Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Hot Summer

We are still in Melbourne, and this week has brought the heat of summer. Temperatures in the 30's (high 80's and 90's) and low humidity at the beginning of the week seemed to suck every available drop of moisture from the ground. Now, as we walk down the Merri Creek trail, the grasses are the color of golden wheat, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom...the creek itself is smaller and gentler, the banks are exposed, and it is easy to see that the creek bed is littered with stone and rock.

The ducks, geese, coots, swans, pigeons, and gulls still rejoice upon our arrival, but even they seem slower to take the swim over the lake from their shady retreat. We too, love the shaded areas on the trail...we tend to walk slower through those spots, heads up, looking around and at each other...once we hit the sun, our heads lower, our conversation pauses, and I think that unconsciously we are both looking for that next reprieve.

This morning we woke to warm temperatures...not too warm, somewhere in the mid 20's (seventies)...took time for our “breakkie”, swept the house some, readied the spinach for lunch, and sat for our morning meditation...silence was broken by wind...then rain began to tap out a staccato beat on the laser light porch roof...the wind continued, the rain stopped. Cooler temperatures are arriving...tomorrow's high is forecast to be 21 (69.8F). We have Maharishis Ghandarva Rain Melody playing...the rain started up again at the conclusion of the first hour...

We welcome the change for our own selfish reasons...while we want the rain for the grass and plants, the lower temperatures will aid us in our newest project. We are rebuilding a raised bed...old landscape timbers, new landscape timbers (sleepers, I am told, is the correct verbiage), digging, lots of digging, pavers, mulch, plants...the whole nine yards! More to come on that news....

I hope all my Fairfield friends are surviving the Iowa winter...I hope all my dome buddies are able to travel to and from meditation easily and safely...I hope everyone is feeling well and strong and vital....from Australia...this is me signing off!