vol. 10:
The Earth trembles as we leave
(Australia, Summer 2019)
Off to the races
// 72nd St Station, New York City
// photo credit b August
// pour credit Dash
// pop supplied by United
// photo credit b August
// The Sky
Rob: come pick us up; we’ve landed.
// photo b August
// Tullamarine, Melbourne, Australia
Only tipping necessary at Aussie cafes
// photo credit b August
// pour by Dash
Tucked away in Eastland, at TGI Fridays where even on a Tuesday it’s always Friday, our server Tara // an apparition in how the how ;;
Ginni’s garden ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
New friends ;;
// photo credit [solo kookaburra] b August
// Yarra River, Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Yarra River, Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
// Cocoa Moon Cafe
// Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
Sometimes, despite all vows of fidelity, your husband will, on some cursed occassion, bring you the wrong coffee order.
// Cocoa Moon Cafe
// Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
Though it appears perfectly harmless, the little armadillo can be a viscious creature.
// From b’s box of memories
// created between scenes of Picture of Dorian Gray (2010)
// photo credit b August
// Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
To make b happy, take him to Box Hill, sit him across from Raf, fill him with boxes and boxes of dumplings ;;
// Photo credit b August
// Dumpling Specialist
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
Around the back is Ginni’s garden // every spot you look another precious thing, another storied object
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Wannabe garden gnomes ;;
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Last we saw Tim, he worked here ;;
// photo credit [coffee, f***ch toast] b August
// Hutch & Co, Lilydale, VIC, Australia
26 July 2019
From Grandma Ginni…
Across the sea with a long way between you and me. But know little one that I bless your soul. You are carried and born in this world with care and joy and given as a great gift to your parents to be.
You are now and will continue to be very precious to me and those who surround you with love.
Visiting Grandma Beryl we spot James, Jeremy, and Isabella and John, Kate, Margaret, and Ginni – separated by two generations and a flush of color. Later, as we’re leaving, Mig turns to b&me // This is what this place looked like // when your mum was born here.
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Watson’s Creek, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Dark Horse Cafe
// Watson’s Creek, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Dark Horse Cafe
// Watson’s Creek, VIC, Australia
There is a place on Earth where the cheese is like you’ve never tasted ;; they make it just through there and ;; for a moment everything is alright
// Yarra Valley Dairy
// Yering, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August [dash]
// Yarra Valley Dairy
// Yering, VIC, Australia
Does the walrus in your mum’s garden have a name? // That’s a good question for my mum. She’s got a few stories about that walrus. // And the swamp creature? // We don’t talk about the creature from deepdwellers. ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
You should ask Ginni about the Furphy in the garden ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Tim mimicks the master ;;
// photo credit b August
// Yarra Valley Grand Hotel
// Yarra Glen, VIC, Australia
You should ask your bartender about the Furphy on the wall ;;
// photo credit b August
// Yarra Valley Grand Hotel
// Yarra Glen, VIC, Australia
The Chapel where Rob’s service was held is now a French cafe ;;
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Last time I was here was for // a funeral! // Great ambiance both occassions. // x.
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Pear Pistaccio Tops // Mango Passionfruit Delice
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Croydon, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Croydon, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August [sign, dash and summer]
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit Margaret Banks
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August (b & summer selfies)
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
The apparition of this wing in the cloud ;;
// photo credit b August
// The Sky
// photo credit b August
// The Sky
// photo credit b August
// Eastland, Ringwood, VIC, Australia
Sometimes, a few times a day really, we’ll be struck by a thought // a certain slant of light
Kelsi’s pregnant ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
A river can give a city its
very soul, and yet I know
from travelling the country
and visiting many cities
built on rivers that we have
largely forgotten that they
are sources of spirituality…
People who live in cities
blessed with this kind of
water need access to the
river, to draw its nurturing
spirit into their hearts…
Spending time by a river
teaches us many things,
one of them the flow of
life, its constant movement,
and its clear that an
enchanted life demands
an appreciation of this flow.
// River by Thomas Moore
// Yarra River, Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [the happy couple, dash] b August
// Yarra River, Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// The Bakery
// Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Cocoa Moon Cafe
// Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
Lamingtons
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup castor sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- chocolate icing
- dessicated coconut
Method
Beat butter and sugar til creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time and beat well. Add vanilla and half sifted flour and baking powder. Mix and add milk and reamining flour and third egg. Mix til smooth.
Place in well greased lamington tin and bake 30 minutes in slow heat.
Cut into small squares. Spear squares on carving fork. Dip in chocolate icing, strain and toss in dessicated coconut.
// From Ginni’s Cook Book
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
We’ve been through boxes&boxes of childhood, uncovering every birthday card for twenty years, and there with them cassete tapes – stories voiced by Katharine Hepburn
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
In every garden, no matter the size, even a garden of quite a young age, if you know where to look you’ll find them, the gardians of the garden, those keepers of small things ;; just where you left it // everything stays ;;
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Here’s Hiroki and a very high ISO
// photo credit b August
// Parkdale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Hutch & Co, Warrandyte, VIC, Australia
Gugelhopf
This is my mother’s recipe.
Mix 5 egg yolks, 250g sugar, 125g warm (not hot) butter, 50g grated almonds (almond slivers, chips?), grated rind 1/2 lemon, 350g SR flour, 1 cup warm milk. Stir till dough is smooth. Beat 5 egg whites till stiff and mix in. Turn into greased gugelhopf form. Bake in moderate oven about 45 minutes.
Ingrid.
// From Ginni’s Cook Book
Apparently I’ve never seen the Yarra Valley, so Mig and Grandma Beryl take us for a drive – up high so we can look down – to Watson’s Creek.
// photo credit b August
// Yarra Valley, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August [with dash]
// Watson’s Creek, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Dark Horse Cafe
// Watson’s Creek, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Yarra Valley, VIC, Australia
// Yarra Valley Dairy
// Yering, VIC, Australia
Our own little round of Heaven ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
To Keep Your Flowers Fresh
- 1 liter just warm water
- 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
- small tsp vinegar
- small tsp household bleach
Fill vases with this. Make enough to top up every day // Dept of Ag Leaflet
// From Ginni’s Cook Book
At long last, he’s here: the man in the mist ;; Timothy ;;
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Yarra Valley Grand Hotel
// Yarra Glen, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// L’Auberge
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Croydon, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
Kangaroo Attack!!
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
The strategy is to breed a population of devils without the face cancer ;; interbreed between different zoos to keep the gene pool diverse, release a few into wild&healthy populations ;; they’ve got a vaccine that works partially so we wait // until the vaccine is perfect or ;; the wild population dies out
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// Healesville Sanctuary
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Badger Creek
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Badger Creek
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
Here’s hoping this place is remains “not so trendy”.
// photo credit b August
// Bom Gusto
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
In Central Park, Ginni’s pregnant with Tristan, so that’d be 1986 ;;
As each photo is scanned, we get a little bit closer ;; shake the dust ;; let a little more light into each cranny. For some this is a lightening, others a load.
// photo credit [Ginni] b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
// Tremont, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
// Tremont, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
// Tremont, VIC, Australia
Rob says, I hope you didn’t build Lord of the Fries up too much // Oh, I definitely did, for six years ;; ready to get my disappointing fast food on!
// photo credit b August
// Lord of the Fries
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
Definitely looked better in my dreams ;;
// Lord of the Fries
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Badger Creek
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [kookaburra] b August
// Healesville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
The last we saw Tasman, on his birthday eve, he was younger than we’ll ever see him again ;;
// photo credit b August
// Dumpling Specialist
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
I’ve never really done photography, says Ginni // as we feed the eight thousandth photo into the scanner ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
This is us on Thursday, August 1, 2019. We recreated this photo ourselves! Just after Kelsi told us the results of her bloodwork. 1 + a bit months pregnant!
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Do not attempt to resist;;
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
Went to Olinda ;; all I got was proof that the French are fake friends.
// photo credit b August
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
// Tremont, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (1000 Steps)
// Tremont, VIC, Australia
For some reason, last time we were in Oz, b&i failed to get Lord of the Fries ;; here we are after the 1000 Steps en route finally after six years
// photo credit b August
// Lord of the Fries
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lord of the Fries
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [trio] b August
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
a boy && his scone
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
A rare process shot ;;
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit Emily Murray
// Park Orchards, VIC, Australia
Roast courtesy of Mig <3
// photo credit b August
// Ringwood, VIC, Australia
It’s 1 a.m. and someone’s knocking
at sleep’s old, battered door – and who
could it be but this boy I love,
caling for me to come out, into
the buckthorn field of being awake –
and so I go, finding him there
no longer talking – but now crying
and crying, wanting to be held;
but shhh, what did you want to show
that couldn’t wait until the morning?
Was it the moon – beacuase I see it:
the first good bead on a one-bead string;
was it the quiet – because I owned it,
once – but found I wanted more.
// The Night Watch by Niall Campbell
Every Saturday ;; parking lots around your local Bunnings fill with the aroma of onions blooming into something you can snag between bread // You should have seen b’s face when he got one ;; heard Ginni’s instance that we bring some back for her to reheat.
// photo credit b August
// Bunnings
// Chirnside Park, VIC, Australia
// The Farm Cafe at the Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// The Farm Cafe at the Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
More amazed than anything
I took the perfectly black
stillborn kitten
with the one large eye
in the center of its small forehead
from the house cat’s bed
and buried it in a field
behind the house.
I suppose I could have given
it to a museum,
I could have called
the local newspaper.
But instead I took it out into the field
and opened the earth
and put it back
saying, it was real,
saying, life is infinitely inventive,
saying, what other amazements
lie in the dark seed of the earth, yes,
I think I did right to go out alone
and give it back peacefully, and cover the place
with the reckless blossoms of weeds.
// The Kitten by Mary Oliver
// Melbourne CBD, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Hosier Lane, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
// [some from Hosier Lane]
// Melbourne CBD, VIC, Australia
a boy && his cone
// photo credit [flavors, foreground cone] b August
// Windsor, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Always be sure to spoon your husband ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Eastland
// Ringwood, VIC, Australia
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall ;;
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Children took these photos
// photo credit [angled] x Murray
// photo credit [head on] s Murray
// Park Orchards, VIC, Australia
// photo credit x Murray
// Park Orchards, VIC, Australia
// Ringwood, VIC, Australia
I never thought Michiko would come back
after she died. But if she did, I knew
it would be as a lady in a long white dress.
It is strange that she has returned
as somebody’s dalmation. I meet
the man walking her on a leash
almost every week. He says good morning
and I stoop down to calm her. He said
once that she was never like that with
other people. Sometimes she is tethered
on their lawn when I go by. If nobody
is around, I sit on the grass. When she
finally quiets, she puts her head in my lap
and we watch each other’s eyes as I whisper
in her soft ears. She cares nothing about
the mystery. She likes it best when
I touch her head and tell her small
things about my days and our friends.
That makes her happy the way it always did.
Don’t stop // keep going ;;
// photo credit b August
// The Farm Cafe at the Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// The Farm Cafe at the Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Collingwood Children’s Farm
// Collingwood, VIC, Australia
two earthquakes precede the death
of the famous poet like a struck drum.
widely read & beloved by most &
widely derided by those who wished
they’d sold more books—in one poem
she buries a one-eyed cat in the earth
& writes—she thought she’d give it back—
i read her to children who wanted to die
& in those moments they wanted to die
a little less. what more could a poem
possibly offer us? the ground trembles
when she leaves.
// Mary Oliver by Sam Sax
Salt shining behind its glass cylinder.
Milk in a blue bowl. The yellow linoleum.
The cat stretching her black body from the pillow.
The way she makes her curvaceous
response to the small, kind gesture.
Then laps the bowl clean.
Then wants to go out into the world
where she leaps lightly and for no apparent reason
across the lawn,
then sits, perfectly still, in the grass.
I watch her a little while, thinking:
what more could I do with wild words?
I stand in the cold kitchen, bowing down to her.
I stand in the cold kitchen, everything wonderful around me.
// Morning by Mary Oliver
// photo credit b August
// Melbourne CBD, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Melbourne CBD, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Federation Square
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Federation Square remains flat but all at angles ;;
// photo credit b August
// Federation Square
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Melbourne CBD, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Federation Square
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Pancakes
Sift together:
- 2 teacups plain flour
- 1 tbsp self raising flour
- 1 level dessert spoon sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 teacup dried skim milk powder
Mix well together
Add 3 eggs
Stir while slowly pouring in sufficient water to make desired consistency.
// From Ginni’s Cook Book
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [b and Beryl] b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Hardware Lane
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
This is apparently very aussie behavior ;;
// photo credit b August
// Olinda, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// Ormond College
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Parkville, VIC, Australia
// Hardware Lane
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [dash back&front] b August
// Melbourne, VIC, Australia
The whole family ;;
// photo credit b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
// photo credit [dash, raf&aleth] b August
// Mount Dandenong, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Sherbrooke Forest, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
August? I don’t know her.
// photo credit b August
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// Peninsula Hot Springs
// Fingal, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
Not your mother’s paella ;;
// From Ginni’s Cook Book
// photo credit [dash, Tim, Tristan] b August
// Lilydale, VIC, Australia
Last night in Oz and what a crowd to fall in with ;;
// photo credit b August
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
Back in NJ ;; there’s a box in the woods left by eight-year-old Charlie and her mom, for keeping quiet things ;;
// Hartshorne Woods
// Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
Brian I love
you I am so
excited for this
2nd chance we’re
about to receive
<3
// Hartshorne Park
// Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
A local explains the bush to us
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mount Martha, VIC, Australia
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
// photo credit b August
// Peninsula Hot Springs
// Fingal, VIC, Australia
// photo credit Raf SW
// Peninsula Hot Springs
// Fingal, VIC, Australia
A local warns us about the bush
// Mornington, VIC, Australia
At the end of the evening, b went up to the manager ;; told her // he’d been coming here for ten years // lives in New York now // no where else holds a candle
// photo credit b August
// Dumpling Specialist
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
Through an inconspicuous door, up narrow stairs between two shops, past windows with the blinds drawn, windows on a wall which does not face the outside ;; there is a secret dessert && game parlor, with durian ice cream and grass jelly
// photo credit b August
// Box Hill, VIC, Australia
One (1) of us is more excited than the other about the fact that the domestic leg of our journey is flapping out to be longer than the international.
Grateful for daddylong legs friends scuttling
across the path which winds its way
through trees growing in sandy soil and for
all the quiet things which standas stewards
of this place how they chatter and grow
and click upon themselves when the wind
rises it stops us in our tracks and in our
lives with so much (needed) space for stillness
// Hartshorne Woods
// Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
