and seemed to have a great memory for the lines. Much better than me! She used to encourage me with the words “if you can’t be a tree, be the best little bush” or something like that. I decided today to search for the words and found it online in no time. It must be better known than I thought. Here it is:
BE THE BEST
It you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley – but be
The best little scrub by the side of the hill;
Be a bush, if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie, then just be a bass-
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here.
There’s big work to do and there’s lesser to do
And the task we must do is the near.
If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun, be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail-
Be the best of whatever you are!
Douglas Malloch
http://www.english-for-students.com/be-the-best.html
It brings back fond memories of my Mum who passed away nearly 15 years ago. I often think of her.
Sometimes I find life overwhelming. I don’t think I am alone in that experience! Just thought I would put together a list of some easy things to remember when feeling stressed/depressed etc.
“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions. The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed.”
― Epictetus, Enchiridion and Selections from the Discourses
I thought it would be worthwhile to look more closely at what things are, and are not, in my control. Have I missed any biggies?
| Things in my control | Things not in my control |
| Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Such as: My perspective and opinions; How I treat other people; How I respond to how other people treat me; What hobbies and interests I choose to pursue; How much exercise I do; What I eat and drink; How I wear my hair, makeup, and clothes; How I spend and/or invest my savings and my time; What I study, read, watch or listen to; What I choose to plant in my garden; How generous or not I am with my possessions and time; Who I choose to spend my time with; What values I have. | Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our actions. Such as: Getting older; Other people and their opinions of me; Whether other people agree with me or not; Whether other people listen to me or not; Whether other people understand me or not; Actions by other people; The weather; My genetic code; The stock markets; Other peoples’ actions; Death and illness; Disasters such as pandemics, bush fires, floods etc. Wars; The past and the future. |
Today I took a leap of faith (of great risk more likely) and decided to merge two of my blogs together. That is this one and “It’s a Small World”. It seems the posts are now spread throughout my allaboutwordswa posts. The only way I could be sure that the merge worked was to find some images from the other site. This one below is a flower from a chilli plant. It is not taken with a conventional camera but a tool that can be used in the field for enthusiasts – it actually magnifies the image up to 500 times. The image above is of a blueberry.
Here are a few more examples 🙂
I just reactivated my Supereyes microscope and took some new images.
One of the basil plants in the garden is going to seed. The yellow ball (magnified x 250) is one of the seeds.
Below are some flowers from my vegetable garden plus a flower from the geranium plant – all magnified x 100.
No matter which way you look at it, the petunia is a very pretty flower
Broccoli magnified x 250
A little bit of glitter and a small succulent flower – just for fun 🙂
I found this in my pantry today. It is a purple potato gone to seed. I love the colours and shapes when magnified x 100 times.
Kiwi fruit – magnified x 250
Here is some parsley I just rinsed to go with my dinner this evening – I like the way the circles distort their shape a little.
I love the colours on the avocado skin as seen under the microscope.
Some different perspectives on a leaf of iceberg lettuce
I had a close look at a sample of the soil in my garden today and a close up view of some rainbow chard (similar to silver-beet) and this is what I found …
The rocket I am referring to is a leaf variety used in salad. For more detailed information click HERE
And now here are some images of rocket flowers from my garden x 250 magnification.
I purchased a packet of eight reels of glitter cotton – just because I love the colours (and they were inexpensive).
I found this tiny piece of coral on the beach some years ago (I don’t remember where) and kept it as a reminder of the beauty, strength and fragility to be found in nature.
It hasn’t been under the microscope as I think it is beautiful as it is.
Money can slip through our fingers so quickly that we often don’t even remember what it looks like.
Adding some extra taste to the barbecue with Mediterranean flavours
Two Australian coins up close.
Welcome to allaboutwordswa! 