Image: Su Leslie 2021
January was a quiet month for me. An introspective month.
A largely stay-home time of tidying and organising and making.
Sewing days, and some new shopping bags. Image: Su Leslie 2021
… and the scraps from experimentation. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Saving the “good bits”. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Some pieces just work. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Alcohol ink experiments. Some pieces just work. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Scottish oatcakes; feeling pleased with my first attempt. Image: Su Leslie 2021
When I did venture out, my Covid-tracking app tells me that I travelled a narrow circuit between supermarket, DIY shop and library. Maybe that explains why there are so few photos this month?
But the last weekend in January marks Auckland’s Anniversary, so the Big T and I laid down tools and, on the last day of the month, went to the beach.
Port Waikato is a small settlement of mainly holiday homes at the mouth of the Waikato River. Even on a busy holiday weekend, it felt peaceful and uncrowded.
Estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Fishermen, estuary at Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Slightly more exciting place to fish. Sunset Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Sunset, Beach, Port Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Far from the madding crowd. Countryside inland of Port Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2021
Far from the madding crowd. Countryside inland of Port Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2021
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different.
Others focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement. (1)
Tags and ping-backs
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
Create a ping-back to this post, so that I can update it with links to all of yours.
Update
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Marilyn at Serendipity, Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth
Natalie at Little Pieces of Me
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Sarah from Art Expedition
Suzanne from Life at No. 22
Ju-Lyn from All Things Bright and Beautiful
Brian at Bushboy’s World
Zimmerbitch 
On a gray Seattle winter day your summer looks super. Love the bright colors of your art work.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Beautiful images from the world down under, Su. How much I would like to soak up the sun at your fabulous beaches!
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Thank you Peter.
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Very relaxed spontaneous images of the beach, Su. Love the stick throwing one and look at that hair 🙂
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The hair got me on the photo, too! Fabulous!
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It is fabulous.
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Thanks Suzanne. Both dog and girl looked like they were having so much fun.
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The alcohol ink images are are beautiful and fascinating, Su. It’s also a treat to see a different sort of photo from your usual in the beach shots. Not that they’re not good photos, but they’re more “of the moment” and less “artistic” if that makes sense. I also enjoyed the way the background in your first shot echoed and emphasized the colors in the flowers. As for the cakes…well, let’s just say it’s good I’m full and heading off to bed rather than drooling on my laptop keyboard.
janet
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Thanks so much Janet. I know what you mean about the photos; I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s got me thinking about my “style.”
I’m going to make another batch of oatcakes in the next couple of days, and once I’m happy with the recipe (which I modified a little from the original); I’ll email it to you.
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I really like your ink and alcohol pictures. They are translucent. We are expecting more than foot of snow tomorrow and Tuesday, so looking at your beach pictures was lovely, but a bit jarring. Here we are, hoping we don’t get clobbered TOO badly … and there’s your gorgeous beach. I definitely felt really on the other side of the world!
I put this together yesterday, but i always get your posts a day late. I did everything except actually post it and was thrilled when I realized I actually HAD a lead article already written. All I needed was to add a ping-back! Be still my heart!
It’s going to get better. I keep saying that. Soon. I keep saying that, too. Maybe we won’t still be locked down when spring rolls around.
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Thank you Marilyn. I hope the storm hasn’t been too bad. And I hope things do get better soon.
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons, January 2021 – Ladyleemanila
love the photos, Su 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/the-changing-seasons-january-2021/
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Thank you so much
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You do introspection very well Su. Those alcohol ink images are stunning, and I love the colour combinations…Port Waikato is so beauyiful, I know the area well as my son has a boat and we often go out there with him when we are visiting. Here’s what I have been up to (not much actually) during January. https://retiredfromgypsylife.wordpress.com/2021/01/31/changing-seasons-january-2021/ Pleased to see our travel bubble is back open again.
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Thank you Pauline.
I’d forgotten your son is a local in that area. I’ve loved Port Waikato since I went there on a school trip aged 12. The camp we stayed in is still there and I had a little wave of nostalgia 🙂
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And somewhere in there you found that super little ‘library’. 🙂
Did you swim ?
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No swim 😦 turns out the main beach has been really damaged by erosion and a collapsing carpark, so the actual swim zone between the flags was very small, and full of small children doing surf life saver stuff.
But the library was a delight; and it’s in a very pretty little park. Fab way to spend an afternoon.
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Your country is wonderful – even though I never went there .. I would so love to’ve done. Always had a big soft spot for you Kiwis ..
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Well we did invent the pavlova (grins), and gifted you some of our best musicians. And Russell Crowe — but we don’t mention that.
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YOU DID NOT !! 😉
True about Russell but. He has always thanked us for our film industry, though !
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Gorgeous post and photos
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Thanks so much 🙂
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😎
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I’m in awe of your resilience and creativity. I need of course to remind myself that it’s your summer, whereas over here, hibernating seems a better idea. Lovely photos as ever.
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Thank you Margaret.
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Pingback: Changing Seasons: This Was January 2021 – Tish Farrell
That first shot is so delicate. And it’s good to see all your creative doings (especially the oat cakes) and scenes of people out and about. Here’s my snowy Wenlock:
https://tishfarrell.com/2021/02/01/changing-seasons-this-was-january-2021/
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Thanks you Tish. I confess to being a little envious of your snow — at least in its idyllic, photographic form.
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There’s much to be said for the photo-version.
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Especially as I have no winter woollies these days.
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I’m thinking it would be quite nice to be living somewhere where I could ditch the woollies. I have mounds of them. And then there’s the ever grubby allotment layers.
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🙂
I miss not being able to wear the (rather fabulous) coats that I have acquired over the years.
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Now that does sound a shame – fabulous coats never out on an outing.
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Indeed! I used to be able to wear them occasionally during Auckland winters — but not the last few ☹️
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It certainly doesn’t look like you had a quiet month to me – on the contrary! You’re were incredibly creative! Love the soft pastel like butterfly photo and that you’ve framed your alcoholic inks paintings- they’re stunning and so beautiful!! Your new shopping bag is a dream! Perfect for summer. 😀
Also love the stick throwing pics and the happy dog grinning in the camera. 😄 And can I please have one of your cookies? (Makes puppy eyes 😉)
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Thank you Sarah. It was only when I wrote the post I realised I had actually done stuff!
And yes, totally, to the oatcakes. They are (even if I say so myself) really good (and incredibly easy to make!!!)
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Quiet, still and in solitude, either way your month is great! I love that alcohol ink experiment, I think I would definitely want to try that one soon.Thank you for the inspiration.
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Thank you. I hope you do try them; so much fun!!!
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons – January 2021 – Little Pieces Of Me
A peaceful and uncrowded beach sounds like BLISS!!!! Your month of introspection and creating looks inviting, beautiful things have come out of it. Happy February Su.
Here is my January in review:
https://littlepiecesofme1.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/the-changing-seasons-january-2021/
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Thanks so much Natalie. I suspect that part of the quiet was because it was high tide and there was very little actual beach on the surf side. In the estuary, ironically, there was endless sand 🙂
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Pingback: CHANGING SEASONS – JANUARY 2021 – Serendipity Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth
Such beautiful photos, Su. I especially like the two pictures hanging in the background of your ‘sewing’ photo.
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Thanks Lois. The Big T will be pleased you like them. He bought one at an exhibition a couple of years ago, but we dithered about hanging it because it just didn’t look right. Totally by chance I saw the other on the artist’s Instagram and knew it was exactly what we needed!!! T and the artist have become friends which is a bonus.
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I love your alcohol inks, and especially the grid you created with bits of all the variations.
As always, your photography is gorgeous. I love, love, love the crashing surf photo with the fisherman on the rocks. What a great capture!
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Thank you Joanne. I was really pleased with that shot, as I’d been watching him for a while and had either missed the wave, or someone else had entered the shot at the wrong time. 🙂
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It has already started snowing here. I fed the birds, brought in their water (it was frozen solid) and Garry’s outside struggling with the car cover. This is going to be a big one, though I’m hoping it is heavier up north than here. We can hope, but it’s a really BIG storm.
https://teepee12.com/2021/02/01/changing-seasons-january-2021/
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I hope you will both be ok Marilyn.
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Your beaches look stunning Su. I wish ours were so quiet, but when the sun shines everyone heads to the beach! Your alcohol artwork is beautiful, like a Gaudi stained glass window in the Sagrada Familia.
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Thanks Jude. I was really surprised at how quiet Port Waikato was. I expected the surf beach to be heaving as it has been in the past, but it looks like erosion has quite dramatically altered the beach and there just isn’t much left at high tide. It’s obviously quite dangerous too; the surf life savers’ flags were set really close together.
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That would keep people away I guess.
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Saw a movie last night on the TV. It was called “The Tracker”. It took place in New Zealand and the landscape was beautiful. There was a series called “The Sounds” which also took place there. Both the movie and series were really good.
Leslie
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I’m glad you enjoyed them. I’ve seen The Tracker, but not The Sounds. Will have to check whether we have it on a streaming service here. Thank you!
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Lovely photos! I really like that frame for your alcohol inks, great idea!
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Thank you 🙂
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oh su – the action shots are my favorite and the one of the fisherman with the huge splash! oh my goodness is that cool
and the lady throwing for the dog – her physique and energy captured so well
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could almost smell the oat cakes and i made some almond flour biscuits a few times this month and will ha e to share a pic later –
lastly – the alcohol ink has mysterious explosion of beautiful color
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Beautiful beach. And those oatcakes look delicious.
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Thanks Anabel.
I wish someone had told me sooner how easy they are to make. 😂😂
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I love the cabbage moth, the alcohol inks and of course, the puppy at the shore!
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It looks like it was a peaceful month with plenty of deep blue skies and artistic activities. Really love those alcohol ink experiments. The purple one is such a gorgeous color. And you made your own canvas bags! ❤
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Loved this one Su – your alcohol ink art is incredible, I truly love it. The large piece with many squares is amazing. Also, I agree it’s lovely to see people enjoying warmth at the beach as we work our way through winter on this side of the world. Your opening image is spectacular. Happy February to you!
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Thanks Tina. I hope February is a good month for you too.
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons – January 2021 | Art Expedition
Pingback: What’s been happening? January 2021 – Life at No. 22
Pingback: Why My January Is Great – Natalie the Explorer
Su, Stunning scenery and beautiful art work. The oatcakes look yummy. Enjoy February!
https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2021/01/29/why-my-january-is-great/
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Thanks Natalie. You too.
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Great month, Su. If I did half of that, I would be happy. I’m really rather fond of your shopping bags. Also the ink paintings look great in that frame.
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Thank you Tracy. I’m a bit over the shopping bags (as a maker). I bought a lot of the fabric and it’s not great for anything else. I think I can get one more out of what’s left then I can move onto something else (YAY).
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So nice & love ❤
https://islamicsite24.com
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons: January 2021 – All things bright and beautiful
I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I really look forward to The Changing Seasons!
As a reader, I enjoy catching up with our regular contributor BlogFriends – to experience in this way highlights & challenges of the month.
As a writer, it grounds me; to look back at my photos and to recap my highlights, then to decide what & how I would like to share.
Thank you for hosting us, Su!
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Too quick to hit “RETURN”.
Your first captures of Port Waikato are so surreal – the beach looks like desert dunes. And those mountains and that sky in the background – wow!
Love your alcohol ink work – and how you’ve framed them.
And those oatcakes look scrumptious! Did you have them with cheese?
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I had the pleasure of visiting Port Waikato in the late 80’s and since then, I am yet to find somewhere so inspiring for its beauty.
Best wishes
Steve
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It is a very special place indeed
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Your alcohol ink work…💜
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Pingback: This is January 2021 – bushboys world
I love your ink art project Su 🙂 I am glad you were able to get out and enjoy a bit of outside time.
Here is my January 2021
https://bushboy.blog/2021/02/06/this-is-january-2021/
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Thanks Brian
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