Last week I had the fun and wonderful privilege of writing a guest blog at my friend Kathy’s blog, Lake Superior Spirit. I’m still “recovering” from all the excitement! Thank you, Kathy!
From time to time in my life I’ve been called upon to write an autobiographical sketch and as I wrote this one for Kathy it occurred to me that every time I write one it comes out a little differently. Probably because I’m always growing and changing, and each time I look back over my life my perspective has changed and some events take on new and deeper meanings. And other events are left out entirely because even though at one time they seemed so important, they no longer seem worth mentioning.
Within our whole universe the story only has the authority to answer that cry of heart of its characters, that one cry of heart of each of them: “Who am I?”
~ Isak Dinesen
(Last Tales)
A couple of weeks ago I figured out how to write a blog and not just save it, but actually schedule a publication day and time for it! Great! Now I can combine quotes with art and schedule them to go out on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Still, I was surprised Saturday morning when I saw the quote for that day published already and realized that I hadn’t written a regular post here all week.
Yikes! Oh no, I thought, my readers will think I’m doing nothing but posting quotes from now on… However, I’ve noticed these quote/painting combos are collecting more comments than I thought they would! It’s been so interesting, for me anyway, seeing so many varied kinds of responses to the same words and images.
This morning Tim and I went out for breakfast – it’s been a while because he has worked at home a lot on recent weekends – and it felt very good to get out of the house together. It snowed a little last night… After breakfast we headed to Starbucks for a coffee treat and saw a Mumford & Sons CD there, Sigh No More, which we eagerly purchased. We first heard them perform at the Grammys a couple of weeks ago and both of us like them a lot.
Then we drove down to Eastern Point and Avery Point and found a new sculpture on the Sculpture Path by the Sea. It’s named “Pig Iron” by Timothy Kussow. Looked for the sculptor online and he doesn’t seem to have a website of his own, but he lives on the same road in the same town where Tim’s family used to live. Small world and a bit of synchronicity as well! A little music and a little art – a very nice morning date!
But if your strife strikes at your sleep
Remember spring swaps snow for leaves
You’ll be happy and wholesome again
When the city clears and sun ascends
~ Mumford & Sons
♫ (Winter Winds) ♫
Mumford & Sons is great, I too saw them for the first time on the grammy’s! This video and song are great. The thing about this band is, they look like they are enjoying every moment of their performance!
As for you my dear lady, what ever you decide to post people will view and comment.
How did I ever miss your guest appearance on kathy’s blog. I must have been asleep that week.. Oy!
They sure did look like they were enjoying themselves on the Grammys! I perked up as they got going because I had been bored out of my mind with all the flashy pop music. (They didn’t even give Neil Young his award during the show!) Honestly, I think that’s the only reason I watch the Grammys year after year, just in case a rare treat like Mumford & Sons comes on!
I guess you’re right, Jeff, people do view and comment. Thank you for your encouragement and for being such a faithful reader! 🙂
Scheduling posts for publication – that’s something I’ve been meaning to get round to doing. It might have let me avoid the recent fortnight long hiatus I’ve just ended (I was away or frazzled). Right. You’re doing it, so I’d better get my act together on it too.
Like the winter pics.
If I can do it, Paul, anyone can do it… I tend to learn one tech skill at a time and then practice it to death. I’m glad you enjoyed the winter pictures – it was nice to get out of the house and find something new and colorful down by the sound!
Barry and I went out for breakfast, too! I was so happy that you did such a fine job on the guest blog. It was a pleasure to read. To get to know you a little better. I also agree how every time we write an autobiographical sketch it comes out differently. I have rewritten my “About Lake Superior Spirit” three times. How many more? lol…have a good week, Barbara!
I wonder if you and Barry have a favorite restaurant for breakfast? Ours was too crowded yesterday so we tried another place, but we’ll be going back to our favorite next time, whenever that will be! 🙂
I suppose you and I will write as many “About” versions as it takes to keep current with our evolving journeys. Tim keeps telling me I should save the old ones somewhere before putting up a new one. 🙂 Perhaps he is right, but I don’t think he’s ever written an autobiographical sketch!
Hope you have a good week, too!
Hi Barbara, just a quick note to say how much I appreciate your quotes. I often end up following where they lead and come away enriched…..in many different (and often unexpected) ways. And usually end up adding something to my list of what-to-read-soon or want-to-explore-farther.
And yes, it never ceases to amaze me what a small world it truly is. And how connected we all are.
Oh Colleen, I’m so delighted you appreciate the quotes! It’s nice to know that you’ve been stopping by! 🙂 I’ve got a long list of books to read, too. As Louisa May Alcott’s father, Amos Bronson Alcott, wrote: “One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.”
I’m always marking passages in books that move me in some way, although now that I’ve been given a Kindle I still haven’t figured out how to highlight words on it. One step at a time!
I do the same with my books. They become very personal with notes in the margins, hightlighted passages etc. It’s hard to read in the same way with my Nook….I’m finding that there are still quite a number of books that I still want to have in good old-fashioned book form. But there are also many books that I’m perfectly happy to read on my Nook. And it’s a wonderful place to be able to store part of one’s library when your books are starting to crowd you out of house and home!!
I haven’t heard of a Nook! Is it like a Kindle? I’ve been going through my books the past couple of days and, like you, am keeping the ones that have meant the most to me and are full of my notes and underlines and highlights! 🙂 The Kindle will be making a very handy and light weight library!!
The Nook is Barnes and Nobel’s version of an e-reader. Oh, I don’t envy you the task of making those decisions!
Ah, I see, we don’t have a Barnes & Noble near us!
My sister would like the Pig Iron as she used to breed pigs (she’s just got a few left now but they’re getting a bit old), I’ll try to remember to show it to her.
I read your post on Kathy’s blog and have commented there. It’s curious because I thought I already had. Some sort of deja vu, or maybe just that I meant to and forgot. I like it, but then I like all your writing – and pics!
I’ve only done a few scheduled posts but, as my moods change so frequently, I usually prefer to do them ‘live’ so that they are more in keeping with how I’m feeling at the time.
I try to avoid posting at weekends as fewer people are online then (they spend time with their families) but I find it difficult to stay away!
🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Val!
I was quite taken with the see-through pig. Especially how when looking at its backside I could see the circles of his eyes. With my lousy sense of depth-perception it looked very funny to me!
That happens to me all the time, I haven’t been to where I thought I had been, and have forgotten just where it was that I have actually been. If that makes any sense. I think it’s part of the same phenomena that causes me to climb upstairs and forget what I came up to do. Or why I open the refrigerator to get something out of the microwave. Sigh…
Have no idea when people will be online! Some weekends I’m offline completely, but if Tim has to work I might be on all weekend. Or any combination of those on/off times. Must make a point of looking at my blog stats… 🙂
I’ve never heard of Mumford & Sons. Thank you so much for sharing that video. I really enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed your photos of the sculpture. I like pigs. They are interesting animals.
The first time I scheduled a post, it surprised me. I forgot I’d scheduled it and couldn’t figure out (for a split second) how it had posted without me. lol!
I’m glad you enjoyed the video, Robin! Mumford & Sons was nominated for Best New Artist, and although they didn’t win, they got to perform there with Bob Dylan. No outlandish costumes or larger-than-life set pieces, just great music!
It was a bit startling to see my scheduled post there that morning! 🙂
There’s a book I love, perhaps you know of it, *The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood* by Sy Montgomery. A must read for anyone crazy about pigs and for those of us who love to read memoirs about how animals bring wonderful changes into our lives.
I did not know of the book, Barbara. It sounds wonderful. I’ve added it to my reading list. Thank you!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Tim Kussow is a professor of sculpture at Manchester Community College, where “Pig Iron” was displayed in the main entryway for my first semester there as a student. I saw it today while driving by Avery Point and literally bounced up and down in my seat with glee. I had never before been so excited to (re)discover a piece of art. I had always wondered what happened to it! I used to have dreams of putting it in my lawn…good to see it found a home.
I just Googled to see if there was a page about the piece and came across your blog, so I am glad to see there is someone else out there who appreciates this fine piece of porcine art. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story about the Timothy Kussow sculpture, Ashley! I can appreciate your excitement over finding it again! 🙂 Do you think it looks better outside? It was fascinating looking through the pig from different angles – and I think the setting adds to its charm. I’m so happy you found my blog!