be still my heart, that woven milkweed. what can i say about that perfection? and how wonderful that you vacated in your very own way. i maintain i've never had a vacation like other people seem to. my daughter just had a staycation. i think maybe i like non-cation.
A non-cation--the perfect phrase for those of us who like I work so much we do it all the time. I love it. And thank you for sharing in the milkweed bliss. I really could just stare at that roll of cloth for hours--at least when I'm not holding it!
Thanks -- me too. That blue/white brindle thing is amazing. Of course since she sheds madly for months, it behooves me to dress in her colors as much as possible too.....
Lovely flow to it all! Your comics, weaving, playing, working, discovering life! Thank you for sharing it with us😌. I love your idea of taking a comic class - and all the challenges and learning of that.
The comics class was fascinating. I kinda wish they had more online ones --in part because White River Junction is pretty far away and in part because it was a lovely practice to carve out that kind of single focus time right here at home-- even as I was also hanging out with other people who already are into comics and cartooning.
So happy to read The Gusset again! And that might sound like I didn't appreciate you taking a break. Far from it! Taking time to do or not do - it is essential for a healthy brain and heart and soul. Aw summer... as I have gotten older, it has become a time to hibernate. Unless I trek north to enjoy the coolness of a mountain hike. Otherwise, it's indoor and air conditioned time in the studio and doing the work things after getting the dogs out for their walk before the heat sets in. I tell you, I am counting the days until fall!
Thanks for that perspective Ellen -- treating the heat of mid summer a bit like the cold of mid-winter sounds hugely restful. Psychically restful anyway (cuz of course we're in our respective studios!)
Aww, that water looks so good from hot New Mexico. Since you are retired, as am I, we are lucky enough to be able to do anything we want anytime we want. I say follow your intuition and do what your heart longs for, anytime. I find that as I practice that in my whole life, not just in my fiber art, My List gets accomplished just fine. Sure beats pushing myself like I used to do.
You're right about that -- the chores do all get done, and so much more easily when one isn't brow-beating oneself! And yes-- water is amazing. Not much of it here on the prairie, so it is always astonishing to find a place to dip my toes (or whole self!).
Oh YUM!! I tried that sandwich today with rye instead (what I had on hand) and it was Yummy!! Thanks for that suggestion! I so agree that summer is a different way to spend time, and I enjoy the basket weaving, napping a lot, reading good books, especially when it is too hot to do the household chores. I am on your side Sarah!!
Ah, summer - doing what you love to do! My idea of a perfect vacation is in my studio, weaving, sewing, creating new things to make...And this summer, perhaps because my sister and I have formed a bread baking club (bake the same bread at different parts of the country and see how it comes out for each of us), I've been on a bread-baking kick. My family doesn't appreciate the deep, dark slightly heavy breads I like to bake ( and that Laurel's Bread Book make so easy to create), so my freezer is stocked for the long haul. I only eat a slice of bread a day, so I will have bread through the fall! Such richness, such abundance! Kind of like finding milkweed where you didn't expect, isn't it?
Oh my goodness, your bread baking club sounds awesome. I love that you can compare long distance notes with your sister while baking your favorite kinds of bread. Because YES to those rich dark magical fairy-tale loaves. Actually I don't know why they seem fairy tale like, but there you have it. And you have it in spades with a full freezer. Yum.
Most days have been too hot, but we’ve had a couple of unexpectedly delicious coolish ones when it suddenly seem possible. Not that “suddenly” is any way to approach sourdough :-)
Zucchini cornbread .... we came back from a week in Shetland last night to meet two entirely unexpected marrows in the kitchen garden. So if I peel and grate one, and add it to my regular Chuck Williams Sonoma spoon cornbread recipe, would that work, do you think?
OOOOH -- spoon bread. I LOVE it. I bet grated marrow would be a scrumptious addition. Make it even more moist. The recipe I used did suggest grating them onto a kitchen towel and then squeezing out the extra moisture before adding to the batter so the cornbread didn't get soggy, so I did and it worked wonderfully. I also love to grate zucchini/marrows into my sourdough hotcake batter (no squeezing there). The texture is excellent and the whole thing much faster (and cooler) on a hot day than baking zucchini/barrow bread...
But spoon bread -- going to have to check out that recipe and give it a try too.
So love this post. 2 comments- love the”will I use it, do I even like it?” On the drawing table. And Sarah, peanut butter AND mustard? My July was recovering from back surgery (all so much better) limiting BLT bending lifting twisting, so solo walks without my canine companion. And lost in a monochromatic wedge weave which I believe is expressing my underlying desire to be at the beach which will wait until September. Thank you for this great post!!!
What a thing it must be/have been to allow yourself to slow down and tend to healing your back--though careful walks and quiet monochromatic wedge weave sound weirdly pleasurable. Indeed, I just finished a little wedge weave piece that I'll probably talk about next week, and the idea of pure monochrome and letting the texture and angled shapes do their subtle work is luscious.
Also really glad that you will be able to get to the beach and walk with your dog once again.
Peanut butter and mustard -- think peanut sauce.....
Just goes to show that even the best need to take a break! I think we all knew there would be some weaving involved. And of course lively drawings of weavings and Beryl. That's what we come for!!! Love the close-up of Beryl. Isn't she swell!!! Let her know she has fans. As do you kiddo! Such a treat to see how you give life a run for it's money!
About missing greens in winter, you might want to see if someone who keeps a green house going through the winter will let you grow some greens? Just a thought. I keep a jar or 2 of sprouts going in winter. Nothing fancy - alfalfa, radish, or mung give me a bit of the fresh green kick that I crave.
Great idea about finding someone with a greenhouse. The closest I have come is that a local farmer has a couple of hoop houses and sells bags of spinach and other greens into the late fall and again from late January on (she takes a break in mid-winter cuz she needs it!!!). If I were really energetic I could also make a little cold frame for myself and plunk it over one of my garden beds... Hmmm...
Have been missing you.. Glad you had a great vacation. My summers are always spent doing all the chores I did not do during the other three seasons (like yard work), and waiting for summer to go away. Yay fall coming up!
Yay fall indeed!!!! And yes, I'm crossing a lot of things off the list this summer -- including (I hope if all goes well) getting a new roof on my house in a couple of weeks. Not that I"m actually doing the work, but it all takes a bunch of organizing...
Welcome back! Tuesdays weren't the same without you, but it's good you took a break from your Gusset deadlines and then returned with a long one! Glad to see you and Beryl continuing your dialog and following your muse(s) hither and yon. ... Ah, summers are different these years. It's been so hot most of the blackberries cooked on the vines, except for a luscious few close to the creek, so for the first year in many, no jam. ... A good float and wallow in the cool creek has saved many a day. Tell Beryl she's missing out on the best part of summer!
So sorry about your blackberries. I just learned that a big local fire burned up almost all the vines in the place I usually pick, so may have to go farther afield. Or, indeed, like you, do without a freezer full of frozen ones? Yipes.
Much creek-wallowing envy too. What bliss to have such a thing close by... Beryl does NOT know what she's missing.
So glad to read your stack
be still my heart, that woven milkweed. what can i say about that perfection? and how wonderful that you vacated in your very own way. i maintain i've never had a vacation like other people seem to. my daughter just had a staycation. i think maybe i like non-cation.
A non-cation--the perfect phrase for those of us who like I work so much we do it all the time. I love it. And thank you for sharing in the milkweed bliss. I really could just stare at that roll of cloth for hours--at least when I'm not holding it!
That is one very cute mutt! I love her colouring.
Thanks -- me too. That blue/white brindle thing is amazing. Of course since she sheds madly for months, it behooves me to dress in her colors as much as possible too.....
Lovely flow to it all! Your comics, weaving, playing, working, discovering life! Thank you for sharing it with us😌. I love your idea of taking a comic class - and all the challenges and learning of that.
The comics class was fascinating. I kinda wish they had more online ones --in part because White River Junction is pretty far away and in part because it was a lovely practice to carve out that kind of single focus time right here at home-- even as I was also hanging out with other people who already are into comics and cartooning.
Some wonderful images of Beryl in there.
Thanks. She is pretty fun to photograph. And draw. And hang out with...Lucky me.
It looks like it was a perfectly perfect vacation!
It really was grand.
So happy to read The Gusset again! And that might sound like I didn't appreciate you taking a break. Far from it! Taking time to do or not do - it is essential for a healthy brain and heart and soul. Aw summer... as I have gotten older, it has become a time to hibernate. Unless I trek north to enjoy the coolness of a mountain hike. Otherwise, it's indoor and air conditioned time in the studio and doing the work things after getting the dogs out for their walk before the heat sets in. I tell you, I am counting the days until fall!
Thanks for that perspective Ellen -- treating the heat of mid summer a bit like the cold of mid-winter sounds hugely restful. Psychically restful anyway (cuz of course we're in our respective studios!)
Aww, that water looks so good from hot New Mexico. Since you are retired, as am I, we are lucky enough to be able to do anything we want anytime we want. I say follow your intuition and do what your heart longs for, anytime. I find that as I practice that in my whole life, not just in my fiber art, My List gets accomplished just fine. Sure beats pushing myself like I used to do.
You're right about that -- the chores do all get done, and so much more easily when one isn't brow-beating oneself! And yes-- water is amazing. Not much of it here on the prairie, so it is always astonishing to find a place to dip my toes (or whole self!).
What a nice treat for a hot August afternoon: a deliciously long Gusset! Thank you for sharing your and Beryl’s break.
Gosh thanks. I don't think I realized it had gotten so long-- but so many drawings to share I guess I couldn't resist!
Oh YUM!! I tried that sandwich today with rye instead (what I had on hand) and it was Yummy!! Thanks for that suggestion! I so agree that summer is a different way to spend time, and I enjoy the basket weaving, napping a lot, reading good books, especially when it is too hot to do the household chores. I am on your side Sarah!!
HA! I love it -- comic-inspired sandwiches. I bet it was awesome on rye bread.
And oh yes -- hot afternoon naps for the sudden heat-induced tiredness. And books. The library is such a good friend.
Ah, summer - doing what you love to do! My idea of a perfect vacation is in my studio, weaving, sewing, creating new things to make...And this summer, perhaps because my sister and I have formed a bread baking club (bake the same bread at different parts of the country and see how it comes out for each of us), I've been on a bread-baking kick. My family doesn't appreciate the deep, dark slightly heavy breads I like to bake ( and that Laurel's Bread Book make so easy to create), so my freezer is stocked for the long haul. I only eat a slice of bread a day, so I will have bread through the fall! Such richness, such abundance! Kind of like finding milkweed where you didn't expect, isn't it?
Oh my goodness, your bread baking club sounds awesome. I love that you can compare long distance notes with your sister while baking your favorite kinds of bread. Because YES to those rich dark magical fairy-tale loaves. Actually I don't know why they seem fairy tale like, but there you have it. And you have it in spades with a full freezer. Yum.
Bread baking, how lovely. I'm looking forward to cooler weather for that. Just too hot to turn the oven on these months!
Most days have been too hot, but we’ve had a couple of unexpectedly delicious coolish ones when it suddenly seem possible. Not that “suddenly” is any way to approach sourdough :-)
Zucchini cornbread .... we came back from a week in Shetland last night to meet two entirely unexpected marrows in the kitchen garden. So if I peel and grate one, and add it to my regular Chuck Williams Sonoma spoon cornbread recipe, would that work, do you think?
OOOOH -- spoon bread. I LOVE it. I bet grated marrow would be a scrumptious addition. Make it even more moist. The recipe I used did suggest grating them onto a kitchen towel and then squeezing out the extra moisture before adding to the batter so the cornbread didn't get soggy, so I did and it worked wonderfully. I also love to grate zucchini/marrows into my sourdough hotcake batter (no squeezing there). The texture is excellent and the whole thing much faster (and cooler) on a hot day than baking zucchini/barrow bread...
But spoon bread -- going to have to check out that recipe and give it a try too.
So love this post. 2 comments- love the”will I use it, do I even like it?” On the drawing table. And Sarah, peanut butter AND mustard? My July was recovering from back surgery (all so much better) limiting BLT bending lifting twisting, so solo walks without my canine companion. And lost in a monochromatic wedge weave which I believe is expressing my underlying desire to be at the beach which will wait until September. Thank you for this great post!!!
What a thing it must be/have been to allow yourself to slow down and tend to healing your back--though careful walks and quiet monochromatic wedge weave sound weirdly pleasurable. Indeed, I just finished a little wedge weave piece that I'll probably talk about next week, and the idea of pure monochrome and letting the texture and angled shapes do their subtle work is luscious.
Also really glad that you will be able to get to the beach and walk with your dog once again.
Peanut butter and mustard -- think peanut sauce.....
Just goes to show that even the best need to take a break! I think we all knew there would be some weaving involved. And of course lively drawings of weavings and Beryl. That's what we come for!!! Love the close-up of Beryl. Isn't she swell!!! Let her know she has fans. As do you kiddo! Such a treat to see how you give life a run for it's money!
About missing greens in winter, you might want to see if someone who keeps a green house going through the winter will let you grow some greens? Just a thought. I keep a jar or 2 of sprouts going in winter. Nothing fancy - alfalfa, radish, or mung give me a bit of the fresh green kick that I crave.
Must say, breaks become you!
Great idea about finding someone with a greenhouse. The closest I have come is that a local farmer has a couple of hoop houses and sells bags of spinach and other greens into the late fall and again from late January on (she takes a break in mid-winter cuz she needs it!!!). If I were really energetic I could also make a little cold frame for myself and plunk it over one of my garden beds... Hmmm...
Yes, a cold frame can come together quickly and do the job! :)
Have been missing you.. Glad you had a great vacation. My summers are always spent doing all the chores I did not do during the other three seasons (like yard work), and waiting for summer to go away. Yay fall coming up!
Yay fall indeed!!!! And yes, I'm crossing a lot of things off the list this summer -- including (I hope if all goes well) getting a new roof on my house in a couple of weeks. Not that I"m actually doing the work, but it all takes a bunch of organizing...
Welcome back! Tuesdays weren't the same without you, but it's good you took a break from your Gusset deadlines and then returned with a long one! Glad to see you and Beryl continuing your dialog and following your muse(s) hither and yon. ... Ah, summers are different these years. It's been so hot most of the blackberries cooked on the vines, except for a luscious few close to the creek, so for the first year in many, no jam. ... A good float and wallow in the cool creek has saved many a day. Tell Beryl she's missing out on the best part of summer!
So sorry about your blackberries. I just learned that a big local fire burned up almost all the vines in the place I usually pick, so may have to go farther afield. Or, indeed, like you, do without a freezer full of frozen ones? Yipes.
Much creek-wallowing envy too. What bliss to have such a thing close by... Beryl does NOT know what she's missing.