summer

Summer. Summer. Summer.

| Sheree

Are you seeking security or adventure?

The Return of the Goddess

I’m got that summer feeling.

I’ve been sky writing from time that come 14 July I’m on holiday. I’m away from work. I’m not answering any of your emails, WhatsApp messages, demands or urgencies. I’m off the clock.

Because of the weather, this holiday time has come a day early. And I’m bubbling with excitement.

I’m having no leaky boundaries here. I’m gonna protect my down time. I’m gonna have a complete switch off to recharge my batteries.

This feeling of excitement reminds me of when I was a kid and the summer holidays stretched out in front of me. So much time to explore and play and just be.

I embrace this feeling now with so much joy and gratitude that I’m open for what adventures lie ahead. Adventures of my own making as I’m the adult now not the kid. I’m not beholden to anyone else’s whims or demands or plans. Whatever happens over the coming month or so is all of my own doing. And I love the sound of that. The feel of that.

Summer. Summer. Summer.

Living in the /cracks/

| Sheree

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve been here.

This year is flying. I’m not sure how I’m marking the time.

I seem to be flowing in and out of the /cracks/ with consciousness and then not.

The brain is foggy at the moment after a busy period. And maybe I’m not as coherent as I’d like to be.

As words fail me, I’m coming back with imagery. Evidence that I have been living and experiencing joy and pleasure but maybe not consistent enough.

I know I long for summer and I’m tending to my needs to get over that line into restland.

I’m not there quite yet. But I can see it in the distance.

Soon come.

Late Blooms

| Sheree

You know me. I love me some autumn. But these past few days while walking out daily, I’ve been enjoying the last blooms of summer.

Especially those hydrangeas. I love me some hydrangeas.

The blousy bouncy full blooms of these flowers make my heart sing. So much beauty in such a compact space makes me swoon.

What’s your favourite flower?

Summer Activities

| Sheree

Hello hello. how goes it with you?
Call it the teacher still in me after all theses years, but I just love to have the six weeks summer holidays off the clock. In the past, it was easier to make it so what with having the kids off school and everything. And now, well I just love the feeling of freedom the summer holidays give me.

I let go of trying to do everything for everyone and I allow myself the time and space to fill my creative pot. Things slow down, I rest a lot and eat and drink a lot. And just {BE}.

I’m truly grateful that I’m able to take this extended break and not worry too much about the bank balance. That doesn’t mean I’m rolling in it, but it does mean that I’ve made allowances for this break through my actions and behaviours throughout the year. And we just make do also. Nothing extravagant happens over the summer. We usually stay close to home but we focus on downtime, and free or low spend activities. It’s about being together that’s the important bit.

So as the summer holidays come to at end nearly, we’ve got a bit of time left to go visit family, get into some kind of water source, sea or pool, and fill our creative pots with a gallery or museum visit or two. Simple living which fills me with joy because I’m not trying to live up to some kind of ideal or perfection or keep the one kid left at home run ragged or totally occupied all of the time. I believe in allowing kids getting bored as that’s when the imagination kicks in. Hence my love of rest, downtime, and doing nothing. As in the scheme of things, on the outside it might look like ‘doing’ nothing, but inside sparks are sparking and foundations are being laid for the new season on the horizon.

Autumn, my favourite season is just around the corner. And I can feel the excitement rising already. You like my plush pumpkins in the image above? Autumn plans are afoot.

Summer Summer Summer

| Sheree

Mid July has come and gone and the summer holidays are nearly upon us, and my life do I need a rest. So rest I will be doing. Well resting from the public eye. It might seem as if nothing is happening here because I might not be posting as often as I’d like. But let me tell you, behind the scenes I’m still beavering away. But I’m fixing now to rest. Rest into my practice that hold me at times of upheaval and trouble.

So I’ll be walking, dog walking, writing, journaling, dreaming on paper, yoga, mindfulness, good food and drink and catching up with friends. What I’ll be sharing here are images. Images of the good stuff and living. As I have to remind myself (and you maybe also) that it’s all about the joy. Or it should be and if you’re not feeling it then make plans to get yourself some. JOY.

Studio Notes @ Substack

| Sheree

I’ve just spent the last half hour or so crafting this month’s Studio Note over on Substack.

I’m still not to grips with it all over there. Still features I haven’t explored yet but I’m enjoying the ease of it all. Simple.

Go check it out and see what I’ve been musing about in the heat/ heart of summer, summer, summer.

May Gratitudes

| Sheree

May 2023, will go down as the month that kicked my butt. Hard.

On so many fronts, and with many changes and challenges. Maybe I’m being melodramatic in the scheme of things. In the scheme of things, my life and challenges are small and insignificant. But it’s my life. And hell if I don’t pay attention to it. {BE} in it. Present.

I’m glad May is over and I have that beginning of a new month kind of excited vibe. But before I jump into June, I’d like to give thanks for what May has delivered to my door. The good and the bad. As I believe, even the bad, difficulties and pains, turn out to be blessings later on down the line. I just have to keep the faith and trust that all will be revealed in time.

For now I’m grateful for:

  • the late night walks with the sun just going down and a chill in the air.
  • the pleasant company of Miss Ella when she’s in a good mood! And also when she’s not as she still makes me laugh!
  • the bonds of friendship with people near and far, for long and short periods of time.
  • the opportunity to share my words with other people.
  • the opportunity to share my artworks with other people
  • the success of applications submitted.
  • the rejections of applications submitted as they always give me the opportunity to reflect and refocus.
  • the promise of a restful summer.
  • the green plants that keep me company and lift my mood.
  • the morning black coffee and dark brown sugar.
  • the comfort of hot noodles.
  • the roof above my head for now.
  • icepacks, and comfy sofas, YouTube content and music.
  • humour, wherever it comes from.
  • my body, big or small, young and old, she has always been there for me.
  • late night conversations.
  • single malt whiskey.
  • the dawn chorus.
  • workshops and readings facilitated by others that really support my creative practice.
  • morning pages, visual journaling and words/ images/collage.
  • an endless supply of brown moving boxes and tape.
  • selling, donating, giving books away and feeling lighter in the process.
  • scented candles and afternoon breezes.
  • the sea, always the sea and more!

Meditative Walks

| Sheree

Thank goodness for the long light nights. They’ve been pulling me outdoors. Even after full days of activities, I’m finding solace in evening walks. Alone with my thoughts. Alone with my feelings.

I appreciate these spaces and places I roam. Allowing my senses to land upon some beauty. Some part of nature to hold my attention. To hold my hope.

Thank you.