strapped in

As material for a backstrap warp—

—this linen is not ideal.¹

But as a way to settle my restless, road-weary carcass—

—it is just the thing.

Yes, the resulting cloth looks like burlap.

But apparently hand woven burlap is excellent for stilling the momentum of travel.

And I suppose the stimulating energy—

—of wild mornings—

—adventurous afternoons—

—and romantic evenings—

—has to go somewhere.

Better to transform it into sturdy cloth than let it ooze into anxious overwhelm and endless busyness.

Indeed, the backstrap burlap arrived just in time, for once beyond the bliss of arrival, the flurry of unpacking,² and the reveling in familiar routines—

—it seemed almost easier to keep moving rather than do what it takes to get back into shape for a slowly meandering creative life.³

Bur then we met a weirdly welcoming local fox— ⁴

—strolled to the library for a pile of novels—

—took some time to read—

—and finally remembered that in the lovely month of May there is nothing better than to go blissfully astray right here at home.⁵

So that’s what we’re doing.

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1. With this mill spun tow linen every swish of the beater raised little hairs of flax—so much that I had to clear the shed every couple of picks. Next time I’ll definitely size the warp before I begin. I actually thought about this time but was still too restless to take the time. Lesson learned. And not too hard a lesson really, since there was no breakage.

For more about my approach to backstrap weaving check out my guide, Backstrap Dialogues.

2. I’d forgotten all about the leaking bathroom faucets—and that I’d been brushing my teeth in the kitchen for weeks before I left while waiting for the new parts—so was somewhat dismayed by the homecoming thought of yet another thing to do. But luckily the cartridges arrived at the plumber just as I got home— and putting everything back together proved easier than anticipated. So yay! And also. Whew.

3. It has always seemed to me that getting in shape for long term focus takes just as much time and effort as getting in shape for movement-centric activities.

4. We walk/run by this little creekside pocket park almost every day—and it appears regularly in my photos. It is neither remote nor fancy but the beings who live there don’t care, and it always has a magic all its own.

5. Hard not to have that song from the musical Camelot flowing through my brain—and wonder what “frivolous whim, proper or ‘im’ ” will strike next?

Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That darling month when ev'ryone throws
Self-control away.
It's time to do
A wretched thing or two,
And try to make each precious day
One you'll always rue!
It's May! It's May!
The month of "yes you may,"
The time for ev'ry frivolous whim,
Proper or "im."
It's wild! It's gay!
A blot in ev'ry way.
The birds and bees with all of their vast
Amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast,
The lusty month of May.