More Miscellaneous Musings

Yesterday was a beautiful return to fall here in northern Louisiana. From 86 degrees on Friday to the crisp, cool 60's yesterday. My roses, moss rose, and salvias are still going strong, and a few late re-seeds of Queen-Ann's-Lace have graced my garden. This morning I set about gathering seeds to take down to the land and cast with a prayer of hope for future wild and rambunctious flowers. The sunflowers will be beneficial for birds as well as beauty...if they take. I've also added leaves and coffee grounds and shredded newspaper to my compost heap this morning; by spring I should have another good batch.

Nina and I were the only ones in the second Tai Chi class yesterday, so we had lots of room for practice. No work on the straight sword, but lots of help in reviving the flagging saber form. It was an excellent class in refinement and forgotten details as we have not worked much on the saber in the past months. Master Guerin moves seamlessly through all that he does, and I never fail to be impressed. It is harder to reach an approximation of what I want to do in Tai Chi than anything I've ever tried. Ballet and gymnastics required more physical exertion at times, but not the same kind of discipline and attention to detail, which I think is strange. Maybe it is just that I started dance and gymnastics as a child, and the movements became ingrained early, but there is still a difference in the practice of these forms. Here is a link to an especially lovely demonstration of empty hand Wu style. Click on the "Stream" to view.

I've been playing with my NZ Corriedale wool and some needle felting. Love the colors, but the needle felting is rough on the fingers, especially as I am often careless.

Now that I've found my book, I am again immersed in Ruth Reichl's life. And what an unusual one she has led compared to my limited experience. I'm still enjoying her adventures, but am more aware of what it must have taken to survive her unusual childhood. The other book I've become involved in is Atwood's Alias Grace, and I read for about 4 hours last night (until 1:00 this morning) on first one, then the other.