Thermos for Two
Posted on August 18, 2015 Leave a Comment
We were road-tripping again. Darby and Joan out on our own exploring.
I’d packed a lunch with a thermos full of boiling water so we could make a cuppa along the way.
Although the wind was pretty nippy, the sun was out with not a cloud in the sky at the White Pine Reserve in Awakeri, Bay of Plenty, so it seemed the perfect spot after we had walked the track.
A paddock full of grass-munching bovines opposite was filling the air with a good healthy lot of … well, cow smells… and the stream running passed was beautifully noisy. A real gurgling stream that seemed just perfect for this sunny winter’s day out with nature’s best.
It was so peaceful. Just perfect as we sat enjoying ‘together’.
Grateful for this thermos for two.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Icicles Dripping Fun
Posted on July 16, 2015 Leave a Comment
Coming up last he spotted what we had all missed. A frozen moment in time hanging from a fallen log.
Icicles clinging.
Water suspended.
Colours reflecting transparent.
And the competition started.
Trying to get the angle, the light, the wonder of it captured forever.
Swapping places to see if we could do better than the other.
Concentration high, mouths tense with the willing, laughter ringing loud as we jostled each other for best photo.
Grateful for the camaraderie as we enjoyed nature’s gift here in the Kaimanawas.
Do you have someone you love spending time with? Laughing with? Fun competing with? Have you told them how much you love being with them? Leave a comment below if you do.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Palette Knife Paintings
Posted on July 15, 2015 Leave a Comment
You just get one go.
No going back over it.
No trying to fix this bit or change that.
Just ONE go.
Think it through…colours…order of colours on the knife…light, shadows, …
Play it through in your mind
Visualise the paint flowing off that knife
One swish across the canvas
and voilà!
You’re done!
That’s the theory…now the adventure of making it a reality 🙂
“Stump” is the first of a New Zealand bush series done with paletteknife using acrylics on canvas. It was found in the Opepe Forest on one of our afternoon walks with the dog.
What do you think? Do you like the colours? Are they New Zealand bush colours? Leave a comment below and tell me your impressions.
Daffodils in Winter
Posted on July 13, 2015 2 Comments
Christmas decorations seem to come out earlier and earlier each year. Hot cross buns stay later and daffodils arriving in stores early July?
Personally, I don’t like it. Each of these traditional times is special in it’s own time and season. BUT…
daffodils arriving for my birthday I can totally get into!
A bunch blooming brilliant yellow is gracing my table and filling my soul with delight.
Grateful!
Do you love daffodils? What’s your favourite spring flower? Do you like Christmas coming early? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Holding Out on You.
Posted on July 3, 2015 Leave a Comment
It’s true! I’ve been holding out on you.
My sincerest apologies, but I just clean forgot to make the post.
A while ago I entered ‘Kiwi on Tryfan’ that I painted for that special Uncle, in the local Shirley’s Shoes art competition.
I got mail from Middle-earth…just love that Hobbit reference actually on the mail here in NZ…
They had honoured me with a place in their Autumn/Winter 2015 catalogue. Shirley’s Shoes is known for it’s great range of good quality shoes, so if you haven’t got a catalogue yet and would like some fantastic shoes follow the link to get your copy sent out. ...Shirley’s Shoes. And while you are looking for shoes take a moment to admire the amazing art on each page.
The Familial Kookaburra
Posted on July 2, 2015 Leave a Comment
Living on a lifestyle block in Queensland full of gum and avocado trees, we got to see lots of Kookaburras right up close. Being a two storied house on a hill we virtually eyeballed each other all day long. And in that time, I learnt a lot.
We had them coming on to the balcony every afternoon for a feed of mince. Who wouldn’t come?! Some of those cheeky butcher birds tried to get in on the free feed as well.
Among the Kookie family was an injured bird…healthy enough, just with a twisted foot that stopped him landing quite as gracefully on the balustrade. So, his family would either take food back to him in the tree or call to him to come over if we went inside. That way he could do a landing-splat onto the balcony itself rather than the railing.
Often, those butcher birds would suddenly appear when he had come over and try to take his food. Familial blood runs very strong for the Kookaburra and the Butcher birds met a bit of fierce competition on a few occasions. It was a great lesson in ‘blood running thick’. Points to the familial Kookaburra!
This drawing was done using charcoal on 180gms paper.
The Calling Card
Posted on July 1, 2015 Leave a Comment
Coming to, I was greeted with the sound of gentle dove coos.
Laying there with eyes still closed just listening and drinking in the moment.
I love doves.
My dad built me an aviary when I was a girl and I had four white turtle doves. The bobbing and cooing are all tied up in happy memories for me.
I had asked one of yesterday’s staff here at Ormlie Lodge, who had trained the doves playing in the fountain, but he assured me that no one had done so. Apparently, they just periodically appear in the grounds. They were picture perfect against the white lodge and manicured green lawns.
And here they where this morning greeting me. What a gift!
Creeping out of bed so as not to make a sound, and peeking round the curtains I was blessed with eight pure white doves doing the bob and coo whilst foraging for seeds in the bottom of the potplant outside our room. I watched for ages imbibing of the pleasure. Such a treat sent from heaven! I thanked him for the gift.
Later, I went outside on the balcony and found, to my delight, one white unblemished feather. He had given me a calling card to remember it by…Grateful!
The next morning I awoke to silence and I admit to being disappointed. I was telling him how I really appreciated yesterday’s visit but would try not to be greedy wanting another. He replied telling me that his love for me was way bigger than one visit from a flock of turtle doves! Instantly I was overwhelmed with bobbing and cooing that far outweighed yesterday’s performance.
WOW! I. AM. LOVED!!!
Lynda Symons ©2015
Smelling Divine!
Posted on June 30, 2015 Leave a Comment
I don’t think too often about God’s ability to smell. Do you?
But he must…
Otherwise why do we have references to being a ‘soothing aroma’ to him?
Or a ‘stench in his nostrils’?
Some even say they have physically smelt the presence of God. I can’t claim that, but as I walked into the room I was delighted with the first Jonquils of the season filling the room with their aroma.
Treated to a long weekend away in the most beautiful of places… Ormlie Lodge…boutique accommodation in Hawkes Bay (they got that one right!). It really was beautiful! Fantastic staff…very friendly and nothing too much trouble… everything period and just gorgeous from the moment you entered the grounds till you drove back down that sweeping driveway. But for all the gold chairs, four poster beds and underfloor heating, those jonquils blessed me the most on our arrival.
I love beauty. It was a weekend feasting on it at every turn, but the little yellow Jonquils spreading their cheer in our room were just perfect for me. Thank you to the person who followed the ‘nudge’ and put them there cos throughout the rest of the lodge were dainty little vases of iceberg roses perfectly matching the decor. Someone knew I was coming 🙂
The say a little bit of the artist is translated into every painting. Well, I guess, God must smell great…even divine! And it showed in his creation on the dresser. Grateful for this gift…Jonquils smelling divine!
Lynda Symons ©2015
The Blessing of Boots
Posted on June 25, 2015 Leave a Comment
On wet winter days I would come home with feet soaked and cold from walks with the dog.She didn’t seem fazed but I wasn’t finding it too exciting.
My darling dearest woke up one Saturday morning and announced that we were going shopping for a new pair of tramping boots (hiking for those of other more demure cultures). I replied that it wasn’t on our budget list. He replied to me that we would just go have a look anyway!
I should have known that he had been talking to the big Fulla about it. We walked into the first shop to find a few pairs on sale. One of them just my size and a perfect fit at under half price. All my complaints were booted straight out the door 🙂
Now, the dog and I go walking, rain, hail or shine, and I come home with toasty warm feet… Even DRY feet!!! Thankfully, she still doesn’t care. Imagine having to buy boots for the dog as well!
Grateful for their team effort.
Lynda Symons©2015
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