unearthing treasure

We were living in an old, rambling home with many bedrooms - a Queenslander, of sorts - perched on the edge of a hill with a view to sea. The backyard sloped down away from the house and flattened out, so as to create a natural sitting area. The yard was overgrown and bushes flanked the back fence - actually, it was a wall, a faded terracotta wall. We were down there, looking at the potential of our home and grounds, as though seeing them for the first time. A man was digging away at the earth, assessing it; taking a look to see how much work we had in front of us to create a lush vegetable garden. As he dug, he unearthed some terracotta and blue tiles. We realised that, buried under the earth, were the remains of an old Italian courtyard - the ideal site to restore and turn into a beautiful hillside outdoor cafe. We also realised we could rent out the many rooms of the house to create an income. I was excited to think of the changes in front of us, thrilled to uncover the existing possibilities. It was like discovering treasure already owned; we just had to open our eyes.

books

I was in a room, much like a meeting room, and through the glass windows I could see the night sky. The walls of the room were lined with shelves of books, and several tables housed stacks and piles more. I was excited for I'd had an idea and was here to explain it to a woman I took to be my mentor. I sorted through the books quickly, searching for a few particular editions to show her my source of inspiration. I found a black-covered book with old-fashioned type. It was an illustrated novel for older youth. The words were shaped into loosely formed paragraphs and arranged to frame, even merge with, the illustrations. The illustrations were black-line drawings, gorgeously rendered. One was of a grizzly bear - a fat and bristle-furred fellow; another, of a six-stringed guitar. I particularly noticed the lines and the space between them, and I felt thrilled by the design. I showed my mentor and explained my concept while sketching words and images in a notebook. She was approving and supportive, and I felt elated. A new project!