Book Festival, 1000 year old tree and Dementia Talk - What a week!

It has been a very busy week for me and I am quite amazed at how quickly the time has gone

Had a friend stay from Jamaica, A-dZiko Simba Gegele the author of All Over Again. She was running a few workshops as part of Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair 

Here she is talking about her book and inspiration:

There were also some great authors over the course of the week for the festival.  One person on the lineup was one of my favorites Paula Marshall and I have practically everyone of her books (I guess I am a big fan!)

We went to see one of the oldest trees in Barbados, the Baobab Tree 90 feet high and 81 feet  around its circumference - it is amazing!

It is know as the Tree of Life and has so many healthy benefits and is being called a superfood as it is a good source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, thiamin, fibre and vitamin B6.

The fruit is thought to also to have more than double the antioxidants per gram of goji berries and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined.

New shoots

Flower of the Baobab tree

On top of that,  I was also asked to do be on a panel doing a talk about dementia to Theology students at Codrington College  I spoke on how we can change our perspective when thinking about dementia.  I looked at ways in which individuals could find similar emotional experiences to better relate to the emotional expressions of someone living with dementia.

It was a beautiful venue

and so peaceful....

I am so thankful for so many things.  I want to also encourage those of you  who are at the point of stepping out into unknown territory to make that step.  We are not promised tomorrow and just have to have courage to do those things that can bless others and ultimately bless us as well.

Taking a stroll

Encouragement for today - What are you going to do about it?

Welcome to Wednesday!  I just wanted to encourage you on your journey today.  Sometimes the middle of the week can send you either way in your thinking.  You are either in the flow of things and really excited about where you are going on your journey.  The other end of the spectrum is to look at today and wander what on earth you have been doing, with half of the week nearly over and nothing to show for it!

Whatever your state of mind is today we all need encouragement, granted of different sorts.  I encourage those who have not yet recognized their abilities and skills and who may feel that it is just 'too late' to try something new or to step out.

At the end of the day time will pass (and I know I've said this before), but you will age whether you like it or not.  So why not look back and see all the things you accomplished 'at your age', the things you got to enjoy, the miracles that began to unfold in your life just because you said 'YES' to you and your creative journey.

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought, Realityarts

I hope whatever you decide or decided to do today utilized all of your abilities and you were able to identify new ways of working and opportunities for growth.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Word for the Week - Hebrews 13:6 and Happy Mothers Day!

Welcome to Word for the Week.  Today we not only celebrate that we get to live another day, but that we also have an opportunity to be a blessing.

I want to start out by saying HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I wish to celebrate the life of a beautiful woman, who gave me life, who showed me what sacrifice and generosity was, who cherished, treasured and loved me unconditionally, who gave, blessed, had courage, and still despite living with dementia shows her determination, grace, her beauty and her love.

Mavis Elizabeth Trought

Love you to bits mum!  

I also want to celebrate the lives of all mothers around the world, my sister, sister-in-law, friends, family.  I celebrate my own life and how far I have come, I treasure and nurture myself and know that God has placed a light within me that has to shine, despite and in-spite of the circumstances

The scripture word for the week says says...'So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

We have so many circumstances where we operate in fear rather than in strength.  Coming through the situation, you learn exactly where you buckled in your weakness, but also where you showed strength and courage.  It is that courage that keeps you going so hold tight! 

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Recycled Project - Supplies Storage Container from Toilet Roll Tube

Welcome to Creating on a Budget, a look at ways in which you can create fun, stylish things using recycled materials.

Today I want to show you the storage container that I created using the inner cardboard of the toilet rolls.  Toilet rolls tubes are something we normally toss into the recycling bin, but they have a wealth of things that they can be used for and today I will show you one of those things.

If you need a flexible storage solution - I am always looking for things that help me organize my studio space.  I find there are specific tools that I want to have at hand without having to put them away in draws, and then spend time looking for them when I need them.  I found that creating this storage container, it provided with the much needed tool that could be hung and out of the way or placed on the desk space.  Check out the video to see more of it in action.

So for something that would be discarded, you can find greater use with just a little bit of imagination.

I really enjoy having the storage container as it can be hung and out of the way as well as being placed on the desk.  There is a space for everything and everything in it's place

It is time to look at recycling in a different way, there is so many space and money saving things that can be done or created with recycled products, there is no limit with a little bit of imagination.

Come back and see what other ways in which we can use recycled products.