I am looking at these photoes and I am taken back to the last days of being on the Drom.
The last 8 days were really special as my grandson Izumo travelled with us - he being only 5 years old. Before we left I told him that if he complained even once or missed his parents I would take him straight home ... I thought he would last 3 days and every morning I would ask him do you want go home - and every morning he would look into my eyes and very clearly say 'NO".
3 days worth of clothes had to last 8 days - so he went home rather dirty but with a huge smile!
He was only allowed to bring books, colour pencils and notebook - I wanted him to have this opportunity to discover how fascinating this earth is
A part of the collection of his precious stones and bones.And he was such a willing little worker - helping collect firewood, digging holes for compost,drying dishes and sharing his life with 3 older women. We decided he can come camping with any of us any time!
Travelling with a horse meant that at night we camped where ever we could find somewhere comfortable. In these photoes we camped at the back of this abandoned church, next to the grave yard.
In the afternoons after setting up camp and making sure all the animals had been taken care of we would often relax.
In this photo Izumo and I are sharing a book- my bed is next to the chair. We call it a swag. It is a mini canvas tent and inside is a sleeping bag. Izumo had his own swag and brave he was the first night but by the third day it had become oh so normal!
Ans yes we lots of adventures ... we found an orphaned lamb and so Izumo was responsible for her while we went to a couple of nearby farms trying to find the right farmer - and we did!
We also sometimes camped along deserted dirt roads. Every evening cooking over open fires. At night gazing between the stars and the fire, Izumo would ask us to tell him a story. So we would pull his swag close to the fire and he would say 'tell me about 'Baba Yaga (similar to yamanba)' or I want to hear about 'the Gecko and the Dingo' & sometimes tell me a new story ... we all chuckled a lot!
This journey wasn't always easy and sometimes I felt exhausted. But it has left me richer and more in wonder with this earth and the creatures we share it with.
I want to thank Red Catherine for inviting me on this amazing journey that most of us would never have the opportunity to take. I consider myself extremely lucky. And to my husband who has seldom seen me this year but always encourages me to follow my dreams. I am blessed!
RED CATHERINE & IZUMO - on the dromIf I close my eyes I can still hear the clip, clop, clip, clop of Tigga as he pulled us through the vastness of time and the spaciousness of Australia....
My wish - May we all continue to learn to love our lives and this earth and may this wonderment move throughout our human life!
