Traveling Journal

A month ago, I was boarding the plane to what feels like my third home. (My first being heaven, my second being the South, USA.) It's still in the south--as a good friend said, you can't get much souther than Melbourne...

I went to Australia to visit my good friend, Alysa, in what was their (very mild) winter-- beautiful, green, and crisp. And I found so many things to love--so many that I'm afraid I can't still name them all. I'm afraid, however, that if I don't try, I'll forget what I do remember. So here's my go of it: let's hope I don't miss anything.

• "Let me just pop that in there for you... " I love the English influence in Australia; so much more than in the U.S. Their politeness defies expectations. It's expected that you small-talk with a cashier--not something I claim to be particularly good at. After one such exchange, I asked Alysa, "Do you know her?" Of course, she didn't.
• The beach. The ocean. The shore. It's incredibly beautiful, no matter where you go and no matter what you call it.
• Fish and chips on the shore. Yes, "chips" aren't very different than French Fries in the States--but they're still better. Five Guys comes close, but not quite.
  
• The people--not only because I have such a very good friend that lives there. But also because of the other amazing folks I met--people that made it feel as if I've known them much longer than I have.
  
• Good coffee. Everywhere.
• Small towns, and the small town mindset. People bring their dogs to town and wear Wellies as if it were the most natural footwear in the world. In Australia, dogs seem to be a family-oriented sort of animal to own, even more so in the U.S.
  
• Natural-feeling heating/AC-- I doubt people are prone to freeze themselves in the summer, as they didn't roast themselves in the winter.
  (My dad's favorite seasonal words are get acclimatised, so I appreciated it.)
  
• The local, small-town shops. Every town seems to have a vast selection of family-owned, beautifully kept shops, not invaded by chains, and willing to special-order for you. The bigger towns and suburbs are the ones with the chains.
• Wool shops. And wool. and tea shops. and tea.
  
• Amazing views. Beautiful countryside.
  
• Staying with Alysa and her family--and her mum allowing me to invade her kitchen. :)
• Jokes galore. That wingey-wongey sound... :)
  
• Realizing that cooking in Australia isn't much different than cooking at home, as long as you cook from scratch.
• Aussie grocery stores... I spent some lovely time comparing U. S. to Aussie ingredients. :)
• Local open-air markets.
• Amazing meetings. Christ-centered prayer. Holy Spirit Power and Presence. The peace of God that passes all understanding. Blessings that last through the return trip to my U.S. home.
  

I didn't have enough time-- next time I go, I'll stay longer. If real, practical life were the same as my trip, I could live in Australia in a heartbeat. That is, if I could move everyone I love over with me. :)

What to Write About

I'm here to write. I've not figured out what about yet-- I've just got the urge to be here, and to to write about life. (Does this only happen to me, or does it happen to others? )

I could write about my exciting, exhausting Holiday from school, where I took two successive trips and sandwiched in Christmas at home--barely. About what an awesome and wonderful time I had hanging out with my good friend, Alyssa from Australia, and making two cheesecakes for/with those great folks from Indiana, learning I wasn't a hopeless ice skater, visiting the Creation Museum where I found the perfect gift for Noelle, and playing Message Trivia with good friends. (Alyssa ransacked us all.)

I could talk of the journey home-- the gorgeous icy drive through the mountains, stopping by the Walmart on a snowy afternoon and the successive snowball "fight"--The trip to downtown Greenville for great Thai food, my talkative and hilarious sister, Rebecca who made Alyssa and me laugh. I could mention running back up to Asheville the next day to visit Heather, then spending the evening at home making the best pizza I've ever put in my mouth. (I need to make it again.)

I could talk of Rebecca's birthday breakfast--the slow and relaxing day at home, in which we only went out to see the (flooded) church, and came home to tea and more relaxing and knitting--and not-so-relaxed packing.

I could talk of getting up the next morning at 4AM, driving to fly, flying to drive, and arriving at a camp where I knew but one other person. I could write of meeting others, meeting the Lord Jesus Christ, playing and playing and playing the piano, loving the interchange between instruments, chatting music, and playing--all for the glory of God. I could talk of how doctrinal differences don't ruin the Holy Spirit's flow--as long as I don't get in the way.

I could write about coming home--how, for the first time, a commercial plane felt slightly more like my grandad's--how my heart was glad to see the mountains--how the feeling of homeward-bound-ness and going to church that night was euphoric. I could talk of the next couple of days, where I was a couch potato, and then discovered school was looming right around the corner.

And now? I could talk of the goodness of the Lord. The strength for the days the Lord has given me, both in sickness and health, stress or not. How it's good to see my students again--even the ones that drive me a little crazy. How I admire my family, and think they're just about the best people around. How I'm thankful for the new ideas, the beautiful thoughts and the crafty stuff that collected on my Google Reader while I was absent.

Perhaps that's what I should write about.

I didn't realize just how close to home I was when I snapped this outside my plane window.

Untitled

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth



He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth the will not slumber,

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall not slumber nor sleep.



The LORD is thy keeper, the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night




The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil, he shall preserve thy soul.



The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalms 121


more pictures from this year's trip to the Smokies on my picasa

New York, New York

After my loooong sabbatical from this weblog, I'm returning with pictures from Becca's and my trip to NYC:

(I'm not going to write up this trip--though it was fabulous--
I'm supposed to be packing for another trip--!)

More photos are on my picasa site.

God Bless y'all!

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

Last year about this time...

I was scrounging around Whole Foods and Earth Fare and any other likely place for this:

I didn't find it until today, at World Market.

So, Alysa, in memory of you, I drank Bundaburg.

It's just like Red Rock, but not as hot... lol...

Miss you, my dear friend.

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

Homeward Bound...

Growing up ten minutes from the curvy roads of the SC mountains (yeah, you peeps in the northwest, go ahead and laugh) makes me a mountain girl at heart. I simply love them. So my family, in conjunction with all our loves for the mountains, go to the Smokies every year. We camp in Cades Cove, hike around, bike the loop, cook on a camp stove and by the camp fire (breakfast tastes a hundred times better outdoors), and generally have a good time. Well, a mostly good time. Sharon's right--we planned too much this year. You can see her assessment here.

So, here's my assessment:

What Worked:

• Having the whole family around. In the past, Will and Beth and the boys couldn't join us... it was great to have them along!
  
• Campsite cooking. I love cooking outside, and this year, as normal, it was tons of fun. (Of course, with a sturdy cook box, two coolers, and a decent camp stove, it's like having your own personal outdoor kitchen... )
  
• Borrowing a bike rack from a friend--and getting Daddy to adjust my gear shift, and my seat back. I now love my bike even more... lol...
  

• The bike rack was also great, since Daddy's ancient bike ended up breaking, and his homemade bike rack couldn't hold any more than three bikes at a time
  .
  
• Visiting the Little Pigeon River... so the babies could play in the shallows, and we could meet up with Ben, who'd gone fishing. He caught some beautiful rainbow trout, and he cooked them over the fire. Will was amazed at their fresh flavor. Beth was umm... amazed...by watching someone gut fish for her first time... lol!
  
  
  
  
  
  --Becca and myself with the munchkins...
  
  
  
  
• Stopping by the un-highest point in the Smokies... ! I'd always thought the overlook right off of the road was Clingman's Dome. Apparently, I've actually never been to it, since Becca noticed the sign that said "Clingman's Dome-7 miles" right after the overlook. I'll remedy that next year, though.
  
  --Becca and I pretending to hike the Appalachian Trail...
  
  
  
  
• Going to the Aquarium of the Smokies wasn't my first choice of activities. I'd been there before, and, well, that was our worst day last year. But this year, after biking the loop that morning, it was a nice reprieve. And I got some priceless pictures...
  
  
  
  
  Renee entranced.... ...and Renee as a psycedelic fairy princess...
  
  
  
• The alternate route to the Smokies, avoiding Gatlinburg. The only problem was when we happened upon a driver. from. a. flat. state. with. no. curvy. roads.
  
  
• The cool coffee house in Cherokee. I've always thought of Cherokee as a pretty red-neck tourist spot, but this place had great coffee, just when Becca and I needed it...
  
  
  

It also had a drum circle in the back, which Becca and I didn't need...lol...I guess that's where the culture comes in.

What didn't work:

• Small creatures in the middle of the night. Ditto with jokes in the middle of the night. (I'm not sure I can do anything about Daddy's snoring...) I guess I'm a light sleeper... and it takes a night for my Thermarest to fully unwind and "cush".
  
  
• Planning too much. We felt rushed.
  
  
• I'm not quite as passionate on this topic as Sharon is, but long hikes with babies are a hard thing to do. Especially if he's an EC baby--and, well... anyway...
  
  
• Not enough pictures... lol... my camera was not attached to my wrist the whole time. A lot of my pictures, I wouldn't have had without Daddy taking over the camera. I've not looked at what's on his camera yet...
  
  **edit--now I have, and they're on my picasa**
  

So, there you have it! Next year should be even better.

--Some, but not all, pictures, are on my Picasa site... and Sharon has more on hers.

I'm late for my update...

Heheh-- a little more than late. These past weeks have been really busy.

According to my Google countdown, SC schools have 16 days 'til PACT.

And according to my other Google countdown, I have 33 days 'til the end of school.

And I'm really looking forward to the summer.

And I'm praying for my students to do well on PACT.

I'm scared for them, as ususal.

---

But-- to update on everything else going on--

Those of you that I saw or met or met up with in Jeffersonville this Easter...
It was great seeing you and meeting you!

(More pictures of that trip-- or rather, I should say, the few I took-- are on my picasa site.)

It was a great trip, and the Services were wonderful.
My only regret was having to come back and teach on the Monday after Easter Sunday.
That was rough.

Today, I made a forray into baking Soaked Wheat Bread.
Maybe it was just me, but.
I. was. not. impressed.
I'm sure it didn't help I'd forgot the salt, and didn't see the fact that I could use olive oil instead of coconut oil (blech in bread) until too late. I had a bumbly morning in the kitchen. But... Sharon, remember what I said about something healthy having to taste good for me to do it? But I'll give it another try--with the salt and the olive oil, of course--Lol!

I'm slightly ashamed to admit this one, but I am becoming crunchy.

I have made my forays into GOOT.
I would have missed a day--if not more--of school without it.
So-- I guess that proves that if you're willing to stink, you can survive despite the terrible sinus infection that's trying to plague your life out.



And that's why I need to bid you all farewell.
I need to go to sleep!

God Bless!

Mountain Girls for the Seashore

I'm a mountain girl at heart. I've grown up near them, and love their steadyness and continuity. But there comes a time when the seashore calls your heart--a little. And it seems that, so far, it's only called me to one spot in particular: Cumberland Island. It's a bit of Eden on the Atlantic with coastal forest combined with the seashore.


Becca and I have tried to make it a tradition to go there every year around Christmas break, and this year, for the first time, we'll be camping with just us two. The plan is to camp for two days, then go back to civilization for a bit before heading home. the only thing I'm really gonna miss is Ben and Sharon... the last time we were there camping, they were there too. But, then, that was the trip of the imfamous boat troubles--and the late afternoon kayak sprees--(grin). And that hardly compares to the first year, with our tent-pole troubles, and Sharon's and my rolling luggage. The lady-Ranger loved us, though. I think she thought we were plucky. And I have to say, we were.

We'll leave the mountains for the rest of the year.

Christmas is for the coast.

Pic's are up...

From almost a year ago.

That's the reason I needed a digital camera... eek.

But here's some hilights:

First: the entry about the trip.

Now: Some pictures:

The island has it all. From beach, to forest.





...and marsh, of course.



Fence into Dungeness...

I love this pic of Becca on the beach.



..The obligatory foot picture.
From when I fogot my tennis shoes, and Becca and I were both Dansko-shod.


I can't believe it's almost time to go again.

This time, I think we're gonna camp, and then go stay at a Bed and Breakfast.
And we'll probably drive half the night, too.

And no, we're not gonna foget the tent poles.

Or bring rolling luggage.

Becca has her pack--and I'll find--something.




God Bless!

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

The adventures of two sistas on the loose...

It seems that, no matter what we do, Becca and I always end up with adventure. There was the time we she and I visited Asheville the weekend before Halloween because I wanted yarn from Earth Guild--and ended up walking around the middle of a pagan street party. And they looked at us like we were crazy. No matter that some of them were not... normal.

That was also the trip where we walked into a cool furniture store--and the salesperson called God a she. We tried to correct his ignorance. He said he thought we believed this--because we had long hair. (WHAT?! --go figure.) And then we went to a cafe, and got seated with another person who was not... normal. He got a little uncomfortable when we started sharing our ideas on life, though he was perfectly happy to share his own. (LOL!)

But I digress... I was actually talking about our most recent trip--to Cumberland Island.

It was beautiful--as always. Too bad I forgot my decent cameras.. and had to go to WallyWorld for disposables. I think I was still able to get a few good shots, but I will be pretty amazed if there are any really good ones in the bunch. I missed my SLR.

We'd planned to drive half the night on Wednesday, sleep in the car, and then eat at "the breakfast place"--but I didn't feel like it. Instead, we came in on Thursday, , had awesome shrimp fresh from the boat and pretty good fish (the place had great food, but no atmosphere--lol--), then went to WalMart for all the things I needed, that I forgot, and then stayed at a great B&B.

This was the first vacation in a looong time that I've brought just one pair of shoes on. But it wasn't by choice. I simply forgot my tennis shoes. Soooo... I ended up wearing my Danskos on the island. Becca was soooo afraid I would step in horse poop especially because mine are backless--but I managed to keep my head out of the clouds and eyes on the ground enough to miss it. And my feet didn't hurt! (Sharon--you should be very proud of me--even if it was only by chance of my forgetful self! )

We took our traditional nap on the beach, and the gulls tried to scare us out of our lunch--and we got to go places on the Island I'd never been. we came back through sea camp, for old time's sake.

(I'll post pictures when I get them developed.)

I think our adventure for this trip started when we heard the rooster crow.

No, not at dawn--as we were getting off the ferry in St. Mary's. I thought some dilatory parent had allowed their child to take an electronic toy on the island. Becca looked around for the rooster.
Then, we both heard the man right behind us, in a DEEP southern accent, say:

"Y-ello? Oh--yeh, we just got awf th' furry in Saint Mair-ees."

Yes, it was his cell phone.

LOL!

I'd not heard the like.

Our adventure then became too-be-continued--for about four hours.

We took the long way home, going through Savannah for food and Bannanna Republic--But first we rode around downtown for 30 minutes looking for a parking space. Then, and only then could we got on the waiting list at Lady and Son's, and then return to Bannanna Republic--just in time for it to close. Bleh.

We had a great time at Lady and Sons, a La Paula Deen--Shrimp and Grits and fried green tomatoes this time. This time, the great food also had great atmosphere--lolo! We also got free desert, because they took too long to give us our food.

And then our adventure started in earnest. It was already 8:45, and we knew we weren't getting home until one in the morn'. So we called momma and warned her--and then promptly got lost in the city. Neither Becca nor I know Savannah that well--and we ended up on the wrong side of town. I was driving, and Becca was trying to navigate... and well, the results weren't good. We ended up in some pretty seedy neighborhoods. An hour later, when we finally made it on the road to home, I was really relieved to be safe and in one piece.

We got in at 2:30. I was worthless the next day--need I say more?
I'm still trying to decide if the trip was worth it, fun though it was.

Hmmm--It was wonderful to be on the island again, that's for sure.

And before I forget--Happy New Year to everyone!

May God's goodness and mercy be upon you always--and more in this year than the last. May we all grow in grace an knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

~God Bless~

It's been a while...

...And I don't feel like I have a whole lot to say. I guess my brain is pooped--from trying to keep up with--or tone down--my students. I most likely will have much more to say after a bit of vacation.

So, here's the list of things I want to do over the break:

1. Make and buy Christmas gifts. (duh.)
2. COOK
3. Make 2 jean skirts. I can't find any decent ones in the stores.
4. I don't want to do this... but I need to-- GRADE PAPERS. I'm so behind. and I'm getting that panicky feeling, because I don't want to grade the whole vacation long.
5. Go Here:

Dungeness--Ruins on Cumberland Island, GA

We took a nap on the beach....

(This was Rebecca, not me.--But I did the same thing.)

And took pictures of a beautiful tree...

And walked around... and just relaxed.

(Becca looks tilted--which is my fault. It almost looks as if she's going to fall down...but I still like the perspective on this shot)

It was wonderful.

I want to go there again, but I don't know if I'll make it this year.

I hope so.

We didn't get snow this time--but there's a slim chance of it tonight. I guess we'll see!


God Bless