Books and an Anniversary

First the book. I'm slowly catching up on my stack of books-to-review. This week I picked up The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius, from Storey Publishing. (Disclosure: I know both authors. Which matters not a whit in this case: I'd write the same review regardless. This book blew me away.)

I have dabbled in knitting over the years, and once enjoyed weaving on thumping floor-looms. But I am not a passionate fiber-crafter. So I didn't expect to fall in love with a book touted as a fiber encyclopedia, covering more than 200 fibers, "from animal to spun yarn." Until I saw it.

The book is beautiful, chock-full of stunning photos of glistening fibers and the animals that produce them. The layout is lively, with lots of sidebars and graphics. It's informal, with a kind of scrapbook, but no scrapbook I've ever seen is so enticing. (It's also priced reasonably, at $35 for over 400 heavily illustrated pages.)

It's the writing that kept me turning the pages of The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook though. The breed-by-breed text is not only encyclopedic, it's passionate and informed, but never preachy, and threaded with fascinating stories about each kind of animal and its relationship to humans, from history and folklore to the art of breeding and the facts of fiber-science. It clearly flows from boundless research and a well of love and respect for the creatures who produce our fiber.

The book also introduces some surprising topics. The first chapter, for instance, "Fiber Fascination," lays out the authors' passion for natural fibers in detail, and what could have been a dry, technical discourse is instead an engrossing read, including the slow food/locavore movement as it applies to fibers (imagine being able to dress locally!), and why conservation of livestock breeds we've never heard of is important to our future.  

For more ont this intriguing craft-book cum cry for conservation cum fiber encyclopedia, read the full review on Story Circle Book Reviews, the largest review site for books for and by women.

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Then, the anniversary, not one I ever imagined experiencing. Today marks two months since the love of my life, Richard Cabe, died here in the home he helped design and build for us.

(The photo above is our shadows at sunset on our last trip to Carpenter Ranch in northwestern Colorado, where we were collaborating on a large public garden that will "re-story" the plants that tell the human and natural history of that extraordinary place.)

Let no one tell you that time is linear. It is anything but. My life is so different without my love that it feels like years since his death. At the same time, I can't believe two whole months have passed.

I'm not bored. I'm pulling together the material for another memoir, revising a book proposal for a practical, personal and spiritual book on living well in hard times, dealing with after-death paperwork (it seems endless), and supervising renovations as I work with Colorado Art Ranch to prepare our guest cottage and Richard's studio to welcome artists, writers, and scientists in the Richard Cabe Terraphilia Residency program, which will start later this year.

Just as I didn't imagine ever having reason to note the two-month anniversary of his death, I didn't imagine being Woman Alone. But I'm content, even happy. It helps that I live in a house full of Richard's work, from the sink in the guest bathroom he sculpted from a gorgeous pink and black gneiss boulder rescued from a nearby roadside, to the sandstone ledge that juts out of the chiseled block wall behind our bed, my own personal cliff overhang sheltering me as I sleep in the bed he built for us.

Richard and I were swans, paired for life and beyond. Apparently, not everyone understands that sort of enduring bond. I had a very unsettling experience recently with someone I trusted as a friend, and who must have thought "alone" plus "female" equaled "pining for male comfort." He was wrong.

In some ways, I feel like the amaryllis bud in the photo below, each petal slowly unfolding. I don't have a clue how long it'll take me to grow enough cells to bloom in this new incarnation, or what I'll look like when I do. But I'm determined to bloom well, and long.

 

Comments

[Deborah Robson]

I'm so glad you like the book, Susan.

And I so love the photo of your two shadows.

The shadows, the shining rock, the amaryllis bud: a trio of images that belong together at this turning of the planet and your life.

Love to you.

[velma]

susan, your review makes me want to see this book. i like having rocks in the house, too!

[Lynda]

It's awfully soon for someone to be hitting on you! Is he no longer trusted, or can it be chalked up to testosterone poisoning?

[Susan J. Tweit]

Deb, I love those photos too--especially the shadows!--and I agree, they're definitely a good trio to represent this turning point in my life.
As for Fleece & Fiber, it's amazing. And I want to read more from you on wool and its role in our history, culture, and environment.

You'd love the book, Velma! I love having rocks in the house where they become part of my daily rituals--like washing my hands in that gneiss sink--reminding me of my enduring connection to earth and its living communities. Aren't we lucky in our rocks?

Lynda, To my mind, it's never appropriate to be "hit on" the way this happened. (It was physical, and there was no one else nearby.) But some guys don't seem to realize that that's not a compliment. Did you ever see the poster that said, "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." I understand that saying now...

[eduardo]

I've gone to Deborah's blogsite a couple of times, and am amazed by the depth and breadth of her fiber/weaving/knitting knowledge. It is abundantly clear, right from the very start, she's been deeply at this for quite a significant amount of time.

Indeed, time is odd stuff, when it's both "so long" and "already."

Riding by your guest cottage, last few days, I've wondered what was up. Now I know, except, I thought it was better than quite ready and good to go. What renovations are getting done?

Add my name to the list of those who admire the sunset synergistic shadow pic of y'all.

[Cathy]

When I first was "woman alone" at the farm I was amazed, astounded,and finally exasperated with the many men who hit on me. Their solution to woman alone was not mine. I couldn't believe some were long-time married to friends.

It took a move here and more time alone to learn that some male compliments and reassurances weren't necessarily out of bounds. They just didn't know how to offer comfort and support unless it was sexually.

But yeah, I turned them all down til I was ready for the next step. And we have been together for a dozen years. I never expected for this and it's a blessing.

To already have that soul mate is a blessing - and you are so blessed.

[Susan J. Tweit]

Deb's knowledge is amazingly rich, isn't it, Eduardo? I've learned more than I ever know there was to know about fiber and fiber-craft from her over the years. I think she should write a book that uses wool as a lens to look at human history, culture and environment they way other authors have used other "commodities": COD, for instance, or SALT. (Are you reading this, Deb?) The cottage has lacked trim, baseboards, finished cabinets, and some of its interior doors. Now it's got the first two, the second two are to come later this spring...

Cathy, I know just that exasperation. And also some fear, since I'm not as big or as strong as many men, including the one in question. Also, we were alone in Richard's shop, with no one to hear me within half-a-block radius. Not something I'll let happen again, but still... So inappropriate! BTW, I'm so glad that you found your soul mate, and that you find so much joy together. What a blessing for the two of you!

[Lindy]

Susan, I am so sorry you had to go through that particularly inappropriate and possibly dangerous male issue. A lesson well learned that turned out safely for you.

I totally agree that Deborah Robson should consider using wool as the focus for a book on history, culture, etc. I have read SALT and COD. Even the film "War Horse" looked at WWI through the lens of a horse. I do think that choosing such a focus makes the history come alive, more interesting.

Add me to the growing list of those who believe the "Shadow" pic is beautiful and very special.

Hugs :)

[Lindy]

Nearly forgot: "A Perfect Red" by Amy Butler Greenfield. A world history through the eyes of a tiny bug. :D

Lindy

[Susan J. Tweit]

Lindy, Thanks for your sympathy. It was dangerous, and the lesson that needs to be learned was not on my part. But it's a story I can't tell in this particular public arena, so I'll just leave it at that. I surely hope Deb reads this comment thread and takes encouragement for what I call WOOL. I'd love to read her take on it! And thanks for reminding me of A PERFECT RED. It's been on my list for a while--I bet I can get it for my iPad. (For those who don't know, it's about the cochineal "bug" and the red dye obtained from it. No matter all the synthetics, it's still the most beautiful red to my eyes!) Hugs to you and yours...

[Mary M-S]

If you are a bud, Susan, you are an amazing bud. It seems you are always unfolding your many layers in a way of 'beauty' and consciousness. I hope that fellow reads your blog. Blessings,

[Anna Mc Carthy]

What an utterly delicious book. I am currently spinning a lovely cheviot/ alpaca mix, but don't know what kind of Cheviot but dark and lovely. I didn't know that there were so many kinds of Cheviot.

A Perfect Red is also divine. Who knew what the important place in history of cochineal. My husband picked me some off of an opuntia cactus growing wild at his sister's in LA. I didn't know to sun dry the bugs so when I dyed with them the dye bath smelled of carrion. Made a gorgeous red and the smell did fade. Was it from the protein content?

So dismayed by your dismal encounter with your "friend". Shocking. What assumptions betrayed.

I'm glad you are even happy and certainly productive. I only really regret being unhappy when I could have been at least happyish with a little determination.

[Susan J. Tweit]

Mary M-S, Thank you! BTW, I wrote so carefully and circumspectly in the blog because lots of people in my small town do read this, and I have reasons to be cautious that I can't mention in a public forum. So it goes... Life is definitely interesting these days.

Anna, You would love The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook! It is delicious, and one to savor time and again. The carrion smell in your dye bath of undried cochineal bugs was no doubt from the proteins and perhaps enzyme action too. They do make such a beautiful red! I think happiness is my best defense against the many misunderstandings our culture has about women alone. I really do love my solitude, even as I miss Richard. He was the only one I knew who understood and respected that paradox. I'm lucky to have had his company in this journey for so long...