Being a seed

Here are some seeds gathered whilst I went on a little walk recently. They were just hanging from their tree, very cleverly catching the sunlight as I passed. If I was going to be a seed, this is the seed I'd like to be. I’d travel nicely, fluttering from the tree on the breeze like a helicopter. Exhilarated, I’d duck and weave through grasses, tall branches and over rooftops until I landed sleekly on some soft, warm soil to begin my life as a tiny but determined tree.

Floating islands

Wouldn’t it be nice, to travel around the world on a whim so that you always had a different view? Sometimes being in the one place for too long can be a bit dull really. Whilst it’s good to put down roots, imagine being able to take your roots with you wherever you go. That’s exactly what these floating islands do. To satisfy their adventurous urges, floating islands are formed out of oxygen rich mud which vegetation can happily grow in. Often the plant roots grow right through the island and dangle underneath in the water. Sure, they may only travel around the pond, but when you’re an island and the pond is your world, the other side must seem pretty exciting.

Words to include in a conversation tomorrow

Starling

Sterling

Necklace

Snowflake

Eskimo

Cranky

Whenever

Wow

Happy

Example: This drawing is of a starling. When I think of starlings, I think of sterling silver, then necklaces. Then I think about how I have always wanted a necklace with a snowflake pendant, then I think of eskimos. Then I wonder if eskimos ever get cranky living in such constant cold, because I would. Whenever I see pictures of them I always think 'wow, they look so happy'. What about you, are you as happy as an eskimo?

Turning over a new leaf

Do you think it's possible, really, for a person to change? I've known people in their 90's who have told me that they still feel like the same person they were when they were 17. As for myself, I still like drawing and writing just as much as I did when I was a child. Cheesy, sentimental music can still bring tears to my eyes just like the first time I watched the movie 'Beaches' and left the cinema sobbing. And I have never, ever been able to tolerate the taste of caraway seeds. Yuck.

But even if some things about us always stay the same, there are other things we have choices about so that we can make changes. Just like this ornamental Manchurian pear tree leaf who chose to buck convention and wear stripes of different colours instead of the usual green. It’s still the same leaf, just with a fresh new style.

For the time being, I'm starting small. I'm taking my cues from nature. I may always shy away from caraway seeds, but I can try on some new stripes.

Party like it's 1999

When Prince suggested that we all party like it's the end of the millennium, I don't think he meant, 'go to bed at 10pm.' But that's how I party now that I'm a sleep deprived parent. Sleep is where it's at, sleep is the word, yep, sleep is my thing. So when New Years' Day began, I was refreshed and had the energy to write my resolution list for 2013. Now where did I put my parrot, and my eye patch, and my buried treasure...