THOSE THAT DARE...

Recently we went to the Barossa Valley...for a night...to pick up two small barrels. And of course something to put in them. It was a lovely drive there...a long drive back home...and some interesting sights on the way.


I"m not a big drinker so after a few wineries it's all the same for me. While the other half sampled, I walked around, looking at the buildings, the flowers, people watching (don't get me started on hen's nights that start at a winery at 10 am- or pink hummers!)



Just loved the history. These stone buildings still standing. We stayed in Betheny ( Bethanien) established in 1842 by 25 German Lutheran families from Silesia.

The Pioneer Cemetery tells it's own story. So many lived long lives. 82, 71, 83...so many children still born, still born, 1 year 3 weeks, 8 days.


We picked up our barrels from Seppetsfield- another adventuring family with an interesting history. We were given a tour of where the barrels are made and met Youngy, the cooper...

(amazing what they do to the barrels to get the right texture for the best flavours)....

but also where they store the barrels of port that are worth a fortune...



as well as the home Benno and his wife Sophie built. The house is quite something, but what really intrigued me is a photograph that shows Sophie and her husband Benno, and their 13 children.

Sophie had 21 pregnancies, 16 children, 13 surviving to adulthood.

In the photograph she appears stern. She deserves to be. She was pregnant for the first 21 years of her marriage.




My thoughts kept going to these early settlers. Trying to imagine their spirit to come so far from home, to set up a community, build homes, create families. Then to bury your loved ones so far from all they had ever known.

It was a hard time. I kept thinking of these women, working in the fields, side by side helping with their husbands. Burying another child in this country that wasn't home. That takes courage and strength.

I'll have to remember this for those days I think are too hard. Those times I don't want to do something because there are more fun things to do.

Don't want to redraft that story - too hard.

Don't want to do a final edit on the novel- too boring.

All those times I don't have the courage to submit to such and such...
Really? What is the worst that could happen? A rejection?

Let's harness some of that pioneering courage- and really see what we are capable of.
Something amazing I'm sure.


Vicki

http://vickithornton.weebly.com/











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