To Sink Roots

I guess it's time you find someone this friend of mine told me to do: sink roots. Sink roots in a place, with a person, to anchor you.  I guess I'll find somebody else.  I was like you before.  I vowed to myself never again. I knew in the end I'd just be a bitter old shrew who teaches by day and does cross stitching by night, swinging in my rocking chair.





I read this passage from a book of which I cannot recall many years ago and it was so impressive that I jotted it down, saved it and then kept it in my stack of memorabilia.  Some months ago, I found the written note tucked in one of my older files of paper. I read it once again and was dumbfounded with how it is so relevant today.

When I read it, many years passed, the words were being spoken to me by the book.  It was sort of mirroring myself of what is to happen in the future. Something unstable and rocky perhaps, a direction I am even unsure.

I have sank roots with regards to teaching, opting to stay here, away from family and friends.  Difficult it was, for missing some of the most important milestones in life. The place where my feet are deeply rooted right now is giving me what I need, materially. But material things are no longer on top of the list. Being away for a long time toils me down. To go back becomes a question.   Maybe to begin anew with life, to find inspiration, to seek solace, or even to sink roots with a person.  

Life becomes a sort of balancing act.  You have to make good choices to stay sane.  So in a scenario where I can be home, would it be a wise choice to proceed when things are even more obscure?  A multitude of questions with unsure answers, life will become like that. And it wouldn't be rosy as well, for the new things I will battle.

So it's undecided until the time comes for it to unfolds itself.  The days, weeks and months of this year will be ticked off as I look into making a final decision. I could be in cloud nine or, just like the passage, a bitter shrew cross- stitching at night. 

Art Auction 2016 Part Two

The titles for each art piece are given by my students in class.  When there are two or three interesting names, we vote for which is the best that describes a certain piece. 

Bidding started at 300 baht for the smaller pieces and 500 baht for the bigger ones. This year, we raised around 3000 USD to support cleft palate operation for young children. 

Leafy Red ( Acrylic on Canvas and Paper)

The Secret Garden (Acrylic on Canvas)

Seed Tree Black (Mixed Media)

Seed Tree White (Mixed Media)

Rain ( Food Colours / Acrylic on Canvas)

Tree Families (Acrylic/ Charcoal on Canvas)

A Play of Colours (Acrylic on Canvas)

Leafy Green (Mixed Media)

The bids were not as grand as previous years and I was a bit disappointed as some of the pieces only got a bid of 30 USD.  Each year is different but this year was not as giving as before.  Anyway, better than nothing. We can still send four children for their operation. 

Not Just To Let It Grow

from Spring Growth, letting the climber grow itself

In a recent post, I mentioned that the climber is making its way all over the back of the house with its leaves and flowers.  I didn't mind the growth as I see it as welcoming.  I said, to let it grow, just like the new found happiness I have.  

I was wrong!  To let it grow means to let fate decides on its directions.  The wayward path of the climber went over and under, right and left, leaving little for me to walk around.  Like the happiness I am experiencing, I couldn't just let it happen, it needs some work.

So armed with my small scissors, I trimmed the sides, the bottom and the upper part of the climber. I went under to pull the dry leaves and climbed a stepladder to clear the canopy of unwanted vines.  It was a lot of work, just like being in a relationship, but it was worth the labour, because I get to have life realizations. 

after the trimmings

To the plant, to let it grow means to let nature takes its course.

To me, to let happiness grow, I need some work.

To achieve happiness, one needs to earn it.

And after the heavy trimmings, I was surprised to see that a branch of a flowering plant was heavily covered by its canopy.  Alas, there is another beauty underneath that overgrowth.  What a lovely surprise, that when I work on myself,  I will get to see improvements and good results. 

the blooms from the Adenium tree

another welcome surprise from the same tree

I need to make this happen.