Red Cedar

I’ve been away, and now I’m back but I can’t promise much in the way of blogging these days because I have a new job (for four months – it’s not permanent) and on top of that, a whole ton of social/family/academic and otherwise awesome events coming up over the next few months.

Things are good over here – really quite great in fact. I’m the acting Communications Manager in my shop until mid-November which means more pay (and more work too), I just came back from 9 days of camping and hiking in the mountains (pictures soon), and I am nearly at the end of one very long crochet project as well as a gift I am making for the upcoming wedding of some friends. This fall I am enrolled in the 2nd to last course of my Master’s degree (Topic: Mercy and Forgiveness), in addition to several lectures that are part of the Maiwa Textile Symposium and a creative textiles workshop in November. I’ve been organizing a philosophy book event for September as well as helping to organize a 2-day meditation retreat in the same month. Also, my writing group is planning a retreat for November.

Oh – and also I’ll be working at the Adams River Salmon Fest during the opening weekend! It’s a lot, yes, but all such great things that I’m feeling pretty positive about it all. The one casualty of all this scheduled activity is very likely to be sewing projects as those require more sitting down time than I forsee myself having – though I am still hopeful that I can knock off a couple of fall skirts and tunics before the whirlwind takes full effect. We’ll see.

I’m feeling very blessed at the moment, especially with the chance to take on a different role at work for a few months (honestly, I had no idea how suited I would feel to the work – I’m kindof already hoping my co-worker decides not to come back for awhile). As usual, my silence here does not mean I have nothing to say, but no time to say it.

Since I pretty didn’t post for all of June – I am sharing my month in photos – just a small sampling of what I was up to. I expect July to look pretty similar to this. In June I……

Got a little boat from my brother and carted it up to our property.

Recorded some music in Delta.

Made it well past half-way on the lace tablerunner.

Got a door on our outhouse!

Made this hexi for a little project I’m working on.

Got this great photo of the band taken in Cumberland.

Finished piecing and pin-basted a quilt I started Ten years ago.

Got a dress mostly finished.

Made mustard – two kinds.

Started a new cross-stitch project.

Got a pair of beautiful leather cup holders in trade for some crochet – handmade by my lovely friend Kyla.

Made wine and mead – sometimes it gets messy.

Played this fun little show in Cumberland.

Started a new quilt.

Visited with the niece and nephew.

Completed my June Aurifil Quilt Challenge Block.

It’s been a month since I’ve posted here – an accidental break from blogging during these front-loaded summer weeks. We’ve been away a lot on weekends, and my weeks are taken up with fish, upwelling oceans, and the potential of a thousand projects. I’m taking over the unit manager function in my workplace  for four months starting next week, and the preparation for that alone has eaten up a big chunk of my time.

I’ve been making things though, and seeing lots of friends. I’ve been losing weight and meditating most days, reading some great philosophy and getting impatient about our cabin build (I want it already started!) And right now I am prepping to go on holidays starting next weekend – planning camping meals and looking forward to spending nine days out of doors with friends.

Love is on my mind these days (philosophical and romantic), as are the pleasures of friendship, good food and time spent alone.

As I wrote to a friend yesterday, “I am now officially the kind of person who organizes philosophy discussion groups and meditation circles. And they are for real things I want to do.”