August

And just like that August is gone. I had a good month. The weather started to improve and the first flowers started to appear. I travelled to Rockhampton for the first time, to present a 3 day workshop for Flying Arts, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Images

Movies

Winter Washing_Day 213 of 365.JPG

I hang out our washing over the bannister on the deck where it can be dried by the winter Sun. I enjoy the shadows that are cast all the way into the jungle.

What the bin man sees_Day 223 of 365.jpg

Yesterday the rubbish truck came six hours earlier than usual. I had to run my bin over to the other side of the street in my pyjamas and stand there whilst the driver laughed at me as my bin was emptied. I was a little embarrassed, a little resigned to my state of undress,but laughing too. It made me wonder what the driver sees and if they switch up their collection times just to keep things interesting.

Big softies_Day 224 of 365.jpg

Last night when I was heading to bed, I spied our big green tree frog out for the first time since it became cooler. She was sitting on the hose reel that she lives in and that we no longer retract because we worry about hurting her. Concerned that she might be hungry, I switched on the Christmas lights hopeful that they would attract bugs. I told Phil what I had done and he 100% agreed that we should keep the lights on for a frog.

Before his head even hit the pillow_Day 225 of 365.jpg

Alby went to a birthday party this afternoon and for the first time ever he didn’t need me to stay. It was at a friends house and they know Alby well.I asked him when he was invited if he needed me to stay, and he said no, but I thought that might change as the party grew near. It didn’t. I am so proud of him. He had a great time, I was the one who missed out- on good company and cake, but it was worth it to allow him to grow.

Last morning in Rockhampton_Day 226 of 365.JPG

Yesterday was the final day of a three day stop motion workshop that I ran for @flyingartsalliance I have had a wonderful but somewhat exhausting time and been thoroughly impressed by the engaged,talented and friendly participants. I have been captivated by the view of the Fitzroy river from my apartment and my eyes have been eagerly roving over a new landscape and town. I suspect that there will be many responses to this trip in my artwork to follow. Each morning I have been getting up early, eager to see the transitions of colour as the sun rises.

Rockhampton Substation_Day 230 of 365.jpg

Whilst walking through the streets of Rockhampton I glanced down an alley and stopped. I was quite surprised to see a small, independent brick cube raised above the street atop long legs. A tiny home style substation that you could drive under ( when there weren’t roadworks). I loved the shape and design and efficient use of space. This one was numbered 350, I don’t know if that means that there are hundreds more, but I like to think there are.

Comb Crested Lacana_Day 234 of 365.JPG

The cherry on top of my Rockhampton trip was seeing a brand new ( for me ) bird species in the wetlands at the Rockhampton Botanical Gardens. A flash of pink caught my eye and I watched a giant footed tiny bird running around on top of the water plants eating bugs. I then searched it up online to find its name and was not at all surprised that it is often known as the ‘lotus bird’ or ‘lillytrotter’.

Market Day_Day 236 of 365.jpg

Yesterday my son’s school had their annual market day, where the Year 6 students get $30 each to produce products to sell to fundraise for a nominated charity - this year being Teamseas, who are tackling ocean waste. Alby has been thinking about what to make since last years market day, when he was in year 5. He has talked about it all year. The plants he sold were called Sweetheart Hoyas, a slow growing flowering vine with heart shaped leaves. In December last year, so 8 months prior to market day,he and I went through all of the old plastic pots in the potting shed and gathered a heap to reuse. He washed them all and filled them with soil from the garden. I showed him how to take cuttings from my vine and he potted them all up. The bracelets were made with pony beads and each contained one lava bead that could be infused with a scent, he used peppermint, patchouli and lavender because we already had those at home. He threaded most of the beads and infused them with scent. I was quite worried about how he would handle interacting with so many students but I needed have been. He came home and told me that he had turned his $30 seed money into $92! He had sold everything except 1 bracelet. He told me that several teachers bought his products, which immediately made me smile and again confirmed for me just how great his teachers are. He had a wonderful day and came home brimming with the confidence that success sometimes affords. I had no idea what he called his stall, but when I found the sign on the kitchen bench today, I smiled even bigger.