Carnivale inspired by Cirque du Soleil

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This picture was inspired by the Cirque du Soleil characters on the 2012 Christmas tree combined with the imagined moss greens of a northern European forest and the eerie light at dusk. For some reason the song Gypsys,Tramps and Thieves popped into my head:

Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” was the first single from Cher’s 1971 eponymous album Cher. The album was subsequently renamed and re-released as Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves after the success of the single. The song was written by songwriter Bob Stone as a story-song called “Gypsys, Tramps and White Trash”. Producer Snuff Garrett advised that the title be changed and Stone then changed it to “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves”

Songwriters: STONE, BOB
I was born in the wagon of a travellin’ show
My mama used to dance for the money they’d throw
Papa would do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Doctor Good

CHORUS
Gypsys, tramps, and thieves
We’d hear it from the people of the town
They’d call us Gypsies, tramps, and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down

Picked up a boy just south of Mobile
Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen, he was twenty-one
Rode with us to Memphis
And papa woulda shot him if he knew what he’d done

CHORUS

I never had schoolin’ but he taught me well
With his smooth southern style
Three months later I’m a gal in trouble
And I haven’t seen him for a while, uh-huh
I haven’t seen him for a while, uh-huh

She was born in the wagon of a travellin’ show
Her mama had to dance for the money they’d throw
Grandpa’d do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Doctor Good

CHORUS CHORUS FADES

Friends and enemies: the amenable keys to peace

There is a whole other non face to face world out there to be explored

Kozo Hattori's avatareveryday gurus

Avengers

My five year old son has tons of friends. Part of the reason why he is so blessed is because he calls anyone he likes, plays with, talks to, or looks at his friend.

“My friend is digging a hole to bury Darth Vader in,” Jett mentions as we leave the park.

“Which friend is that? What is his name?”

“I don’t know his name. He is just my friend.” Looking at me like I don’t know what friend means.

The look might be justified. Maybe as we grow older we forget what a friend is. I can’t tell you how many people have questioned me about my friendships. I am/used to be friends with some pretty famous people. Other “friends” would always say things like, “you’re not really friends with so-and-so. Just because you met someone does not mean that they are your friend.” I would counter, “Well, I’m…

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Windmills of your Mind

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While reading a post reblogged by bearspawprint entitled unique nature landscapes: moonlit kingdom by eyes of odysseus, I was reminded of the awesome picture above I had come across on Star Walk for iPad: Star trails in the southern hemisphere taken by Sebastian Voltmer.

By now the cogs of my mind were locking into place as I remembered the lyrics for Windmills of your Mind, a favourite of mine from my childhood:

Round
like a circle in a spiral
like a wheel within a wheel
never ending or beginning
on an ever spinning reel
like a snowball down a mountain
or a carnival balloon
like a carousel that’s turning
running rings around the moon

like a clock whose hands are sweeping
past the minutes of its face
and the world is like an apple
whirling silently in space
like the circles that you find
in the windmills of your mind!

like a tunnel that you follow
to a tunnel of its own
down a hollow to a cavern
where the sun has never shone,
like a door that keeps revolving
in a half forgotten dream,
or the ripples from a pebble
someone tosses in a stream

like a clock whose hands are sweeping …

keys that jingle in your pocket
words that jangle in your head
why did summer go so quickly?
was it something that you said?
lovers walk along a shore
and leave their footprints in the sand

is the sound of distant drumming
just the fingers of your hand?
pictures hanging in a hallway
and the fragment of this song
half remembered names and faces
but to whom do they belong?

he: when you knew
that it was over
you were suddenly aware
that the autumn leaves were turning
to the color
of her hair!

she: when you knew
that it was over
in the autumn of goodbyes
for a moment
you could not recall the color
of his eyes!

like a circle in a spiral
like a wheel within a wheel
never ending or beginning
on an ever spinning reel

as the images unwind
like the circles
that you find
in the windmills of your mind!

Songwriters: / Bergman, Alan / Bergman, Marilyn
The Windmills Of Your Mind lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

300 Kcal Oracle

image
Whenever I need inspiration or
Motivation, I seek assistance from
The elliptical cross trainer, waiting
To release my mind from endless chatter,
Twenty five minutes uninterrupted,
Music cranked, pen and note pad ready, set,
I’m off, a different journey every time,
Level? eight, reading heart rate . . . enter age,
Think, forty nine, enter weight, hmm eighty
seven, arms, legs, music pumping, release
time, expand time, ideas explode, fly,
Connect, collide, pictures form, write, drink, breathe,
Over in a heart beat, cool down … average
Heart rate one hundred and thirty six, wow!

(c) Robert Jones 2013, All Rights Reserved

Herb Bee

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Yesterday afternoon between rain showers I noticed two bees buzzing around the flowers of a herb plant, I think it is either Oregano or Marjoram. The above is the result of a little patience and minor cropping.

My partner bought me a Sony-NEX5 for my birthday in October 2012. This is an example of the amazing pictures one can capture with this hybrid digital SLR camera.

The Peaceful Way

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Time for universal truce, equity,
Honesty, mutual respect and love
Engage in casting aside prejudice,

Paradise eternal shines bright within,
Encouraging, empowering, the brave
Ambassadors of enlightenment to
Come together, to share and to nurture,
Energies combined, helping others to
Free the mind from judging, a few steps more,
Understanding embraced, connectedness
Leading man in selfless acts of kindness

Wave white flags, unite, surrender to peace
A blank canvas to create the path for
Young, old, to join in worldwide harmony

(c) Robert Jones 2013, All Rights Reserved
https://bloggers4peace.wordpress.com/about-b4peace/

Rainbow Spiral

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When I write, draw and paint I become completely absorbed in the task, as if a creative power has taken over my mind and body. Those that follow this blog, know that I’m an introvert with something to say using a quiet voice. I speak to those who want to listen, rather than competing with those who talk over me.

I created the Rainbow Spiral picture above in an unconscious moment, while trying out a stylus for iPad, my dear friend Matt gave to me. The spirals reflect the interconnection between people on their paths to enlightenment. The movement and colours are inspired by this time of year when Sydney celebrates Mardi Gras.

The first gay and lesbian Mardi Gras Parade was held in 1978 to lobby politicians for equal rights. One of the reasons my partner and I moved to Australia in 1998 was that the land down under appeared to be more progressive in the equality arena. How times have changed, same sex marriage has passed the House of Commons in the UK. My partner and I celebrate 20 years together this year, yet we do not have the same rights as married couples.

I believe that equality is one of the prerequisites for peace. This is still a far off dream here.

Man meets nature

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Timber power poles are commonplace in Sydney. I like the weather worn appearance of this one near our home. The uneven surface of the wood contrasts with the smooth, metal street light support, cables and ceramic insulators.

A native Bottlebrush tree flourishes next to the pole. It attracts brightly coloured native lorikeets who have to compete for space with territorial Indian Myna birds. A member of the Starling family, the Indian Myna bird was introduced by man to Australia in the 1860’s to keep the insect population at bay.

Inspirational Birds of Paradise Flowers

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Before venturing to the Southern Hemisphere, a dear friend gave me painted, wooden, Balinese, Bird of Paradise flowers, they have fascinated me ever since.

I took the above last weekend while visiting Newcastle, the second largest city in New South Wales after Sydney. I particularly like the combination of secondary colours and the shades of green, orange and purple.

After experiencing limited Internet access for the past week, the following have inspired me to get my act together:
“Allow yourself to step away from the madness and frenzy of life and step into balance and awareness”. My Awakening Life

Monthly art celebrating the goddess conceived by, Adventures and Musings of a Hedgewitch

Peace Practice: Everyday Gurus

I’m finding it difficult to accept that my ramblings here deserve to be nominated for the following awards. Thank you to my nominators, followers and likers for expressing the contrary.

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Day Dreamer Award by Mental Mystic

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Liebster Award by Blog It or Lose It

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Very Inspiring Blogger Award by Tuttacronaca

Surprise gift

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One sunny January afternoon,
Caught sight of a glowing red ball float by,
Gentle breeze guides the bobbing balloon,
Reflecting the warmth of the day, say “hi!”
Pneumatic globe, bringer of mirth and joy
– Good luck, happy birthday, have a safe trip,
Man and child enjoy this temporary toy,
Random occurrence or sylphs hands to ship?
Held fast by finest, silvery, silken web,
Red string trails artfully, above, behind,
Watching the strength of the spider’s home ebb,
The balloon appears to fight against bind,
Strong wind swirls, tugs and shoves until its free
Manmade gift from nature swept up a tree

(c) Robert Jones 2013, All Rights Reserved

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