PRUNING VINES

It is that time of year again, here on Jug Creek.  Our two acre vineyard is ready for pruning.  There are approximately 900 vines, and from the looks of them, despite a very poor crop last year, they underwent extremely vigorous growth.  This means tangles, huge and fibrous canes, and much silent and not so silent cussing.

The vineyard sits on a hill overlooking the house and barn.  Although the hill is surely not tremendous, it becomes somewhat of a chore when one climbs it 6-8 times per day, often toting a huge black plastic sled filled with clippings.

These are vines in need of pruning.  This shot overlooks my workshop.

A close up shot of vines that have yet to be pruned.

I am being brutal with pruning this year, and cutting out/back some of the old trunks and tying ones that grew just last year.

Vines that have been pruned....

...and some more

This pile of prunings, which will be burned when we are done with the entire vineyard, seems much larger than any other year.  This I attribute to the vigorous growth.  I am uncertain as to why there was such vigorous growth as we do not fertilize nor water. Vigorous growth of the vines is not necessarily a good thing, and often retards the crop.

Still, on a nice sunny day like yesterday, no matter the hard work, it is wonderful to be up there in the sun while overlooking Jug Creek and this beautiful valley.

STALLED

Knowing I still had winter photos up on my blog, and seeing as we have had beautiful spring weather, nearing the 70's, for the past week, I wanted to do an up date.  However I have been 'under' this (beautiful) weather for just over a week, and truly have been in a stalled state of mind and body.  

What probably started out as a common cold I believe was exacerbated by the countless Asian beetles I have been vacuuming and vacuuming for weeks.  The vacuum refused to accept any more and when I opened it to look at the bag, it was packed to overflowing!!  I took it out to the burn barrel and stood over it poking and poking to be sure it all burned....breathing in and breathing in all that Asian Beetle 'stuff'.  The next day I was worse, but the following day was one like I have never experienced in my life.  From my neck up I was in the worst misery I could ever recall.  It finally occurred to me that I could have developed an allergy to Asian Beetles, which is an actual phenomena.  And that is exactly what seems to have happened.  I am getting better, but still am under the weather.  

But I wanted a joyful, spring photo here.  This is from a hike Freddie and I recently took on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

It truly is this beautiful!!

This photo recalls one of my favorite Native American poems by Nancy Wood, from the book Hollering Sun.

My help is in the mountains

where I take myself to heal

the earthly wounds that people give to me.

I find a rock with sun on it,

and a stream where the water runs gentle,

and the trees which one by one give me company.

And there must I stay for a long, long time,

until I have grown from the rock,

and the water runs through me,

and I cannot tell myself from one tall tree,

and then I know that nothing touches me

nor makes me run away,

my help is in the mountains

that I take away with me.

Earth heal me, earth receive my woe,

rock strengthen me, rock receive my weakness,

rain wash away my sorrow, rain receive my tears,

sun make sweet my song, sun receive the anger from my heart.

THIS IS WHY I LOVE WINTER

Sunday Freddie and I took a hike to just some of the beautiful ice caves on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

Despite the cold, though for a change it wasn't below zero, it was a relatively warm hike as we climbed many a hill and went up and over these formations.

Sometime in later March some of the ice will have melted and it will be possible to walk behind these 'ice walls'.

I wanted to get the skis out today but as there had been a period of freezing rain there was an ice crust over the snow which would have made for unpleasant skiing.  So, I decided to walk through the woods, well, trudge was more like it as I sunk through the ice crust and about 3" of old snow.

Overlooking the vineyard from the north....

Just outside my back door.

...along the trail where there is a beautiful cove of birch trees...

How can you not love winter?  I think there simply is no more beautiful time of the year.

WINTER MEDITATION

Sometimes life throws unexpected curves and all that seemed normal and easy somehow takes on enough weight to slow you down, interfering with the daily flow of things.  Thankfully winter is my favorite season, and thankfully we have recently had snow so that I can engage in my favorite outdoor exercise, cross-country skiing.  I love skiing for its quite solitude, its surround of beauty, and the opportunity to be one with nature.

When the earth is blanketed with unsullied snow and the bare trees and dried weeds stand out so starkly, I am overwhelmed by the surrounding beauty.  I step out my back door, turn to the left, ski up over my garden plot, up short but steep hills, traverse through the sumac, across fields, following the trail up yet another hill (hard to avoid here in the Kickapoo Valley) along the upper edge of the hay field, through the woods, down the now snow-covered alfalfa field, crossing the road, and then for a long stretch along Jug Creek, until I have made a huge circle of our property, back to where I started.
There is something about the circle that keeps one together and calm.

The first leg of the journey, just above the sumac and my workshop, overlooking our eastern hills.  By the time I arrive here, the rhythm of skiing has quieted my inner agitation, and the trees have absolved any turmoil within.

This stretch of field covered with fresh snow seems ready for an artist's touch...
I am struck by the stark beauty of winter, each and every schuss of my ski presents something so beautiful I must force myself to continue and not stop continually for photo shoots...each tree, each weed calling out the beauty of itself.

This photo does not capture the exquisite color of these dried weeds.  They may appear a drab tan to others, but to me I see the hidden reds alive with the colors of sunset.

How like a lovely piece of antique jewelry this is.  It moves me so deeply that for a moment I am consumed into it.

This seems to beckon , like my grandmother's filigreed earrings, to adorn me.  I have yet to pass a weed that does not call out to me its statement, its presence, its integral place in the all.

Jug Creek curving and moving...
The gentle gurgle of water moving under the ice is hypnotic.

The very last leg of the journey, the field across from the house and barn, looking northeast.

Each day I give thanks for the beauty of this area, how it speaks creation's artistry so eloquently, and how it comforts me.

DESTRESSING ON THE RESERVE

To say we have all been under some stress since Andy's diagnosis of cancer is an understatement.  (For those of you who may not know, he is my son-in-law and the father of Iris and Elsa who are so often on these posts.  He is of strong and positive attitude, and if you wish to know more go to Possum in the Compost blog.)

Yesterday Freddie and I decided to take a hike on the Reserve, the first we have done in a long time.

We entered off the highway and traversed down, rather alongside, a steep and slippery hillside for quite some ways...

until we reached the Kickapoo River.  We were graced with the sun for the entirety of the hike, and that made it all the more beautiful.  

At this point in our hike we heard voices from above, and as odd as it is on 8500 acres of land, Freddie's brother, nephew and grandnephew had also hiked to this point, unbeknownst to us.

We proceeded to climb up the hillside and visited with them for awhile.

A totally untouched photo of the river...it was stunning.

...snow covered rocks...

...and the beauty of the roots...

No matter the level of stress or worry, stepping out in nature has a way of righting one's inner turmoil.  

A poem I recently wrote inspired by Ranier Maria Rilke:

Leave wariness behind

     entering the vast expanse

set before us…

     Step into the wild

with all yourself open

     and quiet,

move softly

     and the silence will come to you,

and with it an astonishing

     calm and beauty.

Nature is not a miser

     and offers her wealth

to anyone who steps forth

     in wonder.

 

BUSY DAY

Nonnie Day arrived and so did these two

...Barbaloots...

from one of their favorite Dr. Seuss books.  I actually thought donning striped tights on their heads was quite attractive... 

maybe she kind of looks like a Nun???

surely not her, this is more of the Imp.

They came full of energy.  Iris raring to organize the 'toy' room.  Elsa, not so much, though she finally got fully into it.  They removed every single item from the room, got damp cloths and dusted everywhere, even getting stools to reach the high spots.  They got their brooms, swept, and then insisted they did not want my help in returning things to the room.  They had the idea they wanted to make it into 'their home', and so they did.

This is the kitchen, with one cozy 'bed' against the wall...

this is the other 'bed'  along with shelves of sundry items.

The clean up took about two hours of honest dedication and they made it fun.  When all was as they wanted, they proceeded to play

I believe, Mother and child.

I am not altogether sure that the room is neater than before, it is cleaner, and well suited for their play.

I was little needed that day.

FIRST TUESDAY ART GATHERING

The first Tuesday of the month brings together a wonderful group of women artists who share, inspire and engage in activities.  This past Tuesday we met at Colored Pencil Artist, Monica Jagel's home.  Before we began a project Monica had so generously put together for us, we did a 'show and tell'.  I brought along several of the weaving projects I had been doing, and have posted prior to this.  Acrylic painter (and now studying oils) Susan Cushing brought along some of the work she is doing in the class she is presently taking,

here is a painting that is, in part, a study of shadows/shading.


 

 
onica had some lovely dresses she made for her granddaughter with matching dolls.  These are additional dolls she is working on. 

We then began a project of making either jewelry or ornaments using a special glue and clear plastic 'covers' and metal backings.

Here portions of a card are selected, glue placed on the back of the plastic and pressed down on the image wanted....

Here are some finished products of mine.

I have also been working on a commission for a woven bag, which is now complete.  I finger-wove a strap for the bag, above finger weaving in progress....

...the completed strap...

...and the completed bag.  The bag is woven with cotton warp and wool weft, and the flap is 100% silk.  The inside is lined with cotton, and also has three pockets.

Perhaps I have said this before, but it is so good to be weaving once again!!!