Monday, December 21, 2009

SUNDAY MEANDERING IN THE MIDLANDS

The Elves and the Shoemaker by Peter Hall

Early Sunday morning my daughter and I set off for a girls day out in the countryside. The Midlands Meander is an arts and craft route that we follow at least 4 times a year and we decided to do some much needed christmas shopping while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery. First stop was Piggly Wiggly where we sat plotting our route over a cappuccino.


The Elves and the Shoemaker by Peter Hall

We re-visited this enchanting sculpture by local artist Peter Hall. It is situated in the gardens of Ground Cover, a shop selling handcrafted leather footware.
Zulu Lulu, a delightful little shop selling beautifully crafted ceramics, many of which are whimsically wonderful pieces like these "Fisherman" collectables.

"The Fisherman" (Photograph from the Midlands Meander Brochure).

"Meanderers" were out in droves enjoying one of the first sunny days in weeks . Wherever we went there were animals and birds soaking up the sun. I think they sensed it would be raining again before the end of the day.



Here come the clouds!


It warms my heart to see Long Crested Eagles perched near the roadside (See him at the top of the telephone pole?) and on Sunday we saw at least eight at different locations, silently watching the veldt for tiny scurrying movements.

At this point we decided to head for home to beat the storm.




This is my last post for 2009 so have a joyful holiday season ....don't eat too much ..... and I will see you next year. To all my friends who visit my blog ....followers, commenters and silent visitors, Thank You!

55 comments:

  1. How amazing to be first on your mega popular blog Robyn. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration over the year and a very merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  2. Lovely photos, thanks for taking us along on the meander.
    Wishing you the very Happiest of New Years.

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  3. Thanks for the trip. I loved seeing the zebra. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for a happy and creative 2010. Ax

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  4. See you next year, right here. Let's propel into 2010 together with our art.
    I'm so glad I found your blog.
    Kim

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  5. Enjoy your holidays, Robyn, and thanks for a year of inspiration, imagination, and creativity.

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  6. Robyn, Thanks for the lovely photos and the scenic tour. Your posts are always the highlight of my creative day! Wishing you and you family a joyful and peaceful holiday season! See you next year,
    Lisa

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  7. Robyn, Wonderful country to meander in...did you find a find? I hope you have the Happiest of Holidays and yes, see you in 2010!
    Mary Ann

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  8. such a sweet tradition with your daughter!! lucky U2.
    gorgeous countryside, my goodness.
    and the fishermen!! BIG GRIN over them...love those faces.
    LOVED your post for almost all of 2009....if i were a book publisher, i'd insist you put all your posts together in a book, and hire someone to help you.

    meanwhile,,,STAY SAFE eagle, and robyn, and your beloved family...neighbors, the world.
    i know you share the gratitude of our well being, and the wishes for that goodness to spread to others.
    stay in the light, neva

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  9. I look foreward to visiting next year.
    Have a lovely break and come back to blogging renewed and refreshed.
    Oh and no our mallee doesnt have thorns but the shape can be similar.
    Have a happyand joy filled
    Christmas and New Year.

    I am beach combing with you by proxy!

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  10. HI Robyn,
    I love the shoemaker and the elves and the fishermen!
    HAve a great holiday and may your year ahead be filled with joy!
    Caroline

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  11. Thank you for everything you gave this year. You where a joy the whole 2009,
    Happy holidays.
    XXXm

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  12. That first sculpture so captures the playful child filled energy of this time of the year!!
    Piggly Wiggly's are a huge grocery store chain here in the states, so it's funny to think of it as anything else!
    Thanks for taking us on your meanderings - those were beautiful photos.
    Farewell to 2009 and thank you for the fabulous, thoughtful, art filled posts you created for us to learn and explore through. Have a wonderful holiday - may it be a peaceful, loving time! xox Karin

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  13. Many thanks for all of your inspirational posts over this past year, I have you to thank for introducing me to many new and inspiring artists.
    Have a safe a happy Christmas, see you in the New Year.

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  14. Have a peaceful Christmas Robyn...


    ...see you next year..


    x Chris

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  15. What a lovely day...I do love sharing South Africa with you. Wonderful shops you girls visited and the most amazing scenery and animals.
    Those fishermen are fantastic. I loved their happy faces.
    Sending Christmas Cheer your way.

    See you in 2010

    Jacky xox

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  16. Amazing photos, Robyn!
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year!

    Big hugs to you,
    Gaby

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  17. What a fun shopping trip. I see lots of inspiraiton here. I would just faint if I saw zebras roaming about. Seeing this photo made me realize that we live in such different worlds. Beautiful scenery. I bet thos eagles are magnificent. I would love to see them. I wish you the Merriest Christmas. I can't wait to see you again here next year. Cheers..

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  18. thank you Robyn, for a year of inspiration! I am in such appreciation to have met up with you in Bloglandia! have a beautiful holiday. Richest blessings to you and yours! Buon Natale!

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  19. hi Robyn, looks as warm over there as here at the moment, at lest we are not freezing and can stroll in gardens. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a New Year full of good health and enjoyments and many many more of your usual inspiring posts. xo

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  20. thank you for all the inspiration i find in your blog!! have a wonderful holiday!

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  21. Happy Christmas to you and yours Robyn.
    Thankyou for all the inspiration posts, your artwork and your wonderful emails.
    Love HHb

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  22. Robyn your post was a lovely read. I enjoyed the photos - that Peter Hall sculpture is amazing. Zebras and their stripes appeal to my imagination and I would love to see them in the wild. Wishing you a special festive season filled with the best life has to offer. Happy holidays Robyn.

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  23. Thank you for taking us along. Gee...I never see zebra when I meander in NYC! A very happy and healthy holiday to you Robyn!

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  24. I look forward to following you next year. I will be posting a final post for 09 which is a trip taken to collect walking stick material; I certainly didn't bump into Zebra and there was white on the ground. have a great Christmas

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  25. Merry Christmas

    I wish you love, health, peace and lots of nice things for 2010

    Lots of love
    Carolyn xx
    LOVE STITCHING RED

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  26. May your Christmas be joyful Robyn... thank you for the joy you share with your art and your comments... roxanne

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  27. Love those skies!

    Robyn, wishing you and yours all the happiness one can imagine over this holiday time, and always! With thanks for the beauty that is your creative heart, as reflected in this lovely space of yours and in the warmth and kindness you send my way... See you in 2010! K xx

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  28. Have a lovely Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

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  29. Beautiful Photos Robyn. Have a very Merry Christmas!

    P.S. Piggly Wiggly is the name of a grocery store chain in the US.

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  30. Wishing you joy and good health, Happy Christmas!x

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  31. Thank you for inspiration and sharing! Happy holiday, Robyn!!!

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  32. Thanks again Robyn for all your inspiration! Happy New Year!

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  33. what a great last post of the year! beautiful scenery and sounds like a great time. hoping you have a great christmas and new years, look forward to your return!
    ps i love your new blog header photo!

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  34. what can i say..., jubilanni, and Thanda!

    I am s glad you are!

    thanda n peace to you all.

    thanks for teaching me so so much.
    xo

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  35. Sounds like our weather is similar - very tropical.

    Thanks for all the inspiring links, new art faces and delicious books all year.

    See you in the new year

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  36. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2010.
    Looking forward to all the wonderful posts in the coming year.

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  37. Merry Christmas Robyn!!!

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  38. Hi Robyn !!
    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday !!
    Thanks for sharing all your amazing talents and inspiring finds with us this past year.
    All the best for 2010 !!
    Shelly

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  39. Magnifique the Elves and the shoemaker! Merci de partager de telles trouvailles and happy new year!

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  40. Thanks everyone! I will try to get over to your blogs to say hi in the next few days...... if my gigs hold out!

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  41. Hi Robyn! So glad you enjoyed my little write up about the three Ls! They're all quite wonderful ladies and so talented. I love seeing zebras just out grazing like that (re: your photos). I think how strange and unnnatural it would be to see them here in NZ, just hanging out and grazing like our sheep. Of course, your way it's the most natural thing in the world! About as strange as we get here are farmed emu, llamas and alpacas. They still take me by surprise when we go out and do a country road trip!

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  42. Beautiful works, beautiful blog. Beautiful place you live! Thanks for the trip! -Jayne

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  43. i'm a little behind...but still in time to wish you a Happy New Year
    all the best
    India

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  44. Warmest, woolly wishes for a wonderful 2010, dear Robyn! ~xx

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  45. Wow! How exciting. This is my first visit. The pictures from your outing stirred my imagination and sense of wonder. Thank you for these. Also, I like what you say in your auto-portait, "When I'm not doing art I'm thinking about it."

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  46. jut popping by to wish you a healthy and happy new year Robyn!! I'm so grateful for this year of wonder you've shared, by showcasing so many creative and inspiring artists along with your own amazing work/ thank you, and love, Karin

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  47. Best wishes for a joyful, creative 2010. Your posts and pictures take me to wonderful places and I always enjoy visiting! - Jeanne in Oregon

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  48. Happy NY! I hope 2010 has gotten off to a great start and that it evolves into a year of love and great art!

    Please drop by my blog (Dec 31st post) when you are back in computer land:)

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  49. Lovely images. Here's wishing you a wonderful year 2010...Thomas

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  50. The elves and the shoe maker is wonderful.

    I wish you all the best for 2010.

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  51. Spectacular scenery on your meander!! And zebras!!!!!!!!Happy New Year - and for the coming year, wishing you an abundance of creativity flowing from within and the peace that will come as a result.............

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  52. Beautiful pictures, and how amazing to have zebras roaming around near you! We saw that on safari in Tanzania, but it to live there must be lovely. Have a wonderful year.

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  53. I was born in South Africa! I absolutely LOVE your work-so amazing! I was born in Durban, South Africa-reminds me of my childhood!-Soraya

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  54. Dear Robyn-I just LOVE visiting your blog-the colors, images, graphics all evoke my childhood. They say that once Mother Africa gets in your blood-it changes you. I feel that it is true. Yes, writing about the craetive process is essential for me-all of my ideas come from lots of writing things through-ideas, artist statements...everything. What is new to me is writing about it so publicly as I am a private person but since I turned 40 and had a baby-I am changing and ready for it! Thanks for your comments on my painting-a few years ago, I would of re-worked it to daeth but I like a vulnerable, unfinished look now. Thanks for your thoughtful comments and visiting my blog. I will visit yours often so I can immerse my senses! Thanks!-Soraya

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