here in melbourne

 before i left the north country

 we were waiting for

 or just enduring more

winter.

today, my second day in melbourne

i am wearing shorts and sandals

my legs protesting and very pinky pale

and my mind a bit weird

from jetlag.

 leaving ottawa

 and the great white north

 i traveled

 to the big chicago

 over lake michigan

 and again into the air to the city

las angeles

for a ridiculous nine hour layover

 i did find a spot of grass and some trees

(amidst dreadful cacaphony)

 and a plane headed to china

 this is my first siting some 15 plus hours later

of australia

 enveloped in a haze of smoke

 from extensive wildfires.

when we landed i could smell it--

 and in melbourne there was

the little shop of horrors

 or flowers

 meanwhile,

back at the ranch

 the indigo was beaten

 by the strong arms of

naomi

 who cares for this stew 

of blue

and, incidentally, me, too!

 outside beautiful silks

where i'm teaching

 are some things i like very much

old texts, and in the sky

today

rain.

anticipation

 precipitation 

anticipation

cogitation

agitation

 crow

 snow

 blows

 vision

shifts

lifts

glimpse

through

 steps 

moves

brakes

sees

hurry up and wait

getting ready to travel

this week

to OZ

goodbye, hello

moving

every morning and afternoon i drive

through amish farmland.

one morning

this week i was astonished to see four

frisky and heavy horses hauling…

a cabin.

 as i approached

 (i was trying to keep my camera

out of sight)

another team wheeled in

behind with whatever 

goes in this shed/cabin/shop.

i put my camera down, 

drove slowly and carefully on the shoulder 

past this procession of 

horse and man power

and waved and was greeted in return.

7:30 and cold, before the storm.

three walks, so far

i'm finally getting some walks in

and i sleep better

 thankfully.

 and each walk has had gifts

even sundogs (i remembered, arija!)

 but before i left yesterday i found

where this one is going

 it's found a hidey hole

under the little back deck

 not a good thing because i know

that come spring

it will be pungent with fewmets.

they saw me first

but then i saw this.

and then, well

today a big snow came down!

 so this morning
they seem to be sinking
but the snow was
instead coming, then blowing, 
blowing still tonight.

long absence (for me!)

i haven't left town, 

not yet,

but will in a week and a half

for oz.

first stop: beautiful silks

and a very exciting class

on making our own cartographic explorations

contained inside

artists' books!

three days of intense play

serious play*, in fact

i can hardly wait!

 i have reluctantly pulled myself away

from the printing on silk

 seen here

 and here

and morojifu

moons

 and winter sunrises keep calling

 to me-get all your ducks in order!

those ducks include 

a list long enough, 

too long, actually

here's an amish farmhouse i pass

ten times a week

on the way to work.

 and the ladies fly by

 but i had to stop

full stop

to photograph them in blizzard dress

one morning last week

on the way to school.
after melbourne, it's on to the grampians.
(should you wish to join me,
check out the events button.)

*serious play is a term coined by my dear friend
carol j blinn of warwick press.

over at the new place 

it was cold outdoors

but 

thick walls and woodstove kept things cozy inside

there was a little 

happy dance in the clouds

at sunset

and those porcupine trails?

they multiplied

many times

but the wind came up

and blew them all away.

a cold wind, 

but warmer temperatures than we've had lately.

a little sweet present

came in today's mail

even the outer packaging

was washi.