January

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January 2019

Another year begins…

I’m making do without a printer at the moment – so the quality of these screen-shot images aren’t the best. I’ll update with better images in the future.

The theme for this year is all about the green world, the trees who stand guardian over us.
the wild dance shifting with the seasons
the wild pulse beating through generations
from the branching root to the breathing leaf

I wonder if anyone noticed the theme of last year’s calendar…

Here in New Zealand, January is the height of summer, and while a lot of the pasture land dries and turns golden, we have an abundance of evergreen trees.

green hands
hold the sky, shelter the land 
dance in the half-light, verdant choreography

I’m writing from the armchair in my living room, looking out over the bush and trees on property that flow seamlessly into the local bush reserve. This is the first image with the kereru (woodpigeons) I’m using for the cover.

I’m still finishing off the rest of the months. The text came first this year, so I’m scrolling through my photos to find images that resonate and connect with the text.

I’m thinking of making a pdf of the whole calendar available – my gift to the new year – let me know if you’re interested.


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January – Every Day A Few Words

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Over the last few weeks I haven’t been writing very much, and I was beginning to feel a bit worried about this.

But I know part of the reason is that I’ve been more focused on the visual arts recently. I took a few art classes at the end of last year – and I loved it!

I needed to give time to this and find out whether it was just a passing whim, or the start of something new. I’ve worked out that this new learning in drawing and painting is something I want to pursue so that it can become another way to explore my world and to express myself.

And then – thanks to a connection on Instagram and Twitter I was led to Jackie Morris’s suggestion to write a few words every day – just 25 words, no more than 50 – handwritten. She describes this at the end of her January 8 blog post on http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/blog/more-than-home-from-home/

 

I’m trying not to stress over how much, or how well, just to write. This feels like both a challenge and an aid. Its all about noticing the world around me and writing a small observation, a reflection.

I started posting my small writings on Twitter and Instagram, but I think they belong here too. I’ll include photos when I can, and who knows – a few drawing and paintings might even start appearing!

I’m happy to use my first “few words” for my January calendar – I’ve been a bit slow getting this year’s calendar off the ground.

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calendar 2017

At the end of December I was doing two things, looking for a calendar, and reviewing the photos I’d taken this year. That’s when the “a-ha” moment occurred.

So I went ahead and made myself a calendar – something to keep myself inspired and motivated – just in case I need it 😉

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At the start of each month I’ll share the relevant page – here is January.

step forward into the new year
dance to the end of the song
write to the end of the page
easy like breathing and walking
setting one foot in front of the other

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©clairegriffin2017