CATCHING UP

It's been a busy few weeks amidst a long heat wave 
Today seems to be a little cooler 
but I won't hold my breath 
since every day has turned into a scorcher

The storm that didn't...

Bella and Digby are relishing a cooler morning
Diggers doesn't particularly enjoy the heat

This week, I worked hard getting commissions ready 
for fumigation before shipping them out 
across the world to two different continents
It's a good feeling knowing my totems 
are travelling to countries I long to visit. 

 Packed for fumigation

When it's too hot to work I have a good excuse to catch up with my reading 

Wild by Cheryl Strayed,  Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale,  West with the Night by Beryl Markham,  Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. Click to read reviews.

... a little journaling 

.... and endless discussions about wedding plans with the bride-to-be

 Wedding chapel at iNsingizi

It's a relief that we've booked the venue
the photographers
the cake
the dj

..... and that's as far as we've got
but it's a start

 View from the chapel deck

Inside the chapel

A beautiful setting for a wedding

It's going to be a busy year!

ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAINS

"Do you know what I need? To escape to the mountains, surrounded by tall trees, I will lay on the moss, and breath in the scent of mushrooms, flowers and wet soil."  --  Lyrics by Les Discrets

.... and that is exactly what we did
We escaped to the mountains for four wondrous days

Wherever we went
through forests 
or up mountain slopes
we could hear water
gurgling
baboons barking
sharp warnings
that we were approaching

The baboon population seems to have increased since we were there last.

Some spent time on the roof
Others foraged the grass for snacks
in the hotel gardens.
We watched babies doing somersaults 
on the lawn outside our room
I'm convinced they were showing off 
because we were watching them.

I was thrilled that I managed to photograph the Bee Eaters before they flew off, though this image is far better.

The Poet Dreams of the Mountain 

Sometimes I grow weary of the days, with all their fits and starts.
I want to climb some old gray mountains, slowly, taking
The rest of my lifetime to do it, resting often, sleeping
Under the pines or, above them, on unclothed rocks.
I want to see how many stars are still in the sky
That we have smothered for years now, a century at least.
I want to look back at everything, forgiving it all,
And peaceful, knowing the last thing there is to know.
All the urgency! Not what the earth is about!
How silent the trees, their poetry being of themselves only.
I want to take slow steps, and think appropriate thoughts.
In ten thousand years, maybe, a piece of the mountain will fall.

-- Mary Oliver

"But I'll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you'll come to understand that you're connected to everything'"  --  Alan Watts

I take a photo of this dam every time we go. It is always so peaceful and a soothing introduction to our holiday. 

YOUR OWN WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS

Inner Journey by Robyn Gordon

"In order to accomplish an experience, you have to have a chance to dance with it. You have to have a chance to play, to explore. Then each style of exploration that takes place is a different manifestation, we could say. Nevertheless, it is all part of one big game." -- Chogyam Trungpa

It's a good feeling to be surrounded by my totems again. 
Just before the big clean-up, 
I was sitting quietly
trying to trace back to a time when I didn't feel
that something was missing from my art practice
and it dawned on me 
that I was no longer surrounded by my own art. 
I've been setting my totems free too soon 
and feeling empty without them.

Stillness by Robyn Gordon

There are now three completed pieces watching over me, 
a work in progress nestles on the workbench

and the missing spark has returned.

"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences."  -- Brian Eno

Party Girl by Robyn Gordon

When I met my muse  by William Stafford

I glanced at her and took my glasses
off -- they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. "I am your own
way of looking at things", she said. "When 
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation." And I took her hand.

Inner Journey by Robyn Gordon


" .... and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own." 
-- Mary Oliver (from The Journey, here)

"Do you keep your creative work close enough? Is it always available? Keep it so close that when you turn around you run right into it!"  -  Eric Maisel

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

My daughter enjoying the view on top of the Sphinx.

Most people have one or two special places that feed the soul and the Drakensberg mountains of KwaZulu Natal is "my" place. This is where I feel most at peace......balanced.... and inspired.

We have just spent three blissful days at Champagne Castle, one of the most beautiful parts of the Drakensberg and though I could always do with a little more time away I am feeling rejuvenated.

Every day was perfect. 
Long walks along paths scattered with pine needles, 
wending our way up through the forests ....

across streams.....

stopping periodically to drink the purest crystal clear water.....

photographing all manner of mushrooms and funghi ....

.... out of the forest to push through waist high grass and wild flowers

Wild dagga, leonotis leonorus. Read more here.

marveling over the Bushman paintings that we have seen many times before but never tire of seeing again.

Still climbing ....... the clouds come and go.


Lucky enough to see a mountain rescue exercise .....

The noise was deafening for a while but silence soon returned,
broken only by the bark of a baboon and a sudden swish of grass as a
grey Duiker burst from cover.

On top of the world at last. Well, almost :-)


Back to the hotel in time for tea


....and a little retail therapy at a roadside stall.

"It is an act of worship to sit and look at high mountains." - Sir Edmund Hillary

SUNDAY MEANDERING IN THE MIDLANDS

The Elves and the Shoemaker by Peter Hall

Early Sunday morning my daughter and I set off for a girls day out in the countryside. The Midlands Meander is an arts and craft route that we follow at least 4 times a year and we decided to do some much needed christmas shopping while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery. First stop was Piggly Wiggly where we sat plotting our route over a cappuccino.

The Elves and the Shoemaker by Peter Hall

We re-visited this enchanting sculpture by local artist Peter Hall. It is situated in the gardens of Ground Cover, a shop selling handcrafted leather footware.

Zulu Lulu, a delightful little shop selling beautifully crafted ceramics, many of which are whimsically wonderful pieces like these "Fisherman" collectables.

"The Fisherman" (Photograph from the Midlands Meander Brochure).

"Meanderers" were out in droves enjoying one of the first sunny days in weeks . Wherever we went there were animals and birds soaking up the sun. I think they sensed it would be raining again before the end of the day.

Here come the clouds!

It warms my heart to see Long Crested Eagles perched near the roadside (See him at the top of the telephone pole?) and on Sunday we saw at least eight at different locations, silently watching the veldt for tiny scurrying movements.

At this point we decided to head for home to beat the storm.

This is my last post for 2009 so have a joyful holiday season ....don't eat too much ..... and I will see you next year. To all my friends who visit my blog ....followers, commenters and silent visitors, Thank You!