I have been busy, offline:
learning about a network of family in New Zealand, Canada, and Scotland that was previously unknown to me; reveling in the new-found solidarity of knowing where I come from; knowing where I stand in the world.
David Millar, my great, great-uncle, born in Scotland, settled in Mangawhai.
I have been busy, offline:
celebrating the birthday of one our longest lived family members, my father; he turned 95 in early May.
I have been busy, in real life:
helping my sister put together a creative activity programme for our 92-year-old mother; it is already producing wonderful results,
Painted Collage Lady, inspired by Pauline King’s art, by Mother
including an increase in my own desire to explore painting,
Playing with Paint by Gallivanta, inspired by Pauline King
and to play.
-
- The Mindfulness Colouring Book by Emma Farrarons
-
- Mindful colouring by Gallivanta
In moments of down time, I have played with Facebook and WordPress, and the camera on my mobile phone. Using the WordPress app was interesting, but not particularly satisfying. I am happy to be back on my laptop, where reading, commenting, and writing are all so much easier. I am happy to have access to my usual camera again.
These recent days, offline, have been enriching. But were mostly made so because of the wonderful inspiration I gain from my WordPress family. In particular I would like to thank Ellen Grace Olinger for encouraging my interest in colouring and colouring pages, and Pauline King, The Contented Crafter , for her artistic support and guidance.
Family matters, in real life, in digital life, in history, and in the here and now. Bless you all.
ps: Having written this post, I went to read the newspaper and found this in my horoscope ~”Family matters are favoured today.” Indeed! For once the horoscope and I are in agreement. 🙂
© silkannthreades
silkannthreades 
I’d love to know more about my family history too. How exciting for you to discover family you didn’t know you had. Happy 95th Birthday to your father. Your mom is doing pretty well too at 92. 🙂 Love the Collage Lady, and your painting is very pleasing to the eye.
Thank you Sylvia. My parents are in a relatively good phase at the moment after a very tough year, health wise. I guess they have reached another plateau. How long it will last is anyone’s guess. Make the most of every day. 🙂
You have been busy indeed! And with such lovely things! I hope your dad had a wonderful birthday, that your mum is loving her new creative pursuits and that you are enjoying painting! You have inspired me to finally purchase a colouring book I have been looking at on amazon for ages! What a perfect way to wind down (being offline in itself is also a great way to do that). May you keep enjoying, both here and IRL 🙂 x
So pleased to hear that you have purchased a colouring book. It’s lovely to do on your own but also a great activity to do alongside your children. They colour, you colour, everyone is happy. 🙂 Which one did you choose?
To live to see 92 that is amazing! I was chatting with an elderly gentleman at our church last week and he said, I will be 90. I said, “I can’t imagine living to 90” He was so sweet, he said- “you will”-LOL-that just is too unbelievable. I guess, when I was younger 57 sounded old! I turn that this week and never thought when I was 20 something, I would see my 50’s!
Your mother’s paula inspired painting is lovely! I really love your painting:-)
I have to mention- My mother turned 80 this year and she did all the family trees. I am named after my great(s)-too many to write-lol- Col Robert Rae ( shortened the scottish name wjem came to ameria in 1600’s)from Scotland. He came to Chicago and was there at the World’s Fair. I have a cameo of his profile. I will pass it down to my Son which has the Scottish side Family name “Rae” as part of his middle name.
He had a law office in Chicago and it burned down in the Great Chicago Fire. Our family spread out from there + we all would gather each summer for family gatherings. Met a lot of cousins there! I remember going to my great(s) house to get this cameo she wanted to pass on to me….I was suppose to be a boy named Robert-so they named me Roberta…something, most people get when named after grandpa…there were so many cousins named after him and too many Bobby, Bobbies etc…that I was nicknamed Robbie:-) In college when I would meet a girl with the name “Roberta” I would say, “you named after grandpa(s)”-too funny, but usually it was why WE were named Roberta!
I have stacks of Family HIstory from my mother’s research in my closet. We had grandparents come over on the Mayflower + will pass it on to my children. She made copies for them each:-)
I often ponder-will they care? Will my son even want the brooch?…but I can see as I age, it is a lot more interesting…..you are right, family history is important:-)
I wonder the same. Will they care? Inevitably there will be someone who will care but not necessarily in one’s immediate family. I laughed about the names; the Scottish (and perhaps others) like to stick with the same family names, it seems. In our family, we have the same names through the generations. I almost need to write Jim (generation 1); Jim 2, son of Jim 1 and so on. It’s nice to keep names in the family but, my goodness, it can be confusing. How wonderful that your mother has done so much on the family tree. Your mother records ‘trees’, you plant them. 😉
🙂 so true. What is really interesting is my mother started all that when she had to go into the City of Chicago and pull out old film( you know the days before the internet) on the readers. Yep, I am old enough to remember the days before computers. She would drive down once every few months and spend the day in the library searching and reading. She now has Ancestry.com and she is in HEAVEN! She has met distant cousins and gone to see them from that site. They trade stories and share imforamiton.
When you hit 80 you accumulate a large family-LOL. It is interesting. My mother is a “history” nut. Our vacations as children were in the back of the car traveling all over and in museums- or historical sites! I hated it at the time, but now that I am older, I am grateful she took us to interesting places. I just don’t like driving for long periods in cars to this day!! I felt like we lived in the car each summer:-)
I love that -she records trees, you plant them!
You are such a creative spirit!
Those were the days! Ancestry. com is great but there is still a great deal of information to be gathered the way your mother did. Some of the best family information I have was gathered the old fashioned way by older family members. I can imagine your family holidays; the kid who has been busy at school, desperate to stay home and chill, the parent kept housebound by the school calendar, desperate to use the holidays to get out and about. I expect it’s a dilemma which continues to this day.
Family does matter and it is nice that you have been able to delve into learning more about yours.
It’s a lot of fun delving into the past. I wonder though if my ancestors would be happy, or simply perplexed, that I want to do so. Do I want future generations investigating me? I am not sure if I know the answer to that.
How wonderful to dip into painting. It’s a pastime I find very rewarding as well. Your ancestor has an engaging portrait. I love the facial hair of all of our ancestors. We have a painting of one that looks so much like my brother that I keep trying to convince my brother to grow a fancy mustache and beard so we can take a photo next to the painting!
Keep on with your creative streak!
I love those family likenesses. Keep the pressure on your brother. It would be wonderful to have his photo next to the painting.
Right?? 🙂
🙂
What a rich time! I love the Mindfulness colouring. Just the thing to do on rainy winter days. I will look for this book.
It’s very soothing, Juliet. There are several others, but I like the size of this one; perfect for a handbag or travelling bag. We are hoping to interest my mother in making mandalas out of shells and found objects. I think she will love that.
How wonderful to be encouraging your mother into her creativity.
It encourages us, too. 🙂
Those sound like wonderfully enriching activities Gallivanta, which can only inspire your creativity.
Yes, indeed, but also creates another small problem. I want to abandon all cooking, cleaning, shopping etc so I can paint and colour full time. Am looking now at the unmade bed, thinking colour or make bed, colour or make bed? Colour, I say. But then I look at the bed and feel guilty. Ah, such dilemmas. 😉
You’ll only have to make the bed the next day, so I say colour 🙂
🙂 🙂 In the end, I managed to do both!
You have been busy, I admire you experimenting with art, I am totally useless on that, I am in to jigsaws at the moment… with my son, nice peaceful together time. You always had an eye for beauty so art is perfect for you! Have a great week! Hugs Ute
Jigsaws! They are fun. I used to do them with my parents but I haven’t done one for ages. I don’t like doing them on my own. Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.
It is good to have some time in the real world. I find it really easy for the balance to go wrong, usually too much in the real world! Great paintings by the way. Painting is one thing I cannot do ( well one of many actually!)
And running is one thing I fail at completely. 😦 Except I am good at running round in circles going nowhere fast. 😀
I can do that too! Very effectively at times and I don’t even train for it!!!
Ha! 😀 😀
I too, was worried when I hadn’t seen a post from you for a while. Happy birthday to both your parents! I am glad the art therapy and other activities are making a positive difference to your mother. I see you spoke about water-colour pencils with Wendy. My daughter uses them and loves them. She finds she has greater control over her painting and this results in her worrying less and enjoying more. They are great for detailed work.
Oh, that’s great to know, Clare. Yet another positive report for water colour pencils. I have been so long absent from arts and crafts that when I went to look at supplies in one of our local shops, my head went into a spin at all the choices. 🙂 Lovely to know that your daughter paints. I haven’t persuaded my daughter to paint yet but the other day she sang for me over Skype; the Bell Song from Lakme. The first time she has sung in months and months. I hope she will sing again for me. It was glorious.
How wonderful! I am so pleased for you and your daughter. I love the Bell Song – your daughter must have a high soprano voice and be a talented singer to sing that song! Yes, my daughter paints but has only recently got into it as she always had so much trouble with paint brushes (too thick). She has always drawn and wants to be a Graphic Designer. She had an interview on Wednesday for a Graphic Design course at college and got a conditional acceptance (she must pass the exams she is taking at the moment). My elder daughter also draws and prefers to colour with pencils. She loves to draw flowers and insects – her favourites are bees. Because of her PhD she hasn’t had time to draw for a few years but hopes to get back to it soon. It is so good for her as she is bi-polar, as I think I told you.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and our hopes high for our lovely daughters in all their creative and artistic endeavours. My daughter’s new psychologist is also a singer. I am hoping (a bit desperately 😉 ) she will persuade my daughter to join a local choir. My daughter used to be in a chamber choir that did special services at the Anglican cathedral in our city.
I understand your desperation! There is such healing in art and music.
Indeed!
You are so brave to be experimenting with art. It scares me – I wish I could let go and play in art. What you created is beautiful – and meaningful – and memorable. How very exciting to be exploring your own history. I have a cousin who does that too and she has uncovered some fascinating secrets which “root” me to this earth, to society. They help me to find my place. This post inspired me – in that I should be experimenting more.
Experiment, please do. I was playing with wet on wet painting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5wBr6MvTc It’s lots of fun and it doesn’t matter at all if you make mistakes.
Oh – thank=you!!! I ‘m excited. May post the results. I’m going to be busy over the next couple of days — or weeks — or months. In any case – somethings to look forward to!
Oh please do. It will be lovely to see what you create. You have an eye for photography, an eye and an ear for words, so I have no doubt you have an eye for colour and paint. 🙂 🙂 If you would like some more inspiration for art, take a look at how the lovely Z inspires everyone to paint and create. https://playamart.wordpress.com/
Gallivanta! At last I have figured out how to follow your blog and comment. I am fairly new to this world and what seems clear to others is just mystery to me. We crossed paths several months back in one of Cynthia Reyes’s posts. My main focus is memoir, and your peek into ancestors fascinates me. Also your mother’s art is impressive, delightful!
Thank you, Diane. I am sorry it was so tricky to find me and comment. But glad you are here now. How do you access blogs? On a laptop, iPad? I had such trouble figuring out blogs when I was using my mobile phone.
I’ve been feeling the need to get among the ancestors (forebears of Giles of Gallipoli) I’ve been lucky to find 2 fellow searchers on-line. Rather magically, we’re each a descendant of siblings born on a Derbyshire farm in the late C18th. It’s a little bit weird. Thanks also for reminding me of the soothingness of ‘colouring in’. I have the books, the crayons, so why aren’t I doing it? Happy painting and family delving – and good on your parents, and especially Mum, for making the most of their late years.
Yes, I find it weird that an online search led me to another great granddaughter of my Scottish great grandmother. There may be more of us out there!
Colouring in may be more of a winter occupation……
Ah well, we’ve been having winter, tho it’s a bit brighter today. I will bear it mind for rainy days when writing stalls and I can’t go digging in the allotment.
Sounds good. 🙂
Oh, I forgot to say that I recently saw Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CkLC4Zr2Mw I enjoyed it mostly for the information/story it gave about the post war situation in Turkey and the arduous task of setting up of the graves and memorials at Gallipoli.
What an amazing post – thank you so much for sharing with us all those wonderful pictures of creativity. I am delighted to hear that you have been able to trace your Scottish ancestry and have everything crossed that you might be able to visit…!! Meanwhile, I have the exact same colouring book as you, which was bought for me a couple of months ago by my sister during my recent illness – I love the colouring process and find it very restful. Happy days 🙂
Leaping Tracks, I have villages and houses and addresses in various locations, plus relatives to talk to in Clackmannan. I expect there are headstones to see, too. Such a lot of information. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed but so excited. And how very lovely that we have the same colouring book. I bought this colouring book for my mother. http://www.mcleodsbooks.co.nz/products/885516?barcode=9780600632092&title=Birds%26Butterflies%28ColouringforMindfulness%29 It’s also lovely. Do you prefer crayons or felt tips for colouring? I can’t decide which is better.
I can only imagine how amazing it must feel to have made those family connections. if there is anything we can do to help, just let me know. Meanwhile, that second colouring book you showed me looks lovely – there are some really nice ones on the market, aren’t there. I tend to use coloured pencils because I like the way you can use them on their own or blend them; and I also like sharpening them – another exercise in mindfulness!! 🙂
Ah! You must have a good sharpener. Sharpening usually tries my patience! But I will give more attention to colouring with pencils and will try some blending. I have just been given some copies of letters from the family here to the family back in Scotland. They are wonderful to read except that I am faced with sentences like this “Whit ever pit it inta yer head to rite ta me…” which is challenging.
I love this post, so full of creativity and connectivity.
Thank you, Melissa. I would like my artwork to be as fine as yours!
Thank you very much!
Sounds like things are going well for you my friend. I am glad!
Well enough, Cindy. We are experiencing a gentler time. Long may it last. 🙂
Yes, long may it last. Lovely artistic post!
Thank you, Dina, as was your latest post with all those gorgeous rose photos.
Very inspiring post, dear Gallivanta! Long and healthy life to your parents and to all your family! Take care, 🙂 Fabio
Thank you, Fabio. At your suggestion I am now listening to Canto Ostinato. 🙂
Thanks so much, Gallivanta! It is more music for creative moments, and it’s a long piece. Please take a look at the video about some flowers to be shown at Chelsea Flower Show. Have a great weekend! 🙂
I will do that, too. May your long weekend be blessed.
Thanks much, Gallivanta!
🙂
I had to smile over your comment about not being a relaxed, competent knitter. My mother was, and the sorts of things she produced were simply stunning. But, as time passed, she found it more difficult and went back to knitting — dish cloths! She preferred a yarn we call “sugar and cream” — 100% cotton — and knit them in every color of the rainbow. I still have about a dozen. I stopped using them once I realized the pile was decreasing in size. They’re a wonderful reminder of her.
Family is important, and I’m so pleased that you’ve found another branch or two to swing on. I’m the end of the line, I fear — at least on my paternal side. I still have an aunt, and a clutch of cousins on my maternal side, but that’s it. I do have some old family tales to tell, and some handwritten documents to transcribe, but I’m getting to the point where I’m beginning to explore museums and historical societies for some of my “treasures” — especially the photos and documents.
A belated happy birthday to your father, too. It’s so wonderful that you have your parents, still active and engaged. All of the art projects are delightful, and I absolutely believe that they will enliven your mother more than she ever could imagine..
Sugar and Cream sounds like the yarn my mother was using for knitting dishcloths. She knitted a heap of them, too, but lately was finding even that task too taxing. Perhaps she will feel like making a few more after her time on other activities.
As for my family tree; I have always wondered what happened to the family members who didn’t come out to NZ. Now, at least, I know a little more about the Scottish family who stayed behind. Our families in England and Scotland were large so there are bound to be more relatives to track down…..when there is time!
“When will that be, say the Bells of Stepney. I am sure I don’t know says the Great Bell of Bow.” 😀
Back to the present. We are have a bright sunny autumn day after a wild storm last night. We are off for a picnic and a quick search for a nearby tree which is apparently covered in over-wintering monarchs.
Oh, indeed, you are wise to be exploring museums and historical societies for your treasures. 🙂
I loved your mention of the Great Bell of Bow. I haven’t thought of the Bow Bells in ages. The last time I was in London, I had devised for myself a walking tour of Christopher Wren’s parish churches, and St. Mary-le-Bow was a favorite. I wish we had a church in Houston capable of change-ringing — it’s such a stirring experience to hear.
Oh how lovely to know that you toured the Bells. Did you see this post I wrote on our Bells? https://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/3252/#comments
So much activity and artistry, Ann! 🙂 That seems a great way to keep your mother engaged and interested, and the results are great! I can’t wait to get old enough to take up these new hobbies 🙂
I am sure you will always be trying something new, no matter your age. 😀
This is so inspiring. I like the warmth of your mother and daughter art. What a wonderful reminder this is that it’s never too late to create beauty. I need to set time aside for my sketch book and watercolor pencils–they’re calling my name now.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
It’s never too late, Wendy. I am glad to hear your sketch book and pencils are calling. I do love your art. Tell me more about watercolour pencils. I saw some today in the shop and wondered if they were superior to ordinary pencils.
Watercolour pencils blend easily (similar to pastels), except that you can use water on a brush to blend them after you colour in your picture (or parts at a time & even layers). I’m still very new at it and have only read up on it a bit. I’m finding them easier to use than regular watercolour painting. My mom sent me some and that’s how I got started. She uses oils, acrylics, and watercolours of various sorts for different paintings. I suspect there are probably Youtube videos about it—now I’m curious to go check… let me know if you give it a try. I love the greens and blues in your watercolour picture. ❀
Good to know your experience. I bought some art supplies which weren’t really suitable ( for me) so I am trying to be more cautious about future purchases. 🙂 Sounds like you are not alone in your artistic talents; runs in your family?
I love the paintings! My Mom is 87 and I can’t get her to be still long enough to paint.
Thanks Dannie. How wonderful that your mother is too busy to sit still. 🙂 My mother was active until a year or so ago. Osteoporosis now confines her to a chair most of the time.
I love that you are exploring your past and that you are painting. And I love yours and your mother’s creations- beautiful.:)
I am writing religious stories for my own faith. When we find something that truly inspires us, time vanishes.
Here’s the link to my latest writing projects. I’m loving it. http://myocn.net/author/joanne-jamis-cain/
xo Keep creating!
And to you I say, keep writing. I particularly enjoyed your article on Mother’s Day. Our mother needs a lot of assistance, too. She still finds it strange that we should be doing so many things for her but I find it completely natural. Our roles are not really reversed. I am still the child helping the mother, just doing a lot more helping. 🙂
95 and 92 year olds? Happy birthday to your ‘young father’ and all the best with your mother’s painting.
Thank you, Zambian Lady. My mother will be 93 next month. I am sure my parents find their ages as astonishing as we, their children, do.
Glad you are finding so much joy in family and art (and the mixture of the two). I think shared creativity offers so much in terms of both the creative output and the bonds it builds between us and those around us. Hope you manage a trip to Scotland; it is a wonderful place (not that I am biased of course). Cheers, Su.
As a child I didn’t like joint creative projects because someone always seemed to spoil what I wanted to do. 😀 But as an adult I have learned “compromise’ and can relax about shared creative projects. And my family tree discoveries have only come about through a lot of sharing with other family members. I couldn’t do it on my own. Of shared creativity, have you read about the Wholehouse Reuse project? https://www.facebook.com/wholehousereuse
🙂 I know what you mean. I enjoy shared projects much more now, because I try to approach them with a mindset of embracing and feeling joy from the collaboration itself. But there is still a part of me that wants to go it alone. If I have a clear enough vision, I’m a nightmare to have in a group. I didn’t know about the Wholehouse project. I’m really tempted to go down to Christchurch to see the exhibition. Thanks for letting me know about it.
A nightmare? or a passionate group leader? If you do come to Chch, let me know. Would be fun to catch up.
Congrats to your dad and mom!
95 and taking up painting.
And to you too.
You are an inspiration.
Thank you, Cynthia. When you’re ready, you and I can paint the town red, or pink, or any colour you choose. How about it?
OK. Turquoise, I think. (Does that mean Turkish in French?)
Turquoise it is. To remind us of our island homes and their sometimes turquoise waters. Turquoise=Turkish in French? Not sure. It is from Old French (pierre) turqueise (“Turkish (stone)”), according to Mr Google.
Hopefully you’ll find time to trace family roots here in Canada! You have friends ready and waiting – including me – to host and assist😊. I am really taken with yours and your mother’s art … So great to have off line creative outlets too.
I have traced some of the family as far as Wentworth, Ontario, and there are a few others who settled near Vancouver. And there was one relative who lived briefly in Manitoba before travelling on to New Zealand. What I am not sure about yet is if the Ontario Millars had any children. So much to find out. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed our artwork. I think most of us can have fun with paint if we stop worrying about whether or not we are good at art. 😉
Interesting tracing family like that and also thinking about what caused them to wander so far from home. Hope to have fun with paint one day since I’m still at the worrying stage!
You’ll get there. It’s taken me about 50 years to get past the worrying stage.;) This link explains some of the history of migration to NZ. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration/page-8 My Millar great great grandfather was a grieve or steward on a farm. With wages falling as well as falling employment, the opportunities supposedly available in NZ and Canada must have looked very tempting to his children.
So happy to hear you having some fun with paint and color, I love the collage dresses, very three dimensional. You certainly come from a long line of elderly folk…so I guess you are going to be a round for some time then, right? 😀 😀
I hope to be around for a little while yet! Got some travelling to do. I didn’t quite get to an art class like you did but, at least, I got my hands on a paint brush. That’s a start. 🙂 I am not going to follow you into sailing adventures, though. 😉
Welcome back, and a vicarious happy birthday to your father, who has now completed 19 five-year plans and is into his 20th. Congratulations, too, on discovering a new branch of your family. Let’s hope the Scotland trip materializes.
Ha! I will pass this comment on to my father. As a former civil servant, he has done his share of five year plans. He did not enjoy preparing them! These days, he sometimes operates on a 5 hour plan, which occasionally gets stretched to a 5 day plan. 🙂 And of stretching; am wondering if I can stretch my family tree far enough to find a connection to Kenneth Millar https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/n/nolan-macdonald.html Perhaps not. He doesn’t seem to have been a very happy chappie.
You are right, family matters. It looks you have been busing doing activities that matter.
Very busy, YC. Family history, in particular, takes up a lot of time and headspace.
Beautiful post dear Gallivanta… and your words are heartfelt and lovely.
Best to you. Aquileana 😀
Thanks Aquileana. Best regards to you, too.
Painting is such a creative outlet, and so healing. Wonderful that your mother has taken it up and come to life again! And I’m happy you are exploring it too, with beautiful results. It’s worth investing in cheerful colors! This part of your family is happy seeing you here again 🙂
Yes, and I have been happy catching up on the osprey family happenings. My parents spend a lot of time watching the birds who come to the bird bath on the front lawn. Recently the kookaburras have been for a visit. Great excitement. More cheerful colours are on order!
Would love to see some kookaburras 🙂
They are very handsome. And their dawn chorus is unforgettable!
Sounds too great to miss…hope one day to meet these guys!
I hope you will, too.
Oooh, he’s a rather formidable looking gentleman! Good on you Gallivanta, I have been reading about colouring in for adults and mindfulness. Art is such therapy, so lovely to see Pauline’s work is inspiring others, it’s so pretty! I haven’t been online much myself so have to make sure I come back to catch up with everyone here and see what they are up to. I hopethe recent spate of quakes has not left you feeling too icky x Enjoy your painting!!
He does look formidable, doesn’t he! What I am finding, though, is that my ancestors looked out for each family member, so they must have been kindly and caring, despite appearances.
I haven’t been too worried about local shakes but I was very upset about Nepal, which was my home from 1991-1992.
The colouring is fun and restful. It would be at least 25 years since I have done any colouring, and that would have been with my children.
How is your soap-making?
You are a well travelled woman! It must be very sad to see if you know the areas and people, it’s tragic to watch. I was doing my family tree with my first computer and became obsessed with it, lost it all when my computer crashed, enjoyed finding the stories of my ancestors. The soaping is going fine thanks, I am still enjoying it and for my birthday got a very nice prezzy card from my son which allowed me to buy lots of glorious toys for decorating so I will be experimenting lots 🙂
And, from your latest post, I see you are experimenting with paper making, too. I have printed out a lot of the family information I have obtained in recent weeks but there’s still lots on my computer that I could lose…..yikes! Scary thought.
The good thing nowadays is most can be retrieved if you crash but I now own a hard drive to back up after nearly losing my papers etc.
Oh yes, a back up hard drive is essential. 🙂
You have been so busy! And I am really happy I was able to help – art is so healing on so many levels and a good palette of colours helps me to express what I want to express in any moment. I think the mindfulness colouring book is also a good place to be! Once years ago when I was getting my emotional health back on track I drew mandalas and coloured them in for hours. Looking at them a few years later I could track both my process and progress as I moved thorough some sticky stuff 🙂
I have seen lots of mandala colouring books/pages. They look very soothing. Good to know you have found them helpful. I loved looking at the photos your daughter took of your art room. Gorgeous colours, pencils, and the beads, oh the beads!!!! Your working space gives off such happy vibes. 🙂 I am sure it has seen some sadness and pain, too, but it is the happiness that prevails.
Dear G, I am happy to see that you’ve been busy but in a fulfilling sort of way. As opposed to the frantic, unraveling kind. I have been wanting to get my hands on that mindfulness colouring book!! I read a Native American proverb which asked when did our problems appear? Was it when we stopped singing and crying? I like to think sometimes it could be when we stopped painting and colouring. Congratulations on the big birthday for your Dad! How absolutely wonderful!! Staring out my window at 10:35pm at a pale orange indigo sky above Helsinki. Sharon x
Ah, Sharon, you paint a beautiful picture of the Helsinki sky. I will try to use that colour combination in my colouring book. The Native American proverb is very apt. Does your little one like painting? Some children do and some don’t. I was a child who preferred pencils and pastels, though I did some painting when I was about 9 or 10.
My son is very much into drawing. He draws stacks and stacks each day and I have carefully kept most of his artwork amounting to some a few boxes now 🙂 I used to draw and colour a lot as a child and well into my teenage years. Seeing my son immersed in his daily artwork, I too have now drawn up a chair beside him and we draw and I occasionally do some watercolours with him. It’s a very comfortable and contented sort of silence that we share. Enjoy your colours G! Sending you love. Next week school ends and then it’s summer hols till mid-August. I foresee lots of drawing sessions and painting together 😀
Ah, that sounds blissful. My eldest is 30 now but I still have her childhood paintings on my wall; I love their freshness and innocence and the lovely playfulness with colour.
What is this colouring? It sounds like fun. I have met up with some relations recently too, by serendipity. Are you a Pisces like me it could be astrological.
It is fun; a lot of fun. Are Pisces supposed to be making unexpected family connections at the moment? I am Aries.
welcome back, lovely and talented Lady Ann! ❤
Lucky you to have your both parents… btw, our real life will always come first… 🙂
Thank you Lady M. It’s absolutely incredible to still have both my parents. In my recent family history adventures I was told about a relative who lived to 105. So, there is longevity in the genes. 🙂
yep, it’s extremely rare and their longevity will “follow” you… 🙂 btw, today my horizon is an eternal alchemist… 😉
You have an inspiring point of view. 🙂
It’s wonderful that you and your sister have organised a creativity programme for your mother. Good to see you back and read your news. Happy painting too! 🙂
Thank you Iris. My mother likes to sing, too, so we try to incorporate songs into daily routines. Singing, painting, creating….all wonderful fun.
These activities will keep her alert and that is very therapeutic, Gallivanta. 🙂
Indeed. 🙂
Congratulations on discovering your family and exploring the artistic impulse in yourself. Both parents in their 90s! Extraordinary!
It is extraordinary, Julie. They have both had a rough time, health wise, over the last 9 months, so it’s good they are enjoying a slightly more gentle period for their bodies and minds.
Good to have you back! We were missing you. I had a feeling you were out discovering something.
Finding family roots is always interesting. The artwork by your mother is beautiful!
Thanks Lavinia. I wasn’t able to give as much time as usual to my blog but I tried to check in at least once a day via my mobile phone. How goes your care-giving role?
Doing the best we can… 🙂 Mom is coming up on 94 soon. It is a continual adjustment process for all. I am grateful the cats help out in their own way.
Yes, I agree about the adjustment process. Cats are wonderful helpers especially if there is a quiet and gentle lap involved.
I love the mindfulness coloring book….it seems it may be as calming as knitting.
Almost as mindful, especially for me, because I am not a relaxed competent knitter. 🙂
Wonderful art by your mother and you!
Thank you Ellen. I wonder if I can get them taking photographs next. I would love my mother to try haiku, as well.
It’s so great to witness your family renaissance! wow, you and your mother must be having a lot of fun! hey, and it’s my lucky day b/c the comment box loaded!
Hooray! Glad it is your lucky day. My sister is doing most of the work now. I am doing some mentoring and encouragement via Skype. At some stage I think my mother would enjoy doing a Mola panel, or something like your avatar. We are working on it. 🙂
And if your mother includes an avocado in the panel, she can call it a guaca-mola (I’m hoping New Zealanders know what guacamole is).
She could indeed! She likes avocado, but would probably give guacamole a miss. She likes her food plain ( and salt-less).
You’ve been busy with Interesting and enjoyable things. And the most important is still to be close to your parents.
Alex, we are very lucky to have close contact, even though it is mostly via skype or the telephone. Modern communication is simply wonderful.
When you weren’t here for awhile, I worried. Silly me! It looks like you were having wonderful moments with important people! The fact that Pauline’s work has inspired your mother (and you) in your artwork is just so cool–i’ll be looking forward to more of your creations!
I have already told Pauline how marvellously my mother responded to using paint and pen again. She is doing loads of colouring pages as well. After a year of stagnation, she has come to life again. It’s simply wonderful.
I am so happy for her–truly!
Thank you, Kerry. I appreciate your warm support.
The art gene is obviously in the family. For me though it seems there are always family matters!! phew 😉
Yes, there are family matters and family matters. Some are more complicated than others! I only had a very limited paint selection for my play painting, so the colours didn’t represent my sunshine mood. Now that I have had a go, I may invest in some happier colours. 😉
Neat artwork! The mindfulness coloring makes me wonder if you would enjoy the free Inkscape drawing program.
I might indeed. Where do I find that?
Just google “download inkscape.” And then “inkscape guide.”
I have done a lot of time on computers, and I know it’s not a trivial program. There is good how to out there, and it is SO powerful. Google “inkscape art” and you will see.
Oh my goodness. I had a quick look. I think I will need an extra head/brain to get started on that. Mind you, that is what I said about WordPress at first. 🙂 It takes me a while to adjust my thought processes to new projects/adventures.
From your blog, looks like you adjust splendidly. 😉
Thank you, Aggie. I try.
You’ve been engaged in the roots of your soul and the greater universe. I’m especially happy that in the course of your living your “real” life, you are exercising your creativity.
Sally, it really does feel as though I have engaged in the roots of my soul. There are more roots to explore but for the moment I am satisfied.
So happy to hear from you again!! I love the photo of Mr. David Millar, that determined look on his face and the dashing beard! The art made by your mother is beautiful. What a blessing to have your parents still with you. ( and what a blessing for your parents to have such lovely daughters!) I hope to see more of your creative developments and explorations! xo Johanna
It is a blessing, Johanna, although rather hard work for my sister who is their primary caregiver. Mr Millar has a very dashing beard indeed. I am wondering if it was specially groomed for the photo or if it was made perfect by photo editing, the old fashioned way. I am taking a small break from colouring at the moment. Have gone back to knitting a dishcloth.
Gallivanta,
This is so interesting. My best regards to you.
Micheline 🙂
Thank you Micheline. My best regards to you, too.
It seems like you planted your seeds and now are in full bloom! There is so much beauty and positivity here, G. And yes to discovering our ancestors too – I felt right at home the one time that I was able to go to Scotland, for example. It is good to remember that we are a part of a long line…
Bisous,
H
Heather, I was starting to feel I was the end of the line, so I was very excited to find more family both here and in Scotland. I have only been to Scotland once but now I have spoken to family there I am more determined than ever to visit again. I would like to go with one or both of my siblings so it may be a while until we can coordinate something.