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Fancy that -- it was all about yarn!

9/3/2019

 
Picture
​Before it began,
I dreamed I would be able
to spend the month of August
​reading novels,

relishing the dailyness of home,
Picture
and also giving time
to the the myriad tempting ideas

that had been tickling my brain.
Luckily, many of those ideas
​had to do with spinning,
(which allows me to read at the same time),
except when I'm spinning flax,
(which means putting down my book),
or learning new tunes,
(which--usually--means 
putting down the spindle),
or sitting quietly in the shade
listening to the birds
with a cup of tea
(which means neither book nor spindle
​but maybe some knitting).
I had hoped to do some sewing
but then I'd have to put down EVERYTHING else!
Picture
Looking back at my daily drawings
I can see that holding my shoes 
while running barefoot,
is probably the only way
I managed to avoid the temptation 
of attempting to spin and run
at the same time.
Picture
And that it was likewise important
that the juice of the yellow plums
from our tree in the hell strip
is so sweet and sticky
that yarn, concertina,
and the current novel
could not be in the kitchen
while said fruit was prepared
for winter consumption.
Picture
Secateurs, too, 
are not yarn friendly--
though the now dry weld
will someday transform
unknown skeins
into spectacular yellows
(or greens with the help of indigo and/or iron).
Picture
On the other hand,
if she's sufficiently half-assed
while cleaning the house for visitors,
Picture
a gal can sometimes
carve out a moment 
or two
of elemental pleasure. 

​Dust? Whatever.
Water, coffee, salad, spindle and a book
at the same time?
Yes, indeed.
Picture
It will surprise none of you--
certainly not long time readers of this blog--
or anyone who has read
the post before this one--
or has happened to click 
on the word Handspinning
in the sidebar to the right--
Picture
that given a chance to make yarn
(as slowly as I possibly can),
​​or to make something with that yarn,
Picture
I'll take it.
​
Though sometimes
the depth of my entrancement
still surprises me.
Picture
So yes --
though I did not get around
to making myself
a new pair of pants*
from those finally-too-worn-to-mend
sides-to-middled linen sheets, 
or learn all the tunes I dreamed of,
it  has been an exquisite
and deliciously yarn-centric August,
 at home on the Palouse.

I'm so glad
I didn't need
​or want
to be 
anywhere else. 

​
*And anyway,
I have plenty of Sarah-Dippity skirts to wear.
Many of this month's comics
indicate that  I wore the short wool ones
as often as the long one I made just for summer!
Picture
I plan/hope to wax verbose
in future posts
about the specifics 
of my August explorations
(not least, what feels like an improvement
in my flax spinning),
so stay tuned.
Picture
Due to unforeseen vagaries of life, however, 
I may not, for a time
be able to blog quite as consistently
​as I have in the past.
I'll still aim for every Tuesday,

but if  I don't make it
know that I'm probably making yarn,
drawing pictures of whatever is going on,

and will be back to tell you about it.

ps -- Remember, too,
that you can visit the archives
​(links on the right)
if you need more glimpses
​into this yarnish life
because really,
though every inch of yarn feels fresh,
I keep coming back
to the same old elemental bliss.
Meg
9/3/2019 09:24:22 am

All things yarn-ish are healing. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Jacquie
9/3/2019 09:25:18 am

So nice to have you back. May all be well with your husband's health.

Den
9/3/2019 09:25:21 am

Please tell me what you do to prepare your yellow plums for winter. We have tons! Thanks.

Marjorie Clay
9/3/2019 09:28:24 am

I hope you and your husband figure out what is going on. Uncertainty is a huge waste of energy! I'll keep you in my thoughts for the duration!

Marjorie

Thais
9/3/2019 09:54:08 am

Best wishes to your husband, and happy yarning as you wrap up your summer.

Teri Pittman link
9/3/2019 09:55:35 am

Sorry to hear that your husband is having health issues. Mine just spent three days in the hospital with sepsis. Hopefully, they will get your husband healed up too.

Of course, mine got sick the week AFTER I took a week's vacation :)

Linda
9/3/2019 10:08:15 am

Sarah, your messages are always soothing and bring smiles to my day. I hope that my thoughts for you and your husband’s welfare will provide you with the same gift as I have received from you.

Eileen
9/3/2019 10:24:21 am

Welcome back into the ethernet. Thank you for sharing what goes on behind the scenes of your yarnish ways and days. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Pam
9/3/2019 11:06:33 am

Dear Sarah, lovely to have you back on my screen! May all be well with you and yours, and soon.

Mona
9/3/2019 11:17:15 am

I wish you both to be well and and shall ask the spirits that be to look after you.

Marjorie McLaren
9/3/2019 12:03:05 pm

Welcome back! Sending healing vibes and good wishes to you and your husband.

Donna Millen
9/3/2019 12:25:18 pm

My comment is a cartoon of us all in a textile life-boat.
I love you, Sarah Swett.

Linda Mullins
9/3/2019 02:28:25 pm

My thoughts are with you and your husband. May they find the answer needed and he and you are back to normal soon.

Noël Nicholls
9/3/2019 02:48:07 pm

Shalom...in all the fullness of the meaning of that word.

Maree Sharples
9/3/2019 03:03:18 pm

I'm a newbie to your blog but as a spinner, crocheter, knitter and weaver I'm loving it. So sorry to hear your husband is not well. I hope and pray that it is resolved quickly.

morgan clifford
9/3/2019 04:07:55 pm

Stellar as always. Thank you.

Sally R.
9/3/2019 04:38:28 pm

Welcome back to your blog. Your posts, as your weavings, always bring a smile to my heart. Sending healing thoughts and mojo to your husband.

Heather Myers
9/3/2019 05:49:07 pm

I'm glad to hear Aug was relaxing and hope all is well soon at your house!

Randy Chanler
9/3/2019 06:00:24 pm

Keep it up Sarah, you are the best! Much love and hopes to you and Dan

Ann
9/4/2019 05:40:00 pm

Glad you're back--I missed your inspiration. (need to post a picture of my huge handspun gauze cape!).

I'm with you on spending too much time in waiting rooms. Did that for most of July--turns out my husband has leukemia, so now there are many many hours spent at the oncology clinic. We have accepted that this is our life for now--and to grab what we can. This means that while hanging out during treatment is not our usual idea of a hot date, we realize that we have reading/spinning/knitting time. The oncology nurses are warm and friendly, volunteers come around with a charming tea cart and homemade cookies, and there is usually a therapy dog for cuddles and scratches. And we're together. I've been on worse dates. Good luck to you both.

Patti Kirch
9/5/2019 10:04:16 am

Natalie&Alex, Patti&Nick, Nicole,Ted&babyRipley(powergirl), send our energies to You & Dan💕💕💕

Gwen
9/6/2019 08:47:07 am

Dear Sarah, We spent last year dealing with husband's health issues and are now on the sunny side of it. I understand the crucible, and have you in my thoughts!

claudia link
9/8/2019 10:23:45 pm

Thank you for always re-invigorating my enthusiasm for life by sharing yours! I hope your husband is on the mend xx


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
    tells stories
    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


    Picture
    Click for info on
    my four selvedge
    warping class
    with
    ​ Rebecca Mezoff  
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