lovely melbourne

i've been in australia a few days now
staying with anne and tony
and sleeping in an eyrie
that has a hideaway 
porch, too.
 i love this little place
 a morning visitor
has not interefered
with me catching up: 
i'm no longer jet lagged (quickest adjustment yet.)
 beautiful old brick abounds
at their home
 and i like this little baby...
 their home has the perfect floor space
for rolling out
bolts of cloth
 for students at my grampians texture
master class
(master means lots more work,
right guys?)
anne shows the way the bolt's cocoon works.
 having a friend who is a kick-ass cook
means that she also knows the best places to eat!
(our neighbor took a selfie with her plate after being served)
 this salad was the world
and the chai was the best i've tasted.
these people understand food.
and:
we've been very busy 
prepping pulp and materials.
i have not one photo
of making pulp at barb's house
from which we returned
happily exhausted
after having started a small pulp fire
that fortunately damaged only her outdoor cooker
not the neighborhood.
driving home the truth
that it's hard to concentrate when you have so much
wonder to share
with dear friends.

winter?

this week was weird.
weather in the 60's
snow ALL GONE
sunny skies
rain
lightning and one very wild storm.
not your normal february.
preparing to be away from home
for almost a month is a long process


 i have lists and lists
and fortunately i've done it before
so i have some memory of the strange bits:
trip mouse traps, for example
(one reality of an old farmhouse is mouse traps)
walks were lovely this week
in between storms 
hopeful sunshine
and prep.
australia beckons and i am very excited.
at the grampians texture
i'll be teaching a 6 day master class:
papermaking, mostly.
what could be better than making paper,
kami-ito and books in the mountains?
our site often has blue fairy wrens
amongst other critters.
this year my students are old and new friends.
i've already given out assignments
mostly equipment to bring.
after australia
i have a few days to un-jet-lag
and prep for the book arts bazaar in portland maine on april 9
 i will have printed papers, handmade papers 
book arts stuff for sale
(including a book press, if i can carry the thing)
 then more events,
but as we deepen into spring here
we're planning garden
and hoop house
and papermill at the new place.
there is nothing as delicious
as your own fresh greens.