guiding principles

At the suggestion of the Dalai Lama:

instructions for life

Once a year go somewhere you’ve never been before.

Travel Lambie came with me from young Morgan's house

in Connecticut

and this fine elephant gent is

leaving the Melbourne Zoo with me for the US.

traveling light and together.

last look

time to head for home.

gravity won't hold me here.

the ride was an education.

I put my boots up and down across

a tiny part of a very large continent.

a few memories..

 the Overland train across South Australia
and views of The Grampians

as the miles rolled by.

making wine ...thank you!

a tree that once housed a man, his wife and

where they bore and raised 16 children.

faith and fortitude in the 1850s in a very

rural australia.

one sheep shearer watching another compete.

I had the pleasure of meeting a few.

It was a great day.

a kangaroo along the road

a cat I fell in love with

an amazing evening
at Paris Cat Jazz Club with guest Mirko Guerrini from Florence

on tenor sax. each and every musician was exceptional.

a rock stack I left in a hot but beautiful

preserve

the most amazing head of hair

at Circa Vintage

back country

a happy swim at the Melbourne Zoo

parting shot....

one laid back kangaroo.

thanks for the ride Australia!

riding the rails

stepping on a train in the morning for a day's journey across

southeast Australia to new digs.

I wish I could give a proper photo

but you get the gyst until I can provide my own.

of sea and sheep

a walk in the country first thing in the morning

followed by a trip down to the Southern Ocean in Goolwa,

for those of you with an interest in Australian geography,

where I happily popped my toes into the surf.

there is an amazing walkway all the way around

the edge of the sea from Goolwa,

(with it's rocky beauty

reminding of the rugged coastline of

my beloved New England)

to Victor Harbor which is to the very left in this view.

there was a sweet beach where just two

seagulls took to the beach

reminding me of my own beloved.

the walkway along bore the marks of decades of weather

since it's construction in 1949.

a heart burst forth.

my camera is not able to capture the colors of the sea which

ranged from aqua to a deep indigo. absolutely magnificent place.

another day I spent at an agricultural show

and found myself in the shearing barn most of the afternoon

watching the competitions.

 the ladies and gents wait their turn

at the whir of the shears.

there were two types of competition. One was

4 people simultaneously shearing 5 sheep
 each in the fastest time.

there were different levels from novice to pro.

the gent on the left was the announcer and

was most entertaining. you can see the

clock running for the overall time. 

The second division was speed shearing and one

shearer at a time would shear from quickest time

against his competitors.

This fellow, Shannon Warnest, who took the pro

division with a shear time under 45 seconds.
all good fun.

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