• About
  • Contact

Deep Blonde Thoughts

~ Emitting thoughts, tongue-in-cheek observations on life and lifestyles

Deep Blonde Thoughts

Tag Archives: reflection

Studies in Pointillism while Meditating on Peace

16 Monday May 2022

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, Health, therapy

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Art, art therapy, kindness, meditation, peace, Pointillism, prayers, reflection

It could be seen as a tedious task but the repetition of colourful dots eventually provides the visual reward.

Unfinished work in Pointillism; Leaves, Ladybugs and Refuge from the torrents, Magic Marker, May 2022

The method recently reminded me of the Dot Matrix printer days in my long IT career.

Inspired by last month’s visit to the National Gallery of Canada with a friend, I have been using Pointillism as one of my art therapy activities for the past couple of weeks. You can follow the creative process here.

Pointillism : Refuge; magic marker, May 2022
Pointillism : Flowers, magic markers May 2022

That pack of gift boutique magic markers and the pile of repurposed charity donation plea snail mail paper have provided me with a creative distraction from the news, all while we are still navigating through a pandemic. Some of us are still practicing safe distance and protection measures.

While watching the Juno Awards on TV Sunday evening, I spent time and energy reflecting on the weekend news out of Buffalo, New York and feeling sickened by yet another crime of hate. I said a prayer for those affected directly and indirectly by the actions of one angry white man. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the plight of refugees everywhere, world events are weighing on me.

Fear breeds hate. With every little dot I pray for kindness and understanding, starting with myself. I hope it can spread onto the canvas of humanity.

Appreciating and creating art provides me with comfort and relief, especially while listening to music from my pile of favourite CDs.

This will be another summer of staying close to home, avoiding the stifling heat and only exploring sights within reach by foot, public transit or a friend’s car.

If you too are feeling overwhelmed, what methods are you using to cope?

Thank you for stopping by.

T

Advertisement

Canadian Thanksgiving 2021

10 Sunday Oct 2021

Posted by shewrite63 in community, Health, pets, philosophy, therapy, writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

boundaries, canadian thanksgiving, celebration, COVID-19, family, friends, health, pandemic, reflection

What is there to be thankful for eighteen months into the COVID-19 pandemic?

You have your health.

You are double vaccinated.

You have the privilege to visit restaurants, theatres and gyms – if you actually wanted to.

You have a place to call home.

You have family and close friends, still reachable on various platforms.

None of your family or friends have succumbed to the virus.

You still have a job.

You still are able to work from home.

You are less stressed because you aren’t forced to use unreliable public transportation two hours a day.

You are more productive, creative and relaxed when you aren’t forced to conform to the visual expectations of some corporate culture.

You have the freedom to get outside for walks around your neighbourhood for fresh air, to pick up provisions, and engage with community acquaintances.

You found a new network of like-minded folks, opportunities to rekindle that sense of purpose, of contributing your time, energy and skills.

You have remembered that you have the right to set boundaries with family, friends and others.

You have had plenty of time for quiet reflection on life, your values and priorities.

You have let your inner child emerge during bouts of creativity.

Basket of kittens for the Grand kids

You continue to review your list of accomplishments, and many things to look forward to.

You finally have opportunities to warm the home by using the oven and stove top to cook delicious meals.

You can still afford to buy groceries and necessities.

You can share your thoughts with others through a talk radio show this evening, using various platforms.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/checkup/what-are-you-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving-1.6204049

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for dropping by.

T

1 park bench, 2 trees, 4 seasons

11 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, community, Health, photography

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

cities, city parks, fresh air, health, healthy communities, parks, photographs, pictures, reflection, seasons, trees

There is this bench in a downtown Ottawa park.

This spring someone painted it as well as its companions. This artistic act seemed to brighten up the park, making it more attractive. I think it was to encourage people to visit often, to absorb the urban nature and engage in conversation.

park bench painted spring

Dundonald Park bench Spring 2015

I enjoy visiting urban parks around Ottawa and learning about their history.  During vacation time in the Summer of 2013, I tried to visit as many as I could in one week:

  • Dundonald park
  • Piazza Dante
  • Commissioner’s Park
  • New Edinburgh, Confederation and Remic Rapids
  • New Edinburgh Lumiere Festival

It was an enjoyable, obsessive activity that got me out and about while exploring my city.

Wander back to Dundonald Park in the late summer of 2014.

I looked forward to sitting on this particular green bench during work day lunch breaks, during my attempts at exercise, fresh air and time for quiet reflection. It was also more pleasant since the Beer Store across Somerset Street was being demolished and there were less bottle and can collectors hanging about.

This bench was a familiar place to rest and observe my surroundings. It helped me review my life choices, smile at my accomplishments and ponder my future plans.

I would observe the passersby and occasionally watch the families with young children playing on the nearby swings and slides.

I would look down while deep in thought.

I would look up with gratitude for what relief and small fortunes came my way.

I admired the two tall trees that touched at their crowns and upper limbs.

Park trees September 2014

Park trees September 2014

In the late summer of 2014, I noticed the colours changing in the nearby trees. One lost its leaves quicker than the other did. I felt a connection with them and their transition through the seasons. Some whimsically obsessive part of me wanted to capture them each time I visited the park.

So, with my smart phone I would attempt to take photographs at least on a bi-weekly basis.

Autumn 2014 trees

Autumn 2014

Park trees Winter 2015

Park trees Winter 2015

park bench winter

Dundonald Park bench Winter 2015

I did not get any pictures during February. Fuck February. If I could, I would hibernate from January to the end of March. How about you? 

Park Trees Spring 2015

Park Trees Spring 2015

I missed one of my spring shots in early May because people were sitting on my favourite bench during one of my visits. I ran out of time waiting for them to move.

Would it have seemed strange for me to approach them and ask if they could move for one minute, so I could take a couple of pictures? 

Within two weeks, the trees were already bursting with bright green foliage. This was refreshing.

Park trees May 2015

Park Trees May 2015

During a rainy vacation day this week in late summer, I decided to create slideshows of different transitioning tree pictures while tinkering in iPhoto on my Mac. I created a very nice one of the two companion trees and exported to QuickTime Movie format.

Unfortunately, WordPress.com doesn’t allow .mov file uploads! That’s okay. I tinkered a bit longer with photographs I uploaded to a Media Gallery and created this slideshow instead.  I hope you enjoy it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thanks for dropping by.  I hope you’re having an enjoyable summer.

T

Recent Posts

  • The Year of the Cat
  • Safely distanced immersive art experiences
  • Anticipating the grey
  • Oh! those summer nights
  • A test of unconditional love

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 145 other subscribers

Follow Flo on Twitter

My Tweets

Blogroll

  • Learn WordPress.com
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Links

  • Deep Blonde Thoughts – the other blog
  • Deep Blonde Thoughts Domain
  • Where the Tabby Cat rules

Archives

  • January 2023
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • The Year of the Cat
  • Safely distanced immersive art experiences
  • Anticipating the grey
  • Oh! those summer nights
  • A test of unconditional love

Categories

  • activism
  • Art
  • community
  • education
  • Food and Cooking
  • Health
  • libraries
  • Mythology
  • pets
  • philosophy
  • photography
  • reading
  • therapy
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Warm fuzzy
  • writing

Category Cloud

Art community Health pets philosophy photography reading therapy Travel Uncategorized Warm fuzzy writing

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Deep Blonde Thoughts
    • Join 145 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Deep Blonde Thoughts
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...