Hello lovelies,
It took me a while to decide what I wanted to write about today. My morning started off with yet another suckerpunch to the gut by the Trump Regime. Anyone else think they are playing the 'hold my beer!' game with the rest of the worst of the worst world leaders?
Anyhow, I was feeling particularly unimpressed after reading the news, plus I burnt my coffee (yeah I know, first world problems that one) and then had a grumble with Liebling. (Nothing intense, it's been a long week and we are both a bit overworked with everything. We basically grumbled at each other about all the things that were pissing us off, but then both ended up a wee bit sore that we were each causing the other a bit of grief. We're still on speaking terms, lol.) However, this did mean that I started off my day in a rather persistent funk.
I inwardly grumbled my way through the first part of my day, doing my chores and my real job. But then I got to have a crafternoon catch up with the lovely Mel. We knocked off for three whole hours and knit (Mel crocheted, because that's her jam), chatted, laughed, and I came away feeling a little lighter and a little more hopeful. I noticed that I felt more inclined to write and less inclined to yell.
This reminded me of a time in the not so distant past when I was also feeling outraged and like there was nothing more I could do. Trump had been elected and it was clear there would be no review about that outcome. Friends were feeling increasingly unsafe, around the world, because of the precedent being set and the rhetoric being flung about. I had campaigned and I had voted and I had advocated, but still this was where we had all ended up. I was angry. I couldn't be still about what was happening, but I didn't know what to do next.
The day Trump was inaugurated I decided that I would cast on a new project; something exclusively for me that I could pour myself into while I tried to grapple with what was happening to my home country. I needed something that was both repetitive enough to be soothing, but quirky enough to be enticing and to keep me dreaming of the delight of wearing it. I picked my pattern, went stash shopping for yarn, and cast on.
After checking the news each morning I would pick up my needles and knit for a time, letting my frustration, despair, horror, and dismay seep out of my body, away through the rhythm of my hands and the motion of my needles.
Those first few days I knit a LOT. I barely put the project down, usually only when I was too tired to work the next row. There were tears, but they didn't stop my hands. I knit and slid and knit and slid. By the end of the weekend I had this.
By the end of the first week I had this.
By the end of the next week I had whacked out an entire shawl. I soaked it, blocked it, and stared in awe at the finished product. I could see my experiences over the previous two weeks reflected in the piece. The colours in the body ebbed and flowed from black to brown to blue to ivory, just as my feelings had. The bursts of fiery red and orange along the edge demanding to be noticed and refusing to blend into the background, just like my resolve and desire to make the world a better place. It was beautiful, and I was amazed that something like it was possible through all of the upset I had felt over the previous weeks.
It's amazing how much of ourselves goes into what we make, isn't it? Even if you use a pre-made yarn or someone else's pattern, it's important to remember that YOU still have an impact and and influence on everything you touch.
Today I needed this reminder, and I'm glad that I had my knitting there to remind me. To each of you: remember that you are not ineffectual. Whether you knit, crochet, picket, march, write letters, or simply talk to those around you about how to make the world a better place, you WILL have an impact. Thank you for not being still.
If you are needing some suggestions on what to do next regarding the border separation situation in The States I would recommend going to the ACLU website. They have a list of things you can do to help, ranging from e-petitions to donating to help in contacting congress to request their action on the matter. The ACLU is an amazing organisation working to protect civil liberties and to support those who have had their liberties abused.
Amensty International, USA, the American counterpart to Amnesty International Australia (an organisation I have volunteered with for over a decade) is also running a flash campaign on the issue of separation at the border. You can see what actions they are taking and how you can add your energy here.
Enjoying the blog?
It takes a lot of caffeine and yarn to make this happen! ;)
It took me a while to decide what I wanted to write about today. My morning started off with yet another suckerpunch to the gut by the Trump Regime. Anyone else think they are playing the 'hold my beer!' game with the rest of the worst of the worst world leaders?
Anyhow, I was feeling particularly unimpressed after reading the news, plus I burnt my coffee (yeah I know, first world problems that one) and then had a grumble with Liebling. (Nothing intense, it's been a long week and we are both a bit overworked with everything. We basically grumbled at each other about all the things that were pissing us off, but then both ended up a wee bit sore that we were each causing the other a bit of grief. We're still on speaking terms, lol.) However, this did mean that I started off my day in a rather persistent funk.
I inwardly grumbled my way through the first part of my day, doing my chores and my real job. But then I got to have a crafternoon catch up with the lovely Mel. We knocked off for three whole hours and knit (Mel crocheted, because that's her jam), chatted, laughed, and I came away feeling a little lighter and a little more hopeful. I noticed that I felt more inclined to write and less inclined to yell.
This reminded me of a time in the not so distant past when I was also feeling outraged and like there was nothing more I could do. Trump had been elected and it was clear there would be no review about that outcome. Friends were feeling increasingly unsafe, around the world, because of the precedent being set and the rhetoric being flung about. I had campaigned and I had voted and I had advocated, but still this was where we had all ended up. I was angry. I couldn't be still about what was happening, but I didn't know what to do next.
The day Trump was inaugurated I decided that I would cast on a new project; something exclusively for me that I could pour myself into while I tried to grapple with what was happening to my home country. I needed something that was both repetitive enough to be soothing, but quirky enough to be enticing and to keep me dreaming of the delight of wearing it. I picked my pattern, went stash shopping for yarn, and cast on.
After checking the news each morning I would pick up my needles and knit for a time, letting my frustration, despair, horror, and dismay seep out of my body, away through the rhythm of my hands and the motion of my needles.
Those first few days I knit a LOT. I barely put the project down, usually only when I was too tired to work the next row. There were tears, but they didn't stop my hands. I knit and slid and knit and slid. By the end of the weekend I had this.
By the end of the first week I had this.
By the end of the next week I had whacked out an entire shawl. I soaked it, blocked it, and stared in awe at the finished product. I could see my experiences over the previous two weeks reflected in the piece. The colours in the body ebbed and flowed from black to brown to blue to ivory, just as my feelings had. The bursts of fiery red and orange along the edge demanding to be noticed and refusing to blend into the background, just like my resolve and desire to make the world a better place. It was beautiful, and I was amazed that something like it was possible through all of the upset I had felt over the previous weeks.
It's amazing how much of ourselves goes into what we make, isn't it? Even if you use a pre-made yarn or someone else's pattern, it's important to remember that YOU still have an impact and and influence on everything you touch.
Today I needed this reminder, and I'm glad that I had my knitting there to remind me. To each of you: remember that you are not ineffectual. Whether you knit, crochet, picket, march, write letters, or simply talk to those around you about how to make the world a better place, you WILL have an impact. Thank you for not being still.
If you are needing some suggestions on what to do next regarding the border separation situation in The States I would recommend going to the ACLU website. They have a list of things you can do to help, ranging from e-petitions to donating to help in contacting congress to request their action on the matter. The ACLU is an amazing organisation working to protect civil liberties and to support those who have had their liberties abused.
Amensty International, USA, the American counterpart to Amnesty International Australia (an organisation I have volunteered with for over a decade) is also running a flash campaign on the issue of separation at the border. You can see what actions they are taking and how you can add your energy here.
Enjoying the blog?
It takes a lot of caffeine and yarn to make this happen! ;)
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