Before I go any further, I should probably clarify the title of my post. When I say "sensuality" I'm not referring to the definition you're likely thinking of. Sorry, its not going to be that kind of post! I am talking about sensuality as in "devoted to or preoccupied with the senses". (I do love the definition "unrestrained indulgence in sensual pleasures", however, and think that it could be well-applied to the spinning experience. We spinners are a passionate people!)
Betzi is a somewhat visceral person, needing to experience her world in a very earthbound way. I think that's why I like going out to Jefferson Rock to watch the sunrise. I love the journey: sometimes I think my feet are thirsty for the morning dew, hungry for the smooth stone steps. I love the feel of the mist collecting on my skin. Sometimes I just stop where I am and just smell. You would be amazed what your nose can pick up at 5-something AM: damp leaves, fresh cut grass, granite (yes, it has a scent!), heady summer flowers. But so much more. Scents I can't even place surprise me every morning. Oh, and the sounds! The birds of course, the river, the morning train, and in the distance other early risers, headed to work--they all blend to form the loveliest of orchestras. And lets not forget about the feast for the eyes:
Enough about that, lets get spinning. Before I do anything with the fiber I'm about to spin I love to smell it. Spinners will get this right away, non-spinners perhaps not. Its a unique experience to just push that bunch of fiber right up to your nose and breath deeply, to see what that particular sheep smells like. And trust me, every bump of wool smells different. But one thing can be said of all wool: it smells like potential. It smells like warmth and comfort.
When I spin, every nerve is on alert. When I let those fibers slip through my fingers I am fully aware of every last millimeter. Spinning silk or bamboo is is like dipping your fingertips in a cold, gentle stream. And where do I even begin to describe how I feel about cashmere? or camel? It is bliss, my fingers sing, my nerve endings hum. I almost fell guilty doing it, its that good. Imperfections also crop up of course, but I certainly don't mind. It keeps me from spacing out too much; each tiny nepp or knot is like a scream in the night. Nothing will get you out of your own head like a nepp in silk, or a piece of hay in the merino.
And what about watching all those vivid colors swirling, colliding as they twist? It is nothing short of hypnotic. This is the exact reason its so easy to zone out while you spin. And lets not forget about the whirr of the wheel. It never fails to soothe. Even my kids respond to the sound. It could be just my imagination, but they do calm down a bit when I spin. Sometimes they stop what they are doing and just watch for a while, which I love of course. It doesn't always happen, but the hypnotizing effect is not lost on them. I love that they are absorbing all that sensory experience, that hum of the wheel, the gentle shift of color. Most people have this sort of drawn-in reaction to watching me spin, and I admit I dig it. Its the only real way for me to share the experience with someone who doesn't spin themselves.
And that's it, Why Betzi Loves to Spin, and How it Gets her Going When She Does It. Its good to get it out, its been brewing in my brain for a while now! Now on to...
In Knitting News
Now that I have twin babies to knit for, I've been looking at baby patterns. Man has it been ages since I've had to do that. Its kind of fun to peruse all of my "old" baby books. There are so many patterns that I just loved. I finally decided on knitting a new pattern though to avoid pattern burn-out--especially since I now have to knit 2 of them. I decided on the adorable Heart Pants, by Hanna Fettig. Here they are--this is Hannah's own photo, btw:
Cute, huh?
Hannah recommends Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria, and I have to say I love this yarn. I really would like to get my hands on some, but its a little steep at 10 bucks a ball. I might opt for Knit Picks Organic Cotton instead, which know I love. I'm sure these pants will be great in a nice, smooth yarn. I'm not sure how I feel about the hearts just yet, but I'll jump that bridge when we get to it.
That's it for knitting! I know, its kind of sad, huh? I'm still crushed and a little bitter that I can't be working on Madli until I'm totally sure that it is insect-free. In the next week or so I should see some signs of infestation (or not). I will certainly keep you posted.
In Other News
It is so good to be back here at the Blue Bungalow. Of course I didn't forget how much I loved it, I just forgot how darn cozy it was. I forgot how comfortably I sit on my porch. Yes, sometimes I am literally dripping in sweat, and yes, I have been known to change my shirt 3 times in one day, and yes sometimes I need an extra shower just to cool off, but I'm totally ok with it. Its hot, its muggy, but I still love my humid little town and my shady porch.
The kids are happy to be back too, and have been playing every second they can with their friends. None of us really felt like travelling anywhere after having a rather unsettling 10-hour flight, so we kind of hung around the house a lot and took a zillion walks around town. Last weekend, however, our Saturday was injected with some fun with a very yummy breakfast and relaxed tour of the fire station. The kids loved it, and are still playing fire truck. We are lucky that our friend works there and was kind enough to give us our very own personal tour.
Hubby, Brendan, The Kids
Eva with her new hat. Yes she has a "poppy". We are attempting to deal with it so please refrain from commenting!
It was a nice way to ease back into a little activity, and we totally appreciated the tour! Thanks again, Brendan!
When we came home we found some improvements to the house, including a fantastic area for a flower bed. I'm not sure quite what to do with it yet, but I am going to put on my landscape architects hat and see what I can come up with. I always feel a little trepidation when presented with an empty flower bed. People always assume that horticulturalists can whip up a lovely flower bed in no time, but I am not that kind of horticulturalist. My focus as a student was on fruit crops and greenhouse management, not design. As strange as it may seem, I am totally intimidated by projects like this. But I'll take it on anyway and see what happens. Who knows, maybe it will be sheer genius, right?
Thats all I have for now, dear reader! Thanks for dropping by, and hope to see you again next time around!
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Hi Betzi! Looks like things are going well. :) Love this post, the spinning descriptions and the description of your morning walk to Jefferson Rock should be published.
ReplyDeleteI love love the picture of Jefferson Rock sunrise, you should die wool those colors and call it by its name - heh heh.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that you are there when the sun comes up... that you absorb every bit of life, it's so wonderful.