Our serviceberries are in bloom! How many times have I referred to The Serviceberry, Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World? So many times! This book becomes dearer to me as the days roll along. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s timing with this book was a gift to all of us as we struggle to find new ways to move forward in our upside down world.
“In the spirit of the reciprocal economy, you might consider how you can reciprocate the gifts of the Earth in your own way. Whatever your currency of reciprocity—be it money, time, energy, political action, restoration, acts of care, large and small—all are needed in these urgent times.”
When I was recently in Portland, OR and whiling away the hours at Powell’s, a used book caught my eye…I’m guessing it was the beautiful photography. Simply Living Well, a guide to creating a natural, low-waste home, by Julia Watkins came home to Vermont with me. As I try to get more plastics out of my shopping cart, this book offers oodles of ways to do just that. As I use up store purchased supplies, I intend to replace them with some of Julia’s suggestions. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
All the Beauty in the World, by Patrick Bringley, our book group’s selection for May was one of the most wonderful books I’ve read in a while. Written by a man with a wounded heart, it’s the story of his healing while working as a guard at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The book has links to follow, connecting the artwork mentioned to the museum website using accession numbers. This little book is a treasure, to be read in small, quiet moments.
In contrast, Carson Ellis’ newest book is a fun romp into nostalgia. In One Week in January, Carson documents in word and pictures, an old diary she kept back in 2001, before she and Colin Meloy were “an item”. It’s an odd little peek into the beginnings of their creative lives and the illustrations are fun.
June’s selection for our book group’s needed to be shortish and fun. June is a wild month for our bunch, with two of our members retiring from long careers as elementary school teachers. June is a month of “time crunch” here in Vermont, with celebrations, gardening, yard sales and all things outdoorsy. So, after a very funny conversation, with many books suggested, we decided to give Miss Benson’s Beetle a try, written by Rachel Joyce. And we’ve got our next round of voting for the next six months of book selections underway.
And last, but not least in all things “bookish”, have you seen the amazing film of the Johnson Public Library being moved, quite literally, to higher ground? Check it out here! Watching this film may end up being the best part of your day. Seriously.
What have you been reading?
I have a younger friend who just finished a program run by Emerge Vermont, and I went up to Montpelier to attend her graduation celebration on Thursday night. Emerge Vermont “recruits, trains, and provides a powerful network to Democratic women who want to run for office.” I met Becky years ago at the Vermont Modern Quilters Guild, and I can’t wait to see how she will bring her skills as a quilt maker to create a powerful patchwork/network to her mission in the world. Hooray for the next generation, working their way into newer ways to build a stronger democracy!
The very next day I attended an Arts and Humanities Town Hall at the Chandler Center for the Arts in downtown Randolph. Promoted as an “Arts and humanities conversation and call to action”, it was hosted by Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint, and her friend Senator Peter Welch dropped by, too. There were others who joined them on the stage, including community arts and humanities leaders from around the state. Authoritarians go after free speech first, which includes artists, journalists, poets, libraries and others who hold up truth to power. We were both sobered and also inspired by what our delegation shared with us. Standing up, standing firm and standing together will be our superpower, friends!
This page from my 100 days of stitching is an homage to our Hannah, third born Reed, the “cruise director” and “encourager in chief” of our gang.
This page pairs well with a “chaos” page, which you’ll see in my next post. :-)
This page was done with reverse appliqué, using raw silk dyed with indigo grown here in our gardens. The gold thread continues to weave itself through the pages of my book.
I finished stitching my book and will show you the whole production soon. In the meantime, I INVITE MY READERS TO SHARE THEIR WORK ON THEIR BOOKS WITH ME, so that I might share some of it here. Here’s how. Send me up to three jpegs of your work by next Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. I have no idea what sort of response I’ll get, so I’m not sure how I’ll set things up on a blog post, but I can’t wait to see if I get any submissions. (Don’t be shy).
Have you seen that Sara at Farm and Folk is offering a free sew along? Check out her blog (this post is especially pretty) to get details. If you have been thinking of dipping your toes into piecing quilt squares, this is a great opportunity! Sara’s work is beautiful and her commitment to growing and dyeing her own colors is inspirational.
Our neighborhood has turned bonkers green and folks are grinning from ear to ear. We Vermonters wait a long time to see things sprouting after our long winters. Our farmer’s markets are open for business and garden centers are full of color. I’m holding my breath for the lilacs to bloom.
This has been a long post, so I will wrap up for now. I would like to welcome my newest subscriber, Juliet. Hello!
Please, please, please dearest readers… do not despair. I know it’s easy to feel the weight of things these days. But there is still so much goodness in the world, and other folks who are standing tall along with all of us…
Sending light, love and hope your way, as ever. XO