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Nov 02
in To Morocco 2013

In search of Queso …. and the stillness of the mountains…

Our journey has begun in search of Queso…cheese…glorious cheese. Once again.

We left the port of Santander and headed west passing through coastal areas of small fishing villages and rather empty tourist towns. Our kettle boiled alongside the comforting sound of bells which hung around the necks of grazing cows on the lush green pasture, separated by high rocky cliffs above the calm Bay of Biscay. In the distance we could see snow on the mountains to the South west… and Penny was on her way !!!

Fabrica de Quesos!! A cheese factory… Stop!! I quickly gathered some Euros and excitedly ran across the road to an elderly cheesemaker who was intrigued by our old car outside his shop. After much laughter, I broke some off for both Max and I and I waved and called out to the cheesemakers….Muy Bien….who waved and laughed in reply. Did I mention I also purchased some locally made chocolate from this little Quesos shop…… 70% cocoa…. Yum… well I just did.

Before heading for the mountains I noticed a pescadería… so I launched myself out of the car and used my rudimentary Spanish once again….and came away with some beautiful fish to pop in our tiny little fridge.. for tonight’s dinner…which I did cook by a beautiful lake as both the sun and the cool air were falling.

Then we headed for the hills… limestone rugged mountains actually and they were absolutely stunning. The air was crisp and clean and the sky still. The roads were narrow and around very sharp corner peeked sharp strong and imposing grey mountains – calling Penny to keep chugging consistently up the 1200mts to Fuente De Cable; where a cable car took us a further 700mts higher where at 1900mts we sat and were both in awe of the magnificent landscape.

Bells tinkled as the shepherds who made phone calls using their mobile phones and wore Scarpa footwear and North face jackets were moving their herd of goats down the valley as the temperature also dropped. Perhaps one day I may try some of the queso made from the milk from these goats? Eagles soared on the thermals of heat rising in the still quiet air. I felt such a sense of wonder and privilege being able to walk and sit quietly in this beautiful place. I breathed the stillness.

We drove down to Riaño for the evening. Riaño was a town which was moved higher above the valley when it was flooded to make way for a huge dam. Max and I couldn’t imagine how whole communities who had been living for generations farming the land would adapt to this move. This week of the year they would have been digging their potatoes as their neighbours in accompanying valleys would be doing, but the uniformly built homes are quiet and no smoke coming from their flues….no gardens… just an emptiness.

Max and I sat by this huge expanse of water as I cooked our fish…and pondered the lives of those who had been displaced by progress. We also reflected on what an amazing day we had driving from the ocean with the clear blue sky accompanying us in Penny to high into the magnificent mountains.

Tucked up in a little Hostal…we enjoyed a lovely shower, ready for an unknown journey tomorrow.

Buenas noches

fabrica de quesos

fabrica de quesos

 

                

 

 

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About the Author: Julie
I am a Journeywoman. I live my life as an explorer. An adventurer. An Observer. An Artist. There is no differentiation between how I live my life and the art that is an expression of it. It is through my experience adventuring the unknown, that I learn more about myself. My aim through this connection is to live where my expression is fully in alignment with the essence of who I am. “In the field of Fine-Art Photography, Julie stands apart from others with the way she sees the world and expresses her connection within it. Julie Stephenson’s photographs are sublime. Her work is an expression of her deep connection; and a gift to the world.”

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skeinydipping

I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have t I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have touched; have loved; have created; have worked; have nurtured. My hands.   

I looked down and saw on my wrist and fingers items from around the world which have so many stories; items which have all been created from the heart and made by the hands of others. 

I looked down and saw beautiful yarn. Yarn which has been handled carefully through shearing, dyeing, skeining, balling; and now being knit in my beautiful hands. 

My hands are one of my gifts. This year I’ve really missed the touch of another with my hands, to feel the heart of another through my fingertips; but so grateful and love my hands which touch and feel; work and play!

What do you see when you look at your hands?

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Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
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#gratitudeattitude #westknitsarethebestknits #westknitsmkal2020 #knittersofinstagram #knittersoftheworld #knittersofaustralia #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #handmade #handmadejewellery #fromtheheart #createeveryday #livetotravel #healing #healinghands #creativehands
My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories. I’ve had adventures on all continents. Slept being rocked by the sea; felt the ice on my skin in both polar regions, and felt the silence of the deserts. I’ve walked stone steps in monasteries at altitudes where each step I’ve taken consciously and mindfully; focussing on treasuring every molecule of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere. 

COVID has paused those adventures, but I draw upon my experiences as I navigate adventuring my days in a different way, on our ‘home range’. 

I recall my steps in Tibet as I walk through our bushland. I am mindful and conscious of my surroundings. I listen. I feel. I feel happy here. I am content.

My new stories may not hold the same experiences of connection with others; and may not be of extreme challenges or crazy things  (which I am rather prone to doing! 🙂 ) but they are not less wondrous… as I smell the warm eucalyptus waft from under my feet. 

I weave my stories, and this story is of my personal journey on my daily walk through our bushland. 
You can see some of my other woven stories on my website - link in profile. 

How do you express your life’s stories?
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#weaversofinstagram #indiedyedyarn #indiedyed #rigidheddleloomweaving #ashford #inspiredbynature #contentcreator #emotionalbalance #homedeco #handcrafted #makersmovement #creativelifehappylife #wellbeing #travellerlife #journeywoman #weavingaustralia
“....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those “....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those times in your life when you need a meditative and healing knit. Assookinakii (ass-s-oo-kin-uh-k-EE) means ‘healer’ in the Blackfeet language, thank you to Cut Woods School in Browning, MT for the tradish language support”. –  Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers 

Knitting this beautiful cowl by Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers for @sistersunitedmt ; WAS healing. 

As my hands gently formed the repetitive stitches I reflected on the word ‘Assookinakii ‘ - healer. I am a healer. I don’t understand it. It’s something unseen. Something within me which has been recognised by Ngangkari and ‘clever men’ here in Australia; and shaman and healers around the world as we travel. This recognition always has caught me by surprise; as I seem to walk a line between two worlds. 

As the stitches slipped from one needle to another and the beautiful colours of @spincycle_yarns revealed themselves; in the pauses between the stitches I heard a voice whispering to continue to seek connection with the natural world and listen deeply. 

What has been healing for you this year?
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#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.