Saturday, February 15, 2014

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.

18 comments:

  1. Day One was amazing and wonderful and exciting and inspiring! We went windfalling after dinner and have much vegetation to play with tomorrow :)

    Hope the jetlag is easing: it's a vile feeling.

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  2. felicity, you all were great! and me, i AM feeling better and not so, well, weird. back in my body again, i think. i have a little surprise or two to share with you all and we are going to work HARD tomorrow.

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  3. I'm so envious! Have a fantastic time in Australia. I hear to get to meet some of my favorite people while you're there - Fiona and Barry. Tell them hi for me. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

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  4. jennifer, it is really and truly summer here, though it's quite a bit milder than it's been. yes, i'm excited…meeting old friends and new ones, too. it's grand to be in this fun city. but even better to hear of the variety of book and textile work that my students are up to, that and what they bring to this big, lively, messy table! lucky me!

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  5. Hope you are enjoying summer.. we are getting yet another snow storm. Buried now, wonder what shorts and sandals feel like, funny how I forget!! Have a great, inspiring time!!

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  6. and I will be there tonight. Yay
    When will Fiona be there? I would love to finally meet up with her.
    x te

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  7. Am so jealous that Fiona and Barry are getting to meet you this evening! Thrilled for them though and am sure it will be a happy meeting of like minds. Enjoy. I have just come back from Tassie and their fires, flew into Melbourne to connect with the flight to QLD and could see all the massive fire fronts ..... the smoke of which has shrouded us up here on the Sunshine Coast the last few days. Quite a contrast from the snow pics in your posting! Such is our world. have fun in Melbourne x

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  8. valerie, it looks like i missed another snow day in the north country! take care--
    trace, damn, i missed you tonight, but will see you tomorrow?
    susan, i just sent them on their way--and they are so terrific! lucky you to have them closeby. i smelled that smoke as soon as we hit the tarmac at the airport. so huge!

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  9. valerie, it looks like i missed another snow day in the north country! take care--
    trace, damn, i missed you tonight, but will see you tomorrow?
    susan, i just sent them on their way--and they are so terrific! lucky you to have them closeby. i smelled that smoke as soon as we hit the tarmac at the airport. so huge!

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  10. Ray Hoo for Oz and you! (Next time: plan the 9 hour layover for Chicago, not LA - I am just three el stops away from O'Hare!)
    XO!

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  11. you made it!!!! so excited for you to have a respite from this winter. be well and enjoy!

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  12. yes, aimee, i did and it's amazing here in summer!

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  13. you'll have a 2 summer year! we'll haqve to get a name for that ;)

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  14. neki, to make up for the hard winter, perhaps?!

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  15. Hi its 24 degrees bring me some good sun so I can get a good tan




    see you next week sierra

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  16. Oh.. the shock of leaving he cold for the heat here Velma!

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  17. sophie, it was a huge shock, but i got used to it quickly!

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