handstories

november

the philosopher's socks

      Moon chose this yarn for his Christmas socks.  He loves the dark reds and rainbow spots, but more importantly, the colorway is called "The Philosopher's Stone",  a reference to the world of Harry Potter.

    We had our first conference at his new school yesterday.  It was so wonderful to have their first sentence be, "Thank you for bringing your child here!".  They described him as a "deep thinker".   We've always known that.  It has not always made things easy for him (or us).   It's hard to wrap deep thoughts around young emotions.  

    A couple of days ago, Moon came in the kitchen with a look.  "Can I call you back?"  I said to a friend.  Fifteen minutes later I reported to her that we had just discussed- racism, white guilt, homophobia, how babies are made, and made dinner!  

    This thinker of mine, he keeps me on my toes . . . I'll try to keep his warm.

more than I can chew?

    I've been looking at these rovings.

    Imagining spinning enough yarn for a bigger project.

    I don't know how it's going to look, but I've enjoyed breaking it down into manageable bits.

    One hundred and sixty bites.

    One bite at a time . . .

    Hobbledehoy fiber.

stargazing

    On hot summer nights, my brother and I would take sleeping bags out onto the deck and cozy up in the reclining lawn chairs.  We invented a game of "astronauts".   After agreeing/arguing on which star, we would blast off towards it, pulling the arms of the chairs up to engage lift off.   Zipping past asteroids, we'd land on the stars and encounter all kinds of alien life to interact with.  This usually resulted in a dramatic run for our lives back to the rocket ship with an emergency escape back into the calm peaceful stars.  All of this happened in our minds while staring into the night sky, never leaving our chairs, or the deck.

    Today I am thinking of all of the stars that are unseen, but there.

practice, practice, practice...

    Sometimes, it's all you can do.

    It began as "Blue Skies" battlings by Hobbledehoy.

weary from sleeping

    Lots of dreams lately. . . 

. . .  of  being in bed and trying to deny that something was trying to creep out of the ceiling...eventually, terrified, looking up to see a python curled above me . . .

. . . and of discovering another entire floor to our house, and feeling the excitement that the extra space might bring.

    These dreams, and others, have been hanging out with me for days.

disorientation & sea monsters

    I don't know what happened.  I pinned this together last night, then went to bed with thoughts of wintering and jewel encrusted tree roots.

    Today, this sea creature showed up.  

    The therapist says that it's no surprise that I got lost downtown last week.  Heading to the eye doctor.  (In my defense, I only go once a year, and businesses change so often these days the usual landmarks were gone.)  I went up the street I thought it was on, came back down a different street, didn't see it.  Wandered some more.  Panicking (I hate to be late), called K for the address (I do not have one of those phones), then proceeded to go half a block (the wrong direction), turned around, a block later realised I was still on the wrong street, went up a block (the wrong direction), went back two blocks to find it, on the first block I had walked down.

    All to say . . . I am feeling very compass-less these days.  Things are alright.  Just strange and unknown.  Trying to just be with it, and wondering what's coming next?

detours in "uncertainty"

    I am working from the backside of "uncertainty".

    It feels like painting.

    With surprises waiting on the other side.

    Uncertainty is becoming a playground.

with intention

    Some visible heart and positivity has been put into "uncertainty".  

    It's obvious on the backside,

but still shines through to the front.

    Although, it's possible that the sides may be switching roles.