Busy Saturday

It was busy on the main street of our town this morning.

I spent four hours at the shop until Adoring Husband came to help me pack up.

At home I did some washing, some art ...

... watched a doc/movie on Feminism, some football, cooked dinner and we are currently watching The Dilemma.

I can hear my bed calling my name.

Nite all.

Not Quite as Planned

I wanted to try another challenge pic (with those blue and orange colours) today.

The first thing I did was a really pretty swipe with different shades of blue. I loved it and placed it carefully on some paper towel which I laid out on the drying table.

After that I sat outside in the pool area for a while, writing in my journal. It was uncomfortably windy, in fact the gale force conditions were buffeting the lounge and the umbrella over the pool was rocking too.

It became too uncomfortable, so I headed inside ready to make my second attempt at the challenge colours, but I discovered that the wind through the studio window had blown the paper towel onto my blue painting! 😭

After my initial groan of disappointment, instead of making a song and dance about it, I decided to cover the mess with a goldfish. This way it would match the challenge colours and it could be my second entry.

I knew that this would be tricky, given the thickness of the paint already on the canvas, so I was very tentative and very careful, but alas my efforts were not successful.

This made me laugh and I knew that I would keep it so that when I create the result that I imagined in my head at the beginning of this project, I will have something to measure my success by.

I posted it on Facebook as an example of my failures and have been surprised by the positive feedback that it has received, however the photo makes it look better than it is.

Dinner was an easy nosh up of wild salmon with onion, avocado and micro greens wrapped in a GF tortilla for me. AH had chicken ribs - his usual Friday night fare.

We’ve been watching the footy tonight and we were happy to see Manly get thrashed by Parramatta, and by enough points to help them leap frog Manly on the ladder.

It was a very successful day in the shop today and I’ll be working tomorrow so I hope I can continue the success into the weekend.

Next week will be the beginning of our Monday closures. Our opening hours will be changing too so we won’t be opening until 10am. Generally, nobody walks through our doors before 10am, so it’s pointless being there.

So it’s bed time for me.

Nite all.

Words to be had.

i will have words with that newsagent.

I was supposed to have the winning ticket in Powerball tonight.

I did not.

I will try again next week for the $100million.

I tried to paint my first beach today. It’s not bad. It’s not great. I’m happy with my first attempt and will try again in the future.

I also attempted to create a piece for one of the acrylic paint pouring Facebook page challenges. We have to use these colours and any method that we like ...

This is what I’ve done so far and I have another idea that I’ll try tomorrow.

I made Tuscan Chicken for dinner tonight, which was quite nice. It was a new recipe that I hadn’t tried before and it was easy, so I’ll probably use it again.

Now it’s bed time for me.

Nite all.

Whirlwind Wednesday

Breakfast by the water was lovely this morning.

I was hoping that I could purchase something lovely from Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves today, but I only liked one item on their racks and my size was not there.

We did some grocery shopping from Go Natural.

We drove to Stocklands where I bought the winning ticket in the $80million Powerball draw, a few
more art supplies, a DVD (Bohemian Rhapsody), a better quality chef’s blowtorch and a Boost Juice.

We stopped at our local butcher on the way home to pick up our chicken order and I visited The Motivator so that I could use the shop loo.

There was some unpacking to do at home and I put the slow cooker on with chicken feet and veg for a delicious chicken broth. I have been trying, unsuccessfully, to purchase chicken feet for five years so I was excited to see them in the freezer at Go Natural!

I got to spend some time in the studio for a quick paint pour ...

... then it was time to get ready for trivia night where we came 8th (I think) but it was a good night.

I’ve watched The Bachelor and now it’s time for bed. I’m exhausted!

Nite all.

Space Clearing

So I figured that my mojo might have been lost in the mess of my workspace.

3 buckets full of water and soaking numerous stirrers, cups and tools. Bags of timber corner pieces from the canvases. Many ‘almost empty’ cups of paint. Boxes of empty squirter bottles waiting to be filled with paint. Half empty paint tubes waiting to go back into the tool box. The list goes on.

So I spent two hours clearing the workspace and filling more squirter bottles with paint and pouring medium. It’s quite a physically taxing job shaking fifteen bottles until the contents are thoroughly mixed!

Now the area, along with my head, are clean, clear and ready for some fresh inspiration.

Beauty was the only one to attend coffee morning at the shop today, so it was a short and quieter than usual morning.

A quick catch up with The Motivator before I came home to attend to the studio.

Oh, and I picked these up from the post office ...

... so I’m excited to try them tomorrow.

The final class of the hooping course was this afternoon and we had a lot of fun. We now form the intermediate group which begin classes on 24th September. I think I need to practice between now and then!

Psychotic dog Colli attended a grooming appointment this morning and looks stunning!

We had wild salmon and salad for dinner.

I’m exhausted - after Adoring Husband had a mishap with his phone at 3.15am and then snored loudly for about 45 minutes after he fell back to sleep, I had a very broken sleep and need to catch up tonight.

Nite all.

Lost Mojo

These are today’s efforts ...

Not happy Jan.

I need to clear my head before I paint, so I think that tomorrow, I’ll meditate first and see how that changes my mindset.

I wasn’t feeling the best this afternoon so I came to bed (where I still am) and watched a couple of Netflix movies, then a couple of health documentaries, I took some notes on information that I’ll include in my health challenge/workshop and made some firm decisions about my own health, diet and lifestyle.

Adoring Husband and I are on the same page so we’re going to work together and get our health back on track.

As you could probably tell, after seven weeks, I gave up on the plant based diet. While it took away that horrible lump, pain and discomfort in my stomach, I had trouble sleeping, had my old joint pain return in my knees, hips, back and even sciatica which I haven’t had since 2013.

Of all the types of eating I’ve tried over the years, Paleo (when sticking to it strictly), has had the most profound effect on my body, joints, digestion, weight, clarity of thought, energy, sleep and motivation.

I want all of that back again.

Now that Spring is here, I want the spring back in my step!

That’s my Monday. Disappointments and epiphanies!

Nite all.

Scrape Scrape Scrape

Just couldn’t feel the love today.

I made this ...

And scraped all the paint off the canvas into the bin.

Then I made this ...

And scraped most of the paint into the bin.

Then I made this ...

And scraped all the paint off the canvas into the bin.

I made this ...

And kept it but I’m not happy with it.

So many art fails in one day!

Tomorrow is another day 😎🖼

Nite all.

Birthday Art

Six x 13 year old girls celebrated a birthday today by spending two hours creating art at The Happy Abode.

They were so focused on what they were doing which meant they were very quiet. It was the complete opposite of what we were expecting!

They did good work and enjoyed themselves. I think The Motivator enjoyed herself too.

Meanwhile, I had a steady morning in the shop and time passed quickly.

Adoring Husband helped close the shop and we arrived home in time for me to put some lamb shanks in the slow cooker.

I parked my butt on the lounge and watched some Countdown and then some footy.

Art was on my mind but I was unable to find enough enthusiasm to get up and physically do any.

I do have some ideas for my health workshop and I hope to do some work on that tonight and tomorrow, scribble a few notes and maybe plan the first two sessions and print out some information and research data/results to add to the hand outs.

I need to focus more closely on my own health because I haven’t been drinking enough water and my physical activity has reduced to almost zero for the last 3 months and I’m feeling it! No triking. No swimming. No walking on the beach. Only an hour of hooping once a week.

I can’t be teaching health if I’m not practicing good health or feeling healthy myself!

The healing/cleansing meditation that I did before bed last night was perfect and really cleared my head so that I slept soundly for almost 8 hours.

Anyway, I’m off to bed to do some work.

Nite all.

Makes You Think

A ten minute video to make you think

Today has been a most interesting day.

I’d forgotten that The Gypsy had her last day using the treatment room on Wednesday, so it was a shock to walk into her empty room this morning and it triggered an emotional response for me!

A couple of other emotional moments during the day put me a little on edge, so it was a comment from a pain in the butt male (who has attempted to give me grief in the past), which was the straw that broke the camel’s back and I snapped, creating a small scene at the bowls club.

He deserved it, but the people at his table didn’t deserve to hear it. My language was not lady-like. I wish I had taken him aside and purged in private. But it’s done now.

On a lighter note, I won a meat tray in the raffle! Our table was very lucky with five of us having a win tonight.

Now I’m off to bed because I’m working tomorrow while The Motivator runs an art workshop with a bunch of teenagers, one of whom is celebrating a birthday. Should be fun!

I shall do a healing meditation before bed so that I can sleep with a clear head.

Nite all.

Relaxing

I had a really nice, really relaxing day today.

I stayed in bed until I wanted to get up.

I showered.

I washed some clothes and got some off the line.

I did some art.

I put some ingredients in the slow cooker to make chicken broth.

I cooked duck, puréed fresh peas, smashed cauliflower and broccoli, along with cabbage, onion and bacon for dinner.

I watched The Bachelor.

Now I’m off to bed.

Nite all

Another Oopsy

I forgot to do a blog post last night 😳

Oopsy!

Yesterday was coffee with the girls, followed by a very expensive and very long (3 hours!) hair appointment, followed by a fabulous hoop dancing class, followed by an early dinner, some mindless TV and an early night.

Today, Adoring Husband and I drove into The Bay where I purchased some art supplies for the shop AND for myself.

If there was a Zombie Apocalypse tomorrow, I could lock myself in my studio and have enough art supplies to keep me going for a year!! Maybe more!

We did some grocery shopping, bought a Boost Juice and arrived home some time after 2pm.

I had dinner in the oven by 3pm for a 5.30 dinner, which meant I could play in my studio for a while. I painted a canvas black in preparation for something I want to try tomorrow and I did a small cup pour over an old canvas that I didn’t like. I still don’t like it lol. Some days just suck for creativity.

It’s time for bed now.

Nite all.

Another Dud

Today was another dud for me and I stayed in bed until 1pm.

I dipped in the pool up to my ankles and sat in the sun for 15 minutes.

I played in my studio ...

I still didn’t gather the courage to attempt my koi fish.

Adoring Husband dropped me off at the shop where I met The Motivator at 3pm with one of our suppliers and we tried on so many clothes! We made a BIG order and more than 3 hours later we left in the dark.

Duck and salad for dinner was late, but delicious.

Now I’m off to bed. Coffee with the girls tomorrow!

Nite all.

Changing Energy

Nil energy.

That’s what I had today.

I attempted some art.

Hated it so I scraped all the paint off the canvas and into the bin.

Tried again.

Felt blah.

Watched a dozen YouTube videos on painting koi. None of them inspired me.

Couldn’t eat.

Drank half a coffee.

Dipped my feet in the pool.

Sat in the sunshine for 20 minutes.

Watched a movie. Can’t remember what it was.

Cooked honey and lemon chicken with spinach, pumpkin and pine nut salad.

Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries with coconut ice cream for dessert.

Decided to eat.

Preparations for tomorrow, when I hope that my energy and enthusiasm increase considerably ...

Nite all.

Too Old to Party

It’s been a big day and it’s 9pm and I’m ready for bed!

The Motivator ran her art workshop this morning, so I worked a very busy morning in the shop. Actually, It may have been a record breaking Saturday!

In the middle of serving I got all of the new stock out on display, although for all of that hard work, not one new stock item was purchased! That’s gotta be a good thing, because it’s good to sell the old stock too.

Adoring Husband arrived on time to close the shop while TM cleared the training room and I finished putting the stock out and clearing the mess I made around TM’s desk.

I just had to sit down when I got home and we watched a movie until it was time to get ready for TMs birthday dinner in The Bay.

AH and I were the first to arrive at Enzos and found our reserved table.

Everyone else arrived soon after and it was a lovely mild evening to sit outside on the waterfront to have dinner and listen to some fabulous music and enjoy good company, good food and good drinks.

I remember in years gone by (MANY years gone by!) that after a couple of drinks and a meal, we’d be ready to party on! Tonight, we were all looking at our watches at 8pm and discussing how it was past our bedtime!

Too old to party these days. Too old to care about partying!

For us, it was a very different Saturday night and both AH and I enjoyed the evening very much. It was the right amount of time with the right people and in just the right place to belatedly celebrate The Motivators birthday 🎁.

Now I’m off to bed because I’m all worn out!

Nite all.

Old Age

I’m using old age as his excuse, but psychotic dog, Jack, had me up six bloody times during the night so that he could pee.

I’ve threatened them all (namely Adoring Husband, Jack and Ruby) that if this becomes a habit, I’ll be moving into a new bedroom and they can all deal with it together.

Needless to say, I stayed in bed this morning and after AH brought my celery juice and then some toast, I went back to sleep until after 1pm!

I still couldn’t  find the enthusiasm to go to my studio, but instead, I found the white pen that was gifted at the water colour workshop that The Motivator and I attended earlier in the year and I drew some koi on an old canvas.

This was one of my first fluid art projects, so it’s not very good on its own, but will serve as a great background for some swimming koi!

I want to add colour to the fish and then some watery affects.

There will be no time for me to play until Sunday now and I’m both nervous and excited about the possibilities, so watch this space.

Now I’m off to bed feeling disappointed that my team lost against the Rabbitohs tonight by two points. Bugger.

Nite all.

Working Day

My work day passed surprisingly fast!

From the first customer, here on holidays, who bought two of my photos, to the last customer, who bought three snap buttons there was a steady flow of happy faces through the door.

Adoring Husband arrived right on time to help me close the shop and we came straight home, so that I could make a beeline straight to the studio - actually I made a brief detour via the laundry to do some washing.

I created three pieces today, but two of them I’m not sharing yet. I’m going to embellish them after they’re dry and then I’ll show a ‘before’ and ‘after’ shot.

This one I like a lot. The colours and the composition really appeal to me.

Nothing else happened!

My day is done and tomorrow I sleep in! Tomorrow I do more art! Tomorrow I embellish!

Nite all.

Mission

My mission today, which I accepted, was to purchase a new Square Reader for the shop because our original decided to to cark it yesterday.

While we were in Office Works, I also found some giant push pins and some clear plastic sheets for swiping my paintings. It was still my least expensive trip to that store in a long time.

We drove to Stocklands so that I could get a Boost juice, price some AirPods and buy some shoes - actually I didn’t plan on the shoes, but they’re lovely 😊

We picked up our FROG box on the way home and then dropped the Square Reader off at the shop. It was a quick catch up with The Motivator and The Gypsy before coming home to do these ...

I cooked up some Hainan Chicken, some pork sausages and some pumpkin & cauliflower soup. I put together a lovely salad with our fresh FROG produce and for dessert, strawberries and raspberries with coconut ice cream.

Now there are meals in the freezer for our future lazy selves 👍

I’m working tomorrow, so I’d best get some sleep now.

Nite all.

Verrrrry Interesting!

Surprisingly, nobody turned up for coffee this morning - including me!

I arrived early for my appointment with the clairvoyant and she came out to the car to get me so that we could start early.

I am still very much on the fence.

She was very nice, but as with the last clairvoyant that I saw about 20 yrs ago, she focussed on so many people in my life and NOT me!

I’M THE ONE PAYING $120 FOR AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME!

All she knew about me was my name and my mobile ph number.

She mentioned that my first baby died of ‘cotdeath’, which was strange in itself because most people call it SIDS.

She said that my mother was behind me saying that I am very resilient and strong, but that her death is still very fresh in my mind.

She said that Adoring Husband has the brain of a child (meaning that it is more susceptible to damage from radiation and electromagnetic energy than the normal adult brain) and that he needs to be protected. She asked if he has problems with his neck, shoulders and back and if he has trouble
swallowing (yes, yes, yes and yes)

She said stuff about the kids that in some cases was correct, some not so and some that was possible and also interesting.

She said stuff about The Motivator.

She said stuff about The Gypsy.

She said stuff about my Grandmother, AH’s father and brother (all of whom have passed).

She told me that I had such a strong, positive and high spiritual energy that I should study Reiki and practice it professionally.

She told me I was a writer and that I should finish my book and publish it because it will be used in the future by professionals in the field of mental health.

She told me that TM and I are not using our knowledge and expertise in ‘positive energy and movement’ properly, or enough with The Happy Abode. She gave me some suggestions.

The hour went quickly and instead of talking to her while she wears her professional clairvoyant’s cap, I would like to chat with her as a regular person because I think we share a lot of common ground.

She didn’t, or couldn’t tell me much about me, which I was disappointed about.

Anyway, from there, AH and I went shopping for art supplies for the shop as well as for me. We did some grocery shopping and arrived home with time to spare before attending hoop dancing, which I loved and learned a couple of new tricks.

Now I’m tired and ready for bed. I haven’t decided whether to attend the lady’s lunch tomorrow or not. I’ll decide in the morning.

Nite all.

Getting it Together

Confession time.

Today was day three since I showered or brushed my hair!

I forced myself to make a plan for today. Get out in the sunshine, speak to people and get some exercise. This meant that I had to make myself clean and presentable and this morning’s shower was enjoyable, but the hair brushing was more time consuming than usual!

I got clean, dressed, minimal make up and then pedalled in the sunshine to the post office first and to visit The Motivator at our shop.

I was out for about 3 hours and had a great catch up with TM.

I also picked up a parcel from the PO full of paints and varnish which was exciting!

I was feeling a bit annoyed because there was no space left for me to paint in the studio. My table and my drying area was all full of drying paintings. My crankiness was leaching into my conversations with Adoring Husband so he decided to remedy the situation by clearing space in a second bedroom for me to put my ‘almost dry’ stuff.

So after dinner, I quickly produced this ...

It was enough to ease my tension.

Now I need to sleep because tomorrow I have coffee with the girls, followed by an appointment with a clairvoyant, followed by shopping, followed by hooping class. It’ll be a big day.

Nite all.

Sloppy Sunday

It took me an hour to clean my bucket full of cups and tools from under my art table in the studio.

The job was long overdue and I had to clean 32 plastic cups, 12 lollipop sticks, 2 small shovels, 2 strings of pearls, 6 bamboo skewers, 2 plastic sheets and 4 plastic lids, all of which, even though they had been sitting in water, had dried paint stuck fast that had to be scraped off grain by grain.

I have another bowl with about 30 lollipop sticks soaking and I’m trying to decide whether to clean and reuse them or just chuck them and be done with it.

By the time I’d finished, I was well and truly ready to do some art!

I decided to participate in an online art challenge that required us to use these colours in a dirty flip cup (which means layering these colours many times in one cup and then flipping it onto the canvas).

While I was squeezing the brown paint from the tube to a container for mixing with pouring medium, the tube slipped out of my hand and knocked the container to the ground slopping paint all over the floor, 6 of my paintings, my camera bag and the doona cover!

It took me 30 minutes to clean THAT mess up.

Finally, I got to create this ...

And I LOVE the colours!

Now I have no drying space left so I need to take a break from painting until some of them dry.

Tomorrow I’m going to practice my hooping!

Nite all.