Grocery shopping has become a chore this year...so, I look for the goodness when I go. I chat with the employees as they help with my bags, I look to the skies, the weather, the view. The store I shop at, is at the higher end of a long, main street. The downhill view heading home can be grand, especially when the air is crisp and clear.
Today I noticed these Spring Beauties in a parking lot planter. I thought about disappearing the trash in the upper left corner of the photo, but then I decided against it. Instead, I considered the way I frequently look past the yuck and zero in on the beauty. Sounds like some motivational book title. haha That's just what I did with these flowers today, ignored the trash all around. when I mentioned these dainty volunteers to the employee helping me, he was surprised to even see them. He'd obviously not noticed the flowers.
As I sat at the driveway exit, waiting for traffic to clear, I decided that I needed a bit more Nature before heading home. I hung a right and headed up the canyon.
67 degrees and gorgeous. I turned off the radio, silencing the trying news and embracing the birdsong. I opened both front windows and let the scent-filled winds blow through. I drove very slowly, no one else on the road.
The colors swayed and danced...the birds chirped and trilled...the clouds floated, making shadows on the hillsides.
From this Mighty Oak, to the stump below the circle of our days continues.
The stump below has sure aged since you first met it here, in October 2021. I can relate.
If you want to, you can do a blog search for "Mentryville" and discover other visits and views to this area.
May we stand strong in our hearts, convictions, beliefs...
Ten plus minutes of detour, led to a sense of freedom and calm.
You met Honeybunch in January 2023, back HERE. She came out recently to get cleaned up in preparation for her journey to Evy.
The cleaning took some creative thinking and problem solving. I had tried in the past, but was not too successful. This time, I used the 'eye-end' of a needle to get out the decades old Baby Powder (yikes) from her eyes and nose. I used rubbing alcohol to clean her arms, legs and head. It took an alcohol dipped Q-Tip and time to get her lil ears clean! She looks so much better!
I also fixed up her outfit. The neckline of her dress was quite shredded. It had previously been held together with tiny safety pins. At my last time deeply spent with her, I was a young child, not an infant. I did not want to send her (or Puppy or Lamby) off with safety pinned clothing. So, I opted to stitching down the frayed edges, leaving the neckline big, oversized. If I remember correctly, the green dress may have belonged to my mama's Shirley Temple doll, but I could be wrong on that. At any rate, the reason the neckline ended up so enlarged and tattered is because the original one was too small for Honeybunch's head. haha.
For her ancient panties, I merely blanket stitched around the edges. More decoration than anything else. The elastic is shot, but it doesn't matter as they stay on just fine as is. Also, they are pretty dingy, due to age, but have been washed and are clean. We all know children don't really care about that stuff (as noted in the book below).
I love her little head fat at the base of her skull, her chubby cheeks and feet and curled up fingers. It's actually almost embarrassing how deeply I loved this doll. She was my first girl.
I hope Evy finds some joy in her as well. Maybe you too can feel her spirit as she poses for adoption photos below ❤️ 😍 🥰
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This book has been on my mind recently. It is so charming. I've started to reread it and perhaps I'll reread my copy of The Velveteen Rabbit too. Comments over at Jude's reminded me of that. It feels nice to wrap these memories around me as I work on this project, as they go hand-in-hand so well.
I discovered there is also Much Loved and a version of adored dog toys in Chewed (these photos were a bit much for me, for some reason). I had no idea this was a 'thing'. I bought Dirty Wow Wow on clearance at some random, now out of business old book chain store.
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Here comes Puppy! Now that I've worked on Honeybunch and she is ready to go to our new gal, Evy...next in line is Puppy. Puppy is equally well-loved.
You met Lamby and Puppy back HERE and he's also been patiently waiting for me to form some ideas and plans.
So, this is where I give a shout out for HELP!! I have some thoughts, no real skills though on how to repair & revive him. I've already washed his pajamas and undershirt. Here are some of my other processing thoughts.
The seam on his chest is already opening a bit. I can open it up a bit more to remove the old stuffing and replace it. The 'stuffing' is almost nonexistent, but for the feet and tail and some in the head is still firm. In some of those areas it feels/sounds like sawdust or something. I'm almost afraid to look, as I'm very easily creeped out by such things. Anyway, step one would be to open him up and destuff him...then re-stuff him and stitch him shut again.
I think he needs a bath too and haven't decided if I should bathe first or bathe when the stuffing is out (when he would dry faster & I wouldn't be picking out some damp weird ancient stuffing!). It would not be a washing machine bath, like he got in his youth, but a gentle bathing in the sink.
You can see how utterly threadbare his leg is. After reading some of the entries in the above book, I considered that I could add a layer of fresh lining to his ears. I may still have some pink silk (I think) velvet from Deanna, from many years ago. I thought that would look cute and feel good. I don't really care, nor feel thrilled that it would be pink, but it is the only such fabric I have. I also considered stitching his seams in an array of colors, whipstitched over the original seam. Mmmm...
The stuffing is another question for me. I no longer have any here, so I considered stuffing him with the yarn clippings from all of the recent Medicine Bags. I'm unsure how that would work or feel to small hands. I know Liz and Saskia have done some stuffing...and Deb G and Grace and others I'm sure? Tips anyone?
This leads right into this video, where I leaned something new!
" The secret of the red dot is unknown to many people.
Last night, while browsing through our local magazine, I saw this idea in a birth announcement. Evidently, (I'm guessing here) these blocks were made for the new baby - maybe at a baby shower, like they do the 'decorate a onesie' activity. Anyway, I thought this was a cute idea...and useful for a long time, as baby grows. Kinda fun, eh? Iguess I've got baby on the brain these days. lol
May you find ways to reinvigorate pieces of your past
May you find ways to share yourself with those you love
May you find ways to feel a hopeful future in these acts
A very long journey, revisiting all posts "Word Cloth"...going back to 2015! I reread each post, watched the included videos (if any), read all of the comments. This included the gem of a comment from Michelle, speaking to the friendships made in this cloth circle, as said on this post:
"It may be virtual, but it's real to me"
Anyway, I reviewed the TIMELINE POST and this more recent POST, where even more words had been added. I reflected on every post having to do with this cloth. It was a trip down memory lane (again), where I noticed so many of you long time friends traveling along with me...where I noticed how many hard times I've had - we've all had. It felt rather never-ending, those hard times. It made this new word of "contentment" even more precious to me. It provoked a wish for days of more contentment and less drama, struggle, pain. How to achieve that is the question. Ha.
PROCESS:
I pulled out my small selection of Deb's Threads, as planned. I narrowed it down to these four, pulling out any that I'd already used on the Word Cloth.
For the sake of explaining, imagine them numbered 1-4, from left to right.
#1 - This was the first to go, as it is too dark - especially next to the Black of ENOUGH
#3 - I was really interested in this one...the blues reminding me of my "blue jeans and t-shirts" nature. But again, it read too dark for this spot.
#2 - I sat for a long time looking at this one and #4. They both spoke to me. I like the Spring Green feel of this one. But, at the last deciding second, I decided that I did not want to do this green next to the greens of SAFE.
#1 - In the end, it was this one that called to me the most - for this word, in this spot. In the indoor evening light of my home, this read as mostly yellow. This was part of why it felt so right, for yellow led to Sunshine (song and real), which led to authentic me...which led to the feeling recently of the warm sunshine on my neck as I walked the neighborhood. Everything about that kind of warmth (not Hot Heat, just in the 70's warmth) feels good. I feel contentment in that moment. I feel contentment in myself in those moments, listening to a song about Sunshine, feeling it on my skin. It just really worked.
This is good way to think of contentment right now...a coming home to and sticking around with self...being held in warmth and comfort.
As I stitched, I noticed how many other colors were popping up to show their faces. I especially noticed the green and yellow-green. I thought: well, there ya go, I got my green anyway!
It's funny how content I feel after adding a word/symbol to the Word Cloth. I hold it. I finger it, exploring the sensory experience. I photograph it...both sides. I share it with J. ~ I sit with it and relax into it, even if briefly.
Then I am quite happy to let it rest, nearby, until a new word calls to me.
It has grown so much in the 9 years since I first began working with it. There is still space for more and SAFE patiently waits for even more stitches.
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One of yesterday's poems:
Coming Home at Twilight in Late Summer
by Jane Kenyon
We turned into the drive,
and gravel flew up from the tires like sparks from a fire. So much to be done—the unpacking, the mail and papers … the grass needed mowing …. We climbed stiffly out of the car. The shut-off engine ticked as it cooled.
And then we noticed the pear tree, the limbs so heavy with fruit they nearly touched the ground. We went out to the meadow; our steps made black holes in the grass; and we each took a pear, and ate, and were grateful.
I completed the Earth Day Medicine Bag last night. I had someone in mind when I wove this one. If I am unable to send it off to her, it will become a CMB. It's good to have a back-up plan 🙂 This one turned out very soft and squishy. I ponder how the same fibers can feel different when combined in different ways. I'm still loving that green twisty yarn. And the tiny bit of bling will be just right for the recipient (if that works out).
The loom stands empty for the time being, while I decide what colors I shall weave next. I'm thinking about flowers, as I mentioned in the quote yesterday. Too bad I've no 'orange' for Poppies! i'll have to poke around and see what I've got.
This morning I awoke with the word "contentment" rolling around in my brain. Or more precisely, 'content'. however, I decided to go with contentment for the simple reason of it reading as exactly what it means ( not: "the subject or ideas contained in something written, said, created, or represented: academic/educational content. It's easy to update the content of the Web site. art. Content is also the things represented or suggested in something written or created as art, or the ideas it communicates.") LINK
To reside in a state of contentment seems a worthy idea at this time. I like this word for some of the same reasons I mentioned when adding "ease" on the Word Cloth. It's like a sigh, a pause...a relaxing. I feel like it is more desirable than maybe Happy or a similar word may be. And as J. said, contentment feels like it's more for the 'long haul'. I agree. Contentment feels more sustainable. One can't be up, thrilled, gleeful all of the time...but content...yeah, that works. Anyway, these are my thoughts for today. You can read the 'ease' post HERE or you can search the Word Cloth link for even more (if wanted).
Contentment will reside very well between ENOUGH and SAFE. Yep, that's about right.
I plan to use some of Deb's threads to stitch this idea firmly into place. More soon.
We continue to team WORDLE each night. And we continue to do the added game of making up a 'story' with our answers (top to bottom). As Dee said, this one almost wrote itself! I am finding this game almost more fun than the WORDLE game. I'm the story writer here and you would not believe some of the wacky things that come out of my head! 😂
Anyway, here is last nights story:
The trial played in the background, while an alarm outside their window was blaring. Everyone was gathering for the rally. It was a very large crowd. There was even a laser show!
May you find things to do that you enjoy, very much
I completed the medicine bag last shown here and started this one. I went back to the unity-diversity-people-earth colors in honor of Earth Day. I was inspired by the bit of greenish, hand spun fiber, discovered at the bottom of the weaving box. I have someone in mind for this one, but we'll see.
This video came up as a suggestion recently. I was touched how even though this version was posted 14 years ago, and the song itself much older...it still rings true. What have we done? What do we continue to do? What do we think, feel, believe...?
Also inspired along the lines of Earth Day, and with Liz and her Rug, in mind...I introduce you to "The Board" over here. You've met her before, you just didn't know it...for, she is the backdrop to so many photos I take (mostly Medicine Bag pics). This board, once part of a larger being...once, part of a tree. She began as a vintage purchase in my young married days and was used for years for her intended purpose of a cutting board. At 7X10 inches (7X14 inches, including the handle) ~ she seems little now for this purpose. Has anyone else noticed how much bigger things have gotten over the years? I know there has been research and conversation about our enlarged 'dinner' plates here in the USA. Folks practically eat off of Platters in some restaurants! Anyway I digress. For the past 20+ years, The Board has thrived in her new role as a firm base on the middle cushion of the couch. There she sits on an old placement, ready to receive not only Medicine Bags, postcards etc. to be photographed, but...bowls of food, cold or hot drinks and any number of other items. She sits very still, holding steady the things we want nearby. She also is a willing participant when we need a firm surface to use under something to be written on. Signing a deposit slip, a card, and writing a grocery list...she is there for the action. She's been around! Like the best of us, after so many years, she has stains, fine fractures and a long crack...but her edges are rounded and so smooth, her patina is just right. She is treasured. Who could have guessed all of those some odd 40+ years ago, that she'd still be around and hanging out with us daily?!
This is the bag I finished today. You first met it on April 14th, when I talked about the sky peeking through and Jude's Maggie Tree. Today as I continued weaving, the old phrase "April showers bring May flowers" came to mind. This one was not easy to photograph (I need to work on this problem). But, it does really look quite dramatic with the color scheme.
The top photo was taken outside in the afternoon light, these two were taken inside with me fighting with the flash. Maybe when it is completed I will be able to get a photo that more truly represents the colors. The bit of green has been a favorite gifted yarn of mine. The colors merge in and out of each other, the fibers twist and curl. I did not allow myself to save it for its preciousness. But, I do really love it! 3 of the 'browns' were also gifted and each one is a treasure. They have teeny specks of color (new flowers in the Earth's soil!) and one has a itty bitty bit of bling, like dragonfly wings caught in the sunlight. The knobby white and tan reminded me of the shorelines seen recently at Dee's and Catherine's and others...shells and stones and sand. I think it was named "Pebbles" by the manufacturer. I'm enjoying it and want to get back to it now.
~It has been raining on and off all day. It's fine, for even with how much more rain we've had this past year, we still have mostly bright blue skies...and we always do need the rain. That being said, I'm ready for some days in the 70's - warmth and clearness. I have trouble making myself get out to walk in poorer weather (that's poorer to wimpy SoCal me, that is!)
Today we celebrated J's birthday. It was a cozy afternoon together on this gray day. 💕
I finished the 'grasshopper meadow' page and started a new weaving today.
In looking at this photo just now, I noticed how I'd used the same flower tape as a page marker - placed previously and landing near the same level as the tape on this page 🙂
So, what did I add, or what was my process? After adding some stones for grasshopper to stand on, I decided to toss more out in the meadow and then it came to me to create a 'path to the sun'. I wasn't sure how much of the top page I'd fill, but then I really wanted LOTS of meadow over the whole page. The path let me practice 'perspective' and I thought about when Jude made her 'patchwork in perspective' path out of cloth. I only have a very general idea of how to accomplish this - which is to make it smaller and more narrow. Actual art classes along the line may have helped me! I also made the new (top of page) meadow growth less dense as the path led my eye to the sun. I don't know how this looks to others or even if I accomplished my goal, but I like it. I added a touch of blue, blotchy shading, which is hard to see in this photo, for the 'sky'. This represents my love of big, blue skies. Lastly, I added a second antenna to Grasshopper, even though the photo I drew from did not show it. J. had asked where it was and it did look to be missing something ever since. I used artistic freedom to add one in. The second one (left side) got a little thicker jibber in it, which bugged me until I added thickness to the right side too. These teeny things are really such good lessons. I had considered adding 'more meadow' directly onto the white paper I'd drawn the Grasshopper on, but opted not to because I rather like it framed and kinda standing out to be noticed. We both love this little Grasshopper. ❤️ Truly. When I pass J. the book to hold and look at, he just studies it. I can't tell you what a gift that is.
I'm preparing to start a new page. This found practice of journal-write-draw-coloring has been so centering and calming for me.
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Since this is a photo light post, I'm recording both photos I took of the new weaving this time. I wish I could get honest photos, that truly reflect the colors I'm using. This apartment just doesn't allow for that. The flash ruins so many shots. Do you remember at the old place I used to sit everything outside on my large Rosemary bush. What a perk that was...great outdoor lighting with a wonderful scent infused to boot! Anyway, here I'm using:
~black warp and weft
~gray-charcoal-black variegated yarn (gifted by someone)
~tan-pink-? (can't put my finger on it) chenille (again gifted by someone) - the color is so off here!
~blues-greens - variegated (is it?)...(again gifted by someone)
As I began, I wanted to use more of the black and more of the gray-charcoal-black variegated yarns - which I've used very little of and have a lot of! Not being in the mood for the Unity colors, I went into my yarn tub to choose a couple of new colors to add to the weaving tub for laundry day. I grabbed an old loved ball of yarn from way back here, the tannish and the blue-green and went up to the laundry room.
When I got there and began warping the loom, I looked at my choices and thought: What was I thinking? Do these even go together? But, I dove in anyway. Then a funny thing happened. As i wove, my thoughts drifted to Jude's post with Maggie the Magnolia Tree. I was wrapped in a 'sense' - not a direct representation, but a sense - of her beautiful tree and the changeable weather she's had (many of us have had recently). So, as of tonight, this one is named: "Maggie in an April Storm".
I am rather liking the contrast of light and dark. J. liked the use of 'more dark', which I don't use a lot. I intentionally used only bits of the blue-green so far to show sky/trees peeking through storm clouds.
Anyway, I'm enjoying a different look once again. Funny how that happens, if you keep an open mind.
In writing this post, I'm considering getting back to that special yarn, bought in Saratoga, NY all of those years ago. I never did finish the bag I'd thoughtfully started for me (so typical of me). I kind of remember something happening, maybe with the warp or ? ~ anyway, something that had me stop and I never started again. Maybe I will. Maybe. I have enough of the yarn to do so, if I choose.
When you have big things to tackle, it is a fine idea to problem solve some work arounds to get the job done. That old adage: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! (of course)
When the Big Things are much bigger than you...ask for help. If that doesn't work, take a deep breath, pause, reconsider and start again.
Well, that's what I'm trying anyway.
It's not easy, but I keep telling myself that I am strong and brave and smart enough. I can do it.
Sometimes things look like a mess, but usually they can be untangled & organized...if you work at it.
Wednesday trees...so much fuller. Would I even be able to see the Hawk I hear?
I still highly recommend this pair. I remain grateful for my friend who sent me these.
J. loves this gnarly cactus collage. I could take it or leave it. I have a history with a small table of cactus plants that has never left me. I watered her today in the warm sunshine, startling a lizard - sunning itself on the patio railing.
STORY: back in my teen years, my best friend and I were visiting a friend of her family's. He lived on a cliff overlooking Malibu beach. It was an eclectic little shack as I remember it. On the patio, he had many plants and at least one 'TV tray' table filled with cactus plants. As we stood there talking, his very large German Shepard went to jump on me. I took one step backwards and ended up sitting on those prickly plants!! Some of them had those very, very, barely visible spines...which stuck firmly in my bikinied bottom! OUCH! My friend had to sit there with pliers or tweezers or something and pick them out. Oy. Something I never quite forgot and have remained careful ever since.
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Also, as planned back here, I've continued to read The Happiness Project, finding bits and pieces that appeal to me. It is a good read on laundry day 🙂
Last week, I also finished reading The Little Prince. I was very touched by this reading, which I had not read since I was very young. My mom gave me this book and she wrote my name (maiden surname) in her beautiful handwriting. I read it while waiting for J. and I took notes and photos of the last pages (scroll fast if this is a spoiler for you). It was a perfect read for this time.
Many of the quotes that caught my eye, spoke to the 'invisible' in the world. And then the 'wildness' and 'laughter'...all important elements. If you follow the link in the title above, there is much to be delighted with.
My original idea was to read it and pass it on to either my grandchildren or my friend's very perceptive grandson. But, I was so touched...I may want to read it one more time first.
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Last note in the books department...I returned to a book gifted to me and begun in January of 2023. I'm learning some new things about this favorite band.
I added more flowers to the meadow and some tiny stones for the grasshopper to wander in. I've yet to decide if the flowers will meet the sky or not. I find it interesting that this new batch of flowers is much fuller. I consider how when you pause, you can never truly get back to the same momentum, the same feeling.
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I finally did the last rock wrapping I had in mind. It has been patiently waiting on the ottoman forever! The rock is from the Bridge (first one brought home), the red leather is left over from a gifted Medicine Bag and the shell is from Jr High. If I am remembering correctly, it was purchased, along with some beads at a very cool "African" bead shop in Santa Monica in the mid-late 1970's. It is the last loose one left. This rock will also be gifted, perhaps to my teacher friend. We'll see.
