Pine Mountain News
This week we made more furniture and worked
in the greenhouse. We mended some fences and
did some more preparations for winter.
We cleaned the intake on the water turbine
and did quarterly wind turbine maintenance.
Poem of the Week
The Ghost of a Good Time
by emily d stine
lurking beneath the folds of a photograph
a winter white ride up the rocky mountain high
a plane we almost didn't catch, wasting minutes
at the bottom of a airport bar gin & tonic.
it's there in the curves of my L's and the
corner of my suitcase, a seashell abandoned,
a letter forgot.
it's the mud on my shoes from the vineyard
we walked, a stamp on my passport, a postcard
i bought, all on a whim in the frivolous now.
today it's all here and it litters the floor,
a faded stamp, crumpled postcard, a
letter unsent. Half journals, some luggage,
a pair muddy flats, it's the silence, the sound,
and the ghost of a good time
Feature story of the Week
Australia: Great Barrier Reef/Queensland
When I first read about the Seven Natural Wonders of
the World, I thought it would be fun, in my globe
hopping, to try and see them all. Which was how I
ended up in Queensland, Australia. It wasn’t my first
trip to Australia, home of the word’s deadliest
everything, but it certainly was memorable.
Queensland has the Great Barrier Reef, which is why
I was there. The Great Barrier Reef is a 1600 mile
collection of about 3,000 reefs and a couple of dozen
islands, and it’s one of the most beautiful natural
structures on Earth, and one of the down under’s
biggest tourist attractions, literally.
The first city I was in long to take a look around on
the trip was Gold Coast, which I keep wanting to
add a ‘The’ to. I’d never been t Gold Coast and,
frankly, it’s pretty awesome. Also known as surfer’s
paradise, it’s right on the water and, as Australia’s
sixth or so largest city, there’s plenty to do.
Physically, the city is beautiful, as you might imagine
something called Gold Coast would be.
The city is designed around waterways and, much like
Miami here in the states, feels as if it’s been built out
onto the water.
As the surfer’s paradise moniker might have lead you
to guess, there are lots of beaches with great surfing.
Or so I’m told; as a huge hairy mammal, surfing is not
something I do much of. But it looked fun, and I reckon
if you’re a bit more graceful than me, it’d be an excellent
place for it.
There’s also, I’m told, a great hinterland behind Gold
Coast, which basically means the area nearby to the west.
Great, in that contains a rainforest that is part of a national
park, and so has a lot of wildlife that is rare or endangered.
I wasn’t there long enough to check it out, but I’m
guessing it’s worthwhile.
After Gold Coast, I was off to Lady Elliot Island by way of
a small chartered plane. Lady Elliot is a tiny island right on
the reef, with a resort and a variety of accommodations.
You can get anything from an eco cabin to full on suites. Me,
I picked something in the middle.
I was lucky enough to get there during turtle season, when
the big critters come on short to lay eggs and whatnot. I’ve
always been fond of turtles, so it was cool to get to see them
up close.
But mainly, I was there for the water activities. Because of the
position near the end of the reef, the water clarity is
astounding, pretty much crystal clear.I took a glass bottom
boat out to getan idea of there was to see, but after that it
was all scuba snorkeling for me, cavorting with the 200 or so
giant rays that hang out around the island.
It was well worth the trip. Words don’t do it justice; the
natural coral and the wildlife that goes with it are almost
indescribably beautiful. Between the warm clear waters
and the abundant wildlife, I was immersed in another
world, and I can’t wait to go back.
Pine Mountain Evening
Good evening. It is night once more at the Pine Mountain
ranch..We have just finished dinner and we are gathered
in the family room by a warm fire.
Grace and Laurel are watching a movie and I am enjoying
a plate of sugar cookies and trying a new sample coffee
from http://www.coffeefool.com.
Tonight my coffee is Pumpkin Spice. this American roast
coffee tastes just like pumpkin pie. It goes great with sugar
cookies.
Well my cookies and coffee are finished and the movie is
over so it is time for bed. Good night all see you next week.
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