Another beautifully crafted post, Prue and just for a few moments, I was able to step away from what is happening around the world and get lost in yours. Thank you for that enjoyable respite which was much needed.
Stunning oil paintings! And likewise the art books! So beautiful! I’m so glad that this exercise helped lift your spirits. And ours. Hugs dear Prue. All the best.
After Puppy School is over, I hope I can spend even less time on Facebook and thus won't see the highly emotional reactions and reporting from across the globe.
Ah, I loved this walk around you house and learning so many lovely historical tidbits about your family. Your daughter is an amazing paper artist! What a gorgeous tribute to your hard-fought battle against the developer. And it was a clever way to bring back balance into your thought-spinning. I shall try it myself! Its all about actually seeing and noticing those lovely things which we surround ourselves with, but don't always stop to let their beauty sink in. Thank you for this timely reminder. ❤️
I did see the insta photo and melted at his adorable face. So sorry to hear he was away for the day but sounds like he was a little trooper. Gald you had a few hours of peace and now time for snuggles.
I,too was inspired to look about my home and identify those things which bring me respite and quiet joy in these chaotic days, days when my heart aches and I mutter expletives, shake my head, and take Dobbins for a walk to clear away my anger and despair.
I am struck, once again by the substack community that stretches and reaches out across the continents and oceans and inspires, encourages, soothes, and supports one another! How remarkable when one could feel so isolated in the dust storm of political rhetoric!
Lovely writings Prue, takes us away from the madness that is the news and the two mad men from Russia and the USA, its dear friends that help give us respite from the chaos around us currently. xx
Prue, you've really captured WHY certain things bring us comfort: it's the history, the connection, the love and the beauty, all the 'sparkles' in life that we need right now. The paintings are out of this world! What a place - again, it's truly like another planet. The books are remarkable too, such a work of art from your talented daughter. (Not to mention your own novels as well!!) My eldest son has done a few paintings for me and that is a very singular glow when a child produces a piece of art just for you. Love every bit of this piece as usual and I thank you for the much needed lift. ( think I can safely say that I am no longer feeling quite as 'stonkered' lol!) xo
I think everything and everyone has a backstory, and even if they don't, we can always imagine. Are you like me when you are out and about and people-watching? I love imagining stories. Keeps my brain cells flipping over.
Re my daughter - in her time she has done some magnificent artwork. I have a lot of wall space with hangings of her prints, mixed-media collage and painting. I wish she'd do more. Incidentally, when I first began writing, she was my cover-designer, but had to stop owing to other graphics commitments.
I had to smile when you said of Tasmania 'another planet' as its so true in so many ways. Not the least sociological. As I've said many times, we are a deliciously unsophisticated and removed society. It's what I love.
Husband and self are not so stonkered now either - no thanks to the Orange Turnip the American one. I'd hate folk to think that's what I sometimes call the pup. We honestly slept as if pole-axed last night after being up with El Puppo every hour on the hour the night before. AND, I've just dived in delicious sea water and that was like a bucket of ice waking me up. Holy cow, hold me back! I've now got energy enough to rant and rave at Trump, MAGA and the US government or lack thereof. XXXX
What a great glimpse into Aussie slang, right out of the gate, Prue! I hope to weave stunned mullet and stonkered into my lexicon. 😅 More importantly, I hope to drop into this kind of mindfulness more often. The birds at our feeder--even the greedy starlings--have been providing a welcome diversion from the chaos here in the States, but it's only moments before a news dart punctures my calm. I can't not pay attention, but I can move myself back to gratitude more frequently Thank you for taking Sue's lead with this gentle reminder. In addition to the beauty of the art, I was especially drawn to the bricks. Maybe it's my furniture-making husband's influence, but I'm always impressed by how something as common as a brick can become art when viewed through the right lens.
The song this week: Be still my erstwhile sailor's heart!
I have to keep dragging myself away from reportage as I feel the heart rate lifting, and to be frank, anger. It all comes back to family and I want so badly for my only grandchild to have a decent world in which to live. His great grandfathers fought for it and now such freedoms are being cremated on the pyre.
It's probably why I talk so much about retreating - it's not retreating in the face of marauders, it's retreating to take stock of what we do have and how wonderful and precious it is. (not easy when the Chinese are having ocean live firing exercises between us and New Zealand but neglected to give our commercial air carriers the required 24 hours notice (international law).
Thank you for sharing your “soul-deep” treasures. I feel the same…that cherishing one’s own hearth and home these days is a welcome antidote for the awfulness going on.
Your interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterful line really struck a deep chord for me, and I’ll keep it in mind, navigating the “turbulent waters” of the current times.
I adored this look at your books—the covers are just stunning!!! 🤩
thank you, Susan. I shudder every day I wake up and hear of further developments and really try hard to find good things to dwell on, in, with and by. Take care.
Hello Prue!! I set this aside and then forwarded it to myself to ensure that I commented and told you a story of my own, if I may be so bold. You are a word master and I ordered one of your works to see more. I'm honored to have received such commentary from one so known and fabulous. Thank you!
So...in 2002 I had the opportunity to visit Australia for 6 weeks and it was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had, it's on my list to return! We explored Adelaide and Kangaroo, drank some fine wine and then hopped to Launceston, rented a car to explore your amazing mystical island and creatures. My then-husband promptly drove us head on into another poor soul which ended us all in the most friendly ER I've ever seen. It was awful, frankly, and we feel badly for her to this day, although all of us are fine. We were hauled from the wreckage by a Tasmanian Meteorologist who took us into his home to recover. I had 47 stitches holding my arm together and broken ribs. It was amazing. He would NOT let us rest and raced us around showing us all the wonderful treasures, incredibly knowledgeable we saw Tazzy devils, platypus, everything proximate, anyway, even if we did not tour.
We took our flight out and went to Lady Elliot Island, bandages and all, never drove there again.
As a sailor I am in awe of everything below the 40th !
Oh-my-goodness! What an ineffably small world we live in.
I was born in Hobart but lived my life until university in Launceston. I still love the town. AND we spent two separate years, husband and self, living in Adelaide.
But back to your Tassie trip - you poor thing! 47 stitches and broken ribs! How on earth could you be bothered sightseeing when you were injured? Very stoic I think.
Did you enjoy Lady Elliot Island, injured as you were?
Have to say, below the 40th is a pretty good place to be - a bit windy but that's okay. TBH, I'd take the wind instead of what's going on in the world, any day.
Thank you so much for making such contact, Janice. Reading your posts will take on extra meaning now.
Another beautifully crafted post, Prue and just for a few moments, I was able to step away from what is happening around the world and get lost in yours. Thank you for that enjoyable respite which was much needed.
It is all about respite, Rosy, isn't it. We need to build it into self-care.
Definitely!
A lovely read and so much history there too. Thank you for sharing. Denyse x
It's a pleasure, Denyse.
Stunning oil paintings! And likewise the art books! So beautiful! I’m so glad that this exercise helped lift your spirits. And ours. Hugs dear Prue. All the best.
Thank you, Beth.
After Puppy School is over, I hope I can spend even less time on Facebook and thus won't see the highly emotional reactions and reporting from across the globe.
Ah, I loved this walk around you house and learning so many lovely historical tidbits about your family. Your daughter is an amazing paper artist! What a gorgeous tribute to your hard-fought battle against the developer. And it was a clever way to bring back balance into your thought-spinning. I shall try it myself! Its all about actually seeing and noticing those lovely things which we surround ourselves with, but don't always stop to let their beauty sink in. Thank you for this timely reminder. ❤️
It's so awful out there... the news saturation... that we/I need to focus on the little things and how wonderful they are.
Just getting the Gnasher back from the vet today (see Instagram) was a case in point.
I did see the insta photo and melted at his adorable face. So sorry to hear he was away for the day but sounds like he was a little trooper. Gald you had a few hours of peace and now time for snuggles.
I,too was inspired to look about my home and identify those things which bring me respite and quiet joy in these chaotic days, days when my heart aches and I mutter expletives, shake my head, and take Dobbins for a walk to clear away my anger and despair.
I am struck, once again by the substack community that stretches and reaches out across the continents and oceans and inspires, encourages, soothes, and supports one another! How remarkable when one could feel so isolated in the dust storm of political rhetoric!
I celebrate you and the other writers!
Thank you, Susan, that's so kind.
And yes, it is about the small things. If we don't hang onto those we risk drowning.
Let's all hold to each other.
Lovely writings Prue, takes us away from the madness that is the news and the two mad men from Russia and the USA, its dear friends that help give us respite from the chaos around us currently. xx
Life reads like a fiction, currently, doesn't it?
Prue, you've really captured WHY certain things bring us comfort: it's the history, the connection, the love and the beauty, all the 'sparkles' in life that we need right now. The paintings are out of this world! What a place - again, it's truly like another planet. The books are remarkable too, such a work of art from your talented daughter. (Not to mention your own novels as well!!) My eldest son has done a few paintings for me and that is a very singular glow when a child produces a piece of art just for you. Love every bit of this piece as usual and I thank you for the much needed lift. ( think I can safely say that I am no longer feeling quite as 'stonkered' lol!) xo
I think everything and everyone has a backstory, and even if they don't, we can always imagine. Are you like me when you are out and about and people-watching? I love imagining stories. Keeps my brain cells flipping over.
Re my daughter - in her time she has done some magnificent artwork. I have a lot of wall space with hangings of her prints, mixed-media collage and painting. I wish she'd do more. Incidentally, when I first began writing, she was my cover-designer, but had to stop owing to other graphics commitments.
I had to smile when you said of Tasmania 'another planet' as its so true in so many ways. Not the least sociological. As I've said many times, we are a deliciously unsophisticated and removed society. It's what I love.
Husband and self are not so stonkered now either - no thanks to the Orange Turnip the American one. I'd hate folk to think that's what I sometimes call the pup. We honestly slept as if pole-axed last night after being up with El Puppo every hour on the hour the night before. AND, I've just dived in delicious sea water and that was like a bucket of ice waking me up. Holy cow, hold me back! I've now got energy enough to rant and rave at Trump, MAGA and the US government or lack thereof. XXXX
What a great glimpse into Aussie slang, right out of the gate, Prue! I hope to weave stunned mullet and stonkered into my lexicon. 😅 More importantly, I hope to drop into this kind of mindfulness more often. The birds at our feeder--even the greedy starlings--have been providing a welcome diversion from the chaos here in the States, but it's only moments before a news dart punctures my calm. I can't not pay attention, but I can move myself back to gratitude more frequently Thank you for taking Sue's lead with this gentle reminder. In addition to the beauty of the art, I was especially drawn to the bricks. Maybe it's my furniture-making husband's influence, but I'm always impressed by how something as common as a brick can become art when viewed through the right lens.
The song this week: Be still my erstwhile sailor's heart!
An anthem for the resistance, I wonder?
I have to keep dragging myself away from reportage as I feel the heart rate lifting, and to be frank, anger. It all comes back to family and I want so badly for my only grandchild to have a decent world in which to live. His great grandfathers fought for it and now such freedoms are being cremated on the pyre.
It's probably why I talk so much about retreating - it's not retreating in the face of marauders, it's retreating to take stock of what we do have and how wonderful and precious it is. (not easy when the Chinese are having ocean live firing exercises between us and New Zealand but neglected to give our commercial air carriers the required 24 hours notice (international law).
You see, it's not just the USA... sigh...
No! I'm sorry, Prue, and like you, I feel this wish for my children in my bones. It truly isn't an exaggeration when we say the world has gone mad. :(
Thank you for sharing your “soul-deep” treasures. I feel the same…that cherishing one’s own hearth and home these days is a welcome antidote for the awfulness going on.
Your interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterful line really struck a deep chord for me, and I’ll keep it in mind, navigating the “turbulent waters” of the current times.
I adored this look at your books—the covers are just stunning!!! 🤩
thank you, Susan. I shudder every day I wake up and hear of further developments and really try hard to find good things to dwell on, in, with and by. Take care.
You too, Prue. Wishing your husband a speedy recover!
*That’s “recovery”!
Hello Prue!! I set this aside and then forwarded it to myself to ensure that I commented and told you a story of my own, if I may be so bold. You are a word master and I ordered one of your works to see more. I'm honored to have received such commentary from one so known and fabulous. Thank you!
So...in 2002 I had the opportunity to visit Australia for 6 weeks and it was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had, it's on my list to return! We explored Adelaide and Kangaroo, drank some fine wine and then hopped to Launceston, rented a car to explore your amazing mystical island and creatures. My then-husband promptly drove us head on into another poor soul which ended us all in the most friendly ER I've ever seen. It was awful, frankly, and we feel badly for her to this day, although all of us are fine. We were hauled from the wreckage by a Tasmanian Meteorologist who took us into his home to recover. I had 47 stitches holding my arm together and broken ribs. It was amazing. He would NOT let us rest and raced us around showing us all the wonderful treasures, incredibly knowledgeable we saw Tazzy devils, platypus, everything proximate, anyway, even if we did not tour.
We took our flight out and went to Lady Elliot Island, bandages and all, never drove there again.
As a sailor I am in awe of everything below the 40th !
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
J
Oh-my-goodness! What an ineffably small world we live in.
I was born in Hobart but lived my life until university in Launceston. I still love the town. AND we spent two separate years, husband and self, living in Adelaide.
But back to your Tassie trip - you poor thing! 47 stitches and broken ribs! How on earth could you be bothered sightseeing when you were injured? Very stoic I think.
Did you enjoy Lady Elliot Island, injured as you were?
Have to say, below the 40th is a pretty good place to be - a bit windy but that's okay. TBH, I'd take the wind instead of what's going on in the world, any day.
Thank you so much for making such contact, Janice. Reading your posts will take on extra meaning now.
Oh Prue, such incredible treasures - thank you for this glorious tour of these fabulous exhibits in your living museum!
Your daughter's work is absolutely beautiful.
She of course, thinks it's not. I think she's wonderful!
She IS wonderful!