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AUSTRALIA

An open-ended adventure by Wendy Read more
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  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    GETTING SORTED

    May 30 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Well this is what happens when you dont have enough "shakedown" trips before you take of to travel for a few years.

    Stuff needs sorting and modifying. Important stuff. But Mick has done a spectacular job this last week to sort everything out.

    FIrst was the solar in the vehicle. This runs the car fridge...aka...beer fridge, his lights in his room as well as lights on the canopy and charging stuff especially when we go awoll and leave the van somewhere to go deeper into a NP at some stage. So new wiring and Lithium battery and new solar panel set up and everything is neat and tidy.

    Then the water filter needing sorting so that we can filter the water that goes into the tank. This contraption garnered a lot of attention when he made this set up. This required an intense Bunnings visit to gather appropriate twisty things.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    Wet Wet Wet

    May 28 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Yesterday was a very long day. Yet somehow everything turned out.

    We got up early and had to pack everything up in the rain and drive to Caboolture and drop The Princess of to have her leaky bits attended to.

    Then we went to Kawana Waters to address all the solar/power issues in Silver, which is not just our car but Micks Penthouse, man cave with beer fridge, darts playground, and general storage unit.

    Had TJM install a duel battery system but the system they went with cannot handle what we need. So of we go to KickArse store where we were quoted 1700 without install, and afterwards we realise that wasnt with everything we ended up needing and with us leaving still confused of what we needed to do.

    We then went around the corner to Kings. Thank goodness we did. We had the most geniunely helpful salesman go step by step with us through everything. And we came away only $900 out of pocket and understanding what we needed to do to fix the system we had spent thousands on. Mick will go to a mates on Friday and set it all up with his help. This salesman ended up being a traveller with his wife and they have been stuck with getting a refund on their car as it broke down 20 times going across SA and have been fighting this battle for 7 months. He got confirmation of their agreement to a pay out just before we arrived at store. He was a wealth of good solid information and went the extra mile to make sure Mick knew what to do as well as myself.

    We then did some groceries which is obviously very different from shopping at home. No extra pantry things, buying exactly what is needed. Even then I could have bought less. I feel this will not take long to get my head around.

    We then got on the highway to go pick up the caravan AND TRAFFIC STOPPED for kilometres. Rang the workshop. They said they would come meet us and unlock the gate when we got there. An hour after finally getting there at 4.45 we drive of at 6pm and head back to Boreen Point in the rain.

    Another miracle then happens. Its dark and very difficult to back van in lined up with slab. The new neighbour helped Mick. It stopped raining enough to do this and set up van and the penthouse. Then we cooked some sausages for dinner and Mick, who is an avid NSW supporter, watched his team win the State of Origin first game. Poor Mick had to try and keep his excitement to a minimum as the people that helped us had gone to bed in their van only a few metres from us.

    LESSON.... trust everything is working out. Count my blessings constantly.

    We have had extremely heavy rain all night last night. Even some thunder. Yet we both were dry and snug in our cocoons.

    The weather is gradually clearing. The window appears to be dry. And the sun will be out over the next few days here.

    We have had the rain test... tick that of... we understand what we need and how to manage this on a powered site with a cement slab.

    Im sure we will have a rain test somewhere unpowered and on dirt. But thats for another day.

    Today we are living our 6th day on the road.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    WHATS HAPPENING

    May 25 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Day 3
    Mick ate fruit. Voluntarily.
    We picked all the mandarins of our tree before we left.
    Mick is eating fruit Voluntarily......

    Day 4
    The awning and the new window are leaking. Its been raining heavier today. Which on one hand is disappointing 😞 yet on the other hand is a 🙌 blessing because now we know that there are rain leaks and we are only 1.5hours from Caboolture. We rang them. They will fix tomorrow. Disappointing we have to pack up and take van there first thing in morning yet very grateful they are fixing immediately before we travel to far.Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    LIVE MUSIC VIBES

    May 24 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    The day after we arrived we went to the Appolonian Pub in Boreen Point to see an entertainer we had not seen perform for 20 years.

    Asa Broomhall. When Mick and I were dating - just moved in together - we went to a blues event in the valley in Brisbane and this man was only 21 years old and Mick really enjoyed the way he played guitar and sang - Mick bough the CD and Asa signed it. All these years later Mick mentions to me a few weeks before we leave that he wondered whatever happened to Asa.

    I was cranky at Mick at the time so gave a blunt reply of "That's What Google Is For."

    LOL - next day I am looking up another singer for this pub and I couldn't believe, though I should, because the Universe has a sense of humour, and Asa is playing on the Sunday we arrive at Boreen Point. So obviously I organised for Mick to go see him play again.

    So Mick takes his original CD to see Asa and he gets him to sign it again - all these years later.

    Was a great Sunday with friends Mick and Kath, and these are a few photos from the day.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    Appolonian Pub

    May 24 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Sunday was spent at the best pub in Boreen Point. The historical Apollonian Hotel. We arrived early to get a good seat for a show by Asa Broomhall. Kath and Mick joined us. And Katie and Daniel were there for a bit. Great food, great company, awesome music.

    Mick and I saw this blues man 22 years ago while dating. Mick had a CD signed by him and took it with us to the pub. Now its signed again.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    AND WE ARE GONE....

    May 20 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today we officially locked up the house and departed Bauple. Two years is the plan. But we are open to whatever happens.

    I have always dreamt of travelling this country of mine, way before my parents did it for many years. I watched a lot of The Partidge Family. LOL

    Mick on the other hand nearly hyperventilated at the thought originally. He couldn't understand my desire to wander. He is a creature of habit and routines and living a simple life. He has the dream home and lots of mates and a steady weekly routine of darts and beer and a shit load of Dad jokes.

    But now he is as keen as mustard and was enticed by promises of getting of the tools and the roof, getting a carton of beer a week and taking his beloved dart board set up with him.

    The clean up of our home ready for rental was so much bigger and harder than I realised. Nearly 17 years in a property accumulates a lot of unseen dust and little things needing repairs... coupled with massive hold ups of rain delays for finishing jobs and closing Micks business, and the window on the van having to be installed (it was not done in the build but what we asked for, all fixed under warranty) but we finally got there.

    I even had a very large snake in my studio when I went to start cleaning it. It was a gorgeous yellow and green underneath but it looked like a brown at first on top. Mick opened that slide door but it just didnt go outside. I chased it outside with a broom. Haha... crazy broom lady... I was on a mission to get things cleaned and it was taking up precious time.

    We had a Witi security system installed last week. Very loud alarm. Brakes that lock so van cannot be towed. GPS tracking. That was another hold up due to a big fire in their factory. But we are secure locked and loaded now.

    We have lots of wood ducks at our place and a few visited today. And the mandarins has given me kilos of gorgeous juicy fruit to take with us.

    The pictures of Mick in his roof top tent, dubbed The Penthouse. Believe me he is happy in there. Pillow top mattress, Has his own lighting, Netflix and Kayo, his own beer fridge in the truck. He can stay up as late as he wants watching TV and snore to hearts content. And sleep in.

    The signage for Inspired Creative Living has been done on the truck and my online work has begun. More on that another day.

    We begin this week at Boreen Point QLD. 9 nights and time to fiddle and sort out stuff in van and vehicle.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    PACKING CLEANING SORTING PREPPING

    May 10 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    So much has been happening.

    I have begun to pack, pack, pack.

    We are cleaning, sorting, getting rid of stuff.

    We have not had the house rented yet - but I am sure this will happen - I just have to trust the process.

    Mick has finished all of his jobs and shut his business down for a few years - just going to regutter my brothers house next week and then all the tressles and planks and ladders will go into storage. He got so far behind on work due to rain, material hold ups, and difficult to work with houses. He was cheering big time last Friday when he got home from work.

    We have had the caravan towing course postponed due to the man having an operation on his hand that went wrong and needs to be fixed - now set for June when we are back at Lowood at Micks Mum's place for his 55th birthday.

    Then the caravan saga continues with a massive delay in picking her up from the caravan place with her new window - not ready - not ready - now ready on Tuesday but not until later in the afternoon.

    Widebay caravans in maryborough are then getting her first thing on Wednesday morning to get the security system wired in. This is all with only a week and half to go.

    Debbie visited and Mick went camping for a boys weekend - because two years with me on the road I think he thought - shit I better get in some feral weekend slobbery before I have to behave all the time. LOL

    Cutting it fine to be at Boreen Point for a week of rest on Saturday the 23rd May.

    But everything is coming together - and never did I think we wouldn't have hiccups - but it's close now and the excitement is building and building.

    Photos are of a burn pile Mick set of on Wednesday night last week.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    SNAKES ALIVE

    April 19 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Mick has been moving things around in the Shed we will store our stuff in. This snake skin was freshly left in there. Never seen such a huge skin and in such perfect condition. This is one VERY BIG carpet snake in the shed. Mick cant find him but he would be up top shelves tucked away from his site. Shouldn't have rodents in Shed. Thats for sure.Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    Final Art Therapy Workshop

    April 18 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Today was the final, for at least a few years, art therapy event held on The Deck.

    A magnificent day that has inspired me and helped to confirm that my plans to continue what I do when travelling is a great exciting plan.

    More details soon about what's happening and what and how I am offering my services when on the road.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    The Caravan Doctor

    April 17 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Yesterday we drove Princess to Caboolture. She needs her new front window installed. Her solar checked over. Her door lock fixed. Her Awning checked over. All under warranty. And she will have her first service after 1000ks. We will pick her up in about a week. In time for her next short adventure to Lowood to visit Micks Mum and for Mick and I to do a full day caravan towing and weight day course. 😀Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    WHERE ARE YOU GOING FIRST?

    April 12 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Hi everyone,

    We have been asked so many times - where are you heading first? - what's your plans?

    And to be honest I have only ever had a very general view on which way we will travel - but it was never going to be what is called a LAP - more like the desire is to make it a SLOW MEANDER which will look like squiggles and loops.

    I realised early on that there are seasons to consider and obviously there are peak times to see things that I don't want to avoid just because other people are there and it may be a little crowded. But cusps of seasons are good to consider. And there are also places I want to avoid when certain things are on.

    An example was Woodgate over Easter - the camp ground was perfect - lots of room - only one noisy group and they were asked to leave I think - otherwise so quiet and peaceful with lots of space - but if you went in to township it was very busy and as we left on the Monday the Annual Easter Festival was in full swing - it was huge - and that my friends is where I leave - exit left - very quickly. Even though we missed a nonthrough road sign and Mick had to manoeuvre out of a cul-de-sac. Well done sweetie.

    Lesson Learnt... we need to stop talking when navigating. LOL

    My deepest desire is to travel with a very flexible plan - some plan is needed because I am working on the road as we travel but the flexibility to be able to come to someone's town if they invite me - or if we like a river bank and want to sit beside it for 3 days then travel only 70k up the road and find another place to stay for a few days - that's my goal - that's my dream.

    So here goes - here are some set in stone plans for the coming few months with lots of flexible "I don't know what we are doing" moments - in between.

    23rd May we leave our house and head to a week in BOREEN POINT - rest and more rest - planning on seeing a few live gigs at the Apollonian Pub on both Sundays - Asa Broomhall on the 24th and Olivia Ruth on the 31st. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN US AT THE SHOWS. Free. 12 to 3pm

    1st June to 4th June - BEENLEIGH Showgrounds - so we can catch up with family and friends.

    5th to 7th June THORNESIDE - catching up for a few nights with an old school friend - you know you are getting old when you have to say we left school together 46 years ago. Sounds insane because it doesn't feel like that long.

    Following week is a meander to BLACKWATER which is only 8 hours away but we will take 4 days. Visit my son and daughter in law in Blackwater for her birthday

    Then of to CARNAVON GORGE - Mick wants to go back there to do a few walks again because they were so good but also to do the Bluff walk that we chickened out of last time - because its straight up - got to go back for the views and say we have done it.

    Then a meander on back to LOWOOD - arrive and stay for a few days with Micks Mum and Dad to celebrate Mick turning 55 years old on the 22nd June.

    Then a weeks meander to PROSERPINE for 4 nights from 1st July.

    Then a stroll through July up the coast to PORT DOUGLAS where we have 8 nights booked (because you have to or you have no place to stay) - Mick has a very good friend that has moved there.

    Then we will have another slow cruise around for 4 weeks and head to SAPPHIRE where we have booked a week to fossick with a few very good friends who will bring their van and stay with us for that week.

    Then LONGREACH and WINTON for the remainder of September.

    Early October we will head to YEPOON /EMU PARK and spend a few days at the beach with Lisa and Jade before doing whatever takes our fancy until we are back in Bauple for a week at the end of October ready for me to facilitate a live 4 day art therapy creativity retreat in Gympie for women on the first weekend of November.

    After that we will head to RATHDOWNEY to visit Micks cousin and somehow end up in PERTH for the two weeks after Christmas with my daughter and granddaughters.

    Then down the bottom of WA we will head for summer ☀️

    So that's the general locked in plan. I am so excited that I am nearly busting. But Mick and I are so busy getting everything sorted and ready to leave that the time is flying by,    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    Where Did The Day Go

    April 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Our first full day went by with no big achievements. No fish caught. One simple nature sketch. Lots of chatting. A little colouring in. Learning all about gas hot water. Having my first shower in the van. Learning where to put things and what works best. A few games of rummy. A few rain showers followed by heat and midges. Dinner at Kath and Micks. Noisy neighbours who thought they had the right to make us listen to their music very loud for three hours. While everyone was trying to enjoy their own camp fires and dinner time. 8pm curfew here. Advertised as a quiet place in nature to camp. They got warned at 8.30 by owners. Hope they turn it down today. There is always one self entitled bunch. Then it was a peaceful evening. It was a great day. And we both had a great nights sleep.Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    EASTER AT WOODGATE

    April 2 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Well we have finally got away for the first trip in our caravan. We are at Woodgate Caravan and Camping. We have an unpowered site. There are toilets and showers. Very quiet currently but we imagine it will be a lot busier by tomorrow. There is an 8pm curfew for noise here and we appreciate that. Our friends Kathy and Mick are here with us until Monday.

    We spent Sunday packing the car and van. We have everything we need and not filled every cupboard or cavity. Its heaven after years of trailers, tents and camper trailers. We already had our system down pat that suits us both. But now its just quicker to set up. Its like magic.

    So much to learn but its thrilling and great for our brains to try new things and look at things differently.

    The blankets are all over the windscreen and windows because as soon as we arrived we were bombarded by minor birds and they were picking at the rubber at window. Crazy. We covered it all up and they went away. Never seen so many and such intense behaviour.

    It's the end of the day and we are all tucked up in bed. The midges are really bad here today and tonight. But the caravan is screened and there are no midges in here. Very grateful.

    Tomorrow my plans are to do an art meditation. Do some pencil sketching and pen and wash. Probably a few games of rummy and yatzee. Hope Mick can catch a fish.

    AND I LOVE MY FRIDGES. No ice. No esky. So easy. It really is a palace. Very grateful.

    So on that note. Goodnight.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    GETTING READY SLOWLY

    March 20 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I have not posted anything for a while. Its been slow progress. Mick is trying to finish his final jobs but the rain has been constantly holding up his progress. Mick cannot get anything done around the house because its raining. Things that require dry weather such as concreting, mowing, roof cleans etc. But it will happen when it happens.

    I have been steadily working on setting up my new website for Inspired Creative Living Art Therapy and its close to going live and ready to hit the road.

    I slept in the caravan on the weekend when a friend stayed and I gave her my room. First night in there was terrible. Its comfortable, thats not an issue. It was raining so Mick put the air con on and the windows closed. I ended up sick with a headache from the fumes from new vinyl and plastics. And the aircon is very noisy. I decided by 11.30 that I just couldn't do it so I opened all the windows. Turned of the air con. And Wallah.... the smell went away. The rain runs beautifully of the windows and I got some sleep. No rain inside.

    The next night I slept out there all night. Slept really well. I cannot close it up to sleep though. Those fumes are just to much currently.

    The photos are very plain, but real. I only have queen sheets and my bed is huge. Its a king. My messy bed.

    And the cloths are my entire summer wardrobe. There are 10 shorts including 2 nice dress shorts. 7 t shirts. 2 good going out dresses. 4 summer frocks. I hoodie jacket. Swimmers. No winter long pants yet. But I am very pleased with my cloths ready to pack in van. There is plenty of room in there for our cloths. I will do a video tour next weekend when we go away for Easter to Woodgate.

    And one thing that Mick and I plan on doing more of on our travels is go watch entertainment at the local pubs as we travel. I had heard of blues singer named OLIVIA RUTH. We went to​ The Apollonian Hotel at Boreen Point on Sunday. MIND BLOWN at her talent. Brilliant outing and this is what we want more of.

    The Apollonian Hotel is one of the last surviving timber music hall Hotels built in the 1870's. Built from local timbers of Cedar and Hoop Pine it still stands in it's original glory hosting wide cool verandahs and a large rolling front lawn.

    For those local it is well worth the visit.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    First Cuppa in the Queens Cabin

    March 5 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    I love my little home. Mick and I sat at the dining table and had a cuppa this afternoon and then we ate dinner in there. Im going to have my first sleep over in her tomorrow night. Only 10 weeks to go...Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    LOTS OF DUMP RUNS

    March 3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    So its amazing how much has been given away and taken to the dump. I forgot to capture some photos of the trailer packed up. But we are getting there. Under the house is all cleared. Tool shed is ready for final pack up. Camper trailer is sold and taken. Its all quite rapidly coming together. I think Mick's next project is to refurb his pinball machine which could be all he can do next week if we get lots of rain. Mick's not taking any further quotes and now finishing of what he has on the books. Mick will tell anyone who will listen that he is retired. LOL... cant blame him though... retired from the tools and roofing...Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    19WEN

    March 2 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    My number plates needed replacing so I ordered new ones. And they look so good on my car. And "House Inspirations" is my business and also Mick and Wendy House's inspirational journey.

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    Hiccups Will Happen

    February 23 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    The Queens Cabin is having trouble with her solar charging. Mick has been dealing with Arctic and Renogy and trouble shooting. Im not worried because both have been super helpful and I am glad any problem happens while she is at home or close to home.

    And she was missing her front window... the reason I chose this van. Big window at the dining table. But Arctic have come through with no fuss and have ordered the window for us. Now we just have to wait and once they have it we will take it back to be fitted. Photos of windows are what it is meant to have and the remainder are photos of the interior. I love the colours.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    Clearing For Caravan

    February 21 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The process over a few weekends to clear this area up the front was labour intensive for Mick. But its done now.

    Telstra fixed the cut line at no charge as it was buried way to shallow.

    It rained but nowhere near as much as we anticipated.

    When we return this area will have a carport put up there to store the van.

    But for the next 11 weeks or so this is her home. The Queens Cabin is in place ready to pack.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    OUR AWNING ON THE CAR

    February 14 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    The roof top tent for Micks bedroom is an incredibly tough and easy to put up and down OUTBACK TOURER.

    We ended up purchasing the 160 OUTBACK TOURER Awning and fitting it to the car.

    It is so easy to install - has lighting - provides extra shelter in wet weather and shade as well.Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler
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    A FEW HICCUPS AND CHANGES OF PLANS

    February 14 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    First up - Mick was lucky he didn't right his car of this week when he hit a Roo and lost his bumper and damaged the guards the bumper is on. He didn't damage the electricals which was a miracle in itself. We are so grateful that he and his passenger were not hurt and the car has been dodgied up with another old bumper. Looks don't matter here - the Ute doesn't need to cost us another cent before we leave - deal with it when we get back. It will probably stay like this until it is no longer used. Thank goodness for mates with old bumper laying around and swapped for a carton of beer and a mate that welds and fix anything - a discount on his upcoming guttering job for him.

    Secondly I have not posted any pictures of the interior of the van due to not easily being able to get in there and play - the van would not fit under our carport, apparently... and Mick had arranged to dig a pad up near the letterbox on the Saturday after we collected van - the excavator driver had something urgent come up and the pad has only just been dug today.

    BUT I still cannot get my van on this enormous site Mick has made because 1. its wet and raining and he has to spread the road base and 2. They hit the Telstra lines which was buried to close to the top of the ground and cut them in half.

    So now we wait for Telstra to come fix said lines - then wait for Steve to come back and finish what has been started and THEN for the road base to settle and set.

    So I am not able to really get in the van and play around with stuff.

    I also have to take her back to Caboolture Arctic where we picked her up from. They had not put the window in the front as per the van I saw at the show we purchased it from. I was very worried that there would be an argument but they have agreed to put the window in and have ordered it and will let us know when its there. I cannot fault them on this. I am just pleased that the ONE THING that sold me completely on the caravan is being fitted.    Read more

  • Wendy HouseAUSTRALIATraveler

    Thinking of Mum and Dad's Travels

    February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I wrote a poem the other morning - came quickly to me.

    I was thinking of all the memes and sayings I have read about not taking this moment for granted and the ones about who you would want to talk to again if you could.

    I teared up a little and felt this in my soul in a way I had never really felt before.

    I don't think we can understand these memes sometimes, not fully, until we feel it in our bones.

    So this is the poem I wrote.

    The photos are from my collection of the maps and travel atlas my parents had for all of their meanderings. I will be bringing them along on my journey. All the dates in a well worn road atlas of their meanderings. I want to travel every black line they did plus more. There are a few places they didn't get to see, that they wished they could have been to, that I want to take them in my heart to. I will share them with you as I travel.

    NO MORE TIME FOR QUESTIONS

    I’ve read the poems written
    And the Facebook memes
    I’ve seen
    To remind us
    To ask the questions
    Now
    Listen to your loved ones
    Now
    While they are here
    With you
    But I don’t think we can
    Comprehend
    Until we experience
    Wanting answers
    To questions unable to be asked
    Now lost in silence.
    How did you drive across WA?
    What’s your story in the Kimberleys?
    Tell me more I say
    But the silence sits there
    And I reflect on poems
    I’ve read
    And now understand them
    To my core.

    Wendy House 5/2/26    Read more