Category Archives: creativity

Our New Garden

16 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in creativity, one with nature

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This is the garden we’ve acquired with our new home. African daisies are in full flower, in various colours. DSC03843DSC03838DSC03840

There are a couple of flower beds in front of the house. One easy care bed with rosemary bushes. One beside the drive with roses, small azaleas, lilies and other as yet unidentified plants. IMG_2873IMG_3268A

At the back, there is a large wooden deck area, with the real garden behind the hedge. When we viewed the house the two raised vegetable beds were full, but they were empty when we moved in. So we are starting from scratch in those beds.IMG_2542AIMG_2546IMG_2473image

On the right hand side of the decking there are olive trees and one citrus bush. The lemons had been picked before we moved in but olives are maturing on at least one tree.IMG_2543IMG_2545

We are happy that there is no lawn and we won’t need a mower. As this is the first garden we’ve had in Australia, we had no tools or equipment. We only had a hand trowel for our balcony herb box in our rental place. So we have purchased gloves, secateurs, watering can and a hose to begin our new garden journey.

I’m looking forward to the coming months, to see what this garden will reveal. The first year will be full of surprises.

Does anyone know what this lovely soft leave bush might be?DSC03845

Office Elves

20 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in creativity, Uncategorized

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I haven’t written here for a while, life has been busy. But I wanted to share the fun we’ve had at work with our Office Elves. It started as a Christmas decoration challenge, with our elf characters placed along the top of a partition.

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But the elves have taken on a life of their own, getting up to mischief overnight.

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The favourite was when the elves had a party at the photo copier.

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“5000 Poppies”

04 Sunday Nov 2018

Posted by in creativity, remembering / musing

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As we approach Remembrance Day and commemorations to mark one hundred years since the end of the First World War, there is a beautiful tribute at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
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“What began as a small personal tribute by two Australian women to honour their fathers who fought in World War II, became an international tribute of respect and remembrance to those who have served in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, their families and their communities.”

“Lynn Berry and Margaret Knight set out to crochet a humble 120 poppies to “plant” at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne Australia for Remembrance Day in 2013 in honour of their fathers who fought in WWII.”

“The idea sparked a massive community outpouring with tens of thousands of contributors, from Australia, New Zealand and beyond, making hundreds of thousands of beautiful handcrafted poppies.”

March 2015 – Melbourne Flower and Garden Show.
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Anzac Day 2015 – Melbourne’s Federation Square for the city’s centenary of Anzac commemorations.
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May 2016 – RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London
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July 2016 – Fromelles France
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Remembrance Day 2017 – Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne
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Remembrance Day 2018 – Canberra Airport
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I am honoured to have crocheted just a few poppies for this project, these artworks, these tributes.
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All photos and quotes from 5000 Poppies.

The Peoples Library

19 Wednesday Sep 2018

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This month, there is an interactive literary exhibition, in a gallery in Hobart.

113 books are on display.IMG_7516

Multiple copies are available to pick up and read, to take over to a chair. Drinks and snacks are on hand.IMG_7534

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There are various events, book club discussions, audience with authors, silent reading parties.

We visited the gallery on a rainy Saturday. Randomly, I chose a book, chose a page and took a photo of the text. I’m amazed at the variety of content, prose, fiction, poetry, autobiography, even opera with music score.IMG_7526IMG_7524IMG_7531IMG_7522IMG_7529

I want to visit again and get inside more of these books.IMG_7538

More info at http://thepeopleslibrary.net

Wellbeing in the Workplace

06 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by in creativity, more to life

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The Aged Care organisation that I work for has a strong culture of wellness and enablement for both clients and staff.

Each month, our office has a theme that encourages team work, inclusion, communication and encourages us to regularly get away from the desk for a few minutes.

In August, the theme was “Creativity”. We had lunch time sessions on origami, doodle art, zen-tangle, paper creations, toilet roll quilling, paper clip characters. We got knotted with a team macramé challenge. Colleagues shared their own creative passions and we had fun experiencing new crafts.

This month, the theme is “Air We Breathe”. As well as breathing exercises, lunch time singing sessions, we have quick challenges to roll the dice and complete the numbered task. We each have a pot of seeds to grow through September. We are all happy to take our seedlings for a short walk outside, to blow bubbles along the balcony or beside our desks. This is the most relaxed office I have worked in 🙂

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Walk inside the Art – Dark Mofo

23 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by in creativity, photography

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It’s the last weekend of Hobart’s annual winter festival. There are various art installations across the city for “Dark Mofo”.

Here are just a few of them. Free, large scale, installations, open to everyone. Art that engages you, surrounds you, absorbs you, promotes discussion.

“Leviathan” by Matthew Schreiber
A massive geometrical sculpture wrought from lasers and light.IMG_5735IMG_5726IMG_5734IMG_5743

“Winter Fires”
Footpaths amongst the low level flames.IMG_5699IMG_5706IMG_5708IMG_5707

“Spectra” by Ryoji Ikeda
49 searchlights that reach up to 15 kms into the night sky. A beautiful, spiritual experience, especially in the rain.IMG_6019IMG_E6030IMG_6021IMG_6090IMG_6010

This is the view from our place, 15 kms from Spectra’s location.DSC01660

Paint the Town Red – Part 1

12 Tuesday Jun 2018

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As Hobart prepares to welcome it’s annual DARK MOFO festival, the city is glowing a warm red colour. Multiple buildings and structures are lit by red lights. These were the first to “paint the town red”.

This is the Tasman Bridge which crosses the River Derwent, linking the city to the Eastern Suburbs, airport and East Coast scenic route and Tasman Peninsular.DSC01548DSC01543

This is Wrest Point Hotel and Casino.DSC01558