some changes....

bathed in pink blossom

Some new changes, a new approach, a new commitment, a new boundary of my time, dare I say it. These are the things I have been thinking about this week.

 This week my blog turned three, I turned 46 and the Himalayan earthquake happened. The last obviously being the most significant. I usually manage to side step most of the news, but this story reached into my very being and touched me. I would even say changed me. That first night I dream't of these people who were trapped and felt their fear and despair.

pink blossom in the park

As I looked around me in the world I couldn't help noticing how meaningless and pointless a lot of things were. It felt like a kind of mirror of truth to hold everything up to. Of course none of us are perfect, I know that. But sometimes we are quite far of the mark and totally caught up in our own pain. We lose sight of the bigger picture, which can be our lives or indeed the world.

a beautiful creation

I can very easily find myself filled up with insignificant things. Stories which don't matter. I can lose track of what does matter. Forget where I am or how I want to be in the world. And we can be in the world, we are not trapped. We can step into our lives and be present. We are so fortunate. We can spare some prayers for these people and we can give up something so we can contribute to the aid effort. It's all we can do. 

And we can stay focused and present for our lives at the same time and the people in them. Nothing else matters.

Museum in the park

I can't read every blog post of everyone I follow. First thing! But I'm a faithful soul, and will be back round at some point. Unless we have both just kind of moved on. I'm trying to shape out what I feel I'm moving into myself, what I'm trying to bring to life here. I have to focus on here to give this a chance.

I'm trying to create a creative business and also negotiating though life with a sixteen year old in the last few months of school. Most of you know I'm a single-parent. My income's going to change. I'd like to create a business plan that will catch me and provide in a new way. I want to work for myself, I'm quite sure of that. And it needs to be creative.

I love what I'm creating here and what I'm learning. I love what's developing and how idea's start to come to life.This is my moment to follow this, to stick with it and see where it leads.

I love how it's looking right now and how the inspiration for changes come without you knowing!

So back to boundaries. I can't read every post and I've had to narrow down who I do follow. I think this must happen to everyone in the end. I've stopped following most big blogs, even the ones that I read from the beginning. Which surprised me. But I think I'm ready to find my own path. I'm hugely grateful for the inspiration though.

Okay so I will be around now and again. I still love flickr. I will try and look through my contacts once a week. Same with instagram. I don't do big follows because I actually do like to follow! and I can't actually follow loads....

So what will I do?......! Well the new boundary for me, who seems to have her day chopped up by many different things is that I am keeping my week, just for me and my son of course and the dog!I'm not going to be available to anyone else until the weekend, for anything.

I'm going to follow this creative business idea. I'm going to be making and stocking my shop. Which may mean quite a few shop posts.So I hope you don't mind about that, but it's time you see.

It's time for me to hear my voice amongst all the background noise and stand up for what I want to represent. It's time to get clear and focus. It's time for me to commit myself to that,

and it feels quite exciting :-)

Thanks for reading.

♥

mid week temptation

A few summer temptations lately!

It really is strawberry season. I love strawberries and that of course means oodles of cream poured over the top. I am seeing strawberries in the supermarket at the moment, of the most fantastic proportions. Have they done something unspeakable to them to make grow so big!

Walking along the lane, in the hedgerow I am spotting the most sweetest tiny tiny wild strawberries growing. The flavour is intense and reminds me of some strawberry flavour sweets I had when I was little. I have to remember to leave some for the wild life.

Oh and spotted on the common, this fabulous red car sitting in the car park. I mean look at it, does this not say ready to go adventuring. Doesn't it just 'need' a red suitcase to match. I had to restrain myself for checking for keys!! I could just imagine taking off for an adventure sitting in this with my vintage suitcases stacked prettily in the back and ready to go! Yes please!

A beautiful new sweet smelling orange Rose growing by my balcony. I have to keep going and breathing in the sweet smell. Reminding myself to buy some Rose oil. I put a few drops of this in my moisturiser or face oil when I put it on , it really is lovely and feels very nurturing.

My new crochet adventure. It could go in so many different directions. So many colours calling. I love this bit.

Hmm, which colour wants to come out next.

Actually I have an idea for this cushion, I'm thinking retro man!! You know the kind of retro man who you find under 'etsy dudes'! He will probably be wearing a plaid check shirt, drive a cool retro car and possibly have a beard. He probably lives in a cabin in the woods, which he built by hand and filled with cool retro things. And top of his shopping list would be a funky retro cushion, naturally....... Either that or he does actually live inside the 'etsy' website!...... Or possibly in another country.......or maybe I don't get out enough?!

Anyway, I will show you more soon,

A quick crochet temptation here, look you can line them all up if you want to!

Like I said always tempting to keep em'!

A sweet gift of summer flowers from a friend. Not tempting, just nice.

and I have changed my photo. Once you have a photo it's hard to not have a photo, it kind of feels as though something is missing. It's quite a straight faced photo. I have some softer ones waiting in the wings, but this feels like something I need to express for a while! I detect a note of I mean business here and even a note of defiance, (possibly a now grey hair defiance!) and I may have my arms crossed, but I'm not saying.

Just lately I have had to create some new boundaries around my life. Just nicely. There's important things in my life and my sons that I want to get to and I'm not getting to them. I have to be clear with myself and other people about that, I want to do them, but I can't if  I'm spending time doing other things. I need to do the things which are important to us. First. Sometimes we can dance around these things for forever and a day with distractions and avoidances. Time to pull my finger out. Oh, and time to create. Time for everything.

have a good rest of the week,

and let me know if you spot 'retro man'!

he's out there somewhere!

Heather

X

P.S. I have some new pictures on my pinterest stunning grey hair board.
P.P.S. maybe I'll start a 'retro man' board, what do you think!!
edited to add retro man board here!