Line shadows on leaves

A couple of days ago I was at the kitchen sink and noticed (as I have many times before late in the day) some charming line shadows on leaves. I had a few minutes before I was going out so I grabbed the camera and took a few photos. I'm really glad I did now. Today I got home and found the tree, along with the wooden wind spinner that cast the shadows, gone. The landlord has been doing some work around the yard. There won't be any more of those particular shadows to see. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - November 16th, 2014

Great shadows this morning! At least there was a short while ago. I went out to get some clearer shots but the sun has gone behind the clouds. Here's two I'm happy with - 

on the fence

and a tree shadow on the road

To see other people's shadow shots go here. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - November 9th, 2014

It's easy to find shadows today!

Cute when they are little

Spiky shadows

and softer ones

shadows on apricots

and more shadows on apricots

peach shadows on the fence

and a flower!

To see other people's shadow shots go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com

A new way to say hello!

My six words for today - 

A new way to say hello!

My daughters say hello to each other in many different ways. There's the traditional speaking when in the same room, there's whispering, shouting from the other end of the house, waving, knocking on walls, facebook, instagram, snapchat, texting, email, etc.

As of today there's a new method - send a document to the wireless printer so the person near the printer gets up to see what's happening. 

We are enjoying our new printer. No more smudges of ink. No more having to email documents to ourselves from devices. No more waiting for someone to get off the computer when we want to print something. 

To see other people's descriptions of their week (or part thereof) in six words go here. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - November 2nd, 2014

Yesterday I noticed a little weed along with its cute shadow and hoped that I would see it again today for Shadow Shot Sunday. I did.

To see other people's shadow shots go here. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - October 26th, 2014

Shadow Shot Sunday was a challenge today! It seemed that the sun was well hidden behind the clouds and only came out for a second at a time. Except when I went inside when it stayed out a little longer only to hide again when I got outside with the camera. I did finally manage to get a few shots.

Spiky grass shadows

Shadow from a weed 

Palm tree shadows with an interesting pattern from recent light rain

Staying out of my comfort zone

My six words for Six Word Saturday this week are 

Staying out of my comfort zone

Something I seem to be doing quite a lot of the time. Which, in general, is a good thing. Every so often though I seem to stay out for a bit too long and things get a little messy. One difficulty is that often I don't know how long is too long until it's too late. It happened earlier this week when, after a poetry reading on Sunday, I was feeling rather dreadful on Monday. 

In the past I would likely have given myself a hard time and had thoughts that I had done the wrong thing. I would have believed that I shouldn't have attempted things beyond my abilities.  Now though (at least most of the time) I can acknowledge the difficult feelings whilst knowing they will pass and recognise that stepping out of my comfort zone is not a bad thing. Stepping out of the comfort zone generally increases the comfort zone so there is more space to retreat to when necessary. As it was for me on Monday. 

After a short rest in the comfort zone I was ready again for new challenges. I find that it's important not to spend too much time in the comfort zone either or it begins to shrink. 

Despite its rocky beginnings this week was a good one for me. One thing I enjoyed was our first session of linocut printing and have begun to practise some cutting. 

It's going to take a while to get used to the tools and how they cut... I'm beginning to think about what I would like to print and really glad to be exploring the processes with such a wonderful group of women! 

Shadow Shot Sunday - October 19th, 2014

Shadowy branches for Shadow Shot Sunday today. 

To see other people's shadow shots go here. 

In parallel

I haven't posted any poems on here for a while. Inspiration for the following poem came from a park just around the corner from where I now live. 

In parallel 

A home for a time on each 
three streets 
ramble along inside me 
six, twenty and now 
parallel lines 
never to meet 

The six year old 
watching a kite fly
whilst shadowed by a cat 
at twenty playing soccer 
with a little brother 
and now passing through 
to meet a teenage daughter 

I meld myself 
in the middle 
of three parallel streets 
the once-green grass 
now a carpet of hearts 
and a leafless tree 
with forked branches 
reaches upwards 

In this park I am the page 

Today 
everything is different 
and nothing has changed 

            -----

The tree in the poem is no longer there at all apart from a stump. 

Here is a photo of it as it was when I wrote the poem. The only photos I have of it were taken using Hipstamatic. 

The beauty in being a beginner...

My six words for Six Word Saturday - 

The beauty in being a beginner

I was out in the backyard earlier this week and noticed rather a lot of noise coming from above me. I went inside and got my camera, trying out a lens I don't normally use which allowed me to get some closer shots. Although I've had the camera for quite a while I haven't used it very much. I have been trying out some of the different settings and feeling very aware of being  a beginner. That can be quite frustrating. I know with time and practice, if I am dedicated enough, I will be able to take much better photos. Being a beginner can also be quite rewarding and enjoyable. Often results come quickly and learning is fast in beginning stages. I'm quite happy with my initial attempts at photographing these birds. 

I didn't know what type of bird these were. Bird identification - another skill where I am a beginner. These days Google is a great help for beginners and I found quickly found out they are Red Wattlebirds (Anthochaera carunculata). Taking these photos got me thinking more about being a beginner. 

I enjoy beginnings. I moved house quite a lot as a child and really enjoyed the explorations of new environments that were to become familiar ones. A few years ago I did my first public poetry reading. I remember how nervous I was but also how rewarding it was to do. I am more comfortable with reading my poetry now and it is not such a big deal. I do miss a little that feeling after the first few times I read but I don't miss the severe anxiety beforehand. 

This week has been a busy one with many beginnings. It's the beginning of a new school term here after two weeks holidays so we've been returning to routines. My oldest daughter has begun a new job and it's been exciting listening to her stories. There's such a lot to learn with a new job. I'm involved with a couple of community groups in their beginning stages and both are rather exciting. This week one of the groups is starting some linocut printing. It's been fun shopping for supplies and I'm looking forward to getting started. It won't be a completely new thing but it has been decades since I've done any linocut printing! 

There's a lot to value in beginnings...