Finishing
Yesterday was a good day for finishing things. I sewed the rest of my skirt. It doesn’t sit quite how I’d like it to, but it is just for around the house so that will be just fine.
I finished a book I’ve been reading on and off for quite some time. It is helpful, but not necessary to have a basic knowledge of American Jazz. If nothing else, listen to a few recordings of Well You Needn’t by Thelonious Monk before you give this one a go.
Although you could see it coming miles away, the lengthy middle section where the Bear’s blossoming romance comes into its own, the graphic detail of his intimate moments with the leading lady was a little much for even open-minded me. I could have done with more music making and less inter-species love making.
Overall, it was worth my time. Added bonus – it was from the free shelf at work!
He looked back over his shoulder at Hatwell but the pianist wasn’t looking back. His face, grey with probable pain and dripping sweat, was bent to the keys, and what issued thence were empty fifths, so bare, so spare, in octaves: he’s fading: he’s blown it too, so young. Why are we so stupid to ourselves?
The Bear wished he could play an answer, but he was a specialist in error and regret. He was a mote in the world’s eye. Nothing could be seen through him. He would just not get out of the way.
I finished a pair of socks. These were intended for me, but by some accident or wish of the knitting gods, I made them big enough for The Kettle Slayer so they are his.
And I finished my list for week two of the 52 Weeks Lists project. List your greatest comforts. This is an excerpt from the list in my journal:
tea quilts knitting books sleep intimacy quiet firelight warmth tears reading
being read to
I love how books showed up in different ways. I do love words. And hearing them.
Now to decide what to knit next!
Making
Two old wool sweaters, a little thread, a little time, a lot of laughter.
A pocket.
An extra layer for around this frozen palace we call Talarico House.
Just a Saturday
The snow is floating down slowly, big fat clumps too big too be mere flakes. They are nearly making themselves into snowballs before hitting the ground.
I ventured out to find more wool sweaters for our sewing adventure this afternoon and came home with this cheerful find from the thrift store.
My dining room looks much more cheerful now.
I also stumbled upon this bit of glitz and nonsense.
The bears will like it. I found some Valentine treats for both of them as well. We’ll see if I remember them now that they’re tucked away in the present bowl. I tend to forget those things.
This book was my first of 2014. I do love John Irving. There are elements you know will always make an appearance, but this was an engaging and moving variation on the Irving theme.
The rest of the day holds sewing, tea, laughter, bears, and maybe a row or two on a sock. What is filling up your weekend?
Garden Daydreams
We had a little garden last year – our first attempt at getting to know the New England growing season. The first thing we learned was to let go of all the timetables we had grown up knowing in more southerly climes. Memorial Day can still be a touch early for planting here.
This year we will start some things indoors and probably buy some plants from the local nursery. It is all so new to me that the entire endeavor is an adventure.
Leeks!
Knowing that we don’t know how much gardening the Kettle Slayer will be able to do, I am not planning on a larger garden. Just some kitchen-y things. We’ll add flowers as they catch our eye.
I’ve been sketching out plans, making lists of supplies, and today I ordered the first batch of seeds. A retired work colleague has offered to be my garden hotline for whatever questions may arise.
Any other New England gardeners dreaming about spring?
Loving Lists, Learning How to Spell Mayonnaise
Miss E sent a most lovely link this week. 52 weeks of lists . For the most part, writing prompts do not interest me (too many standardized tests?), but I do love a good list.
That one is just a grocery list. It was the first one I found in my journal. (And now I know that I don’t truly know how to spell mayonnaise, but I’m going to learn today!)
The topic for week one is words that touch your soul. These are mine:
Faith Light Joy Ocean Galaxies Garden Making Timelessness Art Grace Epiphany Movement Pleasure Seasonal Intention Wisdom Foundation Courage Discipline Balance Home Fearlessness Universe
I think I can meditate on these for a while.
Monday Evening at Talarico House
We take our thank you notes pretty seriously around here, as you can tell by the thoughtful and articulate note above. When pressed for details, Lady Bug confessed she had no recollection of which presents had come from this particular giver, but that she thought she should do her best to be polite. I was able to jog her memory (after I stopped laughing!) and she added some more specific details.
Lima Bean has plans to dress up tomorrow and so there was a little sparkle happening while we read our evening story. (Don’t be fooled into thinking things are always idyllic around here, today just shaped up super nice and I wanted to remember that sometimes that happens.)
It is dark and cold out there. Warmer than last week, but still dark and cold. We are making light in our little house, one glitter flake at a time.
I have woken up for the past four mornings singing This Little Light of Mine. It has been a reminder, a nudge in the direction of smiles before snark and care before criticism. It has been loud in my ear and in my heart. Being light, sharing light even in the dark days.
Oh universe, keep on sending those gentle and insistent reminders. And if there could be more days when dinner is on time, bears are pleasant, laundry is caught up, and there is more than enough time for thank yous, nail polish, and stories, well that would be all right too.
A Favorite Place: MASS MoCA
The Kettle Slayer and I spent the early evening enjoying Free Day at one of our favorite places, MASS MoCA.
The departure of the amazing and beautiful phoenix was made less disappointing by the appearance of none other than Don Quixote!
The Izhar Patkin exhibit was truly another world we were able to step right in to. I think my favorite piece was a mesmerizing glass sculpture combining Lord Shiva, Josephine Baker, and Carmen Miranda. I love that Venetian glass!
One of my hopes for this year is more time spent like this – enjoying each other, enjoying art, taking the time to take time.
Next time, the bears insist we should bring them too. Sounds good to me!
From our September 2013 visit
This moment
Playing along with Soule Mama this week. A single photo, no words.
There Were Stars
A planned computer downtime this morning gave me the opportunity to be at work at 4 AM. This is early for me. And it is super-crazy-cold here. And today was a half-day for bears. And I needed to drive my sister and nephew to the airport in the afternoon.
It all added up to a loooong day. In the still morning, I got to see the stars. They were beautiful. In the busy afternoon, I got to see my nephew sleeping and the glorious Berkshire Mountains with the rocky sides cut out for the road covered in ice. In the evening, I got to see my warm bed and enjoy a cup of tea. It is not the sort of day I would have planned for myself. It was the right sort of day after all.
Epiphany – It’s a Whole Season!
I knew, really I did, that Epiphany is two months or so long. It’s been printed in bulletins that I’ve carefully stashed in my purse and announced from pulpits. I knew it, but I didn’t really hear it/learn it until this week.
It’s okay though because I also learned something else: Epiphany is on a dimmer switch. Our pastor shared with us this week that while the connotation of Epiphany is a sudden eureka type moment, it is really a journey, a season, and not so much that light switch being flung on and light blinding our eyes.
I like this. Moving ever closer.
He challenged us to think about three things:
1. It’s not about me. (WHAT?? Sometimes I, as the Magic Princess, forget this.)
2. It is going to take time. Again, as an instant gratification sort of girl, this idea can be a struggle. Still, I like it. Sit with these things. Understand that the journey is important too. Yes, Universe, I remember this was also the lesson of The Advent That Would Not End and The (not-quite) Forty Years in the Desert AND The Lent of Incessant Learning. This takes time. The time is important. Quit being in such a hurry to be in the next place.
3. Welcome the Unexpected Guest. Who will show up in my world this season? Will I be welcoming or closed off?
I am thinking on these things today. Today and through the season and I imagine beyond then too. Another step forward. Forward sounds good to me.
Naming Mountains 