♥ ♥ ♥

Oh man. This sickness is just having a field day with my poor body. It's been keeping me awake all night, though I feel at a complete loss to find any energy during the day. In an attempt to truly exhaust myself and spend some of this manic energy that miraculously appears around 1 AM each night, I went for a little walk around the gardens last night. And let me tell you, I couldn't have been more grateful for the cool breeze that blew in and chilled me enough that this new jumper was necessary. It may have just been my feverish brain doing this logic, as everyone was looking at me agog in this get-up when I left the house, and people on the street were sweating away in shorts, tanks and dresses, but oh well. This hoodie, embroidered with the logo of our holiday house in the Adirondacks, is just one of the wonderful gifts in a never ending supply arriving regularly from my dad (and loving family in New York and New Jersey). I've received all my favorite snacks and an ample stock of Cholula (you San Diegans just imagine living without that classic. Really, close your eyes and try to realize how bland life is without it), the Sunday comics (a somewhat sacred weekend ritual), silly mementos, and wonderful souvenirs from all over the world thanks to my mom and her constant travels. Not that this love wasn't apparent while I was in close proximity to everyone back home, but it really hits hard when you see the care and thought that go into collecting these things, packing them up and sending them off to the other side of the globe. So. THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart.

summer sounds

Been feeling down in the dumps the last few days with a terrible summer cold/flu/plague/whatever. But even in the darkest moments and seemingly endless sleepless nights, there's always wonderful music to listen to. This is just a taste of what I've been playing lately, and it's pretty darn random. Keeping my fingers crossed that you're all happy and healthy and enjoying your own good tunes, whatever they may be.                    


                                             

ciao!

Timothy is back in Daylesford for a while (and brought his lovely girlfriend Elisa along)! We couldn't be happier. And the beautiful old cars parked in town couldn't have asked for a better set of models to show off their charms. Happy day!

there will be better

Last night I went on a really horrible date. Truly bad. (No, I don't want to call all your friends and leave silly messages for them in my goofy accent. Besides, we totally don't talk like that in SD. Like, peace out, brah.) But the walk home was great. Had the main drag of town all to myself, the window displays of the shops were looking extra charming, town hall looked rather majestic, and I may have used the whole street to pretend like I was starring in an old school musical. Dancing your way home in the dark? The night was not a total loss.

weekly poetry

Out of the rolling ocean the crowd

Out of the rolling ocean the crowd came a drop gently to me,

Whispering, I love you, before long I die,

I have travell’d a long way merely to look on you to touch you,

For I could not die till I once look’d on you,

For I fear’d I might afterward lose you.

Now we have met, we have look’d, we are safe,

Return in peace to the ocean my love,

I too am part of that ocean, my love, we are not so much separated,

Behold the great rondure, the cohesion of all, how perfect!

But as for me, for you, the irresistible sea is to separate us,

As for an hour carrying us diverse, yet cannot carry us diverse forever;

Be not impatient – a little space – know you I salute the air, the ocean and the land,

Every day at sundown for your dear sake, my love.

-Walt Whitman

sick day soup

Yum! Woke up feeling sinus-y and threatened with the hint of a sore throat, and just threw together this super simple recipe for dinner. Something warm, spicy, and comforting was just the ticket. Adapted (to have a LOT more spice and no tofu) once again from one of my favorite cooks, Heidi Swanson, this was just the thing to get me back in the kitchen. It's been a strange last few weeks, and haven't really felt up to cooking much of anything. Feel like this simple, delicious soup got me back in the groove finally. And it should be just right for cold winter nights in the northern hemisphere!

To warm your cockles and fill your kitchen with a heavenly aroma, you'll need:

2 zucchini, cut into 1 inch thick chunks
1 large potato, unpeeled, cut into small cubes
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, diced
4 tablespoons olive oil
.25 cup red Thai curry paste
1 15-oz can coconut milk
4 cups vegetable stock or water

-Stir the olive oil and curry paste together in a large pot over medium-high heat
-Add the onion and cook until just tender, then add zucchini and potato, stirring around for 5-10 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender
-Throw in the garlic, then add coconut milk and stock/water. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and gently simmer for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender


That's it! Easy, right? Hope you try it and like it as much I did. And that this finds you perfectly healthy!

natural wonders

A whole lot of detritus off a tree in town

Moss growing thick on a tree in the gardens

Extra frilly daisies filling a neighbor's yard

The most adorable road warning sign down by the lake

lovely day

The sun is shining, there's a cool breeze, and the house is filled with the smell of peach biscuits baking in the oven. Been in a funk lately, and starting to shake it off. Went for a coffee in the cafe in the botanical gardens, then was sitting outside with our dog when one of the gardeners approached. He was offering water for Shadow (the dog), and we just started talking. About the gardens, fishing, the best way to prepare and cook eel, random stuff. And then he let me in the begonia greenhouse. Gorgeous! It's kept locked up, and I've been eyeing it curiously every time I walk by. So being let in to have a wander was a little dream come true. Though Jock said the flowers weren't at their finest yet, they looked just stunning to me. He even cut one off and handed it over, telling me to put it in water and savor it for a few weeks. So now I've got a pretty little bit of color on my desk. And an open invitation to hang out in the gardens with my new friend. A great way to start the week.

wilson's promontory

Road trip part two. After our time on Phillip Island, we drove to Foster, a small town just outside Wilson's Promontory. We had booked units through a hostel, and they turned out to be self-contained apartments, all fitted with kitchens and laundry! The only complaint- we didn't all have 70s themed outfits to fit the decor! But really, the accommodation and the town were just lovely. Really reinforced the idea that I want to settle in a small town someday. And as for Wilson's Promontory-continental Australia's southern most point-it was gorgeous. We visited just two sites there, Tidal River and Squeaky Beach, but definitely feel like I experienced something unique and beautiful and grand. Tidal River flows down to the ocean, and it was great fun watching kids catch the tide and head downstream to the waves. After a while there, we picked up and walked to Squeaky Beach. As evidenced in my posts about our last trip, you'll know I was in paradise walking on the tree-covered path with the soundtrack of crashing waves. And then the beach came into view. White sand, huge boulders, just breath-taking. Reminded me of a jumble of parts of beaches in Hawaii, California and New England. Spent many happy hours playing in the surf with the kids, and though the rip tides were fiercely strong and didn't allow for too much venturing out, we joyfully body-surfed and just let ourselves be tossed around like rag dolls. It was the perfect last day to our holiday, couldn't have asked for more.

Love seeing the variety of colorful birds in Australia

The beach at Tidal River from above

Happy day with my favorite girls

Squeaky Beach!

After our time at the beach, we headed to the campgrounds to try and spot a wombat. Apparently they're so used to living in close quarters with humans that they wander freely around and even sneak into tents to steal food! After some patient waiting by one's hole, half of our group came bounding back saying one just walked by. We all hurried over, and my goodness, it was adorable! One major Australia bucket list item checked off!

And then it ran away under a camper for some privacy

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road trip!

In the spirit of taking full advantage of the school holidays, we were only home for three days before taking off on another vacation. This time it was our family along with two others in a giant van, driving first to Phillip Island (a little beach paradise) and then to Wilson's Promontory, continental Australia's southern most point. On our way from Melbourne to Phillip Island, we stopped at the Royal Australian Gardens, had a stroll, then soldiered on to the house we rented. And it was amazing. Two stories, fourteen beds, a huge games room downstairs, big lounge room and balcony upstairs, and a nice lawn out back just right for tossing a ball around. At just about two kilometers out of town, it was also perfect for leisurely walk to shops, cafes, pubs, and the beach. A bunch of us girls moseyed down there one morning, and spent hours popping in and out of whatever shops caught our eye, which included one truly extraordinary vintage shop selling everything from a carefully curated collection of clothing and accessories, to books, records, housewares, you name it. Then it was straight to the beach for some sun and saltwater. Lovely. The next day was another lazy one spent on the beach, then in the evening we had a little picnic before going to see the penguin parade. Unfortunately pictures weren't allowed, but if you look this phenomena up, you'll be able to get a sense of how surreal it was. Sitting in grandstands on the beach, under a clear blue sky studded with stars, just listening to the waves and seagulls and anxiously waiting for the little penguins to appear. And then suddenly you see one, two, a whole bunch! Riding the surf in, taking a few tentative steps up the sand, waiting for a greater group to gather, then all of them waddling up the beach and onto the dunes to their nests. Incredibly cute and just beautiful. Love this example of eco-tourism. More on the rest of the trip later, otherwise this will turn into a novella!

LOVED this water feature at the gardens

The girls took in a view of the water

While Caroline and the boys looked for creatures

Giordi and Benson made their own fossil

Welcome to our billiards room/pingpong parlor/games room/theater/library!

To the water!

Sarah found this strange skeleton

With delicate, bead-like vertebrae

All us adults

Perfect picnic fare

Miranda and a very tame seagull

Good thing they warned us, because we did see a few penguins in the parking lot on our way out! Too cute!