Sunday 13 June 2010

Hi Dear Friends. Sorry to have been absent the last couple of weeks. I went into a sudden very low mood. I just felt totally sledgehammered by it. It's been particularly frustrating as I'd been feeling much more positive the two weeks prior to that. Wasn't anything to do with the weather either as it's been lovely and cold! The only way I can make sense of it was that my brain had to compensate for the positivity by making me feel really down for a while. Now, it seems, it's had enough of being down and it's allowing me to come out of it.

Yeah. I could really hate my brain!

So I have been sitting at the bottom of a black pit the last two weeks. But despite that I did manage to get to pottery both weeks. It was VERY difficult for me to get there, but I did enjoy it when I was actually in the studio. Last week's session was especially good as I worked for 4 hours straight and felt pretty confident in handling the clay - I'm making a shell type sculpture and some planters at the moment. I will put up photos in the future.

Award time!
This award was given to me by L at Rainbow Dreaming. She passed it on without making up any questions so I decided to use the questions given to her by Sparkle and Shine.

1. What would your perfect day consist of?

My perfect day as my life is now probably involves a bit of blogging, some time in the pottery studio, sitting in a cafe reading for a while - or going on a walk to see a bit of greenery.

2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?

A very large somewhat shapeless black T-shirt :(

3. What hobbies are you currently working on?

Pottery and taking photos of my walks. Also blogging of course :)

4. Walking in the woods in wellies or bare foot on the beach?

Wellies are the most uncomfortable footwear ever, so it'd be barefoot on the beach.

5. Have you ever hugged or sang to a tree?

No! But I like sitting under trees.

6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket?

I would love to grow my own but have no garden (and allotments don't feel safe to me) so it has to be the supermarket.

7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?

No, my family are very boring.

8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish 'n' chips from the wrapper?

I would love a posh meal but I think we know what normally happens!

9. Which element do you most resonate with, Earth, Air, Fire or water?

Water - which is pretty strange as I try to keep away from it as much as possible these days - I hate having a shower, or washing anything.

10. Do you believe in fairy's?

No!

People I would like to pass this award onto (should be 5 but WTH) All these people are on my blogroll (I hope!)

Sheilagh at Sixty is good
Stacia at Midlife Swimmer
Kate at Fabulous @ 50
Judith at The Art of Not Working
Suzi at SpunkySuzi
Paula at Paulawannacracker
Nora at The Choppy Sunflower
Sara at Edible
Tammy at From Fat to Fabulous
Karen at *Fitcetera*

This lovely award was given to me by Crystal Rainbow at Sparkle and Shine.












Exceptional blogs I'd like to pass this award onto:

Chrissie at A Healthy Mind and Healthy Body
Mr Stupid at Stupidation
Lola at Marine Snow
Wendy at New me: A Fresh Start
Shabana at Baili and I
Ellen at Weighting Around
Dan at Pavlov's Ape
Leslie at Something Brilliant is Brewing
Jack Sh*t at Jack Sh*t, Getting Fit

I was also awarded these two beauties by Cat at Crap on my shoes, egg in my pocket (and yarn on the needles). Thanks Cat!
























I'm aware that most in my blogging community have received these already - so I'll just say that if you're a regular reader here and haven't received these awards already, then please-y squeezy feel free to take one or both of these for yourself - because you're all gorgeous!

***
This is an area of the Uni campus where they hold weddings. Wouldn't you just love to have your wedding photos here? The Wisterias are trained as standards. The scent was incredible.
 
 
A stone staircase leading down from there

 

 





















































































Rhododendrons with a carpet of wild garlic 

















Hope all of you have a great week ahead!

Bearfriend xx

24 comments:

  1. Thank you so much!! "hugs"
    And gorgeous pic's and colours :)

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  2. Wow, those pics are mind-blowing! What a flower-fest. Thanks for the award, too. I like the new pinky look of your blog. Very soothing! I'm glad you're feeling a bit better. Kudos for getting to your pottery even though it was a struggle. It really is worth making the effort to get out. Keep up your walking. Walking is good! XX Judith

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  3. Hi BF,

    Glad you're back from the dark side. I know that kicks your a$$ from time to time, but it's great that you got yourself to pottery anyway. Any little movement away from isolation is so important - literally by getting out into sunlight, and figuratively, in stepping out of the prison of one's own mind. Believe me, I speak from experience here. Sounds like this episode didn't last quite as long as others have.

    Your pictures are the best yet! Wisteria is my favorite, and when it's trained to stay in its tree form, it really is magnificent. You live in an amazingly beautiful area.

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  4. Amazing Gardens, Amazing Flowers!

    Thanks for capturing and sharing.

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  5. god to hear you are feeling better...the garden is magical

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  6. Hi bearfriend, sorry you had a rough go of it. I figured you just needed to "go through it" and you'd be back. So glad you're doing the pottery and the walks. Also, can I suggest something? Your pictures (especially the ones in this post near the bridge) would make a lovely calendar. You have such a great eye for landscapes and maybe you should do a calendar and sell them on your blog I'd certainly buy one.

    Thank you for the award. I enjoyed reading your answers and I think its very cute how you use the word "posh." Very spice girly of you...

    Nice to see you back.

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  7. Stunning pics! thanks for sharing. glad you are feeling better. you must have passed your blues to me. :)

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  8. Hi BF so sorry to hear you not been feeling great, i should have twigged as i am bit the same, and shut myself a way from the world including blogland :)im glad your starting to see the light again hun, its all a matter of time......... am so glad your back lol you was missed x x x glad yo stil managed to get out it does the soul good i always say its soul food getting out crafting and socialising :) I always get the black moods with the dark half of the moon, but were new moon now heading to full so look out a good time ahead LOL Thanks for sharig the wonderful pics hun and lovely to read your answers on the awards ..... them wisteria look amazing :) anyhoos hun big hugs and 'see you soon' x x x

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  9. Wow. Those are some very beautiful shots. Loved the colors. Congrats on your awards. Have an awesome day...:)

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  10. Thanks very much for the award, Bearfriend. I appreciate it very much. I'm also happy that you're over the worst of your bad blues. I hope this episode won't repeat itself for a long time. May you be happy for a while. As happy as you are when you're doing your pottery or taking those beautiful photographs.

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  11. The wisteria is to die for.
    Have one vine & frankly it doesn't last as long as I would like.
    Blooming time is over now. sigh!

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  12. as always - your photos are amazing. I hope you're on the upswing now.

    :)
    Tamzin

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  13. Glad you are out of the black hole. I've missed you. These photos are amazing. You're lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

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  14. I'm sorry things have been so tough in recent weeks... Congratulations on the awards - they are well-deserved! :o) I'm the opposite to you - you can't get me out of water! ;o) Beautiful photos - thanks for sharing.

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  15. glad you are back :) and THANK YOU!

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  16. Thanks for the award! And for the photos - absolutely gorgeous flowers! I can't believe the colours!
    Sorry to hear that you've been having a bad time again, although I think its a good sign that you were able to keep up with the pottery classes. Do you find it easier to handle the depression when you have creative, social activities to keep busy and get you out of the house? I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your work. Not that you need to, but have you considered doing a photography class? You have such a great eye, and it would be interesting to see if it helped to give you a reason to keep going out and about too. As well as reminders that there is a lot of beauty in the world...

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  17. Thanks so much for the award, Bearfriend. And thanks for the fabulous pictures. I want to come and visit and see all those beautiful places in person!

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  18. Thank YOU, Bearfriend!
    Boy, those are beautiful photos. What a wonderful place to go for a walk.
    I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your pottery that you're working on.
    Those black moods suck. I hope you're feeling on the up and up and better each day, BF. HUGS.

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  19. congratulations to them :-) hope your mood picks up soon.... the flowering pics are absolutely gorgeous!!

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  20. you are true fighter dear so happy that you are back in mood and thanks for such lovely sharing pics are really breath taking i looked them for long,
    congrats for award well deserved,loved reading about you ,have a blessed life take care

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  21. You are amazing and a fighter. I love the pictures and thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  22. Thanks for the award Bearfriend, and for visiting. I'm glad you are feeling better. Ciao!

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  23. Thank You So Much for such a loveley award I am grinning from ear to ear right now:)
    Rainbows are in my top five of favourite things:)

    Your photo's are stunning, I am glad you are feeling better. Thank you for caring xxx

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  24. i hope and pray that you are in blessings of dear god dear missing you so much god bless

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All comments gratefully appreciated!