Sickies

Goaty and I have been in bed for a long while.

We are sickies!

After being super run-down for a few days and having a lymph node the size of a walnut, I finally gave in and went to Health Services. As my kind roomie John suggested on this post-it note.

Turns out it's mono!

Must have picked it up in my long travels home from Aussieland.

Everyone in my suite has been super great, bringing me food and making sure I don't go stir crazy.

Professors have been understanding.

Friends have been great!

Marmie sent me vitamins.

Hannah-sister sent cookies.

Lots of love pouring in, in the form of cards, emails, and calls from all the awesome people in my life.

Reminding myself to take it easy- that I don't have control over how I'm feeling each day. 

All I can do it rest, hydrate, and eat well!

Mostly functioning at this point and making it to most classes, but naps are required and I have to remember that my GPA can take this hit.

It will all get better eventually!

Recipe Book

This afternoon I had a few recipes I wanted to have in one place.

I cast around for an empty notebook, and for once, I DIDN'T HAVE ONE!

What's a girl to do!?

MAKE ONE!

SO, a few magazines, some paper, and a pizza box became this!

Perrymort

I came across this on Facebook and felt the need to share. I just think it captures my feelings about things too well.

Panini

Delicious panini I made the other day for me and my dad after a morning hauling Christmas trees over here at Braintree Balsams:

Neighborly Farms Garlic Cheddar

Hummus

Spinach

Oatmeal bread from Manghi's Bread

Words cannot describe this deliciousness!

Video: "The High Price of Materialism"

By a Knox professor!

Homemade Hankie!

In the interest of a sustainably-minded but oft-runny nose,

today I whipped up this little handkerchief!

I found this little bit in a scrap pack I had picked up from Nido last year.

A few pressed seams and a short stint on the sewing machine, and voila!

Goaty The Travelling Goat Part 11: Home

After a long journey over thousands of miles/kilometers,

Goaty is home with his family

And so am I!

The end is near!

Sorry for my general silence on the blogwaves of late, but I only have a few precious days left in Australia! I'm in beautiful Lennox Head for the last few days, reunited with my program-mates after we each had an adventurous independent study period! We had all our presentations on Saturday and Sunday, and I am SO impressed with everyone's work. We had people hiking, painting, writing, photographing, researching, and interning all over Australia. Really inspiring to hear (and see) all the results.

Of course it was really tragic to leave Melbourne. Will miss all the amazing people I met there, especially Tegan, Lara, and everyone over at Ink & Spindle who gave so much time and effort into my experience there!

Overall, feeling the love. Sad to leave, but no regrets, and starting to positively anticipate a return to the snowy mountains of Vermont and then to the prairies of good ole Illinois, where a Republican representative has proposed Chicago become the 51st state. More on that later, I'm off to enjoy myself :)

Quilt Top

Complete!

Check out my post on Ink & Spindle's blog!

Goaty The Travelling Goat Part 10: Stiching

So, Goaty couldn't really work the sewing machine, so I helped him out

More to come!

Markit

Markit!

Fabric!

Designing based off my lino cuts

Stencils!

Printed!

(ooooohaaaaaah)

FABRIC!

Linos!

Inspired by Melbourne!

Design Beginnings

Goaty The Travelling Goat Part 9: In the Studio

Today Goaty hung out at the Ink & Spindle studio!

Goaty and Teegs became fast friends

Bella gave him a sniff

And Lara had a Goaty goatee!

Goaty The Travelling Goat Part 8: St. Kilda

Yesterday Goaty and I went on the most wonderful of adventures! Two of my new hostel friends and I took the tram down to St. Kilda and enjoyed the 31 degree (C) weather! That's friggin' warm! It was so sunny and beautiful. We wandered into a community garden with amazing mosaics and a pirate ship shaped garden bed. Then we wandered in Luna Park, a crazy old amusement park where the rides were WAY too expensive. Instead we bought fairy floss (cotton candy) and watched people scream their heads off on the rickety rides. Here's Goaty with the famous entrance:

Then we wandered the beach, which was PACKED with people after a rainy overcast week. We walked down the pier and spied some fairy penguins and sea stars, and splashed our feet in the water. Here's Goaty with a view of the city:
After my return to the hostel, a bunch of us BBQed and had a lil jam session. I played some uke and someone found a guitar. It was a lovely day! Goaty and I REALLY LIKE Melbourne.

(More pics and such to come soon from my amazing internship with Ink & Spindle!)

Goaty The Travelling Goat Part 7: Goaty on the Gold Coast

Goaty and I took a pit stop at the Gold Coast on the way to Melbourne. The city was modeled after Miami, and it shows.

I felt like I had been transported to Florida! Full of beaches, tourists, and theme parks. Little did I know I was staying right next to Sea World...

Luckily, we got to see this lovely sunset!

Safe and sound

...in Melbourne! Will be here for the next 4-5 weeks. Settling in, getting to know the area better, trying to get sleep in a hostel on a weekend.

News Media

I've been inspired to change the way I get news! Take the challenge with me!

Nation of Change

Al Jazeera

Grist

Avaaz

I'm tired of hearing the same old crapola! I want news that actually tells me what's going on, and isn't run by the investors in the status quo.

Bounty!

Apples, blueberries (a fortune but worth it!), potatoes, green beans, beets, broccoli, lettuce, rice, and bread... all local, all ethical. Good eats!