Ars Gratia Artis (or Living the Luddite Life)

I believe there is a monumental disconnect in our society with the tactile arts. I believe there is a tragic forfeiture of anticipation that has been supplanted with the immediacy of information. I believe it is strangling our creativity, our relationships, and our health.

What do I mean by tactile arts? I am brushing with a broad stroke, but in general I am referring to anything that is done that elevates and improves the mind. In this vein, reading a classic novel, baking homemade brownies, tending a small garden, and journaling with ink and paper all count. I am specifically excluding anything of an electronic nature (this blog incuded) in my definition, simply because the internet ether has become our modus operandi, almost our god, of late, and I think it's important to carve out time to deliberately leave that world.

For me, creativity flows in several ways. Lately I've been spinning. It's as if the incessant spinning of my life has sparked a need to reflect it in a more creative and peaceful way. The more briskly my world moves, the more I struggle to break free of the constraints, the more I choose meditative pursuits to practice.

My latest spindle spun yarn

Bottom Edging

Happily, I am now in the finishing stages of my Lily Cardigan now, too! The knitting is completed, the blocking finished. All that's left is to tuck in the ends, sew on the button, and then wear and enjoy!

Placket

I have loved every step of this swea- ter, and I'm already envisioning wearing it in air conditioning. Contrary to what many may suppose, Florida is definitely sweater weather for much of the year, except it's born of the necessity of living in cool air conditioned houses!



It is my hope that in reading this post, you may be encouraged to slow your steps for even just a few spare moments. Linger a little longer over a book (or start one you've been meaning to start!). Pull out a favorite recipe and prepare it. Think of the person who gave it to you. Doodle. Dabble. Dream.

Am I a Luddite? No. I love my technology (just ask my family!). But, I recognize the dangers technology presents that I don't regularly think about. It can be isolationist. It can be all-consuming. The potential is there, and I see the results not only in my life, but in the lives of my friends, my family, and my community.
So what will you try today?

May Day

It's May Day! A reminder that sweet spring is here is the first bloom of my gardenia bush.

These are my favorite flowers, both for their sweet scent and even sweeter memories, as they were the flowers I carried the day I married my sweetheart!

I remember as a little girl my sister and I preparing May baskets for our neighbors back in my small hometown. We would grab whatever flowers we could find:  lilacs, pansies, dandelions. Whatever we could find (and hey, we occasionally "borrowed" flowers from neighbors as well), then we formed cones out of newspapers or wove baskets of construction paper and delivered our gifts to the neighbors. Sneaking up as quietly as two giggling girls could, we would lay the bouquet down on the front stoop, ring the doorbell, and run away as fast as our little feet could carry us. They are sweet memories. How I wish I could experience the joy of a sloppy sweet floral gift from a neighborhood child, but I've never had that pleasure before. I think it must have fallen out of custom. Even my own children haven't done them. Perhaps it's time to rectify that today!

May Day reflects back on a fascinating heritage, most notably of which is the May Pole. I remember dancing around the May Pole at the summer solstice garbed in my Swedish Dancer costume. It was so much fun to weave in and out with the ribbons and gaze as the  the pole grew attractively clad in the bright colors.

There is an obvious pagan connection that as a child I never considered, but the May Pole dance goes all the way back to the medieval period. Other connections, such as fertility and male and female relationships are also reflected in May Day traditions. It is only natural, given that this time of the year is just bursting with new growth.

Regardless, let's not let this May Day go unobserved.

Here is a lovely poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson called May-Day. I've reprinted just the first lines, as it is quite long, but it is gorgeous, and I plan on stuffing myself full of it later today! Enjoy!

Daughter of Heaven and Earth, coy Spring,
With sudden passion languishing,
Teaching Barren moors to smile,
Painting pictures mile on mile,
Holds a cup with cowslip-wreaths,
Whence a smokeless incense breaths.

Beauty

I run around too often totally unobservant. I fail to notice life. The world spins around me, and I, encapsulated in my agenda, fail to participate in it. I miss the best stuff, too.

Nana's Lillies in a Cloud of Jasmine

It's a shame, too. God planted so much beauty all around me, but in my haste to check off the next to-do item, I fail to stop and smell the lilies, or jasmine, or whatever.

A New Bloom on My Orchid and Calla Lilies in the background

There is beauty in the mundane, the common, the routine.

The Blush of a Rose

Beautiful Girls, Beautiful Braids!

Dad

Your mission (and mine) today is to stop...

Ligustrum About to Bloom

notice...

My Latest Spindle-Spun Yarn

and enjoy...

The Neighborhood Fighter (and Lover)

the beauty all around you. Linger awhile. Savor the sights. Choose carefully how you view something (or someone). Right now, I have a small pile of dirty laundry I need to do staring me in the face. Right on top of that, however, is our cat. Completely at rest. Comfortable amid the chaos. Sacked out.

John Keats so elegantly wrote in his poetic Romance, Endymion,*

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

The Apostle Paul put it very aptly, I think...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
Philippians 4:8, NIV 1984

* If you're curious, here's a taste of the poem read out loud.

My NEW Bosworth Midi Spindle in Buckeye Burl and Bocote For a Shaft!

Spindle Solutions

I have a smallish spindle collection that I am attempting to not grow (it's hard). I love my spindles, and have always wanted to find a way to store them attractively. I see each one as a unique piece of art, both in the fiber they process and the construction of the tool, but up until now I have been stymied as to how best to show them off yet keep them safe.

I have hit upon a solution!

Back when our family first moved into our home in Florida, I bought a room divider from World Market. We tried to use it, but it just didn't function like we wanted so it went into storage. I pulled it out awhile ago and dragged it into my tiny office. Essentially it's a metal frame with crossbars that has a neutral canvas screen stretched behind it. I created a little reading/prayer nook and have been enjoying it immensely.

It was when my daughter and I traveled to Tampa and went to Ikea recently that an idea struck me. Why not get a towel bar and suspend the spindles from that? I bought an inexpensive rack along with the necessary hooks and brought it back home. Today I had a few spare minutes, so I decided to hang the rack, but to my chagrin I found it didn't have any screws that came with it! It was then I had my "Aha!" moment! Why not use the hooks on the cross bars of my cozy space?

I think it looks very decorative yet useful!

I pulled out burlap twine and got to work tying loops from which to dangle them. Some of the spindles showing include a Bosworth Midi, a Spinsanity spindle, a Simple Market Farms spindle, and an Ashford Turkish spindle.

I then got more inspiration and grabbed a bucket and stuffed in some cotton I'm presently working on as well as a nostepinne turned years ago for me by a guy who goes by the name by-Scott on eBay. I love this tool, as he also installed a WPI gauge right on the tool that is done in a contrasting wood. It's gorgeous.

I'm not certain, but I think the nostepinne is constructed out of Rosewood and Walnut. It's been a long time.

I was on a roll. I decided to go all out! I found a favorite Spin-Off magazine and hung that on the magazine rack. Then I grabbed a few small spinning books and tucked them into a compartment.

An oldie but a goodie!

I still have a few more spindles to hang, and I have space to tuck in a few favorite books in a basket under the side table, but I like the overall result.

The weird wooden thing on the table is a plying paddle.

Last, but not least, I love having a piece of art my dear sister sent me years ago of a Swedish knitter. I think she captures the essence of my creative space, and I know I'll enjoy every second I get to linger here!

Flip and Tumble

My friends know I struggle to be organized. Life spins quickly in my home these days. Homeschooling is a full time occupation, and when I add in volunteering commitments, the occasional paid job, and the remainder of living life, it is challenging to remain poised and prepared. One area in which I have been attempting to become more organized is in my shopping habits.

At the beginning of this year, our family switched to doing the grocery shopping just once weekly, rather than an every-other-day type of event. In a family of five that eats at home most meals, that has translated into a lot of food in one trip! I have found that bringing my own grocery bags has cut down on the sheer amount of bags I use and has helped me to become better organized along the way as well. To that end, I discovered Flip and Tumble.

Flip and Tumble bags, all egged up!

I love how handy these bags are. They are easy to flip into their pocket to store and equally easy to open up. They manage to carry quite a load, are washable, and recyclable. Because they are light and easy to store, I find I actually remember to bring them into the store, so they actually get used!

Loaded up. The printed bags are from a different company, and work very well, but aren't quite as handy.

Did I mention that I get compliments on them every time I use them?

If you're thinking about switching to reusable bags or live in a part of the country that demands their use, I highly recommend them! And no, I don't receive a cent from Flip and Tumble for my endorsement.

The Good Stuff

Friday was a special day for me. You see, I have this friend that I never get to see, and Friday, finally, was my opportunity to spend time with her. I first met Tricia right after I moved to Florida, and she was one of the first people to welcome me to my new state. Little does she know how much it meant to me to have a friendly smile and chat about two of my favorite things:  knitting and books.

Over the ensuing years we both got busy. She works as a waitress and I homeschool, so our hours tend to not overlap much. Also, I got more and more involved in church work, which meant I was spending less time at the knit shop where we first met. But we stayed in touch, and I'm so glad!

You see, Tricia makes me smile. She probably doesn't know this, but I'm going to say it out loud. She also makes me think, and that's a good thing. Practically speaking, the two of us probably cancel each other out in the voting booth, if you know what I mean, but that's one of the things I like about her. I respect her ideas and thoughts, and I feel that she respects mine, and I frequently learn something I didn't know when we get together.

And another thing... Tricia likes to spin! So this Friday we made it a spinning day, and boy was it fun! We started off at my community park, as it was such a warm sunny day, and eventually we wound up back at my house on the lanai.

I love the art yarn this girl puts out!

By the end of the day, I had FINALLY managed to finish up a bobbin of lace-weight that I've been working on forever!

By the way, you may notice her rather "butch" hairstyle. The previous day, this sweet gal shaved her head to get ahead of the hair loss she was experiencing due to her chemotherapy. Tricia found out recently that she has breast cancer. Stage IV. That means it's spread. But look at that smile! I am so inspired by her positive outlook. She is not letting this define who she is and continues to enjoy her new life with a smile.

Anyway, we both did a lot of smiling and a lot of spinning, and at the end of the day, I was impressed with both of our progress. Not only did I finish the bobbin, but I was able to take out my spindle and do some spinning on it as well.

Bobbin one:  complete!

This particular spindle that I was using is a trindle, and I love using it! I love how I can change the arms to be heavier or lighter. I love how the arms come apart for easy transport, and I love how I can wind my cop on at varying places along the spindle to ensure an even wind-on. I also love that I didn't break the bank to purchase one.

My Trindle and some blue roving of the Merino variety.

Now for the good stuff. Yes, it was good to get that spinning done, but the good stuff wasn't any of that. It was simply time spent with a friend for an extended period of time, some of it in laughter and some of it in silence. The gift of time with friends and family is the good stuff, and I hope you will seek it out in this crazy, helter-skelter lifestyle we all seem to find ourselves in.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17

It's What's For Dinner...(and a cool clean-up trick!)

Apologies in advance for the few that may have stuck with me. I haven't posted in a long time. My excuses are thin. Surgery, flu, cold. The usual. Then after I worked through all of that, I figured I needed to blog something BIG. So I thought. And thought. And thought. And hit upon some great ideas, but no time to expand, refine, and submit. So today I decided enough was enough. I was going to blog about... supper!

It's what we're having tonight, and maybe you were looking for some ideas of what to serve as well. This is an idea my sweet mother-in-law gave me a few years ago, and it is enjoyed in our home. Homemade pulled pork sandwiches! Here's how I prepare them.

First, I usually look for the boneless pork spare ribs for a 2-for-1 special. That way I can make enough to last awhile.

2-for-1! That's my kind of deal!

Once I pick them up from the store, I initially brown them in a skillet in a small amount of oil and spices. I'm not monogamous with my spices. This week I used Emeril's. Other times I have used fajita spices or lots of varieties of pepper corns. It's a whimsy kind of thing for me.

Today it's Emeril's, tomorrow, who knows?

After browning them slightly, I whisk them all into my crockpot and cover them with chicken broth.

The cooking begins!

I like to set the pot to cook on low all day. Once they're done (sorry, I can't show you that, as they've only been in the crockpot for about 10 minutes) I lift the cuts out with a slotted spoon and let them cool slightly. Once cooled enough to handle, I put on surgical gloves and hand pick the meat apart, placing it in a bowl. I pour a little of the broth over the meat to keep it moist and reserve the rest in the freezer for a future stew. They are fabulous sandwiches, and the prep time and cost are minimal.

And now for the trick. As you can probably imagine, the skillet gets quite messy from the browning process. Up until recently, I would set the pan to soak and then clean it up when my muscles felt up to the task. But no more! Thanks to my friend Liz (thanks Liz!) I learned one more reason to love my vinegar!

Take a look at the pan.

That browning is stuck on there pretty well!

This was always the part of the meal I never liked, but that is no more! Liz showed me how vinegar does a great job of de-glazing pans. All you have to do is pour a little white vinegar into the pan or pot while it is still relatively warm. Add a little dish soap, and the grime practically floats off! I did that, and with just a light wash, the pan came clean!

Clean, baby!

Truly. The pan is clean and my muscles never got their workout! Maybe that is a universally known trick, but I missed it in the year I took Home Ec. Why on earth didn't I take more? It would have been the most useful class for me... but I digress.

One other cool thing I wanted to share with you, by the way. I don't know if any of you use cast iron, but I pretty much use it daily. My normal M.O. to clean the pan would be to scrub it hard, and then dry it on the stove. Sometimes the scrubbing took a lot of muscle effort (maybe I'm lazy?). Anyway, I found a great product on Amazon that has made things ever so much easier. It's a chain mail pot scrubber and it's fabulous! The kids seem to think it's pretty cool as well. If you, like me, like to cook with cast iron, I'd encourage you to check it out.

So that's supper in a nutshell. I'm still knitting and spinning. Speaking of spinning, I have a beginning spindling class coming up at Knitwitz in Mandarin on Saturday, March 29th. It runs from 9 to noon, and I'd love to have you come out for it! I'd absolutely love to see you there! Give them a call to register today!