“Learning never exhausts the mind.”

Day 11:

When all this Coronavirus drama is over and we all go back to our usual routines I wonder how many of us will have acquired new hobbies and skills. It would be a waste to not be trying new things while we are all stuck in our homes and lets be honest if you are anything like me at the moment, anything that can get you back in to bed quicker is a bonus and time really does fly when you are doing something interesting. 

We've started watching some drawing classes and have lots of others to watch on various things. I've also been trying to master the Rubix cube. After a few days I can get this far, which I'm feeling pretty chuffed about. Ive just got to master that top layer now.

"Some people don't like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster."

Day 10:

It would be so easy during these insanely weird times to just lose all hope and fall into a deep emotional pit of stress and worry, and although the last few weeks have affected me deeply (as they have most of us), I'm doing my best to say 'NO!' We need to focus on the love and the laughter. Like eating S'mores with a beard and giving no fluffs about the mess I'm leaving as I eat. This is the new world now people and we need to embrace it or we'll lose our minds.

"Life is full of banana skins. You slip, you carry on."

Day 9:

If it makes us smile then we need to hold on to it and that is so much more true during these strange times. This photo is really making Opeie smile at the moment so as far as Im concerned it is the most important picture in my phone.

"Be Excellent to each other, and Party on Dudes!"

Day 8:

It will no doubt be one of the weirdest birthdays that Opeie is going to experience with everything that's going on in the world at the moment but I wanted him to feel just as special when he woke up this morning. Its crazy that 9 years have flown by this quickly and although I clearly didn't envision us spending it in isolation, he's had a pretty lovely day. Despite the current situation the only thing that was missing was him being able to spend it with his friends. As I write this though I can hear him downstairs playing online with his besties, So I'm pretty thankful for technology today.

Also I'm looking forward to the cake.

“Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes for you.”

Day 7:

I've been so thankful of the garden over the last few days as we've spent most of our time sat out on the trampoline listening to music, drawing and playing games. As rubbish as this situation is I hope that for many people it really makes them appreciate the space that they do have. People always seem to want more but when it comes to situations like this would 'more' actually mean anything?

I will (as always) be focusing on the important things in life. Like the people that really make this life worth living.

"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones."

Day 6:

During these crazy confusing times its really important to keep busy, if we don't I think many of us (especially the creative folk) will start to wilt very quickly. We've been concentrating on the creative side of things the most while we've been shut away, as the satisfaction that you get from completing a project or producing a piece (no matter how small) can fill you with all those happy vibes.

We've recently started a couple of online drawing classes and todays character illustration was just what we needed for a self isolation pick-me-uk.

Keep creating people, I think we're going to see some amazing pieces of work off the back of this pandemic and its going to be amazing to see. 

I'm a mean green mother from outer space and I'm BAD!!

Day 5 :

If the last few days are anything to go by then LEGO is going to be our saving grace through all of the craziness that we are going through at the moment. It's been our 'go to' to break up the days.

We recently watched Little Shop Of Horrors for Opeie's 80s project that and I think he has become a little obsessed with it. So this morning he asked if we could make an Audrey 2 Lego Brickheadz, obviously I jumped at the challenge and I think it came out pretty well. 

I wonder what we'll be building tomorrow during all this social distancing?

"Feed me Seymour..."

... We may have had to build a Seymour too! 😏

"Theories pass. The frog remains."

Day 4:

While we are all in our homes confused about what is going on around us the rest of the natural world are happily living their lives oblivious to the stresses and strains that we are all facing. While gardening today we spotted this happy little frog casually doing its own thing and it really did make the pair of us smile. It made me realise just how much we've got to hold on to these moments of happiness and focus our energy into those to get us through this bizarre time.

Get in your gardens people and make the most of this weather.

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."

Day 3:

Ive not been in the greatest headspace today but the sunshine has really dragged me through it. After  a peaceful walk this morning with Becci and the boys, Opeie and I spent the remainder of the afternoon sitting in the garden building LEGO. I think those magical bricks may just help us through all of this.

If you are doing your part and staying home then stay creative, there's real magic in letting those creative juices flow. 

"Instead of hate, celebrate."

Day 2:

 I'd like to think that what is happening in the world at the moment will make people take a step back and look at how they have been acting towards people in their lives. As heartbreaking as this situation is it could also be a turning point for fixing those relationships that don't need to be volatile.

It's also important to really make the most of days like mothers day to celebrate and remind us that although dark, its not all bad.

Happy Mothers day all.

"Do we need distance to get close?"

I've been finding it harder and harder to write over the last few months for various reasons and it has really been getting on my nerves. The world seems to be going to shit and its been taking my motivation and confidence with it. So in an attempt to get my juices flowing and continue documenting our journey for the boys I'm going to post one picture a day to get us through this slump and give us that little bit of sunshine for these dark times. 

Todays picture is from Titterstones Clee, clearly not practising social distancing from each other but doing our best to keep our distance from others. It was one of those days that was good for the soul and we all really needed it. 

Stay safe people.