It feels strange to already be in February. I must admit I was quietly wishing to get back to work, I think I had too much time off in my own headspace. I never really stopped, just didn’t have a lot to put my mind on other things and spent some time dwelling on things, perhaps I shouldn’t. Idle hands and all that.
So this past weekend was a mix of rest and fun and hard work…a good combination for me. But it allows me to feel like I am getting back into my routine and rhythm again. Which of course means Tuesdays are SYW
QUESTIONS:
When was the last time you tried something new? Oh great question! I am all for trying something new, love learning new things, especially if they are in any way creative. A few weeks ago I tried my hand at Ikebana flower arranging. On Sunday I held my workshop for the year in a new venue (scary and exciting), last year just before Christmas I went to a Christmas cookie class with some friends. I have just installed and have been teaching myself not one but THREE new software editing programs! So YES! I love doing something new.
If you were forced to eliminate every physical possession from your life with the exception of what could fit into a single backpack, what would you put in it? My camera for sure. My Journal and pen, my eBook and charger, photos of my family and friends, my phone, can I fit my pillow in this backpack? Maybe some chocolate to round it out.
What simple fact do you wish more people understood? Being a mean and horrendous person is a choice. No-one is born that way. Being nice to someone is good for them as well as you. I am sure being toxic must be exhausting, being nice is good for your soul. World domination is not a great aspiration to head towards, we should all just learn to get along.
What food item do you go through fastest in your house? Coffee and Sweet Chilli sauce. Go figure. The coffee I get, Moth and I love our coffee and possibly drink too much, more so Moth than I. But sweet chilli…I used it in cooking from stir-fries to fried rice, on bagels with cream cheese. On grilled chicken and wedges with sour cream. Sweet chilli gets used in our house like tomato sauce (or ketchup) does in others.
GRATITUDE
This week, I am grateful for the little things in life. Great friends are often hard to come by, but spending time with them is precious and for me a necessity. On Friday I went out with a friend to the movies, we saw Little Women, we had lunch and just chatted about nothing and everything. We were talking so much we missed a turn and laughed so hard, so silly, so US! After, as it was such a hot day we had a lovely cooling dip in her pool, more time just talking. Spending time doing nothing much, just enjoying the company is good for recharging the batteries. It is also cheaper than a therapist!
On Sunday marked three anniversaries, Moth and I have been married 29 years, which is quite an accomplishment. We spent it with our camera in our hands, just how we like it these days.
It also marked what would have been a friends 63 birthday, but also 11 years since his passing. It used to be a sad day, with a touch of happy. Now it is bittersweet, full of happy memories, and tales filled with laughter. I bet he is still fishing lol.
I hope you are all having an amazing week…
~ Julz, xo
Julie Powell - Photographer & Graphic Artist 
Life would be so much better if people would try to be nicer. It is not that hard.
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I know right
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I’ve never heard of that style of flower arranging — it really is quite beautiful! I put cheese as the item we go through fastest but if it only counted me then I’d have to say coffee and creamer. Mmm!
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We go through a lot of cheese too, but definitly coffee…we dont usually use creamer here, just milk
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Thank you Julz for Sharing Your Beautiful and Photogenic World! 🙂 That flower arrangement is stunning! It takes talent to do flowers artfully, I’ve tried (with silk and dried flowers) and have to admit I have no knack for it. I have a s-i-l who is very talented that way though. You brought back a memory with your mention of sweet chili sauce though. My mother used to put up jars of that in summer that we’d eat all winter. I can still taste it too. I have a sibling who likes to try his hand at canning (bottling) homemade stuff like chili sauce. I never kept up with the art of canning. You can certainly put a pillow in your back-pack, it’s YOUR backpack, you can have anything you like in there. Have a great week and remember those of us on this side of the world are envious of your summery temperatures and warm days! I’m glad the fires have died down though.
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Thanks. The fires have died down, but have not stopped. We have now lost 33 lives and countless homes and animals. But the media worthy fire storms have stopped, so no more real covereage, only local news. Still it is the way of the Australian Summer, bushfires are normal. These ones were just extreme
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