On Saturday I had a creative adventure which was prescibed for me by one of my collegues in my creativity group. I was whining mighily about being dry and dull. A month being ill and out of sorts not helping.

I'll report back fully on the adventure when I get my films porcessed so I can blog with illustrations.

What was interesting about the experience is that the adventure felt a bit foreced a bit of a chore. I had to work hard at it. I was aware of my mind drifiting into depressing ruts and having to pull myself back from it. However... what was revealing is that the impact of the adventure did not come until the day after. Then I had a profound shift in my mental attitude. I made a feast of a dinner - far too much middle eastern lamb followed by lemon cake for friends.

I recently got a vegetable composter. I've been meaning to get one for years and my mother finally pushed me to take the plunge. So now i've got a  little dish of veg peelings, coffee grounds and empty eggshells carefully waiting on my counter for the trip to the composter. In 6 months my mother assures me I'll have beautiful compost.

And it made me think - many of the things I recommend for the upkeep of a creative life / flow are seen as odd or indulgent but they are needed like the adding of the peelings and the old tea bags to make compost. Creativity needs regular ongoing infusions of self care, tending of the creative impulse and regular new inputs of fresh perspectives to make creative compost. It’s not always an immediate pay off so there is a danger of giving up too quickly. Small regular habits of creative tending like regularly topping up the compost bin have the most effect over the long term

by Vivienne Mcmaster vis Andrea Scher

read more about Edwardain photographer Margaret Hardman here

because

a) the sun is shining

b) i've done two application forms which i HATE doing

have a great day - no really I  mean it !