Sunday, June 14, 2009

"Ouvert"

"Ouvert" is the French word for "open". Windows open, doors open - opportunities open. It's been a very long time since I've been here, time in which I was enclosed, snug, protected. I took the full proscribed period of mourning for my friend....because (as often seems to heppen to me) what began as my keenly feeling the loss of my friend became my feelings of loss for everyone I've lost in my life up to this point: my parents, beloved in-laws, some friends, Willie....and cats, who are little furry people. (Yes, so are doggies; all you pupfans have my agreement with you too!)


But the seasons change, and change again, and a New Season is beginning. The school year is over (no more tours of 4th graders at the Museum for a few months); the winter is over (said in a whisper...Wisconsin weather can be fickle); my period of high mourning is over.


What is ahead? Summer. Some exciting Outreach programs at senior centers. Travel - next week to a long weekend in the 18th century - an invitational event with especially good friends, the wedding of a darling girl who is the daughter of especially good friends (a *modern* trip, to Montana), our annual journey to Grand Portage....perhaps a few other jaunts.


Study! When I was a kid, I always felt a huge rush of Intellectual Freedom as the last bell of the school year rang. I could hardly wait to get to the library to delve deeply into what I wanted to study. And this summer is no exception. Without the daily tours, I can really dig into my study of Mary Hayes Chynoweth (it's a good thing - my first presentation is coming up this week!)


I am going to rework my Hattie Fairchild program. That's one I do in my hoopskirts about a lady's lot in life during the mid-19th century. I call it "Manners, Mending and Morals" - it has a Power Point show with it, but I'm going to prepare a version without the visual aid of slides, so that I can do it even if there's no projector equipment available. (I KNOW, a computer slide show about the 19th century, in costume, no less -- is ODD.)


I'm also scheduled to do a program in November on the Metis women in the Fur Trade, and I haven't yet cracked a book about that one yet. The Metis were the children born of native women and French or French-Canadian traders and trappers and voyageurs, and they had a rich culture as a group; I've long been interested in those folks with "a foot in each world", as it were.


And KNITTING!! Well, believe it or not I have a couple of commissions for toques, but it's been a while and I'm looking forward to them. I've also decided I'm going to knit me some socks and I have TWO (count 'em, 2) afghans planned. Each is for a bridal couple, one the end of July (yeahright like THAT's possible) and the other is for the end of August (see above). But I AM going to knit them, and they're going to have cables and bobbles and noobles and dingdongs and so forth. They may not be delivered at the weddings, but they WILL be given. You saw it here first.


There will also be some babyknitting in the future, but as you may recall, I won't be selecting a pattern, buying yarn or casting on until the little tyke is already happily cooing in its cradle. (That's not to say I may not idly flip through the occasional pattern book or grope and stroke the errant skein here and there. Just sayin'.)


Now then - I intend to write an actual blogpost, catching up at least in overview format, in the next day or so, but I had to flex the old catssticksandbooks fingers here.


I'm back, I'm fine, all's well (erhm....except the Serious Lack of Moneys is making life difficult to the left of me and the right of me, but seasons turn, right?)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dale!! I'm so glad you're back to blogging. I was just realizing how long it had been since your last post (and also since Paul and I had seen you and your Mr. Dearling). I am going back to Cambodia for a six week trip at the end of this month. If we can't fit a visit in before I leave then it is required that we meet-up when I return in mid-August!!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Lots of knitting in your future.

kmkat

Marjorie said...

Dale, Do take care- get a good post in (glad to see this one!), snorgle a kitty or two, and have fun studying! As usual, we're running in parallel: I've got new projects and fun planned for summer too.

PS I hope your next post can biggify the print a bit. It shrank since your last post!

Molly Bee said...

I'm glad you're back! It was so good to see you today. You are adorable in that bonnet!

CTJen said...

I'm so glad your back officially! See how we all missed you?

The Metis women sound interesting--I can't wait to see what you dig up on them.

Randi said...

I'm so glad you're back, too! I hope you have a great summer--it sure sounds like you've got a good one planned. Best, Randi

Chanter said...

Ooh, yay! It's a you! I'd wondered how you were doing, and I'm glad to see an update over here. Good to have you back! :)

gayle said...

Welcome back! I've missed you.
Perhaps Ms. Fairchild needs placards on an easel? With a nice pointer stick. More to pack up, but more "period"...
Happy knitting! (Even the dreaded toques.)

Hyacinth said...

Yay! Glad to see a new post and happy to hear things are going well :)

Yarnhog said...

I'm so glad you're back!

My I suggest crocheting the afghans? Much faster that way.

janna said...

Dale-Harriet --
I've been behind in my blog reading. I'm so sorry about your friend. Two days after you wrote this post, I lost a friend, too - not someone I was as close to as you were your friend, but someone I saw and spoke to everyday. I planned her memorial service, because she was from a long way away and her family wasn't sure they wanted one. In the end, I know they were glad we did it, but it was a lot of work, and I don't think I had time to grieve. Two weeks later, I feel like it's just now hitting me.

Anyhoo - I'm glad you're getting back into the world, and I know it just takes some time.

janna