Sprout Budding Flowers In Terra Cotta Pot Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Sprouting Happiness

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Sprout” today, I chose a budding flower sprouting in a pot. That first glimpse of growing grass and flowers always makes me smile. The week has been sunny and colorful outside where I live, with lots of new grass and plants sprouting up everywhere. It’s a beautiful reminder of the beauty that the world still has to offer. I took a long walk this morning and I always find myself scanning the ground to find lovely new things sprouting up. There was a patch of clover along the way and I did my usual scanning for the lucky four leaf version, but didn’t find one today. Still, I felt quite lucky to be enjoying the outdoors. Being home every day can start to feel a touch bleak, so enjoying nature is the perfect elixir. Also, Philippe is making a peach cobbler for me this evening, so a walk was slightly more than optional in preparation for all of those decadent calories ahead.

Though my birthday is actually on Monday, I did managed to coax Philippe into the idea of a birthday weekend that begins with cobbler and ice cream. So, I’m very much looking forward to the evening ahead. Today, was my mother’s birthday so we chatted on the phone for a bit. She had discovered a Harry Potter marathon on television and ended up watching all of the movies. This was the first time she had seen them and she was immediately hooked and loved all of the films. Since then, she’s made it her mission to crochet all of the characters. Though she had some patterns, there’s several she’s tweaked to match the characters even more. Her enthusiasm was so wonderful to hear and it immediately lifted my spirits. And, it was another reminder to lean into my own inner child as well. So, after we chatted, I watched the original Mary Poppins today followed by the first Paddington movie again.

It was truly a fun day indeed! Sometimes, I’ve been finding myself getting a bit down lately. The repetitive nature of each day can start to take its toll. I long to go out and do something new, but that’s just not an option at the moment. Each time that happens, though, I just do what I always do and ask my inner kid what I should be focusing on next. Indeed, if my 81 year old mother can readily follow the path her inner child charts, then no matter what I’m feeling, I can easily do the same. Though, yeah, I still don’t know how to crochet as well as she does. In the end, it’s all simply about mindset, and adopting the brightest and most hopeful one that can be mustered. And yep, kid’s movies are definitely on the list to help things along. Well, that and cobbler never hurts. Soon, no matter what, I once again find myself sprouting happiness.

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 Sprout Budding Flowers In Terra Cotta Pot Watercolor Illustration

 

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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40 thoughts on “Sprouting Happiness”

  1. I’m glad you are getting your cobbler! I’m not doing too bad with staying in because I do most of the time anyway, but I am finding myself eating more than I would otherwise. And eating more is one thing I do NOT need to be doing! Enjoy your cobbler – I’ll just dream about some.

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  2. Wonderful choice Charlie, a touch of anticipation of what’s to come! Enjoy your peach cobbler with ice cream which sounds amazing. My mom made a great cobbler. I had to go to the pharmacy for my husband’s diabetic supplies which meant standing in line to wait to be granted access to the grocery store. 😒 So my reward was some carrot cake which I will thoroughly enjoy later.

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  3. Enjoy that peach cobbler and ice cream, Charlie!! I think it’s been just 4 weeks since I’ve had any significant contact with the outside world…other than a trip to the grocery store when necessary. I manage to stay busy from morning to bed time the same as always but i am missing those occasional interactions with friends and the freedom to just go do things. I am however happy to stay home as long as it takes to keep people safe and healthy..

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  4. Enjoy your birthday weekend, Charlie! Best wishes to your Mom too! Would love to see the HP crocheted characters. HP, Mary Poppins, Paddington – these are a few of my favoriite things! I guess for most of us too!

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  5. As I’ve mentioned before, since I’m pretty much isolated all the time, I’m used to this, but even I feel some cabin fever in the spring. This year seems worse because so many people who I know on social media are talking about their own isolation crazies . I cope by buying things I don’t need, and binging on Netflix shows. I watched a bunch of seasons of English gardening shows and was convinced I needed to move to England, then I watched a bunch of English murder mysteries and decided I didn’t want to move to England because surely I would die there. 😂😂😂 So, eat cobbler, take naps, go for walks, and paint. That stuff helps.

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  9. Charlie,

    I have lately been a bit mopey, and on several days have just pulled the covers over my head, and now I’m wondering why I didn’t just come to DOodlewash and breath the joy.

    Charlie says, “In the end, it’s all simply about mindset, and adopting the brightest and most hopeful one that can be mustered. And yep, kid’s movies are definitely on the list to help things along. Well, that and cobbler never hurts. Soon, no matter what, I once again find myself sprouting happiness.”

    and immediately I feel perky and able. DOodlewash does have a certain magic!

    Sarah

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  11. You can’t be a Debbie Downer! You are the master of our happiness! Your little flower should bring a ray of hope. Just think, it dies every winter and miraculously comes back glorious. I did two childish things yesterday (after adulting in the yard for 3 hours). I painted a rock. Yep, a rock. I pass by a little smiley rock next to someones mailbox every day on my walk up to the track. It looked lonely, so today I painted a friend for it. So tomorrow morning I will excitedly place it next to the other. I am only imagining the smile it will bring to the people who live there. Then last night I got out my 1000 piece Disneyland map puzzle. I tried it last summer, but it was just too time consuming. The pieces are an inch big and it does not have a straight border! I also don’t have the luxury of leaving it out, but I just might get the card table out today and set it up in the living room. No one is coming over, so who cares! Have a wonderful Easter! Now go sketch some bunnies with your non-dominant hand!

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  17. Hang in there, Charlie! Emotional ebbs and flows are natural, especially now. I couldn’t create for the first two weeks, and the second week was particularly difficult. Once I was able to wrap my mind around everything (keeping a journal helps a lot), and grieving the fact that we had to cancel our family beach vacation in May, (at least I don’t have worries of being out of work, lack of food, etc.) I was able to cope better and get back to my creative processes. It’s okay to feel the feels! Be kind to yourself – we are all doing the best we can, and I’m sure cobbler helped sweeten your day! 😘

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    1. Thanks so much, Carol! 😃💕Cobbler definitely helped! But yes, creating is the real way to solve things! It’s been good to journal each day here and keep right on sketching stuff! Stay safe, healthy and happy!

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  18. Your post reminds me of the song that states, “A heart like yours is my desire. Give me a heart like yours.” This has always been a prayer of mine. I think we should be posting more prayers and encouragements on the social media rather than silly games.

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  20. Such a wonderful, positive post Charlie! Seeing the beautiful nature and creation outdoors is so beautiful.😊

    Revelation 4:11-You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.

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