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National Day For Truth And Reconciliation September 30 2024

I am wearing an Orange Shirt and am proud to be part of this day and everything it stands for!

NATURE - IT'S HERE!

(re-post from May 23 2007)

Zork likely said to his son, "Zog, stop scratching pictures on the walls of the cave.  Go outside and throw rocks at something.  Try not to get eaten by anything."

Today we are also concerned about our children and their lack of connection with nature. Studies are being done, books are being written.

Hooray for this increasing awareness.  But let's not think the only solutions are complicated or involve programs and agendas or require large expenditures of time and money or going somewhere else.

Nature exists in the city and the country.  We are part of nature. It is our attention and interaction, nature - human and otherwise, that makes all the difference.

That fly or ladybug or spider in our homes is an opportunity to use our eyes and really look at a marvel of insect architecture, to inspire wonder about filmy wings that unfold from under armour, feet that can hold on upside down, webs that can appear overnight between pieces of furniture.  And that amazing Web can answer all our questions, satisfy our curiosity.

A bare branch brought indoors during the cold of winter, stuck in some water, will soon be tricked into a spring display of leaf or flower: for the learning is which bush or tree will produce forsythia flowers or cherry blooms or willow leaves.  And which stems will go on to produce roots and can be replanted in the earth.

After a rain there are earthworms to be rescued from puddles or flowing along in the gurgling water in gutters.  In the autumn sewer grates may become clogged with leaves and a stick or a foot can get the water flowing again.  Rain collects on branches in lines of jewels.  Frost on the windshield forms patterns that heat away under a palm or stick in the mind to be later described on paper with paint or with words.

Herbs hang over fences for touching and sniffing on city streets: rosemary, lavender, fennel, southernwood, tansy, bay............

Leave a foot square piece of lawn to grow long and silky and watch grass flower; discover how many types of grasses there are in an ordinary lawn.

Notice the difference in how the body adjusts to walking on pavement, cement, gravel, grass, playgrounds, bare earth, sand.

Feel sunlight on the face.  Feel starlight on the face.  Feel wind.  Rain.  Sleet. 

Listen to car tires on wet roads.  Listen to bird song mixed with traffic song.  Listen to people stopping to chat on street corners. 

National Day For Truth And Reconciliation Monday September 30 2024

I am wearing an Orange Shirt and am proud to be a part of this worthwhile, ongoing situation.

Quilting: honouring the (hidden) 'soul'

(re-post)

Over the years I have admired quilting in its many applications  - bed covers,   accessories,  jewelery,  wall hangings,  garments...    I have made  enough of these  to realize what goes into quilting,  the scope,  the satisfaction,  the enjoyment of the process and the product.

Awhile ago, having unexpectedly  acquired a raw fleece,  while getting to know it with eyes and hands,  the thought occurred that fleece has likely been used as batting for its warmth,  which is the whole point of quilting.  And it suddenly struck me what a hidden treasure  the ' filling' of the  'sandwich'  is!

How to reveal the 'secret' of a quilt resulted in a small hanging and a greeting card.  The decision to 'go public' turned into this carry bag.  I wanted the fleece to be visible from front and back so a medium gauge plastic has been used for the back  of the bag.  The material  for the front and back of the quilted piece is nylon/polyester  finally chosen after many trips to fabric stores and thrift shops:  some just didn't 'work' and were either too flimsy or too dense;  taking some fleece with me would have been a big help!  The raw fleece was loosely placed between the  nylon material and  machine quilted in a random freeform pattern, a sort of trapunto.

The handle is some of the nylon fabric sewn into a tube and a long length of fleece threaded through it  with a very long  (sixteen  inches)  sturdy safety pin (I have no idea what it was meant to be used for but I could not resist buying it at a thrift store: it looks very nice hanging on a wall and was effective  in this instance as a bodkin) . 

Here is the view of the bag so it can be seen through. (click on Img 4411)

I think it is finished:  it seems to be at  'the artist knew when to stop' stage.  Three - and only three - French knots were added to the front.  I like the simplicity. 

It is not a bag to carry groceries or library books.  It is a bag to take mail to the post office,  or deposit  gloves,  and perhaps scarf,  while one is browsing in a  store, or tuck a branch or two when strolling in the garden.

It is a bag that may well whisper  "Baaa..."   when I am carrying it  and I will smile broadly should I happen to 'hear'.

Posted on March 26, 2008 at 04:17 AM | Permalink

Over the years I have admired quilting in its many applications  - bed covers,   accessories,  jewelery,  wall hangings,  garments...    I have made  enough of these  to realize what goes into quilting,  the scope,  the satisfaction,  the enjoyment of the process and the product.

Awhile ago, having unexpectedly  acquired a raw fleece,  while getting to know it with eyes and hands,  the thought occurred that fleece has likely been used as batting for its warmth,  which is the whole point of quilting.  And it suddenly struck me what a hidden treasure  the ' filling' of the  'sandwich'  is!

How to reveal the 'secret' of a quilt resulted in a small hanging and a greeting card.  The decision to 'go public' turned into this carry bag.  I wanted the fleece to be visible from front and back so a medium gauge plastic has been used for the back  of the bag.  The material  for the front and back of the quilted piece is nylon/polyester  finally chosen after many trips to fabric stores and thrift shops:  some just didn't 'work' and were either too flimsy or too dense;  taking some fleece with me would have been a big help!  The raw fleece was loosely placed between the  nylon material and  machine quilted in a random freeform pattern, a sort of trapunto.

The handle is some of the nylon fabric sewn into a tube and a long length of fleece threaded through it  with a very long  (sixteen  inches)  sturdy safety pin (I have no idea what it was meant to be used for but I could not resist buying it at a thrift store: it looks very nice hanging on a wall and was effective  in this instance as a bodkin) . 

Here is the view of the bag so it can be seen through. (click on Img 4411)

I think it is finished:  it seems to be at  'the artist knew when to stop' stage.  Three - and only three - French knots were added to the front.  I like the simplicity. 

It is not a bag to carry groceries or library books.  It is a bag to take mail to the post office,  or deposit  gloves,  and perhaps scarf,  while one is browsing in a  store, or tuck a branch or two when strolling in the garden.

It is a bag that may well whisper  "Baaa..."   when I am carrying it  and I will smile broadly should I happen to 'hear'.

Over the years I have admired quilting in its many applications  - bed covers,   accessories,  jewelery,  wall hangings,  garments...    I have made  enough of these  to realize what goes into quilting,  the scope,  the satisfaction,  the enjoyment of the process and the product.

Awhile ago, having unexpectedly  acquired a raw fleece,  while getting to know it with eyes and hands,  the thought occurred that fleece has likely been used as batting for its warmth,  which is the whole point of quilting.  And it suddenly struck me what a hidden treasure  the ' filling' of the  'sandwich'  is!

How to reveal the 'secret' of a quilt resulted in a small hanging and a greeting card.  The decision to 'go public' turned into this carry bag.  I wanted the fleece to be visible from front and back so a medium gauge plastic has been used for the back  of the bag.  The material  for the front and back of the quilted piece is nylon/polyester  finally chosen after many trips to fabric stores and thrift shops:  some just didn't 'work' and were either too flimsy or too dense;  taking some fleece with me would have been a big help!  The raw fleece was loosely placed between the  nylon material and  machine quilted in a random freeform pattern, a sort of trapunto.

The handle is some of the nylon fabric sewn into a tube and a long length of fleece threaded through it  with a very long  (sixteen  inches)  sturdy safety pin (I have no idea what it was meant to be used for but I could not resist buying it at a thrift store: it looks very nice hanging on a wall and was effective  in this instance as a bodkin) . 

Here is the view of the bag so it can be seen through. (click on Img 4411)

I think it is finished:  it seems to be at  'the artist knew when to stop' stage.  Three - and only three - French knots were added to the front.  I like the simplicity. 

It is not a bag to carry groceries or library books.  It is a bag to take mail to the post office,  or deposit  gloves,  and perhaps scarf,  while one is browsing in a  store, or tuck a branch or two when strolling in the garden.

It is a bag that may well whisper  "Baaa..."   when I am carrying it  and I will smile broadly should I happen to 'hear'.

Scarf : knit on arms with cheerfully- spun uncarded fleece

(re-post)

Washed and fluffed and soft and vibrant fleece .....

spun with no attempt to tame......

produces a  free range yarn ......

which leaps gladly into arms being used as knitting needles.......

to produce a scarf that is a heck of a lot of fun to wear.

Posted on June 26, 2009 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

 

Washed and fluffed and soft and vibrant fleece .....

spun with no attempt to tame......

produces a  free range yarn ......

which leaps gladly into arms being used as knitting needles.......

to produce a scarf that is a heck of a lot of fun to wear.

(re-post)

Washed and fluffed and soft and vibrant fleece .....

spun with no attempt to tame......

produces a  free range yarn ......

which leaps gladly into arms being used as knitting needles.......

to produce a scarf that is a heck of a lot of fun to wear.

Rescue : woven sweater ; at garage sale

(re-post)

Here is the sweater.  Beautiful wool.  Beautifully woven. A garage sale treasure of a find.

It was commissioned by the mother of the seller from a local weaver in Sarnia, southwestern Ontario more than thirty years ago for the daughter graduating from nursing. 

It had worn and aged well but there were two
areas that needed fixing.

Here is the woman who made it so many years ago.  I thought of her as I sat outdoors in late afternoon sun and stopped those runaway stitches.  Sarnia is close to my beloved hometown of St. Thomas and an uncle grew up there.  Perhaps the families knew each other.

It is not an 'invisible' mend in material or method;  it reflects the two participants.  The stitches have been corralled and the sweater will go on for perhaps another thirty years or more.

When I bought the sweater I did not think it would be for me but the warmth of it on my lap as I worked on it in autumn breeze and thinking about the weaver made me wonder if perhaps it was for my use.

Then, when it was finished and I tried it on for the first time - no.  It does not fit.  Someone is waiting on it.  I am a contented catalyst.

Posted on September 28, 2009 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

 

Here is the sweater.  Beautiful wool.  Beautifully woven. A garage sale treasure of a find.

It was commissioned by the mother of the seller from a local weaver in Sarnia, southwestern Ontario more than thirty years ago for the daughter graduating from nursing. 

It had worn and aged well but there were two
areas that needed fixing.

Here is the woman who made it so many years ago.  I thought of her as I sat outdoors in late afternoon sun and stopped those runaway stitches.  Sarnia is close to my beloved hometown of St. Thomas and an uncle grew up there.  Perhaps the families knew each other.

It is not an 'invisible' mend in material or method;  it reflects the two participants.  The stitches have been corralled and the sweater will go on for perhaps another thirty years or more.

When I bought the sweater I did not think it would be for me but the warmth of it on my lap as I worked on it in autumn breeze and thinking about the weaver made me wonder if perhaps it was for my use.

Then, when it was finished and I tried it on for the first time - no.  It does not fit.  Someone is waiting on it.  I am a contented catalyst.

(re-post)

Here is the sweater.  Beautiful wool.  Beautifully woven. A garage sale treasure of a find.

It was commissioned by the mother of the seller from a local weaver in Sarnia, southwestern Ontario more than thirty years ago for the daughter graduating from nursing. 

It had worn and aged well but there were two
areas that needed fixing.

Here is the woman who made it so many years ago.  I thought of her as I sat outdoors in late afternoon sun and stopped those runaway stitches.  Sarnia is close to my beloved hometown of St. Thomas and an uncle grew up there.  Perhaps the families knew each other.

It is not an 'invisible' mend in material or method;  it reflects the two participants.  The stitches have been corralled and the sweater will go on for perhaps another thirty years or more.

When I bought the sweater I did not think it would be for me but the warmth of it on my lap as I worked on it in autumn breeze and thinking about the weaver made me wonder if perhaps it was for my use.

Then, when it was finished and I tried it on for the first time - no.  It does not fit.  Someone is waiting on it.  I am a contented catalyst.

The Ig Nobel Prize: Celebrating Science with Humour

I just heard about this on the radio!  Please google it!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo album

(re-post)

Within my time and memory are photo albums with black pages and photo corners that were licked (the glue tasted awful) and stuck down.

And then the ones with colourful covers of people or pets or scenes and spiral bound grey pages with transparent plastic that was  lifted up and the photos stuck underneath. 

And now there is this 

Posted on July 21, 2010 at 02:22 AM | Permalink

Within my time and memory are photo albums with black pages and photo corners that were licked (the glue tasted awful) and stuck down.

And then the ones with colourful covers of people or pets or scenes and spiral bound grey pages with transparent plastic that was  lifted up and the photos stuck underneath. 

And now there is this 

Little ice wreaths in the fog

 

re-post from November 19 2001

It is unfortunate that across forty-four winters in Ontario I never knew about ice wreaths - all that cold weather wasted!  When I learned about them  I couldn't wait for the next cold snap here on Vancouver Island (actually I could wait - happily forever)  but I had to experience them and during the next period of below zero temperature I did.

I put water and snowberries and holly berries and variegated leaves in a donut pan and froze it.

Strung the small wreaths  on some clear fishing line so they would appear to float.  Hung them outdoors on a branch.  It was foggy.  I stood and stared.  They were enchanting.

How long did they last? 

They were melting as I finished taking their pictures.

Posted on October 23, 2018 at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted on September 17, 2021 at 07:20 PM | Permalink

 

re-post from November 19 2001

It is unfortunate that across forty-four winters in Ontario I never knew about ice wreaths - all that cold weather wasted!  When I learned about them  I couldn't wait for the next cold snap here on Vancouver Island (actually I could wait - happily forever)  but I had to experience them and during the next period of below zero temperature I did.

I put water and snowberries and holly berries and variegated leaves in a donut pan and froze it.

Strung the small wreaths  on some clear fishing line so they would appear to float.  Hung them outdoors on a branch.  It was foggy.  I stood and stared.  They were enchanting.

How long did they last? 

They were melting as I finished taking their pictures.

Posted on October 23, 2018 at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

re-post from November 19 2001

It is unfortunate that across forty-four winters in Ontario I never knew about ice wreaths - all that cold weather wasted!  When I learned about them  I couldn't wait for the next cold snap here on Vancouver Island (actually I could wait - happily forever)  but I had to experience them and during the next period of below zero temperature I did.

I put water and snowberries and holly berries and variegated leaves in a donut pan and froze it.

Strung the small wreaths  on some clear fishing line so they would appear to float.  Hung them outdoors on a branch.  It was foggy.  I stood and stared.  They were enchanting.

How long did they last? 

They were melting as I finished taking their pictures.

re-post from November 19 2001

It is unfortunate that across forty-four winters in Ontario I never knew about ice wreaths - all that cold weather wasted!  When I learned about them  I couldn't wait for the next cold snap here on Vancouver Island (actually I could wait - happily forever)  but I had to experience them and during the next period of below zero temperature I did.

I put water and snowberries and holly berries and variegated leaves in a donut pan and froze it.

Strung the small wreaths  on some clear fishing line so they would appear to float.  Hung them outdoors on a branch.  It was foggy.  I stood and stared.  They were enchanting.

How long did they last? 

They were melting as I finished taking their pictures.

Posted on October 23, 2018 at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

re-post from November 19 2001

It is unfortunate that across forty-four winters in Ontario I never knew about ice wreaths - all that cold weather wasted!  When I learned about them  I couldn't wait for the next cold snap here on Vancouver Island (actually I could wait - happily forever)  but I had to experience them and during the next period of below zero temperature I did.

I put water and snowberries and holly berries and variegated leaves in a donut pan and froze it.

Strung the small wreaths  on some clear fishing line so they would appear to float.  Hung them outdoors on a branch.  It was foggy.  I stood and stared.  They were enchanting.

How long did they last? 

They were melting as I finished taking their pictures.

Mystery solved! And boy, is the solution ever interesting!

(re-post)

Here is the photo of the mystery items:

And here is the original blog post three weeks ago.

Thanks to Pat, researcher extraordinaire, who came up with the solution in this blog which is by a man (with a sense of humour) in Montana who has a small artisan coffee roastery and was given one of these items.  (click on the underlined words to access the links).

Of course I will follow the  instructions and make a cup of coffee!  And reflect on this whole adventure and be amazed and amused and - well, grateful to be taking part. 

Posted on October 19, 2013 at 08:04 PM | Permalink

Here is the photo of the mystery items:

And here is the original blog post three weeks ago.

Thanks to Pat, researcher extraordinaire, who came up with the solution in this blog which is by a man (with a sense of humour) in Montana who has a small artisan coffee roastery and was given one of these items.  (click on the underlined words to access the links).

Of course I will follow the  instructions and make a cup of coffee!  And reflect on this whole adventure and be amazed and amused and - well, grateful to be taking part.