Christmas 2022: Driving through the long avenues of huge gums in the early evening, amongst shafts of light as if in the nave of a huge cathedral, reminding me that life has been a journey through tree lined avenues, and will no doubt continue to be so. And this avenue has no end! (on Beach … Continue reading Life as a Tree-lined Avenue
Category: Posts
PODOCARPUS Elatus
Podocarpus elatus: known as the plum pine, or Illawarra plum, a species of Podocarpus endemic to the east coast of Australia, (NSW & Qld.); a medium to large evergreen tree growing to 30–36 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. Wikipedia For our Christmas Tree this year we have a Podocarpus-in-a-Pot, decorated with … Continue reading PODOCARPUS Elatus
early sunlight greeting
first thing one mid-August morning ... one of the lovely things about living in a forest clearing, as we do, is to be greeted each morning by the earliest rays of sun’s daily journey striking tree trunks and bouncing off leaves, from the low angle at which its light enters our day, adding a unique … Continue reading early sunlight greeting
The Unimagined and Ongoing Consequences of the Things We Do
Unimagined sequelae and their ongoing-ness. Let me share my experience with John Taverners music, “The Protecting Veil”, a piece of music to which I responded with poetry, as I was moved more deeply with each listening. And then there was the occasion on which it literally stopped me in my tracks, as I realised that … Continue reading The Unimagined and Ongoing Consequences of the Things We Do
‘CURIOSITY’ versus ‘JUDGEMENT’
"Should-be-ness" versus "is-ness" What curiosity enables in us. Curiosity, or inquisitiveness, allows us to be comfortable with the vastness of human experience. I take this expression from Michael’s feedback on his interviews of his parents, in which he wished to learn from each separately what were their timelines before they became a couple. He noted … Continue reading ‘CURIOSITY’ versus ‘JUDGEMENT’
‘Fairy-lights’ before Easter
Thursday April 14 2022: Breakfast on our North-East veranda We face east-north-east, so we are in the early morning sunlight for breakfast. It rained last night. The trees of our forest are decorated with water-drops. As we look out towards them, the sun catches each one. They sparkle. That part of the forest twinkles. Just … Continue reading ‘Fairy-lights’ before Easter
On remembering departed ones
For remembranceI do not to the graveside goRather look within and around – To those parts of me nowthat are because of who they wereTo that part of me that is from experience we share And to the things we shared togetherOrchids and iris in flowerKookaburras in gum trees Of love, picnics and journeys,well cooked … Continue reading On remembering departed ones
Pondside morning coffee after summer rain:
We are currently in a weather pattern known for producing wet summers. It is indeed proving to be so, with 120mm so far this month and the household water tanks full. With this much rain over the last month, the whole forest has become denser with new growth. Sitting by the pond for morning coffee, … Continue reading Pondside morning coffee after summer rain:
a new year greeting
on Seven Mile Beach, early, 1 January 2022 Sitting on the beach in dawn light On this spinning planet, eyes toward horizon Earth rotates into a new day, a new year Clouds transform its arrival into spectacle An extended sunrise for another year Shared with friends who have also dropped by Grateful for this gift … Continue reading a new year greeting
Awe in the morning through a long lens:
Each morning, it is such a delight to be welcomed to the day by a chorus of birdsong, particularly our resident magpies, kookaburras, butcher birds, and magpie larks, and to sit on the veranda with an early morning cup of tea. It is also nice to have a small camera with a neat telephoto capacity … Continue reading Awe in the morning through a long lens:
Jottings, Reflections and Ponderings 