This month is quickly coming to an end, and what a ride it’s been!
My May dance card has been chock-full of activity all month, and sometimes I felt like I could barely catch my breath.
I’ve been going through my May photos and there is just SO MUCH stuff to choose from!
For starters, it’s been a month trying to embrace my artistic side. I suspect this might be a laugh for those of you who actually are very artistic.
It started some weeks ago with an online conversation with Mary from Mary J Melange. I mentioned I had found a couple of painted rocks on my various travels on the trails, and she encouraged me to start painting my own “inspirational rocks” to leave on the trails when I’m out hiking and biking.
So I setup a new Instagram account called WiseRocks to publish my creations, but I was too embarrassed by my first attempt to actually post it. So sadly, my WiseRocks account remains empty and unloved.
Since the weather seemed to leap overnight from winter to summer, my spring allergies have been on overdrive. I’ve been in a perpetual state of “stupid” from the antihistamines, and if you’re wondering why I seem to be visiting your blog with just “likes” and no comments, it’s because mentally, my lights are on but no one is home.
In spite of that, I’ve been out walking, hiking, cycling every chance I get.
I had an amazing opportunity to go bird watching with the World Wildlife Federation thanks to a friend who’s been a long time supporter of the organization.
Crossing the Great Lakes is a major undertaking for birds during their semi-annual spring and fall migration. Spots like the Leslie Spit on the east end of Toronto are important sanctuaries for the birds to recharge on their long journey.
We were there to learn about tagging birds with little bands on their leg that allows for the bird to be tracked. It’s remarkable how manual this tracking continues to be.
However, it’s not just been birds returning to the area. This month, I’ve had snake encounters …
… visits with horses …
… and other encounters with wildlife, mostly very small.
I’ve climbed mountains of stairs …
… and rode in a party bus, complete with disco ball …
… but my favourite encounters have been with my own kind, and they have been special in every way.
Yes, my May has been magnificent, and I hope your’s has been too.
*************************************************************************************
This post is part of Changing Seasons – a monthly photo feature hosted by Su Leslie at Zimmerbitch.
My goodness you have had a busy month! Bravo to you for trying our your artistic side. I would love to be wandering about and come upon one of your wise rocks. Looking forward to the full launch of the IG feed. So many happy photos, well maybe not the snake, but my favourite of course is you with your sons. xo
LikeLike
Thanks Sue – my sons are and always will be my favourite too 💕
June is turning out to be just as busy and hectic as May. In fact the entire summer looks like it’s going to be a whirlwind. I’m trying to just enjoy the ride because if I think about it too much, I feel overwhelmed.
Tomorrow Jordan gets married and today our families start arriving from out of town. SO. MUCH. TO. DO!! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that is wonderful Joanne! Wishing all of you a fabulous celebration. We are headed to Alaska so I may not have accessibility to internet but look forward to catching up if that is the case. Sending big hugs and very best wishes. Xo
LikeLike
Woohoo! Alaska! Are you going for the summer solstice?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not quite. A little early. Perhaps not quite land of the midnight sun. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds good to me! ☀️☀️☀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful fence art!
Jude
LikeLike
thanks 🙂
It’s funny how it started as one piece and then over the years has become a ‘thing’ with new stuff added most years.
LikeLike
So many things to praise in Your post! Well, I loved the idea of painting stones. My wife had the same idea, but it never came true.
LikeLike
It seems to be a “thing” right now. I’m certainly not artistic, but it is fun 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! You have been busy!!! Hope you continue to enjoy the festivities as the wedding draws near. And I am looking forward to when you are comfortable to share with us your rocks – I have followed your insta account in preparation for when you start posting!
LikeLike
omg – aren’t you sweet! You’re my first follower!! Thanks. I better get working on those rocks. They aren’t going to make themselves 🙂
LikeLike
I think you may look in an arts section of a big box stores for an acrylic spray which goes over watercolors but I use acrylics on rocks! Look for flat or not glossy if you want it to look natural.
I used to paint mushrooms or flowers, butterflies or lady bugs on mine. Just one word messages like “Believe” or “Shine!” On 🐌 snail rocks, “Slow down.” Two words, ha!
Or glossy if you want it to stand out.
I love weddings and family times, so my May has been overflowing with love, too. 💗
LikeLike
Thanks for the tips. I am using acrylic paint, but I guess I’m a little overly cautious. I then sprayed the rock with a clearcoat. Maybe that’s overkill.
LikeLike
Sure thing! I use a spray paint of clear coat acrylics, too. It usually didn’t make my paint run. . .
LikeLike
It will if you spray too closely and the paint isn’t quite dry yet
LikeLike
Oh, good to know, Joanne. Thank you for this follow up!
We have had a few rocks found decorated around OWU campus and around neighborhoods we walk through. I like how they are randomly placed. I try to tell me grandies they can “relocate” them but not take them home. . . Best for my not getting into trouble with their competitive siblings or their parents! 😀
LikeLike
Ahhh – relocating is a good way of engaging them and ‘paying it forward’ so to speak.
When I found the first rock, I took a photo of it and posted it on IG. The owner of the rock saw my post and commented that often people take the rock (which she doesn’t mind … they are left for people to discover), but she’s always thrilled when someone posts finding one. I’m hoping others will do the same for me 🙂
LikeLike
You have been busy, Joanne! I love your outdoor adventures and the photos of all the green and blue. Inspirational rocks is a fabulous idea and the idea of leaving the around for others to find is awesome. Once you get the proper paints figured out, you’re good to go! 🙂
LikeLike
I’m all geared to prepare more rocks for my trip mid-June to Quebec. The lesson I learned was that for detail work like writing messages, permanent markers would work better than paint.
… and I need to wait at least 24 hours for the paint to ‘mature’ before I spray on the lacquer 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know! The idea is so friendly. I’ll do some with Tornado Boy. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a perfect activity for a child! It you’re looking for inspiration, there are lots of images online.
LikeLiked by 1 person
magnificent May indded.
really love the painting of the old metal art.
and the boys and you in the frame – (heart tug)
the bird tour sounds fun and laughed when you said not the annoying stage yet – and the photo was so clear you could feel the fuzzy fur (almost feel it)
LikeLike
I am NOT a fan of Canada Geese. I think they’re obnoxious critters!!
It’s been a great month and the way things are shaping up, June will be too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you seen the sweet movie called Fly Away Home?
based on a true story – young girl goes to live with her dad and finds Geese eggs and raises them and then he helps them migrate – ?
and cheers to June – mine has started off really nice… and we had sunshine – but more rain tomorrow – argh
LikeLike
I have heard of the movie, but haven’t seen it. I would imagine that helping a bird migrate would be a MAJOR undertaking!
June started off hot and humid here, but the weather changed overnight and it feels much cooler this morning. Looks like we’ll be seeing rain this weekend as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi – and the movie is so inspiring – and funny to mention the movie and rain – because just last week I thought of the opening scene in that movie – it was done so well and it tugs myheart and once in a while I think of it when rain is pouring down because in the movie (spoiler alter) the opening scene has the tween girl driving in a Volvl with her mom and the wipers are going and the rain pours down – they crash and mom dies – so the girl has to live with her dad (and story unfolds from there) – and I guess the dangers of rain and driving keep me altered and funny how I think of that scene.
Anyhow, the movie also is a coming of maturity story and the way the dad and daughter bond – and then the environmental angle is rich. Children’s movie that was enjoyable.
Oh and stay safe as the rain comes your way this weekend 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely will – and you too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love, love, love your rock project! I even like your Wish Upon a Star rock. It just looks like it caught in the rain.
However did they catch that Kildeer? They’re so skittish, and fast! A trap?
What a neat experience that must have been.
You three look great with hat’s and a mask. I really like that frame idea!
My sinus’ started acting up b/c the barometer was and up and down so I went back on sinus meds for a week. I hope we’re stabilizing now and I stop them. I hope your allergies calm down soon too.
When is the wedding? Coming up non?
LikeLike
Thanks Deborah! I love my rock project too and I hope after the wedding (next weekend) I can finally carve out some quality time to work on it! I’m hoping to take some rocks with me when I go on my cycling trip in Quebec mid-June.
Thanks for identifying the bird. I forgot what it was 10 seconds after I was told during our tour. They set up nets in the trees that the birds get caught in. They are collected regularly throughout the morning and evening hours, banded, weighed, and then released again. Every bird that is caught in the net, regardless what it is, gets banded. If it’s been already banded, they record when and where. If the band has become unreadable, it gets replaced.
When the bird station is not being manned, the nets are taken down. I was really surprised by how little a fight they put up. I thought they’d bite and peck at the hands, but they don’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One year while watching and photographing Egrets, and Herons at a natural rookery we were watching a young Snowy Egret hang on by its beak to a branch as it struggled trying to figure out how to get back up to the branch and nest.
My girl-friend and I knew it wouldn’t be able to let go and fly up to the nest; it was too young. It would get tired and fall 15 ft to the ground.
It was heart breaking to watch. In the meantime I located a sanctuary nearby and when the bird fell my girl-friend ran over to it and scooped it up in her coat. She sat in the backseat with it while I drove to the sanctuary. I thought it would fight, peck, and bite her, but it never did!
We were amazed by that. They told us at the sanctuary the Egret survived.
Oh my it’s nearly here! I hope their wedding day is perfect!
LikeLike
Awww! A happy ending! Good thinking on your part! Love this story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you’ve had a nice May (minus the allergies). We went straight from winter to summer here as well. Complete with torrential downpours. A nearby neighborhood had its road washed away in a flash flood this past weekend and while I was gone a family lost their home to a mudslide.
LikeLike
We had heard about the terrible flooding in Virginia. Glad to hear you weren’t affected by it!
LikeLike
Joanne, your May truly was magnificent! A menagerie wonderful critters and creations. The fence art is cool. Don’t get frustrated with the rocks and start throwing them. Here’s an idea. Paint them a peachy or other fleshy color. Draw a “W” (with rounded points) and call them Wise Cracks! Have a terrific Tuesday. Hugs.
LikeLike
hahaha!! You’re good!! You just can’t contain that creative talent of yours 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely to see your springtime and hear about your month. The fence art is fabulous.
LikeLike
Thanks Ruth. I like having the visual interest on the long expanse of wooden fence. It works for me and I’m slowing adding new pieces every year 🙂 It never occurred to me though that the harsh summer sun would be so damaging to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, you were busy! Love the last image – fun! Joanne, art does not come instant – give it some time. It’s like learning to play the piano – you can hear it in your mind, but your fingers don’t instantly cooperate!
Thank you for the comment about the mosaic – did you read that one doesn’t need as much skill for mosaic (especially in the beginning) than painting? the city/town where you live probably has an art association. Start asking there if one of the artists knows of someone who does mosaics. Wishing you success:)
LikeLike
Thanks Jesh – all the artists I follow, like you, have all been so supportive of justing doing it. It seems that it’s all about personal expression and personal satisfaction. I don’t think there is a better reason for doing something 🙂
I think my next step is to carve out some time each week to just doing it … much like learning to embrace meditation.
Over the past few years I’ve been eyeing various art classes, but have felt too intimated to actually register for one. I think mosaics might be the way to dip my toes in. Thanks so much for your encouragement!!
LikeLike
I understand intimidation. One time a teacher asked me “How do you deal with fear?” I asked her what she meant. She pointed at my painting and said, “when you do this, you have to deal with fear!” Came to the conclusion that it was very perceptive of her. When you do any form of art, you are exposing part of your inner self, which can be very intimidating! Of course, the lack of skill is another fear, if “am I good enough?” I think any attempt is “good enough” because at least you did the first step:)
LikeLike
No! She said that?! I would have interpreted it as a major putdown and been devastated … wait, that’s exactly what happened in elementary school. A teacher told me I had zero ability. Definitely not one of the highlights of my schooling – I took it to heart.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is much appreciated.
LikeLike
Smile – I knew who said it and was already used to her blunt approach, and actually it was an intro because she wanted me to give her some pointers what to do with her fear.
But your teacher …. I wonder if she enjoyed teaching!
Since you are in the process of finding out which art direction you would like to take, there are also controlling artists – please do whatever you gravitate to. And if it does not work out, move on to something else. Sometimes other people just don’t know what you are made for. With art, as well as with psychology I had to force my own way through, and ignore what others thought.
My mother called my sketches doodling, but at least she provided me with paper (so I would not “doodle” on the wall paper, and any blank piece of paper in her magazines:))
So, dear Joanne, do what your heart tells you:)
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the validation 💕
LikeLike
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a manically marvellous month of May you have managed.
That horse is majestic, the gosling seems mischievous and those steps look like murder. And aren’t you the proud mom? It’s all very magical.
LikeLike
hahaha! You certainly didn’t spare the m&ms on this one! mmmmmmm!
It has been all very magical and I hope we can hold onto that feeling for a long time 💕
I’ve been told there can be a big let-down feeling after it’s all over – after having spent months of anticipation. I have a feeling that might not happen this time.
I planned a cycling trip, on my own, a week after the wedding on the TransCanada in Quebec. I will then be meeting up with Gilles and Jordan who are racing in Quebec in a town off the TransCanada trail.
So I’m going to be going from wedding mode, to solo adventure on a bike right away. Right now I’m not sure which one has me more nervous! June promises to be just as maniacal 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mainly I prefer Maltesers,
That’s a smart move to have an adventure lined up to beat any post-wedding blues. Can’t wait to hear about it all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful pictures…sounds like you had a great May, indeed! I think you did absolutely great on repainting the flowers on the fence. I really enjoyed all your pictures and as for the painted rocks…I see absolutely nothing wrong with the one you posted a picture of. To me, that just means it is handmade and therefore worth a tremendous amount more when it comes to charm. Please stop selling yourself short Joanne. 😉
LikeLike
Thanks Susan for that encouragement! It’s so easy to be self-deprecating when trying something new and unfamiliar. It’s a good reminder that we don’t have to be ‘experts’ at everything we do … having fun and getting to express yourself in a creative way has no rights or wrongs 🙂
LikeLike
Glad you had fun with family, friends, and animal friends as well. Hope you’re feeling better.
LikeLike
Thanks Judy. Allergies are something I fight all year round but this time of year tends to be particular bad. It has dampened my love of spring though 🙂
LikeLike
May has just been whooshing by for me as well! So busy. Mostly happy, although sometimes busy is too busy to enjoy all the happy. I dunno how that happens, but it does.
Anyway, those are great May photos! Bridge over the water especially!
I love that you repainted the flowers. I’d like to have some metal art on the side of my garage, but The Mister, not so much.
Moo and I have been talking about those painted rocks for a long time now, and we just need to do it. It’d be great to leave those on doorscursions 🙂
We’re all, all the people and the dog, treated for allergies. It’s good. Modern medicine is awesome. I used to have to get shots!
I hope June is more generous with pleasures and memories I can savor. Wishing you and yours the same!
LikeLike
It would never have occurred to me to paint my own rocks and leave them to be found by others. Mary has given me a reason to stretch a creative muscle I never use 🙂
I like your idea of painting rocks and leaving them on your doorscursions. I can’t speak for others, but I got a silly sense of joy when I found the 2 rocks on my excursions. Pass it on, I say 🙂
As if it was even possible, June is promising to be even busier than May! Looking forward to it!
Hope you are enjoying your long weekend in the US. Happy Monday!
LikeLike
Hurrah for you for getting out and enjoying the month of May, after being somewhat cooped up in the Winter/Spring combo we had this year. Great pics!
LikeLike
That’s it exactly, Karen. Our winters are so long and summer is so short … if we don’t get out and cram as much as possible into those short summer months, winter is even harder 🙂
LikeLike
Busy month, indeed! Love your rocks idea and your rocks! Was tickled to see a photo of TooGood Pond. I used to go for a run there when hanging out in Markham waiting for Jeff to finish his shift at the golf course he was working at. Finally, you post a picture of a place I have been also! Love it!
LikeLike
You are one the people who have inspired me to stretch my dormant artistic muscle 🙂
It’s just baby steps, but like everything else, I’m hoping that the more I do it, the easier it will become.
I had walked around Toogood Pond with a friend and the sad part was I had never been there before in spite of living only a short distance away for the past 25 years. Sheesh! The treasures we manage to find in our own backyards, so to speak.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baby steps…absolutely Joanne! I feel the same way about my artistic endeavours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate to the allergy issues! And i think your art attempt was fantastic. at least you gave it a try!
LikeLike
Thank you! I appreciate it is just baby steps and I’m really hoping I get better at it 🙂
Hope your allergies start to give you some relief soon. I think I’m over the worst of the spring pollen issues. Yeah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just looking at those stairs makes me exhausted! Great photos, Joanne. – Marty
LikeLike
Thanks! … and those stairs were exhausting. I think it goes without saying that I had to stop several times along the way up. I was in awe of the those who were running up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a brilliant month and your exuberance spilleth over! Obviously on the countdown to the BIG event of the year. The rock thing seems to be spreading. But I have yet to come across one.
LikeLike
I don’t know why, Jude, but I’m having so much trouble trying to reply to your comment. This is my 3rd attempt and hopefully it will not disappear again!
Life has been overflowing for me this month and I didn’t really appreciate how much so until I tried to sift through all my photos for this post. It was a challenge trying to write something that didn’t rival War and Peace in length 😉
Painted rocks do seem to be a spreading ‘thing’ and I was thrilled with each one I found. I love the idea of creating my own, but I haven’t yet adopted a routine to actually sit down and focus on making them. I better get into action though, because I leave for my 1st of 2 trips on the TransCanada in Quebec in just a few weeks. I want to leave at least 1 rock a day out on the trail while I’m gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well it worked this time! Enjoy your trips. But don’t carry too many rocks, we don’t want you falling off your bike!
LikeLike
Good grief, no! That would be a bad thing!
Having carried only 1 rock on a hike, I can now suggest that carrying more than 2 is not going to happen!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Magnificent May, from Joanne at My Life Lived Full […]
LikeLike
I like the colors on your rock. Perhaps mixing some Pepto-Bismal with the paint will stop it from having the runs.
LikeLike
Ha! I hope it doesn’t come to that! 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow; you really have been busy. I’m feeling a bit knackered just thinking about all that you’ve done (especially when I got to the allergies,where I can totally empathise).
I love your fence panels and I think the rocks are cool. You’ve got me wondering now about some painted rocks T and I found dotted around parks in Timaru recently. Maybe it’s a “thing” that people are doing?
Wishing you an allergy-reprieve for the rest of summer (especially around the nuptuals; you’ll want the lights blazing for that).
LikeLike
I think the painted rocks are a ‘thing’. I’m seeing more and more of them popping up on Instagram. I don’t have the artistic chops to compete with some of the rocks I’ve seen, but that’s ok. I want to believe that I’ll improve with practice!
June is starting to ramp up just as busy, if not more so, than May. I’m ok with that. Our winters are so long and summer is so short, we have to squeeze every minute out of it that we can 🙂
I think the worst of the spring pollen allergies are now behind me. Everything exploded so quickly it was a pollen tsunami here, but it doesn’t feel quite as oppressive any more {fingers crossed}
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad the worst of the pollen explosion is over; hopefully you can pack lots of adventure into your summer.
And I’m sure you’ll be rockin the rocks before too long 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Su. The summer is definitely filling up quickly! The question is whether I will have the stamina to do it all, or crash (figuratively) before it’s all over 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pace yourself so you don’t crash and burn before the really good bits (advice I regularly fail to heed).
LikeLike
hahaha! Don’t we all!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love the fence flowers! A great month.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been a great month 🙂 … and I’m looking forward to June being just as crazy busy!
I’m a big fan of outdoor art work and I have several pieces around the yard. They’re all stuff I’ve scavenged at end-of-summer sales over the years. I wish I had learned of the trick of treating them with a spray-on lacquer beforehand though. They look very weather-beaten now although I guess some people would say it gives them character 🙂
LikeLike
There’s something to be said for a genteel air of delapidation!
LikeLike
oooo – I love that expression! Yes, definitely a genteel air of delapidation!! 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
My favorite painted rocks are “au natural” with Black Words (permanent marker, maybe?) They might be easier for you to manage. LOL
Glad you had a good month.
Did you see my last post? It featured a mama goose goose-stepping across the street with a baby in tow.
LikeLike
That was actually our key learning with the painted rocks. We were trying to paint on messages which just wasn’t working for us. We assumed the problem was us – and not our methodology 🙄
Permanent markers is definitely the way to go!!
…. and I just saw your post earlier this morning! Great minds …. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m so glad that you’ve had a good May and I commend your ability to choose photos in a reasonable quantity. I love the painted flowers and the red star on your stone! Last week my mother went to the event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, called “I shall wear a red star”. We are still fans of it, while the state of Slovenia wants to get rid of it as if the fight against Fascism never existed. Ducks are cute (they grow up mean? really?), but the last photo takes the cake. 🙂 To new victories and joys!
LikeLike
Yes! To new victories and joys! I like that a lot! … and for you too 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been cold here but my allergies have still been on overdrive. I’ve been miserable. I love your flower wall – very nice!
LikeLike
I know that seasonal allergies fall in the category of relatively minor ailments, but it does make me feel absolutely miserable some days. I hope you’re coming out of your allergy season soon. It’s not fun 😕
LikeLike
Busy month–that row of traffic from the moms and tots looks like a main street!
The horse is beautiful, very sturdy and deep-chested–nice. Beautiful nature, and good for you for doing creative efforts. I personally paint very badly, and yet when I do it, it’s good for me. I keep planning to get better at it, but have sort of gotten out of the knack of it.
LikeLike
I’m hoping that the more I experiment with paints etc, the easier it will become. I’m pretty well starting off knowing nothing so I’m making lots of mistakes. It’s easy to put it off in favour of doing something else, but I like the idea of being ‘an artist’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved this post! The baby goose–hard to believe he grows into obnoxious…that little fuzzy bundle. Your fence art is gorgeous, the horse is so darn cute, and you and your boys look great! Here’s to a great June for you!
LikeLike
Thanks Lois. There was a lot to like about the month of May in my world. I hope we can all say that about the months ahead 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many things to comment on but I’ll say that horse is gorgeous! You had a great May!
LikeLike
I most certainly did 😃
The horse is gorgeous and Cathy was getting really annoyed with her because she was being a major twit that day … getting spooked by every little thing that moved 😆 I’m laughing but Cathy wasn’t amused!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re in sync, Joanne. What a nutsy month! But yours sounds like it was a lot of fun and look at you – a month where you took care of your creative self, your physical self, your curious self, your family self, your back to nature self.
I’m impressed Joanne, not just by all you’ve done but by all you’ve done while your brain is feeling disconnected. You did have a magnificent May 🙂
LikeLike
Wow Karen, when you put it that way, I’m starting to feel a little impressed with myself 😉
I’m really grateful to people like you who have encouraged me to let my creative side out to play.
I hope your nutsy month has been more fun than not – especially now that summer has arrived 🙂
LikeLike
What a fabulous month. Such a fun photo with Jordan and Misha. Love the inspirational rocks!
LikeLike
Your May memories were awesome in spite of your spring allergies. I love the baby Canada goose especially.
LikeLike
Wow, you’ve been busy despite having out-of-body allergy experiences. I love “haven’t matured to the obnoxious stage yet” – isn’t that true of most baby animals. including (maybe especially) humans. June is going to be even crazier for you so hang on!
LikeLike
Busy, busy girl. I love the baby goose and those stairs. I think your artistic endeavors get at least a B, maybe a B+. I hope the allergies clear away soon.
LikeLike