It's okay to slow the ride - Self care, finding a work life balance & giveaway results 

i love you say...a lil circle of love.....but you created that...and its wonderful ....a great place to feel safe and share with each other..i feel safe when im on your channel...your energys so kind...this morning i drove to work for 6am...and finish by 8am...and i charged up with ac/dc tape that was my dads....full blast...thinking of him..pure rock so early really did pump up my energy..(he died 6yrs ago & his b'day in august and ive been doing 'alot' of slowing down & re-evaluating over those yrs-trying to makes sense of things).the cleaning wasnt so bad.at work..the day b4 was old reggae & dancehall tapes....im so happy having an old car, with a tape player...so i can listen to those old tapes...ah i didnt win, but i LOVED the draw and the energy between you and james...and your stretching back to the mike to say congrats...made me smile huge ..big love guys...*X*X* warm hugs for ur memories for ur brother *X*

Wendy, I’m so saddened by the news of your brother’s passing.I hope you find peace and love in the memories you have of him. I also believe with all my soul how nature helps us to heal and find the calm we seek. You seem to be doing just that and I am happy for you. With love and warm hugs from across the pond!

I am an artist from Montana in the USA. I learned along time ago to slow down. Society as a whole trains us to be always on the move and busy. Other wise you are a lazy person who does not contribute to society. This is one of the biggest lies out there! The rat race is and can be a preference. My preference is to live slowly in the woods, as soon as I slowed down, I got more work done which is weird! I even got a book published. Slowing down allows you to focus. It also helps with creative flow! Good luck on your journey! Also you never need “permission” to slow down. God gave us all a free will. It’s society who takes it away from us! 😜🥰🤙🏼👌🏼👍🏼🤟🏼🇺🇸

One of the ways I recharge is grabbing a cuppa and sitting down to watch Unexpected Gypsy. Thank you Wendy and James for the time to escape for a while with you xx

Slowness is so important - enjoy with no guilt

I lost my brother over 25 years ago- the grief never really leaves but... healing does happen. *hugs*

Your videos are so restful and inspiring. You and James have such a loving relationship!! He is one in a million as are you. I so love your channel!! Since I had to quit driving, I don’t get out much, so you time in the outdoors is especially special for me. Thank you so much!!

Oh my gosh!!! I'm so excited!!! Thank you Wendy and James! I live near the ocean, so this is a lovely piece of your work to receive! Bunny Hugs! Michelle

You said in the beginning that you wish you could give a little something to us all…I hope you realize you do for me. With helping me learn to be calm when the world is on my shoulders. Being outside…oh how I yearn for that, I miss sitting in a tree closing my eyes and just listening to nature. I’m very sick and use a wheelchair now so I can’t get out and do that, no one will take me. Through you though I can experience it. Thank you so much, you also have such a calming voice. Love and Peace to you and James. Enjoy your travels, be safe. ✨✨🦋

What do I do to recharge...watch your videos! They are sooo inspirational! I always draw ideas and thoughts about my life when I watch these. Thank you for such a sweet view into you and James' world.

Thank you for taking us with you, for a bit of a slow down and escape. Just lovely! Hugs to you both.

My recharge is watching your videos and learning that it is ok to rest and relax. Thank you for helping me without even knowing it!

Tracy here, I have been out in my garden all morning, pulling weeds, watching the pollinators. I decided to come in for a break and there you were! I love your nature walks. I'm always looking at the plants trying to figure out what it is. I loved your choice for the Backstage Pass mail! Can't wait to display it. Thank you for sharing your life and your art!

Bees are the best but those swans are special aren’t they. I really like the footage of James capturing images followed by the images he captured. Chef’s kiss 👨‍🍳

Art is a fruit of the soul... it reflects as a mirror what lies deeply unspoken in the depths of one's heart. ❤ I am inspired by your journey toward inner peace and balance!

Congratulation to the winners. (I always feel like a winner when I watch your videos☺️)

I love all your video's. You really inspire me. At 54 years of age, I am just about to fulfill a lifetime artistic dream. I always wanted to go to art school to do a Foundation course. I was talked out of it at school, and like you, became a teacher. Finally, I am starting the foundation course in September. Yaaay! It's never too late.

Oh my...coming across you this very moment is so part of the connections I've been making today ...both creating as I made 2 shelves for my daughter from old old boards and timber from a very old barn / garage growing into the ground ..being reclaimed and more beautiful every few days...hmmm and then embraced a serious windstorm ..so so so very fitting ..I believe it was for me...and then the walk out the back field down to the creek ...I came across a young buck laying in the tall grasses at the tree line..what a cherished boutique of moments as we just sat in each others presence at a distance for some time ...then he moved passed my path just enuf to feel completely safe and curious ...such a beautiful trust to have been graced....then an amazing hour with the creek and her banks and all the grasses and ferns and moss and little ecosystems growing on fallen logs ....all the shimmering of the mika jeweledsandy creek bottom...catching glimishes of such majical shimmers threw the crystal clear just off the mountainside creekswaters and the last of the dampened flowering sun light ....holy....ISIS...VENUS? WHERE YOU THERE?...with me this days departing into the growing nite? Then across the field to appreciate the details of the vallies mountains that are clear this nite after many many days covered heavily,thickly,in smoke from our surround of provinces wildfires.... Hmmmmm....and then off down the end of the road on my daughters electric bike ..into the cloaking the drifting the falling of the nite....hmmmmm...I need to stop writing for awhile ...its almost midnite now and I still have to pack to go back to my town my village my city in the morrow...back to it all...truelly truelly gratefull to have just watch your lovely celibration of Life really....thank you thank you🕊🕊💞🌿💦🧡🤲🧡💦🌿💞🕊

Today is my birthday!! I’m deciding to recharge by camping under the full moon with my little family of 4❤️✨ can’t wait to teach my kiddos to dance under the light of the beautiful moon 🌙

It is absolutely ok to slow down. Thanks for taking us on your journey ❤️

Sending healing hugs from across the pond, Miami, Florida. USA. You are such an inspiration. Your voice and videos give me peace.🤗💖🙏🙏

Love to you and your family. I have also lost my brother and mother the following year. Time to step away, relax, enjoy each moment, remember happy times, relish the here and now💕 I love that you two have gotten away for a bit! Take care and thank you for sharing with us❣

Good evening Wendy, I lost my Dad to cancer 8 years ago 😢 the pain dose fade and you do remember the happy times you had with them . For me its my walks early in the morning because we both love use to love to see the deer 🦌, so when I see any now I say send my love to Dad . Thank for sharing, keep your light bright, hugs Teresa xx

Thank you for your integrity... You are an inspiration!!! 🧡

Thank you for so much inspiration💖🌱 your videos support me so much in my transformation and on my way. Thank you☺✨♾👩‍🎨

Always a pleasure, I love hanging out with you🤗

But you are a teacher! I learn so much from you about a creative and healthy live style. And how to get along when you feel that things have to be changed and reorganized. Living the no plan plan, that's what I had to learn. Thank you for your inspiration and have good next week❤️

Congratulations to the lucky winners. Your gentle energy and slowness really helped me today. Due to ill health I have had to be in bed since Friday. I suddenly felt enveloped with love from watching you and James enjoying the peace and having your green juice. You are an incredible lady and such a gentle soul that I find inspiring. Much love and light to, James and anyone reading this xxxx

What do I do to wind down? I watch your videos of course. I love to see you and James together. You seem to nurture each other. Walking in the forest is good for my soul. Feeling the sheer strength of our magnificent trees. I also love to be beside water, being Pisces it’s a must. Keep safe and continue to listen to your body… slow but sure gets you there xx🥰

Sending love Wendy, love your positivity & tenacity. 🤍💚🌬

you are the most wonderful couple!! i adore both of you! i miss England..i lived there as a child. I can imagine fairies in the woods

Beautiful nature footage this week. I love you guys. Happy weekend!! xx

Hugs for you as you remember your brother. I lost my brother this past May and it has been hard. I love that you promote it being OK to slow down and do just what you need to do and not all that the world expects you to do. Some day I will get there. I get so much joy from watching your videos even when I don't have time to do art myself.

Art, music, sunshine,fresh air, animals, exploring nature and gathering random medicinal plant life, noCountry drives and still getting a chance to assist and nurture my young adult kids. Lol.

Congratulations to all the winners! Prayers of peace and tranquillity to both you and James. We are all on this journey to find the right balance for our lives. When I think of all the years I spent rushing here and there to make a good life for my son and I as a single mother, always feeling it was not enough… just making enough money to survive and provide what we needed, cleaning jobs, care giver, restaurant work and finally an office job with medical benefits, but always stress.. I look back at now in my 70’s and wonder how I did it all. Luckily with Gods help, we made it. It took me a few years into retirement to be okay not to do anything some days but to just rest, or putter around in flower pots, or finally get into my art stuff. Mind you I’m not that great at it, no formal art training, but it’s fun. So Wendy I am so proud of you at this stage of your life to take a slower pace and realize what you need for your mental health. Rents here in the USA have also risen high and prices for everything so much Moe expensive. It like a steam roller and the same everywhere it seems. My the memories of a brothers love comfort you.🙏😘❤️ sending you soft hugs and love. Keep shining bright my dear friend.🙏💐🤗

Great video Wendy and James! Love your adventures on the van. Great video on the bees and the beautiful blossoming flowers. Congratulations to all the winners. We are all winners with Wendy and James sharing their beautiful life with us. Thank you for reminding me to keep my light shining bright

Awe! 🐝 The bees and the swans are so lovely! 🦢 As are you lovely souls! 🌻 So happy your videos have come my way!

My favorite way to unwind is to get down and dirty......in my garden!🤭🌼🌻🌷🌹🌸

You are inspiring me! I burned out on social media and then Covid hit and I completely stopped my art for a year and a half. I am now ready to get back creating and sharing but did not want to go back to filling pressure to post. I am watching all that you do so I can choose my path of inspiration and balance. Keep going at you pace, you and James are an inspiration.

I love those narrow English lanes and country roads. All the wildflowers and bees are wonderful too. It must be hard keeping up with all the work and maintaining creativity. Stay cool. Lots of love. Aroha nui from me in Aotearoa New Zealand. 🌻🐝🌹💖

Ahh the ever elusive work/life balance quest for us sensitive artist types…I’m on it too! The best way for me to recharge my batteries is my summer two month holiday in Nova Scotia, Canada where we have beloved family, friends and a beautiful old property. We are planning our return there in three weeks as the border is finally opening back up. Can’t wait to get my feet and hands in the dirt up there. Earthing is my best medicine. 💗🕸🪶🦢

I'm crying watching this I have just put a deposit on a micro camper van, I have always wanted a van for so long and watching your videos have been so inspiring and showing the freedom you can have. I'm so excited !! To actually take your living room anywhere!! yes!! thank you Wendy and James !! We should always follow our dreams and do what we love. I was feeling vulnerable about buying one as I am single but I have to give it a go!!! much love to you both happy campers xxx

Heart of Kentucky. Hi Wendy. I just saw where your brother left his body. I have thought, from time to time, If I lost any of my siblings while I'm here would be heart wrenching. May God's peace be with you. Katie.

Good for you for actively seeking balance in your life that works for you. Love the video of the beautiful countryside and am envious of your van sofa! Xx

Yes I need to slow down sometimes and just focus on myself and not cause myself so much anxiety and nervousness! Hugs! Also I love your art! So beautiful! I have one of your artworks on a sticker and I put it on my laptop cover so beautiful to look at! Also mediation is a nice way to calm the mind! But I usually journal to calm my mind! I journal to God and journal my thoughts! I’m also so happy that this video came out when it did I needed a reminder to slow down before I head into work today!

Saturday morning relaxing with Wendy and James having a cuppa and taking time out for self-care . Feeling peaceful and nostalgic watching the picturesque countryside

Loved how you showed James filming then included that footage. Sorry about your brother. It has been almost 7 months since my husband passed away. He took beautiful pictures of bees and other creatures. I was thinking about him a lot watching your video today.

Thanks so Much dear loved so much as the beautiful footage of being in the forest and taking us there . I live in BC Canada and it is so Smokey here so one can not be out side much as the air quality is not at its best. I usually spend time out side in back yard every day, as I am not able to get to the forest these days so it is a wonderful treat to travel with you , to these places . I recharge with Meditation and when I can spend time out in my back yard which is beautiful with some trees and flowers , though I long for the days when I was able to go into to the forest i so love the trees . Much Love and Gratitude dear . I am sending some love your way to and so sorry for your loss of your brother , I lost a brother suddenly a few years back and then my mom a few months after so I have a sense of this pain and sadness as we miss them, but also Know that their is not death really that they have just gone to another place and were finished here. though it does not always make it easy for us here . much love to you.

I am still trying to find your videos I haven’t seen yet. They are so calming to my internal storm. The bee on the flower was beautiful. The overlook is gorgeous!

Thank you for sharing. I always feel calm after watching you both. You can never have enough bees. I have planted a jewel garden this year and they just keep coming, it’s all about the bees.

I am very sorry to hear about your brother, my husband lost his brother at 47 you are in my thoughts and my prayers

Your video feels full of love. Nature will recharge you if you let it and I am a great believer in the restorative power of sleep. Have a gentle week xx

Lovin th slow adventures of Wendy and James 🥰 Lots of new flowers to draw and paint, bees always

I haven't forgotten you- I've been somewhat busy, lately. Continue to do great things(as always) as you're doing now, and also, keep cool!🤗🥤🥤🧊🥬

Love the English country side. The homes and buildings are so close to the road and charming. So happy for James obtaining his new lens! The two of you are such a gentle, peaceful couple. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Blessings!

Thanks again for a lovely vlog and taking us with You both xxx from New Zealand

Beautiful countryside I’m in Nova Scotia Thankyou for sharing wow so lovely

You two are adorable! I enjoyed sharing your beautiful day out among nature x

Beautiful natuure ...thank you. Love watching you always..Love the way you did the green juice too...

What a lovely getaway! Surrounded by inspiration with birds, bees, trees, rock paths, a village, and a lake. I’m very fortunate to live in a beautiful area, also which makes recharging a pleasure. I also love to fiddle on my garden and spend time with my two best friends. Laughter, friendship, and inspiration flowing. Take care, you are looking lovely, by the way.🥰

What a wonderful day you had! You live in such a beautiful area! Thank you for sharing.

You are so inspirational and so calming. I love it

I so appreciate you for Sharing the artist life. You're so right in conveying the lifestyle needed to create art. You must slow your roll. I believe that is what make's art so invaluable. Art takes a lifestyle to create.. Artist are willing to touch life, use all the senses & translate to a medium for scene, perhaps to people who are in another without nature. Life is wonderful to be partnered with a like minded person. Cheers Thanks for sharing yoursELF with us. I'm grateful for youtube as a platform in which more than 1 culture can been seen, heard & connected, virtually You have more value than an hourly wage

Congratulations to the winners, thank you Wendy and James for your generosity and time for the giveaway! Love how you are listening to yourself Wendy ♥ self-care and reexamining what it is that works best for you is so important, and so is changing it up when it's not working. Oh I love bees too, I have a balcony that I plant flowers every summer and it's wonderful to see the bees enjoy them! Recharging, I always find my way to the kitchen cooking and creating something good to eat. It always makes me happy and re-energized. Having different outlets helps us manage and certainly enjoy our lives, out in nature is a blessing no matter the weather. Beautiful weekend to you both ♥

it's viewtiful ! lovely walk down wooded path with wildflowers and bees ....

A beautiful video as always Wendy 🌼 loving the bees and nature, it’s a little getaway for me at the moment watching you, I am struggling to rest and restore 💜 thanks to you and James 🦋

Beautiful and peaceful thank you both

Gorgeous video Wendy, cheered me up greatly. Much love from Scotland. Xx

Never have too many bees! Big hugs xxx

Such beautiful scenery thank you

Love to see you again...🌹

Love to you at this time xx be gentle on yourself xxxxxxxxx

There’s nothing like the feeling in the forest and being in nature nature. Nice photography too James. Congratulations winners.. love you all.

I seem to be one of the many without a recharge/reset button. Constantly changing and moving. Still haven't figured what the rest of my life will bring after a recent loss. Love watching your videos though, gives me few moments peace.

Came here from Erin Elizabeth and here to stay. You are wonderful. Sending positive vibes from Surrey! 🙌🏻

Oooh 😍what a beautiful outing! 🧚🏼‍♀️🧚🏼 The pathway with the stepping stones and beautiful trees would make a lovely painting 🖼️ don’t you think! 🧚🏼‍♀️🪄💖✨Lots of fairy love and light your way dear! 🧚🏼‍♀️🪄✨💕💖💕✨🎨🖍️📒🖼️📝🫧🌸🌺🌻🌈🤟🏼✌🏼🧚🏼‍♀️🌺🌷🌸🧚🏼🧚🏼‍♀️

Yeah, summers of 1974& 1975 in the Montana heat. We were in a 21ft camper. Lots of skinny dipping in the creek. 😆

Congratulations to the winners!

After spending last week watching your videos i decided to go technology free this weekend. i feel like i had a visit from your creative fairies and managed to reorganise my whole craft room and paint with acrylic for the first time in 10 years! I love your vids please keep them up

Love this vlog - I love nature walk vlogs - especially in the UK

Another chapter of the Unexpected Life!!!✨ Your narrative, pace and photography are soothing to the soul, thank you💖 you and James make a great team! Thank you Wendy for your sincere, authentic content & enchanted art. Thank you James for all gorgeous scenes & swans. Peace to you. Until we meet again 🙏

Congratulation to all the tree winners of the give away....🍀🐞🍀🐞

There can never be too many bees, flowers or birds in the world! So much to love in this video especially travelling the lane ways of the English countryside with you and James. You two just make me smile 😁 Bring on the swans! Keep taking care of yourselves everyone. Blessings!!

Thank you Wendy and James for sharing your adventures.

I always look forward to watching your videos. Not only is it inspiring to watch a full time artist at work, but I also really love seeing glimpses of your local area. For the last 14 years I have lived in the South West US, which is desert. It's lovely in many ways, but I really love seeing all the green again. It reminds me of California, which is where I grew up and have many sweet memories of hiking in the forests there. So thanks!

Definitely take time to process and heal. My brother passed away two years ago at the age of 56. It is a process, regardless of your relationship, to work through the death of a sibling. Sending you hugs and prayers from the U.S.

Another wonderful video from the two of you. Thank you Wendy 🙏😘

Just want to say thank you and I love you 💗

Well done to the winners....enjoy summer take it easy, keep cool.... Hopefully we can all be more productive in September! I live in Greec so I am lying low during this heat, second Jab did nothing to help energy levels.

So great that you're both taking in the sights and sounds of summer and finding that work life balance! :)

Listening your perfect native pronunciation and your positive attitude to life is the best way to recharge batterries! Welcome to Saint-Petersburg any time you'd like to go!

Hi from Western Australia Wendy (and James) I enjoyed your little van trip...all that long grass Wendy..dont you have snakes over there. No way would we walk through shoulder high grass in summer here in Oz. Had to smile at James and his fancy camera, he's a bit like my hubby..takes ages to take a shot when I walk past and go click with my phone and often get a better shot!!🤭🤭 were they bumble bees (although they didnt look big enough) we had BB's in Tasmania but the mainland doesn't have them as far as I know. Loved the swan shots at the end James thankyou for tat😊👍 hope you are feeling more on top of the world next week Wendy..if not take a bit more 'you' time🥰🤗🥰🤗💜

It has been very hot here as well in Wisconsin so I have not been doing much. I live in a very old house that doesn’t have air conditioning! Thanks for the wan footage!

Thanks for taking us along with you down the path...forests forever! XO

Congratulations winners.

Such nice spots you find out driving in the van, which looks so nice and comfy! I loved seeing those bees on the flowers, really beautiful videos of them!

When I can watch them, your videos are always a recharging experience. Maybe not so much recharging as realigning? So, recharging… I can’t get out to the countryside much, but when I do, I feel utterly recharged. I imagine sometimes of just laying in a meadow on a sunny day, with my head in the shade of a big tree, feeling the cool earth beneath my body and the tickley grass on my legs, arms, cheeks and the soles of my feet… listening to the birds, bees, other insects and the gentle breeze, moving the leaves. It’s like nature breathing. Sometimes I imagine I can hear a trickling brook nearby. Those meditational moments are also recharging but in a different kind of way to actually being there. I suppose they’re more like moments of peace and happiness that stay with me for a number of hours. I wouldn’t say being with my grandaughters is a recharging experience, quite the opposite 😂😂😂 but the connections we have sometimes are simply magical for me. Sometimes, it’s just a long soak in a fragrant bath with oils and salt. It’s never complex things. Always the simple things.

I work 30 hours a week so I can create my art. I simplified my life years ago but there are still very basic bills to be paid- rent, basic phone, food, insurance and gas. The bits and bobs for my art supplies and yes, I have to clothe myself. LOL I also have pets, so there are costs there. I do work in a creative field and if I could just silence the people I work with LOL it would be lovely! I come home from work and immediately turn my phone off (I have 1 special ring for my son and that is it!) I have no social media, outside of YT and I rarely have anyone into my space. It's my sanctuary and I do as I wish. This summer, I have been working a lot of over time, because we are so short handed but I tuck away the extra money for the day I can walk away from working for someone else. I set my limit to working, even on my art, at 9 at night. Then I go through a nice night time routine- tea, soothing music or ambience music, light organizing my space, a short walk or just staring at the full moon (Like last night!). I also stick to the days I have to pay bills, go through my accounts, pick up groceries and light shopping- all done on Saturday morning. Takes me about 2 hours and then I can play and not have to think about it for another week. Think about that little bee. They are on a mission but enjoy the work they are doing. Me too!

The bees are most lovely. They have almost disappeared where I live.

Hi Wendy. So sorry to hear of your brother's passing. It really does make you think about things deeply doesn't it. I think having time to do nothing is really important! Is the lake Blagdon? Beautiful part of the world.