Thank you so much for these video and written instructions! I tried this on my own a few years ago and see I got a lot of it wrong! Luckily, my neighbor has a ton of milkweed in her garden every year and she lets me have the spent stalks. I'll try again!
I'm delighted that the videos are helpful --and that you have a good source right next door so you can practice and experiment and see what works for you. Good luck and thanks!
I think of another lovely word - gloaming - that means twilight. I hear in it the time when you’ve been out all day and are going home as the sun sets.
Oh yes indeed. I think it might have been the word gloaming that made me wonder if there was a similar one for morning. In fact, I called in the "morning gloaming" for a while until I realized that gloaming really is just evening. And a perfect time of evening too...
I laughed out loud at the dog breath comment. So fun. My resource for milkweed at the Poudre Learning Center land here in Greeley, CO, has disappeared. I think they consider it a weed. Alas. I have to search out other growing patches. Thank you for showing how you prepare the fibers. I haven't found stalks with fiber that long yet!! The search will continue! All the best to you and Beryl.
Arrrghgh. So sorry your source has vanished. It's actually kind of hard to get rid of once established, so maybe it'll come back in the spring? Lots of places cut off the stalks at the end of summer/or in early spring so we never even get to see the weather-retted ones. Hope you find some more though. And the length of the fibers sure does vary, stalk to stalk. Also by how I handle it. It's pretty rare to get those amazing super long ones.
How wonderful that the butterflies are coming through-- and I wonder what they are eating? I have friends on Southwestern Colorado who have a LOT of milkweed, so maybe they are heading for that?
I haven't seen them in 2 years. Three years ago they came on May 31 and were all over my lavender - apparently they can eat the necter of a lot of blossoms but prefer milkweed to lay their eggs because of the good source of leaves.
Previous days of being in the sunshine, pruning trees and working with your hands to create something from another thing. Making my fingers itch to work with dogbane from my stash. And needing to pick some green nettles for soup. Yum!!
oooh, nettle soup. YES! My little patch is still very short, so not enough for soup (yet), but hopefully soonish. As long as I don't keep nipping off the tops for tea, that is....
French “le crépuscule” for “twilight” can also be used for the light at dawn or dusk. Used also in the adjective form as you used it for the creatures who come out at those times.
When I watched your lovely videos, I thought, “her carder looks like a dog brush.” The footnotes told me why.
Your parsley photo shows a beauty I had never before noticed.
ooh, thank you for le Crépuscule! I just sent to look up "crepuscular" in the dictionary wondering if its origin was French, but it turns out it is the Latin word "crepusculum," which would then work as a source for both. Whoot! Thank you for that little etymological dive.
I can’t deny it, the changing of the seasons is always full of expectations and relief. Bush fire season is almost over and I am looking forward to the coming winter. I am getting better with walking, the fear is always in the back of my mind though. So I take each day as it comes, cooler nights and the daytime is getting lower so yes, daylight savings is almost over for us. I haven’t even been walking to check out what is growing in my Neighbours gardens. I will soon as I feel going past my letterbox is getting easier.
Oh Christine, the fear of bush fires. I actually do know how intense and nail biting that is, for where Idaho is always in danger of wildfire and during those crispy tinder days we just long for the safe feeling of rain, or even just a little dampness in the air. So hope you can get out and about soon.
I am inspired to walk my grounds and beyond to see what could be used to create something- cordage or bits for including in weaving. No milkweed here but other plant material- iris stalks, Yerba mansa, cattails.
Yes, those of us who are doers have to be reminded every so often to stop and enjoy what we've been doing - and to let the sunshine shine on us! We don't always have to be "accomplishing" something. The simple moments of awe and joy are perfect for any day!
That's it exactly. Stored up moments of awe and joy rather than objects. Well, sometimes anyway. Lots of the things we make are glorious and life enhancing -- but then how wondrous to remember to stop and notice that too -- "look, I made this thing-- and it is just right and feels so good, and belongs in the world like the trees and the sky."
If we don't stop to look at what we've made, we lose the moment of the making. The push for producing a "product" obscures our intrinsic desire to make something with our hands. So, the contemplation of the made objects is important - and necessary.
Beryl has the best advice, which must be an undercurrent in your subconscious. Basking is a gift, and a serious undertaking. Especially when shared with a loving companion like Beryl, dog breath or no. The times of rest and allowing the beauty of the world and the gift of life to hold you in deep joy are holy gifts. Many thanks to Beryl, and may there be many more times of basking in your life, punctuating the creative moments. Blessings.
"A gift and s serious Undertaking." That's it exactly Chotard. And I am indeed grateful to Beryl for helping me remember this -- and for reminding me how to practice.
Regarding the madrugadora, in German it would be a Frühaufsteherin, but that refers mainly to the time when getting up, not the twilight condition. Which is Dämmerung and comes in a couple of interesting combinations, and the verb can refer to a process of cognitive recognition or lack thereof, and sleep.
Thank you Uta! German has such marvelous words. And the subtleties of how a word that describes twilight can also reference cognitive awareness/recognition is delightful to me -- the subtle bendy nature of words...
Thank you so much for these video and written instructions! I tried this on my own a few years ago and see I got a lot of it wrong! Luckily, my neighbor has a ton of milkweed in her garden every year and she lets me have the spent stalks. I'll try again!
I'm delighted that the videos are helpful --and that you have a good source right next door so you can practice and experiment and see what works for you. Good luck and thanks!
I think of another lovely word - gloaming - that means twilight. I hear in it the time when you’ve been out all day and are going home as the sun sets.
I've been forced to get up extra early lately, but every time I see it, I'm so happy to see the gloaming!
Yes! exactly. IT's even fun to say, isn't it?
Oh yes indeed. I think it might have been the word gloaming that made me wonder if there was a similar one for morning. In fact, I called in the "morning gloaming" for a while until I realized that gloaming really is just evening. And a perfect time of evening too...
Well look at that- I learned something new today! I thought it referred to just mornings, lol.
I guess it's just 'false dawn'
We could be basking accountability partners! I am not as good at it as I would like and I keep thinking it would be such a good thing.
I laughed out loud at the dog breath comment. So fun. My resource for milkweed at the Poudre Learning Center land here in Greeley, CO, has disappeared. I think they consider it a weed. Alas. I have to search out other growing patches. Thank you for showing how you prepare the fibers. I haven't found stalks with fiber that long yet!! The search will continue! All the best to you and Beryl.
Arrrghgh. So sorry your source has vanished. It's actually kind of hard to get rid of once established, so maybe it'll come back in the spring? Lots of places cut off the stalks at the end of summer/or in early spring so we never even get to see the weather-retted ones. Hope you find some more though. And the length of the fibers sure does vary, stalk to stalk. Also by how I handle it. It's pretty rare to get those amazing super long ones.
Sarah , I love reading the gusset!
I’m up by 5 am and I’m working on my tapestry and listening to The Long Thread Podcast and your interview! Amazing journey you’re having.
Miriam from Ann Arbor, Mi.
Oh what bliss to think of you tap tap tapping away at five AM. Makes me very happy.
Wonderful demonstration of milkweed processing. I don't think we have a lot of milkweed in NM, however, the butterflies come thru here.
How wonderful that the butterflies are coming through-- and I wonder what they are eating? I have friends on Southwestern Colorado who have a LOT of milkweed, so maybe they are heading for that?
I haven't seen them in 2 years. Three years ago they came on May 31 and were all over my lavender - apparently they can eat the necter of a lot of blossoms but prefer milkweed to lay their eggs because of the good source of leaves.
A Scottish twilight word, evening variety: gloaming.
Luscious word. Love it so much.
Previous days of being in the sunshine, pruning trees and working with your hands to create something from another thing. Making my fingers itch to work with dogbane from my stash. And needing to pick some green nettles for soup. Yum!!
oooh, nettle soup. YES! My little patch is still very short, so not enough for soup (yet), but hopefully soonish. As long as I don't keep nipping off the tops for tea, that is....
French “le crépuscule” for “twilight” can also be used for the light at dawn or dusk. Used also in the adjective form as you used it for the creatures who come out at those times.
When I watched your lovely videos, I thought, “her carder looks like a dog brush.” The footnotes told me why.
Your parsley photo shows a beauty I had never before noticed.
Thank you for “The Gusset.”
ooh, thank you for le Crépuscule! I just sent to look up "crepuscular" in the dictionary wondering if its origin was French, but it turns out it is the Latin word "crepusculum," which would then work as a source for both. Whoot! Thank you for that little etymological dive.
And ha! How clever of you to spot the dog brush.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha doggie breath...hahahah
Love you for saying that....!!!
P
teeehehee! so glad I made you giggle.
I can’t deny it, the changing of the seasons is always full of expectations and relief. Bush fire season is almost over and I am looking forward to the coming winter. I am getting better with walking, the fear is always in the back of my mind though. So I take each day as it comes, cooler nights and the daytime is getting lower so yes, daylight savings is almost over for us. I haven’t even been walking to check out what is growing in my Neighbours gardens. I will soon as I feel going past my letterbox is getting easier.
Oh Christine, the fear of bush fires. I actually do know how intense and nail biting that is, for where Idaho is always in danger of wildfire and during those crispy tinder days we just long for the safe feeling of rain, or even just a little dampness in the air. So hope you can get out and about soon.
One of my favorite quotes:”All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Pascal.
OH my. That is simply lovely. And so true. Now, just to embrace and embody it.
So very true!
I am inspired to walk my grounds and beyond to see what could be used to create something- cordage or bits for including in weaving. No milkweed here but other plant material- iris stalks, Yerba mansa, cattails.
Time to explore.
Thank you for the Gusset.
Logan in New Mexico
Oh gosh Logan, you are so welcome. I wonder what you will find?
Yes, those of us who are doers have to be reminded every so often to stop and enjoy what we've been doing - and to let the sunshine shine on us! We don't always have to be "accomplishing" something. The simple moments of awe and joy are perfect for any day!
That's it exactly. Stored up moments of awe and joy rather than objects. Well, sometimes anyway. Lots of the things we make are glorious and life enhancing -- but then how wondrous to remember to stop and notice that too -- "look, I made this thing-- and it is just right and feels so good, and belongs in the world like the trees and the sky."
If we don't stop to look at what we've made, we lose the moment of the making. The push for producing a "product" obscures our intrinsic desire to make something with our hands. So, the contemplation of the made objects is important - and necessary.
that's it exactly.
Beryl has the best advice, which must be an undercurrent in your subconscious. Basking is a gift, and a serious undertaking. Especially when shared with a loving companion like Beryl, dog breath or no. The times of rest and allowing the beauty of the world and the gift of life to hold you in deep joy are holy gifts. Many thanks to Beryl, and may there be many more times of basking in your life, punctuating the creative moments. Blessings.
"A gift and s serious Undertaking." That's it exactly Chotard. And I am indeed grateful to Beryl for helping me remember this -- and for reminding me how to practice.
Thank you so much
Regarding the madrugadora, in German it would be a Frühaufsteherin, but that refers mainly to the time when getting up, not the twilight condition. Which is Dämmerung and comes in a couple of interesting combinations, and the verb can refer to a process of cognitive recognition or lack thereof, and sleep.
Thank you Uta! German has such marvelous words. And the subtleties of how a word that describes twilight can also reference cognitive awareness/recognition is delightful to me -- the subtle bendy nature of words...