28 September 2015

Date with the eagles

Apologies for being absent without leave...blame our internet connection!
Here are the photos from our date last week which I didn't get to post.
We went to a newly developed/revitalised section of Canberra called NewActon.

This is actually at the ANU (Australian National University) on the way there.

"You can't see your boots!"

"Now you can!"

This is the Nishi building with window boxes and shutters on one side...

...and tiime warp on the other!

The staircase inside suited Bushy to a t with all that wood!

Interesting artworks inside.

And stacked newspapers forming bollards outside.

There was an interesting eagley section outside.

With the cutest running away chair...ever!

The pants are made from the Plinka Pants pattern by Tina Givens.

Peek-a-boo!

Just in case you were feeling like parking your jet, or nuclear warhead!

Much love,

Jazzy Jack

Linking up with The Style Crone's Hat Attack. Judith has a tall hat on!

 

18 September 2015

BeautyScope 254: Textures


as I walk the streets

my body feels its textures

feet bouncing and wobbling

on pebbles and cobbles

fingertips trailing on railings

coat catching on brick

cheek cold on glass

and I wonder

does yours?

 

 

14 September 2015

Did I say that?

There is nothing like making a statement online, to make me change my mind.

Recently I blogged that I couldn't comment on others' blogs much, and then proceeded to do just that because I couldn't help myself.

Last post I said I didn't feel like blogging much and now I find myself working on Photography and Outfit posts!

Contrary? Me?!

I think I just like bouncing from one extreme to the other. Not much given to middle ground, me :-)

So here is my contribution for Visible Monday.

Bushy and I went out on a date on Sunday Afternoon which we hope to make a regular outing.

I feel very visible in my blue.

To a tea house/cafe.

I was in drapey mode.

Poor down trodden explorers

It's Spring!

See all the buds?

Trying some walking shots...on your mark...

...Get set...

...hello!

Come and visit the other stunning Visibles.

Patti is wearing linen (my favourite) and a mysterious octopus!

Love,

Jazzy Jack

PS Linking with Kezzie and the stunning Mr Badger for Tardis Tuesday and My Closet Catalogue

 

11 September 2015

Spring makeovers

Hello beautiful people!

As I lie here in bed I can hear my budgies chirping brightly to welcome the new day, which reminds me of our latest adventure.

A few weeks ago I was feeding them and suddenly noticed we only had one budgie. One of our two was missing. Somehow, although I hadn't seen her go, Blueberry our female had escaped!

Sometimes things that happen in life can open up space for another adventure. So the family picked me out a new bird as a surprise (Blueberry had been a Mother's Day gift a few years ago).

Topaz a yellow budgie arrived. As they were buying her they noticed the tiny quails at the bottom of the cage in the pet shop which Bushy particularly liked. So for Father's Day we went and bought some.

In order to house them we had to renovate the bottom of the cage which had been dark with a piece of black plastic across it and the budgies never used it. So we changed that to perspex and now the budgies and the quails live there.

We have a little white and brown spotted one called Snowy(see below) and a brown one you see above, called Rustle.

They were named after the chickens we left behind in New Zealand.

Quails are more like chickens in habit than budgies, but they all get along well so far. We have learnt that the quails don't like wind, so keep a cover over them on windy days so they can venture out or they spend the whole day huddling in their house.

They are entertaining to watch like chickens, and keep us all entranced.


Especially the cat who is convinced he can reach them from his cage.


And the dog has a good sniff every time she passes to check they haven't got out yet!

 
Aren't they cute?


Another adventure has been building my new tiny garden to screen us from the driveway when we use our courtyard. It uses some secondhand Ikea bedheads for a fence. Baby steps!

I planted butterfly bush, pigface, snowinsummer and some strappy and succulent groundcovers. Now we wait and see which I can kill!

I'm happy with it so far. (Bushy will remove the cable ties when the cement sets!) We are not ruler straight gardeners, and tend to work organically :-) Don't you love the backlighting and shadows?

Another recent project resulted in what Mr Artist calls "Sky Squiggles".

I threaded all my miscellaneous beads leftover from many projects on to wire

and hung them as tree jewels.

They catch the light beautifully. Much better than storing them in a jar in the cupboard!

So with new birds in the aviary, sky squiggles above, the new garden below, the courtyard has had a little makeover. It must be Spring!

Which brings me to my apology. I am not feeling like blogging or writing or even photography. My energies are being spent in more concrete crafts like digging the earth, making objects, and tidying the house. I feel the need to ground myself this season.

Against advice I have removed Mr Actor from school at the moment as he was losing too much weight due to tension trying to stay at school (due to his OCD) causing his IBS to play up. And his compromised immune system just can't cope with all the bugs. This was a hard call, going it alone on instinct against expert advice. Time will tell if I'm right, but it is a lonely scary road!

So I am using most of my blogging time being homeschool teacher and OCD support. When I have a minute I send a photo to Instagram and dig in the earth. It is my sanity place right now, holding me still.

I am flitting around your worlds peeking in the windows and admiring your beauty!

Tweed and velvet both secondhand. Tweed vest made from men's jacket with sleeves removed and back darts inserted.
Bushy has had some fun moments on TV and radio recently talking about the latest report on global tree numbers. Have a look at his post.
And here's a wall squiggle made by a random cord left hanging in our bathroom.
See the face?

Til next time, keep creating and living in your wonderful unique strength!

Much love,

Jazzy Jack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 September 2015

Father's Day

Today for Father's Day I share a poem I wrote in 1998!

My Dad and I are very alike. And I love him.

 

My Dad's Hands


My Dad has powerful hands

I feel them swing me, lift me high

Till all that exists is the link in our hands


My Dad has graceful hands

He turns his wood with a sure caress

Till the wood responds, reveals a pure curve


My Dad has fixing hands

Projects small and large receive his precise touch

Till the result makes you breathe "aahhhh"!


My Dad is embodied in his hands

He reaches me, into my heart

When I look at his hands


For his hands are mine.


Happy Father's Day Dad!

(And all the Dads out there:-)

PS Dish made by Dad's hands.

 

 

 

 

2 September 2015

My ghoulish kids

This is what my kids have been up to today.
Mr Artist visited a cemetery with his writing club and wrote this. Isn't it great?
 

I walked through the desolate grave stones. All their heads poking out above the ground like moles. To be fair it was probably the most freaky thing I’ve ever seen.

That’s when I saw her. She walked silently behind the trees dragging one mangled leg. As she walked she let out tiny moans with each step. I felt kind of sorry for her.

I waited behind a gravestone as she waddled towards me. I looked at her lifeless face and her shallow white eyes. She walked right past my giant gravestone hideaway and stood facing an open coffin. She slowly proceeded to climb in, muttering under her breath "Five more minutes."

Mr Actor spent the afternoon inventing fake blood and cuts with red food colouring and tissue to prank his brother. And not doing too bad a job at it either!

Ah, I'm a proud Mum!
Til next time, keep on creating...just like my kids :-)
Love,
Jazzy Jack