What Flower Did Next...

...The Artist's Way!

This is my third attempt at TAW. (I am not alone, it takes most people a few attempts to really get going).

I'm doing it because I know that in life at the moment, I am looking for something... and I know it's inside... and I know it's creative... but I don't know what it is... or where inside it is...

So I'm enlisting JC's help

I find the morning pages tough (writing 3 pages of stream of consciousness writing first thing in the a.m.)
the artist's dates easier (taking yourself off somewhere to do something creatively nurturing and fun)
the tasks hellish (discovering and talking to your inner demons)

but this time. THIS TIME. I am determined to complete the course.

So far it has encouraged me to write on this blog, study photography and sign up for oil painting and photoshop classes..

gulp..

imagine what I will do when I actually finish the course.. WOW!



Today's favourite song: Iglu and Hartly, 'In This City'

Poppy and me

My very talented dog-photographer-friend let me go on a dog shoot with her last week. The sitter was Poppy, a golden retriever.

I didn't realise how much fun it could be..

..mostly due to rolling around in the grass trying to find an interesting angle and shot to take! Here are my best shots:

















Today's favourite song: Oliver Shanti 'Onon Mweng'

Yes. I. Can.

I don't know much about U.S. politics. I don't know much about Barack Obama.

I do know hope, optimism, and vision, which is what I get from this video. Regardless of your particular political persuasion, just watch the video and take the message..'Yes We Can'. Turn it into a subjective message for yourself... 'Yes I Can'. DO whatever it is you're afraid of, SAY whatever it is that you're afraid of, BE whoever you're afraid to be. If you're skulking in the shadows, let the message sink into you. 'Yes You Can'.

Today's favourite song; Will.I.Am 'Yes We Can'

Annie Leibovitz beware!

Today, I took some photos!

I have taken photos for as long as I can remember. I have always had a camera. But I have never *taken* photos.

I have begun my journey into photography!

I snapped 100 times. Most of the shots soon made their acquaintance with the 'delete' button but nevertheless, I am thrilled with my fledgling attempt. I used an old (bashed) compact Kodak digital camera and the quality is er... not what it could be ... (I have images of pros sniggering into their viewfinders). Soon however, I hope to be getting my sticky little hands on a digital SLR camera...

As the characters in the show I'm watching are wont to say - Yay!

The location


The Flora



The Fauna





Today's favourite (happy) song: Martha & The Muffins 'Echo Beach'

Engage

I feel like I'm coming back to life.

Four years of illness and I feel like I'm slowly emerging from the chrysalis.

I know my future involves creativity but discovering in what form that might take has taken a while. The answer? Through the internet: blogs, photography, songs, words: from around the world. I'm still struggling to engage with the real word, my body isn't up to it, but... Emerging from the fog, I need to learn to write again, to see again, to feel and to experience again. I have seen beauty in this illness, now I will discover beauty in the (cyber)world around me.

So today I begin my blog. It revives me to feel a purpose in this world. Can my purpose be just thoughts on a page? Somewhere, somehow, they are important. So, I will be exploring (my) life through blogs, photography, songs and words. I'm looking forward to the ride. Come right along with me.

Flower xxx

Today's favourite song: The Oyster Band 'The Oxford Girl'