August

After voting on Saturday I was feeling a bit down so we went for a coffee at Blackstar and sat (Josh in the shade and me in the sun - I can't get enough of the winter sun) and read and drew. We sat for sometime. Sitting and soaking it all up. It was lovely. Something I have long been meaning to do!



These are pictures from my garden this month. I'm sure I have said this before but gardening is such a joy. I really neglect the yard most of the time but it continues to grow and yield beautiful things.








Freshly dug turmeric root, jasmine, lime blossoms, nasturtiums, tomatoes, beans and feverfew.

LIGHT part 1 :morning:

I keep coming back to the light of Brisbane. If you are born into it, this palette of gentle pinks and oranges at dawn and dusk, the blast white of midday in summer, the lemon luminescence of mid-morning and mid-afternoon, you keep it with you, and measure all other light by it. If you live away from it, then step back into it, it is the first thing that tells you you’re home.

This description is from the back cover of a new book by author Matt Condon titled Brisbane. Richard Fidler was interviewing Matt on 612 ABC radio the other day and I just loved and resonated with his words on the light of Brisbane. I have been photographing the playing of light recently and think I will start a bit of a series.

This is what my mum does for kicks...

She organises a 12 hour(!) crafting marathon with her crafty friends. She bakes delicious sweets full of sugar and butter (she has recently lost 20kg by avoiding these and I ask if she feels guilty fattening all of us up - "no" she replies, it's our choice and they're a much loved sweet treat. She takes 2 carloads of stamps and other paraphenalia to set up a spare room at the church. She arranges little handmade gifts for everyone, prizes throughout the day, challenges, and offers all of her things for everyone to share and use. She is so busy getting meals ready for break times, demonstrating techniques and helping others that she only manages to make 2 cards through-out the day. But she loves it. And I love her. She is so hospitable. She is so generous with her time and resources. My mum Jenny also "goes to prison" every Thursday to make cards with the women there. Isn't she gorgeous?! Here are some of what I made:

Installation

Acts 2

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Cherry blossom picker

Near our old unit in Red Hill there is a cherry/apricot (or perhaps some other) beautiful blossoming tree which used to flower about this time every year. I have seen blossoms in other gardens so knew it was time. On my way home today I detoured especially past the bush but alas there were no flowers. I hope my years of picking haven't killed it. Or maybe it's late blooming this year, lets hope that's all. I remembered a new tree I had found last year in Alderley and retraced my steps to find it's glorious bows overflowing with pink.





After sweeping the floor and olive oiling the table this morning while my bread was baking the house just needed some fresh flowers and these are perfect. The other great spot I have for picking cherry blossoms is in Holland Park, which I came across quite by accident when losing my way there. Next time I'm over on the southside I will visit that old favourite spot of mine.

Important note: I only pick these flowers from trees in public parks/areas and I only pick sparingly and kindly so that the trees remain healthy and beautiful for all future generations of cherry blossom pickers and appreciators. Last photo is of our old unit in Diamond Vil. So cosy!