Hi there! It’s time for my third quarterly Taking Stock post for 2021. For those new to my blog, I do quarterly Taking Stock posts every year – in March, June, September, and December. Here’s where you can see my June 2021 Taking Stock post or you can see all my previous Taking Stock posts here.
So let’s have a look at how things have been lately!
Making: Lots and lots and lots of art – you can see if you haven’t already HERE or there’s samples of some of it in the gallery above.
Getting: Close to the end of my 100 Day Project. Hooray!
Cooking: Dinner every night since way back when. How I’d love a chef sometimes!
Sipping: Diet Lime Juice Cordial – I find it easier to drink (to keep my water intake up) than just plain water.
Reading: Not much lately sadly! However, I am part way through a Liane Moriarty book I got for my birthday – The Hypnotist’s Love Story.
Thinking: Too much at night and it can affect my sleep. All problems seem to grow and magnify at night. Do you find that too? Ugh!
Remembering: That this time 4 years ago I had a lovely trip to Canberra with a girlfriend to experience Floriade and soon after that I accompanied The Tennis Player on a work trip to Perth. I was unaware at the time of what lay ahead upon our return and that we’d lose my darling Dad on 2 December. This September was my fourth Father’s Day without him but I did go visit him and had a chat while I gave him a spruce up – glimpse in gallery above.
Looking: Forward to my 100 Day Project to be finished so I get more time for other stuff but I will be a bit sad when it ends too.
Listening: To a couple of Podcasts now and then while I do my artwork. For example I’m enjoying listening to Jessica Rowe’s interviews on her ‘Jess Rowe Big Talk Show’. There was a bit of hoo ha recently over her latest interview which was with Pauline Hanson. Did you see that? I listened to that one and it wasn’t at all about politics and Jess did say up front that she doesn’t agree with her politics but admires her strength of character (or something of that nature) etc. Anyway – I think she decided to pull it down after all the fuss.
Wishing: That my cousin’s 17 year old son wasn’t diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia but feeling very hopeful and positive that his treatment will be successful and this will soon all be behind them.
Enjoying: Meeting up with some friends lately including my childhood friend (who you can read about here) who I hadn’t seen for far too long. I’ve had quite a few coffees, brekky’s, brunches and lunches out over the last couple of months and you can see a few photos from those in the gallery above. I’m very grateful we haven’t been locked down and I’ve been able to do this!
Appreciating: Portrait Mode on the iPhone – it takes much nicer selfies than the regular phone camera mode. Try it if you haven’t already (I set mine at studio light). I take some occasionally and share in my Instagram stories – to put a face to the name.
Wanting: Covid to go away and be gone! I hope that it will eventually become like the common cold. Do you think that will ever be the case?
Eating: Too much snacking! I’m a Vegemite kid. I love my Vita-Weat’s with Vegemite & Butter a little bit too much!
Finishing: My 100 Day Project will be a great sense of accomplishment. It will be sad but I will be pleased because it takes up a lot of time – not only to draw/paint/create but to come up with ideas every day and to then photograph, edit and post to social media etc.
Liking: The fact that art mentoring classes start back this week after a 3 week break.
Loving: …and appreciating the kind, supportive and complimentary feedback I’ve been receiving on my art. It helps so much with my self-confidence & more!
Buying: Quite a few different sized frames for my artworks. Trying different looks. Experimenting. I’m quite pleased with how they’re looking!
Watching: I binge watched Clickbait on Netflix. It was riveting and I enjoyed it. I’ve been watching a bit of The Masked Singer and SAS. Some of SAS I just couldn’t watch – for example when they had to go through a small and tight long tunnel. As a claustrophobic there’s no way I could do that. I couldn’t even watch it!
Hoping: That 2022 turns out to be a better year with more freedoms and less fears than 2020 and 2021.
Wearing: Casual and comfy is my thing. I’m going to have to rethink things now that it’s getting warmer and will soon be hot again. Boohoo!!
Walking: Um … yep I need to get back into some walking! I will be trying to get waterfront walks back into my routine.
Following: My instincts and they’re telling me I need a digital detox soon and I very much need more time in nature.
Noticing: That I’ve gained some weight since stopping Pilates, sitting on my backside doing art more, and not getting enough exercise. I stopped Pilates because of a few reasons including – two lockdowns, it worried me that during class we rotate around equipment, all touching the same things, and more.
Saving: Glass jars to use for my painting (to hold water) and the cardboard backing to my watercolour paper pads as they are fabulous to tape my work to when I paint.
Waiting: For an idea to pop into my head as to what I will draw/paint today!!!
Bookmarking: Art & Photoshop tutorials. I’m investigating how best to create my own prints from my artwork without having to pay a photographer to do it for me.
Coveting: SO many things. Art supplies, equipment, and courses mostly but also country life. I crave wide open spaces, and being surrounded in nature.
Feeling: Blah! Once my 100 Day Project is over my focus needs to shift back onto to a more balanced healthy living – less snacking and more movement!
Hearing: The TV – news update – Coronavirus this, Apocolyptic that, unprecendented this, catastrophic that. Excuse me a minute while I go turn it off!
So that’s it for the September 2021 wrap up. My next Taking Stock post will be in December 2021.
If you’d like to Take Stock also, just pop over to the creator of the Taking Stock concept, Pip’s blog – Meet Me At Mikes, and grab the list of word prompts from her last Taking Stock post which you’ll find HERE.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeThisWeek
22 Comments
I wonder if your blah is because of your eating or because of the state of play in this country at the moment? The disappointment in what we’ve become and all that is going on in the world is very pervasive. As for your 100 days – we’ve just cracked that in lovkdown – that would have been a perfectly timed project if you’d started at the beginning (and were in lockdown).HA! As for Podcasts, as long as there are no triggering issues for you, Everybody Knows is very interesting (and depressing) – in light of the allagations in Parlaiment house, it’s easy to see how it all happens and continues to happen. That podcast is more on the music industry but covers actors and Weinstien a little too. #Lifethisweek
Hi Lydia – I think my blah is for both of those reasons to be honest! You’ve been in lockdown for 100 days?! OMG! That’s for over 3 months! I’ll have to check out ‘Everybody Knows’. I’m really enjoying a few podcasts now and then when I’m doing art. I’m not always in the mood to listen to them but while I do my art seems to be a good time.
What a great wrap up, Min. I hope spring brings good weather that invites you to walk outside and gives you new ideas for your art creations.
Thanks Natalie. I plan on much more time outside once this project is finished, however it’ll have to be early mornings or late afternoons if out in the sunshine as it’s starting to get quite hot here!
Great wrap for September, Min and you are nearly there with your 100day project. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed looking and appreciating your artwork. I think we are all feeling a little ‘blah’ at the moment and I know for me we have some family issues which are causing stress and anxiety. I’m stepping back for a bit to just take a breath. Enjoy October! #lifethisweek
Thanks Sue! I’ve had a few people say they’ll miss my daily art posts. I’ll still share my art but just not daily. Yes I think quite a few of us are feeling ‘blah’. The state of the world at present is enough of a cause for that. I’m sorry to hear about the family stress you’re enduring at the moment. I hope it is sorted and behind you soon. I hope you have a great October!
I didn’t know about portrait mode on the phone. I mean… I’ve seen it but just assumed it meant taking pics in portrait mode. If that makes sense.
You know I’m loving your artwork and well done on that commitment.
Sorry to hear about your cousin’s son and I hope treatment goes well.
2020 & 2021 have certainly been weird years. Less-so for me I guess as I’m not working anyway and we’re less impacted but the world has just been different and everyone seems to be struggling a lot. I sometimes wonder though if this will become the new normal?
Hi Deb – well now you know about the portrait mode on the phone! It kinda blurs out the background and softens the foreground a bit. It’s a little kinder than the regular camera mode. Thanks so much for your support and encouragement with my artworks. I’m hopeful that in 2022 we will turn a corner and life will get closer to normal than we’ve had for a while. Fingers crossed!
Hi Min – I’ve really enjoyed your 100 day art project and will miss seeing them pop up on my FB feed every day (but I totally understand how you’d be over the “have to” part of it). And yes it would be nice for covid to be something like the flu where people get their annual shot if they need one and then we all just get on with living our lives – not sure if that’ll happen any time soon though. Nice to catch up on all your September comings and goings and I’m glad you got out and about for some social time too.
Hi Leanne – thank you! Yes a few people have said they’ll miss my daily art posts. Don’t worry – I’ll still share my art – just probably not every day. I’ll be sad when it ends too and it will be quite an adjustment after 3+ months of producing something and posting it every day! I will enjoy the release of the need to though as it will open up more time to do other stuff that needs doing. Fingers crossed 2022 will be a better year where Covid fades away and is not so prominent and dominant in our lives!
Hi Min, you’ve done so well to stick with your 100 days and you are just full of talent! I know I’ve said it before but you really are fabulous. I nodded along to many of your points, vitaweats and Vegemite, snacking, news….. hope things improve soon. #lifethisweek
Hi Deb – thank you, and thank you for your support and encouragement and kind words with regards to my art! Glad you can relate to the vitaweats, vegemite and snacking … oh and the news! sigh! It will get better soon. I’m sure!
I’m totally with you about the wanting and hoping! Actually, as far as I know, it’s likely that Covid could become like the common cold.. because viruses don’t benefit from killing people.
This situation we’re in really really sucks. However, creative activities really help, don’t you think? I’ve really enjoyed seeing your artwork.
Hi Susanne – I’m pretty sure 2022 is the year the world turns a corner and things improve dramatically! I’m so pleased you’ve enjoyed my artwork. Thanks so much!
Oh gosh that was a pretty big Taking Stock with some hard news to take in. I am sorry about your cousin’s son. I also understand the push and pull of a 100 day project. It assumes, at the start, all days will have time in them for art…and they end up not being so and then it makes us stressed….
Yes to more comfort eating in lockdown. It’s been one thing I have both enjoyed and then got a bit worried about then said to myself I have spent far too much time worrying about it. I also understand the no sleeping/worrying thing. Night thoughts are far more negative than day ones..so try to remember that for perspective.
Great to have you link up for #lifethisweek. Next week, the optional prompt is Water. See you at Denyse Whelan Blogs then too I hope. Denyse.
Thanks so much Denyse. I’m glad you can relate to so much of what I’ve written here! I’ll be linking up next week with my final round up post for my 100 Day Project. Hope you’re having a great weekend! xo
I’ve seen some of your artwork on social media, you are definitely gifted! Just popping in coz I realised it had been far too long since I visited some of my bloggy buddies x
Hi Janet – so nice to see you here again. I haven’t seen you for ages! (well in the virtual word or the real world). I see though that you’ve been very busy with work and with your lovely daughter getting married. Thanks so much for the kind comment on my art! xo
very sad about your cousin’s son. yes we’ve all added the covid weight. I must walk more … love your artwork.
Thanks Sherry! I’ve yet to get back into my walking. Whenever I plan to we have a big storm! I’ll get there hopefully. I certainly need to be moving more!
oh dear my comments aren’t going thru i fear. just saying love your artwork.
I got your comments! They must’ve been a bit slow to appear I suspect.