Current situation summed up on a page in my Sketch Journal (remember those Cats of Morocco?)
In other news, I posted again on Substack. In essence, I guess it’s a post about how to enjoy daily pleasures and small joys in these troubled days. Is it okay, or perhaps, is it necessary, when the previously unimaginable is in danger of becoming normalized? The post seemed to resonate with quite a few readers and elicited many thoughtful comments. Maybe you’d find it interesting as well; here’s a brief excerpt:
And again, I wonder about “Jesse in the back lane,” and whether he’s figured out what he’s missing, and why his bewildered question resonated so immediately with me. Are we all wondering what we’re missing? Is it okay that I find comfort against that aching question in these simple pleasures I’m privileged to enjoy? Time with loved ones, the comforts of a good meal, the pleasurable entertainment of a favourite show. How thin is the line between Jesse and I and what we are or are not missing?
To read the rest of the newsletter. click here. And while you’re there, you could pop onto my profile page and check out other Posts and Notes.
Meanwhile, out on the balcony . . .
I’m feeling a bit betwixt and between at the moment, something like this geranium, caught between summer and winter. . .
I was “over on the island” (in the city where I used to live) this past weekend, attending a significant event hosted by a recently widowed artist/friend (I say a bit more about that in that Substack piece). I stayed again in a cozy little room in a very clean (their claim to fame), very cute, little motel, mid-century-ish. Wood frame, so I could hear my neighbour above, not always conducive to a great sleep, and I had to walk a few kilometres to get back and forth from the downtown core of this small city, but I always feel both at home and as if I’m playing house there, solo.
Temperatures were just at freezing, so what I wore and what I carried in my weekender Pliage has to be light and had to be warm — all wool, in other words!
No change of shoes in that bag. I brought only the one pair of footwear — my Blundstones — and they served me well for the seven or so kilometres I walked daily, even over the light, sometimes slippery, blanket of snow on the sidewalk, laid down the last morning. . .
But back to that warm wool, you probably know that it can (and will probably eventually need to) be mended. . .
I’ve been mending a dress the moths had their way with while we were away, and I’ll share photos of that later. . . it was a big project and I’m glad I’m finished.
The holes in these socks that my son-in-law asked me to mend were much more manageable. I’ve finished this pair and am currently working on a second, with one last pair to go after that. . .
Meanwhile, I finished knitting a new pair that were almost done before last summer’s travels. . .
Not sure if I’ll keep these or give them away, but they’ll make their wearer smile, no?
And it feels good to finish up projects, even the small ones like mending a pair of socks.
Especially since another snowfall has left the sidewalks unfriendly for much walking, and I’m currently stuck close to the bathroom. If you’ve ever prepped for a colonoscopy, you’ll know. . .
I did get some walking in earlier in the week . . . love a hat with a good brim when the snow’s falling but I don’t want to carry an umbrella. . .
Next post here will be my January reading, which finished with this book. Highly recommended — and thanks to the one who mentioned it in the comments earlier. . .
I’d better run . . . if you read the text in the photo of my sketchbook page, above, you’ll understand why I’ve kept this post short and scattered (“short and sweet” was my aim, but I don’t think I achieved that 😉
xo,
f
Love that turquoise on you Frances. I am knitting away at a triangle scarf. I’m so enjoying knitting again and Briggs and Little wool is lovely to work with. That disastrous mohair yarn I used last year for my first foray into knitting in years was not worth the frustration. I happily unravelled it all and stuck it into my knitting basket. This effort is much more calming. And calming is what I need these days. As we all do. I keep saying to Stu, if I’m feeling this way imagine all those lovely American ladies who read my blog. Never have ai felt so glad to be Canadian.
P.S. I’m going to write you an email about Substack. Some things I read which bear consideration. xox
Author
Knitting is so calming and meditative, isn’t it?! Just what we need right now, as you say!
I’ll look forward to your email.
Yes, I know your plight. An interesting 24 hours, I must say…hope all turns out well. The things you find you need to do in later life. Bears some pondering.
Author
Exactly. 3rd in just over a year, and those 24 hours don’t get any more fun! (also, almost 48 hours with no solid food! Waah!)
Like Sue, I think the turquoise looks wonderful on you but I do love the little brimmed hat! Hope the colonoscopy provides a negative result and you will be done with that for another year (?) or so.
Author
Thank you!
Colonoscopy prep. Well, it is one of those things that’s somewhat easier once you know what to expect, and the procedure itself is such a very good thing to have available. Hope all goes well.
I wanted to say ‘hi’ but I haven’t been commenting anywhere really because I am very very cross and am finding it very hard to keep a civil tongue in my head. (Even now, I want to add a rant! lol I will spare you.)
However, onward. Starting to work my list prior to spring travel to Sicily. A bit of alone time with Italian class and then my daughter will join me. I will have 7 days of classes over two weeks as there are three stat holidays in that period. I saw an article in the Italian news excitedly noting that because Easter Monday and Liberation Day fall in the same week this year it is possible to have nine days off work while only using three vacation days!! I remember doing those kinds of calculations. So glad I’m retired 🙂
Author
Crossness these days is almost necessary! Rants as well. . . Springtime in Sicily (and the prep for it) will be a decent antidote.
Yes, don’t mind the retirement at all (did a bit the first year or two, but it’s all good now!)
Home from a walk along the nearby Willamette River, I found your post and also read the Substack. I had spent the first half or so of the walk listening (through my hearing aids) to a Substack conversation about our current American crisis, and it gave me some hope… It has been so hard to hang onto hope these last weeks. Sometimes I do better than others.
We had a wee bit of snow here in the Willamette valley the past 24 hours. I am actually relishing living in a place with “real” seasons again, after 35 years of desert life in Tucson. It is certainly not as harsh as Minnesota, where we lived for 10 years before Arizona. It’s nice to be able to take advantage of all my handknits, which I loved making but had a limited amount of wear in Tucson (more than you might think though!)
I am currently working on another pair of wool socks. It’s a challenging pattern, with two stranded color work. It took me a while to internalize the pattern, but yesterday I turned the heel on the second sock so I’m in the homestretch now.
Please keep thinking of us who are trying hard to keep our lives together under/ against the rise of authoritarianism. If you are interested in reading any good writers about the situation, I have a number of good suggestions. We are not giving in or giving up.
Author
I’m happy to hear that you’re settling into your new home, enjoying the weather, getting to wear your handknits. I’ve never knit a pair of two-stranded socks (I’ve done gloves and mittens, but no socks. Wonder why!) — they’ll be cozy and harder to wear through, I’d imagine.
Yes, I can imagine how much harder it is for you to hang onto hope — hard enough for us as your neighbours but to be stuck there, trying to sort out what’s happening this week and then the next. Horrid! We do keep thinking of you — with hope for the resistance we see so many of you putting up. And yes, I’d be happy to have a few recommendations for good writers, and I’m sure other readers here would as well.
I have to say I would have a very hard time gifting those gorgeous striped socks you knitted. I love stripes and those colors practically glow! It’s been a long time since I’ve read a biography, but that one sounds lovely. I tend to stick to cozy mysteries, nothing too suspenseful, to improve the odds of a good night’s sleep. Sleep is difficult these days with the barrage of alarming news.
I know well the joys of prep day. Because of a family history, I must test every five years. I hope you’re on the more common ten year plan!
Author
I do love these socks and they’re exactly my size, so who knows — the problem is that once I started mending my socks, it’s not so easy to discard the old and add the new. . . Surprising how long they can last with a bit of judicious stitching!
Right now, I’ve had three scopes in a little more than a year, and I think I have to do this again soon. I also have a family history (sibling who had colon cancer before 60 — she’s made it to the 5-year mark, thank goodness). And because my GE found polyps last time. . . .Currently on 6-month recall!
Dear Frances,fingers crossed for colonoskopy,not quite a cozy thing. I’ll have to do it this year as well,my first ever
Playing house is a treat,from time to time,especially at your former home island
Lovely colour,it suits you well and socks are wonderful
Just to comment here on your last post on Substack (believe it it or not,I was not able to download Bookshop.org to buy digital books the other day,it says”not available in your country”,too)-although I’m utterly speechless,it is like living in a parallel reality :
So,agree with you,finding joy in simple pleasures,focusing on good things,tending gratitude,helping people around us,staying sane….
Dottoressa
Author
Thanks! I’ll cross my fingers for your first one too!
Do you mean that you got a “not available in your country” message from Substack? I did some browsing for answers about this, and everything I read says there’s no barrier for Croatians to get an account or to comment. Weird! (and I don’t know Bookshop.org — I’ll have to check that out!)
Your last words: “staying sane” — could be a big challenge, such insanity surrounding us.
No,no,I didn’t write it clear-I can read Substack,but can’t comment or even press “like”
Bookshop.org is not available,neither UK nor US version
D.
Author
Oh, this is too frustrating! I don’t know why you shouldn’t be able to comment (except that I think you need to subscribe to me to do that — I think you did that though so 🤷♀️
And what’s wrong with Bookshop.org!! They should know that many Croatians are big English readers!!
Good luck with the colonoscopy. I guess we are lucky to have these procedures available but I know it’s hard to feel grateful when it’s happening. As for the DT monster , I’m glad he is a long way away from us but no doubt he’ll be turning on us soon . We spent many holidays traveling around the US at one time & met lots of lovely people . I know he is not typical & feel for all the decent Americans .
Author
Yes, we’re lucky to have these available, even if they’re not fun. And especially to be able to have them done at no charge
Thank you for writing openly about your colonoscopy, Frances! Not to scare anyone, but had I had one sooner, my cancer would not have been as advanced when it was found.
Author
This is the case for my sister as well. She had a good-sized tumour by the time she finally got herself to the doctor… But she’s made it to five years now. Hope all continues to go well for you also.
I hope your procedure went well and with good results.
I too have been mending, an old scarf, a blouse belonging to my daughter and a linen dress of mine, where the fabric became threadbare in one spot. None of it was insect damage, just wear and tear. Mending can be time consuming but there’s a real sense of satisfaction when the job is done.
Author
Very true! It feels good to extend the wear on a garment — and if it’s a much-loved dress or scarf or jeans, even more so!
I’m on the 5 year plan with colonoscopies and was feeling sorry for myself about that, but good grief, you hardly can have recovered for one when it’s time for the next one! As everyone is saying we are lucky to have access to these tests, and in my experience they have fine tuned the testing procedure a bit so it seems less draconian. Where I go the prep is actually several days, eliminating a few things at a time until the last day is clear liquids or Jello – which tastes pretty darn good by then! Hope all goes well for you and that you have a list of little treats figured out for afterwards!
I wouldn’t be able to part with those socks!
Cheers, Ceci
Here is hoping the colonoscopy results are fine. Basically I’ve been hibernating, ventured out today as the food supplies were dwindling. As it was I needed eggs. For years I have been getting my eggs down the road at a small farm. This makes it sound as though I live in a rural area but is is very suburban, the farm is kind of a holdout, it is surrounded by very high end real estate. I live about 5 miles away, in a much more modest complex. The farm stand closes over the winter but of course the hens continue to lay so three time a week the eggs are available. There has been such an issue here with eggs, the price, availability, the bird flu. This should be our biggest problem. Luckily, farmer John had eggs for me. As always we had a nice chat, usually about our animals, his dog, my cat. His wife Kathy is often there as well. Over the years we have established a friendship. As I was about to leave John expressed concern over the man who helps manage the farm. Both John and Kathy are in their 80’s and John lost a leg in a tractor accident some years ago. Gerard is Mexican but a US citizen. At the beginning of the year he took a month off to see his family in Mexico. John has not heard from him since he left. Needless worry perhaps , or perhaps not.
Love the socks, wish I had the patience to knit.
About 12 years ago one of my daughter’s best friends started a foundation for colon cancer research and support in honor of his mother who passed away from the disease. My daughter was on the original board of that foundation which has since gone on to merge with another foundation and is now the largest in the country, Colon Cancer Alliance, which raises millions of dollars a year to fund research and support. So proud of Michael who now leads that foundation as CEO. We continue give our financial support to the organization. So glad you are sharing the importance of colonoscopies. Hope all goes well.
Author
Such important work that your daughter and her friend have done and are doing! My sister’s current health (5 years after colostomy, chemo, radiation, etc.) probably owes something to their work. Very impressive!
I read and appreciated your post on Substack, but got distracted from commenting by reading other Substacks. It is a great platform, but in my enthusiasm about reading words again (after Instagram) I think I’ve over-subscribed. Don’t want it to turn into another social media overwhelm, and I’m about to start my own Substack writings, so…
All good wishes for your procedure. Your striped socks are gorgeous. I bought a rainbow striped cotton pair in Seasalt this week, because the world needs rainbow stripes just now.