Organic Matter...

I loved doing this...

Finding sweet organic elements to spell out my name for Camera Craft.

Class starts today and it's so exciting.  It's still not too late to sign up.

I'm so excited to start... I'll be late to class this week because I'm away.

But I will be playing catch up for sure.

To the lovely people who signed up through my button, I just want to say a huge thank you!

I appreciate your love and support.

See you in class - can't wait.  Yay!

Say Cheese....

We popped over to my folks farm and cheesery for a few days.  It's been almost 5 years since Kitty has been here. Plus we felt while Corks was away it would be nice for Kitty to do something different during the holidays.  Plus with all the flu in the house and the cold weather, we felt it would be good to have some milder days. The days are much warmer here and they have beautiful winter sun.

I'm still not 100% better but definitely getting there.

The chats and connection, stunning, every meal together, sacred.  I know that's a particular highlight for my Dad, for me too.  We live about 14 hours away from each other (traveling by road).  So whenever we meet up, it's special.  My brother and his family have been visiting too.  We nostalgically went through old childhood pics. I discovered new things.

We took a tour of the property (it's large).  The dairy, the factory and the cheesery.  I marvel at all my parents have done.  They are truly remarkable human beings.  Every single thing they have done, they have done with their own hands, own hearts and true grit.  Seeing that in action is precious.  I hope I will be able to be such an example to my girls.

My heart is bursting with admiration today.

Tender excited farewells

And we have lift-off...

Lots of hoping, lots of planning, lots of dreaming and lots of saving.  And today the day arrived.

I have never been prouder and more stoked for my girl.

I couldn't think of a more deserving one.  She's worked her butt off to be here.

She's growing up!  Seeing her heart on fire has blown me away.

#InMyStudio.... At last

So I've noticed when I'm nervous about painting.  I keep myself busy with life, extra blogging and anything really, to avoid being where I need to be. I'm the queen of procrastination. I don't know exactly why my brain works like this because once I start... 

It's always such a joy!

And today was a pure joy time #inmystudio.  I started off filming a little for TinyBagsofLove, made two miniature teacups with paperclay and then I started painting... It's been a while... So it was good to be back!

I'm pleased to say I'm feeling much better today, definitely more capacity!  I had a full afternoon and I was pretty exhausted this evening... But tomorrow is another day.  As far as today is concerned, it was a good day!

I loved painting that hand today...

They are getting easier each time I try

10Day PhotoChallenge - that's a wrap

That's a wrap!  The 10Day PhotoChallenge.

I loved every moment of it!

I learnt so much and tried new things.

But most of all I loved the words... So deeply personal.

Touching and resonating - I feel a little altered after working through them.

I can't wait to head into class and dig a little deeper!

Finding my voice...

So I know I have a large capacity and I usually operate maxed out and I guess when I don't feel like I have "get up and go" - I'm completely miserable.  So being ill the past 10 days or so has knocked me off my feet and landed me squarely on my back.  I thought I had a minor head cold but instead of getting progressively better, I seemed to be getting progressively worse.  With no voice for 5 days running and chest so tight that breathing was a challenge - I was officially freaked out.  So I finally carried myself off to the doctor yesterday not only to discover that my ears, throat and lungs are infected but it seems I've been having an allergic reaction to my BarleyBeanBag.

{Just on that note I feel I should say... I am totally besotted about my BarleyBag.  My family tease me about it all the time but I love the smell of the barley and of course, adore the warmth}.

With it being so cold I've been heating it up, wrapping my hands in it and keeping it close to my chest and face and going to sleep like that.  I have been inadvertently breathing in the poisonous fumes.  With strict instructions from my Doctor, I've had to throw that poisonous sack of warmth away, which I've done and I've been put on a cortisone inhaler for the next two weeks amongst other meds to help clear my chest.  I am now hopefully heading in the right direction.

As for Riley boy here - over the years we have noticed if anyone in the family is sick, he usually goes and lies right on top of the infected area, it's like he knows what's going on inside.  Sweet boy.

"Dr Riley is on call today"

Beautiful Photography Play....

#1. The Art of Seeing                                                                       #2. Into the Light

#3. Shadow Dancing                                                                       #4. WabiSabi

Beautiful creative photography play this week.

Galia's 10 free countdown prompts to CameraCraft.

Can you tell how excited I am to get into class?  If the depth of the prompts are anything to go by,

then I know the class is going to be beautifully resonating.

There are already a bunch of us doing the daily prompts.

So loving it.