Ready For Change

I was going to do this post tomorrow, but here I am, looking out at the beautiful, sparkly lights on the houses in our street and I just can't help but feel a little magic.

I don't go in for much hype at New Year, though I have positive feelings for the future, in spades. I love new beginnings and each day, really, is an opportunity to do things differently.

Today I did lots of housework. Not too exciting you might say....for me though, it has all been about clearing out the old energy and making room for a positive new year. Getting rid of old papers, clothes, 'stuff', changing the furniture around, vacuuming in untouched places (!) Lighting candles and letting the fresh air blow through the house. Listening to the cicadas reach a crescendo outside in the summer evening air and just being grateful for every. little. thing.

'Change' is my word for 2010 and it most definitely chose me, not the other way around. Astrologers are saying that 2010 will be a highly creative decade, as it was in the sixties. I will be trying my hardest to make it so! Let's bring it on!!.....

Mischievous Creature

Here is the witch-doctor painted in my journal, as promised.

He is not a malevolent creature, more likely mischievous! He will happily plop a snail into the bottom of your drink, slip an ice cube down the back of your shirt, or hide under the bed and grab hold of your ankles as you're about to climb in!

christmas day 2009

at lunchtime on christmas day, it was overcast, hot and humid - fairly typical weather for this time of year. hard for northern hemisphere folks to get their head around, i suppose. while i was waiting for family to arrive for a late christmas lunch, i made up a jug of pimms with lots of ice, lemon, orange and cucumber slices and sprigs of mint .... so refreshing.... i sat on the deck with my journal and found myself painting a witch-doctor mask [i'll post the finished product later].

this is what happens when you journal ... things just appear from somewhere deep in your psyche and it's often a surprise to see what's actually going on in there. i browsed through violettes 'journal bliss', a christmas gift, for some inspiration.

my daughter knows me well and without fail, chooses a gift that is special. this year i received two beautiful exotic looking tea cups, a box of chai tea bags, a new journal for writing in and a fat book of fiction to read.... totally spoiled...

today - boxing day, is cool and rainy, courtesy of the tail-end of 'cyclone laurence' that has been hanging around in queensland for the past few days. quite a contrast to yesterday's heat. the whole neighbourhood and my own household, is quiet as can be - all sleeping in after a full day of food, family and festivities. i'll go now and add this christmas to my gratitude list.

pause for a day...

another journal page.... i just love painting in red...

last night we met some friends down at the waterfront for icy cold wine, fresh prawns, sydney rock oysters, a cheese/fruit/vegetable platter, and a tub of freshly made hummus. all delicious...

we stayed there till well after dark and from a distance we could hear the crowds enjoying the carnival and circus camped beside the water for the summer break. pretty coloured lights twinkled everywhere and the holiday atmosphere was truly magical.

tomorrow we will have a small family gathering, some simple but gorgeous summer food and exchange a few gifts. for us, it's all about family pausing for a day, to just be together.

i wish everyone out there a happy and restful holiday break, whatever that means for you....

Twilight Sailing

Every summer, the local yachties gather on Wednesdays for Twilight Sailing. The pier is the start line and they muster in the bay behind it, busily jostling for position, even before the race starts! The race begins at 5.30pm when the hooter at the Yacht Club blasts.

They sail dreamily along the water for a couple of hours, returning to the finish line around 7.30pm, just before nightfall. First yacht in gets another blast from the hooter.

We take some cool drinks and a picnic down to the waterfront and enjoy the sight of all the beautiful white sails, backlit by the setting sun. Best way ever to chill out, after a hot summer's day.

Word for 2010.... Change

http://www.wordle.net/

2010 can be glimpsed if you just take a peek over the hill, which means it's time to choose a word to focus on throughout the new year. Visit Christine Kane for loads of inspiration.

2008 was all about 'balance' and I really did find equilibrium during that year..... then somehow lost it again in 2009 when I was supposed to 'listen' to the intelligence of my heart and soul. I was thinking that this word was a fizzer until just this month, when I was given a huge prod from the ether.... I couldn't help but listen!

So now it's time to embrace 'change'.... reconfigure and change my thinking, creative habits, surroundings, how I treat my body..... shed this old, scaly skin. Some changes have crept in already, they wouldn't wait for 1st Jan, so I'm well on the way to a better place.

Year End

I have just finished reading Rice Freeman - Zachery's , 'Living The Creative Life' and 'Creative Time and Space'

Both books are full of fantastic advice and inspiration from working artists. It was so good to get inside the artist's heads, all different personalities with their own unique ways of working, but essentially each one living in the same lovely creative zone. Their studios range from organised messes (like mine!) to works of art in their own right. Now I want to paint my studio!

Despite being all creatively motivated, I've been happily absorbed in end of year activities. On Saturday we caught up with family for a christmas party and it's always good to see everyone.

My son finished his Year 10 exams, dressed up in a suit for his School Formal and performed on stage at the School Variety Night (bass guitar). Next week is his graduation from junior high school, then the next two years he will work towards the Higher School Certificate (the final high school qualification in Aus). Soon school will break for the summer holidays, so we'll be heading to the beach as usual, no doubt.

I also visited some girlfriends for dinner & champagne and afterwards we sang Karaoke to 'Singstar' (Playstation) - I'm still laughing, it was so much fun!! There's a Diva in all of us!

This journal page is a rough one, an idea quickly set down on the page. I feel I want to add some more detail, so I'll leave it to sit for a while.

I hope your year is winding up happily too!