For those that follow along at home (on facebook), mum's last chemo cycle was particularly difficult. She didn't get up and dressed at all save for two evenings where we took her out for dinner, one of those being Lebanese street food from the market, so that doesn't count really as being 'up'. Needless to say, my warp took a back seat for the month as I didn't want to leave her alone. Add to that my brother and his family came up and my nephew sleeps in my studio when they are here. And our cousin came to hang out with mum while Pierre and I went to a conference on the American Revolution in the Mohawk valley New York.
I wasn't entirely unproductive though. I started Pierre's new linen breeches about a month ago, and got those to the point of just needing knee bands, and I started yet another pair of socks. I figure if I just keep knitting socks in the in-between times, the three of us will have enough wool socks to carry us through just about any event. These ones are back to the off white of the natural sheep, but I had so much fun with the 'cammo' socks, that I'm going to be looking into dying some more yarn. I'm also going to be needing to get some more yarn...if anyone wants to stop in to the NSCAD store and pick up a skein or two of single ply, and send it up with anyone who is passing this way, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm also willing to do a bulk order with Neil, but that will have to wait until after the summer and weaving.
So I finally got back to the studio on Saturday morning. We spent the bulk of the cool temps cleaning it up and organizing it. I finally own a dresser for my T-shirts and sweaters. We got a couple more boxes unpacked, that sort of stuff. This morning I got back to my warp and finished winding it off and dressing the back beam. It is now ready to be wound on the loom, which I'm hoping Pierre and I can tackle over the next couple of evenings. I have a few metres to weave before the grandkids come. I want to have the loom naked when they get here, since Audree is still only three, and prone to getting into things she's not supposed to.
Getting back to that conference. I understand the dynamics of history, but was surprized at how little the Loyalist story is being discussed in the States. I will be looking into that more over the next few years while we are here. That's the story of my own history, and Nova Scotia's history has a lot to do with the waves of immigrants. I hope to be portraying a Loyalist when I'm in the field, re-enacting. It will be interesting to see how other living historians take to that narrative. The conference itself helped me to get a better grip on my dissertation because of that.
I was also happily surprized to see how much volumn was given to the Native stories surrounding the revolution. Pierre was also inspired by it, and more interested in looking into his own family history with that regard. It appears that the Mohawk people here were just as caught up in the two 'sides' of the conflict as the rest of us were. Cool.
Our cousin was also sharing stuff she has been uncovering while trying to tidy up my great uncle's house after his passing. She tells me that the 'old house', my uncle's house being the 'second house' on the property, may still have foundations to explore. It would be wicked to be able to do some archaeology up there. She also tells me there are some of the old orchard left, and again, the historian in me wants to see if I can grow some of great-great grandpa's heritage breed apples. The property has been in our family since the 18th century, and we are all excited to know that it has been passed into good hands.
Well, that's an update anyway. I should go get the downstairs part of my day started. My tummy's growling, and I'd like to get that sock finished today.
No comments:
Post a Comment