A trip to the countryside can yield manyruralart objects. These are visual delights, made from whatever is around…such as old tools, wood, flowers, or rocks. It is an informal process of taking ordinary items and giving them a new purpose or meaning.
Spring Blossoms & a Rusty Pump, (c)2012, Joni Beach.
Spring flowers + a rusty old pump…
Where's The Herbs?, (c)2012, Joni Beach.
A piece of wood with scratched on letters–on a fence…
Tree Limb Bench & Twig Basket, (c)2012, Joni Beach.
Limbs from a tree nailed together and twigs woven into a basket… And, scraps of wood, bolts, rod, and paint mounted on a post.
Flying With The Wind, (c)2012, Joni Beach.
How many times in our lives and families are we required to do the same? Take what we have on hand…certain resources, opportunities, or situations…andimprovise and adapt responses and ways of living to meet a challenge? For example, when a person’s dreams and job goals do not develop exactly as planned after school, a person may find creative ways to make a living, earn income, or begin a business. Or, when a loved one develops a chronic illness, families find new ways to meet the normal daily schedule, while at the same time adjusting to a “new normal”.
In life, as in rural art, creative solutions require improvising, adapting, and designing novel outcomes…
Birdhouses dot the landscape of many people’s yards. The houses come in many shapes, colors, and sizes but share a common purpose—to provide a dry, cozy spot to sleep, get out of the rain, and build a nest for off-spring. In these small houses thatbirds “rent” for a season, they make a home.
Our homes, like the birds, may be housed in any number of styles, colors, and sizes, and also share a common purpose—to provide a safe, secure place to sleep, eat meals, and raise our children. But beyond the physical house, our homes can also be havens for a sense of belonging, protection, structure, and education.
Every family member has a need to belong to others in a group, while at the same time be accepted as a unique individual. A sense of belonging can be felt in a home with mutual respect and caring between everyone in the family.
A home provides protection against the risks in life that the family may face. There are family qualities that help each member meet and overcome the challenges they encounter.
Home gives a structure that can provide a foundation of positive values, love for one another, and a love of life itself.
Along with this structure, each individual in the family can be educated and challenged to grow and develop within their potential. And, growth and development does not end with childhood! Our homes can provide a sense of belonging, protection, structure, and education to the family living there.
By observing the birdhouses in the backyard, I am reminded that while a house is safe shelter…We can make a home.
A blog milestone has been reached this month–ending the first year withover 4,000 viewson my site!! Wow, it is difficult to believe how many people have visited and viewed my writing, ideas, art, and inspirations this past year.
Human Complexity, A Common Thread,(c) 2003 Joni Beach.
The unlimited scopeof the internet is unique. In my experience teaching, school classes are never large…when writing, articles may have a limited audience…and when publishing, time is slower. Blogs are a creative outlet for writers, photographers, and artists and a new way of social connection for many people. The creativity shared daily inblogsis quite fun to witness! And, there is an unlimited number of possible readers.
The changes due to technology in the recent past years have been international with aglobal reach. Readers to Lifeweavings this year have been from more than 70 different countries! Blog viewers may be in the US or from around the world. The international reach ofsocial mediahas seemed to shrink our world, making connection and communication instantaneous. This technology will continue to influence change around the globe.
Social change is always difficult to predict. With the internet as with all inventions–some changes were predicted, others were not. Who knew what the impact would be on family interaction and social relationships? Who knew how instant communication could influence changes in a classroom, or a country? While some things are very slow to change, it has been an interesting time to live and witness the rapid speed people have embraced newtechnologicalinnovations.
So, during the second year of this blog, it will be interesting to see what changes I make in my own direction, to continue to explore other blogs, and to adjust to the rapid changes in technology…andtheinternet with its scope, global reach, and social change.
To all visitors of my blog, Lifeweavings: A Creative Journey, this past year, I have been honored by your visit!
Thank You…
*It’d be fun to hear the ways that blogging, or other social media, has impacted or changed your life! ?
Joni Beach 