Flowers, flowers and more flowers...

This week, Toowoomba hosts the Carnival of Flowers, which is just that - a carnival of flowers in all their spring glory. I went to the Food and Wine Festival on Saturday and didn't get a chance to check out any of the flowers (my priorities on that day included food, wine and beer). So, I headed up the hill again on Sunday to tour the gardens. Here are just some of the flowers out in bloom. I am always so amazed at the variations in flowers. Even though they are often the product of plant breeding, the fact that nature can produce such an array of patterns and colours never fails to blow my mind.

That's where they keep the light...

'Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds, the ebb and flow of tides, the folded bud ready for spring. There is something infinitely healing in the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter'
- Rachel Carson, 'Silent Spring'

 

 

Something I've known all along...

Apart from the fact that I'm totally lazy when it comes to updating this blog, is that I have a fear of heights. It's not debilitating, it's just one of those things that freak me out.  

I think the earliest memory of this affecting me was on a family holiday at Girraween National Park when I was thirteen. One of the hikes called 'The Pyramid' saw me frozen to the side of, what's best described as, a large rock. I recall being left there as the rest of my family climbed to the top and then collected me on the way back down. I did manage to conquer it a few days later but still I was pretty darn petrified. 

Another time, and this is a hang my head in shame moment, is the Giant Drop at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. Basically, you get winched up a tower to 120 meters (or 39 stories) and then left to drop at roughly 135km/hr with your legs just dangling in free air. Once I was back on solid ground I cried. There, I admit it. I was 23 or 24 at the time and I cried like a baby.

Still, I haven't let these incidents deter me. So when my brother and I decided to do one of the alpine tracks at Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, I thought 'Sure, no sweat. How hard can it be?' Well, let's just say it wasn't a walk in the park. There were some parts that were pretty much straight up. It wasn't that that worried me. It was the straight down cliff that I was walking along that managed to freak me out. That and the melting snow on the track and the fact that I wasn't wearing hiking boots or I didn't have any hiking poles. My mountain goat of a brother just wandered up (and down) like he was walking on a footpath while I clung to the side of the mountain and managed one small step after another. There were times when I felt like I was going to cry and had little panic attacks every time my foot slipped but somehow I managed.

Once we got to the top the view was AMAZING! I'll let the photos speak for themselves though they don't compare with being there yourself.

Still, after all is said and done, I don't think I'd hesitate at doing something like this again. The reward far outweighs the effort and I feel that the more I challenge myself, the better I'll become at dealing with this little fear of mine - here's hoping anyway.

 

I don't know what to write...

Yesterday I left the Yasodhara Ashram. It was an experience which I think has changed the way I view myself and my life. I'm finding it hard to describe just what effect it had on me, I could write so much but it really only effects me so I'll spare you this time and keep it short and sweet.

Through a lot of tears, hard work and self reflection (40ish pages of journal writing in 10 days), I have become aware of some of the things that are holding me back, my fears and the way I dwell on my past mistakes and old hurts.

I'm never going to be perfect, no one ever is. I am feeling more in tune with myself realising that only I am responsible for my happiness and I shouldn't rely on others for it. My life is my own unique path and I have the choice to continue to make new memories and not be bound by the old ones.

Let it go and keep going...

Love and Light, Namaste

Feeling blue...

I think I'm really feeling the pangs of homesickness (for real) for maybe the first time since I've been away. I've had little spouts of it over the past year but recently it's been quite unrelenting.

I actually think it's a combination of things. Number one: being away from family and friends, of course. Even though I have some great people in my life right now it still doesn't make up for the fact that I miss the family and friends I have back home. Those are the people I don't feel like I have to be on my best behaviour with all the time, the people I can just be me with, farts, burps and all. 

Number two: the weather. I'm pretty sure the continual cloudy, rainy weather could get even the happiest person down. Over the last couple of days it has been what I like to call Summerish though. I've been able to get a much needed fix of vitamin D and have even managed to regain my 'farmers crack'.

Number three: I'm missing hugs. Yes, hugs. I suppose this comes under the family and friends category as well, but I really miss having someone to wrap my arms around and squeeze. I could hug a tree I suppose but it's just not the same.

Number four: I miss my dog... full stop.

So, here's hoping to more sunshine in the future. I will snap out of it soon - it really sucks to be sad when I'm in such a beautiful place.

 

They Call Me Dr Worm...

Good morning, how are you? I'm Dr Worm...

I get this song stuck in my head nearly every time I mix soil, probably because there are worms everywhere - big fat juicy ones; long slim slimy ones; itsy bitsy, fuzzy wuzzy worms.

I find it funny that I no longer have a problem with them. Growing up I would never touch them, even when fishing, I would get my dad to bait my hook, that's how much of a princess I was. Oh, how times have changed.

Three Conclusions About Myself...

Today, while biking and hiking around Denman Island, I came to three conclusions about myself.

They are:
1] I am really, really, really (and I mean really) afraid of snakes. I know, I know, I'm in Canada and they are tiny little harmless snakes but I still jump half a mile when I see one. Today I saw two and I'm glad there was no one around to watch me have a little freak out.

2] I am completely incapable of going for a slow leisurely walk, I must power walk everywhere. For this I blame my mum - she knows why :)

3] I believe I am the best version of myself when I am surrounded by nature. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some aspects of cities but I find I end up being a big negative mess if I spend too long in a concrete jungle.

Anyhoo, thought I'd just share that and now I'll bore you with some pics of the dreadful scenery from todays trek and last nights sunset...