First up, apologies for being a bit absent from my blog lately. I had to take leave from town for a few days and travel with the peeps to Carnarvon, and for obvious reasons, I don’t like to advertise that sort of thing! Mr M didn’t have internet either, so I was unable to upload my friday photo on time…

I mentioned this a week or so ago, but it’s spring here in Oz, which is absolutely gorgeous! But especially so in this region due to all the diverse range of wildflowers that we have. So I had the luxury on the way home of stopping a few times to take some pics. I also tried to get a photo of an emu and a wedge tailed eagle for you all, but I didn’t have my zoomy zoom lens so didn’t quite get to capture those amazing animals as I would have liked. None-the-less, here’s a few snaps from my short sojourn…

Driving on this stretch of road, it looked as though someone had planted an avenue of grevilleas, it was so beautiful, however the photo doesn’t quite capture it as it was irl…

an example of an individual plant…

And a close up of the bloom – isn’t it magnificent!

There’s a sea of yellow around these parts because the wattles are also in full bloom. No wonder the green and gold are Australia’s colours !

I could take a thousand photos of these flowers and never tire of looking at them – magnificent! And the dead pods are just as beautiful…
Now, here’s a photo of the wedge tailed eagle. You can imagine how huge this bird is up close – he’s about 100 mt away in this pic. Here in Oz it’s a very common sight to see a dead roo on the road. They are always getting hit by trucks and cars. They can leap out from the bush quite unexpectedly, and if you swerve to miss them you may also find yourself victim. The positive thing about that though (if there is one) is that the meat can then be eaten by animals such as the wedge tail and others. The bad thing about that though, is that in turn, the wedge tails also become vicitm of further trucks and cars. That si why when you see them feeding on the roos, you slow down and wait fo rthem to take off – as often they are so to lift with meat in their claws. But an awesome sight to see…

And here’s an emu (if only I had my zoom I could have gotten a great pic). He’s only about 50 metres away and was wandering around on his lonesome…

I’m also participating in a great on-line class at the moment being taught by the very talented Wyanne (don’t you just love that name?!) It is early days yet, but I’m already being challenged in many ways to let go of old ideas and expecations and paint from my heart only. Here’s a peek at one I did last night. Our brief: use only four colours, black and white, only paint, nothing else, set the timer for 30 mins – GO! Don’t stop, don’t think, just do. And well, here’s the result of that little huge activity for me…

It’s not the best photo as I took it straight away and the paint was all wet, with the light off the flash refelcting, but you get the general idea. I’m not sure if I want to continue painting in this fashion though? I’ll have to see how the rest of the class pans out and what mysteries are revealed!
But it’s all the love of the journey isn’t it? I hope you’re finding time this weekend to have a tinker with your supplies, or perhaps a big chunk of time to spend creating? Either way, enjoy your loved ones, give your kids a big hug and kiss, or your partner, or your mum and dad… Life is short, they are all that really matters…