just my way of saying: it's not all bad??

 

Dear Ones,

I have been sulking on The Situation; forgive my absence.  If I don't want to poison others with my desultory feelings of doom, what can I do but stay out of sight and earshot?  A question to be considered, but not to be answered right now, right here.  There are things going on all over, even as fascism continues to roll over us; it is  a slow march down into a deeper hell.

This little mouse is filled with lavender- I made a whole mess of them many years ago and this one was all moth eaten!  Yes, I made them to put in drawers and 'repel' moths!  This one was sitting on the bookshelf.  I decided to repair it with some really lovely sock yarn that I got for free from the wonderful Fiber & Fringe.  The wool it is made of was a from a coat I had made even longer ago, and the tail & ears are of the silk that lined the coat.

Additionally, the lavender was still very strong smelling, as it fell out continually as I repaired the holes, and you know what else?  This repaired one is so beautiful!

directions

 

Dear At the Crossroads,

Today, I offer you direction: 

listen to this;  (also here, at 11:25).

watch this;  (where?  Hopefully someplace that is easy for you to get to).

read this.  (ditto).

Yes, all are essential, but if you must take only one, let it be the song of the day.  If you cannot read the book, take instead this wisdom from it:

"To reckon by achievements was to make a concession to the prevailing system of the world; it was a departure from the austere, disinterested, exacting standards that Lady Slane and her kindred recognised."

it's a sky blue sky

 

Threadbare/Fadenschein, Helena Hafemann.

Dear Y'All,

Did you know there was such a thing as a Horrible Mean Bad Woman?*  (I found it on the internet, of course; just like Woolworth's, it has everything!)  It's like a Feminist Killjoy but even more transgressive.  It's right up my alley.

My feeling right now is this:  ah, I see you have something there; a little crusted piece of societal expectation?  Why, I'd be delighted to smash it for you!  It's no trouble at all.  

Here is a song we can whistle while we smash; won't you join me?

*I found it on the internet, of course; just like Woolworth's, it has everything; you should try it!

Mr. Fox

 

Dear Reader,

I know you have heard enough from me on the topic of What to Read; especially right now, at the onset of whatever it is that 'Summer Reading" season is.  (Lot of is, in that sentence....)  And for me, it just happened to fall here, this great book.  It happened to fall because I was at my online used book place and the Robot Overlords that run it suggested this book- now, let me clear: they suggest books to me every time I go there.  Mr. Fox is the very first time I have taken their advice:  why?  Two things: the author was not an Old White Man, and the cover was just exactly what I want in a cover.  In other words, I judged this book by its cover and I found it very good!

The cover is a treat, and I send along an image of it, so you can appreciate it, even if you end up with a different edition.  Look at the pale celadon!  The paper-doll type figures!  What could be nicer than that?  But, but, I don't want you to read it because of its cover, and I want you to read it because it is so good, so imaginative, so multivalent.  And no, I don't want to tell you anything about it, because, isn't that why we open a book?  To find a surprise?

However, I am willing to go out on a limb: anyone with a summer reading quota would be delighted with this book:  Give it to all your friends & lovers, your book club pals & your sisters and your cousins and your aunts.

As for me, well, I am going to make a start on the books I hadn't read that are mentioned in Mr. Fox, in my usual non-robotic meta method for finding new titles:

Transformations

From the Beast to the Blonde

The Woman in White

Tess of the d'Ubervilles

Thérèse Raquin

Madame Bovary

In addition to that weighty and academic list, I think I will add Bluebeard's Egg, and White is for Witching, but don't expect a review too soon; I expect to take my sweet time reading all of that.

More June

 

June Carter playing Johnny's wife.

Dear June,

I have more to say to you, on this ennui, and I have a song that is not very jittery:  Here is June Carter, playing guitar and her song, Ring of Fire (also autoharp, if you watch the whole clip).

don't let us get stupid

 

Dear Whomever,

Hear my plea, it's your song of the day!  So short, so sweet: have another.  

More (June Jitters)

 

Barbara Billingsley playing June.

Dear Junes,

It's not always so jittery, June, but this one is.  There is nothing to do; nothing to be done about it.  I read books about being old, older than me, old and waiting.  You practice and practice; trying to wait with patience, with dignity, but it's all just jitteryboredomdoom.

Here is your song for this jittery, jejune day.