Mount Field National Park

Horseshoe Falls

I am ashamed of myself. Really, I am! The reason is that I underestimate countries. It has happened more than once and it will probably happen again. I underestimated France: I didn't think that it could have some of the coolest forests I had ever seen (seen in pictures that is; I've never been there) or the coolest mountains (I am going to do a blog post on the Pyrenees). I underestimated Croatia: I thought that it was so boring that I even forgot that I knew about it. But, when I was reminded of its existence, I discovered the Plitvice Lakes and other neat stuff. This time it was Australia. Yes, Australia.

Lower curtain of Russell Falls with upper tiers visible at top of image

Let me explain. I saw an absolutely beautiful picture of a waterfall (I love waterfalls) , looked to see where it was, and was shocked to see that it was Australia. When I think of Australia I think deserts, hot, dry, deserts. And eucalyptus trees, of course.

Lower curtain of Russell Falls

It had never, not even in my wildest dreams, entered into my head that there might be waterfalls in Australia.

Lake Seal, Mt Field National Park

I love water. From a puddle in a forest to oceans, grand and wide, from a tiny creek to great rivers. I even pay tribute to this wonderful thing in the title of my humble blog. And rain, I love rain. In other words, I am mildly obsessed with the hydrosphere (that is the scientific name for all of the water on earth) .

Lady Barron Falls at Mount Field National Park.

But I think that perhaps one of my favorite ways for water to be is falling over rocks (something that only water can do comfortably) in a lush green forest with ferns and moss.

Horseshoe Falls

Mount Field National Park is truly a wonderful place and I am most happy that I discovered it.
I found this website that has information about it, in case you were interested in learning about it.

http://www.discovertasmania.com/activities__and__attractions/wilderness_areas/national_parks_and_reserves/mount_field_national_park

Robert Tarn, Mackenzie Tarn and Johnston Tarn (foreground to background), Tarn Shelf

I do feel most bad about thinking that Australia was next to all desert. Really, if you had asked me where I thought that this picture (above) was taken, I would probably have said Iceland. Isn't that sad? (I love Iceland, by the way)

Horseshoe Falls at Mount Field National Park.

And this picture, my favorite one, I would have guessed New Zealand (I love New Zealand, too) or some place like that. Yes, my dear reader, I am truly, deeply, sadly, ashamed.

Goldberry's Song

Then another clear voice, as young and as ancient as spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills, came falling like silver to meet them:

Now let the song begin! Let us sing together,


Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,


Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,



Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,



Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:



Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!

From The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

Photos : Bruno Monginoux /
www.Landscape-Photo.net
(cc-by-nc-nd)

Edmund Leighton

"The Accolade" (1901)

I am most excited! Last night I discovered an artist, Edmund Leighton, he is a new favorite of mine.

Edmund Blair Leighton (21 September 1853—1 September 1922) was an English painter associated with the Pre-Raphaelite and Romantic styles. Leighton was a historical genre painter focusing mainly on Regency and medieval subjects. I adore his medieval paintings, I find them very near to perfection. "The Accolade" is, I think, my favorite one.

God Speed! (1900)

Some of my many other favorites are, Abelard and his Pupil Heloise, Faded Laurels, My Fair Lady, Pelleas and Melisande, The End of the Song, The Hostage, The Keys, and The Shadow. I like all of his medieval paintings, of course the regency ones are lovely as well, but I don't love them as I do the medieval ones.

After a bit of searching I found this great website with a biography of Edmund Leighton and all of his beautiful, beautiful, paintings
http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=edmund-blair-leighton&page=1

"Stitching the Standard"

I like this one very much, but, perhaps, it is more for sentimental reasons: I, in my childhood, had a certain deep fondness for knights wearing yellow and black, and I never even liked yellow that much. And even now, though that fondness has lessened a bit, there is still a place in my hart for yellow knights, so I can't help but feel that this woman is, perhaps, stitching a standard for that great knight that once was mine.

If wishes were horses...

Horse Fair, By Rosa Bonheur

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,

If turnips were swords I'd have one by my side.

If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans

There would be no need for tinkers hands!

~Scottish Proverb

Hatley Castle

Hatley Castle, on Hatley Park National Historic Site, is located in Colwood, British Columbia in Greater Victoria. This castle is absolutely gorgeous, but, in all seriousness, I don't have anything very interesting to say about it. In other words then, it seems to have a very peaceful history.

"James Dunsmuir commissioned Samuel Maclure, a Victorian architect, to design the "Castle", and Messrs. Brett and Hall, landscape artists of Boston, Massachusetts, to plan the gardens and surroundings. Local stone, trimmed by Valdez and Saturna Island sandstone was used in the building's construction. Its impressive exterior is matched only by the lavishness of the interior appointments; oak and rosewood paneled rooms, baronial fireplace, teak floors, and specially made lighting fixtures. James is quoted as saying: 'Money doesn't matter, just build what I want.' "

From: Hatley Caste.com

I found this wonderful website with a complete history and page after page of stunningly gorgeous pictures: http://www.hatleycastle.com/




The pictures are from Wikipedia.

Have fun exploring!

How many a man...

How many a man has dated
a new era in his life
from the reading of a book.

~Henry David Thoreau

Scotland's Hebrides

I love Scotland. Scotland is beautiful. But I don't think that I quite realized just how beautiful it can be until I saw the article in the January 2010 issue of National Geographic, "Edge of the World", about The Hebrides.

I think that Fingal's Cave on the island, Staffa, is utterly magnificent. It was called Uamh Binn, the "melodious cave," by the Gaelic-speaking islanders for the sound of the echo of the waves.

You can read the whole, awesome, article and see incredible pictures at
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/01/hebrides/warren-text

Have lots of fun exploring!