Nearly 20 years ago I stenciled this t-shirt with Sister’s portrait.
I hardly post my sketchbookery anymore alas, too much work to remember to take the pics. Eventually all will be revealed in a Substack video.
A good day at the library!
Screenshot
I’ll be staying in this French village for a bit in October!
Sleepover at Pam’s
Hello Gentle Reader,
It’s me, Mary Ann reporting in from the summer redwoods where I have built my tree fort, piled it with old quilts, stacks of books, a good pen and notebook, and frosty mugs of iced tea and lemonade. There’s a constant breeze, no ticks or mosquitoes, a window for looking down to the forest floor below, and some nice sort of harness contraption that functions as an elevator for smooth entries and exits. I have one of those Primus stoves that all the little old ladies in Barbara Pym books have in their bed-sits for making pots of tea. Jays, ravens, wrens, and warblers are regular visitors, each bringing their own song and language as you might, should you come visit.
Meanwhile back at Moss Cottage on the exact same day I can be found lolling about daydreaming, reading, sketchbooking, and all the usual things that retired little old ladies do. In the blink of an eye I’m back in my redwood perch watching stars overhead as they flicker in and out through the dark branches.
If you’re drawn more to vintage literature than contemporary book club picks and if you like stories that lean sideways into existential musings, solo-flying women, the natural world, and gorgeous writing, you can rustle up a copy of Lolly Willows by Sylvia Townsend Warner or Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner (Booker Prize winner). I experienced small shocks of pleasure throughout both. I continue to plunge deeper into the world of spinster lit and find it rich and welcoming. Here’s a great podcast that made me want to read everything STW has written.
I enjoyed a marvelous sleepover with my old friend, Pam and took photos of various treasures including the mural she painted in her darling granddaughter’s bedroom at her house.
Keep me apprised of your whatabouts and whereabouts. You know good and well I always enjoy news from the frontier.
I’ve added another class to the FREE offerings already on tap: Stitchbookery. Enjoy it!
The only caveat is that access is entirely self-service. I no longer offer support for registration, lost passwords, login issues, or technical questions. It’s a firm boundary, born out of my desire to keep my days completely free of online class administration.
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Love your post and pictures!!! The George and Abe portraits are MWAH 😘. Lucky you, a visit with the talented Pam and seeing her lovely bedroom mural was a treat. THANK YOU for Sketch*Bookery — I am loving it 😍. I took the class so many years ago when I was working. Now I can finally make something, since every day is Saturday in retirement — WOO HOO 🙌. Loving my MAM Fam… 🥰
Read Lolly Willowes last month. Yes to spinster lit
Hello! Do you know about “Slightly Foxed”? It is a quarterly magazine and a podcast that you might enjoy. Lots of vintage books!
I love your shirt! I am reading “Whistler” by Ann Patchett–just started it today. Oh, to travel in October! It is my favorite month (besides May).
Be well, take care–Sandra
I don’t know about Slightly Foxed, Sandra so I thank you for calling it to my attention!
Love everything about this post. I have never known anyone who has gotten more out of retirement. And you look amazing. Your woodland hideaway reminded me of “ the Residence “. Hope you have seen it. … and a visit with PG. journey on. XO SV
Sister!
I love my face on your shirt! Always loved that stencil. the glimpse of Pam’s journals is getting me all jazzed up for Palm Springs Art Retreat.
I came home so inspired from my trip to France to paint more, stitch more, create more. My tomato plants are full of tomatoes I started giving some away to my neighbors. I didn’t grow any cherry tomatoes this year which I kinda miss but I’ll have plenty of the medium size to eat. One year I made green fried tomatoes and they were yummy guess I should make some this year. On my priority list of things to work on is my Journal from France and the stitching project started in the Art Retreat in Toulouse. And of course getting back to the gym three times a week for this soon to be 73 yr old. Life is good!
PS: MAM you are one of my biggest inspirations to keep painting!
Dear Arty Mammal. I see you and I raise you many wonderful days of painting and creative projects. xo
Still trying to figure out the logistics of being in a forest treehouse and Moss Cottage on the same day, but perhaps you are capable of being in two places at once (which of course is a skill all teachers master in our decades of service to the public school system lol). Always LOVE seeing the pop of color that arrives within your latest post; it generally inspires me to look around and see my life through a softer gaze (difficult in these troubling times) Like you, I’ve been sketchbooking this summer, which was a wonderful thing in Oregon’s cold winters and now California’s hot summers! I’ve also started volunteering at a local feline rescue, so once a week I head off to socialize kittens, which is every bit as fun as it sounds. But also planning on going back into volunteering for Hospice, so I guess eventually I’ll run the gamut of the full life cycle on our planet in every week. Can’t wait to see pics from your autumn foray into France!!
magic spells while summer swells!
Your postings are always such a treat, both for the eyes and for the soul. 💗 I’m adding many of these books to my library list and am thankful for the recommendations. I’ve been in a reading slump as of late.
You are so kind to share Stitchbookery. It’s my absolute favorite class that I’ve ever taken (perhaps right alongside Remains of the Day because that one changed the way I think about me made books), and I’ve created magic along with you countless times while rewatching the videos. My subscription isn’t current, so thank you so much for sharing it for free.
reading slumps are no fun at all, but making things is always a good time 🙂
Hi Mary Ann,
Thank you for your e-newsletter. It’s so fun to read and see photos of your life!
The mosquitoes ARE out in full force here in MN.
The summer is summer.
I do enjoy seeing the flowers, and most recently the vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, and beans) growing in our garden.
I look forward to your next writing.
PS Tell Pam and your sister “hello”!
Briana! My sister, Dottie is up in Minnesota for her annual retreat at St. Ben’s where she studied long long ago. She loves it up there in your world. Regards given to all xo
Mary Ann I swear you are like an old friend (by old I mean a long time and not age related at all). I look forward to your meanderings. I am doing much the same two years into retirement! What joy!
I can’t believe I made it finally to retirement and yes yes yes. it’s SO delicious. Thanks, Cathy.
Thanks to your recommendations, I recently finished the last of the Barbara Pym novels and enjoyed every one. I spied my copy of Hotel du Lac recently and was thinking of reading it again, and then here it is in your stack. I can’t recall if you read Ann Patchett. I’ve loved all her books, but her latest, Whistler, was absolutely wonderful.
I did hear that Whistler was good. Happy reading, Terri!
This summer I am participating in the Index Card A Day Challenge. I never follow Prompts, opting to use the 61 days from June 1 to July 31 for self made exploring. This year inspired by Orly Avineri, I decided to explore the art and culture of various countries that were part of the slave trade. My goal is to find a country that intrigues me and adopt it as my ancestral home. This is going to be a multi-year project. I am thoroughly enjoying year 1. I “traveled” to Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo to name a few. So much Fun to “travel” by means of research.
Enjoy your deep study and exploration, Glenda. It’s good to be immersed. Your big project sounds rewarding.