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In the beginning, blogs were rather like diaries that people shared, or forums for discussions. The modern blog has only been around less than 20 years and it has changed forms rapidly in that time. Today’s entry is a nod back to journal type posts from years gone by, but with photos, because I can’t help myself. Normally I take a few days to write a post, but this one is pretty much flow of thought this morning…

The photo I wanted to share with you last week… I call it ‘casualty of winter’ but it makes a nice monochrome photo.
It has been a very busy, and mostly productive few weeks for me. But my body hasn’t liked it and I’ve had a head cold this week–another casualty of winter? Head colds are mongrels. Trying to think, and be inspired, is not easy. Self imposed stress has meant that my ‘shrillness’ has turned into a cold. Why do we do these things to ourselves? Slow learner.
3 weeks ago my credit details were stolen, through no fault of my own. It took ten days to get things sorted. Thank you to whoever decided they needed my details more than me. (the world could use that talent if only it were re-directed!) It actually had a ripple effect that achieved good results for me, albeit a hassle at the time. Move on.
During that same week I had ordered a new computer. I’m in computer love. It is a MacBook Pro, quad processor, 15″ laptop and it runs like the wind–as long as the wind doesn’t include whatever slowed down my photo uploads last week! I love it when I update appliances or devices that are well in need, because the replacements are like living in the future again. Amazing.

My ‘media centre’ while setting up the new computer 🙂 note jewellery pieces in background, and that I am taking the photo with my phone, pretty much sums up the creative scene at the moment!
Around that same time I was asked to make a ‘collection’ of jewellery which my hairdresser plans to use in his Christmas Boutique of the salon. Okay, so this was one step too many. Where is that rear vision mirror for life when a person needs it? The collection is getting there. I will photograph it and share it with you when it is done because I now know I’m ready to move on. I’m done with jewellery making. Done.
As problems go, I have none. But ‘Power and Water’ had one that necessitated they dig a huge hole beside our letterbox, and turn off the power last weekend and again this week. Also I did have some sinking pavers and some tree roots under others, creating dangerous tripping points around my clothes line. My friend and bricklayer who built the paved areas at our place came back to do the repairs and we had a lovely catch up. Marvellous fellow.
During this time, I have seen doctors for check ups, performed all of my usual domestic goddess miracles, including making Magic Bean Cake, which I will soon share with you. But the 365 photo project has been perilously close to collapse. That’s why it is a ‘challenge’. Day 241 today.
Every single day, there is some tiny miracle. Like the day my darling husband came home with a beautiful feather he had found–for me to photograph. He’s very supportive in a quiet way, pointing out colours and trees and things he thinks may be of interest. So sweet. But this feather…when he proudly presented it to me he said ‘it was just there winking at me’. It stopped me in my tracks. Three weeks ago I posted a photo on Instagram, of a feather I had seen in the grass, the caption was ‘it was winking at me.’ I don’t think I said it out loud to him and I know he doesn’t use Instagram, but when you have been married for 32 years… It doesn’t matter where it came from, it was just one of those tiny little moments that shines above all the calamity life throws at us. A ‘feather wink’ becomes a loving gesture, which becomes a photo, which becomes a digital image akin to hand-painted watercolour. How is this possible? Because when we look for the magic in life, we find it. Magic.
You find the magic in life for us, your readers, who then start a new day feeling more inspired to look for further magic.
Thanks Ardys for your positive look at everyday life.
Oh, BTW, that little Italian Restaurant, Bellino, is closing early. The woman who runs it also lives above the business and said she has 11 years of he life to pack up so will stop cooking sooner than October. Greetings from the Lao border.
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Thanks so much for your kind comment and for reading. Also, thank you for letting me know to take Bellino off my ‘things to do in Melbourne’ list. One just can’t do everything in life. Greetings back to you from the centre of OZ!
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It seems the Universe is speaking to me from everywhere lately! Your post brought the message of observing life and finding magic in each day. Even when someone stole your “credit details” you chose to observe the event and simply move on. You find the positive in life, Ardys. Your words are a miracle in my day… always. Thank you for reminding me to keep on the sunny side of life!
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And your kind words are always a bright spot in my day, too Lori, as are your posts. I shared your recent one with the hummingbird photos, with my Mom in Ohio. She really enjoyed it too! xx
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Love the magic of the winking feather!
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Thank you Betty, it was pretty amazing.
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As a feather aficionados I can tell you that your feather is beautiful! No matter how many feathers I have in my life, I am always amazed at how strong they are. They look so delicate and that they should be handled gently. But they have to be tough to fly such distances. I love the expression of the feather winking, and loved how you and your husband are in tune with each other!
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I agree with you Anne. There is something really fragile but strong and beautiful about feathers, and I always want to pick up every one that I see, but I have learned to restrain myself. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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Nice post….I always have a feather on my bookshelves that contain my cookery books….:)
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Thanks Roger. Nice to know there are a number of us feather aficionados around.
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Hey, nice computer there, girlfriend! My eye is drawn straight to the coffee right beside it!😧. The thought of a feather winking makes me smile. And I do remember your photo not that long ago of the feather and your caption of it waiting for you. 😉. And it seems like your “shrill” was your cold. I hope you are feeling better. We can all relate to how miserable a cold can be.
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It IS a nice computer, loving it! And yes, the coffee is my early morning companion while reading email and other blogs. In this case, things were just finishing up from an all night transfer of data from old computer to new one, so at least I didn’t have to be there all night with it! Yes, my ‘shrill’ is nearly gone, hurray! Maybe I will just call colds, ‘shrills’, from now on! xx
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Omg Ardys, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that feather photo, and then stopped altogether when I read about it. I live those moments. The Bear said he saw an owl sitting on the garden post one night. He felt it was the sign of an ending. The next night my daughter and I saw it again, so calm, that we walked up close to it and it only blinked. Synchronicity 🙂
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Wow, that must have been something with that owl! Yes, synchronicity. Thanks for reading Sara.
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I love day/s in the life blog posts, especially where such creativity is involved as with yours. It’s a gentle way of reaching out and collecting us all together.
The G.O. loves a feather… or ten. His old felt hat has enough feathers to fly off of its own accord, and we have more in bottle and jars around the place. When I find them I make a gift of them to him. The watercolour image that came from the feather wink is shows a great appreciation of it 🙂
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Thanks so much Dale. What a nice idea, ‘a gentle way of reaching out and collecting us all together’. I really like that. Glad to have you back, hope you had a relaxing anniversary break.
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Beautiful post Ardys. I really love seeing peoples work spaces. I feel a bit sad that you’re at the end of your Jewelry making aspirations, as I’ve just found out that you did it and was thinking of placing an order… Perhaps if I get the details of the hairdresser your making it for, I can purchase a piece from him?
I was really inspired by your creative touches with your pictures & went hunting around for the waterlogue app. Sadly I own a Samsung S6 edge (Their latest release) and the application is only available for an Iphone.
I do alot of work with In Design and so attempted to create a Watercolour image for one of my First Day Covers. It turned out okay, but not as awesome as Waterlogue would have made it!
Love the recite of your husband handing you the feather – ‘Because when we look for the magic in life, we find it. Magic.’
Yes.
ML
x
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That’s a shame Waterlogue hasn’t made an app for Samsung yet. Maybe they will. I’m having so much fun with that app. It is a bit like painting with watercolour, though you don’t necessarily know which photos will work well with which setting on the app. I’m getting better at it, though. I’m sorry about the jewellery phase out, but it’s just one of those things that seems to have come to an end. The hairdresser is Headlines and I believe the pieces go on sale 12 October. Thanks for your nice comments. xx
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