roadtripping

today was a teaching day. this meant leaving home shortly after sunrise on this Sunday morning - the farm ute loaded like a tinker's cart with assorted pots and pans. i put my trust in the universe and decided to see what the roadsides would bear in terms of suitable material for dye-making (oh, alright, I did take a bag full of onionskins, just in case)

i was rewarded with Solidago canadensis (golden rod), Acacia baileyiana (Cootamundra Wattle), the mistletoe that grows on that wattle (which I think is Amyema linophylla ssp. orientale), the bark of a dead Acacia melanoxylon, several eucalypt sticks, acorns from Quercus species, Eucalyptus sideroxylon leaves and flowers, Eucalyptus cinerea leaves, Eucalyptus globulus leaves, Amyema miraculosa, Prunus blireiana and Acer rubrum (in all its autumn glory).

not a bad haul at all. it was a good day, made even better by finding a small box labelled 'mumsie's luncheon' placed in the holdall by the Youngest of the Three.

and then to cap it all, it was Jam night at our local Public House and after much fantastic blues work a small group sang Amazing Grace, acapella in full voice. bliss.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me -I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught -my heart to fear.And Grace, my fears relieved.How precious did that Grace appear -the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares -we have already come.T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far -and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me -His word my hope secures.He will my shield and portion be -as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years -bright shining as the sun.We've no less days to sing God's praise -then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me -I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now, I see.

i don't subscribe to any particular religious code (having cut out the middle-man in my communication with the Great Mother years ago) but this spiritual always slices straight to the heart