Domestic Goddess

Yesterday I had a wonderful day at home being very domestic getting lots of little things done!
It's funny, I always wondered why people who worked full time would spend their weekends gardening and doing the boring jobs that needed to be done around the house... but now I'm here, I kind of get it. It's so satisfying to spend time putting effort into the place that you live. So I cooked, cleaned, washed, scrubbed... and it felt great!

Above you can see that I finally bought some herbs! So far I've just got coriander, basil, chives, spinach and rosemary and I'm pleased to say that after 2 days they are doing great and are still alive!

Last Friday Josh took me for a surprise drive, I was instructed I had to keep my eyes closed until we got there... when we stopped we were just by the road which didn't look very exciting but then he took me down a path to a lovely grassy spot!
He brought some of my books and tea because he knew I love reading and drinking tea and being outside... it was so sweet and thoughtful! We didn't stay long enough to sit and read though because there were too many mossies. I'd love to go back but I don't know where it is because I wasn't allowed to look so I'll just have to wait for my next surprise!
Also I've been thinking more and more about trying to make money from my art and I really think it might be possible. I haven't got to the point of making any serious plans or goals with this yet but I've been looking into it more, Etsy has been great to hear about how other people do it and websites like Modish Biz Tips have been helpful too. So that's been on my mind while I'm still unemployed... I just want to be earning money in a way that is in line with the way I live the rest of my life... kind of hard to do when everyone needs money, but I'll work it out.

Language warning

I just got back from seeing Lisa and I quickly wanted to share what I made for her a few days ago... After I made it I was kind of hard on myself because it wasn't perfect, but then after taking photos I started to appreciate it more. I like how fun and colourful it is.

I also told her about another card I had made about a month ago:

I wasn't going to post this one but then I figured that anyone who may be reading this blog is grown up enough to deal with it. This came about one night when I was feeling lousy, too lousy to be creative, I had some wonderful ideas of things for friends but I was not in the mood to make anything pretty and perfect.
Then I read this little bit in a book called Walking in this World, in a section called Art is Therapeutic, Not Therapy... this part pretty much talks about working from where we are, rather than waiting to be in the right place to 'create':

'We may feel different after making something. We may see something in a different light, but that inner shift of focus comes from expressing what it is we do feel and see rather than striving to feel and see things differently, with more balance and less sting.'

And it just made me think, right, I want to create, so I'll just work from where I am right now... and actually I'm still very happy with it, and it's just so interesting to know that something can come from another kind of creative passion.

College was great today but quite challenging, I can see how this course is going to be hard when we have to deal with parts of ourselves that we've been able to ignore before. We started to talk about Ecopsychology though which I'm very excited about, and again was reminded how much I want to plant some herbs and veggies! I have to stop talking and just start doing, I think I can get a few things ready this weekend maybe...

Too long...

When I started this blog I really intended to keep it up to date and post often... but things have been quite busy! And somehow not busy at the same time because I still haven't found a permanent job.

But I finally moved into my new place, yay! That has been the biggest change and a bit of a challenge too, just learning how to fit in with new people and seeing how they all work together. But I love my little room and have plenty of space to store all my stuff and even have a little corner of the balcony all to myself! I'm still settling in and getting all of my things in their right places but I think this place will be great.
Plus I'm planning on starting a mini veggie and herb garden (in pots) soon and I'm really excited about growing things I'm actually able to eat, and then cooking more and eating well. I found this guy on Youtube who has simple how-to videos for growing, he's easy to watch and it's been really helpful to have a visual to show how it's done!

I went on a little adventure to the button shop in Newtown last week... I have heard about this place for years but somehow never made it in... so many pretty buttons to choose from!

I ended up buying myself just a few little pretty ones, not quite sure what I will do with them yet.

Also college is going amazingly well, I just love the work we are doing and it's personally very exciting and satisfying! First term is looking at counselling and coaching in more of a personal way, so we get to experience some of it for ourselves before learning more of the skills and techniques in the next few terms. And oh boy the college library is wonderful... so many books I want to read, books I haven't been able to find anywhere else! So that will keep me busy for a while...

To do list:
-Find a job.
-Keep up with yoga and meditation.
-Take more photos (and then blog more often).
-Read, read, read.

<3