double living

i drive from one home to another
quite often now.
there is so much to see 
and to love 
about this landscape
landskeins and rainstorms and fawns.
 a doe and fawn 
at first surprised that i was disturbing them
this morning in one big haymeadow.
 a short time ago i found a road-killed oriole,
 mourned the short beautiful life,
hoped there were no alone babies
in a hanging basket of a nest closeby.
i buried the body in my garden
after taking a few feathers
placing them in this strangely beautiful bowl.
 i continue making shifu squares
 and spinning kami-ito
 the tiny squares have filled up their basket
and then some.
 so this weaving continues until it's done
 needle has curved
for my hand's pleasure
hours and hours of plain weave. 
aimee sent me a duck
celebrating
retirement
just the other day i surprised
a duck family scurrying off the dirt road 
 in front of the new place.
there was no room
but they all disappeared quickly
make way for ducklings!
echoed the past.
~~~
i had to cancel my class at the morgan, but
here are two events to consider, 
this first is close to home
and 
highly recommended
downeast maine in august is stunning
and cobscook is one of those magical and earthy places
and, though i am teaching this time, i'd go again.
this group of bookish sorts is very cool:

New England Chapter Mini-Conference in Northern Maine 

August 26th - 28th. Delighted and inspired by the local plants and vegetation of Maine, we invite you to join in a weekend retreat at the Cobscook Community Learning Center that will include two 1-day workshops with Andrea Peterson and Velma Bolyard, evening lectures with Katie MacGregor and Nancy Leavitt, a mix and mingle event and material swap. 

Schedule of Events:
FRIDAY, August 26th:
7:00 - 8:30 Evening Reception - Dining Hall
8:45 - 9:30 Mix & Mingle plus Material Swap - Lodge

SATURDAY, August 27th:
Workshop Day One - Andrea Peterson or Velma Bolyard
9:00 - 12:00 Morning Session
12:15 - 1:15 Lunch - Dining Hall
1:30 - 4:30 Afternoon Session
7:00 - 8:30 Evening Dinner - Dining Hall
8:45 - 9:30 Vendor Room

SUNDAY, August 28th:
Workshop Day Two - Andrea Peterson or Velma Bolyard
9:00 - 12:00 Morning Session
12:15 - 1:15 Lunch - Dining Hall
1:30 - 4:30 Afternoon Session
7:00 - 8:30 Evening Dinner - Dining Hall

Registration is open to both members and non-members of the Guild of Book Workers and covers both workshops and all meals. We also invite you to bring your spouse and/or friend along to join in the evening festivities and enjoy the beauty of rural Maine. Dormitory-style lodging is available and conveniently located on the grounds. 

To register and find more information about the conference see descriptions below or please go to: https://gbw.formstack.com/forms/negbwconference

If you have any additional questions, feel free to email Erin Fletcher at negbwprograms@gmail.com. We hope to see you there! 
~~~
and 
in australia in march 2017
a 6 day master class
paper and books!

bliss

i can safely say there is some bliss happening
each day i wake to the sound of birdsong
and some nights i go to sleep to the sounds of...
er...
coyotes singing in the background as
a startled deer snorts
then
a gray fox
yodeling away with some firmness
i think she's a mama doing her best for her brood
and then
a very very angry raccoon
snarling and scritching for some time
probably has something to do with the gray fox and my empty barn.

once the convicts were found
the most local color took over.

and then there are the wildflowers...
a rich wet and cool spring has brought them on
brilliantly
in a way i can't remember!

and there is news:
Picture

the site is alive and kicking and the brochure is out,
the classes will fill up with some urgency
if i remember right from last time.
go over and take a look!
~~~
we work and work,
caliban press and me,
towards completion.
the map-fold book is done,
but some need a little stitching,
as per plan,
and the envelopes aren't complete yet
but it's almost done.
~~~
saturday i leave for my class 
am i excited?
you bet!