Binder Twine and Happy Memories

Three generations standing in front of The Cabin - my father, my sister and her daughter and me.

I am still in awe of this feat of engineering my father executed back in the early '70's. He figured the design for this cabin out in his head, figured out how to prefab it in pieces at our home 70 miles away and then trucked the components to the site. With the help of family and friends, he put it up and we enjoyed it for many years. The Cabin, as we always called it, is still standing, although it hasn't been used for a number of years. When we drove up, we stopped at the neighbor just up the hill, and it was one of the sons of the original owners who had come out to enjoy the first day of deer hunting season. It was amazing to see someone who actually remembered my father up there on the top of the cabin!

I Am Not a Hoarder! I Am NOT a Hoarder!

I AM NOT A HOARDER!

Am I?

Okay, I was going through some cupboards and found a bunch of things I hadn't seen in a few years. In one box, I found this grocery bag from Guatemala. Okay, I lived in Guatemala from 1981 - 1986. My last visit was in 1990. What in the world am I doing holding on to a plastic bag for a minimum of 20 years?!

One of these days, I'll probably come across a bag from El Corte Inglés. Back from when I was in Spain during college. In 1976.

I AM NOT A HOARDER!

(Am I?)

The Threads of Time (or...Who's Old?)

Okay, last night I was walking though the terminal, and I saw this older woman sitting on bench. I smiled at her and said hello. I was trying to get a feel for if she needed any assistance or might have a question about when a flight was arriving.

When she smiled back, I complimented her on the patchwork poncho she had on. It was quite attractive, and as I looked at it more closely I noticed that it was made of suede.

She told me that she'd had it forever - she bought it in 1977 when she was in college.

Okay, this "older woman" was in college when I was in college! And, I'll bet she remembers me as this friendly "older woman" at the airport.

ARGH! Who's old? I guess I am!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Just yesterday, I was photographing the beautiful red Japanese maple leaves blanketing the ground. Today, the leaves are covered with a blanket of snow!

Driving to choir rehearsal tonight in the snow was kind of a magical experience - almost hallucinogenic or hypnotic. The flakes were all holding hands and coming down in clumps. It almost looked as if quarters or half dollars were swirling around the car . I couldn't tell if I was moving down the road or if the night was rushing toward me.

What a difference a day makes!

The Fibers of Fall

As I dashed into the house between gigs today, I was just frozen in my tracks by the glistening glory of the scarlet leaves from the Japanese maple. A few clung on tenaciously to their branches, but most of them made a crimson carpet around the tree and wove themselves into an afghan across the bench Dad had made for me a decade or so ago. The sunlight was dazzling! While it had been grey and drizzly when I left the house, now the sun sparkled on the leaves. I dashed inside to get my camera so I could save a bit of this splendor for later. I snapped a few shot just in time. The clouds rolled back across the sun and the wind tugged on the few leaves still in the tree.

This special moment is just one of the fibers that gets woven in the tapestry of the seasons.

Tapestry or Felt?

I used to feel that my life was kind of a tapestry - a woven cloth made from all the fibers in my life. Teaching gave my life a rhythm, much like the rhythm of weaving. Up and down, back and forth, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Now that I have retired, there is so much less organization to my life. The rhythm is erratic and it is hard to get a consistent pattern going.

So, I guess I am taking the fibers of my life and making felt - a non-woven fabric.

Felt isn't tapestry, but it is felt. It's just different - and something new.

I Went and Walked Some Land

I saw a listing for a 2.5 acre parcel of land with a well, septic, electric and a foundation already put in. The price was possible, so I went to see it. I have this dream of building an energy efficient small house where I could raise a little food, have a studio and live a quiet life. It was a pretty nice spot, but I don't know if I am ready to actually buy land yet.

Does this look like the right spot for my straw bale house?