Thursday, May 28, 2020

Joy

I take politics far too seriously. I think I've learned my lesson. My detachment from all social media is complete. I will only fight now, post-covid, for senior fairness and bringing the many of us living in Canada to the official poverty line. I know. Small potatoes but essential for survival here where many elders make $5,000 per annum below it.

So now. I can't get over myself. I am experiencing gallons of joy for the last four days and I hope I'm not jinxing this. I am reading a marvelous book called H is for Hawk by Helen Mac Donald


The rating isn't that great on Goodreads but I get why it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. It is a memoir by a woman whose father has just died and she gets into the business of training a groshawk, one of the most challenging of all falconry enterprises. I am learning so much from it, another underbelly of life unexplored. There are so many.

I have 21,000 words written on the new novel and it is taking me to extraordinary places. I am living and breathing it every day. I am also busy on the blanket I designed and have about 1/3 complete.

You will note the completed lighthouse, the partially finished house and of course the familiar diamonds of vines and cables of Irish knitting. On the left you will see a cream and black cord (it will wind up a marble-like frame for the work) which I knit away at as it is mindless when I attend Zoom meetings. The main body requires concentration due to its complexity.

You're the first in the whole world to see it as I'm not posting it elsewhere.

It brings me enormous joy. Plus I keep a notepad by me and jot notes for the book as they occur to me.

I think it's the first time in my life I feel undistracted as I write with no other responsibilities apart from feeding myself and basic maintenance.

Hence joy.

46 comments:

  1. I love the blanket.
    H is for Hawk is the first book I picked up last year, when my life went nuts and I needed not to be nuts. You will love it. It's on my shelf, to redo, when I need it again.

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    1. PS: Goodreads who? I picked it from a NYT list of must reads of the decade.

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    2. I am about 1/2 through Joanne and it is spellbinding. I sometimes think Goodreads can be loaded up with bots as it is now owned by Amazon. 'Nuff said.

      XO
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  2. I loved H is for Hawk. Like Joanne I will reread it. Quite possibly every year.
    Your blanket is spectacular, and I am thrilled that you are making time for your creative self to shine.

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    1. My annual read has been Ernest Hemingway's The Movable Feast. Go figure.

      Thank you for the comments on the blanket, I am loving every stitch as the design on paper unfolds itself.

      XO
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  3. Joy is always welcome!
    I have never seen those vines in a knitting pattern before, they are very attractive.
    The book sounds good, I was a reader once but I'm not now. i don't know what happened.

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    1. Kylie, I think it happens to all of us, the misplaced reading gene. And then it comes back in full force.

      Yes the vines are lovely but require a lot of attention as the work doesn't "read" - and if a knitter you know what I mean.

      XO
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  4. The knitting looks very intricate. I can do plain and stocking stitch and that's it. I know patterns are all made from those two, but I don't have the concentration for it anymore. I used to make babies matinee jackets with matching bonnets and bootees. Now I can't even find my knitting needles.
    I'm so glad you are feeling so much happier, it's a wonderful feeling isn't it?

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    1. It really is River. Your comment is interesting in that I hadn't tried anything "tricky" for a while and honestly this took huge concentration and thoughts of I'm old, I've lost the ability. And you know that word persistence? It finally paid off in the last few days. I could almost feel the pathways opening up in my brain.

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  5. I am glad you have found Joy and have immersed yourself in Creativity during these difficult times. We all have to find that Space that keeps us Centered.

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    1. So very true Bohemian and it is sometimes so very hard to find. Never give up is my new mantra. Along with "Enough" on the stuff that used to distract me.

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  6. I am delighted with your joy. Will download the Hawk book but, quite when I will get around to read it is anybody's guess. I have got a whole lot of books to read before its turn will come. I am also happy to see the lighthouse as among the first to see it.

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    1. Thank you Ramana, it is a rare renewal for this old cynic and nay sayer of all things privileged. Never has the evidence been so clear on the inequality in the world. But no longer my problem, no longer my rage.

      a beautiful book.

      XO
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  7. Two great projects for you: the novel and the knitting. Keep the joy of creating.

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    1. Yes Gigi and I do hope your renewed interest in the violin keeps you happy.

      XO
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  8. I am identifying with you as I usually do. I have always been interested in politics and news. My poor sons - they even had to endure Watergate hearings. But now I am so upset by our president that I rarely even make comments on FB. I will not let him take over my emotions. But I work very hard for Democrat causes and candidates. I also read all the time altho I quit early on lots of books - not worth getting thru many. I have been a compulsive knitter forever and I so admire your latest creation. I have been a hiker and runner all my life but am slowing down at 77. Daily walks let me observe more. Love you. You deserve to leave all the uglies out there alone. Not worth the effort. Tend to your joy.

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    1. oops - meant to leave my name in the post. Unknown doesn't cut it! I hope it shows this time....Mary

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    2. I loved H is for Hawk, but not as much as:
      "Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl"

      It is just spellbinding. I wanted it to go on and on. Let us know if you read it!

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    3. RBH is right about that book too. I picked it up second hand and devoured it.

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    4. Mary - it is so easy to get embroiled and enraged which I did, it was debilitating and the pitchforks came out and the defenders of male privilege where quite frightening in their comments. So yes, it is marvelous to finally say "Done" and mean it - at least for now.

      XO
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    5. RBH - yes I have put that on my list - even better than H? I'm on. Thank you!

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    6. EC - 2 recs? I am ordering it today!

      XO
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  9. You have once again made me smile. I am so delighted to hear you so upbeat. The blanket is beautiful. Living in Maine, of course, I adore the lighthouse and the intricate vines/leaves. Really, really beautiful work. Stay well and happy. Hugs.

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    1. Thank you Regina, I realize more and more as I age that my bodily failings need not effect my creativity. As long as the braincells are intact I am good.

      XO
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  10. Finding joy where we can, very important in these times. I find a lot of joy in my home, yard, and my daily routine. The few times each week that I make a trek out into public, I cringe at what I see. I really don't want to come out of hibernation. Having dealt with few people these past 11 weeks has made it even harder to take up with their crazy antics.

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    1. I'm with you on that DKZ, what I see how there scares me. I ventured out once or twice and came back in again. We have had only 1 case in the last 3 weeks but that was still alarming as it came from "outside" on a planeload of workers coming back from Alberta.

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  11. That blanket is lovely.

    So you recommend the book? I'll have to look for it.

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    1. It's gorgeous, SAW and it deals with the process of grief quite beautifully.

      XO
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  12. It makes me so happy that you are so happy.
    And so productive. Good on you!
    The blanket is superb and 21,000 words. I love it all!
    You know, I don't know you , but I love you as well.

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    1. Thank you Gemma, you made me laugh out loud today.

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  13. Glad you found your joy, it's a wonderful thing. The blanket is quite wonderful, beautiful design! I read that book a while ago, I know I enjoyed it at the time but don't remember much of it. Story of my reading life

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    1. I do jot notes in a special reading journal I keep for reading. Being part of a book club and discussing books with family jogs me to do this. My short term is crazy bad. I hate that walking into a room feeling or having check pill boxes to make sure I took my pills. Sometimes a few times. Argh.

      XO
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  14. While my appreciation for knitting and other skills with wool and cotton is low, I really like your blanket.

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    1. Thank you Andrew - they can be works of art. But hey women's work was only recently appreciated as such.

      XO
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  15. Thank you for the reminder about that book. I started it and loved it but for some reason I cannot recall, never finished it. I will now. That blanket is beautiful.

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    1. It really took me out of myself. I didn't know that much about falconry but I love how she tied her terrible grief into it, her childhood and also pulled in other long dead writers on falconry.

      Yes, I do love the blanket as it gets built, thank you!

      XO
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  16. I hope you're having a good day, have been reading your last few posts and must say I love your writing. Of course have been reading your posts for a good while now (since you had the wonderful and beautiful Ansa). AND am astounded at your ability to knit on what looks to be a very intricate beautiful blanket which you describe as "mindless" knitting whilst your
    attention is on something else! Amazing to me! I had been almost to the point of buying the "H is for Hawk" book but did not do so, now after your description will get it. Thank you for your blog, such a treat. Take good care!

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    1. Thank you Marge for your oh so kind comments, you made my evening. I'm only knitting mindlessly on the frame which is Icord the body requires every brain cell in my head!

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  17. So very happy for you and the pillow is magnificent.
    Oh my but you are talented, keep it up, you put a much needed smile on my face and in my heart,

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    1. Thank you Ernestine, as your blog does for me too. Long may we teeter over our keyboards!

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  18. I love the blanket (or the bit you've completed so far). The lighthouse reminds me of all the lighthouses on Prince Edward Island.

    Senior fairness is a good cause to fight for. There are plenty of other people to fight all the other 101 causes!

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    1. Exactly Nick, I feel tons better having quit the endless politicising. Thanks for your comments on the blankie. I will show it also when complete.

      XO
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  19. Good for you! I have been staying off Twitter as it just gets me in a tizzy.
    I have been knitting too but you are very ambitious with this!

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  20. Twitter is madness, insanity in a hand held device.

    I am so enjoying your photos. I'm putting up some of my own in a minute.

    XO
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