Monday, March 28, 2016

distance seeing

naomi and i spotted them from a distance
but they seemed familiar
something like adventure based counseling
or new games
perhaps,
or...
they were playing soccer
sort of
after listening to the intricacies of football, footie, baseball, rugby, soccer (shudder)
netball...
my mind just couldn't grasp it all.
the park was generous and lovely, game fields galore,
when these guys appeared on the horizon,
then up close.
they were an odd metaphor for me:
how this trip has been,
supported by hope and kindnesses
and buffeted by crowds and crazy weather
and unexpected caring.
hugs and closeness and good conversations.
i kept my eyes open, mostly
and was happily surprised time and time again.
sometimes you have to be 
deep in 
before you see
that it's going to be all right.
worth it.
even better, making
and keeping 
friends.
celebrating them.
(thinking particularly of two: frankie and will)
coming home late 
after too many hours pining away on an airplane
or running like mad in airports
(mostly the dread LAX)
i am home, rested some
and ready to go back to work
for the final weeks... months of teaching.
may a soft bubble be there for you when you need it.
 adventures are wonderful
cominghome is, too.
weather report: 
last night at the place i call home
i heard a half dozen woodcock
robins 
peepers
singing down the night.
with great good cheer.
welcome home.

Monday, March 21, 2016

last workshop

out my window i had SUCH a view!
 my hosts run a garden gallery
where this goat resides.
i would indeed take him home if i could!
 the outside part of the shop
 all part of the winrergarden in geelong
 my class liked prepping papers for kami-ito
 they used the last of the mitsumata 
and mulberry papers i brought with me
and thoroughly enjoyed the ink sticks and walnut and kakishibu
 some looms were built
 beryl, my matriarch, 80 years young
worked long and hard
and was a delight.
 my hostess gillian
tidied up and ready to prep her papers.
 more papers with wonderful patterning
the experimenter kerrie!
 a finished weft-faced square of shifu
 i couldn't resist the purple!
 out back of the art center where the geelong class was held
(and thank you embroider's guild)
were these.
geelong was a big wool export site back in the day
as my students would say.
these relics i would also like to have 
at home. 
home is calling me, and i have this week in melbourne
time with friends
the distinct possibility of some very good ice cream
and hopefully fish and chips
and good conversations and fun and peacefulness
on my spring break
before i enter the great bird
for the long trip
back to my sweet north country.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

sensual stimulation

from baskets
libraries
books in homes
boats on beaches

beach huts
with words
and words

beach bench with words
beach sailers
to
the otways.
spotted: road killed kangaroos, koalas, snakes, wallabies on the trip
live: kangaroos, wallaby, scorpion, crickets, many amazing birds...
but mostly dead gums
koalas in overabundance
nature unbalanced.
visiting a textile class
felt
a nifty detail
a practice leaf.
students and their work:
students modeling work


three alchemistresses wearing/preforming a dress for three


beach rock
rocks
beach textile: it felt so unlike seaweed
and so textilish
big water
kangaroo apples
beach away
view from my bed in the otways

pulp cook
up and down
making marks with saltbush and paint
stitching
ocean calming
my toes faced antarctica
the other way
entering my last week here.
another workshop, and some time in melbourne
and then the plane.

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