Stasia's Place Of Grace

Wednesday, October 16, 2002

 

Lots Today

I have so many things to be happy about today!

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My friend Kary is so talented. Look at this photo of her latest spinning/knitting tote bag, now up for auction at e-Bay:

Aren't they cute? The fiber critters are all dressed up for Halloween. Nellie the Angora goat looks like Zorro! And this is the only edition of this bag.

I am grateful to have such a talented and inspired/inspiring friend!

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This is my John Berglund vase, a gift from his wife, Karen. It is carved from a wood burl and I adore it. It is such a lovely, organic piece of art.

John also makes gorgeous bowls, and fun little spinning tops. While those of us who spin fiber know of the health benefits of spindling, I think that people who don't spin fiber might learn that spinning a little top would be relaxing, fun, and meditative.

I plan on getting some of the spinning tops with their dishes, and some of the vases, as holiday gifts for my family. Check out the Berglunds' website and your holiday shopping may go easier, too!

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Here is my progress on my socks for The Ships Project. I'm just waiting to hear from them exactly what they mean when they say "it must have a cuff." I don't know if that means a foldover cuff, or just a ribbed cuff.

I think these will fit a rather huge military man! They are about 11.5" long, unstretched.

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These are the roses from my climbing "Peace" rosebush which we clipped before the frost the other night. They are opening! Aren't they lovely? These are the first roses that bush has ever produced. Hopefully next year it'll choose to bloom a bit earlier than mid-October!

You all know I'm not the world's greatest gardener. My theory on roses is, stick it in the ground, let it go. The only thing I did this year was tie this one's vines to the garage wall. I have one other rose (besides our native, hardy roses) - a Jackson and Perkins - which I have planted in the shade and with a northern exposure, and which actually does all right every year! I wish I could remember the name of it... some man named it for his wife, and it looks just like a "Peace" rose, except perhaps a bit more cream than yellow. If I remember, I'll tell you what it is, because if it can survive my black thumb, you know it's hardy!

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Today as I was out in the field with Chester, a V of Canada geese flew overhead, the leader honking occasionally to keep his followers in line. They barely skimmed the treetops, and flew directly over my head - so close that I could hear the actual whistling of their feathers in the air and see their webbed, black feet tucked into their tummies. Chester and I just stood silently and stared up above us as they passed. (Sometimes even the Wild Dog Of Borneo can have a reflective moment!)

Suddenly, the flying geese all began honking, and those honks were echoed by choruses of other hidden geese, floating in the pond at the horse farm behind us. They called to their passing friends, who did indeed float down to join the congregation. Have you ever seen how a goose "parachutes" down to land? It is really neat to watch!

I truly love fall out here in the country. I miss working, and I miss being in good health, but oh, what I would miss in Nature if my life wasn't as slowed-down as it is now!

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Speaking of migrating birds, we sponsor Whooping Cranes which are raised at the Necedah Wildlife Refuge here in Wisconsin. As I write, they are being led by a human in an ultralight aircraft on their first migration down to Florida! It is very exciting and we get updates on all the TV news programs around here. To follow their progress, click here!

We were invited to attend their first test-flight, but as it is located three hours away from us, the event took place at 6 a.m., and it was a work day for Jeff, we opted out of the opportunity this year. Maybe next time! The people all have to wear crane suits when they interact with the baby birds - it's pretty humorous!

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We watched PBS again tonight. The Siberian Ice Maiden episode of NOVA was re-run. I was fascinated by it all over again, and learned that the anthropologists determined that the silk in her gown was Tussah (wild) and not Bombyx (cultivated) - which led the scientists to new theories about the migration routes of her nomadic tribe, linking them to India rather than China. Just think, a whole new theory about trade routes, just from looking at some spun and woven fibers under a microscope! Amazing!

See how important fibers and textiles are to history? When people ask why you knit or spin, tell them it is to preserve our culture for the future, too!

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On another happy note, Crystal Palace, the distributor for Ashford products, notified me that my held-up loom addition should be here in about three weeks... long enough for me to finish up my current projects and get ready to weave something with an eight-shaft pattern (maybe!) Good news.

So many wonderful, beautiful and interesting things today! I hope your day was as blessed!

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