In the wild

I loved everything about my trip to Melbourne, as my many posts will show, but one thing was discovering some Mows in the wild.

Mows is a street artist that creates whimsical little doors. I bid on the Banksy one a few years back but it went out of my price range. I've been a longtime fan of Mows.

I was in an alley in town (behind the Collins Arcade) when a street artist approached and pointed out the little door. I was so excited. I'm not 100% sure it's a real one, nor if Mows put it there or another person, but it really gave me a buzz.

Sometimes it's literally the smallest things that make us smile!

See more work by Mows on the Insta page or website.

There were many hidden gems in the alley way. Much better than Hosier lane and the only other people were Street Artists putting up work...

What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week?

Linking with #RubyTuesdayToo #MCoW #PictorialPotpourri #WonderfulWednesday

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

“We all have a dinosaur deep within us just trying to get out." - Colin Mochrie.

I went to the Melbourne Museum to see Tyama, and figured while I'd there I'd quickly check out what else was on. I wouldn't have even gone if the 'art lab-esque' experience wasn't on.

When the kids were little, we went quite a few times with Melbourne friends. But it's been a good decade or so since my last visit.

As I hit the dinosaur section, I almost thought I'd skip it as I was pushed for time. Then I was hit with nostalgia. I spent so long in museums with my Dino-mad toddlers. I knew all the names and we had so many picture books on them - both fiction and non fiction. It's a common foible as this quote by Matt Smith sums up succinctly “As a kid, I knew all of the dinosaurs. It's one of those tragedies that I've forgotten what dinosaurs are cool.”

The Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs is an engaging exhibition and visually beautiful. I enjoyed it as much as I used to with the kids. While my happy reminiscence tainted my experience, I do wonder why we stop exploring these hubs of learning as we get older? When we travel we go to museums, but at home? My husband and I rarely treat ourselves to this luxury. We go to movies or restaurants but the planned activity is never 'let's see the new exhibition at the X museum?' Why is that? Why do we relegate it to fun for children?

So why not a Torschlusspanik task, I am going to try to change that. Along with the art gallery excursions, I'm going to revisit the Sydney museums regularly...don't ask me when, but it's on my radar now. Maybe that line 'when I became a man, I put away childish things' in Corinthians is too harsh. Maybe the trick is to grow up, and behave and reason like an adult, but keep the enjoyment of childish things alive? Or maybe they aren't childish and we judge them incorrectly. Like puppetry or circus, in Australia viewed as entertainment for children, and in Europe, an art to be enjoyed by adults?  I for one will start getting my old bones around even older bones...

Maybe it's how you avoid becoming a dinosaur yourself?

And if you don't believe me on the dinosaurs, check out the rainforest IN the museum!! Something there will nourish your soul!

Linking with #HappyNow and #HappyTuesday with this reminder that we need to revisit the things that used to make us so happy....because they probably still do and it's a fast track to happiness!

Despite the forecast, live like Spring - Lilly Pulitzer

I decided to ignore the forecast of rain and race to the Melbourne Museum on foot. The weather held and I was blessed with striking light and a charming walk through the gardens of the Royal Exhibition building.

 I even managed to get a glimpse inside at the renovation.

The colours of the flowers were bold and beautiful.

A good reminder that often the beauty is in the detail.

The ducks had ventured from the pond to enjoy the garden and puddle about...

It made for rejuvenating exercise, and I was filled with a joyful enthusiasm before I'd even arrived at my destination.

'Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be.'

Anonymous

Linking with #RubyTuesdayToo for the firey red flowers #WeekendReflection for the duckpond and the ducks reflected in the puddles.  #SaturdaysCritters And #FridayBliss #NaturesNotes #GardenAffair #WWOAT #WordlessWednesday

“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

I was at the Melbourne Museum to see the fabulous Tyama but spent a few hours exploring the rest of it. The hidden rainforest was astounding. The temperature drops like a in real rainforest - the bird and animal noises grew louder if you stood still for long enough. 

It was hard to believe all this was inside the museum!

It is a delightful experience, as you walk under the ponds with aquarium views of the water life, or the meandering pathways where birds strut and old trees tower above you.

Some  of the birds were quite hard to capture as they camouflaged quite well, and the turtles were impossible, due to reflection. 

Linking with #WeekendReflection

There is a Gandhi quote, which is alarming when you think back to how long ago he said it, and still we pay no heed..."What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another." Perhaps now we need to step up and do better both for all people and the forests, in order to make the world better for ourselves? And this hidden oasis shows exactly what effort and care can do?

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #GardenAffair  #KeithsRamblings #WWOT  #BirdDPot #NaturesNotes

 

Serendipity

I had a brief 24 hours in Melbourne, so spent much of the time tearing around the city. After dumping my bags I walked down to the markets to see if my handpainted stocking lady was there to replenish my supplies (she was, yay!).

As I rounded the corner, I was met with a sea of rainbow umbrellas in Hosier Lane.

Even as a spectator, this seemed like a magical event.

It summed up (and set the tone) for my much needed break and luxurious trip (of time and for me to nourish my soul in art and indulgence).

A later google discovered this as the purpose. I realise Humans in Melbourne is probably I page I need to follow before my next trip. This is the mural they mention in the post.

So while there will be many more things that made me happy in that 24 hours (see my Insta for clues) I will say that the serendipitous art or experience really made me feel lucky to be given this chance to recover a bit of me. 

Linking with #HappyTuesday and #HappyNow because even the memory of this makes me smile!
 

What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week?