Shadow Shot Sunday ~ A Life Changing Experience, Part 1

Last week I happily spent as a student, not only that, but
the old hen learning from her own chick.
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Let me preface this by saying that I am rather a hermitic loner
than a group animal and spending a week as one of a flock of
18 women made me quake in my boots.
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The retreat/workshop sat snugly amongst the old and new
buildings of Glenbarr station on the ourskirts of Strathalbyn.
A homestead of the early 1840's. Sleeping quarters were
spartan and unheated, ablution block communal and
unfortunately a constant weangle with management for
adequate supplies of loo paper!
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Below, a lovely lady arriving and heading to the old converted
stables that now were pressed into service as kitchn and dining
hall with one tiny little heater to keep out the chill.
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The diverse and sometimes rather peculiar dietary requirements
for some of the ladies made us all vegetarians for the week, ably
catered for by my 18 year old granddaughter who throughout
the week alternated as country chef and city actress with long
and tiring travel distancens in between.
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The Workshop was entitled "Enfoldments" and guided ever
so gently by India Flint, Botanical alchemist, author and fibre
artist extrordinaire.
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After a delicious dinner, a glass or two of wine and a little of
'getting to now you', India brought out a heap of natural fibre
shreds, silk, wool cotton etc. and showed us in her quiet way
how to take a piece and with nothing but our fingers, make
strong durable string.
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Since we had no idea what it was for, we could not encumber
it with our expectations and just concentrated on strength.
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Above, the uncertainty of beginning . . . .
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below, a little technical advice from the delightful and ever
helpful Jenni.
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After a freezing night, a lovely dawn and a new beginning.
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In the old stable walls the rifle slits are still preserved for warding

off attacks by spear wielding Aborigines whose land the Scottish

settlers had bought from the government.

Rather an unequal battle, guns against a few spears protecting

the land of their ancestors.
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Next exciting episode and many more pictures to follow.
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Posted as part of Shadow Shot Sunday, hosted by Tracy at Hey Harriet.

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