#20

The past month has been go go go with travelling to Tauranga, learning to use a new video camera, lots of graphic design work for events and heaps of meetings and onsite work. I have been heading out to pick from the garden here and there, managing to fill a couple of a jars for table decorations last weekend.

I have done a pick this evening and things are definitely starting to wind down out there. The mornings have been colder and the blooms are almost spent. I’ve been slowly collecting all the old pots and washing them to store them in the garage, collecting seeds and continually trying to tidy my studio space.

In ageing not so gracefully news this week I hurt my neck and shoulder somehow… (sitting at my computer, bad pillow, bad photo-taking posture, all of the above?) so I’ve been trying to rest and let myself heal. I haven’t been to a karate class for over a week which feels week, as it’s something I rigorously do twice a week. Fingers crossed I can sort it out this week! I’m a big fan of the Osteo so I know a couple of appointments will really help.

There’s just something super easy about grabbing my sketchbook, the little jar of coloured pencils and just drawing every night once my son is in bed. I have never really been a painter, but felt the urge to paint the last couple of weeks. Always reasonably quick, not a lot of thought, more just vibes.

I found a bunch of old tubes of gouache and watercolour in the cupboard, so slowly started painting and then adding detail with coloured pencil on top. I’m of the firm belief that if you enjoy something you should do it, even if you aren’t good at it cos that’s how you improve. I don’t always manage to have a daily drawing practice, but I’m enjoying the times when I do.

The New Moon is a good time to try something new as it’s traditionally the most “fertile” day of the lunar month.

I spoke a bit about setting intentions last month, and I have been practising being intentional with my thoughts and actions. However, I have also been really excited to do my new job so have also been getting carried away with work and not looking after myself as best as I should - sometimes even the best intentions go by the wayside.

Tonight marks the start of a focus for me on being able to work and also completely turn off from it and relax without feeling like I always have to be doing something. I am adjusting to working almost full-time hours again after a couple of years of part-time work.

Garden to-do list just hasn’t changed since last month but I am slowly getting bits and pieces done here and there.

• Cleaning up the bombsite round the back of my house.

• Creating proper paths around the bed with mulch and edges.

• Planning my spring garden and ordering bulbs.

• Collecting seeds and cuttings.

• Weed the strawberries and kill the grass!

I appreciate all of you who subscribe to this little journal/letter. I’m still honestly not sure what this is really, but I enjoy writing letters to friends and it feels like a natural way for me to share my garden and my art. If you don’t already, you can follow me on Instagram which is where I am at more regularly.

Rach xo