Australia's countryside

out of the city...into the country.

it's late summer now. on this day it is in the mid 80s.

 

yesterday a rousing band of thunderstorms

blessed the lands

a pair of parrots flitted above me

today I hear a Kookaburra and look forward
to a sighting.
it's a peaceful place in the world.

talisman dresses in the spotlight

a strong diversified effort during this week and especially this final day of class.

our team of 11...each stitching forth dresses of our own, in the company

of each other, completed our work around 3pm.

well, kind of. no one is really finished. after all a Talisman Dress

takes time to create. Perhaps a lifetime.

below my table at 1 pm.

I pricked my finger with my needle, the underarm binding got

stained with blood. good solid energy affixed.

clock ticking.

 there were times of utter quiet and

others we regaled in laughter

 one by one our dresses appeared from the workspace

with hang tags and set on pretty hangers

for the exhibition at Beautiful Silks.

abject apologies for the horrible quality of my photos

every one's work is amazing.

all under the watchful and support of  India Flint.

for better views please visit

the talisman dress



local colour in Melbourne

Suspect I declined to mention the class title in the last post
The Talisman Dress with India Flint.
from dyed yardage we are creating a dress adorned and embellished
with our own whims and desires.
day two...the bundles are done

taking a rest before opening

some students pieces

a sweet mark on my yardage

and another...

on the walk home after class
this tree begged to be touched.

written not stirred

Try as I might to bring the visual wonders of my trip in Australia to you,

 it is out of my hands.

Despite my devices (which are up to snuff) there are too many glitches and time

delays and connection bugger boos to work through.

I'll be celebrating the written (so to speak) word for the duration

unless a miracle occurs. 

 the interpixies have turned to full blown goblins.

The streets of Melbourne are raucous tonight

in celebration of Labour Day

It's odd to be experiencing the coming of autumn down here

when my New England genes feel

spring about to burst forth.

in the wee small hours

I have made it to Melbourne after 36 hours of slogging through terminals and checkpoints.

it is the 7th of March 6am.

Time is elusive and has been since departure from Boston.
It is far easier to just "be" where you are rather than trying
to figure where you've been.
Travelling teaches wisdom.

Contrary to TSA/Australian web info, my scissors,

which I brought for work while here,

were confiscated. They took a pair which were less than 4" blades

and carefully stowed in my checked bags Thanks folks.

sign at Rose Street artist's market

Laptop is not accepting any of my external devices.

can't get wireless to work for the phone.
withdrawal symptoms setting in. eeeekkkk!

If I can't find help at a computer shop will have to just go with the
flow and live the way it used to be before all this electronic stuff was created.

Melbourne is a breezy place, feels like September in the Northern Hemisphere. 
It's very vibrant....stylish, current and friendly to this wayfarer.

Centre Place laneway

Serendipity was bestowed yesterday.
Having time to get familiar with the surrounds
I stumbled on a bustling food market.

As I wandered the aisles buying some groceries,
there was the one and only person and dear bud
in all of Australia I know standing back to me perusing.

An unrehearsed meeting. As it should be.

The human element is working just fine and the adventure I really came for has begun.

scissors shmissors

over under sideways down

shoving off in the morning in search of kangaroos

and to visit a special friend.
postings to come
meanwhile a long and quiet journey
across the big pond

Jackie O

It's been a difficult and sad week for us. Jackie has passed away.
She had just turned 10 years old, appeared in good health but for unforseen circumstances took a turn for the worse rather quickly from Sunday to Monday. She had reduced her feed intake but still wanted grain until Tuesday morning. I called our vet but he was on an emergency call and couldn't get to us in time. I reached another local vet who was able to eventually come but by then Jackie was down and she and I were only able to hang on to each other and say our goodbyes.

This was an act of nature. Old age and grace. For all of us.
 Unexpected. But then, what are the rules for dying? 

It was a wonderful 10 years.
In July of 2002 Jackie arrived (front left) as a lamb.
She had travelled across the country from Washington with Crystal (front right),
with a layover in Ohio where she joined with Memphis (rear).
These were my first CVM/Romeldales and I was so excited.
This was their first morning after we brought them home from Ohio.

From these first days I called her Jackie O. She was beautiful, mysterious and

very hard to get close to. I was bound to take that fear away.

She was a stunning ewe. Her sire was Dud. He has since passed but had

quite the reputation as a ladies man around the country. The earlier years

for CVM/Romeldales always had a Dud in the pedigree.
Oh,  for those genetics again. Her markings are classic CVM and for
every category from fleece to lambing to dispostion she met the mark
with high honors.

Here she is with her

newborn twins. Alert and attentive.

And her lambs loved her, always nearby.

She took the time to teach the ways of sheepdom.

Building happy lambs.

Always Jackie gifted us with funny faces.

Always she was a joy.

We were lucky to be in Jackie's midst these past 10 years.

Her spirit soars high above the farm now

and despite the earthly grief this week

she has managed to wipe our

tears away.

Til we meet again dear Jackie O.