I guess is says a lot about my April that I’ve got to the 30th and am casting around for images to post for the Changing Seasons.
It’s not that I haven’t taken lots of photos; more that they don’t seem to speak coherently of a month that has breezed over me, leaving little trace of itself.
As I write this, the sky outside is unbroken blue, and apart from a neighbour’s Japanese Maple, the trees I can see are green and still carrying a full complement of leaves. It’s autumn Jim, but not as we know it. (1)
The shot above was taken on the bush trail on Mt Manaia, on the Whangarei Heads. The Big T and I explored some of the track last weekend — stopping before the steep summit climb in deference to my arthritic knee.
It’s a beautiful place (both Mt Manaia and the Heads generally), and was surprisingly quiet for a glorious day at the end of the school holidays.
It took me a while to realise that the delicate intertwined spirals are fern fronds. As the leaves on each frond die, they curl in upon themselves. Where several leaves are in close proximity, they become entwined. If I were going to try and wrest Deep Meaning from it, I’d suggest it is a metaphor for how, as we age, we seek out and need the support of others — creating strength and beauty through unity.
Feel free just to enjoy how cool it looks.
In the absence of anything much to say about April; here’s a pot pourri of my month:
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
Please check out the Changing Seasons — April for these awesome bloggers:
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Ju Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Marilyn at Serendipity — Seeking intelligent life on Earth
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Yvette at priorhouse blog
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Sarah at Art Expedition
Jude at Life at the Edge
New to the Changing Seasons this month A Wonderful Sheep
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Gill at Talking Thailand
Deb at The Widow Badass
- The line of course is “it’s life Jim, but not as we know it” from the 1987 song “Star Trekkin” (The Firm). Those who have closely studied the texts say that such a line was never uttered verbatim in Star Trek.
I should never look at food photos when I’m hungry. Sigh. But I enjoyed all the other shots as well. I love that there can be such beauty in decaying and dead plants. Makes it easier to enjoy the months were there’s no new growth. Happy almost-May, Su.
janet
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I know that feeling!
I’m glad you like them Janet. Thanks.
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You’ve covered a lot of territory Su, lots of great photos.
Leslie
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Thanks so much Leslie. I get to the end of the month thinking I haven’t done much, then write this post and have an aha moment.
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We often underestimate what we’ve done….
🙂
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That’s true
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🙂
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Those fern shots are my favourite. I still have to go to my ‘garden’ for this month’s photos. The rain and wind last week stopped me from doing the walk. Hopefully I can get it done tomorrow!
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I loved the ferns too. Mt Manaia is mainly in natives, so there’s little colour (apart from shades of green and brown), but the light was great for picking out detail. I was in pixel heaven.
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I am a ‘big fins’ kind of gal. Be still my heart with the car show photos. Oh, that little girl and those wonderful curls. So cute.
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Hehe. I’m much more a 20s and 30s era of car girl. Love the soft lines (and those cool running boards 🙂 )
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We must cruise down the street sometimes. Cool chicks in a couple of hot cars…. 😀
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😸😸
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons – April 2019 – Little Pieces Of Me
I love this potpourri of images. You had a visually interesting month. The fern fronds are especially cool.
https://littlepiecesofme1.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/the-changing-seasons-april-2019/
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I used to bake bread too, so I admire your bread. You almost make me want to bake again. Almost. It would have been a very dull month here too if it had not been for the birds and the ONE day we got out to take pictures!
Your posts always make me hungry!
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😀 making bread has become a necessity since we have become less and less able to eat commercially-produced bread, and there isn’t a lot of affordable sourdough/naturally-made bread around where we live.
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There isn’t a lot of natural bread without chemical preservatives anywhere. And it’s hard to find sourdough, too. I used to get mine from other bakers, but I don’t know anyone now. We are lucky in that we don’t eat a lot of bread. The only natural bread is the really expensive loaves at the bakery in the grocery. It’s too expensive to eat every day, so it remains a treat!
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I love bread!!! It is my dietary downfall. I’ve found a mill near where my dad lives that makes flour from locally and organically grown wheat, so I’m experimenting with that to see if it behaves differently in the sourdough. So many experiments … so many loaves. See what I mean about it being my downfall.
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Su, you came up with some beautiful photos to depict April. I do know what you mean though, my maple has only just begun to change colour, while many other deciduous trees ejected their leaves in February and March as a water conservation measure. Those fern leaves are works of art. Speaking of which, the photos of friend’s art studio being packed up made me feel a little sad. I had grown quite fond of seeing your lovely photos of her studio and art classes. I hope her next adventure involves something arty. Also, well done on that foccaccia. It looks divine.
Here is my link. I don’t think my pingbacks are working at the moment. I understand this is a common problem. https://reflectionsofanuntidymind.blog/2019/04/30/the-changing-seasons-april-2019/
Regards. Tracy.
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Thank you Tracy. It was sad seeing the end of that phase of her life. She is taking time out to travel, but will set up another studio (though smaller, and with less teaching) as soon as she finds the right space. She makes her living as an artist, so a studio is essential.
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I hope your friend has a lovely time on her travels, Su, and that it leads to lots of artistic inspiration.
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I’m sure they will. She is heading to Europe soon, and has a short teaching gig lined up, so that will undoubtedly provide lots of inspiration.
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I too felt sad when I read about the studio closing. I’m glad to hear it is only temporary.
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Definitely temporary! Though wherever the new studio ends up being recreated, it won’t be Auckland so there will be fewer chances for me to visit and hang out.
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That’s a loss 😕
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But at least an excellent excuse for a road trip.
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But of course!! 🙂
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I like the metaphor – a lot
And the photos speak so much – the art with the red and blue is my fav
((And hope that knee is 100% someday)
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Thanks Yvette. The art is very distinctive, and his style is much-emulated around the area.
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has a Mondrian feel but in a much different way – the installation projects that are so popular today – and I can see why folks are drawn to it.
oh and I started my Changing Seasons post- and “have” to show you the paper straws we had served up recently – made me think of you –
I will link it up later
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Very Mondrain, but with a bit of Gaudi thrown in 🙂
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Yes….. and cheers to art evolving 🎨🎨🎨
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😀😀
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The fern may be decaying, but it even looks more beautiful in brown than it had its green spring dress on. Wonderful images, Su!
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Thanks so much Peter.
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I love that first photo—I thought it was a sculpture!
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😀 nature is the best artist.
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Love those fern images, Su!
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thanks Sue
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Those fern leaves are so beautiful! Even in decay! They could be made from rusted cast iron. 🙂 And I’m so sorry to hear that Claire is packing up her studio – hope she will find a perfect new place as soon as she comes back from her travels! Like Tracy I really enjoyed your photos of it and the classes she was giving.
That Hundertwasser art center is so awesome!! He’s one of my favorite artists, maybe because he was one of the first I really noticed, just like Van Gogh. And if I hadn’t just enjoyed a piece of cake, I would be salivating at the sight of your food and that wonderful Foccacia bread!! No, wait – I do anyway! 😀
Love the pics of the Classic Car Show, especially from that mum with those cool cat-eye sunglasses and a very determined look on her face. 😉
So lovely to catch up with you this way again, Su! Have a fabulous week! xxxxxxx
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I hope she finds a new place soon too; I know how difficult it is to work without a proper space, and I think her urge to create be too strong for temporary living arrangements.
I’m excited about the Hundertwasser Centre being built. It has been talked about for years, so to see some actual progress on it is wonderful.
Wishing you a creative, fun week ahead. xxxxxxx
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Tell me about working without a proper place! My desk is cramped, my kitchen overflowing with clay works in progress and at school I have to share my room with a woodworking teacher who always messes it up! 😂 I really dream of having an atelier one day, preferably in a lovely little cottage of my own. 😀
Keep us in the loop when Claire’s found a new place and busy working again. 🙂 xxxxx
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My dream is a large shed, with one corner separated off for living in. The rest will be divided into zones for all the things I want to do — sewing and textile stuff, photography, furniture making/restoring. I guess I’ll need a cool kitchen too, so maybe that will be the transition from work to rest. 🙂
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That would need to be a huge shed! 😉 But I totally get it. I always dreamed of a loft studio – all that space that I could fill up with my different projects! And a kitchen at the ready too. 😉
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It would … especially as T needs space too for his projects. Or maybe his’n’hers matchjng sheds 😂😂
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Hehe! Sounds like a new wonderful trend these his’n’hers matching sheds. 😉😄
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Could cut the divorce rate!!
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Haha! 😄
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My pingback didn’t come through so:
https://teepee12.com/2019/04/30/the-changing-seasons-april-2019-the-rainiest-april-since-1872-marilyn-armstrong/
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I’m seeing two ping-backs. Perhaps it’s just the time difference; I’ve been asleep and off WP so I’ve only seen them this morning. 🙂
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‘a month that has breezed over me, leaving little trace of itself’ – So well put, Su. I recognise this state of affairs, though our breeze was more of a gale. I still don’t know where the whole month went. Here are a few remnants of it:
https://tishfarrell.com/2019/04/30/aprils-changing-seasons-leaves-lambs-and-a-new-macmoo/
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Thanks Tish. Hope your May is free of gales.
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That’s a very nice wish, Su 🙂
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I loved your metaphor “as we age, we seek out and need the support of others — creating strength and beauty through unity”. Beautiful words to accompany a stunning photo.
The last photo of Parau Bay calls to me.
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Thank you Joanne. We were so lucky to have a perfect day at the bay, with the tide in and the sun shining. 🙂
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Me being a gardener, your photo of the fern makes want to go take a picture of my ferns .
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🙂 Do it! They are wonderful to photograph because of the changing textures and patterns through their life-cycle.
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Despite your misgivings you have put together a cracking month!
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Thanks Anabel. It does always look better in hindsight.
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That art centre looks amazing. And it’s great to see you’re still bread baking. I’m yet to get back to it.
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It will be amazing. It’s pretty much Hundertwasser’s original design (from the 1990s) and will be the last of his designs that can be built.
The bread-making has become a necessity really. I can’t comfortably eat supermarket bread any more and buying proper sourdough in the quantities I can eat isn’t really feasible. Time-consuming though 😦
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Oh wow! I love the color scheme of browns and blues in your gallery! This is a great idea for a challenge — I feel motivated to take better photos next month! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you. So nice to have you joining us. 🙂
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Love your photo essay of the month Su, such an interesting one it actually turned out to be. Sad to hear about your artist friend, but I’m sure she will soon find somewhere else and that new art centre will be fascinating. “as we age, we seek out and need the support of others — creating strength and beauty through unity” such a profound thought to go with the fern, a beautiful photo and thought. I’m running late this month, but even though I’m not blogging much at the moment I couldn’t let the month slip by unrecorded. Thanks for running this challenge Su. https://retiredfromgypsylife.wordpress.com/2019/05/03/changing-seasons-april-2019/ thankfully my desk top computer is now all fixed and even though it still has windows 7 it goes like a dream now…
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Thanks Pauline. I’m so glad you’re doing The Changing Seasons. Great news about your computer 😀😀
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Such a relief to get the computer back after 10 days AND they saved all my photos…
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That’s fantastic Pauline 😀
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons: April 2019 The Search for Spring - THE WIDOW BADASS BLOG
Apologies for not contributing this year. I am retiring in July and it’s been a bit mad. I see you are as busy as ever. I have a swag of photos to contribute and I will soon 🙂
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Look forward to seeing them Mick. 😀
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