hello, friends. i have no photos this time, and am keeping things brief: i write this from halfway around the world, on the west side of beautiful, rugged australia, and am simply sending out a note to tell you that my heart continues to beat... that there is so much incredible beauty to this vast wide world of ours... that hearts are BIG down here, and dear, and i feel so very loved. i've seen wonderful things, felt an enormous range of emotion. life is such a jolt - and when i see that golden light of the "magic hour", just before the sun dips down below the hills, behind the eucalyptus trees, just as it pours across the surface of the world in front of me and bathes me, my hands, my face with that rich, rich honey light, it is then that i know most of all that i am Alive with a capital A. imagine these things: kangaroos standing in the shadows of moonlight just beyond my cottage door, echoing laughter of kookaburras at dawn and into twilight, morning mist rising from ponds and through twisted wisteria wintered vines, glowing coals within a woodburning stove... familiar smiles in a now-familiar land, the southern cross high in the indigo early evening sky, pale white gum tree bark, tan and black woods that are called the Bush. the smell of a peppermint tree's leaves crushed between finger and thumb. the smell of wood smoke in the cold. a cup of tea made from rain.
picture all of that. it's true. i'm living these things, and they are real. i've gathered them, i hold them, i will remember everything.
there is beloved australia tonight, and tomorrow in daylight, for me. tomorrow night, i fly into the stars and farther back down, on to my treasured new zealand. more wonders are waiting there, for me, yes! for me.
through all of this, i do ache and pine for the love of my mother, my boys, my pup, my home, my sweet guardian angel. the flickering lights of firefly road will be there without me, as summer begins to slow down. i can pine, and live life Big, if i squint my eyes hard and imagine my heart beating as it does in all these many places.
thank you, beautiful women and men of down under. thank you for allowing me to feel all things, thank you for loving me, for showing me the tenderness of far away friends. thank you for laughing and for creating and for stirring the coals. their warmth, in the heart of winter, is a welcome and wonderful thing. xo
I'm imagining you there, and it warms me. I can't imagine anyone being with you and not enveloping you with caring and love and sweet friendship. You are such a beautiful person. Have the best of times in New Zealand, you lucky girl!
Posted by: Katie | July 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM
It was SO nice to wake up and read your beautiful post about the honey light. Safe travels. I'm missing you. Lorrie
Posted by: lilylovekin | July 17, 2011 at 10:23 AM
beautiful...wish i was there .
xxoo
Posted by: kathy dorfer | July 17, 2011 at 10:52 AM
safe travels dear friend ....
l i g a - love, infinite grace, abundance
Posted by: Kathy Van Kleeck | July 17, 2011 at 11:17 AM
sounds dreamy....safe journeys.......
missy from the bayou
Posted by: missy | July 17, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Who needs photos. You've painted the vision in my mind. Thank you. It's wonderful to hear from you.
Posted by: sandra | July 17, 2011 at 01:32 PM
thank you for the beautiful picture i now have in my mind and for the calm it brings. so glad you are enjoying life in the far away....fill your heart to overflowing! sending love and hugs...xoxo
Posted by: Tina in McLeansville | July 17, 2011 at 01:50 PM
Say hello to my NZ half when you get there :)
Love to you on your travels...
Posted by: Rima | July 17, 2011 at 02:50 PM
world is full of magical things... your moments Nina sound precious. your note made me think to slow down, let go of the stress i have had almost all this summer. yesterday i planted many flowers which will flower in autumn, all i want at this moment that summer would stay longer, that i could breath in more the magical moments of this summer.
love.
Posted by: delila | July 17, 2011 at 03:16 PM
You are Loved! wishing you the best time in such beautiful lands...........
Posted by: Linda | July 17, 2011 at 04:35 PM
So happy that you love my country Nina and that you will carry those beautiful memories with you across the ocean. Have fun in NZ!
Posted by: Patti | July 17, 2011 at 04:42 PM
Welcome back Nina. So sorry I didn't get to catch up with you on this visit. Enjoy your stay and have a wonderful time in NZ.
Posted by: Robruhn@ozemail.com.au | July 17, 2011 at 05:19 PM
smiling out loud!
Posted by: Vickie | July 17, 2011 at 05:34 PM
You go, Estrella Nina!
Posted by: Barbara | July 17, 2011 at 07:10 PM
So happy to hear that all is well in your world, Nina. Enjoy the journey. And keep safe.
Thank you for this special post.
xo dusan
Posted by: susan | July 17, 2011 at 07:57 PM
I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself in such a beautiful place among welcoming, loving people. You will be back home soon enough. Thank you for such a wonderful description.
Posted by: Mary G. | July 17, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Your eloquence, as always, astounds me. Safe travels.
Posted by: Amy | July 17, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Oh it sounds so golden, Nina!
Posted by: Judy Merrill-Smith | July 17, 2011 at 11:35 PM
You make what we take for granted sound so magical.
Next time swing by Sydney. Mx
Posted by: Megan | July 17, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Welcome to New Zealand dear Nina! I can't wait to go through the door in the fence to Wendy's next door and give you a GREAT BIG HUG and love you to bits!
Ailsa
Posted by: Ailsa Willis | July 18, 2011 at 02:36 AM
goosebumps on my skin and tears in my eyes, yes Nina, that is to be ALIVE! Safe passage to new zealand.
Posted by: emris | July 18, 2011 at 05:15 AM
I wish you a wonderful time over there!
Posted by: Stefanie | July 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM
Wow! What beautiful images - I will keep them in my mind today. Now off to New Zealand! What a trip it must be!Have fun and soak life in!!!
Hugs to you! Lori B.
Posted by: Lori Burek | July 18, 2011 at 08:35 AM
I envy you there in a beautiful place I can only dream about. So lovely of you to share what you see and feel and touch and smell....
thank you
Posted by: Laura | July 18, 2011 at 09:26 AM
We are all there with you dear friend, tucked safely in your pocket, your guardian watching over us all.... Traveling babies. Have a glorious adventure but know that we wait for you here at home as well.
Posted by: sally | July 18, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Love, love, love your post! And I can see your photos in my imagination :-)
Take care, have fun, be your beautiful self and share the moon. xo
Posted by: sue | July 18, 2011 at 06:28 PM
It sounds magical Nina. Safe travels.
Posted by: Seth | July 18, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Oh,how wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. It's good to hear your joy, the reminder of all the joy there is in life.
Posted by: Ann | July 18, 2011 at 08:13 PM
wow...
continue to immerse and enjoy all the magic Nina! =-)
Posted by: Monica | July 19, 2011 at 12:08 AM
We have a pretty amazing country here, do we not? I complain about it now and then (mostly because it's too hot and not England) but I will happily concede that it is a highly unique and beautiful continent.
Have fun in NZ!
Posted by: Penny | July 19, 2011 at 05:13 AM
kangaroos standing in the shadows of moonlight...pretty damn cool. xo
Posted by: julie | July 19, 2011 at 10:28 AM
It is truly inspiring to read the poetry of your life and travels....Live life Big, lots of love..
Posted by: Jess | July 19, 2011 at 04:59 PM
What a vision! You are blessed.
Posted by: Karen | July 19, 2011 at 07:41 PM
what a beautiful post! I want to go to Australia right now.
glad you are surrounded by love & friends and feeling so
alive.
Posted by: Bonnie | July 20, 2011 at 09:59 AM
This sounds wonderful. Soak it up and let it help you heal.
Posted by: Sharon | July 20, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Glad to see you posted! More than that, glad to see you are really, really living this wonderful life! Miss you!
Posted by: Lorraine | July 20, 2011 at 08:11 PM
Nina, you are such a beautiful spirit.
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | July 20, 2011 at 09:14 PM
You make it sound so beautiful and of course it is. I'll be there in October - can't wait!
So happy you are being loved by all those dear people.
Hugs - Mary
Posted by: Mary | July 20, 2011 at 09:38 PM
So pleased you are enjoying Australia, even if it is winter!
Posted by: Michelle Brown | July 21, 2011 at 09:28 PM
I am so glad you liked my country Nina, well a part of it, not my part but very like it. Have a lovely time in New Zealand, another part of the world I love.
I hope there are so many good memories for you to keep.
Posted by: Penny | July 23, 2011 at 01:38 AM
Beautifully written, my friend! Enjoy.
Posted by: Lee | July 23, 2011 at 06:14 AM
So happy to read that you are having such a blessed time. You deserve it!! Looking forward to seeing pics when you are able. Praying all is well back on Firefly Lane.
Carol
Posted by: Carol Soules | July 23, 2011 at 03:51 PM
~smiles~
Posted by: Sharon | July 23, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Wish I were there with you. Hurry home...we have a lot to do.
Posted by: Lesley | July 25, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Hi, Nina, I am new to your blog, but your postings really touched me. have safe travels, and enjoy New Zealand, it's beautiful here.
Posted by: Kati Markgraf | July 25, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Gorgeous post. I just plain miss you but hope you are having a wonderful time!!!! Can't wait to hear about your newest adventures. Big hugs, Lis
Posted by: Lisa B. | July 28, 2011 at 08:56 PM
thanks.
People's health is important to lead a peaceful and happy way of life. Healthy benefits of a non-human world is difficult to take delight.
Posted by: health videos | July 31, 2011 at 06:01 PM
I wish you a wonderful time over there!
Greetings from Argentina.
Posted by: Jorgelina | August 04, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Incredible post. Do you have a published book? If not, please do so in the near future. I would be the first in line to buy it.
Posted by: Valeri | August 04, 2011 at 01:38 PM