Guilty Pleasures

In my last entry here I made some excuses for my lack of attention to this space. I think I made a pretty good case based on my busy schedule, garden demands and general spring fever. Any of you are welcome to use these excuses yourselves! However, today I have to admit to a guilty pleasure that has perhaps taken up some of my weaving time.

Daughter, Celia, has been enjoying a summer reading list, challenging herself to read some classics, try some books that she might not normally choose herself and just enjoy those lovely summer reads that we all love. Oh, and doesn't that sound nice! Summer and immersing yourself in books! Yes, yes, I was sucked in.

I finished The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. This book was a gift from Pat, Celia's partner. A good read and I am a big Barbara Kingsolver fan! I also really, really enjoyed Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. It was a very engaging story in a captivating setting. I now have reread an old favorite after Celia read it for the first time and fell in love with it. Pride and Prejudice, of all things, is her new absolute favorite. I could not put it down although I have read it more than once in the past!

Now I have taken up Storms of My Grandchildren by James Hansen, nonfiction about climate change and our part in it all! Lots of technical stuff - very interesting but slow reading in order for me to absorb it. It is important and revealing on several levels.

My list is long for the rest of the summer. It includes:

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

The End of Faith - Sam Harris

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer

Let the Great World Spin - Colum McCann

Bossy Pants - Tina Fey

The Bell - Iris Murdock

We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver

Some of these are recommendations from Celia, some from other friends and some call to me from the Amazon book store site. And the list changes and gets longer daily!

Because I am feeling bookish I am going to try (once again) to read 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is the all time favorite book of husband, Patrick and both kids, Joseph and Celia. I have started it at least once before and given up after 60 or so pages. They insist I need to try again so this might be the time. I'll let you know.

Have these books drawn me away from my fiber work? Well, I'm at my day job 9 hours a day. So I have limited hours left just like everyone else so yes, realistically, I'm reading instead of weaving. But it's summer!! Come on, grab a good book and ENJOY. . . . . . . !

Excuses, excuses!

Can I say that I have been caught up in so many whirlwinds of activity that this blog has been ignored too long? I am sorry for that. It has been on my mind, really! I have had much happening in my personal and family life.

The big event this spring was our son's graduation. Joseph earned his Master of Music degree from Yale. We flew to New Haven, CT. for his commencement which was quite spectacular! We are so proud of all his hard work and passion for what he does.

We also helped him move out of his apartment and drove the moving van back to Minneapolis. He is storing his stuff in our garage until August when he moves to Miami, FL. He has accepted a fellowship position as oboist with the New World Symphony. Congratulations, Joe.

But all this busy-ness is an excuse that doesn't quite cover the lack of activity here. I have felt a bit of malaise in my fiber work. Maybe it is spring fever. Yard and garden work have been distractions and my thoughts are often in those spaces rather than the weaving studio. I have not finished the scarf that has been on the loom since early May. It is nearly done, if I get any points for that.

It is not that I have done Nothing! I have knitted a pair of socks since I last posted here and a couple of brightly colored, simple dishclothes. I have been making new origami box sets and collaged stickers that will be in my Etsy shop soon. These are enjoyable summer paced projects. I guess I am just feeling guilty about not producing more and not writing here! I should just stop that - - the guilty stuff, that is!

I am resolved to get back to my yarns and looms. Several sketches and weaving drafts are waiting for execution. But, it is June and the weather is promising and we have baseball tickets and the swimming pool is inviting!

What can I say? . . . . . . . I'll do my best!