It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then when we free camp I’m disgusted. To find a beautiful place in the mountains or the bush marred by the thoughtless and senseless actions of others really upsets me.
We’ve come across places where garbage has been strewn from one end of a camp site to another. Where bags of rubbish, empty bottles and litter is left carelessly to impact on wildlife and the environment.
We’ve always camped with the belief “what you take in, you take out” and to leave only our footprints. When I started this post, prompted by Frank’s Photo theme this week on Human Impact – I thought of the responsibility we all have on our environment. But I didn’t have any photos of rubbish so I’ve decided instead to showcase the impact and beauty that humans can make when they collaborate and come together.
Nowhere is this more true than where I live.
Every year close to the town’s annual Wattle Festival this grand tree is adorned and decorated. It becomes a central figure in town and highlights the community spirit and creativity that thrives here. I drive past it every day and it always makes me smile.
She stands proudly in the main street. A golden emblem, lovingly knitted and yarn bombed by a passionate few. At Christmas with her “helper elves” she’s transformed yet again and turns red and green.
Draped with pom poms, dressed up and decorated, the tree brings joy to everyone who passes by. Many locals and visitors enjoy the shade and beauty she provides.
Across the road is this yarn bombed train that sprawls across an otherwise unsightly wire fence. Talented hands have created this piece of art that transforms the fence.
In nearby Strathewen this ordinary concrete street sign has a new look. Can you imagine the work that went into crocheting it?
Here the ordinary becomes extraordinary with a bit of creative vision and imagination.
These mosaic mailboxes that I wrote about here a few months ago were created by a passionate group after their community was destroyed by bush fire in 2009. Many people came together to create these mosaic letterboxes which became a symbol of hope.
The positive face of human impact. We can all make a difference.
In the end each and every one of us will have an impact on the world and it’s up to each of us as to what sort of impact that will be.
“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.” ― Robert F. Kennedy
May we all play a part in making a difference – even a small one – in our world and on our journey through life.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Beautiful thoughts
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Thank you.
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I love Your photos. In Finland:
Crochet tractor.
Have a nice day!
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Thanks. I just checked out your photos, absolutely amazing!
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Love yarn bombing and the yellow wattle tree is GORGEOUS! Thank you for showing us. Louise
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My pleasure Louise. Have a great weekend. 🙂
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The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better
This is a Beautiful Purpose of Life.
I just loved this crocheting idea of dressing up a Tree or a Lamp Post or Mail Box. WOW, what a lovely idea ?
I wish I could introduce it in Mumbai. But where are the Trees ?
Give me the address of this place. I’ll get my ticket booked and be there……………………….
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Oh, you make me smile Cattie. I wish you could come over 🙂
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Me too.
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A powerful post and so beautifully illustrated by your photographs. The mosaic mailboxes representing hope and built to receive good news are so poignant. Thank you for sharing Miriam ☺💜
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much Xenia.
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Lovely post and a thought-provoking challenge. Well done again, Miriam. 🙂
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Thanks Richard. Always nice to see you here. 🙂
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An absolutely wonderful post, Miriam! It overflows with positivity!
Thank you,
Frank
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So glad you enjoyed. Thank you Frank for a wonderful challenge.
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Love the mailboxes, great idea.
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It really is.
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Great post
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Thanks Bella
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That is so fun! I love the tree scarves and Pom poms. So cool.
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Thanks Wendy, I agree, it’s pretty neat!
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I wonder how they got that crochet so close to that pole? Amazing stuff.
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I wondered the same thing myself.
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Better than discarded rubbish
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Oh yes, much better.
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What a wonderfully novel and inventive idea – love the pom poms and decorated trees!
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Thanks Annika. Hope you’re keeping well.
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Love the “yarn bombing.” I shared it on Facebook just to tease my crocheting friends!
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Haha Why not?
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What a wonderful post and thoughts, Miriam. Loved all the pictures, the third picture is fantastic, never seen anything like this. Lovely!
ashu
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Thanks Ashu, I’m glad you enjoyed this.
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Those are all so very cheerful! Love the ideas ❤
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Thanks Diane, so nice to see you here. I hope you’re recovering well. Thinking of you. xo
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I am and I just found one of your comments in spam. I’m doing well, some pain, mostly tired, getting there!
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Lots of my comments seem to be ending up there lately 😦 But so glad to hear you’re doing okay. Take it easy. xo
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Thank you xo
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These are all so beautiful and such a novel idea. Thank you sharing.
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My pleasure Brigid. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
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And you. I have a lovely Aussie cousin coming to visit.
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How lovely. Enjoy. 🙂
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Beautiful! Thank you for this post.
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What a lovely post Miriam!…and that is a wonderful challenge for everyone-to realize what impact we are making to the world! I hope I am contributing to the positive impact side, hehehe!
I love the decorated tree and the mosaic mailboxes. People could really get very creative! 🙂
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I’m sure you’d be contributing in a positive way Nina! Thanks so much for your lovely comment. ♡
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You’re welcome! Your posts are always inspirational. ☺
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Aw, thank you Nina 🙂
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Thanks for sharing. You enjoy your weekend too 🙂
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What a fun idea to decorate the tree.
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It really is Carol. Have a great weekend.
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So true there’s nothing like yarn bombing to lighten the soul.
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Absolutely, thanks Lindsey. Have a great weekend.
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Festive and very creative impact. Lovely post.
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Thanks Maverick.
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Miriam thank you for sharing this! That marigold yellow decoration is amazing!
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Thanks Divya 🙂
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So very true! The world would be so different, if every human believed that we can all make a difference in our own ways. Thank you for sharing, Miriam! 🙂
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It definitely would. Hope you have a lovely weekend. ♥
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That’s so pretty and commendable effort. I honestly can’t stand the idea of people throwing rubbish around and defacing their environment. It doesn’t even take much time to put trash away in the proper place and manner.
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I totally agree Jackie (another comment in my Spam, which is annoying)
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What a great reminder that the impact of humans can be a very good thing, if we just do it correctly! Thanks, Miriam!
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You’re most welcome Ann. Hope you’re having a nice weekend.
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What a happy looking tree, Miriam 🙂 I love it when people put a little effort into making life beautiful. Wishing you a lovely weekend too.
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Thanks Jo, you too. 🙂
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It’s a sad truth that we human’s do so much of the damage to our environment and our animals and wildlife suffer as a result. However, your positive message here is so heartening, I love the decorated pom pom tree, I can imagine the smile it brings to the faces of the passers by. Just beautiful.
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Thanks Barbara. It definitely is a colorful focal point in our little town.
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Lovely pictures and well needed message! Thanks for sharing.
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You’re most welcome.
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🙂
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I’m so glad that you chose to showcase the positive impact we humans can have. What a wonderful example of the beautiful ways we can contribute to our earth by decorating the streets with love, rather than litter. An inspiring post as always Miriam. Wishing you a wonderful day xx
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Thank you so much Hayley. Enjoy your Sunday. xo
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Wonderful post, Miriam ❤
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Thank you my lovely friend. xo
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xo ❤
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Nice post Miriam. I went to an annual festival in Warwick (Qld) back in July — the Jumpers and Jazz festival…the jumpers being all kinds of objects yarn bombed. Adds so much colour doesn’t it.
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Jumpers and Jazz … love it!
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I love yarn bombing. This is so bright and cheerful. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure Ruth.
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Beautiful interpretation. Yarn-bombing always makes me smile. I love the golden colour of these 🙂
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Thanks Judith. 😄
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How wonderful Miriam. This is a fabulous display of how just small changes within our local environment can have a massive impact.. Stunning! x
ps. I wrote a post with you very much in mind a few days ago.. Life After Death.. A party in the sky.. Now may not be the time but it will be there waiting for you when you feel it is.. xx
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Thanks Wendy and I’m touched. Will definitely go and have a read sometime soon.
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No rush.. just when it feels right..xx
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Thanks again! xo
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Great post – love the yarn bombing!
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It’s pretty cool isn’t it.
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Beautiful pictures, and I love the RFK quote at the end. It’s incredible to imagine how many hours and skeins of yarn were spent to beautify the fence, tree and pole! And the people who did it acted out of an inner light and goodness, taking no credit for their work. That is truly beautiful!
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Yes, I know, it’s pretty amazing really. Thanks so much Lulu.
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That’s so amazing. i can imagine the work that goes into making that decor. I crochet and it takes me hours upon hours to make a doggie blanket! 😉
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I know the feeling!
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I wonder what the nature spirits if the tree think about being covered with knitting …they are either delighted or unhappy
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Yes, I’ve often thought about that but it’s not intrusive and it’s soft so I’d like to think they’d be delighted.
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Well the energy of the colour and the person who created the knitting would impact upon them , it’s all subtle to us but huge for them .
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Yes, most probably.
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What is life about?
Years have seemed to pass like seconds. A familiar face in the market has brought back all the nostalgia and memories. Days turn into nights and weekends turn to weekdays and we work on and on , like machines , grinding against the noise , to support ourselves and the ones we hold dear. But have we ever stopped for a single minute, to not do anything, to just breathe , to just be? The years have taught us a great many lessons , we have laughed , we have cried , we have feared , we have felt joy , sadness ,anger ,betrayal and loss , euphoria , madness , relief , jealousy and every other emotion on a spectrum . We have traveled , met people, felt lonely , connected with people and the internet , listened to people, listened to songs, got a new haircut , read things , wrote things and talked. But ever have we introspected ourselves, our emotional growth and our soul’s whispers? Have we ever really asked ourselves what is it that we really want , what is it that we are here for? Have we ever told ourselves that life isn’t about materialistic things and cars and jewellery, technological devices and watches ,rather,Its about making people smile , being there for others and for ourselves. Its about dancing in the rain , counting the clouds with a six year old. Its about long walks and late night talks. Its about the people we meet and connect with. Its about helping and being a shoulder to cry on. Life is all about the summer and the sweet smell of it.
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What a beautiful profound comment. And yes, I’ve often pondered the meaning and purpose of life and what we’re here for. Your words are so true, life isn’t about the materialistic things yet somehow we get caught up in it. Still, I’m trying to make mine count by making it purposeful. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Sure. Thankyou for writing such a beautiful blog that inspired me.:)
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I’m so glad. I’m trying to link back to yours to read your writing too.
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It’s poetspancakesandpromises 🙂
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