It's A Day For Making Stone Flowers

Today was market day. I aimed to be up by 8, but after a poor nights sleep, I didn't get up till 9. It's pretty hot here at the moment and I didn't want to be out walking pass 12. I got into town for 10 and I was done by 11. So it all worked out in the end. Plus there was a cooler breeze today. Yesterday the wind blew in from Africa and heat was more intense.

I felt tired walking in, but I enjoyed the walk back.

When I got back, I unpacked and sorted out the fruit and veg I got, with my girls. I got lots of nectarines and peaches today and we all got to taste one of each. In this heat, if the fruit is soft you have to eat it, there and then.

After our little feast, I chilled out for a little bit. Until my youngest daughter, reminded me that I had promised to make stone flowers with her.

So up I got and went in search of some stones that we could use. Petal shaped ones and ones as close to circular as we could find. I think we done okay. These are all quite small stones. We have some plans, to get bigger ones that can be found, closer to the riverbed.

But for now, we used what was closer and within reach. Once we collected enough, we washed then and left them to dry for a bit in the sun.

Its such an easy way, in which to count together with your child, whilst also talking about flowers and how they are made up. Plus it's a lot of fun and also so relaxing.

I'm no painter, but I do love the sense of calm that washes over me as I paint. Stroking the brush on stone, paper or wood. It just makes me happy.

There is no direction, you just take the stones you want, arrange them and paint. Not natural paints unfortunately. Something I do want to start using. But unless you make your own, they are super expensive.

I have only done that once, using different pigments from the earth to make the paints from. Such beautiful natural colours.

It is something, I would love to do it again, but this time with my girls.

So we used the paints we already had and ended up with three different flowers. My youngest daughter's, best friend then came over and they were more interested in cycling their bikes around the land, then making more flowers. So off they went, while I took a few pictures of our creations.