In a time of contemplation

There is a lot going on here. So this post will be a bit on the rambling side. 

In March my aunt passed away. It was a blow to most of the family. My mother lost her best friend. I lost a mentor (no one taught me disco like that woman). Her son lost his family. 

It sent me down a road of contemplation. Because when we rallied around family, we paid a price. My son lost his job because his boss felt he was lying. There were other things that were "repercussions" of our choice to be with family in a time of need. And ever since we got back I've been thinking a great deal on the word community. 

I don't have one. Not really. I don't belong to a church, I don't have clubs, I can't do the soccer mom thing. It used to be that we would gather at a friends house and whoever showed up showed up. We had a sort of revolving door of people who would come and share as was comfortable for them. 

I did some research yesterday. There are no community centers in my neighborhood. (7 churches on a two mile stretch of road, but that was just incidental). None. They are across town. Just down the street from me is a low income house/apartment complex, and just down the street from that a retirement center. Two groups that would benefit deeply from a community center. Just a place where we can meet out of the rain. And NOT pay a fortune for coffee. A place where Joe Public can have an idea and share it. A place where he can pay a small fee for classroom space and teach it. 

I just feel lost, adrift. 

There is a part of me that really wants to get back to what this blog was... all about my adventures crafting. I am finding that when I let myself I am pretty clever. But that negative voice that lives in my head, says if I focus on one thing (crafting) I will need to give up the tea business. Only it isn't giving up a business. A business does something. The tea business has done nothing. (Except give a whole lot of free samples). It may be time to put it away for awhile. That feels crushing somehow. 

I don't have answers today. I won't have them tomorrow. I hope to have them in the next 6 weeks.

Wintering

The weather is doing what it does this time of year, here in the Willamette valley. The nights turn chilly, the days cool off, and the mornings are filled with fog. Many of the days are rainy and drizzly (which I love, by the way). This morning I was awakened at 5 am because of a pretty rowdy thunderstorm.

At our house the change in seasons means getting together the winter tea stock. Harvesting the mint plants and hanging them to dry, Vyapti going out and harvesting lavender from a friend, and going to the Kiva market to get the rest of what we need. What started a couple of years ago with me trying to make sure we had pre-made teas that would help comfort you if you had a cold,or if your stomach was upset, has become having well over 20 herbs and spices in nicely labeled containers. I have spent the last couple of days writing up lists of ailments and the corresponding mix to help. This list and a list of herbs and what they work with will be placed in the pantry.

Already, I have had to concoct a mix to help a child that came home from school early with a stomach ailment. This afternoon, my home smelled of chamomile and mint. Somehow, this new home is more conducive to having all of these different things stored away, and it seems to be very welcoming of healing work.

K

Who would be interested

In a year long project I am thinking about? I am looking for two or three people, preferably from differnt parts of the world, but I won't be that picky.

Leave me a comment here if you are interested in getting more details.
K

This is it.

This is it, I have gone and done it now. I have a blog (but still no my-space page). I don't know where this will go or even when it will get there. But I figure I will share the journey.

I started reading blogs written by these wonderful artists, and crafters and slowly, some ideas started creeping into my head. And, after several months of an excrutiating job hunt ( that will probably be heard from later), I am seriously looking into inviting art into my life as a dedication. Something that will help put food on the table. Art as a entire way of life.

I am lucky in this, in that my husband thinks we can make this work. I have a studio and an office and plenty of space to work, and ideas galore.

Why did I take the time to tell you all of this? Because I am hoping to use this blog as my giant internet idea board. My space to place my concepts and plans and ideas. Hopefully, I will have readers who will help keep me on track.

So with that I think I will be off for now.