blast through the past
12/27/13
First, I want to apologize for the absence of posts in the last month. Who would have thought December could be such a busy time! ;)
A few weeks ago, my two lessons of rock n' roll dancing paid off at a rock n' roll dance put on by the instructors. A skirt was the suggested attire and that made it easy, having two of them in my wardrobe to pick from. Sonia looked right out of American Bandstand in polka dots and folded lacy socks. Anna (Sonia's cousin) rocked a homemade 50s dress that sat perfectly around her tiny waist.
We found a common place on the dance floor with the company of a 50-year-old and above crowd. The main difference separating, namely Anna and I, from them, was their ability to rock and twirl as if on the set of Happy Days. With just a couple lessons under our belts, we caught on quite well in the hands of all the confident gentlemen. Most of the crowd came with their significant others, but our go to man, Sylvio - a short Italian with much patience and leniency, found his spot at our table.
Our brief, yet delicious, picnic beforehand left room for all the provided fruit and treats, from watermelon slices to snowy white maranges, topped with big blackberries. It was a brilliant idea to mix the chardonnay and sparkling juice we brought, which complimented Anna's orange-poppy seed cake quite well.
I even managed to win the raffle. Thanks to Sonia who took notice of the winning ticket just under my nose while it was read aloud. Had she pronounced the 'E', "ee", instead of "ay", I may have reacted a little sooner. Of course, I'm still conquering the language obstacles, whether it's the slang or the pronunciation (bah-sil for basil, al-u-min-ium for aluminum, mA-ssage for massage...), but these things are irrelevant to the individual Australian lives I'm learning so much about.
12/28/13
Started by Sonia's aunt and uncle, Laternen Fest in Tarrington is becoming quite the event, I'm told and can see for myself!
The community and people from surrounding areas come to this little German festival in a town of nearly 200 people to observe (or perform) maypole dancing, eat brats and sauerkraut, compete in the stein holding competition, snap photos of the decorated hay bales, purchase crafts and goodies, and parade with laterns in hand around a field after sunset... Quite a romantic (as in personally idyllic) experience, actually. Children running about like fireflies... glowing globes in hand. I wonder if the beauty is in light speckled trail before me, or the wide eyes and honest giggles braiding my path.
The church glowed orange against the midnight blue sky as we finished up the parade and said our good-byes.
Although the town is small, it's another popular holiday destination, having much to offer. Ben showed me how Sangiovese cuts through the acidity in tomato-based dishes, and I taught him how wonderfully the red wine (of your choice) compliments a big bowl of stove top popcorn.
First, I want to apologize for the absence of posts in the last month. Who would have thought December could be such a busy time! ;)
A few weeks ago, my two lessons of rock n' roll dancing paid off at a rock n' roll dance put on by the instructors. A skirt was the suggested attire and that made it easy, having two of them in my wardrobe to pick from. Sonia looked right out of American Bandstand in polka dots and folded lacy socks. Anna (Sonia's cousin) rocked a homemade 50s dress that sat perfectly around her tiny waist.
In the past couple months I've learned the Aussie terms for a bachelor and bachelorette party: a bucks' or hens' party, respectively. A bit cuter, and a bit easier to say...
We found a common place on the dance floor with the company of a 50-year-old and above crowd. The main difference separating, namely Anna and I, from them, was their ability to rock and twirl as if on the set of Happy Days. With just a couple lessons under our belts, we caught on quite well in the hands of all the confident gentlemen. Most of the crowd came with their significant others, but our go to man, Sylvio - a short Italian with much patience and leniency, found his spot at our table.
Our brief, yet delicious, picnic beforehand left room for all the provided fruit and treats, from watermelon slices to snowy white maranges, topped with big blackberries. It was a brilliant idea to mix the chardonnay and sparkling juice we brought, which complimented Anna's orange-poppy seed cake quite well.
I even managed to win the raffle. Thanks to Sonia who took notice of the winning ticket just under my nose while it was read aloud. Had she pronounced the 'E', "ee", instead of "ay", I may have reacted a little sooner. Of course, I'm still conquering the language obstacles, whether it's the slang or the pronunciation (bah-sil for basil, al-u-min-ium for aluminum, mA-ssage for massage...), but these things are irrelevant to the individual Australian lives I'm learning so much about.
12/28/13
Started by Sonia's aunt and uncle, Laternen Fest in Tarrington is becoming quite the event, I'm told and can see for myself!
The community and people from surrounding areas come to this little German festival in a town of nearly 200 people to observe (or perform) maypole dancing, eat brats and sauerkraut, compete in the stein holding competition, snap photos of the decorated hay bales, purchase crafts and goodies, and parade with laterns in hand around a field after sunset... Quite a romantic (as in personally idyllic) experience, actually. Children running about like fireflies... glowing globes in hand. I wonder if the beauty is in light speckled trail before me, or the wide eyes and honest giggles braiding my path.
The church glowed orange against the midnight blue sky as we finished up the parade and said our good-byes.
"Tarrington is a village in the Southern Grampians Shire in South-west Victoria, Australia close to Hamilton. It has a large Lutheran Church, along with a school, church, hall, oval, cafe/restaurant, computer repair service, quarry, day-care centre and a fire station. At the 2006 census, Tarrington had a population of 193.[1]
Tarrington was formerly known as Hochkirch, named by immigrants coming from the area of that name in Saxony, Germany. The town was settled in the early 1860s and the Hochkirch Post Office opened on February 15, 1861 (now closed and replaced by a hut that houses PO boxes) and renamed Tarrington March 1, 1918 due to the anti-German sentiment of that time."
***
Ben was nice enough to introduce me to Port Fairy. If you ever get the chance to visit the quaint town, just 15 minutes west of Warrnambool, I recommend you
meander down the Moyne River, where all the boats are tied up,
marvel at the old red and white lighthouse during a stroll down the beautiful beach,
meander down the Moyne River, where all the boats are tied up,
marvel at the old red and white lighthouse during a stroll down the beautiful beach,
and order the veggie pizza, with a glass of Sangiovese, at Coffin Sally.
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| http://a3.urbancdn.com/w/s/yu/vGhBoufgcmCbzi-640m.jpg |
Although the town is small, it's another popular holiday destination, having much to offer. Ben showed me how Sangiovese cuts through the acidity in tomato-based dishes, and I taught him how wonderfully the red wine (of your choice) compliments a big bowl of stove top popcorn.
* For facts about the lighthouse:
http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/vic/Griffiths%20Island/Griffiths%20Island%20Lighthouse.htm
***
I had the privilege to watch Sonia's younger brother, Jacob, display his amazing keyboard playing and singing in his band at the Loft (a local bar that frequently hosts live music) a couple weeks ago. I couldn't help but giggle excitedly with Sonia as her brother belted out the energy ignited in his gut and fueled by his fingertips... the essence of a talent looking as easy as the beat leaving my body.
Previously living in Byron Bay, a hippie town he informed me, Jacob returned home a few weeks ago in his solar powered van. So that's where John's missing solar panel went... I know Jenny and John appreciate his help at home for the time being. Although I've played instruments in my day, and would love to get on the piano again, I wonder about a musicians hands. A talent is harbored from within, but without strong legs, one cannot run fast. Removing a musician's hands takes away the sound, but doesn't the talent still exist? Jacob's hands aren't bound to the generation of sound and rhythm, proven as he pushed a wheel barrow full of branches and debris to the hungry bonfire that burned beside the remaining army of blackwoods (Acacia melanoxylon) the day the fire restrictions would resume. Sonia and I helped feed the fires at her parents' and came across some of the toys they played with as kids under the remains of a childhood tree house. Tops were the most popular. Such a simple item this piece of plastic designed to spin with the elegance of a ballerina.
I never realized how well I could spin a top...
<3
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