Sometimes there are no words.

I have been back from my travels for two weeks now. It seems longer. I feel very blessed to have returned home safely, with a heart filled with so many treasured moments. I've several times began to write and share here, but each time have found that words did not really want to come. Maybe there are no words to explain sometimes. But there is a feeling. In my heart it's a ball of light, warm as the African sun and wide as the widest of African smiles. It sparkles like the light in the eyes of a baby elephant. It's as soul stirring as a lions roar, as heartbreaking as the peril of a rhino, as captivating as the golden path that reveals itself each sunset on the zambezi river. And it's as beautiful as the rainbow that stretches timeless, across Mosi -oa -Tunya.

Do not stop dreaming!

One day your world-peace-dream

will inundate the entire world.

-Sri Chinmoy-

"Harm no other beings.  They are just your brothers and sisters"

  -Buddha

"Listen to the voice of nature, for it holds treasures for you."

  Native American (Huron) Proverb

♥ ♥ ♥

We saw so many beautiful creatures at various places during our stay. I have many many photo's, these are but a few. One of the magical highlights though was visiting the sanctuary 'Wild is Life' 

One of their recent additions is a baby elephant named Moyo. 

Below, with my daughter. :)

 

Such a special inspiring place filled with love ♥

Here is me with Sweetpea the Kudu. A very dear old lady.

I am so glad that I shared a moment with her, as sadly a week after  returning home, we heard that she had passed away. 

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If you would like to donate to Zimbabwe's Wild is Life charity, sponsor an animal or help them with their rescue and newly formed elephant nursery. Take a look here  Every little helps.  

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"I see a world in the future in which we understand that all life is related to us and we treat that life with great humility and respect." 

-David Suzuki

Recipe to awaken your sleepy winter self.

It's that time of year when the bear dna in me just wants to curl up indoors and sleep. The hibernating time. Do humans even have any bear dna? I'm sure they do, even if scientists haven't found it yet? ;)
Outside is grey and wet and walks are paths of muddy puddles and rain soaked fields.

I am waiting and dreaming of the clear, sharp scent of icy days. Crisp under boot, decorated with Jack Frost's art work. I'm hoping for snow, just a little before too many Spring flowers arrive, but the rain still falls and falls At least there are rainbows in between though.

Anyway enough about the weather! Here's what else I've been doing...

         'Recipe to awaken your sleepy winter self'
1: Take one slice of wood that you've had for a year and not done anything with.
2: Prime it.
3: Trace a rough sketch that you've had a while in your sketchbook onto the wood.
4: Begin painting.
5: Keep painting and photograph in between to show process which can be interesting at times for yourself and others. :)
6: Paint some more and drink tea.
7: Complete tax return in between and be sure to have matchsticks at hand to support eyelids.
8: Watch birds in between and drink more tea.
9. Daydream and admire the rich glossy paint colours on the palette.
10. Paint until all the bits are coloured in and it looks ok or finished.  :) 

When the sleepiness comes back which it will, because it's January, just repeat the process again, this time on water colour paper or whatever your preferred medium is. :)

I will be making prints of both paintings, which will be available in my shop quite soon and I will also be selling the originals.
Until next time, I'm off to do a snow dance now....