Today – With help from Noel I erected my trellis for the snow peas and planted them. My Radishes have started to germinate Yay.

Saying for Today - Hold fast to your dreams! Within your heart keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go and sheltered so, may thrive and grow.

From my Camera Lens –  Ducks taken at the Garden Center on Sunday

Around my house – Made the most of the sunny weather and planted some more seeds Parsnips, Butter Beans, Radishes, Pak Choy, Capsicum, tomatoes, spring onions, still have to sit them on the hot water system at night to keep warm as the nights are still cold. Turned the soil and fertilised in the garden ready for the seeds to be put in and also turned the compost soil over. It was really enjoyable out in the warmth of the sunshine just pottering around the garden.

Noticing that – with the added warmth to the days my cabbages finally are starting to get centers.

Saying for today – A teacher affects eternity; no one can tell where his influence stops.

From my camera Lens – The Changing Seasons.

This first photo was taken in Autumn when the leaves were just starting to change colour and fall.

This photo was just taken the other day of the same area to show the difference a month or so can make from Autumn to winter.

I had fun doing this page changing the photo to a pencil drawing, masking it on to the note paper, then changing the colours of the elements to blend in with the paper that I used.

Saying for Today - Happiness is a sunbeam….. When it strikes a kindred heart, like the converged lights upon a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. But it is not perfected until it is shared.

I am currently reading – Half Broken Things by Morag Joss. I have been trying to branch out with my reading to find new authors that I might like instead of sticking with the familiar . This is a great read it is the kind that when you have to stop reading and leave it for a while you can’t wait to be able to get back to it again as soon as possible. This is the first book I have read of Morag Joss, I will definitely keep an eye out for more of her books I think that she has written three others and I am certain that she will write more, I hope so anyway. Morag’s writing is similar to the way Ruth Rendell writes if you like Ruth Rendell you will be sure to like Morag Joss.

Around the house – I have been fertilising my vege patch, weeding and planting more seedlings. Thinking of  planting parsnips, radishes, bok choy and more spring onions, I have only had three spring onions shoot from the six or so seeds I put in a couple of weeks ago so will try again, but all the lettuce seeds sown have started to shoot, I lost my last crop of lettuce to the frost, only two have survived and I should be able pick the leaves soon. I am now picking silverbeet to eat and my Kol Rabi should be ready to pick shortly I am so pleased with how these have grown, I haven’t a clue what they taste like, suppose to taste a bit like celery so lets hope so. I planted cabbages and another lot of broccoli at the same time from punnets but the broccoli has just come up and gone to seed and the cabbages are a bit sad looking at the moment but are coming along and should be good.

I am looking forward to – going to see ‘Allo Allo’. The MacAruthur Theatre Group are putting this one on and if it is anything like Cabaret it should be a load of laughs, thoroughly enjoyable.

From my camera lens – Deflating Hot Air Balloon. Practising the rule of thirds and composition.

As far as possible,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Desiderata
Max Ehrmann, 1927.

You never know who these people may be:
your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete
stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you
and at the time they seem painful and unfair,
but in reflection you realize
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized
your potential strength, will power, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance
or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer
stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests,
whether they be events, illnesses or relationships,
life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere,
safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life
and the successes and downfalls you experience
create who you are, and even the bad experiences can be learned from,In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart,
forgive them,for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart…

If someone loves you,
love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because they are teaching you to love
and opening your heart and eyes to things
you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment
and take from it everything that you possibly can,
for you may never be able to experience it again…

Talk to people you have never talked to before,
and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love,
break free and set your sights high…

Hold your head up because you have every right too.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself…
for if you don’t believe in yourself,
no one else will believe in you either.

Create your own life
and then go out and live in it!
“Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last…
Tomorrow is Not Promised”

Author unknown

From my window – what a glorious day it is today, went for a walk this morning and there was actual warmth radiating from the sun and just the slightest breeze.

I am hoping – that the days stay like this from now on but it is August the windy month and we have had a bit of rain lately with a forecast of  a change of weather still to come. The wind has whipped up a bit now this afternoon but still lovely and sunny.

One of my favourite things – my morning walks especially when the day is as nice as today

I am currently reading – The mathematics of love by Emma Darwin

I have created – the scrap page above called King’s of the grill, just love this embellishment, I had to change the King to King’s so that is why the S is not quite the same.

Noticing that – now that the days are getting warmer and with the showers we have been having my vege seeds that I have planted are starting to shoot.

around the house – have been weeding my front garden and  thinking about growing more herbs this spring/summer and putting some flowers in and around for a bit of colour.

From the camera lens – Love the different hues of green in the trees in this photo as well as the hues of the leaves on the ground

A little prayer for you today

May God send His love

like sunshine in His warm and gentle way,

to fill each corner of your heart

each moment of today

I am thankful for –  The wind has ceased today.

Pondering these words – Love is not getting, but giving….It is goodness and honor and peace and pure living – yes love is that and it is the best thing in the world and the thing that lives the longest.

I’ve created –  Just finished the scrap page below – Explore

I am learning – How not to get frustrated when things are not going how I would like in photoshop and just try a different tool or technique.

I am reading – Digital Photography School Newsletter – Composition tips for taking better photos and hopefully putting it to practice.

I am watching and doing - Tai chi ‘Art of Life Qigong’

From my Camera lens  - Sun baking Lizard taken a while ago while out on one of my walks

My latest Scrap page experimenting with Photo textures, blending modes and Masks.