from the beginning:

how does one begin to write about such an odys- sey, an adventure of epic proportions?  in the words of author anne lamott (or, to be more precise,those of her dad), i'll do it "bird by bird".  or picture by picture, face by face, heart by story by word.

allow me to introduce you to a sweetheart of a friend, robyn longeley.  when i first met robyn, she had traveled all the way to cortona, italy, along with jacky mcfarland, to take my workshop back in the fall of 2006.  robyn was there in perth last year, and this year there at the airport in perth the morning i flew in (after having been en route for a good 36 hours).  after taking care of lost luggage concerns (is it possible for me to make a trip without it being lost?), we hit the road and drove south 3 1/2 hours to the margaret river wine region, where we stayed for two nights at this lovely cottage in the coastal town of dunsborough.

from there, the next morning, we headed down to various spots (all of them gorgeous) along the southwestern australia coastline.  i don't even know how to go about choosing the photos to share with you; i'm stymied by this, but do not want to get so bogged down that i end up not sharing at all.

imagine a country that is beautiful around each twist and turn in the road.  imagine flora far different than anything you've seen (or maybe you have, i don't know, but what i saw was out of my world), and birdcall that sounded like a scene from tarzan or peewee's big adventure, maybe, or something completely unnamed.  for two days robyn and i traveled and drove/rode the back roads over hills, around bends, past dead (alas) kangaroos and quite a few real ones hopping along as if they didn't notice the oncoming cars (hence, the dead ones, i suppose) or most likely did not care.  this was their country before we came along, and i'd like to think it still is.  so would they.

through it all, i faithfully, diligently maintained an art journal, something that became my beloved constant companion - a touchstone from home, a reminder of the who and where, the why.  before i left, i selfishly asked misty if she would be able to find the time to constuct one for me - from scratch; i can't believe now that i asked (but am ever so glad that i did), and i'll never know how she managed to scrape together the hours to complete the gorgeous cover and background pages for me in spite of her time at asilomar so soon after the swirl of artfest.  thank you, thank you misty, for doing this for me (i'll be sharing shots of the journal here and there throughout my upcoming posts).  the photo below is of the first pages being completed as i sat at the cottage table on the coast while robyn mapped out our itinerary.

 

all too soon, it was time to head to bansia lodge outside of dwellingup, the beautiful rural setting where my weeklong book of trees workshop was to be held.  we arrived in the dark of night - and believe me, out in the bush, dark is dark, and back dirt roads were not particularly well marked for the lodge.  robyn and i walked into the house where the rest of the gals were already gathered with wine and cheese, and we enjoyed telling stories of what we'd seen and done.   goodness.  i realize how much i've already left out... here below is simon, the lovely lovely young man we met in the karri forest (full of tall, tall eucalyptus trees, blue wrens - yes, blue - black cockatiels, and many other birds that we called on simon to identify).  i neglected to tell you how the air there in the old forest smelled of rich, loamy things, of water and air and moist shadows.  how the birdsong seemed to echo.  how it all felt like an other worldly dream.  and let me show you the beautiful rocky coastline of cape leeuwin, the most southwesterly tip of the continent of australia; it is here that the great indian and southern oceans collide.  i have to say, i felt quite noble, standing where such grand waters meet and join as one.

i woke up the next morning to new and beautful sights, things i'd not seen when we'd wearily arrived in the dark of the previous evening.  autumn leaves on trees were vibrantin rich color; grass was as green as what i left in the springtime mountains of home; heavy dew made all things brightly shimmer and shine in the early morning sun.

 

with cup of treasured lapsong souchong in hand, i sat myself down at a table handhewn from a solid slab of jarrah from the bush, and wrote another page in my sturdy, silent companion.  and that, my friends, is where i'll leave you until the story continues...xx

Comments

[jamie j]

My God what an Experience! The Pictures are truly Amazing and the Stories too. You certainly are Loved all over this Small World, How Lucky are you.. So glad to see you posting and sharing... Have a Wonderful Weekend, Jamie

[Cindy Ericsson]

Love these faces and all the sights you've shared here. I'm imagining the smells and the sounds you describe. I'm off to bed now, but I wonder what dreams I'll have after reading this?

[nancyk]

omg, i gotta get me arse to australia and new zealand and i gotta have a journal from misty too!!!
rest dear nina, take care of your self and tell us more and more and more.
xxx0x0x0x0x0xxxx00000x00xx0x nk

[wanda miller]

you make my heart smile, nina. love wanda

[nita from red tin heart]

Nina, you write with such amazing detail and clarity, that I am constantly learning from you how to write better.
Your adventures enthrall me. I am so excited just to read them.
It was so nice of Misty to make the journal for you. It is gorgeous.
xoxo Nita

[Jen Crossley]

Oh Nina what wonderful photos and I love the way words just flow from you with such ease to make it such a pleasure to read
Jen

[Jo]

Beautiful words, beautiful images and a beautiful shot of the gorgeous Robyn.
Your words make me yearn to return to that little lodge nestled in the bush. One day there with all of you certainly was not enough.
I can remember as I pulled on to that dirt track, just past the saw mill. I had to turn my stereo down and open up all the windows of the car, so that the spirit of the bush could enfold all my senses.
It was glorious!
Love you,
Jo xo

[Sam Marshall]

Your photos are fabulous! Looks like you had a blast!!!!

[Jacky]

Thanks for sharing these wonderful images and experiences with us Nina in your own very special way!
I love reading your blog and seeing all of your wonderful photos... what treasures from your trip down under.

[liz elayne]

beautiful. i am so glad you soaked it all up and are sharing it here. so glad you kept your art journal. i feel like i am curled up with a cup of tea listening to your words...

much love,
liz

[kim]

wow, i cannot wait until the your next post-chapter in this story!!
such beautiful pictures to go along with your beautiful words....
love from good manor
xoxox

[kim]

wow, i cannot wait until the your next post-chapter in this story!!
such beautiful pictures to go along with your beautiful words....
love from good manor
xoxox

[Joei]

Ahhhh, Nina...such lovely words and pictures from such a lovely adventure. You always seem to call the best to you. I hope to travel to the Oz East Coast in May to visit my son. You've wet my appetite.
So glad you had such a wonderful time.

Joei
Rhode Island

[leslie]

This is the best bedtime story ever, except I am reading it first thing in the morning with my hot coffee. I feel like a kid listening to a Saturday morning radio story, and anticipating the next episode greatly!Can I win a Misty journal if I send in enough tops from tubes of acrylic paint?
Or maybe just as when I was a kid, I'll make my own because thats the way I can have one too!
Thank you Nina, you are a delight.
Leslie

[Patricia Eaton]

Nina, Once again, my breath has been taken by your photos and words. My favorite photos of this post (and gosh who could REALLY choose?) are the sun's rays coming through those trees, I know as you sat working on your journal (heavenly!). And, then, your hand resting on the journal. Your friend was dear to make it for your use and all the lovely people taking you around are dear for doing so. Travel well, my friend, we here are with you all the way. Pat at birdnestontheground

[carol]

beautiful adventure.

[misty]

it only seemed right that you have a piece of my heart to carry with you, as i always do from you. xo

i love the canal rocks photo so much as all of your photos & words...more, please. xoxo

[Judy Wise]

Your posts are always good but this one knocked my socks off. Gorgeous, inspiring, heart-warming. You show us all how to see into the heart of each moment.

[Tina in McLeansville]

Oh Nina B.....Methinks thou hast been blessed about as much as one could possibly be blessed. What a grand, grand adventure you've had. Thanks for taking all of us with you in pictures!

[Cindy Dean]

I knew that when you got back from your trip that it would be like reading a novel. You know the ones that you read late into the night until you can't keep your eyes open any longer but you just have to find out what happened on the next page? Well I am anxiously awaiting the next page...

[Tina]

How wonderful to peek in and find not one but two posts since last I'd visited you here. Your journal is beautiful and I'm thrilled to read you'll be

[Tina]

hmm... I'm not sure what happened to my post. I'm thrilled to read you'll be sharing more of your journal. Take care dear.

[Loretta]

FAIRYLAND! Thank you for taking me along so to speak to such a gorgeous place. I am lusting after your artjournal and hoping you will publish it. Glad you're home - you've been missed!

[Marilyn]

What a lovely adventure! Thanks for sharing - I'm eager for more!

[Vicki in MIchigan]

Wow. I feel very privileged to share a taste of your journey. Your generosity is much appreciated!!!!

ps -- you could not *possibly* put up too many pics........ or too many dreamy evocative words......

[Penny]

Scrumptious!!!! Welcome Home!!!

[Sandy]

What a thrill to read and view your adventure! Nina, thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward to more from your journal
pages...

Thanks again. Sandy

[Chris Meissner]

Breathtakingly fabulous!

[samm]

mmmm, hello!!!!
magpies "warble".... isn't that the perfect description of their beautiful song? I woke this morning to hear mrs magpie warbling from high - i instantly thought of you! so nice that you are home, well at least home'ish!
xoxox

[Mandi]

I am glad you liked the south west ...we have a home in Denmark and hope to return one day soon to live...during our breaks down there the magpies bang on the glass door in the mornings knowing well that I will give them our last evenings leftovers...they are so comical...

[Mandi]

I am glad you liked the south west ...we have a home in Denmark and hope to return one day soon to live...during our breaks down there the magpies bang on the glass door in the mornings knowing well that I will give them our last evenings leftovers...they are so comical...

[Michelle]

So glad you made it home safe. It is wonderful to read your feelings on my homeland - made me feel proud and homesick! It is so obvious from your words, and more importantly your tone, that you had one of those life-changing travel experiences where you just felt like the whole world opened up for you and you opened up to the world and you learnt so much. The sort of experience that stays with you, where in the weeks and months to come you will suddenly remember something else from the trip that you had forgotten until then and you will be transported back to that place, smell, feeling, taste.

I anxiously await your further tales from Down Under!!

[Julie H]

Oh Nina, how I love seeing my world through your eyes, and sharing the view. Now I know that I would love your part of the world because we are seeing with the same heart. Hugs

[robruhn]

Ours certainly is a wonderful country and your words and photos convey it to the world better than most. I'm very lucky to have seen your journal in the flesh, it's a magnificent work of art, a compilation of your and Misty's talents, something to treasure forever.
Ro
xo

[Isabel]

When I was sixteen and my brother was seven, I used to lie in bed with him at night and tell him stories I made up about Ze Tontinho- a character I invented and who traveled our country from north to south experiencing in a funny way all the exciting places, museums, and people our Portugal had to offer. To this day we both still remember how, at the style of the Brazillian soap operas we saw on Portuguese TV then, I always ended Ze Tontinho's adventure of the night in the middle of something truly exciting. My brother, always impatient, kept asking me "What happened next? Please. Tell me. Please.", and I, always a big teaser, always said "Do not miss the next episode!"
Today, sitting a my desk reading your last two magical entries, I felt exactly like my brother when he was seven.
What happened next Nina? Please. Tell us. Please!
Welcome home my dear friend! I missed your voice singing in our hearts.

[Megan P]

you can't stop there Nina - reading about your experiences is like a book you can't put down. You have found beauty in many of the things we take for granted. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Mx

[Shirley]

Hi Nina~

I feel today like a sailor's wife. One who stayed at home and now is privy to all the tales of the adventures in beautiful, romantic, faraway lands.

Can hardly wait for the next installment. Soon, please!

Journey safely back home to us.
xo,Sassi
PS Can't decide which I LOVE most...the gorgeous pictures or the writing.

[Ursula C]

What fabulous photos and your words are so picturesque, you capture the beauty and emotion wonderfully. I look forward to the next installment. Ux

[natalya]

wow...i want to be you when grow up...

[Vickie]

How awesome! What more can one say? Am so looking forward to hearing all the parts and pieces of the rest of your adventure.

[Candace]

OMG... Nina, thank you so much for this incredible post of this Nina's Big Adventure. The photos are simply wonderful. As one person already said, Faerieland!

And the 'roos, the kangaroos, the birds, and the shore, the art journal... sigh.
Thank you again.

Candy

[Carole]

Thank you for sharing Australia with us. I hope to visit one day. Your pictures will help tide me over until I can.

[tess1960]

Simply put...breathtaking!! I can't thank you enough for sharing and giving me a glimpse of this wonderful place I probably will never tread in person. Again, breathtaking!!