#autumn smithers

[diejager]

Chapter 3

Cw: canon typical violence, injury, self-hate, drinking, Johnny getting his ass drunk, tell me if I missed any. Wc: 3.4k

Series masterlist

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He can't remember how he got here, just a second ago - or was it an hour - he was smoking outside, staring dully at the few stars that glinted brightly against the artificial lights of the base: lines drawn down the tarmac with small, integrated lights for landing and takeoff, lampposts scarcely placed for minimal movement, and the bulbs lighting up the base's various entrances.

He took a smoke, a cheap cigarette, nothing like the expensive ones Price burns on a daily, it didn't matter much to him as long as he got the nicotine rush from it, he was satisfied. The fresh, moist air of the British isles after a shower felt refreshing, the cool air against his clothed skin and the peaceful atmosphere that the night brought. He leaned back, figure blanketed by the lights blind spot, covered in darkness with only the fire of his burning cigarette revealing him. Every breath of nicotine calmed his mind, the puffs he breathed through scarred lips. The darkness helped lax his hesitance to pull up his mask, only high enough to show the tip of his nose, having foregone wearing his usual mask for a more comfortable, skull-painted balaclava. One of many dozens in his room, one he had the luxury of living alone.

His first reason for standing outside was to run away from his thoughts, to smither the rising nausea of his spiraling noise in his mind. He hoped the cool, autumn aid would calm his frenzied mind, to muffle the screams and painful memories that haunted him in the living and unconscious world. The flashes of red lining the walls he was familiar with and some he wasn't, begs and pleas cried out towards him or for him when he was deployed on an armed mission from the start.

He was a battle-hardened soldier - lieutenant by rank - and he has seen monstrosities people would never dream up, horrors of proxy wars and terrorist attacks, something he quickly got used to when he became "Ghost", special ops. Although his intentions were to override the sounds, he found calmness in the quiet nights at the base, no one bothered him, no one questioned him, and no one would strut up to him with words he only wished he could shove down their throats.

Solitude was a friend and enemy to Ghost, it made his demons lash out as often as he found his mind wandering off, dazed and drowsy. Insomnia made it a daily thing, loneliness wasn't a word he had in his vocabulary, he worked better solo, but having someone he trusted helping him was tolerable.

He was enjoying - enjoying was an understatement but no other word came to his mind - his moment of silence on his own, unbothered by the life inside the base. He was tired, but sleep wouldn't catch him, his eyes were dazed but never closed. He sighed, breathing out a cloud of smoke as he stared far away, eyes moving over his surroundings without staying on anything for too long.

"L.T., can I come out?" a gentle voice spoke out, asking him for permission as if he owned the space he was occupying. He almost scoffed at how soft and respectful your tone was, a stark contrast to this morning's mission you were sent together; though he liked the respect you had for his space, people rarely having him such consideration.

He groaned out his response, neither a yes nor a no, but he didn't tell you to go away; "Fuck off, Johnny, " as he'd occasionally tell Soap. He heard the door click and slam shut behind you, watching you step into the yellow light through the corner of his eyes. You took tentative steps towards him, hands slipped into your black, cargo pants, eyes straining in the dark to see him.

He realized you were dressed casually, cargo pants and a blouse shirt tucked into them, you seemed ready to go out or had plans. You cleaned up well from your soot and dirt-covered skin and hair from the deployment, the shallow scratch from shrapnel was disinfected and closed neatly.

He pushed himself against the wall as frag grenades were thrown at him, hidden behind a wall that held well against the loud blast. His headset helped muffle the booming sound of the continued explosions, the shock from it blowing rock, dust, and shrapnel his way.

"Ghost! Winter! How copy?!" Soap's voice screamed through the thick buzzing in their ears, laced with worry for you both.

"Just a scratch, Soap!" They heard your voice loud and clear, a sharp tone cutting the worry that grew in their chest. "You broken, Soap, Ghost?"

He would've sighed in relief if he were in another situation, but the mission needed his complete attention. He waited for the moment when the grenades stopped being thrown at them, he fished his frag and threw it, covered behind the safety of the brick wall.

The explosion rocked the ground, screams from the enemies reaching his ears satisfyingly. At that moment, he moved under the cover of the dust, ducking into the enemy line just as you reached the other side, doming the terrorist standing before you. When he met you in the middle, he took a quick moment to examine your face, the bleeding wound on your cheek dirtied with dark soot and beige, crusted sand. Otherwise, the sharp gleam in your eyes told him all he needed, you were fine, winded but still strongly standing.

He turned as fast as he got to your side and marched into the base, you following behind him. Once you entered the base, the infiltration mission could truly start its way to the end, the capture of this base.

"Ghost and Winter going in."

You approached him slowly, gazing at the butt of his cigarette. You were clean and that smile on your face felt odd to him after he spent hours staring at your cold, dead stare behind the rifle you held when you infiltrated the base in tow with him.

"We wondered if you wanted to go to the bar with us, it's on Price," your question didn't seem odd, it wouldn't be the first time they had you invite him to join them at the pub, to drink at a cornered booth in a bustling pub. We, as you mentioned, were probably Soap, Gaz, Roach, and Price, none fearing to send you to Ghost.

Before he could reply, you interjected, "C'mon, L.T., bourbon on the rocks. Soap told me the pub we're going has good bourbon." You knew he liked it on the rocks, that he only liked bourbon, he'd only drink it. You hadn't teased or whined about it like Soap did, you complimented his refined palette, once mentioning how you sometimes enjoyed bourbon too.

The team knew he had a soft spot for you, however odd and crazy sounding it felt to him for saying he felt comfortable with you. He had replayed his words in his minds nights ago, how he'd grown comfortable around you, almost fond of you, and how considerate you were with him - a soft, feminine touch to his military life.

You had a way with him, your words made him react more strongly than any others would. Months spent working closely with you, you were his one on one buddy, his trusted cover fire, his smart and kind teammate. The missing aspect of a feminine figure in his life probably made his fondness for you stronger. Most women who've approached him in the past merely wanted a one-night stand, a quick, detached fling they found big and beefy - him especially for the balaclava he always wore, the mystery and thrill behind his identity - and they were drunk out of their mind or horny, wanted a good fuck for the night, no attachments or feelings.

He took a last breath of his smoke, dropping it to step over the burning tip as he pulled his mask down, snugly against his stubbled jaw. He hadn't found the time to shave, not being able to stand his face - Simon Riley's face, the man he was no more - on the mirror, it brought disgust and self-hatred coursing through his veins.

Your smile widened, it stretched slightly on both edges as you stepped back, giving Ghost the space he needed. You kept your eyes on him, the glazed-over look in his warm, brown eyes and the tired slant of his lids.

"I take that as a yes, Ghost?"

The triumphant tilt of your head looked quirky, it reminded him of a puppy. The slight shift of your head made your blouse crumple, the chains and dog tag glinting under the yellow light. Whenever you'd go out, you kept your dog tag, it was to you - like it was to them - a remnant of who they were when they started, a lost memory of their past as recruits and privates before climbing up the ranks.

With each step you took back, he took one forward, steadily sliding out of the darkness and into the light like a monster from the night, crawling and stalking for the right moment to pounce. Every step he took was calculated, silently stalking behind you when you turned your back to him. He wanted to tell you how dangerous it was to have your back towards him, he was a danger - a menace for your doe-eyed stare.

It was a short walk around the base, his long legs easily outpacing your shorter ones, leading you to Price's Ford, a rented one from the British base. You both knew your way around the building and where officials parked their cars, on one side were military vehicles, and the other regular cars. Soap waved them over when he saw Ghost's lumbering figure approaching, calling out for your names throughout the calm night, ignoring Price's warnings about it being late.

"Knew ya'd do it, ain't da right, bonnie?" Soap grinned, springing his arm around your shoulders, and pulling your head to his hard chest. He smelled of fresh cologne and soap, as they all did after a messy mission.

"Course you did, huh, Soap?" Gaz teased, freeing you from the Scot's hook.

You filed into the car, Price taking the wheel while Gaz took the passenger seat - he called dibs on "shotgun" or so he said - Roach and you moved to the back of the eight-seater SUV, leaving the middle row for the two walls of muscles.

The ride out was filled with Gaz and Soap's quips and ranged discussions, they went back and forth, calling one of you out to back up their points or simply wanting your opinions. Whenever Roach signed something, you told the rest, letting them know his words. The few grunts and groans from Ghost were the only signs of life from him, his gaze concentrated on the darkened window on his side, staring out into the lights that lit up the city.

He was on guard - always had been - on the ride and while you walked into the pub, eyes gazing around him and the team, taking in his surrounding with wary glares. The warm, gold bulbs cast their light on the honey, brick walls, black lounge seats, reflective, marble tables, and simple chairs. People most sat near the bar table and on red stools, where the drinks came out more quickly and the wait shorter. Ghost was eyeing them as he sat down, he took the edge of a lounge, a better place to watch over the place and move hastily if he had to.

You sat to Ghost's right, squeezed between him and Roach while Price sat comfortably on his own chair, letting Gaz and Soap take up the other side of the lounge. The bantering duo was tasked to order their drinks: a few shots for him and Gaz, bourbon on the rocks (bourbon and ice), rum for the Captain, and a rum and coke for both you and Roach, preferring the sweeter side of alcoholic drinks. Once Price gave Gaz his card - to open a tab - they walked to the bar, repeating the list you made.

When the first drinks were served, Gaz brought them over, his shots and Ghost's bourbon. You watched Soap pass the card and juggle three drinks to your booth at the farthest corner of the pub.

"Order's up!" Soap announced, voice as jovial as usual. "Yer rum, Captain," he placed the cup down, the golden liquid sloshing around, nearly spilling. "Rum and coke, bonnie, Roach," he slid over your cup, the brown and ice clinking against the glass, the lime neatly stuck in place.

"To a successful mission."

You cheered after Price raised his cup, clinking your alcoholic drinks together and each taking sip, Soap, and Gaz downed their first shot glass. Ghost, however, didn't share your giddy celebration, pulling his mask high enough to drink slowly, face covered by the hood of his black hoodie.

"That was a good throw, Ghost, saved our arses back there," you peered at him, head cocked his way with a proud smile.

His eyes glazed over your face, starting from your eye and down to your moving lips. He repeated your words in his mind, blinking lazily with a grunt: "You did good, Winter."

"Ya shoulda seen her! Followin' L.T. and takin' everything down, " Soap slammed the shot cup down, cheeks slightly pink, yet far from drunk, it was his second shot of tequila. "Und yer waes cool too, cold as winter back in Scotland!

A few drinks seemed to make his accent harder, words changing from English to near-deep Scottish. It was funny to hear him spit words that no one understood.

I wish I could've seen that, must've been quite the sight, huh? Gaz and Roach weren't deployed for that mission, they were needed elsewhere during the last two days, somewhere north of you.

"'S nothing wrong with that, right? Cap?" you directed your pout at your Captain, forcing him to answer even though he'd prefer not to get too involved in your childish banter - or so he kept saying.

"Not bad, no, 's fine Winter. Stay sharp and frosty's good."

"So long's your not as grumpy as Ghost, Winter, " Gaz's teasing jab made you laugh, the image of you being as gloomy and broody as Ghost wasn't something you'd see yourself as.

Frowning too much would make you old and wrinkle faster, as your mom once said. It wasn't something you planned on doing, Ghost was dark enough for the whole team, and the baggage he carried was heavy enough for the team to support him, even though he kept everyone out of his trauma, you all still promised to listen when the time came.

A few glasses became many, and the table balanced on its sole leg with the piling amount of empty cups. Soap and Gaz were drunk out of their mind, slurring words and cheeks flushed hotly with the promise of a horrible hangover. Roach looked tipsy, but you knew by how unmoving he was that he too, was drunk, just not as much as the three others. Price, however serious or smiley he got, was as drunk as Gaz, cheeks red and inflamed, holding his empty cup of rum and mumbling incoherent thing. You enjoyed one rum and coke, Ghost having two, you were both designated drivers, you for not wanting to drink too much, and Ghost for his self-restraint with alcohol.

"All fuckin' plastered, " you heard Ghost hiss out, moving to hoist Price against him to put them into the SUV. Their stumbling steps could hardly make a step or two off their seats.

After you left to close the tab, you pocketed Price's card and helped Roach, guiding him outside the establishment and into the back row, leaning into the side window. Ghost went back for Soap as you did with Gaz, piling them onto one another, arms clutching each other like cuddling children. You snickered, they always ended up like this when Price or Soap took you to drink, pulling at their clothes and waking wrapped together with headaches and nausea.

You moved to look at Ghost, catching the dazed gaze he had as he stared at you, watching you pushing the two men inside while he waited beside you.

"Want me to drive, L.T.? You had two mugs," you met his eyes gazing a lot him quizzically, ready to take the keys from his pockets.

When he nodded and passed the keys to you, you rounded the car and took the driver's seat. You were ready to leave when he sat in the passenger seat, staring into the street. It was a slow ride, you drove slowly to mitigate the drunks' stomachs, swirling to the side when the road had a big pothole.

Without Gaz or Soap talking, it was extremely quiet, only the slurred mumbles and snores from them filling the car. While you concentrated on driving, Ghost took the moment to peer at you, watching your calm expression. It was so expressive, your face morphing from happiness to cold, calculated cunningness, your expression changed as fast as the wind's course, blowing north one second and south the next.

He was almost mesmerized by you, your glimmering irises, your shoulder-lengthed hair, and the soft skin scarred but still beautiful to him. Bonnie, Soap called you, rightful and truthful in their eyes. You were young and a feisty beauty, snarling back when you played, smiling brightly when you talked to them (even to him, he never understood how you could stand smiling or looking at him, an abomination compared to someone like you) and grew cold, dangerous when you were deployed, a take-no-shit.

He was scarred and carried around his trauma like a glove, engrained in his bones and hung from his skin. He wore a mask to hide his past, he covered himself to hide from prying eyes, from people who asked why he wore a mask, if he took it off, or if he was ugly - human in any sense. You hadn't, you respected his limits, the barrier he placed around him, and the ones people placed around themselves. You didn't ask any of them for their secrets when you first joined. He first thought you were polite, but then he saw the wall you put up, like them, you had secrets you held dearly to your heart.

His mind wandered back to you every time he tried thinking of something else, even as you parked the car and slipped out, helping him move everyone to their room, Soap and Gaz, Roach and you, and Price on his own.

He watched you close the door, eyes stuck to your back until all he could see was the door, the grey and beige walls of the barracks filling his vision.

"Fuck-" Gaz groaned, head held between his hands. His face was scrunched in pain, fingers delicately holding onto the locks of his brown hair.

"Ma heid's loupin'..." his roommate grumbled, laying face down into his crossed arms. Heat pulsed in his head, it was painful from the way he groaned and whined. "Don't ya laugh a mae, Winter."

You couldn't help it, everyone apart from you and Ghost were hungover, face scrunched in pain, Price and Roach's mild, while Gaz and Soap suffered more strongly.

You'd been able to lead all the stumbling and groaning men to the Task Force's small kitchen, leaving Ghost to watch over them while you got them water and painkillers from the infirmary.

"I warned you about drinking too much, didn't I?" you grinned, placing down two pills for each of them. You knew they'd need it if they wanted to get things done, and from experience, their bigger bodies needed twice as much as you did.

Thank you, he was hardly able to sign his words, hands shaky and eyes red-rimmed with pain skewering his head over drinking a bit too much. He thought he'd learn to limit himself, but he got thrown into the flow with Soap and Gaz's insistent drinking.

You sat on the other side of the L-shaped sofa, giving him the space you knew he wanted, both watching over the cacophony of pained hushes and mumbles. Your eyes met, his a warm, tired brown hugged by the dark paint on his skin flashed with you squinted ones, appreciating the sight of your found family in one place. You both knew that you'd die for one another and the Task Force, damned any destiny, this was the most important thing you had. Something bright in your dark world.

Next

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[astraystayastayastray]

The Middle

Pairing: fem!reader + boyfriend!idol!hyunjin

Genre: angst, breakup, hope+comfort

Song by: Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey

Plot: When love eventually comes to an end, you find yourself constantly wanting to go back in time.. to the middle.

A/N: the song cover for this song looked just like the hyunjin arts he likes to paint

Description: Time goes by too fast. It is a foe that takes away youth, memory, and childhood. It brings regret and pain.

"Why don't you just meet me in the middle?"

DO NOT COPY WORK.

Take a seat, right over there, sat on the stairs

Stay or leave

You crumble to the floor, clutching onto your chest. The note that was once placed neatly in your room is now struggling to breathe inside of your tight fist.

I know we meant all good intentions...

But I feel like we are both continuing to drown in so much pressure and worry right now. We try to help each other, I know, but neither of us are feeling any better.

I'm sorry. You dont deserve someone like me.

You deserve to be happy and meet a person who will spend time with you every single day without leaving you in the middle of a movie because of dance practice or abandoning you at a park for a musicvideo filming.

I hope this letter will mark the end of our relationship but also a new beginning for you.

- 현진이♡

◇

Ever since you broke up with your boyfriend, you've never felt so lost, cold, and empty.

◇

You first met Hyunjin at an art museum. The two of you started talking as you both walked through the galleries and exhibits together.

He was wearing a mask and a hoodie so you had not the slightest idea it couldve been an idol - and it had to be Hyunjin too.

Sooner or later Hyunjin revealed himself and you were shocked.

But then things cooled down and you started dating.

Once or twice, you would see a camera go click or a phone tracking your every move through a video.

But you didn't mind. You had Hyunjin.

Everything you ever needed was Hyunjin.

All except that he left you.

I can't just let you go

And so here you are, in the same museum you first met the love of your life.

At the beginning everything was so clear, so beautifully intact.

Now all you can see is fog, mist, and terror crouching by every corner you turn.

You were stuck. With no way out.

You were scared.

Every single day, you would find yourself circling around the museum.

Day by day,

Week by week,

Month by month,

Hoping to pass by a person who might as well will never set foot in this country again.

Why was life so cruel?! Did it have to take every single happiness away from you?

Hyunjin, not even a text, left for another fucking tour and will not be coming back.

When someone says that their heart is broken, you have never really felt the true meaning of this phrase.

But now you do.

Your heart beats, aches, and hurts every single second for whom you loved most, the only person who has ever loved you back.

And now this story was coming to an end as well.

Now, you just want to go back to the middle of everything.

The period of time when you didn't know who Hyunjin exactly was but knew that he was the one for you.

When love wasnt a thing between you two but your heart pounded and hammered in your chest at the sight of him.

When the unfamiliar emotions of love started to blossom in your heart but you were both too shy to admit.

When the innocent confession of liking was revealed and love was introduced as a possible route forward.

The middle.

Oh, baby, why don't you just meet me in the middle?

Nothing more. Nothing less.

I'm losing my mind just a little

When you didn't know anything but knew everything.

Why don't you just meet me in the middle?

The middle of a moment in time when you and Hyunjin, hand in hand, would smile without a trace of worry or doubt.

A pause in time.. a picture film in the sunset.

In the middle.

◇

The spring leaves of your breakup smithers away and autumn fall emerges.

You take your daily evening stroll through the same museum once again.

It was still beautiful, no matter how many times you step in and out of the building. It always felt so different every time.

But this time.. you see a new painting has arrived and was hung on the wall during the weekend.

You quickly walk over to take a glance when you recognize your face is mirrored against the wall.

On the description, it read,

To my first and last love - I am coming soon.

It was definitely you in that painting..

And that art style.. could be of no one but Hyunjin's.

How could you not recognize it?

The face expressions, the quality, the paint brush techniques, the strokes - they were all so familiar to you.

Hope and panic starts to rise in your chest.

You should not be hopeful, you should not be expecting.

But here you are, twirling around and around to see if Hyunjin was anywhere.

But no, you do not see anyone.

You are alone...

Until you feel a warm body wrapping behind you into a hug so big it traps you and flushes all of your sadness and pain from your soul.

You recognize the hoodie surrounding you.. the scent.

It was the one he wrapped around your shoulders when you were cold...

It was the one he pulled over your head in your once-shared bedroom in intimate silence...

He made everything seem possible even through your darkest days.

Hyunjin

So baby

You wish you can just forget about all the things that have hurt you for the past few years..

Why don't you just meet me in the middle?

But humans cannot do that. They plan, calculate, hesitate, look back into the past, and retreat their footsteps.

I'm losing my mind just a little

Can't we go back in time?

You spin around.

Can't we go back in time?

To the middle?

When everything was fine..

When everything was beautiful...

But the face in front of you says otherwise. Through his eyes, you can see the brightest constellations tracing his every thought and every gesture.

And in those thoughts and gestures, you can see the promising image of the two of you, eventually together in a warm, loving, and eternal embrace.

Him smiling in comfort and in final peace, stroking your hair and rubbing your back.

You gazing up at him in admiration and more love than you can ever imagine someone can depict through just a glance.

The images flicker in front of your eyes and now you see an older form of you and Hyunjin who stands facing the exact same painting in front of you even after many many years.

His hand momentarily leaves yours and gently reaches for your chin. Tilting your head up a slight bit to meet his eyes with yours, the man of your life stares at you with so much kindness, care, beauty, and love.

Then, just like the painting that stands permanently engraved into your memory, Hyunjin leans forward and connects his lips with yours.

Dating an idol might be challenging..

It breaks your heart, mends it, and will shatter it back into pieces numerously again and again and again...

But you decide that you don't want anything more right now than the man in front of you.

You didn't need to go back in time to the middle in order to reach your happiness,

Happiness is inside of you, inside of Hyunjin, inside of all of us,

And it will keep continuing to grow and spread

continuously, contagiously, and endlessly.

Love is eternal.

One other is all it takes to open up the barrier and let the light shine through

To know love,

To feel loved,

And share love.

◇

Check out masterlist for more.

REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED! THANKS FOR READING!

[tobinheath]

I’m for sure Mark...

[glimmerofawesome]

[bughead-in-the-comics]

From The New Archies #11 (1989).

[jaspersmithers]

A recent photograph of my back garden at night from my current series of Autumnal photographic experiments.

[krispyweiss]

Album Review: Chris Smither - More from the Levee

Though it has moments of levity scattered throughout its 40-minute runtime, Chris Smither’s More from the Levy is mostly an autumnal, elegiac affair.

All my leaves are turnin’ brown, he sings on “Lonely Time,” a 50-year-old song re-recorded to open the veteran blues-folkie songster’s 18th LP.

Recorded in 2013, including a slew of reimagined pieces and featuring appearances from Alan Toussaint, Louden Wainwright III and Morphine drummer Billy Conway - More from the Levee is vintage Smither, literally and figuratively.

Sounding as if he’s just come from the dentist and is loaded with Novocain, Smither combines his delightfully garbled, slightly gruff vocals with supple fingerpicking and boot-heel percussion to address the mundane and the existential in a sparse setting as Conway adds light-touch drumming and cymbal crashes that strike as unexpectedly as lightning on a sultry summer night.

Moody, far-off saxophone, wistful melodica and Toussaint’s tickled ivories add to the album’s gathering storm of sound.

The hardest part is to begin/yeah, I know you think I’m crazy but we’re almost to the end/and if I drive you to distraction I will drive you back again, Smither sings on “Drive You Back Again.”

The previously unrecorded “Let it Go” is Toussaint’s showcases and a masterful amalgamation of humor and serious musicality as Smither sings - and talks - about his inability to come to terms with a stolen car.

Three thousand pounds of wheels and sounds that used to make folks, used to make 'em stop and stare/now except for a little pile of glass the pavement's bare/I keep lookin' 'round, it keeps not bein' there

Fortunately, Smither keeps being there. And music lovers are better off for it.

Grade card: Chris Smither - More from the Levee - A-

12/16/20

[insatiabletc]

This is 16 year old Ramona Lisa Wilson, an indigenous woman who liked to write poetry and dreamed of becoming a psychologist.  Here is a portion of her poetry, as quoted in a news article:

“As I look out to the bright blue sky this chilly autumn day,

There’s no way I can thank the Creator, no way to repay,

for the lovely sights to heart’s content that He has let me see,

for joys and laughter that I’ve lived and the love that He gave me....”

She had a deep and loving connection with her friends and family that has spanned across time and beyond her death.

On 6/11/1994, Ramona hitchhiked to a friends house from Smithers, BC. When Ramona didn't show up for school or her afterschool job, her parents phoned the police. She was known as the responsible one of her friends and wasn't known to disappear or runaway. However, police still tried to tell her family that she likely did run away so she could "blow off some steam."

In January 1995 the police received a tip that her body could be found near the Smithers Airport. However, it appears from the news articles I was able to find, that they searched only a portion of the area surrounding the airport and did not find her. However, in April 1995 her body was found in an un-searched location near the airport, which made the tipper correct. And also suspicious. Sadly, the police were not able to track down the tipster. To compound the pain, Ramona's family wasn't offered support services by either the police or local government.

Despite the dismissive start to the investigation, the Wilson family now reports that they have a close and positive relationship with the lead investigator placed in 2011, which is a relief. It sounds as though he has been respectful to the family and they feel he genuinely cares about their daughter's case. To date, there have been no arrests and her case is still unsolved, and is currently part of a larger investigation into murders of indigenous women along Highway 16 (the infamous Highway of Tears).

To be honest, as much information as there is on The Highway of Tears and this case in particular, I am left with a couple of unanswered questions that no amount of (free) sleuthing allowed me to dig up:

- What was the cause of death? It was reported that she was beaten, but there is nothing else out there.

- Why aren't there any suspects?

- Were there any witnesses? Since her clothes were found next to her, folded neatly, was she wearing something else or was she nude?

- Were the rope, zip ties, and brass knuckles [and watergun??] related?

- Who was the tipster?

- Can DNA help solve the case now?

- Why didn't police search the area she was found when they first got the tip?

Want to Learn More About MMIWG?

Our page is just a drop in the bucket of information out there on this topic! Here are some great sources that we have come across:

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (Canada) https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA https://mmiwusa.org/

CBC’s database on MMIWG (Canada) https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/

Justice for Native Women (USA and Canada) http://www.justicefornativewomen.com/

The REDress Project (Canada) http://www.redressproject.org/?page_id=43

[bhfineart]

First major Covid-19 induced online-only auctions achieve good results

While the coronavirus lockdown removed live auction bidding, many of the Australia and New Zealand auction houses have continued sales with online-only auctions, while others have closed their doors until the crisis passes.

Prior to the lockdown, there were three possible auction formats: live only, both live and online and online-only, with the latter being the only option available in Australia and New Zealand at the present time.

Online auction site invaluable.com has been the source of most of the growth in the popularity of the online method of auctioneering over the last 5 or so years. But conventional wisdom was that online-only auctions were a cost saving method of moving less expensive lots, or as an adjunct to a live auction, as another method of bidding for those unable or unwilling to attend, and desiring total control of their bidding.

After all, who would spend thousands of dollars without being able to physically inspect what they were intending to bid on.

Online-only auctions also eliminate telephone bidding to the rooms, the telephone being the source of a large proportion of the bids at a live auction, especially at the upper end of the market because of the anonymity it offers the bidder.

The Covid-19 lockdown has elevated the status of the online-only auction, as this is the only method by which an auction house can do business apart from private sales.

The last major art sale in Australia was the Deutscher & Hackett Important Australian Aboriginal Art, held on 18 March, on the cusp of the introduction of the restriction on live auctions. This sale was conducted with both live and online bidding, as with all of Deutscher & Hackett's recent sales. The sense of foreboding within the population at the time resulted in lower room attendance, but the sale still raised a creditable $2.4 million (IBP).

The ban on live auctions has caused major disruption at all levels of the art and antique auction industry.

Three of the leading Australian art auction houses, Smith & Singer, Deutscher & Hackett and Menzies have postponed their next scheduled major sales, while the fourth, Bonhams has not yet announced a date for its first major art auction for 2020.

Some of Sydney and Melbourne's auction houses, such as Lawsons, Theodore Bruce, Raffan Kelaher & Thomas and Leonard Joel have switched seamlessly across to online-only sales, not noticeably changing their regular weekly, special and on-location auction schedules. These businesses have been combining both formats for several years over all sales, so have sales histories to estimate likely results from online-only sales.

In Sydney, Shapiro Auctions had scheduled the live sale of The Contents of the Historic Homestead 'Wollogorang', Goulburn on 6 April, many weeks in advance of the lockdown, and for the auction to proceed had to make a quick decision as to what direction to take. The decision to move to the online-only format would not have disappointed the vendor or the auction house. From a low estimate total of $264,000 (which does not include buyer's premium), the sale achieved $478,000 (IBP) with 81% of the lots sold by number.

In Melbourne, Leonard Joel had three auctions scheduled on April 6, 7 and 8 for their initial Design Icons Week series, again catalogued and advertised prior to the lockdown coming into effect, for both live bidding and online bidding. Again the three sales: Modern Design; Luxury and Prints and Multiples quickly became online-only sales with little notice.

Leonard Joel reported that the three sales sold 74% by number and "smashed all sales expectations" and that "online-only auctions, in this important period of social-distancing, are absolutely no barrier to the collecting community."

Other mid-tier auction houses such as Philips Auctions and Aingers Auctions in Melbourne, and Vickers & Hoad in Sydney have closed for the duration of the ban on live auctions.

In New Zealand, Dunbar Sloane, Cordy's and Art + Object have postponed all their sales while Webb's, has been conducting auctions online-only and postponed their important Works of Art sale.

Auckland’s oldest auction house, International Art Centre is demonstrating that necessity is indeed the mother of invention.  When New Zealand's Prime Minister declared a level four lockdown on 26 March, "business as usual" abruptly ceased. They postponed their April Important & Rare auction, then began working with collectors with the aim of gathering a healthy offering of works, both contemporary and historical to be sold online-only.

Director Richard Thomson said they were careful to choose works that are in good condition with no surprises. 'Condition was paramount' Thomson said. The sale of 65 lots features familiar names and carefully curated works by artists such as Colin McCahon, Charles Blomfield, Michael Smither, Sydney Thompson, all stalwarts of the New Zealand art scene.

Prior to lockdown, the mooted live Important & Rare sale, with many key offerings was generating considerable interest in the New Zealand art market. When asked why they  didn’t just proceed with that sale online, Richard Thomson, the company's auctioneer said 'it was not contractually viable for us to expect our vendors to accept that we would not hold a viewing or offer their works for sale in such an uncertain environment'.

Like some of the Australian auction houses using the Invaluable bidding platform, International Art Centre have agreed to absorb the usually additional 5% premium charged by Invaluable to make the change more palatable to buyers, and in addition is offering purchasers free door-to-door delivery when lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The title of International Art Centre’s forthcoming auction Art at Home could be applied to all forthcoming online-only sales as collectors and first time buyers make the most of their home space, with time to appreciate their surroundings.

Clearly, the changed conditions for auction houses are challenging, but can offer opportunities as well, even though traditional viewing in person is severely restricted, and bidding in the auction room is not possible for the time being.

It is those auction houses who already have a large percentage of online bidders on their books that are in the box seat, with buyers still ready and willing to spend, as is evident from the experiences of Leonard Joel and Davidson Auctions for example, as reported in AASD.

Olivia Fuller, head of art at Leonard Joel, told AASD that they will be using digital viewing options such as Facetime and Whatsapp to facilitate and enhance the viewing and buying for their clients now not able to look at artworks in person.

As we know, the main reasons for sales of art and collectables at auction are death, divorce, debt and possibly down-sizing, and none of these reasons are likely to abate, which means auctions are very much here to stay.

Therefore sellers and buyers will have to adapt to the changed circumstances. The auction house simply acts as a conduit between seller and buyer, much like it has since James Christie opened his eponymous auction house in December 1766 in London, and today, bidding online at auctions is an additional way of doing so.

Of course we have seen online bidding ventures come and go, like Auctionata for example. The auction platform Invaluable.com has managed to dominate the scene, now partnering with more than 4,000 premier auction houses worldwide, including Sotheby’s.

It had started out in 1989 as supplier of auction price data, and it wasn’t until 2009 that Invaluable launched its online bidding platform. The platform now boasts 58 million auction records with over US$204 billion in value.

Today however, all eyes are on the big end of town, and Invaluable surely want to capture the biggest prizes of all: the most valuable art sold at auction. To date, there has been some reticence from collectors, as Invaluable.com charge a flat 5% on all hammer prices achieved, (apart from the auctioneer’s buyer’s premium), which can lead up to a total of 30% on top of the hammer price.

On a $5,000 artwork, Invaluable adds a bearable $250 to the total, but on $500,000, a fee of $25,000 would be added by bidding through Invaluable. The services of art consultants and the auction house phone bidding services work out much more favourable for the buyers.

A tiered system of bidding fees from Invaluable would seem like the obvious solution to capture the big ticket art items. Whether this will eventuate, remains to be seen, as Invaluable may well hold out. Buyers may succumb in larger numbers in an environment where they cannot attend an auction in person.

One problem may be the slower pace of bidding, as experienced by auctioneer Andrew Shapiro in their last sale. He said: “With 716 online bidders, the sale ran smoothly, though at a much slower pace than if it were in the rooms. Instead of 80 to 100 lots an hour, we were at 30 to 50 lots an hour, as the internet was having to keep up with the incredible number of bidders.”

If Invaluable are able to capture the buyers at the highest levels, they will become an even more powerful player in the art world, as they will gain direct access to the world’s biggest art collectors – the holy grail of the artworld.

However, in the hope of live auctions again possible in the not too distant future, Deutscher + Hackett have moved their autumn sale to mid-June, and Menzies have postponed their end of May sale to a later date. Meanwhile perhaps as way to cut down the longer than usual wait for an auction proper, in recent weeks, we have seen the leading auction houses offering more paintings for private sale.

Article originally published in Australian Art Sales Digest on 11 April 2020

First major Covid-19 induced online-only auctions achieve good results is republished from: Banziger Hulme Fine Art Valuations

[johannesen07shields-blog]

Internet Marketing For Clothing Stores Online

He at present working on his 25th restaurant eliminated of them have multiple Michelin stars to their name (the most recognized and influential culinary ratings guide). He has multiple well known cookbooks, 4 television shows and a DVD series, to name a few. Typically the ingredients are sub-par, the menu confusing with too many options, as well as the actual food being delivered not value a roadside burger be. Please increase your hand in Demand of another $400+ driver? Consider another oversized one made of titanium? Anyone . Equipment sales have largely been driven (pardon the pun) throughout the years and months by technological advancements. Inside my April 13th posting I shared some rather sobering thoughts from Wally Uihlein, CEO of this Acushnet Company (Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra Golf) in regards to his opinion on future performance enhancements in unit. Agree or disagree with his position but its difficult to process what he is saying simply as a result of position he's within the market. Find out which restaurants are doing best in your area - then go ahead there to sample their food and service, always looking for ideas to improvise located on. When in involves dining Smithers, British Columbia has an abundance of businesses. Choose from quick service fast food fare or fine meal. You can find everything from Taco Bell and KFC to Boston Pizza. When you are in the climate for family dining you can think about the Logpile Lodge or Capri Family Restaurant and Steakhouse. The actual full list of restaurants are available on the Smithers, British columbia website perfect. Just about at the ads you're seeing at this time and you'll start to obtain a feel for what epidermis businesses are taking advantage of spring seasonal marketing. The acreage was bought and became a truck farm just after WWII and produced first melons in your community. The third generation of growers now run the barn. There are 50 acres focusing on trees and shrubs. Andrew Sloan and also the wife become the proprietors. The tree farm is open weekends: Saturday from 9 am until 6 pm and Sunday from noon until 6 pm. It is actually a surviving a seasonal business , but Andrew wants to stay open until the snow flies. It is a good idea to call ahead when springs sets out to appear or as the autumn season gets going. While he waits for your different dishes he ordered, he watches carefully for your way employees works, approach they treat customers, as well as the way industry is enjoying (or not) the actual meals.

[capecodsciencecafe]

Celebrate National Chemistry Week on Cape Cod at the Cape Cod STEM cafe

For the 5th consecutive year, the Cape Cod Science Cafe has been housed in the Cape & Islands Boy Scouts of America’s Wicked Cool Autumn Welcome at Camp Greenough in Yarmouthport, Cape Cod. The science cafe takes over the mess hall and many local STEM stakeholders bring hands-on STEM related activities to share with the attendees ranging in age from grades K-8. While this is a Boy Scout hosted and sponsored event, this one is open to the public. For a $15 fee, students get to carve and take home a pumpkin as well as a woodworking project. All the other activities including fishing, archery, science cafe and more are included in the fee.

 Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Photo by Brian D’Amico

Those wishing to join us Saturday October 28, 2017 from 1pm-4pm were asked to preregister to guarantee a pumpkin and woodworking project: https://www.scoutscapecod.org/calendar/209/2933-Wicked-Cool-Autumn-Welcome.html

Photo by Brian D’Amico

Cambridge Science Festival’s Science on the Street brought the cool science for the 5th consecutive year! 

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan 

Cambridge Science Festival’s Science on the Street is always up for bringing thematic activities to our events! This year was no exception: They brought their augmented-reality sand table and Cape Cod sea life exhibit.

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

The Barnstable County Sheriff’s outreach team was back on board and brought their fingerprinting kits and chatted with the students about how they use forensic and digital tools solve crimes! 

Photo by Brian D’Amico

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

We actually are responsible for the Barnstable County Sherriff’s Office doing outreach events! Their first one was with us at Wicked Cool in 2016 when we invited them to participate since the 2016 National Chemistry Week (NCW) was forensic science!

Speaking of NCW themes, the 2017  theme of National Chemistry Week was Chemistry Rocks! Our friend from Smithers Viscent and fellow NESACS member, Paul Reibach,brought a thematic activity: An investigative exploration of lava.

Photo by J.L.Maclachlan

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

We had special guests and first time participants, Laura Brothers, Brian Buczkowski and Jason Chaytor from the US Geological Survey coming with a special interactive demonstration of what makes up the sea floor.  

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Arghhhh! Our friend and archaeologist, Marie Zahn, from the Whydah Pirate Museum, was on hand to lead attendees through simulated archaeological digs for pirate artifacts. The Whydah Pirate Museum houses the world’s only authenticated pirate treasure and they are located right here on Cape Cod!

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Heard of the Internet of Things (IoT)?  Local engineer and STEM educator, Bradshaw Lumpton, brought a household water use experiment using state-of-the-art sensor technology that excited and delighted the engineer in all of us.

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

You know what’s “wicked cool”? Our friends at Wicked Cool for Kids joined us at the Wicked Cool STEM Science Cafe! What’s cooler than atomic worms? Not much. Not much at all. 

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

PID Analyzers and the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society will used the Happy Atoms kit so kids can build their own molecules,  demonstrate how PID Analyzers are used for quality control measurements of VOC’s in common foods like cereals/drinks, and hosted a student run (grades 5 and 7) “ultimate slime station”. New handouts include activities to do at home and resources for homeschoolers. 

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

Photo by J.L. Maclachlan

The cafe part of the science cafe! The mess hall cooks mades these delicious cookies and kept the trays full for three hours! Hot chocolate and fresh pressed cider not pictured.

Wicked Cool STEM Cafe organizers Jennifer Maclachlan and Jack Driscoll. 

Post updated 10/29/17.

[jamieclawhorn]

Dr Copper is diagnosing a global share price boom

Investors are a worried bunch these days, fretting over all sorts of economic ailments, real or imagined.

A quick look at the newspaper headline suggests they are a bunch of hypochondriacs, worrying themselves to death.

Most of the concerns centre on the US, a spillover from Donald Trump’s wayward presidency. Wall Street bankers are so anxious about the unwinding of the over-hyped Trump rally, they are said to be selling their own shares.

With Trump now threatening a government shutdown if Congress doesn’t fund his border wall with Mexico, autumn could be tense.

Crashing bores

Signs of a slowdown in the eight-year bull market have brought out the doomsayers this year.

Jim Rogers, who founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros, has been warning of a $68 trillion ‘Biblical’ collapse.

Mark Faber, the original Dr Doom, is predicting a crash to rival the greatest in history (he does this every year). Economists Andrew Smithers and James Dale Davidson have also played the doom-and-gloom card.

Predictions of a coming apocalypse exert a grim fascination, but usually fall well wide of the mark. If you want a copper-bottomed forecast, I have one for you here.

In good health

Dr Copper is so named because shifts in demand for the red metal can offer an accurate diagnosis of economic trends.

Copper is key to the global economy because it has a broad spread of uses across key sectors including automobiles, construction, electrical, machinery and telecommunications.

When copper is in demand, it is a sign that business is investing, and a stronger economy should follow.

Other industrial metals have narrower uses and are therefore less reliable, while gold and silver swing on sentiment rather than business practicalities.

In 2014, Dutch bank ABN AMRO found strong correlation between copper prices, world trade and economic growth.

Which is interesting, because right now, Dr Copper is telling us the global economy is in good health.

Precious metal

The copper price has hit a three-year high as demand rises and inventories record the biggest weekly drop in more than a decade.

High-grade copper has now leapt the key $3 hurdle, up 20% from $2.50 in May, with all the moving averages pointing upwards.

China is the world’s largest consumer of copper and demand is rising as its economy picks up.

Last month, the IMF revised up China’s growth forecast for 2017 and 2018 to 6.7% and 6.4% respectively.

On the mend

Dr Copper is a powerful leading indicator, but sometimes these signs can be misleading.

Like most commodities it is priced in US dollars and the recent fall in the greenback has made it more affordable to foreign buyers, boosting demand. Speculation can also affect the price. Some say the rally has been overhyped.

However, in any battle between Dr Copper and the doom-mongers, I know which side I would choose.

If the global economy shows its mettle, stock markets should follow. Which is just what the doctor ordered.

Foolish final thought

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You don't have to be a share picking genius, the stock market is a global wealth-generating machine that can turn ordinary people into millionaires.

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More reading

Top stocks for September

The difference between you and Warren Buffett

One bargain growth stock I’d buy and one I’d sell

2 income-and-growth stocks for shrewd investors

Two growth stars that could make you brilliantly rich

[bughead-in-the-comics]

From The Dating Game, Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #308 (1981).

[jaspersmithers]

Autumn leaves captured in Stanley Park on Sunday.

[jeremystrele]

Daylesford and Surrounds with Paul Bangay

Daylesford and Surrounds with Paul Bangay

Travel

Paul Bangay

Leading landscape designer and author Paul Bangay is our one-time tour guide! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

I’ve always been obsessed with gardens, and in particular sprawling country gardens. I grew up in Vermont in Melbourne’s outer Eastern suburbs. We had access to a small farm next door where I had a horse, goats and a large vegetable garden.

After completing my Bachelor of applied Science in Horticulture at Melbourne University, I opened a nursery in Toorak and started taking on commissions to design gardens. Three decades on, I’ve authored eight books and I’ve got a team of 15 wonderful employees working out of our warehouse in Cremorne, Melbourne. Together we’ve been able to create thousands of special gardens for friends and clients.

My first home of my own was just off Greville Street in Prahran. It was very urban, but luckily had a large courtyard that I made into a small green oasis. I was able to garden in a small way, but it was never enough. I craved a large country garden in which I could garden and design on a large scale, hence my move to an old school house ‘St Ambrose Farm’ on two-acres in Woodend, an hour’s drive north west of Melbourne. It was a 120-year-old weatherboard home. It had character, but was totally unfriendly to human beings seeking heat in the cold winters of Woodend! I needed to expand the garden so looked for a property that was larger, more rural and had a good source of water… and then I found it!

For the past 11 years I’ve lived at Stonefields, a 100-acre property in Denver, just north-east of Daylesford. The climate here is perfect for me: mild summers with cool nights and freezing cold winters with some snow and frosts. I crave this kind of cool climate as it’s better for gardens, and there’s also nothing better than an open fire and a bottle of good red wine! The region is abundant with amazing restaurants, local produce and wineries… I can’t think of another area of Australia blessed in this way.

I recommend people visit our area for a great concentration of highly regarded food experiences, amazing accommodation, well-preserved gold fields towns blessed with wonderful architecture, great Botanical gardens and, of course, the lovely mild to cool weather.

Around this time of year, visit many of the restaurants with roaring fires and enjoy local wines. Then by Spring, there are lots of spring bulbs and blossoms appearing in the beautiful parks and many open gardens to tour. Summer is a great time for walks through the national parks and to see Trentham Falls, and in Autumn the tree colours are so incredibly intensified, thanks to our cool weather.

Paul Bangay’s Stonefields farmhouse and garden. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The 100-acre property is located in Denver, just north-east of Daylesford. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paul designed both the exquisite gardens and home himself. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Activity: Stonefields Garden Visit

The house and garden were created as a symbiotic process, as I was the designer for both it allowed a unique opportunity for the garden and home to be fully integrated; the colours, materials, layout, flow and visual site lines are all in harmony with each other.

Our seasonal guided tours provide visitors with an opportunity to have me guide them around the garden, explaning the planting and design process for each area.

The garden changes dramatically throughout the year due to its high seasonality, so there’s something special worth seeing!

Off Daylesford-Malmsbury Road, Denver.

Paul at Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens in Daylesford. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

A sculpture on display in the gardens. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paul visits once per month, and especially likes to stop by in winter. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Nature • Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens

Established in c.1863, the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens were originally designed by the celebrated 19th century landscape designer William Sangster.

Including many rare trees, the gardens are a popular tourist attraction. They are seen as an important part of Victoria’s collection of 19th century regional Botanic Gardens and are therefore included on the state’s Heritage Register. You’ll also find picnic areas, amenities, a café and great views can be had from Pioneer Tower.

I visit at least once per month, to see the very diverse and rare collection of mature trees, there are even some on the National Register. I especially love stopping by in winter when Wombat Hill is often covered in mist, creating a very romantic feeling.

Fraser Street, Daylesford. Open 24 hours.

Inside Cliffy’s Emporium. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paul enjoys their egg breakfast every Saturday! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The cosy café, local produce and wine store is situated on Daylesford’s main street. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paul loves the totally original and unpretentious atmosphere. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

cafe • Cliffy’s Emporium

Cliffy’s is a cosy cafe/restaurant, local produce and wine store situated on Daylesford’s main street.

I come by every Saturday morning for breakfast. Their eggs are sourced locally and served with seasonal local produce – my favourite is served with tomato salad!

The space is totally original and unpretentious and that is why we love country life!

30 Raglan Street, Daylesford.

‘There is so much to do and see in the Daylesford area; it’s worth staying and giving yourself more time to explore,’ advises Paul. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Lake House Restaurant is one of Australia’s top establishments. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Situated on six acres of country gardens, Lake House borders the waters of Lake Daylesford, and also the Wombat State Forest. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Lake House boasts 33 rooms and suites in waterfront and garden lodge settings. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Paul stops by a couple of times per year for a special and highly refined dining experience. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

‘If someone wants to be spoilt rotten then the Lake House is the place to stay, its view of the lake and the food make it a very unique experience,’ tells Paul. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Stay and Dine • Lake House

There is so much to do and see in the Daylesford area; it’s worth staying and giving yourself more time to explore, as well as enjoying some of the best food in Australia!

If someone wants to be spoilt rotten then the Lake House is the place to stay; its view and the food make it a very unique experience! Situated on six acres of country gardens, it borders the waters of Lake Daylesford, as well as the Wombat State Forest. There are 33 rooms and suites in waterfront and garden lodge settings, as well as the Salus Spa, the tennis courts and pavilion, the Argyle Library Bar, and also a lovely kitchen garden.

Then there’s the Lake House Restaurant. Lead by co-owner, culinary director and our friend Alla Wolf-Tasker, it’s celebrated as one of Australia’s top establishments. Head chef David Green’s ever-changing menu focuses on modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients such as: spring lamb with asparagus and morels; duck with orange braised witlof; golden roasted free-range chicken with corn and yabbies.

Most of our local eateries are simple and very country but the Lake House is a fine dining experience, which you crave maybe once or twice a year! If we want a very special and highly refined dining experience here’s where we find it!

4 King Street, Daylesford.

Daylesford is just under a two-hour drive from Melbourne. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Owner and chef Annie Smithers of Du Fermier. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The Trentham restaurant offers classic French farmhouse cooking. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

‘We’ve also become great and look forward to our interaction with Annie every week; there’s always much local gossip and discussion about what we are about to eat!’ tells Paul. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The intimate establishment is extremely popular, so be sure to book well in advance of your trip! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Eatery • Du Fermier

Located in the heart of Trentham is restaurant Du Fermier. We have a regular Saturday lunch booking, which we rarely miss. Each time, owner and chef Annie Smithers and her small team prepare a new seasonal menu of garden-to-table meals.

This set menu means no choice is offered and we love that no decisions have to be made, we trust Annie and always love the surprises that we discover! Her food is honest and based on French Farmhouse cooking – what’s not to love about that!

We’ve also become great friends and look forward to our interaction with Annie every week; there’s always much local gossip and discussion about what we are about to eat!

The rustic, relaxed establishment is incredibly popular, so you’ll need to book ahead. It’s also worth noting that Annie will be taking an extended trip to France throughout September, so Castlemaine-based Italian restaurant Origini will be hosting pop-up, ‘la tavolata’ at Du Fermier during that time.

42 High Street, Trentham. Open for lunch, from Friday to Monday.

‘I crave the mild and cool climate as it’s better for gardens, and there’s also nothing better than an open fire and a bottle of good red wine!’ says Paul. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Frogmore Gardens Plant Nursery is Paul go-to for interesting perennials. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The nursery is located en route from Daylesford to Melbourne (via Trentham). Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Shop: Frogmore Gardens Plant Nursery

This plant nursery is located en route from Daylesford to Melbourne (via Trentham). It specialises in rare and interesting perennials, so I love stopping by to discover new planting ideas for my own garden.

Last time I purchased some ornamental grasses for my pool flower borders.

The owner Jack is very informed and has a huge knowledge of perennial plants.

1560 Greendale Trentham Forest Road, Newbury. Open everyday, except Monday.

[bughead-in-the-comics]

From Ghost on the Loose, The Adventures of Little Archie #46 (1967).