Another blistering hot day in LA, but once again due to the miracle of air conditioning the cat posse and I stayed cool. My porch sit was limited to 30 minutes in the earliest part of the morning. I ate strawberries, drank iced tea, and opened up the visual journal and dove inside. A page yesterday, a page today. And that quickly she was finished. Time to drag the ream of Fabriano paper out of the garage, dust an old book off the shelf, and start sewing up a suitable replacement.
Made some more vinyl sandwiches. A larger shot of this one is coming, but for now look at that tiny bracelet one of my kiddos gave me months ago. I like capturing bits of things between thick slices of pliant vinyl. These things feel good.
Dottie gave me a set of soft flannel sheets for Christmas and this enormous red ribbon was wrapped around the whole bundle. I enjoy rounding up ingredients from around the house to make my sandwiches with. For example, more Italian artifacts. No archaeological sites were pillaged or plundered for said artifacts. Really.
Lately my poetry reading has taken a humorous turn. Every night’s open mic night at Moss Cottage. But….the cat posse are up in arms about this poem I forced them to listen to more than once this week! Promise me you’ll read it aloud to your cat. Or your human. It’s fun to read. Come on, be a good sport. I tried to call my sister to read it to her several times this week but she took her phone off the hook.
Choosing A Dog
“It’s love,” they say. You touch
the right one and a whole half of the universe
wakes up, a new half.
Some people never find
that half, or they neglect it or trade it
for money or success and it dies.
The faces of big dogs tell, over the years,
that size is a burden: you enjoy it for awhile
but then maintenance gets to you.
When I get old I think I’ll keep, not a little
dog, but a serious dog,
for the casual, drop-in criminal —
My kind of dog, unimpressed by
dress or manner, just knowing
what’s really there by the smell.
Your good dogs, some things that they hear
they don’t really want you to know —
it’s too grim or ethereal.
And sometimes when they look in the fire
they see time going on and someone alone,
but they don’t say anything.
by William Stafford – poet among poets!
This is a Stafford poem I don’t know and isn’t it a thrill when you run aground on something like that just when you think, ho hum, you’ve discovered all the islands there are to be found. Nothing new under the sun. And then–a new poem or a new something or other, gives you a jolt. That last stanza gives me cold chills…the good kind.
Thanks for the detailed shots of your pages. The stitching is fantastic.
Thank you for this poem – and introducing a poet to me (I am a poet myself).
Your blog is always a joy and I thank you for it.
Hi Mary Ann – Back from Japan (amazing) and doing some blog catching up – with my air conditioning on too. God bless freeon – or whatever keeps us cool as cucumbers. Love the journal pages and the vinyl sandwich thing is truly inspired. So cool. Especially getting back from a trip I have all these little things that get stuffed in a bin. But now….the wheels are turning. Loved the poem too. I noticed you’ve read Wallace Stegner – one of my all time favorites – Angle of Repose is one of my top 5 books of all time. HE is an amazing writer. Have you tried Ivan Doig? Wonderful writer from the West as well. Dancing at the Rascal Fair is where I’d start. He’s amazing too. Loved your new faves. Will check them out. uh oh…hear the door bell. I think a box just arrived from Japan. They have killer fast (relatively inexpensive) mail service. We mailed 4 boxes back! Check in with you soon. xo Fran
Love the pages. My Daughter is visiting at the moment with her two dogs, a labrador and a great dane. The dane walks around in a very regal manner, but then flops to the ground with gangly legs going everywhere, then he wishes he were a poodle or some other small breed.
i love wm stafford.
(you’ve found already the writer’s almanac podcast, right? i love listening to those poems daily…they have really pushed me to read more poetry books aloud too).
I LOVE your journal pages, always inspiring….and the vinyl sandwiches are just awesome. I think I have to get out that sewing machine and learn to thread the needle. I love all the artifacts, they are just awesome. I love the poem, I read it outloud to my 2 cats, the 2 Yorkies were listening in and they were laughing with me. The cats were not amused…..oh well, cats generally can’t be bothered. Can’t wait to see more pages. Love visiting.
Things I’m Digging:
1) poetry readings at Moss Cottage and
2) vinyl sandwiches that are served up with the poetry
3) sitting next to a very hip cat
4) while enjoying the 2nd or is it the 3rd
5) reading of a very good dog poem
6) Italian artifacts in tiny vintage containers
7) my 2nd vinyl sandwich (extra yummy!)
and 4th dog poem reading with
8) Mary Ann – inspiration coach supreme
xox – eb.