One of my new year intentions was to try doing my daily stretching in the morning after breakfast and blog reading. So far mornings seem to be working much better than afternoons, when I’m often involved in doing something (or nothing) and talk myself out of it.
My routine is a series of modified Pilates moves that keeps me relatively limber and my back pretty much pain-free. It hardly qualifies as exercise as I take it very easy, but paying attention to my breath, I find it can be meditative.
Inevitably, as I start with long, slow stretches, my breathing recalls the rhythm of ocean waves breaking and retreating. With eyeglasses off and hearing aids out, I close my eyes and imagine being on the beach in Avon.
Progressing to somewhat quicker movements, I’m transported to Shelter Island and the Peconic Bay, with the soft lap-lap-lap of tiny wavelets and the shushing of shifting shells.
But maddeningly, with the tap-tap-breath, tap-tap-breath of the final moves, I find myself “walking” through the imaginary world of Myst, complete with soundtrack.
Seriously? Not what I’d choose, but my mind will go where it will.
Anyway, choosing an indigo linen patch and some variegated Deb thread for a series of watery waves was an easy call. Likewise, the sandy tan for the next patch.
The Procrastination patch was inspired by Dee’s blog post, aptly titled Avoidance and Chores. After reading it, I sent her this poem by Billy Collins …
which in turn inspired me to consider long rows of ants. Like this maybe? Ewwww …
I couldn’t quite bring myself to stitch life-like ants. So I read the poem again, focusing this time on the phrase “cover pages with tiny sentences” to find my way to rows of Jude’s glue stitches …
Much better.
Addendum: Or not … in the end the Procrastination patch was revised to include one silken ant.
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
Glue stitch is a modern wonder. I loved it from the moment I tried it.
You could try to sew one ant? My paper desk top calendar…some days better than others but I keep going. Sometimes backing up and pasting something better over something not so..much…..
LikeLike
yeah, no … I’m just not an ant fan (or as Nancy says, insects of most any kind … although I do like butterflies and moths)
LikeLike
I like your stretching routine. I’m just not that person, but wish I was 🙂
I really like the image of the blue vase with a bouquet of sharpened pencils. Not so much with the image of many ants, or insects of any kind! Anything in numbers…eww.
LikeLike
I’ve never been one to exercise, but the alternative these days isn’t pretty 😉
and the pencils … more to come on that I promise
LikeLike
an inspired post x
LikeLike
so happy to see you here … hoping you’re doing okay
LikeLike
LA – I don’t know anything about stitching; but I always appreciate he level of thought and content that goes into the patches. B
LikeLike
B – that’s exactly how I feel about your metalworking … your fishing boats being the most recent example
LikeLike
I’m with Joanne, just one little ant would be fun! Y’know Old Man Crow is quite lazy so he does his stretching exercises each morning whilst still asleep, the alarm goes off so he adopts stretching exercise no 1, hits the snooze button and goes back to sleep, when the alarm goes off again about ten minutes later he adopts position no 2, hits the snooze button again, and so forth til all the exercises are done & he’s ready to get out of bed!
LikeLike
OMC … I like your style!
And I did make one ant … poor thing looks like it got smooshed!
LikeLike
I really like the rhythm in both of these patches – they both feel calm to me. I can see the breath going in and out in the blue; and the glue stitch sentences just make me feel grounded. I imagine when you look back over the finished work, you will see those dots and remember the poem and dig it out again and smile…
LikeLike
This poem has long been a favorite … I’m actually surprised that the book doesn’t fall open to that page (yet)
LikeLike
Delighted as always, by the patches and the inspiration behind them. I wish I could find a routine with exercise/movement, or some wild horses to pull me along…. Great poem! And so glad you didn’t stitch ants (shiver)!
LikeLike
Erm … well, you might not want to look at the next post
LikeLike