Magic Mushrooms
Posted on May 5, 2015 Leave a Comment
Doing our normal route we had walked past the wide-spread tree every day admiring it’s changes in colour, first golden now fire red.
But today was pouring…umbrella up and jacket pulled close.
In order to miss the slippery track we circumvented said tree from the opposite side.
What a treat waiting for us!
A patch of brilliant red and pokka dot white mushrooms hiding in the fallen leaves.
I love mushrooms. Maybe it was too many story books as a kid with fairies underneath and magic sparkling off every illustration.
The gift of joy I received at our find was definitely magic enough.
Grateful for magic mushrooms.:)
Lynda Symons ©2015
Out of my Comfort Zone
Posted on April 14, 2015 1 Comment
I knew she would love it.
Domain park in Auckland city.
Grand old trees, columned buildings, bit of family history with the site for Nanna & Poppa’s wedding photos at the Wintergardens.
Harbour views and out to Rangitoto Island.
Large open green lawns
She liked it.
But when she saw the bandstand with it’s canopy and rail, her eyes grew big and she clapped her hands in delight just like when she was little.
Scrambling out of the car she appeared to enjoy the acorns scattered on the ground, but really her intent was on getting us both to that bandstand.
Before I knew it I was being coerced into singing ‘Three Blind Mice’ with good posture, full lungs and perfect vowels.
My hands full of acorns just gathered and my heart full of enjoyment …and timidity. (Singing out loud in a public place is not quite my normal mode of operandom. ..definitely out of my comfort zone!) What gifts she has given me today!
This daughter with such a love for life and desire to enjoy it all.
Grateful.
Lynda Symons ©2015
God’s Goodnight
Posted on April 13, 2015 Leave a Comment
“A sunset, please.”
“Any particular reason why?” I ask.
“Every time I see one it feels like God is saying ‘Goodnight’.”
Searching for sunsets I came across images from all the places we have lived during our travels. He chose the Raglan sunset…west coast of New Zealand not far from his birth place. You can take a boy out of his country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.
So, my first sunset and beach scene has finally taken shape. Oil on canvas using lush vibrant colours to cast reflections of the setting sun on water forming the surf that Raglan is well known for. Grateful for this gift… the opportunity to try something new.
He loves it.
Hope you do, too.
Enjoy God’s goodnight where ever you may be, knowing that He loves you dearly.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Kiwi on Tryfan
Posted on March 30, 2015 4 Comments
Funny how we get anxious about things when there is no need at all, isn’t it?
But I was anxious.
Concerned that he might not like it.
I really wanted him to like it…to get a lot of pleasure out of it.
It had been done just for him. If you are allowed favourite uncles, then he is mine without a doubt…always has been.
This favourite uncle had done us a great favour on our resettling into New Zealand and when I asked him what else we could do to repay him he said, “Paint me a picture, girl.”
But what to paint?
I ummed and ahhed for a few months with it peculating in the back of my mind.
And then my ahah moment. Taking stuff out of his hotwater cupboard I found tucked away in the back photos and a magazine article written by himself telling of his first rockclimbing adventure as a young man in Wales. It was a published article in the Kent magazine in England, way back when, when they wore leather shorts and did it all with only a couple of ropes. Health & Safety would have a fit if you did that sort of thing nowadays. Him being the only NZer and the others all seasoned and local, he got the nickname ‘Kiwi’.
And so his painting is entitled ‘Kiwi onTryfan’.
My tribute to an awesome man.
Lomaphotography ©2015
Lomaphotography©2015
Lomaphotography©2015
And by the way, he loved it!
What do you think?
Lynda Symons ©2015
Thankful Words
Posted on March 23, 2015 Leave a Comment
I received this yesterday.
Such beautiful thankful words that blessed me all the way down to my l’il cotton socks.
Thankful for these thankful words.
Grateful for tissues close by.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Just One Tooth
Posted on March 19, 2015 2 Comments
The tall young man who just went through pain and swelling of face to get rid of wisdom teeth, once had just one tooth.
Memories are so precious.
19 years of loving and the memory forgets the details of yesteryear.
Grateful for photos that remind and tell us again of good things already past.
Lynda Symons ©2015
“I love you, Mum”
Posted on March 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
Sitting in the reception area waiting for wisdom teeth extractions. How much fun is that?!
He turns to me and says “I love you, Mum.”
“Thanks for doing this with me”.
And my mummy-heart just melted right there all over that tall lanky son who is already a man.
Grateful for this opportunity to do this for him.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Pearl of Great Price
Posted on March 13, 2015 Leave a Comment
Well, actually, it was a diamond rather than a pearl. But it definitely had a great price to me and I was identifying with that woman in Matthew 13 who was distraught and hunting high and low for her pearl.
Those kids of ours had all joined together to give me a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. That set the sentimental value at priceless, right there!
Lying on the seat beside me was the backing…
My earlobe was empty…
And my heart was doing flip-flops and flutters. ..Know the feeling?
Mind racing as to where I had been? What had I been doing? When had I last noticed them? ( I’m not very diligent at changing them every day to match my outfit.)
So I began carefully retracing my steps.
That ear ring of great price is a very small object to locate in a very big area, not helped by dodgy eyesight.
Gotta say, though…when I found it on the bathroom floor I was elated.
It went straight to the top of my ‘grateful’ list for the day.
Very grateful for this gift of great price that has been given again.
Lynda Symons ©2015
Pensive Dancer (ii)
Posted on March 10, 2015 Leave a Comment
Happy with the eyes where the soul shows through, it’s time to fill in some of the facial features…
Lynda Symons ©2014
Move through to the body…
Lynda Symons ©2014
Then once his basic form is complete, the deepest darks and consequent tones must be evaluated and filled in.
This painting was done using Permanent Indian Ink as a wash like a watercolour, so the lights were determined at the very beginning and must be kept carefully to contrast with the darks. There are no second chances!
Body paint made from white clay or ochre, mixed with water and applied with fingers is a very important part of telling the story and identifying the different Aboriginal groups. The Karaureg Dancers use white across the cheeks and nose, with designs also on the forearms and lower legs.To keep his face paint white it was masked during the painting and then revealed once finished.
As well as body paint the Karaureg Dance Group wear bright red headgear with white feathers, though the kids usually have a loosely tied red bandanna like this little fellow. With their grass skirts they look really colourful and festive. Writing all this just has me wanting to pack a bag and make it in time for the next Laura Aboriginal dance Festival.
Want to come with me?
Lynda Symons ©2014
Surf’s Up
Posted on March 5, 2015 Leave a Comment
‘Brilliant’ is the only word to describe it!
A weekend using friend’s holiday home at Papamoa Beach with all five kids joining us.
Perfect blue skies
Laughing and telling stories
Food, shopping…
and great surf!
Watching all the kids out further in the water enjoying each other’s company, my Darling Dearest and I exchanged that happy parental sigh.
What a gift!
Just so grateful!
Lynda Symons ©2015
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