Wavy Glass

Just one of those mornings.
It was a gray day from the get go. But I wanted to take my mother to the studio, to see the labyrinth, and so she could help me plan my "secret garden" around it.
She is not much on walking far, being of the mind that if it hurts, don't do it. And no matter how much I spew advice about dealing with arthritis, the bane of my family, both sides, she doesn't listen. Luckily, for me, I have my father's attitude. If it hurts, I get my hackles up, and take the stand that it isn't going to slow me down, stop me, or impede my progress. Not that it doesn't probably slow me down a bit, but not "so's you'd notice". :)
Everything is dry outside, but spring comes slow to the "north country", even in New York. The Adirondacks still have snow for crying out loud. Enough already.
This is the area behind my barn, where I am going to plant lots and lots of perennials, shrubs, trees, etc. My husband put a stockade fence across the lawn, to separate the front from the back, and that is where I am going to dedicate my efforts.
My mother was a gardener extraordinaire. She turned a blank, flat lot into a lush English garden, with her own two hands. The saddest thing for her, was getting too old and arthritic to keep it up. So I am encouraging her to dream this with me, help me to see what it will look like with paths winding through "rooms" made out of flowers. I hope she will. As I was describing my vision to her, I turned to her with a sudden realization, "OMG, I am becoming my mother."

When it is warmer, I will take her there and plop her in a lawn chair to watch me sweat. It won't be as good as her own endeavor, but hopefully, it will do her heart good.
Speaking of which, after we went to the studio, I took her shopping. She was ahead of me, and I went back a couple of aisles to get stuff to make a vegetarian chili that is to die for, my daughter Morgan's recipe, which I will share if you are interested. I actually called my daughter on my cell, and was asking her about the ingredients, and telling her one of my mother's annoying ways.
I came around the end of an aisle, to see my mother leaning over her cart, face red with a pinched and painful expression. When she saw me she said my name, and half heartedly waved to me. She said she felt like she might pass out, she didn't feel well at all. I sat her on a bench, checked out her groceries, and mine, and helped her to the car.
We got ourselves out of the store, and home, and on the way, she happened to add that she had chest pain. Nice time to mention that. Had I known that I would have left the groceries in the cart right where they were. Seems that no matter how many times my mother withholds information, I never smarten up and expect it. Duh.
After a nitro, and some rest, and eventually, some lunch, she felt much improved. Leaving me feeling like a total schmuck, for griping about her old age idiosyncrasies, and wondering if I will become my mother in those ways as well. Much food for thought. Too much thought for a Saturday morning.
It has been altogether a funny week. Wanting to plant flowers, but knowing that it was too soon. Weaving placemats first on this loom, then getting distracted, and finding myself upstairs weaving towels on another loom. Worrying that business was slow, then getting a really nice custom order that will be fun to make. Just basically feeling that spring fever kind of feeling, when you want to be everywhere at once doing it all. Or is that just a Hilary kind of feeling........that's what my husband would say.

If you notice the blurry sections in this photo, don't blame my novice skills, and no, I don't have Photoshop......it is actually just the wavy glass in the bedroom window. Almost all the windows in the house have this fascinating wavy glass, and I love it. It is why I don't put all new windows in the house. I can't bear to part with the old look.
Somehow there is a message here for me today......I am not sure I am getting it yet, maybe I am not ready. But it is there on the edge of my brain, just waiting. I am familiar with the elements, just not sure how they all fit............getting older, seeing things differently, being frustrated, life changing, resisting change, holding on to our comfort level, priorities, wavy glass.
Clear as mud, eh?

Welcome to Kingsbury

Today I took the back road to the studio. I wanted to take a picture of this for you. It is a very interesting thing, only about a mile behind my house. Supposedly, the Underground Railroad was active in this area, and one of the stories that came with the house, was that it was used to hide runaway slaves.

(click on any of these photos to make them bigger)
There is a room in the cellar, that looks almost like it has been soundproofed, with thicker wood walls and ceiling, but that is totally conjecture on my part. The house is in a perfect spot though, just 2 miles from the Champlain Canal, and the railroad.
Here is the hamlet of Kingsbury. Even though Rte 4 is a busy highway, it is a pretty quiet little place. This old barn has sat unused for quite some time. It has so much potential.
(No, honey, I don't have any "ideas" or "designs" on this piece of real estate.)
The big intersection. This used to be called "Kingsbury Street". George Washington came through here on his way to Fort Ticonderoga. He allegedly stayed in my house, and that is why the front bedroom was called the "President's room". My husband said, "yeah, but the president of what?" And then, "If George Washington had slept everywhere he is said to have slept he would have had to have lived to be 200 years old."

This Baptist church was built the same year as my house. I imagine that the same people probably worked on both.
The Kingsbury General store is of the same vintage. It is a great old place, and Bob and Carm make the BEST subs anywhere.

This is the parish house, and there are occasional community events here.


On my way back to the studio, I walked through the cemetery. There are some people buried here that lived in the house.
And here is my lovely old house, much the way it waas when it was built 220 years ago.
Now when I got back to the house, I was busy taking pictures, and I headed out behind the barn for a walk around the labyrinth, before I went home. With my camera around my neck, I focused on something, backed up, and tripped over a cluster of small stumps. For a second, as I lingered between being upright, and falling, I thought I was going to be able to catch myself. But that was not to be. I went down in a pile. I stayed still for a minute, evaluating the damage, and when I looked up, this is what I saw. So I decided to take a photo of it.......the top of the barn.

I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and decided to walk around the labyrinth anyway, pain or no pain. By this time, I needed the calming effects of it.
One thing I know, I am getting too old to fall that hard. Ouch.

A different angle.

As you can see, the labyrinth is open,the ground has totally dried up. The girls were enthralled with it, they don't ever seem to get tired of it. I am hoping that I can keep it mowed and keep the weeds down around the rocks. I wanted the paths to be grassy, but we'll see how that goes. I thought of planting some sedums and other ground cover types around the rocks.

This apple tree has seen better days..........half of it has fallen off. I loved this angle with the sun right behind it. Looks like the end of a long day.
I love gates. This one caught my eye. Weathered wood has always intrigued me.
Nothing is as soothing as the sound of a babbling stream, and this one was no exception.
Of all the photos I took this weekend, this one was my favorite. Not sure why, it probably wouldn't win any contests. But something about the angle moves me, the world from over Gabby's shoulder. It makes me want to look at it over and over again. So that is success, I guess.

Red barns. They always feel like home to me.
And there is nothing like home.

The labyrinth.

Finally, today, I walked the labyrinth. I can't believe how much I have been looking forward to this, waiting for just enough snow to melt so I could see the rocks. I walked it with my camera, and I walked very, very slowly. I love slowing my brain down and waiting to see what impressions pop up while I am walking. Taking pictures of it gave me lots of different perspectives.
The one thought that occurred to me was this. There are so many times in life when you think you are so close to the answers you are looking for, and yet they are out of reach. You go in all different directions, but try as you might, you just can't quite get there. Like the center of the labyrinth, it looks so close, and yet the path takes you away, then close again, then further away.
The labyrinth is really simple. There is one way in, and one way out. The only thing to do is to decide to enter. That's it. So simple, and yet, it seems, while you are doing it, so circuitous. Kind of like life. If you just take that first step, and trust the process, you will get there. I love the labyrinth, and I want a sign that says "where you might find the center of your heart". That's what my grandson told me it was for, and I think he is right. While I haven't advertised the labyrinth, anyone who comes to the studio is welcome to walk it. It is too good not to share.
This is the stair runner......all 240" of it, resting til next week. Then I will measure it, wind it on again, and finish it.

This red and yellow warp is for placemats. I actually rethreaded it after I wove this, so that the stripe on the right, is matched by another stripe on the left. The fabric I am using is a pale, butter yellow, with roses. I have enough warp to make 6 or 7 sets of placemats. Then I need to make some in neutral colors. I have kind of been stuck on warm colors of late.

I can't say that I have accomplished much this week. But strangely enough, I don't feel guilty about it, like I usually would. I think that age has its benefits. I am coming to think that it is not going to be as hard as I thought to manage my "retirement". As a bona fide workaholic, I have been known to have trouble taking days off. But I am committed to changing that this year.........at last. There are other things to do besides work. Really.
For starters:
I am making sun dresses for the granddaughters this week.
I am starting flower seeds.
Getting the kayaks out of the basement, and putting the racks back on my car.
Walking the dog down by the river, taking pictures.
Reading a book on photography, playing scrabble. Making plans to take some day trips with my grandchildren.
Hopefully, a weekend trip with my husband.
Yes, I have plans.
Not all work.
And it's OK.

Snow in NY, spring in Spain

One of the nicest things about my venture at Crazy as a Loom Weaving Studio is the people I meet. I meet them at shows, in the shop, online, over the phone. For the most part, they are kind and appreciative. They inspire me to keep doing what I love, and they encourage me to trust my instincts in my weaving.
In 2008, I had my first "international" order, from Petra, in Spain. Over the winter, she kept buying rugs, and ordering custom rugs, and we talked via email. She sent me photos of her house, and of olive trees and periwinkle. I just sent her some mug mats, and she told me about spring in Spain, and she sent me this amazing photo of her and her "true love". It is an amazing thing to "meet" someone this way, and feel their warmth and energy in spite of the distance. And though I never thought of going to Spain, her words and pictures have put that idea in my mind. So I just had to share this image with you, it was just too good to keep to myself. (click on the pic to make it bigger)

Today I was still quite distracted, though doing much better. I accepted that I was not going to get much done. And acceptance was the answer, because the day turned out to be an OK day after all. Tammy and I took her Mom to lunch at El Mexicano, where we were serenaded by a strolling crooner with a cowboy hat and a guitar. The food was awesome. Then Tammy and I went to Tops Furniture, where the right half of the store is used furniture, and the left side is all new furniture. We just enjoyed looking around, could have bought lots of stuff, but we didn't buy anything.
When we went back to the studio,
I went upstairs, and took these pictures out the back window. I have been on the lookout for the snow to melt enough to see the labyrinth. And today, finally, it did. It looks pretty wet in places, but I am going to put my rubber boots on and walk it anyway. And as my grandson Logan said, I can find the center of my heart.
The other view is out over the meadow. As you can see, the snow is holding out.
I wove some rep weave towels on my Macomber in the back bedroom, which just happens to be my favorite room in the whole house. The towels have been on the loom all winter, and I need to finish them. I have a brand new sectional beam to put on the loom, and then I will rewarp it for more towels. I am thinking some blue and white towels would be nice.
I was amazed at how calm I was weaving today, as if just the decision to let worry go was enough.
And of course my shadow, Kizzy and Miss Puss, were right there to keep me company. They love it when I start opening doors upstairs, letting them prowl around.
One of these warm afternoons, the loft needs cleaning, and the cats have never been up there, so it will be an adventure for them.
The quilt on the bottom of the bed was given to me by my late friend, Flossie. Out of the blue she sent it to me last spring. I asked her if it was for my birthday, which was in February. She said no, it wasn't for my birthday, it was just because "you are you". A few months later, she passed away. Flossie's parting gift. So even though I have been admonished and warned, that the quilt should be put someplace out of the light, so it will last forever, I can't do it. Flossie was a bright light, and she never hid that light, so I won't hide her quilt either. As you can see, Kizzy loves it. I love it, too.
I may not get much done this week, or maybe I will. Either way I will be OK with it. I am beginning to understand that chilling is sometime just what I need.