Story Circle Network Conference

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared.
[Buddha]

From last Friday through Sunday, my gratitude built with each passing experience. Starting with pre-conference activities like coaching sessions and the afternoon as a volunteer in the vender room, I grew in knowledge, confidence and fullness of heart. Friday evening’s keynote speech by Heather Summerhayes Cariou (Sixtyfive Roses) inspired us all as she recounted her memoir-writing experiences, and encouraged us to tell our own stories. Saturday and Sunday were filled with educational sessions, luncheons, open mike night and a closing address by Mary Gordon Spence (Finding Magic in the Mundane). After it was over, those of us who stayed to fly home on Monday met for supper and an effervescent discussion of our experiences.

Speaking of the mundane, while I was shoveling snow this morning, I decided I needed to fill my larder in case I get seriously snowed in so I headed to the grocery about 6:30 a.m. Mary Gordon’s speech came back to me as I browsed the produce. I doubt that I’ll ever shop for groceries again without thinking of her story about making a list according to letters in the alphabet. I’ll also never sit down to write without remembering those magical few days in Austin. Thank you Susan, Peggy, and all you other inspiring women who each now own a piece of my heart.

Walking at Home, Parts 1 and 2

If I’d known I was going to live so long,
I’d have taken better care of myself.
[Leon Eldred]

A couple of years ago, I made several changes in my life. I quit smoking. I joined Curves to avoid weight gain from the first change. And, I signed up for bi-weekly emails from Real Age.com. Taking ten minutes twice a week reading brief articles on RealAge, has probably encouraged me to make other changes I haven’t even noticed.

Since death is unavoidable, I haven’t made changes to avoid death. I’ve made changes to be a giftgiver. I’m giving myself the gift of being as well as possible for whatever time I have on earth so I can function at my peak. I’m giving my loved ones two gifts—my company, if and when they want my company, and my agility in case one of them takes care of me someday.

That last thing might sound odd but think about it. Have you taken care of someone physically? As a nurse, I have. It is a lot easier to take care of someone who is agile, toned, and not over weight. I figure that keeping fit is a gift you give to a future caregiver.

Walking is part of keeping fit. That’s hard to do daily in some regions (like this morning when it is near to zero degrees and snowing). Here are two videos from RealAge to help with the 30 minutes a day walking.

Bookmaking

Live to live and you will learn to live
[Portuguese Proverb]

… not that kind of bookmaking. I’m talking about making books. Printed books. Electronic books. In this case, a knitting book.

I’ve been working as a graphic designer for twenty five years and still learn many new skills with each job. I haven’t kept track of how many printed pieces and publications I’ve produced over the years, but I’ve created most of them with one Adobe product or another. I recently wrote a short post about upgrading to CS4 and studying the courses on Lynda.com to update my knowledge. I have learned a lot and have been doing it while I’ve been helping Andrea Wong produce her new book, Traditional Portuguese Style of Knitting.

I’ve included these topics in recent posts, but wanted to share a comp of the cover design. We are getting close to finishing the layout and will send the book to print after the proofing and revision processes are complete—this spring.

I do most of my traveling through books. I especially enjoy books that record history and cultural aspects of regions all over the world, and apply that to the work of people’s hands. Andrea’s book does that for me.

Silver Fleece

Silver fleece,
shorn from a woolly sky,
drifting down through the twilight—
each frozen tree and hedge
knitting a sweater of white.
[Bethami Watson]

Yesterday’s snow storm inspired my knitting friend, Bethami, to compose this thought poem. She shared it with me. I was inspired to share her sharing. Thank you Bethami for finding silver fleece in storm clouds.

Rock Day

She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
[Proverbs 31:19]

In some cultures, January 6th marks the end of Christmas celebrations so January 7th was, historically, the day to return to work. This was an occasion for a party and sometimes pranks. For many women, work included spinning yarn so they brought their distaffs and flax to the party. Some spinning guilds still meet on January 7th for a party and a day of spinning.

My father made this black walnut drop spindle for me fifty years ago (I was in high school at the time). I have spun on it but never learned to use the spinning wheel. My daughter, Ellen, is the spinner in the family. She also weaves on a loom that Daddy built.

In a world that sometimes seems to spin out of order, I find comfort in touching the honeysuckle of my shuttle basket and caressing the old wood. I don’t yearn for times past, but I do enjoy meditating upon the ingenuity of our creative ancestors.

Grandson and Model Train

And there is the headlight,
shining far down the track,
glinting off the steel rails that,
like all parallel lines,
will meet in infinity,
which is after all where this train is going.
[Bruce Catton]

Grandson, Michael, learned how to run my model train today. It took only one showing for him to realize the orange lever controlled the speed of the train, and the black button made it whistle (much to the dog’s consternation). I was amazed since he just turned two. Then he looked at me with those Paul Newman eyes and called me by name for the first time. Misegades is a complex word for a two year old. I immediately decided I’d have to write a will so I can leave my model train to him.

Civil War Trilogy

I took five years on the first volume,
five years on the second volume,
and ten years on the third volume.
[Shelby Foote]

I’m within spittin’ distance of the end of Volume I, Civil War by Shelby Foote. Whew! I’ve studied many Civil War sources over the years (among the many other history subjects I enjoy reading), BUT this series offers more information about obscure skirmishes and other interesting situations than I ever encountered before. It is also readable. For a professional historian, readable may not matter. For someone like me, hearing Shelby Foote’s genteel voice in his writing propels me through his 500,000-word volumes.

Adobe and Apples

Lieutenant Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit company.
So then I got a call from him,
saying we don’t have to worry about money no more.
And I said, that’s good!
One less thing.
[Forrest Gump referring to Apple Computer]

If I’d purchased stock every time I purchased software or computer upgrades in the last two decades, I could be as wealthy as Forrest. In fact, every time I upgrade I think, I ought to buy stock instead. If you are one of those who did, then I’m one of those who has been keeping Apple and Adobe in business all these years.

I just upgraded to Creative Design Suite CS4 and it blows me away. I’ve been using Illustrator for twenty years and have always wished for features like having more than one page in a document. Ta-da! It has arrived. Along with the upgrade, Adobe is treating me to a month of courses on Lynda.com. That blows me away too. Their courses are fun, well organized and polished. I’ve learned more in the past week than I have in … well, in twenty years. After all of this time, I thought I knew the software like I know my vacuum cleaner, but there is so much more to learn. What a delight.

Now that I think about it, maybe it is good I didn’t invest in Apple and Adobe. If I had amassed a fortune, I might just sit around like a slug instead of being motivated to embark on all of these learning adventures. I DO LOVE MY WORK.

Teapot Truth

Strange how a teapot can represent
at the same time
the comforts of solitude and
the pleasures of company.
[Author Unknown]

Truth be told, I’m a coffee drinker. I usually don’t drink tea, but I do admire tea pots. Periodically, when I clean my collection and the shelves that hold them, I pet them and glean their memories. They are like books without words—they tell me stories that I’ve heard over and over through the years. Like a child at bedtime, I enjoy the retelling just as much.

Christmas Day

Our hearts grow tender with
childhood memories and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year for having,
in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
[Laura Ingalls Wilder]

Daughter, Rachel, and her sons, Joshua and Michael, joined Toby, other friends and family, and me for Christmas morning festivities.