Weekly photo challenge ~ above

a view from above, looking down into the walkway and Bar

Here is a different perspective from the well known MONA (Hobart).

MONA is also known as known as The Museum of Old and New Art.

a second view from the same gallery

I have posted two different photos so you can see how big the area is.  In the first photo there are people in the gallery upstairs.  In the second photo you should be able to see someone in the walkway downstairs and … also a group of people in the glassed hallway at the other end of the gallery.

It is a grand building and fabulous architecture if you get a chance, do go and visit the museum.  (BTW: don’t take young children is my advice)

This post is inspired by the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge, Sara Ross (May 3) suggested we …

Find a subject and instead of taking a picture from in front of, at an angle, to the side, or from behind, take it directly from above!

Quote: April 27, 2013

Quote of the day …

“Time was invented so things didn’t happen all at once”  Shirley Maclaine

(I’m not sure if I have the exact words of Ms Maclaine, however I liked this quote.  I find it amusing, it makes me think and wonder and be amazed all at the same time.  I read this recently in one of her books -  I have read a three of her books recently.  ‘Sage-ing while age-ing’, ‘I’m over All that” and ‘Camino’)

Weekly photo challenge ~ colour

The word for the week (April 5) is ‘colour’ and below is my photographic reflection of the word.  I took this photo last week during one of my relaxing moments when I had a coffee in one hand and a camera in the other [she smiles].

As mentioned by Cheri Lucas at wordpress, colour is everywhere and it can affect our moods, significantly.  Everyone needs a little colour in their life.

The delightful colour of the setting sun’s reflections on the view

This post is inspired by the WordPress.com, Weekly Photo Challenge at Daily Post.  Participants are encouraged to …”In a new post specifically created for [the] challenge”, share a picture that depicts COLOUR!

Easter Rest & Relaxation

Dear Friends,

I have been on two weeks leave, from the day job, and spent a lovely week on holiday staying with friends in the sunny northern region of New South Wales (NSW) / Queensland (QLD) border.  The weather consisted of warm and sunny days and balmy evenings with regular light rain that kept the moisture in the air.  We had one significant downpour of rain while we were at the festival and ‘between tents’ so were thoroughly drenched … an exhilarating and cleansing experience!!

Here are a few photos taken on the Easter holiday.  I hope you get the picture …  of my delightful rest and relaxation experience.

Shoes off & morning coffee time

relaxation on the deck

morning reflections

One very cuddly dog

River view @ 7pm

Dot the dog

My holidays gently reminded me that …

... any problem and issue we may experience in life, when viewed with hope and courage, is more like an opportunity or a challenge.  Each life experience, with the right attitude and action can bring about a new personal strength, new understanding and renewed compassionate love for self and others.

People talk about finding their lives.  in reality, your life is not something you find – it’s something you create.

~ David Phillips

A little back pain

I have been experiencing a little back pain in the recent months.  It started with a moment in the garden when reaching towards a flower to get a closer view.  It just grabbed me  ..  the pain and discomfort that is.

Note to self:  when stopping to smell the roses, or to listen to the lap of water on the river bank, do it with mindfulness!

water views – take time to notice the little things in life

I worked my way through that discomfort with a little help from massage and physiotherapy treatments.

Then ‘it’ grabbed me again this last week and the pain returned to the point that I was awkward in my movements and hesitate to use my body in a normal manner from fear that ‘it’ would grab me again.

This pain and the ensuing discussion with appropriate professionals has guided me to walk and move in a more mindful and graceful manner.  To carry my body in a way that is respectful of its potential and capabilities.  To go about my day aware of my stance, joints, muscles, ligaments and bones and my attitude and breathing that can enhance capacity for flexibility and fluidity of this amazing being that I have the privilege to embody.

My mantra this month …

Identify your painful areas and set a clear line of sight to a solution!

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ lunchtime

What’s for lunch?  This is the Daily post’s weekly photo challenge word (question) for this week.

Zucchini obviously!  Especially if you have one this size in the kitchen garden.  You may notice there is an onion at the bottom of the basket – that might give you an idea of the size of this vegetable.  The onion is nearly dwarfed by the overgrown zucchini.

This is one decent sized zucchini

How would you like it?  Zucchini quiche, vegetable bake with zucchini, zucchini pickles on toast, grilled zucchini with tomato and onion, zucchini fries.  Or my all time favourite, Baked Zucchini Boat!

To make ‘Zucchini Boat’:  slice the vegetable length wise, scoop out most of the pulp (set vegetable pulp aside), dress zucchini with a little olive oil (or a nob of garlic butter) and put into an oven proof dish.  Place in a moderate oven while preparing the filling (about 20 minutes in the oven to partly cook).

To make the filling:  dice a couple of onions, finely chop a bunch of fresh parsley, thinly slice a red capsicum.  You could also add diced bacon if you wish or spring onions and mushrooms.   Mix all the prepared ingredients (onion, capsicum, parsley) with the pulp of the zucchini and season with salt and pepper as required.

Take the oven proof dish out of the oven and spoon the filling into the scooped out middle of the zucchini (where you removed the pulp filling earlier). Top with a pile of grated cheese or breadcrumbs or a mixture of both.   Return the dish to the oven and cook for a further 30 minutes (depending on size of ‘boat’) or until the zucchini flesh is tender and cooked.

Serve with grilled tomatoes and hot fresh garlic bread!

Enjoy!!

ps:  I am not a chef or a cook so I hope you can understand my recipe.

Summer months

Summer months!  A time of holidays and summer fun, making resolutions and laughing at the cold days and dark nights of winter.

I declare there is less darkness around me this month (well it is summer and the position of the sun … the summer solstice …  the seasons and climate … blah … blah … blah) and I now see more lightness and clarity.

See -it is true, less is more.  Less night-time, more day-time.

In my preparation for my good intentions 2013 I have discovered that -

• “That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated that what is more complicated. Simplicity is preferable to complexity”. (Ludwig Mies Van de Rohe) According to Wiktionary, this was the motto of the aforementioned Ludwig.

• “Live simply so more can simply live”.  I am often drawn back to this quote when I become aware that I am starting to live a life of waste and excess again.

• There is an organisation in Santa Barbara called Less is More.  They work to reduce, reuse and recycle and promote themselves as the ultimate recycling resource.  They even give information on their website on how/where to recycle your Christmas tree.  How about that!

• Australians Greg and Sophie are blogging about their simple lives and quest to live with less. Here is a link to their blog.

The flower of the Summer thistle .. I like this flower although it is not everyone’s favourite flora!

 I resolve to make less of each day (more of each moment) .. to be content ..  to reduce waste .. to simplify my life and to live by the ‘less is more’ principle!!