by Kat | Sep 30, 2024 | General, Words
Time is the fire in which we burn. — Gene Roddenberry
I have reached the portion of the year that feels like I am racing against time. The days are growing ever shorter… both in the hours of daylight and what time I might have left to me. How appropriate that the seasonal changes are reminding me clearly that I am well into the autumn of my days.
This is not exactly a bad thing… or at least that is what I tell myself as I get up with the familiar aches and pains of my life. Those morning moments as I try to “get myself all working again” are the most humbling ones of my day.
I have spent this month contemplating what I want to accomplish yet this year in my study of time. Nine months in and I still am learning new things about time… or I am still learning new things about myself. I believe both things are true… and that is wildly invigorating! Learning is life!
I read a very interesting little book this month… Carlo Rovelli’s The Order of Time. When I first finished it, I thought… well, there’s not much here. But I am rethinking my initial thoughts on that little book… it is one I have not stopped thinking about. Most especially Rovelli’s thoughts on memory… he likens memory to time, or rather, that our memories are time.
This is time for us. Memory. A nostalgia. — Carlo Rovelli
Think you haven’t used your time wisely? Dip into the well of your memories and see just how perfectly you have used it.
I have spent lots of time in my memory well and have added pages chapters to the memory journal I am making for my kids. And in these moments, I find that time is not burning… rather I have found another point of Jenny Odell’s “vertical time” … where the passing of time stands still.
And that, dear friends, is a very good distraction from the feeling of trying to stay ahead of those flames devouring the minutes of my day!
As always, I am so grateful for Carolyn gathering us all together to share our progress each month.
Happy Monday everyone, I will see you all back here on Wednesday!
Photo by Eugene Shelestov
by Kat | Sep 25, 2024 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Dear Unravelers and Happy Last Wednesday of September!
The months have reached the point where they just race on… and too darned fast if you ask me! I find it almost impossible that there are less than 100 days left in this year!
It’s been a slow making week for me… I have knit a bit on the Mystery Gnome (I am very behind, but I have yet to peek at any images from those further along than I am! I like prolonging the mystery!) And I made some progress on my September Socks… and I am admitting that I won’t likely finish a pair this month (but I am going to try my best to surprise myself!)
Stitched, which was not as easy as it looked in the video. I will purchase a curved needle before I make another book!
I did manage to stitch the signatures of my book together and I figured out a work around for not having any c-clamps. I did have a couple of sturdy scraps of wood and zip ties FTW! I began the glueing process yesterday… the waiting time between glue layers might have been hindered due to the humidity, but I got it done! Today, I am going to try and add a pocket to the front inside cover and call it good! I enjoyed this process very much! What a great way to use all those big sheets of watercolor paper…so once this book is full look for more handmade books in my future!
Just one more layer of glue to go!
Mostly, I have been working on “Puppy Proofing” my house. Sherman chewed on nothing… ever… but I am not expecting the same from a new puppy! We leave for Erie in a couple of weeks and when we get back we go to get that puppy! My “Fall Cleaning” list has expanded quite a bit and yes… I am feeling a bit behind in all.the.things!
The reading this week has been delightful though. I finished Pilcher’s September and I really enjoyed spending some time in Scotland with Violet and her (very) dysfunctional family. I did not think it was as good as The Shell Seekers (but could anything be better than that?) But Pilcher writes about flawed characters and allows them to work out their struggles on the page for the reader to “come along for the ride,” as it were. I also finished a book that Bonny put on my radar… Sing Like Fish. I really enjoyed this book that taught me so much about how fish “sing”… and Kingdon goes far beyond whale song. It was fascinating!
Bonus… it was a very good week for Book Mail! I got my copy of The Gnomes of Grimblewood AND Leaf, Cloud, and Crow.
The best book mail!!
I was very much feeling the deepest sorrow at starting the “final season” of The Comfort of Crows but now I will be able to continue on in December! Dearest Margaret has set up Leaf, Cloud, Crow beautifully. She invites you to a deeper relationship with the nature around you… as in, you don’t have to leave your backyard! She includes some suggestions on “how to pay attention” and each week has a beautiful quote to help inspire your writing. There are both lined pages for writing and blank pages for drawing. And the artwork, which is gorgeous, has been done by her brother, Billy Renkl. If you loved The Comfort of Crows and want to immerse yourself in the world of your backyard, Margaret has made it amazingly easy! I plan to use it together with Comfort of Crows… because, somehow, Margaret’s essay for each week always finds a commonality with what is going on in my backyard.
And I feel like I am working on setting a part of my journey for making next year… yes, there will be more gnomes! I like this idea… small, portable projects that don’t require swatching or ‘fitting’! Ha!
And there you have my week! What about you? What are you making or reading this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share and want to join us as we Unravel our making and reading… please leave your link below! All are welcome!
I am not sure if I will post again on Friday… it really depends on how much I get accomplished on my list! If not Friday, I for sure will see you on Monday!
by Kat | Sep 23, 2024 | General, In My Backyard
September tries its best to have us forget summer. — Bernard Williams
Yesterday, autumn arrived and I am feeling a deep sorrow in my heart at the end of summer… which is the most curious coming from a person who never really liked summer at all. Yes, I am grieving the end of summer. And even though September began tempting me with some decidedly autumnal weather earlier in the month, I am happy that that cooler weather has given way to a return to warm summer days.
I am not ready to give up Porch Sitting at all. It is my most very favorite time of the day. Now some might say that it all is just a colossal waste of time… sitting quietly in the morning, sipping my coffee, listening, reading a poem or two, and jotting down my thoughts. But for those few moments… as I am “in the world” and not in my house, I have discovered and experienced things I would have missed if I was “busy” doing something else in my house (and trust me… the dust will wait!!) I am contemplating figuring out a “Mr. Heater” that can help me extend my time outdoors! (Thanks to Kym for putting Mr. Heater on my radar!)
Some treasured moments from my “summer sitting” time:
- The oriole feeder that not a single oriole visited, but I discovered that the house finches dearly love some grape jelly, so I kept it full for them. Watching them feed their babies a “spot of dessert” was just so fun. But the most fun visitor to the oriole feeder were the wee Downy Woodpeckers who sipped the hummingbird nectar… and yes, that same oriole feeder saw loads of Hummer’s each and every day!
- I also discovered that juvenile Red-bellied Woodpeckers also love hummingbird nectar. They were regular visitors to my hummingbird feeders!
- I delighted in the chipmunks antics at avoiding the squirrels but still getting their fair share of peanuts. They grew so used to me sitting on the porch, that they stopped ‘taking the long way’ back to their nest, and instead scampered past me!
- It was the summer for rabbits in my yard as well, we had a plethora of babies all summer long and as we close in on autumn, I find myself happy that three have evidently decided that our yard is a good space to hang out. I see them regularly.
- I have been amazed at how very smart blue jays are! I, perhaps, learned the most about them this summer! Their “bird bath” antics though are most hilarious! They have brought laughter to my days, which was so appreciated in the days after we lost Sherman. A good reminder that laughter does not diminish sorrow but it does ease it for a bit.
- I reveled in the long days and mourned when the days shorter length became evident. And I really delighted in a season that contained four full moons… two of which were super moons!
- Yes, I even tried to spend some time outside when the sun was down! I did okay until the mosquitos got very bad but I very much loved watching the fireflies.
- And speaking of insects…I know many of you had a bout of super noisy cicadas however, I found their drone delightful on a sunny afternoon! And as August gave way to September I am delighting in the songs of the crickets as the sun sets.
- My butterfly bush was seriously amazing this year. It was immense… and full of blooms from late June to now… yes, it is still going strong! I watched a plethora of bees navigate systematically from bloom to bloom. I delighted in the abundance of butterflies… swallowtails, monarchs, and fritillaries galore! I also watched hummingbird moths as well as actual hummingbirds!
So as I turn the page of summer and I try and ready myself for fall… I am most thankful that I am here to experience the seasons!
What memories of summer will you carry with you into fall?
See you all back here on Wednesday for some Unraveling!
**Image by Viktor Hanacek on PicJumbo**
by Kat | Sep 19, 2024 | General, Poetry
It seems that my need for poetry this month has been directly tied to the state of the world around us… and so as the world gets uglier, I dive deeper into poetry. Poetry is most frequently a balm for me… a soothing salve that eases the bruises of the day. But sometimes poetry is more than a balm… it opens a door, invites me through, and shows me something rare and special.
The poem I selected today was one that I “stumbled” upon Sunday. It seems so very relevant today… I hope you find something rare and special inside this poem as well.
Halal Delicatessen
by Patrick Hicks
after the London bombings of July 7, 2005
The owner who made my falafel was gruff,
my smile and small talk lost in a desert.
But when his son, speaking a language I did not know,
came around the counter and tugged my jeans,
I have him my full attention.
He pointed at meat and salad,
saying the words that made them real.
I got down on one knee and pointed at trays,
which brought a feast of words to his lips.
He reached for my hand,
and tugged me into his kingdom.
Diced apples became tofah, bread was khobez,
he pointed at ice cream, helu, and his eyes bloomed.
If only it were this easy, always.
I thought of him as a grown man, oblivious
to this moment of hime that I will carry.
Later, we might pass each other on the street,
but today, I am the anchor of his universe.
His father wrapped my sandwich and, pausing,
passed two bottles of water into my hands.
“Hot today. You take these.”
His son looked on and pointed, ma’a,
he said, ma’a, of which we are all made.
Patrick Hicks, “Halal Delicatessen.” Copyright © 2009 by Patrick Hicks. First published in The Connecticut Review (Fall 2009).
If you want to know more about Patrick Hicks, you will find his very extensive website here.
Now go see who is joining Bonny today in gathering up some poetry! I will be back on Monday!
**Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich**
by Kat | Sep 18, 2024 | General, Uncategorized, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Gentle Unravelers!
September is just flying by and I need to get my fingers in gear if I expect to get the pair of September Socks finished!
While I don’t have a picture to share, I do have a few thoughts about the Jaywalker pattern… I am remembering now why I have never knit it. I cast on the “size I normally knit” and got several pattern repeats done and was quite confounded by how small the leg of the sock looked. I tried to pull it on and it might work if my goal was to knit compression socks I’d be right on track because they were so tight I could barely get them over my heel… without an actual heel in the sock! So I ripped back and cast on the next size up… I am almost back to the point I was when I restarted (and this was my Read With Us knit last night, so I did make the tiniest bit of progress!)
My main focus since last week has been “scratching the itch” of cast-on-all-the-things! I pulled out a skein of hand spun yarn, paired it with a strand of KSH (IYKYK) and cast on a Honey Cowl. I have expectations of needing a bit of a neck warmer in the coming months as I will be housebreaking a pup! I really wish you could feel how soft this cowl is… it is delicious! It has me wishing for cooler weather!
I am ever so happy with this cowl! (it almost makes me wish for some chilly weather!)
Once that “itch” was scratched, I returned to that Gnome Hat of All Gnome Hats! (This gnome hat is so tall I could not get it all in a photo!!) And though there were LOTS of rows, I did manage to complete it. I am well used to fiddly gnome knitting, but this was Fiddly Knitting On Steroids!! Oof, I am glad this bit is done! This morning I will get it blocked and get to work on the next part of the mystery!
And, as you can see above, I have a start of a book! I broke down two full watercolor sheets and while I do not have an awl, I used something similar and I think it worked fine! I do not have any waxed linen thread, so I am planning to do a bit of a work around with some craft thread. I will wax that with beeswax and begin stitching the pages together this week! I need to figure out a work around for c-clamps… so I likely won’t be glueing the spine this week.
I am about halfway through Rosamunde Pilcher’s September… which seems quite appropriate given the date! I am enjoying this story… there are some fascinating characters and, of course, there is a bit of drama! It has been keeping me good company as I have puttered on projects this week!
I had three finishes since last week… Adam Bede (which I loved almost as much as Mill on the Floss!), The Order of Time (which I have seen a few of you read) I thought this book was okay… it certainly gave me lots to think about! And, a Netgalley ARC Fabled Earth, which I thought was also okay… it will be published October 1, 2024.
But!! What about you? What are you focused on this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
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