Flinging my body through the sky
from one side of this continent
to the other,
is not a thing I enjoy.
from one side of this continent
to the other,
is not a thing I enjoy.
Along with despair at its environmental aggression,
air travel induces in me
a kind of foggy spiritual disconnect--
as though, while my sleep deprived body
is slurping Dunkin Donuts coffee in Boston,
my self is scrambling across eastern Montana
crying, "WAIT FOR MEEEEEEE,"
only to begin the long trudge back to Idaho
(without even catching a glimpse of the Dakotas),
when my disconnected carcass
is suddenly
dumped back home.
air travel induces in me
a kind of foggy spiritual disconnect--
as though, while my sleep deprived body
is slurping Dunkin Donuts coffee in Boston,
my self is scrambling across eastern Montana
crying, "WAIT FOR MEEEEEEE,"
only to begin the long trudge back to Idaho
(without even catching a glimpse of the Dakotas),
when my disconnected carcass
is suddenly
dumped back home.
As a weird wort of compensation however,
or perhaps a way to place myself,
travel does induce a kind of intent noticing
that can help remind me
that I once was whole --
and will be again.
The richness of my mother's
chair-side table for instance,
is a source of such joy,
with its books, computer,
seed and course catalogues,
pencils, pads, newspaper articles
and (because I was there and she's a supportive Mum),
her evolving Somewhat Slanted Sweater.
or perhaps a way to place myself,
travel does induce a kind of intent noticing
that can help remind me
that I once was whole --
and will be again.
The richness of my mother's
chair-side table for instance,
is a source of such joy,
with its books, computer,
seed and course catalogues,
pencils, pads, newspaper articles
and (because I was there and she's a supportive Mum),
her evolving Somewhat Slanted Sweater.
It was also a delight to feel
the sense of comfort and belonging
induced (at least in my heart and hands)
by tiny, yarn-filled rooms,
and the welcoming enthusiasm of Lily,
at Norwich Knits,
the new yarn shop in Norwich, Vermont
where we bought my mother's yarn.
the sense of comfort and belonging
induced (at least in my heart and hands)
by tiny, yarn-filled rooms,
and the welcoming enthusiasm of Lily,
at Norwich Knits,
the new yarn shop in Norwich, Vermont
where we bought my mother's yarn.
Nor, indeed, could I fail to notice
the beatific inner glow
induced by a blissed out tour
of the Green Mountain Spinnery
in Putney, Vermont,
where I got to watch (and hear)
some of their venerable machinery in action.
the beatific inner glow
induced by a blissed out tour
of the Green Mountain Spinnery
in Putney, Vermont,
where I got to watch (and hear)
some of their venerable machinery in action.
The walls of yarn were fabulous too.
And oh....
the smell...
of lanolin and sheep
and yarn in the raw.
And oh....
the smell...
of lanolin and sheep
and yarn in the raw.
I also noticed (with surprise),
how the wool/organic cotton
skeins grabbed my attention.
It's not a blend I am likely to create or spin myself,
but I hadn't yet knit a Somewhat Slanted
in this weight yarn, and I look forward to wearing it.
So far, I know that it is really nice to knit,
the drape of the first square is fantastic
and that there is enough wool in the blend
to easily spit-splice when joining skeins
or knitting stripes.
(Hard, later, not to be aware that my minimalist travel bag
was significantly more difficult to buckle up).
how the wool/organic cotton
skeins grabbed my attention.
It's not a blend I am likely to create or spin myself,
but I hadn't yet knit a Somewhat Slanted
in this weight yarn, and I look forward to wearing it.
So far, I know that it is really nice to knit,
the drape of the first square is fantastic
and that there is enough wool in the blend
to easily spit-splice when joining skeins
or knitting stripes.
(Hard, later, not to be aware that my minimalist travel bag
was significantly more difficult to buckle up).
Noticing these morels
was an unexpected
and delicious treat.
was an unexpected
and delicious treat.
Somewhat less beguiling
was noticing the ticks sneaking up my legs
after the woodsy walk wherein the morels appeared,
though I was able to note--
with something approaching pleasure--
that my white hemp pants
made the little blood suckers
easy to spot.
was noticing the ticks sneaking up my legs
after the woodsy walk wherein the morels appeared,
though I was able to note--
with something approaching pleasure--
that my white hemp pants
made the little blood suckers
easy to spot.
 | The pants are a simple drawstring structure gleaned from the tattered remains of a gauzy linen pair I wore almost to shreds many years ago. I did hesitate before including them (the white pants), in my scant luggage for this trip but the the ease of wearing, washing and tick spotting proved their worth as one of my three 'bottom' garments.  |
Also, all the things I chose to bring with me
were blue, grey, brown or white,
so mixed and matched very well.
They are also all extremely comfortable,
perfectly practical (white hemp aside),
sources of psychological well being.
and almost entirely hand made.
The photos above include:
the aforementioned hemp pants,
my recently made linen shirt,
(which I tried not to wear every single day),
and an old favorite ankle-length blue cotton skirt,
that my friend Lodi once gave me
after she'd cut out the pattern pieces,
but before sewing.
were blue, grey, brown or white,
so mixed and matched very well.
They are also all extremely comfortable,
perfectly practical (white hemp aside),
sources of psychological well being.
and almost entirely hand made.
The photos above include:
the aforementioned hemp pants,
my recently made linen shirt,
(which I tried not to wear every single day),
and an old favorite ankle-length blue cotton skirt,
that my friend Lodi once gave me
after she'd cut out the pattern pieces,
but before sewing.
The blue sweater ( knit last summer
and dunked in indigo a few days before my trip),
and the indigo Sarah-Dippity
had all the comfort, stretch, practicality
and general travel clothing perfection
I could have desired.
I also love how the indigo in both my garments connects
with the blue on the pocket of my sister Lyn's
patched and embroidered jacket
as we try to remember a long-ago clapping pattern
before I catch the bus to Boston.
and dunked in indigo a few days before my trip),
and the indigo Sarah-Dippity
had all the comfort, stretch, practicality
and general travel clothing perfection
I could have desired.
I also love how the indigo in both my garments connects
with the blue on the pocket of my sister Lyn's
patched and embroidered jacket
as we try to remember a long-ago clapping pattern
before I catch the bus to Boston.
Noticing Mount Rainier
was a nice reminder
that I was about to land in Seattle,
though I fervently hope my
long term views
was a nice reminder
that I was about to land in Seattle,
though I fervently hope my
long term views
closer to the ground:
a steady supply of
linsey-woolsey on the loom,
patched pants,
a steady supply of
linsey-woolsey on the loom,
patched pants,
In the meantime,
the mug of mint/lemon balm tea
is quietly cooling
and the fog beginning to clear.
the mug of mint/lemon balm tea
is quietly cooling
and the fog beginning to clear.
