November

I think November may have been the busiest month so far. We had a birthday, a dog surgery, migraines, two graduation ceremonies, an exhibition, a colour run, as well as the final day of school for the year. I am quite exhausted, but also quite excited by the prospect of entering the second phase of my project - the painting.

Images

Movies

Not as Scary as it looks_Day 305 of 365.JPG

“Not as scary as it looks”.Day 305 of 365. Last night, for Halloween, I convinced my family to have a night swim with the red pool lights on, wearing witches hats. I am not even sure why the lights can go red, but I have now decided that it is for this specific purpose. We floated around and watched the clouds passing over the moon. There was also a lot of splashing and wrestling and a lot of fun.

Packing Away Halloween_Day 306 of 365.jpg

It is not lost on me that whilst there was help to decorate, I am left to pack up solo.

The best kind of doughnuts_Day 307 of 365.jpg

My son requested doughnuts as part of his special excursion lunch for tomorrow’s swimming carnival. For the first time, he is excited to go, and wants to stay all day to hang out with his friends ( in the past he would swim his event and then I have collected him early). When I went to pay for the doughnuts at the shops their barcode was missing. The attendant tried to get other staff to get another packet to scan, but when no one came in a timely fashion he said I could just have them. The best doughnuts are of course free doughnuts.

Best not to make assumptions_Day308 of 365.jpg

I foolishly believed that my son would let me know if he developed a massive hole in his shoe. We only realised when he happened put his feet up on the footstool. He says his shoes are fine. I wish they were, as there are only 4 weeks left of term, but no, I guess I’ll be going a size up and cross my fingers that they fit next year.

Bouning Out of OT_Still_Day 309 of 365.JPG

My son has been going to OT since he was 3, he is now 12. Today we were told that aside from a catch up to make sure everything was ok at the end of each school term, he no longer needed to come for monthly therapy sessions. He is currently thriving and we couldn’t be prouder. I know that there will be many more obstacles that crop up along the way, so knowing that we can have further appointments if necessary gives me that extra sense of security that I need. When we first started Occupational Therapy, Alby had very low muscle tone, a side effect of his prematurity, poor fine and gross motor skills and often walked on his toes. It was after a session at the local kindergym when he was jumping on his tippy toes on the trampoline that I decided we might need to further investigate his motor skills and booked our first OT appointment. The OT has a trampoline in her treatment room and over the years I have watched Alby bounce on that trampoline on many occasions. He started very poorly but over the years has just become so strong and confident in his body that he can perform complex routines of jumps really well. I decided to illustrate his departure from OT by showing him bouncing so high on that trampoline that he bounced out of frame and therefore out of therapy. I made the noises by flicking an elastic band. Another great day.

Walking early with two of my favourites_Day310 of 365.JPG

The luxury of weekends.

Dont become complacent_Still_Day 311 of 365.JPG

These dogs were drawn with 66 brushes in @procreate that I have never drawn with even though I use the program everyday. I made a second version of this animation with labels accompanying the brush styles as a future reference. Most of these brushes are amazing but I had never even bothered to try them, comfortable with what I know. Now that I understand their uses I will be sure to start incorporating them into my daily draws. Don’t be like me. Try all the brushes.

Lumpectomy_Day312 of 365.jpg

Lump and bump removal surgery for Penny today and she is doing ok. No nasty lumps but they were getting larger and needed to be gone. It is hard to see her all stitched up and harder still to think about how confused and stressed the whole process must make her feel. She is very sleepy now but tomorrow I begin the difficult task of keeping her calm and trying to explain why we can’t go on daily walks for a while.

Because I can_Movie Still_Day 313 of 365.JPG

Last night we watched the blood moon lunar eclipse. The first image has the moon in actual size, the second maybe ever so slightly exaggerated 🤣. I love the flexibility that digital art affords.

Unwanted Inheritance_Day 314 of 365.jpg

My daughter had her first migraine this week. As a sufferer myself, I hate that she had one and that she will likely have more and that she inherited them from me. I know that this is all totally beyond my control, but a mothers guilt is hard to avoid.

The Opening_Day 315 of 365.jpg

My daughter and her friends had an entry in this years Waste to Art exhibition @gatakersartspace and the opening was tonight. I love dressing up (a little) and going to art events with Olive. The gallery was full to the brim and there was a warm and electric energy thrumming though the audience. They even sold their piece ( to me ❤️).

Not Yey_Day 316 of 365.jpg

A few days post surgery and Penny feels great and doesn’t understand why she can’t run up and down the stairs and play outside. She has been camping at the gate on the back veranda with a pile of her toys and giving me questioning/dirty looks when I refuse to open the gate. Soon Penny.

Pool Shark_Day 317 of 365.JPG

Weekend time swimming with my son, gliding a toy shark to one another through a hoop over and over again. Strangely relaxing and also an excellent reminder that small moments of individual attention can reinforce relationships.

I wish I was holding feathers_Day 318 of 365.jpg

I love the connections I feel to my daughter when we are out walking. I less love picking up after Penny - who pooped three times. Olive collects feathers and flowers to press as we walk and I collect moments.

Staghorns from Spores_Day319 of 365.jpg

These Staghorns are growing in my yard. They weren’t here when we moved in 10 years ago,and I didn’t plant them. They grew from spores floating on the wind and I think that is pretty awesome. The bottom one is about 1.5 metres across and the pair have a similar presence to a classical marble tiered fountain. I love them.

Renegade Rhapsis Palm_Day 320 of 365.JPG

Another of my favourite plants in my yard is this Rhapis Palm that has decided to grow in the middle of my garden path. It annoys the rest of my family but I am happy to step around it. I know there will come a point where I need to relocate it, but for now I admire it’s tenacity.

Ipaditus_Movie Still_Day321 of 365.JPG

Today I had a physio visit for my right wrist that I have damaged holding my iPad whilst I draw. Apparently there are 8 little bones in your wrist and mine are “locked” rather than freely moving. Today I had a combination of dry needling ( kind of sort of but not really like acupuncture), with needles stuck into the wrist area, and the tens machine. I also have to sleep with a brace on my wrist. Remember to look out for yourselves and don't forget that ergonomics are important in your studio space.

Colour Run_Day 322 of 365.JPG

Today Alby did the colour run at school with friends. He is starting to build a wonderful friend group and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Pockets of Sunshine_Day 323 of 365.jpg

I love to find pockets of light on my afternoon walks and can’t help standing in them. It always makes me smile and always confuses Penny who looks at my with questioning eyes when I deviate from our normal route. This one was particularly lovely, as it also illuminated the hot red blooms of the poinciana.

Reading the Paper_Day 324 of 365.jpg

Waiting for Penny to get all of the local news from a beautiful paperbark tree on our walk this afternoon. The colours of the fallen bark are so beautiful, and apparently a font of information.

Tall enough to help_Day 325 of 365.JPG

Whilst still under Penny’s supervision, my daughter is now tall enough and cluey enough to help put up our Christmas lights.

Missed it by that much_Movie still_Day 326 of 365.JPG

The school year ends in 1 week and I have to buy new school shoes tomorrow after my daughters exploded today. So close to making it through the year!

Just floating along_Day 327 of 365.jpg

I have always been interested in shadow play. I especially like how sometimes in the morning they make Penny appear to be floating along behind me like a balloon.

Primary School gradiation_Day 328 of 365.jpg

Alby graduated from Primary School tonight and I couldn’t be more proud, he even got an award for consistently putting in effort. At big moments like this it is hard not to reflect on how far he has come from the tiny, anxious,shy, and worried little boy he was when he started prep. He has come so far thanks to our family efforts, the incredible teaching staff at his school, his therapy team and most importantly a heck of a lot of personal growth. Looking forward to the future and hoping for a smooth transition into secondary school.