Art. Photography. Gratitude. Life.

Art.
Photography.
Gratitude.

Life.

Monday 10 September 2012

Boots and All ....



 

Friends have been urging me to take the plunge,
and dive into the world of blogging ....
to share my journey.
 
Just the thought of doing this put me in a tail spin,
CRIKEY!,
who'd want to read about my life?
 
It's certainly not 'extra-ordinary', not the stuff of 'best sellers',
but hey, as I tell my children, 'normal is boring ....'
so maybe my life isn't so boring afterall,
because it certainly ain't the norm!!
(whatever that may be?)

How do I give you a peek without boring you to tears?
what parts of my life do I share?
What would interest you?
What do I feel comfortable putting 'out there'
for all to see?
Daunting, trying to decide ....

Ahhh ..... I'll share through my photos,
through my art.
 
So here I jump, boots'n'all .....
 
 
I grew up in a regional Australian city
but now I'm blessed to live here .....
 
 
 


I may live more than a stone's throw from a city now
but on the frequent long drives
we're blessed with the amazing Aussie landscape .....
 
 
 
 
 We might not take many holidays,
but we are blessed to visit this magic spot yearly ....
 
 
 
 
 
We may live on a farm in a rain shadow
with fog patterns that bewilder the meteorologists
and frost in the winter
and wild wind in the spring
and scorching hot days in the summer
and unforgiving floods
but we are blessed by the majesty this creates ....
 
 
 
 
We may experience the trials and tribulations of raising a 
differently-abled child ....
but along the way we meet the most amazing people;
children and adults alike
who humble us,
make us laugh,
make us cry,
who lift us up,
and inspire us,
and teach us,
remind us of what's important,
what's truly important .....

 

My life path may have taken odd twists and turns ....
that I could never have predicted
as a wide-eyed high school graduate,
thinking I had it all mapped out!!

I won't sugar-coat things,
there are days where I want to throw in the towel,
exclaim it's all too hard,
dwell in self-pity,
sit and just cry,
but ...
 
 

out of all struggle comes insight,
out of dark days comes sunshine,
out of loss comes understanding,
and Love is the pathway.
 
Each and every one of those tough days
has helped bring me to where I am now,
where I am on my journey.
 
I by no means have the answers.
I'm still on the roller-coaster,
gripping on tight,
screaming on the descents, 
and giggling at the twists,
gasping at the view from the top,
holding my breath at the turns
and bracing for the curves ahead.
 
 
 
Still learning to be;
a 'city chick' in the bush,
a life-long companion to my best friend,
a Mother to 3 gorgeous children,
(one of whom just happens to walk a different path)
Still learning to BE ......
 
 
Part of this journey involves me embarking on;
re-exploring my creativity,
re-discovering my femine wisdom,
engaging with the world in new and varied ways,
saying YES to new pathways,
saying NO to what doesn't feel right or true,
making adjustments and changes on the run,
and saddling up to 
what ever else life throws my way.
There are more of curve balls coming,
I'm sure ......
 
 
 


but it's a very blessed life ....





All words, photos and art work are copyright,
please respect my work and do not copy or re-print without permission. 
 Original Artworks, Original Photographs and Prints are available for purchase.

41 comments:

  1. What a BEAUTIFUL introduction to the world! This is all so stunning - your photos of your LOVELY home land, your art....I'm so in love with it all. THANK YOU for taking the leap into sharing all of this on this site - such a perfect way to start my day! I can't wait to see more!!!

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    1. Oh sweet Lisa, thankyou so very much for your wonderful reply. I am so happy that I made your morning! What more could I ask for!!

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  2. Melissa! THIS is your first post??? Incredible. Beautiful photography and your words.....well, they ring with energy and truth. Well done! Welcome to the artful blogging family.

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    1. Thanks for the warm welcome, Tracie. I love that the energy of my post resonates with you. I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and to comment. x

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  3. Right. So, it seems you have told a beautiful story with your words and your pictures. I think so many of us want to stand and applaud you for saying how you feel...it's how a lot of us feel. Such a gorgeous place where you live!

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    1. Oh Jennifer, this comment means so much to me, it really does. Thankyou. x

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  4. you fill the world with beauty every way you turn... what a blogvirgin post! GEMtastic my friend

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    1. Oh Mz Jane you have such a way to make me want to laugh and cry all at once!! Your intro to the worlds of GEMs can take part of the responsibility for me giving up my blog-virginity!! (giggles like a schoolie)x

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  5. I am so happy that you hit publish and are going to share all this with everyone out in the blogger world... your work and words are just going to bring so much joy to so many ... so proud of you BB... huge hugs and love...
    T xx

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    1. Oh my dearest friend, do you remember you suggested I blog years ago and share my journey and I thought, "what on earth do I have to offer that someone else doesn't already". You have been beside me encouraging me to publish my photogrpahy in one form or another. You have been there applauding and encouraging every time I potted or painted or curated an exhibition, ran a workshop, whatever I undertook, from acorss the miles you were 'here' for me and here at my debut you are 'here' for me again. True friendships like this cannot be bought. xox

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    1. Thanks for the warm welcome, Michelle and for the encouraging words. x

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  7. Found your new blog through your Facebook posting ~ welcome to blogland! I hope your journey is filled with loads of new friendships and inspiration!
    ♥Sharon

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    1. Thankyou very much Sharon, I really hope so too! I'm pleased you followed your curiosity and followed the link in FB. I went and looked at Plumrose Lane, WOW! I'll need a month of Sunday's to check out all of your goodness, but I aim to.

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  8. Such beauty in words and pictures, thank you.

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    1. Thank you very much 'caperpoet' I appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment. :-)

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  9. this may very well be one of my all-time favorite first posts, Lissa! Your openness, beautiful choices in the illustrations for your world, and your very comforting way of being *You*, all the truth, all the sweetness, all the tough stuff... with such gratitude and grace.... Thank you for shining unexpected extra light on my day. *hugs*

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    1. Oh sweet Hali! Really?? Gosh that means so much to me considering how much I love your blog posts. I'm very happy that I shined some extra light on your day, that surely makes my day! xx

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  10. Wow Melissa that is one of the most interesting, beautiful, touching and inspiring Blogs I have ever read! Thank you for sharing that :)

    Lots of Love!

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    1. Oh dearest Jill, what wonderfully lovely words, they fill my heart. Thankyou for taking the time to read and to comment. xx

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  11. oh so beautifully said (written) I'm so happy to meet you, best wishes from Canada!!!

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    1. Dear Laurie, thankyou for visiting me all the way from Canada. It is lovely to meet you too and thankyou for your kind words. :-)

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  12. Visiting via Tracey's blog, and so glad I popped over--lovely words and photos! I look forward to seeing more of your art, too. Welcome to the blogging world :)

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    1. Dear Cat thanks very much for visiting me from Tracey's blog (she's totally amazing, isn't she??!!). I'm so glad you popped over too and I'm also glad for your lovely comment and welcome. :-)

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  13. Ahhhh....I can tell this is going to be the kind of blog I love to follow...one that is full of heart. Forget shiny. Forget extraordinary. That's to much work. Give me heart any day!! That's what you got Melissa. That's what I feel here! LOVE it!!

    BIG Hugs,
    Connie

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    1. Connie, thank you ever so much for your kind words,your heart-felt comments really mean SO very much to me, it is hard for me to express (I'm rarely speechless!!). xx

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  14. WOW! What an inspiring post for your debut to Blogland...a very big welcome from me too! Your photos and words are beautiful.

    Btw, I found my way here via Tracey. :)

    Cheers,
    Serena

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    1. Dear Serena thankyou as well for coming via the amazing Tracey's blog. I really appreciate you coming here to read my debut blog and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it and your wrm welcome too. :-)

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  15. Oh my gosh! I'm overwhelmed with the lovely, warm and sincere feedback. I will reply to each of you personally, as time permits, but until I do, please know that I am full of appreciation. xx

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  16. Beautiful post both in words and images!

    Welcome to blogging. I believe it can change your life. You can't even imagine the true friendships you'll find here.

    You're well on your way.... ♥

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    1. Studio Lolo, I am sure I will form lovely friendships via this medium as I have via other cyber-means. It is wonderful to find like-minded people only a click away. Thanks for your lovely words and welcome. :-)

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  17. Stunning photos! So glad you are sharing them!

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    1. Thanks very much Carolyn, I really enjoy taking photos and I love it when people enjoy them. Thanks for the kind words. :-)

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  18. Lissa... oh my heart. I was reading this at work and then HAD to see it on my huge MAC screen and whoa.
    Woman!!!!! You are just so incredibly talented and so incredibly wonderful I LOVE YOU!

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    1. Gosh Kitty, you just made my heart EXPLODE!!! I LOVE YA TOO!!! xx

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  19. Those photos are so beautiful and your post is fabulous. Such a funny and inspiring words.
    Von

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    1. Dear Von, how lovely of you to visit my blog and to post such kind words of support. Thanks ever so much. x

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  20. Congratulations on your beautiful, new blog! I can already tell it will be full of heart, honesty, and art...all the things I love in a blog! Best wishes to you from Austin, Texas! ♥

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  21. Shelly, thank you so much for taking the time to visit and for your beautifully kind words, I am so very pleased that you like it. Best wishes to you as well, from Queensland, Australia. :-)

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