Fun by 3: Create, Craic and Celebrate

I joined an art class: why?

To Create
To have Craic
To Celebrate life

Three main ingredients to reducing the stress in life and stay true to my authentic self.

I remember art class at school and enjoying using the paints to create.  My first term exam piece was adored by my teacher and placed on display in the art room. I got a 1st in art that year, the one and only time ever.  It was a scene from my head that I created many times on pages at home as a child. Horses with riders, horses without riders and the main homestead with curtained windows, picket fence and flowers in the garden.  Mrs Hewitt, I love you for the recognition at a crucial time in my life but it was the appreciation of my work which fed self confidence.   In the years to follow my art attempts were never hailed with such regard.  Personally, I believe self expression in this way was stifled by being at the nun run school which indoctrinated us with religious views and high academic standards.  The multiple intelligence theory by Howard Gardner was only being developed at that time so creative strengths didn't have kudos with the powers that be!

Now as I approach life without estrogen I find myself driven towards self expression through mediums such as poetry, blogging, decoupage, upcyled furniture, vintage home interiors and the best fun of all FACEBOOK!

Yes even through Facebook I can meet the need to express myself.  when I moved to Portstewart on the beautiful north coast of Northern Ireland creativity is nurtured by stunning views, taking photographs and sharing them on Facebook. 

Fed up with the daily mantra of "I wish I could paint" I finally shook the limiting belief that I can't paint and signed up for an art class held locally at Flowerfield Arts Centre.

I'm not producing fabulous pieces to convince myself yet but I am having fun trying.   At the weekend two of my daughters and I were spending an afternoon ' creating having craic producing works of art. They both produced lovely pieces, mine was less polished but the celebration is threefold:
1.  Anna realises that she has a flair for art and wants to take it up.
2. Joanne has revisited her skill and found that it isn't lost.
3. I celebrated the wonderful feeling of pride and happiness with the quality time spent together.

We talked, laughed and discovered all in one afternoon.

Priceless!

Granny Love

Yesterday. I stopped to talk to an older lady settling her curley sandy coloured dog on the beach. She had two little girls in her charge both barefooted and running in circles trying to catch each other.  As she spread a tartan blanket on top of the soft sand she called them to stay close.  They were about six and eight years old with long golden hair and could pass for twins. Digging into the sand to build castles using their hands. Each wore floral cotton dresses and light cardigans which indicated that the trip to the beach was a spontaneous decision while out with Granny.  Giggles and energetic squeals mingled with the gulls soaring overhead.

October is usually a fresh autumn day with minimal chance of warm sunshine and blue skies. Yet it was inviting enough to walk barefoot in light summer trousers and tee shirt. The lady told me her grandchildren were visiting from Scotland and had just arrived. Their parents had gone off to Ballintoy for a few hours and she offered to entertain the girls.  A Portrush lady all her life she told me about her passion for her home town. How she left it for many years but came back to settle. Her husband was long gone through death so life is solitary since his passing and their children left the nest. A tall slim lady in soft pink cotton blouse, neat pencil skirt to below the knees and natural grey hair short to the collar.

The dog snooped through the bag on the rug then rested through the whole conversation in the shade under the steps. Her long time companion who is in his golden years. I would say she was in her seventies easily but a remarkably natural beauty shone from her face. I bet she was a stunning lady in her youthful days.

I exchanged some of my memories spent in Portrush and Portstewart from childhood and realised quietly the meaning of 'abundance' in my life at that moment.  The psychic in Old Saybrook, USA was right when she emphasised how much I like simplicity and the deeper side of life.  Funny though when we said our goodbyes and I waved bye bye to the girls,  I realised neither of us had exchanged names but it didn't seem to matter!

Do we need to know names all the time?

Starry Starry Night

In the 1970s.....early 1970s life for me was The Osmonds, David Cassidy, Hurricane Smith and....and......Don Mc Clean with 'Vincent' a personal favourite of mine. 👏👏👏

In his denim jacket with thick wavy black hair, Don McClean was a hero in my eyes. Soft tones and a sexy voice prompting a raise in female hormones.

It took a few years for me to understand what the song was really about. The black dog and the impact on those vulnerable to mental health issues.

In my head Don McClean is singing this song once more right now and that's not bad!!!

Note to Self

Indian summer is the term used to describe or rationalise terrific weather for the time of year. Personally I think it's more to do with Mother Nature who is keeping us on our toes.

The element of surprise or rather the surprising elements make us smile, appreciate and quake all at the same time. Human attitude to life can be so pessimistic even in good weather. Instead of enjoying the day and gorgeous weather despite it being October the dark and gloomy folk will cast a dark shadow by forecasting bad weather to come.

I walked today to a favourite spot by the Atlantic ocean hoping to catch a glimpse of a dolphin spinning out of the water. The sun caught the waves at a certain angle making diamond clusters sweep over the rocks. Holly, my buddy dog sniffed the rocks and found her way into a natural pool.  Sitting by the sea on the warm stones I breathed the salty air as frothy spray pebbled dashed my face.  Time stood still and for me it didn't matter if the rain is coming or storms ahead because note to self..... I feel more alive when I practice being in the here and now.......mindfulness you should try it!