I have been weird and distracted for the past few days. I haven’t done anything productive, unless we count my semi-constant thoughts about my stories as productivity (which I kind of do and kind of don’t; it’s an integral step in my writing process, but it’s totally invisible and hard to “count”). It might just be the extra hours at my job that’s made me spacey, or it might be the time of year. I’m sleepy and content to just read a lot of books. It’s winter. Pull up a blanket next to the fire and eat apples all day.
I had a brief conversation with the lovely Cynthia Robertson about Western Australia. I don’t consider myself very nationalistic, but I truly love the land here, and there is something special about Australia. I described some of the landscape through our vast state, and it really got me thinking about a recent trip I took down south with some of my family. We drove for several hours through farmland, down into the gorgeous forests that cover the South West with cool, moist greenness. And even though I am making plans to move down there and live among the trees, it was the drive itself which brought up some interesting ideas.
There’s a secret part of me that believes the farmland is what Western Australia really is. It’s not “home” to me, not the way the dense bush is. The farms here are sprawling, dry-fenced yellow fields. We have some of the most unique trees here, growing as tall as they can, and throwing their branches wide at the top, looking almost like something from Dr. Seuss. In contrast to those, we have the short, curling trees; gnarled into a hunched, peeling, claw-like form. They are often scattered through the fields, either dead or dying, barren of leaves either way. Those trees are the melancholy bones of the bush that lived before the farms cleared everything away, laying under the endless blue skies.
I am an environmentalist, which is why my feelings towards the drought-weary hills and huddled cows and sheep come from a hidden place inside me. I am saddened by what humans have made from the world, and I see it here, in my homeland, where the farms have striped those places bare. But it’s so poignant. Driving through the country, you’re very alone, or very together. The harshness of the landscape only leaves room for absolutes. I’m a little bit in love with that part of Australia.
~A
The Fane 
I’m excited for your writing in high def post. You always write in high def!
Aww, that’s super awesome of you to say, Lisa! Thank you! I really like details, so I guess it shows. 😀
And I’m excited about guest blogging for you, too! Yay!
~A
Wow! Lovely writing, Ashlee. I like hearing your descriptions of Australia. It sounds wild and beautiful. Maybe someday you will write a wonderful Aussie novel set there, loaded with descriptions? Hope so, anyway.
I hear your sadness at seeing what the human race has done to the earth. Is our conciousness rising? One can hope. Oil spills and radiation leaks – the earth is not invincible.
Thank you for the mention. Am working on your guest blog tomorrow, to post on Sunday 🙂
Thank you, Cynthia! I do have one story set in Australia, so we’ll see how that goes. 🙂
I do think people are starting to truly embrace a “greener” lifestyle, but it will take more than the individuals, because all the worst offenders are companies and organisations. Baby steps, and we should see change.
Hooray! Guest blogging is so exciting!
~A
Wow, Ashlee, your writing is just beautiful. Even in a blog post, the imagery is vivid and the emotions are touchable. You make me want to go to Australia so bad! I can’t wait to read your work some day. =)
That’s really kind of you to say, Annie, thank you! 😀 If you can visit Australia, I would definitely recommend it! There are so many different environments and unique places to see.
~A
I found you via Cynthia’s blog — I love your descriptions of Australia, a place I’ve always wanted to visit, so it’s nice to see it through your eyes. So interesting to hear about the diversity of geography and also what humans have done to the landscape…glad to find your blog!
Hi Julia, glad to have you!
Australia isn’t the only place that’s so diverse, and in a constant state of change; many others places I’ve visited also show the same characteristics. Australia is, in land, approximately the same size as the USA. You can find grass plains and plateaus, tropical everglades, glacial-carved mountain ranges, natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, and many other special places Stateside (and many of them are also at risk from human expansion!).
Sometimes we forget the magical things in our own backyard. But don’t let me chase you off from visiting Australia! We’ve got some things here you won’t see anywhere else. 😀
~A
Great arictle, thank you again for writing.
Thanks, Caelyn! Great to have you reading!
~A