Red and yellow and pink and green...

...purple and orange and blue. I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too! The rainbow in the picture is on top of one of a nest of three daggy 1970's, timber look veneer tables. After a brief craft session with my three year old (due to poor concentration) my husband and I sat abandoned at the table with Sunday stretched out before us. After a brief discussion about those school made, burnt match tables and a comment about basket weaving/occupational therapy for loopy people (with a distinct reference to me) house man suggested we pillage our son's craft box and get to work. The result is very cool, even in an unfinished state. I can only imagine the table triplets all fully covered in lovely rainbow match sticks and varnished to jewel coloured, glistening magnificence. Still wondering what colour to paint the curvaceous legs.
The repetitive activity of selecting at random each matchstick to carefully align alongside the last on a thin layer of glue proved very theraputic. While our son ditched the craft for something far more riveting, my husband and I wiled away a large chunk of time idly chatting. I became so enthralled my cup of steaming hot tea was more like luke warm wee by the time I attempted to drink it.
It raised a concept I often ponder. Meditation by repetition. Having recently been told by a doctor that I'm suffering disturbingly high levels of anxiety and stress, I have been learning to use breathing techniques in a meditative way to bring me back to a tranquil, anything goes state of mind. It's challenging. I've always been a twitcher and filled constantly with nervous energy. It keeps me motivated and drives my creativity but after a few life changing experiences this nervous energy has taken on a life of it's own. Thus, I'm on a quest to find peace and balance in more places.
There are a few things that work wonders for me, slowing my mind so my thoughts become clear.
Knitting is something I've been doing for a long time. It takes me a while to settle in to the knit, knit, purl, purl routine but eventually I'm sitting quite still and calm. Just a side note, it doesn't work if the pattern is complicated...in fact the twitching then becomes and an irritating companion to swearing and cursing!
Another useful one is walking and I get, to some degree, why people get hooked on running for similar reasons. It is rhytmic and repetitive and takes a little while to settle on the tempo. Though once I've settled I can walk miles. Gets those physical activity endorphins going too. Again, beware the calm killer. Whingy kids in the pusher or a boy with a shiny bike standing on the nature strip mid walk, arguing that his legs are tired and I should therefore carry his heavy two wheeler so that he can rest his sorry self in the pusher. Urghh.
I can also recommend threading beads, kneading dough, painting (under the right conditions), tapestry, cross stitch, sorting tins of buttons or shells, cloud gazing, staring at crashing waves and probably many more that allude me just now. Please let me know your own suggestions.

Drawing is also very theraputic but I find it necessary to get to a calm, clear mind place first. If I try to draw with a head full of 'what's for tea?' and 'I must put on that load of washing and 'what time was that appointment?' I find I produce nothing but drivel and get very little pcychological benefit. On the othe hand, if I settle down with a cup of tea and something to eat and quietly munch and get comfy, when I do get to the marks on paper bit I become engrossed and could go on for hours. Well, that is until I do actually have to produce something of nutritional value for my precious offspring and husband!
Since sheduling in buntyandsars on a Thursday I've been stumbling on these little pockets of time when all the necessary stuff is done, the kids are still snoozing and I'm wondering what to do. So, my children's book concept has been getting some attention. The drawing for joy is nice and I'm finding myself on that lovely creative developmental path whereby with each new drawing comes a series of new ideas I'd like to try out in different mediums and formats. I've been scratching around in my tin of derwents to start with but I've also scrounged a tin of watercolour pencils out of the shed and I have a patiently waiting bundle of coloured drawing papers on standby. If only these kids would have a sleep today!!
P.S. Check out the button up the top for the new buntyandsars facebook page. It still needs some attention but it's there and I'd love some more fans!