I’m going to try…

I say that so many times for so many reasons. I’m going to try and restart that exercise program (after hurting my back in Jan!) I’m going to try and incorporate more vegetarian/vegan meals in to the menu (apparently the rest of the family’s opinions matter more than mine!) in April I said “I’m going to try and do a monthly Blogging challenge (tick) and a monthly art challenge where you do some form of art for a given prompt. (BIG ✅) not only did l do both the blog and art, I realised how much l’ve missed both of them!

So this month I’m going to try and do both again! So I’ve decided to try #kickinthecreative’s monthly challenge for May it’s called #bloomingmarvellousMay and each day of May you can produce a piece of art, any size, any medium anything goes and you post it and add the hash tag so that the gals Sandra and Tara from Kick in the Creatives can find your work. Some people take photos, some use real flowers in their submissions, some even write poetry on Blooms really anything is open. Does any one want to join me?

My first submission was called “Violet Avonia” these names as previously discussed are family names but l only found out yesterday that apart from Violet being a flower Avonia is a flowering succulent and her surname Campion is a flower as well! We have a bouquet of beautifulness!! So I thought in honor on Violets birth “I’m going to try and paint a Violet” despite only getting three hours sleep and being a bit like a zombie l think this turned out ok!

1st of May submission “Violet Avonia”

Then l wondered about the names of the other grandchildren and how l can make them into works of art for this challenge I’ve got some great plans.. follow along if you like! Today I’ll be creating for Violet‘s big sister Scarlett, then I’ll work my way through the rest of the Grandchildren that gives me a weeks worth of inspiration then l’ll be looking for suggestions so if you have a favourite flower yell out and l’m going to try and do a whole months worth! I’m not saying they’ll all be good! I’m not promising they’ll all be on paper or in water colour or paint, I’m going to try and mix things up!

I’m going to try and get back into regular writing and creating of art because part of me felt lost last year when it all went away! I’m going to try to find my way back!

NaNoWriMo has started!

Let the writing begin!

National Novel Writing Month… is November and last year I signed up when I heard about it from my fellow blogger Corrina. That book which I called “September Moon” practically wrote itself and I smashed the 50,000 word count for the month.

This year I have decided to finally write that travel memoir that I’ve always wanted to write, so today it began. First day, I forced myself to stop at 4,006 words. I’m happy with that start. This month is also my busy work month, I only work one month of the year, and a few odd days here and there, I am a Chief Exam supervisor and that means I do the setting up, supervising of, collection of the exams and take them home to await the courier. The first day was yesterday, English is the biggest in number and the longest exam. Today it was psychology and smaller group and less time 9.00 am till 11:45am. So November is my busy month.

Last Month I did my first “Inktober” art challenge, which meant that all the prompt for that had to be drawn in ink. I got mixed messages, some people said only to write in ballpoint pen, some were using real ink, some were painting with ink, some were using ink markers, some used colour, some none colour. Confusing much?! I ended up using ball point pen and the odd marker, and some I added a touch of water colour paint to.

At the same time, I participated in #Jentober with Jenny Manno over at Next JENeration Art in a Facebook group. So Jenny offered prompts and we were invited to interpret them in any medium. I had never heard of most of the characters, thank goodness for Google!

Then over in #Kickinthecreative another Facebook group, I chose the challenge #outandaboutOctober, because I knew we were going away to Cairns. The idea here was you take your sketchbook out and about with you and paint, or sketch what you see. I did that a few times, bit the rebel in me ended up taking photos and using them at home sometimes. Some days I felt like I pushed myself too hard, especially when I slipped behind for a few days. But at the end of the month I am so happy to look back and see what I have achieved! One thing I did achieve was I stopped pre drawing with pencil and just started painting with watercolour. Yay me!

In #kickinthecreatives this month, I am doing #kickcollageNovember each day we are to make a collage, whether it s a whole image or just a background or some element of collage.

Here are some I prepared for today.

So I will check back in and update you on NaNoWriMo, if you are there and want to add me as a buddy my user name is Kkitten. Lets get writing!

October has begun!

October is fairly busy for us.

We had a lovely camping trip from Thursday 27th September until Monday 1st October.

We had two of our children join us the two eldest ones and three and a half of our Grandchildren.

Squishy is 4, Faerygirl is 2 (going on 21!) Little Dude is 9 weeks old and Belly Babe is still in utero!

Little Dude- 9 weeks first camping trip.

Squishy boy- 5 in December caught the ONLY fish!

Faerygirl know known as Camping Chick! 2 yrs old bathing in a tub!

We had a great time although no internet reception was slightly a pain.

Today and tomorrow l am sitting with my cousin who is house bound while she recovers from surgery.

Today we watched the movie “Victoria and Abdul” it was a great movie! Plus we did some art.

On the subject of art.. I promised you all l would post a flip through of my art journal for missing the last few days of the month in regards to my art.

Now even though the #blogfestseptember is officially over l solemnly do swear to stay in regular touch with y’all… I’ve missed blogging be honest.

This month in #kickinthecreatives

I’ve chosen to do the prompt #OutAndAboutOctober so that means out of my house and sketching in public or somewhere not in my house.

Here are day one and two…

Day one- Ursula our camper before we left Carter’s Beach.

Day 2- Charlie’s house on my back deck technically l was out of the house lol.

Have a great week everyone!

Chat soon.

September 30- Relaxing!

Relaxing.

Dear Tara and Sandra,

By the time you read this poem, I’ll be on the banks of river

Camping.

Soaking up sunshine, and probably damaging my liver,

With too much wine, and too many songs

Relaxing and doing nothing wrong.

Camping is my happy place, to feel the sunshine on my face,

Kick off my shoes and feel the sand beneath my toes

Stare into space and let my mind wander wherever it goes!

When we are camping, not much gets done,

We might fish, drink wine, do art have fun!

Away from home I’m free to be me,

Relaxing under the swaying gum trees!

Another month has come and gone,

#sketchathon, #BlogfestSeptember and #poetember are done.

I’ve drawn animals, machinery, trees and more

Written poems and lines and rhymes galore.

As always much fun has been had, even made some new friends.

But all good things must come to an end,

Looking forward to Octobers challenges-

Working out the prompts sometimes takes some balancing.

Thanks again for challenging me.

#poetember #kickinthecreatives #blogfestSeptember

September 25- Attitude

Attitude!

A is for Aria- who has a feisty attitude!

T is for Tanny- her humour can be rude.

T is for Tony- his attitude to family sucks!

I is for Island- which is the breeding ground for the ducks.

T is for thinking- we should before we speak!

U is Ursula- a nicer camper you’ll never meet.

D is for derision- another form of attitude.

E is for evaluation- whether its rude, crude or subdued!

Attitude means many things, it differs for each person,

If you over evaluate it, the situation might worsen.

The girls in our family all have feisty attitudes,

But we love them any way! And thats how this poem concludes.

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#sketchathon #Blogfestseptember

September 24- Invention

Invention

Originated, creation, Innovation, it all means Invention.

Something created for a specific intention.

The printing press was Johannes Gutenberg famous invention,

I’m thankful to him when ever I read with attention!

Carl Wilhelm Siemens invented in the 1880’s- aluminium

To keep our soft drinks handy and portable

a cold beer in a can is easily transportable!

Orville Wright, his invention, a plane!

Aviation was never the same.

Just in time for my trip to the United Kingdom,

I’m taking my Bestie as my wingman!

So many famous people, through their invention

Have been brought to our attention.

Charles Babbage, we can call him Charlie,

Famous invention was the computer!

Im sure his schooling was done through a tutor!

Cai Lun, was Chinese, his invention was paper!

He used bark, silk and fishing net- oh what a caper.

I’m thankful to him, for the paper I use,

to write down these poems, to keep myself amused.

Last but not least in this invention poem

William Henry Fox Talbot, a man little known.

His invention was photography, and to him I applaud

So I can take photos of my trip abroad!

Precious memories I will always treasure,

Photography is such a pleasure.

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#Sketchathon #BlogfestSeptember

September 23- Musical.

Musical

Musical is the rain on an old worn tin roof,

Its romantic as long as the roof is waterproof!

Musical is the sounds of the magpies warbling

Just as the evening sky starts darkening.

Musical is the sound of the waterfall bubbling

Over the rocks as it makes its way gurgling

From high in the mountains, down to the sea,

Musical are the waves crashing to me!

Musical is the sound of small people laughing,

Or the way they sing a silly song full of waffling

words that are silly and nonsensical-

Being with Grandchildren is like a festival.

Musical is nature, it never fails to astound me,

The groan of a branch, the whisper of a tree.

The snap of the twig, and the sigh of the breeze.

None of these musical sounds are recorded-

But those who listen for them are rewarded.

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#sketchathon #Septemberblogfest

September 22- Wealth.

Wealth

An abundance of valuable possessions or money,

It sweetens life- just like honey!

A plentiful supply of a valuable thing,

Pearls and diamonds, necklace and a matching ring!

For me wealth is not just things,

You can keep all the diamond rings!

For me wealth is family and love,

Blessings from Jehovah above!

For me wealth is found in a good book,

One you can’t put down, not even to cook.

For me wealth is found in a special song,

The tune that dances in your head all day long.

Wealth is abundance, I have plenty of that

The love of my Grandchildren and my cat!

The little arms that squeeze you tight,

The purr of the cat, deep in the night.

For me wealth is found in special places,

Deep in the forest, at one with nature.

Wealth for me is seeing the sun rise,

Hearing the warbling cry of the Magpies.

For me wealth is gazing into a fire,

Camping alone with my hearts desire.

Wealth for me is the love of my Man,

the hugs that he gives, when he’s holding my hand.

Keep all the riches, the diamonds and pearls.

I’d rather play with my little Grand girls.

Money can’t buy the wealth I possess,

The beauty that Jehovah created is no contest!

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#sketchathon #Septemberblogfest

September 21- Law

Law.

Law and Order is a television show.

Why anyone would watch it, Heaven only knows.

Speaking of Heaven, there is this book,

It’s well worth taking a look-

The Bible its called and it’s full of laws

And rules and instructions for avoiding wars.

Police parol to make sure laws are obeyed,

Both during the night and throughout the days.

Keeping an eye out for those who do wrong,

And even arresting buskers in mid song!

Laws are in place to govern the lands,

When laws are broken trouble abounds.

Like illegal boat people sneaking into our country,

But there’s special laws for the gentry.

The long and short of this tale is

If you cant behave, give it a miss!

Breaking the law is not worth the trouble!

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#Sketchathon #Septemberblogfest

September 20- Stick

Stick

“Here you go fetch the stick!”

You throw the stick, she chases the stick,

She never brings the stick back!

Ah! to be a lazy old Golden Retriever.

“Look at the stick!”

She picks it up, she examines the stick,

She looks at the tree where the stick might have been

She waved the stick it’s her magic wand!

Ah! to be a four year old again!

“Sticks! I need some smaller ones”

The Mother bird tells her young,

“To repair this nasty hole in our nest

To keep you warm, I try my best!”

Ah! to be a Mumma Bird!

“Sticks I need smaller sticks!”

Searching around the trees, he needs kindling

To light the fire, the stars are twinkling,

We’re camping again. Making damper!

Ahhh!! to be around a camp fire!

#poetember #kickinthecreatives

#sketchathonseptember #Septemberblogfest