I’m trying to live deliberately these days. There’s so much to be swept up in. I know you know what I mean. World things, family things, living life things . . . It can be overwhelming. I’m looking for solid ground.
Knitting is solid ground. I’m slowly making progress on the sleeves of Paul’s sweater. I love thinking of his arms wrapped in these stitches I’ve put together, one after another, so carefully.
Recently, I was with some people dear to me, and the situation was stressful, tense. There was waiting involved. I picked up these sleeves and started to knit, and the effect was remarkable. The energy in the room changed for all of us. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t experienced it first hand, but my knitting was like a spell that suddenly allowed us all to relax. I was aware of the change as it was happening. We were all watching my hands knit one stitch, and one stitch, and one stitch, and we began to be soothed. Knitting has that power.
Homemade buttermilk biscuits are also solid ground.
Baking these required just enough focus to make the demands of the moment more powerful than all the other places my mind wanted to go. Eating them reminded me of my grandmother. Sharing them with Paul made me happy. That was enough.
Another thing I think will be grounding is starting to do some natural dyeing. I’ve been anxious to try this for quite a while. The process interests me, and I like the idea of becoming more intimate with the plants and trees that are everywhere around us on the mountain. The goldenrod is practically insisting that the time is right. It’s in full, crazy bloom at the moment and is everywhere.
I ordered some books last week.
And today we went to the flea market to look for inexpensive, non-reactive pots and other tools I’ll need.
It must have been my lucky day because I found three pots, two stainless steel and one enamel, along with some tongs and a stainless steel colander.
Dogs may be the most solid ground of all. How can you have any doubt about where you stand when you’re with a dog?
In many ways blogging is also grounding. It’s what I thought of when I read Mary Oliver’s “Instructions for living a life”:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
If you have any suggestions for staying grounded, I’d love to hear them. Please post a comment or email me at melinda@knitpotion.com.
*From “Sometimes” in Red Bird: Poems by Mary Oliver
Love this post…
Thank you, Bradie ❤️