Describe one habit that brings you joy.

If I forget they wilt.
They sag and look sad.
I can only water
This limited area
Viewed from the back door
And kitchen
Scent wafts in
And gives me joy.
New paintings and regular art updates.
Describe one habit that brings you joy.

If I forget they wilt.
They sag and look sad.
I can only water
This limited area
Viewed from the back door
And kitchen
Scent wafts in
And gives me joy.

I want more colour
I want more scent
Flowing green
Petals and sepals
Music in sight
The volume
Set to 11
A rhapsody
Of delight.

Been to choir twice today
Morning songs, evening tunes
Now I’m tired and so I lay
On the chair, ready to sleep.
Music gave me a good day
Raised my spirits up in joy
Made me feel less dark I’d say
Summer returned
When that music did play…

Bees and hover flies pollenating the flowers, I don’t get out to deadhead them so they are going over (dying back) sooner than usual, but they are still joyously beautiful.
I didn’t realise how much the back yard meant to me ubtil this period of isolation. But I just have to look out of the back door and I see this glorious view. I haven’t taken any recent photos so I must get some before it’s too late. Have a lovely September.

Describe one habit that brings you joy.
Recently I’ve found myself singing in the shower. I don’t think I’m disturbing anyone as my hubby is deaf and the neighbours have moved out!
It’s lovely trying to sing one of the parts for a song our choir is performing. It means I can get the part right instead of struggling. It also means that I can learn the part off by heart and not have to ready from my songbook.
I also try and remember my favourite film tunes. Like Summertime, or Moon river or Singing in the rain. They are all old music, but they are lyrical and sweet. They give joy to my heart.
I think you get a different acoustic in a bathroom, you get an echo that can enhance your singing. That’s why I enjoy it.

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
He often sits up in the tree
Ot atop a chimney pot
He starts to sing
His voice raised
In skirls and slides
Whistles and trills.
Old blackbirds sing longer
And better, complications
Added each year.
Attracting and announcing
Territory and partnership.
His music gives me joy
Taking the time to listen
Releases peace,
Simple and sweet.

I went to another choir practice last night and we sang some old songs from our repetoir including ‘La Para Deiu’ (I think that’s how it’s spelt). We haven’t sung it for at least five or six years, and if you had asked me what the tune was I would not have been able to sing it. But as we started to sing it flooded back. Soon we were singing in three part harmony and I was getting goosebumps down my spine. We sounded very good, better than we used to I think, and this was with new choir members joining in. I can’t explain how it lifted my mood. People were grinning and laughing. We sang a couple of other older songs, one we hadn’t done for maybe twelve or more years, from when we moved from our old venue. I hope the choir keeps going, it truly is good for mental health, raising our spirits and exercising our memories.

Propped on my easle next to my latest painting, a lovely card from my friend in the USA. I felt a wave of joy and guilt! Joy to be connected with such a lovely person. Guilt because all my intentions to send cards were knocked for six by this chest infection. I had to rely on sending emails and Facebook. I only sent cards to a few close relatives. I even have cards in my handbag I was going to deliver on Christmas eve but didn’t get out on the freezing cold.
Thank you to Martha for this card and letter. You really made me smile today. Thinking of you and Bear and Teddy. Hope you get some good snow!

#bandofsketchers prompt for Christmas day was Joy. I decided to sketch a sort of nativity scene. I wasn’t totally happy with it so added texture using the photodirector app on my phone. Merry Christmas x

My mind is muddled,
My thoughts are muddied
My intentions busy
But ideas are muzzy…
Such a joyous time of year
To enjoy, with good cheer
Or so they say, and so I wish
To drink and eat a tasty dish
To share love far and wide.
But also remember those that died?
For they are here no longer, live
And for their memory we will strive.
We cannot follow where they’ve gone
We can only know their life is done.
So sad and sweet my thoughts entangled,
To relax my mind I’ll try to wrangle.
I can not say about it, more,
I do not want to be a bore.
I can only think of farewells
Then listen to midnight bells
And listen to the Christmas carols
Sung by all of heavens heralds.
Enough of this
Peace is my wish.