Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

38 18 7 33 37 20 40

These were the winning numbers for the lotto ticket I bought. Of the seven numbers, I had four, which entitled me to the princely sum of $20.80, which I spent on groceries for tonight's dinner.

PJ went out, so it was just Z and I sitting out on the deck eating the winnings, talking about all the wonderful comments people left to say why they are happy to be alive.


"Today I am happy to be alive because I saw a tree reflected in a heart-shaped puddle," I announced.

"I'll be the tree and you can be the puddle that holds it," Z said.

And so I was.

Friday, 15 January 2010

A Death Defying Giveaway

We have been camping the last 5 nights at Lalgambook (Mt Franklin). We have been coming home during the day to let the chooks out, replenish supplies and swim in the beautiful Lake Daylesford.

Last night we drove up the mountain late. Some friends had set up camp nearby and their kids were going to sleep just as we rocked up. It was cold and windy. We ate our dinner in the safe cocoon of the tent, while watching a movie on our laptop.

We were about three quarters of the way through the film when we heard an almighty CRACK then the terrifying sound of a tree falling. PJ and I jumped into each other's arms, as if love was going to protect our flimsy bones.

"Is everybody OK?" a voice called out. We raced out of the tent to inspect the damage: a huge branch, about a metre in diameter and 15 metres long had fallen from the tree above our heads. It missed our tents and narrowly missed our car. All the campers on the mountain came with lanterns and torches to see what had happened and to inspect the inside of the tree that had been hollowed out by white ants.

It would have been romantic to die together, squashed into the earth by a tree. But I'm much happier to be where I am today, walking in the land of the living.

To test our luck even further (and to celebrate my birthday on Monday), I have bought a lotto ticket for this Tuesday night's $30 million draw. If I win more than $100, I will divvy the winnings amongst all those who leave a comment listing one reason why you're happy to be alive today too.

Comments close Tuesday, January 19 at 5pm, Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

The giveaway is open to all residents of the world.

Winning payments will be made via PayPal only.

Bonne chance!

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Garden Bed

PJ's parents are staying with us this weekend, so we used their visit and the onset of sunny weather to have a pre-spring spring clean. We had three mattresses that were rather old and smelly so we cut them up. We used the wool from the futons as mulch along our east boundary

and when we've decided where to put this bed skeleton, we'll grow some kind of vine or cane up through it. Mmmm raspberries, maybe. Breakfast in bed??

Tuesday, 7 April 2009

Gettin' High

PJ does some physical graffiti in the bush.

Next time he might take the stairs.

From here.

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Companion Planting

Our strawberries and plum tree are in love. Like any successful relationship, they bring out the best in the other.

I had a hard, distracted day today and had a lot on my mind. I was here but not here. I was so happy to be close to the ground but felt exposed, and so thankful for my companion for providing me with shade.

Friday, 23 January 2009

Umbrella Tree

When I first saw this tree on swissmiss I thought about all the rain I couldn't stop crying over my grandmother's death.

Today I looked at it again and thought about the tree's flight in a giant gust.

Thursday, 24 July 2008

The Treehouse

Inspired by the quote on the front of the last book I just read, I asked my well-read brother-in-law if he had any books by Naomi Klein. He said he had. I went over and picked it up, though it wasn't until I was home that I noticed it wasn't a Naomi Klein book, but a Naomi Wolf - The Treehouse: Eccentric Wisdom from My Father on How to Live, Love, and See.

One of the great aspects of spending two hours a day on a commuter train is all that glorious reading time.

I say: I really enjoyed this book. After all the books I have read of late, even though I relished them, it was nice to read a more feminine, maternal book. 

As Naomi's father, Leonard, helps her build a treehouse, he hands on to her all the lessons he has taught his students during his many years as a teacher, including: "Your Only Wage Will Be Joy," "Do Nothing Without Passion," "Mistakes Are Part of the Draft."

Soppy in parts and profound in others, this book is for anyone artistic whose creativity needs a defibrillation.

Wolf says: "I believe my father’s insistence on creative freedom may be the secret to happiness. He believes that the creative act is the secret of joy and, in spite of his occasional fits of pro forma testiness, he is the happiest man I have ever known."

I say: This book was exactly what I needed. The fact that it came to me by accident seemed to add to the power of Wolf's words and her dad's lessons. I didn't find them on the page, more like they found me.

The Treehouse is a rich personal history, a meditation on fathers and daughters, a how-to guide for honoring the creative impulse, and a unique instruction in the art of happy living.