plans

i had plans for march.

i tried hard to make them work.

i'm getting there,

but they will have to spill on over to april for a bit.

and that's o.k.

breathe...

tuesday afternoon

+this morning, i made this pillow for my friend, juana's birthday.

+this is the back, with another upcycled blouse button placket, used as the closure.

+and here's a peek at my (new) label, folded over and sewn into a seam. 

+our friend, "a", is safely out of afganistan, after serving two years, plus with the aga khan foundation.

thank goodness she is safe, and we stand in awe of her courage and spunk. we can't wait to give her a hug when we see her in VT this summer!

+gretta is very excited that she will hear vandana shiva speak tonight. (i hope she will blog about it tomorrow)!

+it is still raining here in southwestern connecticut.  it has been a remarkable two weeks of wetness, but the weekend forecast looks spectacular...

+and despite some scary stuff in the news these last few days, i choose hope and keep steering away from the fear.

how about you?

the essence

of being present.

maple sugaring

batman and i headed to our "bit of earth" 

for an r&r weekend.

this morning, we drove over to turkey hill farm

with our friend ellen for maple open house weekend.
this is the huge evaporator.

and here is the sap turning into the magical syrup.
to learn all about the process click here.

we met some really wonderful people...
turns out, the whole process is a very social time.
the fire needs to be stoked,
 the temperature of the syrup needs to be monitored
and it's a 24/7 undertaking.
neighbors stop by to chat and there's lots of good food around.

we have lots of maples at a "bit of earth",
so maybe someday...

earth hour 2010, tomorrow at 8:30PM

SMALL ACTION+POWER IN NUMBERS=RAISED AWARENESS
Won't you join us?

today

the early morning light and birdsong.

good food plans for 3 meals, already under way.

errands to run 

and a committee meeting full of good work to be done.

time in my studio later today,

 and a walk in the late afternoon sunshine. 

it's going to be a good day.

may yours be as well.

shaker exhibit

today, my friend liz and i went to the
new britain museum of american art.
we went to see
 "inspired innovations, a celebration of shaker ingenuity"
photos were not allowed in the exhibit,
so this picture of boxes, sold in the gift shop will have to do.

i have long admired the shaker legacy...
the simple beauty and practicality of the lives they led.

have you ever visited hancock shaker village in western massachusetts?
(where you can get a real sense of how
intentional and co-operative their communities really were.)

From the introduction to the exhibit's catalog,

It is the major goal of "Inspired Innovations:A Celebration of Shaker Ingenuity," to amply demonstrate that innovation is and has always been central to their way of life. The Shakers are consummate problem solvers. This legacy of finding or creating ingenious solutions to everyday challenges has, to a large extent, defined them as a successful social and economic experiment. However, a vital subtext of any conversation about Shakerism is the understanding that they are, above all else, believers--that every aspect of their lives is guided by religious principle. Ingenuity aside, the essence of Shakerism is a profound and all-encompassing spirituality. - M. Stephen Miller

two quotes, stenciled on the walls of the exhibit caught my eye.

The pleasure of doing good is the only pleasure that never wears out.

-Elizaette Sutton

and 

The lamp of genius burns as it is supplied by the oil of enthusiasm.

Martha J. Anderson

every once in a while,  i just want to rest in the oasis 

of shaker simplicity