Christmas moments

the days before and after christmas 2012

filled with light and love and celebration and good company

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but the beauty and simplicity of this time with friends and family is truthful

thankyou to y’all for sharing this special time

Spirit of Tasmania







Melbourne to Devonport express…

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Reacquainted myself with all day nausea like in pregnancy
Wandered decks and corridors
Have thanks for white bedecked bunks
Played ball with a vest
Had hilarity visit while taking care of
12 apples
1 box strawberries

1 peach

1kg apricots

 
3 avocadoes
1 broccoli
1 zucchini
4 carrots
2 bunch asparagus
So as not to lose beautiful organic produce to a quarantine bin

Lily was dedicated to the task

 

Happy to get feet on soil
Lily was a trooper
Cedar was a sleeper
Jesse was an adventurer
Mama was a smuggler (organic garlic plait from dear friends, sorry Tasmania)
Arriving was waving
Driving was exploring
Stopping was adoring
Made instant friends
Lucked out with the location
Sunset was expanding
Seashore was restoring
Nothing to do but snoring…

phew

our next chapter has begun

xxx

Waking up to…

Waking up to a full day.
I have a few drafts of interesting thoughtful wordy posts, yet they will have to wait as here and now I am wiped out by the heat of the day, the long hours on a blazing highway (sydney to Melbourne) the crisp golden tortured landscape, glaring light and engine buzz, cranky hot kids and it’s just been one of those long travel days.
It’s forecast to be 43’c tomorrow so we have tried to position ourselves close to Melbourne so a little morning drive completes the trip. I will be putting wet tea towels in the fridge to cool us…
This day began so cool in Jugiong with a chill wind, deep shade and a patch of thick grass for stretching, I had a great session, so inspired by my days at mangrove yoga centre last week. Finding it has strengthened my ability to focus quietly inwards despite external distraction. Simply connecting with my own breath and being.
then Jesse was joined by Cedar who mimics our postures!

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Cutie boy had his second hair cut last night by his own insistence and was coyly hiding behind his big leaf for his portrait, also at his request…

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I had a sweet date with the two shorts at the cafe but the shots are on the other camera…
Anyway there was
Lots of kilometers …
Lots of gold, parched slopes…
Little water, yet lush willows are squatting down in dry gully’s so it must be wet sometimes…
Jesse and I are both revelling in the feelings such an expanse of vivid sky reveals…
He reminds me I originally wanted to call this blog ‘ under open skies’ which was evocative and original i thought, but turned out to be a famous song and used by various others for a myriad of causes already. Boo.

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And some swimming gratefully in man made lakes and then finally a halt is called and we spill outside as the sun finally lowers its invasive glare for the eve. Phew we survived.
This land is so crunchy underfoot , the fire hazard is extreme. I hope the rains come before any burning disaster.
Lily is showing a new found appreciation for food and commented today was a great eating day how do we do it mama?
Muesli
Eggs and sourdough toast with tomato compote( cafe)
Nori rolls with all the trimmings
Cherries and lychees
More sourdough loaf with goats cheese pesto and salad.
Mm simple and tasty and no cooking for me today! Yay!
What do you feed yourselves when in transit?

And then I was so tickled by the beauty of the suns departure tonight!
I rarely see it set over lake water and tonight it really shimmered so peachily and peacefully
Ah sweet relief as the day cools
We are at lake nillahcootie, not an official camp spot but it seems quiet enough for an overnight stay.
Oh bed I love you! And I’m loving the new wool stuffed pillows I chose as our family Christmas gift!

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Goodnight
Xx
Ps my blogging/boggling may not be chronological or consistent for a while as I adjust to being a traveling lady again and work within the bounds of technology and time on the road, I do a lot of imaginary blogging on busy days so I hope you enjoy those as much as I’ve enjoyed composing the words and stories which you may never get to read…

the law of des glaneuses

pink cloverin the field

under the gaze of the mountains

the beauty of the mountains

in the deep verdant grass and flowers

lies our stinky bounty

the treasure we hunt

with joy and exclamations of success

the biggest clove ever woody

there in the garlic field

after the harvesters have been

and tirelessly pulled tonnes of perfect garlic heads

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we are free to forage

delightful abundance

food for free

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following the legal art of gleaning in France

as our french guests have enightened me

we gather

a years supply of pungent organic garlic

grown 300m from where we sleep

blessed are we

more paper bag uses

when hands are put to work

and a little effort and a group of willing children

it’s fun for us all

and then a mad dash home hysterical

high on garlic fumes

the rain chasing us

thankyou to the growers abundance!thankyou to the growers who water mulch weed harvest and share this beautiful crop

xxx

Shaye, Lee and Wala

I spent a few delightful hours with Shaye and Lee and Wala after the Mullum Music festival

and spontaneously took some joyful photos of them together!

a musical genious with an excellent array of jokes

{that’s why we’re all smiling}

an inspired and inspirational artist

and the cutest little cheeky pixie

thankyou beautifuls

i look forward to coming to your rainbow house one dayIMG_4403 IMG_4409 IMG_4418 IMG_4419 IMG_4421 IMG_4426 IMG_4427 IMG_4434 IMG_4441 IMG_4444 IMG_4447 IMG_4449 IMG_4462 IMG_4484

Mullumbimby community gardens

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amidst the forest of edible green

little hands and big hands alike are foraging

a tomato wrapped in sweet basil

and popped and spurted between sharp teeeth

a joyous exploration of tasting leaves and  petals

pure vitality and nourishment

flavours piquant and bright

a chile which made me cry

a haven of play for my tired little ones

a carpet of lush green to flop onto in mama exhaustion

a quiet place for us to be together

nurtured by vibrant life

the rustle and whisper of food growing

glorious food

abundant food for all!

gratitude

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i’ve said it before and i will happily say it again and again

Mullumbimby Community gardens are fantastic

and if you can go there you are sure to be inspired

and feel happy simply by being with all the good growth

and feel connected with the ladybirds and the caterpillars

and come away well fed body and soul…

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