the white winged doves

About a month ago, just after the official beginning of spring, Will and I were sitting in our living room playing chess, when we noticed two white winged doves mating in the live oak tree right in front of our balcony!  Yep, we saw the whole shebang - ruffled feathers and all!  We watched as the male dismounted and flew away a short time later, leaving the female alone with her thoughts in the aftermath.  She sat there for a long time, barely moving and I wondered what she was thinking about... whispered echoes of abandonment resounding through my hollow mind.

After that day, we'd see one or both of those doves returning to that exact spot very frequently - from what we could tell, several times an hour.  When I couldn't stand it any longer and curiosity got the better of me, I peered over the balcony railing - hoping to discover any visible trace of significance to the birds; when I noticed they were building a nest!  I'm not sure whether this is typical, or if Will and I simply have two of the most sentimental white winged doves ever heard of, but I was paralyzed in that spot that day as I watched their nest take form in the very spot they consummated their feathery love.  I felt grounded by the weight of this new revelation unfolding before me: love is truly all around.

this was the very first pic I took of the nest, at the beginning of spring and
 just after they'd finished building it.  Look, there was still pollen in the tree!

As the days went by, Will and I watched the doves take turns sitting in their now completed nest.  We saw two perfect little eggs and felt the loving concern of the parents who never once left their side, waiting for one to arrive before the other took flight, fixed the nest after every storm or strong wind and ferociously protected them against intruding birds and squirrels.  Before long, the dogs were as curious as we were - Baxter endlessly watching the glass sliding door and letting one of us know every time the doves stirred.  "Shift changes" became our favourite event to watch: the restless parent upon the nest would make a few of those 'whoo' sounds and the other - obviously never far away - would arrive promptly to take up its shift upon the nest so the first one could fly and feed.  We didn't realize for a while that there were only two shift changes a day - each parent spent roughly 12 hours on the eggs each!

a murky through-the-glass photo of a 'shift change'
(yes, I fumbled and raced like an idiot to capture this. you're welcome). 

Baxter ceaselessly watching the doves <3
that tree beyond the rail is literally where they nested!

The doves became part of our family.  We even named them: Patricia and Walter/ a.k.a Pat & Wally.  I guess we became part of theirs too, because after a while they no longer reacted to our presence out on the balcony and would sleep through my plant waterings, Baxter's bark-greeting everyone that walked by and evening telephone conversations over coffee right beside their tree.

Then last Monday (April 6th) our white winged doves became more active than usual.  Pat, as ever sitting on the nest, was visited by Wally several times an hour, when he would mount her and then fly off again!  I saw the exchange clearly from my spot at the dining table where I sat working.  Again, curiosity got the better of me and I abandoned by draft, moving closer to the glass sliding door so I could see what he was bringing her during each visit.  Food I thought... but I was wrong.  Wally was bringing sticks!  And as Patti sat, he'd climb on top of her and arrange the sticks beneath her - fixing the nest before taking off again for more.  Damaged by the wind, I thought... but again I was proved wrong, when Pat shifted slightly to one side and I saw a piece of broken eggshell fall slowly from the nest!  WE HAVE BABIES I howled into the phone at Will a second later.  And indeed we did.

Over the past week, we've witnessed two perfect little dove babies growing and changing rapidly.  They don't have their white wings just yet, in fact they've barely stopped resembling freaky, featherless aliens, but these babies whom only a mother could love actually have a loving, devoted father who still comes and sits on them his equal share of the time, fixes the nest frequently to allow for the growing twins and regurgitates his food dutifully as well!  Our white winged babies were born from love, in a spot significant to their parents, they were incubated in love and are now completely surrounded by love with an adopted human/ canine family that's sworn to play their part in protecting them from harm.

If I was able to see auras, I'd swear the entire tree glowed in the colour of love... whatever colour that is... green?  I can feel love radiating from and around that spot whenever I'm out there, whether night or day and whether my eyes are opened or closed.

It's hard to explain what I feel when I look out of my glass doors at the little bird family in oak tree.  Seeing firsthand that nature is all around us and exists just the way it's portrayed in National Geographic documentaries spreads a uniquely wonderful, serene feeling through me.  It's clear that humans are so disconnected from nature these days and Will and I are no exception.  Somehow sharing our space with another creature family has made us aware of, and saddened by, our lack of involvement in the world of nature surrounding us.  We've begun to ask the question: is distance from nature is also distance from true, unwavering love?

I once wondered what Patti thought after Wally flew away that first, fateful day.  Was she scared?  Full of regret?  I now know that they had a signed contract before the deed was even done and she felt secure, knowing irrevocably that he'd see his part out.  He'd support her.  Be a good, nurturing father.  He'd come back every day to help her and watch them.  They are a team. It's only humans that have forgotten what true love is.  Only us that can feel afraid or abandoned after the act of making "love".  We think we're superior to any being on the planet, but even birds to it better!  They're better partners, better parents/ no excuses, no cop-outs.  They got together to do something and by god: they DID.  I can tell it's not easy as I watch them day and night.  Regurgitating meals several times an hour/ not eating as much as they'd like due to being stuck in the tree/ balancing for hours on end upon the fragile bones of their precious babies/ being stuck in the same spot no matter the weather...

Patti, in the rain 

Let's be honest, most humans would have tapped out by now.  It saddens me for the state of humanity but also fills me with hope that love (and commitment) is not dead in all the world, when there's such a pure example right outside my balcony.  Their babies continue to grow and change while I continue to stand and stare at the spot where just over a month ago, two white winged doves acted out springtime and built a family from love; hoping that my family will likewise withstand the weather, the hard times and sacrifices.

celebrate the small things | Feb 13

So much to celebrate in Austin this week!  While the rest of the country still firmly sits in the clutches of winter, battling temperatures close to freezing and snowfall every other day: Austinites have un-offically welcomed Spring!  The sudden appearance of dandelions attests to the splendidly sunny days we've had, while trees and other flowers are budding all around.  The best news however, is that my own flower seedlings (planted on Monday) have already sprouted!  Here are a couple of pics of my Bachelor Buttons babies, that I took just 15 minutes ago:

 
I've also planted some Cosmos that are sprouting and daisies, (that I'm still waiting on, but) beyond excited all 'round!!  The warm weather has also brought more outdoor excursions for the pups, so they are thrilled.  Here's a pic of Baxter from a recent hike we went on:

And some more evidence of Spring in the photos below that I took on various walks around the neighbbourhood throughout the week:

More exciting news is that I enrolled in an online writing course and am loving every minute!  It's rather challenging but each successfully completed task provides a much needed confidence boost so I'll be starting this Valentine's Day weekend in rather a giddy mood.  :)

And finally (for once) I'm celebrating the swift passage of time which enables me to say that I only have 9 days left until my fabulous anniversary cruise!  Yipeeeee!

Have a great Valentine's weekend!  Hope you're spoiled rotten!

tuesday tunes {Hozier}

Will was travelling for work all of last week but it was bearable this time because by sheer coincidence, the day he left I downloaded an album that caused me to cheat on him.  Majorly. Blissfully. All week long.  What? Cheat on Will? But he's sooo wonderful AND taking your ass on a cruise!  I can hear your indignation at this fact already, but yes. I have mentally and repeatedly cheated on my husband, with another man.  His name is Andrew Hozier-Byrne and he holds my very naked soul in his bare hand this week.

Surely by now everyone's heard Take Me To Church, which is undoubtedly terrific.  I've loved it as much as any other and have manipulated its meaning to soothe my own pain for a time. Yet, truthfully, it's one of the worst songs on the album.  Aside from  Angel of Small Death and the Cocaine Scene, which I just can't get into, the rest of the melodic and lyrical combinations on this holy grail of an album are liquid sex.  Nope, not exaggerating.  The clarity of Hozier's deep, reverberating voice, combined with those chilling choral echoes and deep guitar strums, hang suspended in the thickness of silence long after the song is done, literally stirring the slumbering parasites within:

Didn't that give you goosebumps? It's insane the extent to which music can move you and this album is a perfect example. Hozier's voice and the raw blatancy of emotion conveyed within it, turn my insides to goo. Every girl's dream to have a guy sing these kinds of songs about her - or perhaps simply to meet a guy capable of feeling and expressing himself this way... and it doesn't hurt that he's a total babe either.  Ladies, honestly, if your sex life is somewhat stagnant at present (or your husband is on the road ;) ) do yourselves a favour and download this album!!  You'll want the bonus track version because Run is the musical orgasm you've been waiting for all your life.

Some of Hozier's lyrics guaranteed to emote:

i'm all but washed in the tide of her breathing

screaming the name of a foreigner's god, the purest expression of grief.

darling don't you join in, you're supposed to drag me away from it

when my time comes around, lay me gently in the cold, dark earth.  no grave can hold my body down, i'll crawl home to her.

a rope in hand for your other man to hang from a tree

never feel too good in crowds, with folks around, when they're playing
the anthems of rape culture loud, crude and proud, creatures baying
all I've ever done is hide from our times when you're near me
honey, when you kill the lights, and kiss my eyes, i feel like a person for a moment of my life.  but you don't know what hell you put me through.  to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you. to feel your weight in arms I'd never use.  it's the God that heroin prays to

run until you feel your lungs bleeding

babe there's something so wholesome about you, get closer to me

the weekend

My weekend went by in a brilliant haze of champagne bubbles, giggles and fake tattoos: perfection in other words! I was one of the 20 or so girls helping Meredith celebrate her bachelorette weekend at a Texas Hill Country hideaway in a six bedroom house that sat on the back of a huge block, amongst a maze of live oaks and cacti, right on the bank of a creek <3 It was the most idyllic setting for an obnoxious, overly loud and drunk group of girls, wanting to dance, sing, scream and "wooooo..." a lot.

I actually think a place like this would be the perfect location for any kind of weekend: romantic, family or friend alike.  Here are some pics of the house:

I won't soon forget this house or this weekend.  Right now I'm off to bed though....

birchbox brag!

I've written about my obsession with #birchbox before, but I have to tell you guys about the latest box I received: December's!! It's so well thought out and jammed full of useful goodies for the holidays! 

Like this awesome Lord & Berry sparkle eyeliner,

perfect for a little extra glitz at holiday parties:

A velvet finish, crimson red, matte lip rouge from mirenesse, 

that'll certainly help you remain effortlessly chic: 

An amika hair mask to relive and recondition stressed hair, because

let's be honest, you'll be curling your hair every day: 

Texturing hairspray to complete your look and 

make you smell like you're wearing perfume, from Rusk:

Annnnd, my all-time favourite: this divine Tocca hand cream,

That smells amazeballs/ has no parabens annnnnnd leaves dry, winter hands feeling silky smooth!

Seriously ladies, if you haven't subscribed to 'the box' yet- you need to!! I strongly recommend making birchbox your Christmas present // for the gift that keeps giving all year long! 

playing in the leaves

There's something amazing about the different coloured, falling leaves of autumn. I've not met a single person who doesn't appreciate their splendor, even those who've grown up with it all their lives. In the part of Australia I'm from there are no visible seasonal changes, in fact aside from the varying temperature, there is no difference at all.  Leaves stay on trees, beaches remain littered with surfers / sunbakers and for the most part, people still walk around in flip flops!

Here in Texas it's a similar situation.  The only leaves that change are those belonging to sporadically planted maple trees - few and far between.  The main landscape remains the same grey/ green it is all year long; unless a freak snow falls, like it did last winter.

That's why it was such a treat to see so many jewel tones when we visited Will's dad in Shreveport recently.  His suburb was like the inside of a giant, living snow-globe - only instead of white snow; yellow, orange, brown and red leaves.  A leaf-globe? Whatever, it was divine!  The pups and I had a blast playing in, rolling in and throwing leaves all over the place.

a month in transit

At last I'm sitting on the couch with Baxter on one side of me, Dorothy on the other; utterly relaxed.  For the first time in over a month, I don't have to be anywhere or do a single thing!  November literally went by in a daze, as we spent almost all of it on the move, first in Baton Rouge, then New Orleans, then Dallas, Fort Worth, then entertaining house guests from Australia, back to Dallas and finally a visit to Will's dad in Shreveport, LA before returning home for a week where we had to run about a million errands, celebrate our first Friends-giving and then set off again to Atlanta for Will's work Xmas party.  Phew!

Needless to say (1) I'm worn out and (2) we haven't had a chance to enjoy our new place hardly at all. I've been meaning to post photos and blog all about it, I promise, but despite several unposted drafts, I honestly haven't even had a chance to finish decorating.   

Now we are home for a full 10 days with nothing more to do than the washing before we take off again to spend Xmas in Atlanta - and I plan to make the most of it!  I want to cross every single thing off my do-to list, so that we can come back after Christmas to an apartment that's all finished and begin 2015 with a clear head.

It has been a blast though, I've enjoyed all of it!  Seeing Baton Rouge and the LA swaps for the first time and meeting some of the world's friendliest/ happiest people! Then revisiting New Orleans, Fort Worth, Atlanta: some of my favourite places on earth!  Highlights have been: discovering that adorable bookstore and purchasing my all-time fave hat EVER in New Orleans/ showing my old friends America and seeing it all anew through their eyes/ playing in the fallen autumn leaves with the pups in Shreveport/ walking down our old streets in Midtown Atlanta, feeling the warmth & familiarity of all the memories we made!  What a wonderful month it has been!  Here are some snapshots:

a portion of the swamp that looks just like a scene from
the Princess & the Frog cartoon <3

it blows my mind that people can build solid structures and
bridges right on the swamps... I mean, whaaat?

I've already blogged about and shared a heap of pics from
Baton Rouge, but here are some more of my faves :) 

The chandeliers!!! (grabbing face with mouth wide open!)

Next was New Orleans!  So many pics, I'll have to put
another post up - for now, here are the highlights:

Always a drink in hand!

That bookstore!  Cluttered and rustic, like something
straight from Diagon Alley! 

My hat!  <3 

The 'second line' my new all-time fave NOLA tradition

Next was Fort Worth, TX and its barrels of candy!!

yummers!

We took the Aussies to see the rodeo 

I didn't like it and I'll prob never go again, but I'm glad to
be able to say I've done it now.

Must visit when in Fort Worth: Billy Bobs and the fame
wall of hand-prints from so many country legends!

Like this guy!!!!

Then it was back to ATX and BBQ at the County Line,
on the lake

Honestly one of my fave places in the whole world,
if you haven't been there and live in Austin: GO!!

Another highlight for me will always be feeding the wildlife
at County Line: this time SWANS!! <3

A visit to ATX isn't complete without an evening downtown

And a little education inside the capital building

After showing them ATX, we HAD to take our visitors to
San Antonio <3

Show them the Alamo, the Riverwalk...

And introduce them to drinking beer while walking freely
around town :) 

Or dining with a blanket option... <3

We new it reminded us of somewhere...

After we dropped them off to the airport in Dallas, it was off
to visit Will's dad back in LA, which I will blog about later
because WAY too many pics!!

As well as our visit back to Atl - Midtown, the Xmas parade,
Will's work party, seeing my friends and so, SO many pics!

Stay tuned!