traveling is not for babies 2: australia

 incredibly beautiful, isn't it?  and so close to home - an hour's drive away.  whenever i've been far from the mountains of western north carolina, whenever i come back home again after having been to other magnificent places in this big wide world, i take a good long look at the landscape surrounding me and cannot believe what a blessing it is to live deep in the middle of where i've landed.  it brings such a deep, soothing peace to look, and smell, and touch the immediate world of mine; it brings great peace, and calm. can you see me there, an integral part of the ground where i stand?  i am a part of the water, in the rock, that rests beneath the sky.  i am all of this; the world is in me, the universe is as well.  trying to express this is sometimes difficult; the notion can overwhelm.  but, here you are with me, looking and feeling and even experiencing a little of what i see.  at least, i think you are.  i think you can; i'll give it my best attempts, anyway. 

 

so i take you from here, beautiful here
and here 
to magnificent there: i can't seem to find a big enough pocket of time to begin sharing with you all of the many, many magical moments i experienced in july, halfway 'round the world.  i tried to start, two weeks ago, when i wrote a post and worked on the words and the photographs for nearly six hours - then my lefthand pinky finger, i think, hit a button it wasn't supposed to hit, and all was lost, in spite of efforts to have saved it as i went along.  i remember that happening once, a decade ago, when i worked and worked and worked on writing a poem that was meant to go with an art piece i had titled "The Book of Trees".  poof.  gone.  i sat there, stunned, and began to head into that sickening spiral of despair, when i realized what a waste of time that would be, and wrote the poem again while it was still rather fresh in my mind.  i always think, when i've lost something like this - written words, photographs - that the work had been some of my best.  of course it was:  it was gone.  a ridiculous thought that i've tried to remember whenever this happens again (as it inevitably does).but for now, i will tease you with this, a view from my cottage that i had all on my own (picture kangaroos standing there in the grass, under the moonlight, standing silently there with their shadows, staring up at me, insignificant me), see? i walked out into the early morning and saw this and this, soft this and back again, first thing in the morning, to this it was a wonderful place to call home for a few days, there in the middle of the australian bush.  

 
 
all light was beautiful, in this place, from early morning 'til dusk and on into the night. 

 
the light was other worldly, needless to say.

(karen hardie, dear one, these are for you; and jacky, they dropped off, i swear xo). 
(and i'm adding here, after a couple of you have inquired, that this is a Silver Princess variation of the Gungurru Eucalyptus, which blooms from autumn through winter in western australia; you can go here to see a wide variety of the dr. suess-like blossoms of this region).

monday, i'll be sharing with you some of the light-filled faces of my many friends in western australia; if it weren't for them, i'd never have had such a magical time...i'll also be showing some new "intention" pendants with an "onward" theme, perhaps as esarly as this weekend.  stay tuned.  xo 

Comments

[julie]

incredible, all of it. x

[Tina in McLeansville]

so glorious it is! what a wonderful escape for you, a much needed chance to breathe. i am eagerly anticipating the rest of it. :) tickle your toes in that cold mountain water this weekend! hugs..xo

[Lori Burek]

Glad to hear from you. You can see the magic in places you live and visit -- how blessed you are! Thank you for sharing them with us. I am so in awe of the memories, sights, smells, tastes of your travels. Please tell me more -- it brings peace into my day and life. Hugs....Lori B.

[vickie long]

Wow! Thanks for that bit of peace, calm and beauty. Although I enjoy the bit of city landscape upon which my own home sits, it surely is nothing like that which surrounds you and of which you are a part. And thanks for perhaps a much-needed reminder for us to rejoice in our own bits of space, and for sharing your travels. You are divine!
Vickie in KC

[Martha]

What is that plant?

So glad you are back and talking again. You were missed.

[Mary G.]

Beautiful places. Beautiful pictures. I loved the kitchen and that plant with the pink coming out of the pod. Yeah, what IS that??

[gayle]

Hello ...you.....yes you in the water...
in the rock.....it's me.....me....
waving and smiling back at you!!

[kathryn]

such beautiful photos of both home and Australia!! Which is at the top of my bucket list!

[sandy]

oh...this post and these pictures are wonderful!

I see you. %-)

[susan]

Such an amazing post, Nina. I savored each and every photo (and of course, your precious words). I love the crazy flower - wish we could grow it here.
Thanks so much for sharing.

xo dusan

[shannon]

love.
thank you.

[erin]

i've been anxiously awaiting your return....i'm so glad you're back and sharing those beautiful moments from home and down under.

[Wendy]

Thanks for all the lovely pictures.... also good to see sweet Walter.

[Diana B]

Sounds like you had a fabulous time in a fabulous place, although I'm sure you (and Walter) are happy to be in your fabulous corner of N.C. again, too. Welcome home, Nina.

[Judy H.]

Wonderful setting! Wonderful blossoms. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Cheri]

Beautiful, as always. Could you share with us more about the place you stayed? Is it available for booking? I want to go there! And welcome home.

[Monica]

wow...what more is there to say after all that beauty??

Maybe - "more PLEASE!" ;)

[delila]

that cottage and the surroundings of it are all magical. seeing wonderful cottages always makes me dream and wish one for myself. So many people are travelling to see the views you are seeing in North Carolina. i can not wait to see your new pendants...

[beccajo]

WOW those pictures (as always) are amazing. i love that tassel-y flower and i want to make a necklace like that.... thank you for sharing!!!

[sue]

Sometimes you have to go away to realise the beauty that is on your doorstep ;-)

Thank you for finding the time to share your beautiful pictures and words...looking forward to the next instalment! xo

[missy]

it is difficult to put into words.....we are all part of it,all connected....yard,town,country,earth,
universe.....you did just fine. Thanks as always for sharing.
missy from the bayou

[lilylovekin]

Thank you for having the patience to re-write and reload the story and photos of your travels. It was with great pleasure that I poured over them, several times. We live in a beautiful world.

[Vickie]

yay! extraordinary beauty you share, this really sparkled my day, arigato!

[mary]

Simply breathtaking. What gorgeousness has been placed on this earth. Thank you for capturing some of it.

[jacky]

the beautiful cottage Nina stayed in can be rented look on www.banksiasprings.com and the lovely Geoff will look after you. Lovely photo's Nina love the gum flower

[Jen Crossley]

Glad you had another amazing trip to Oz.Your photos are beautiful

[Valerianna]

Beautiful post... here and there. The THERE blooms are quite something - so unfamiliar to New England trees...

[Emily]

So much beauty to behold! I would never want to leave!
Glad you are home safe.

[Mary]

Stunning photos and post.