Unceasing play (aka spring cleaning)
I can get into a mode where winter seems long. Today I decided to do some spring cleaning and it’s been fun so far.
I took the couch cloth outside and put it over the tomato cathedral (trellis). It took a few tries to throw it up far enough that it would stay there. I could suddenly see that I could put nine-patches all along those five strips as rips and tears develop. A cloth preset for mending.
Then I realized the tomato cathedral fencing had a feature that the clothesline doesn’t have – I can see both sides if I get underneath it. Shouldn’t quilts be displayed this way in museums and galleries, to show both sides? So you could walk under it? I felt like I discovered something. Maybe.
I didn’t want to step into snow because I didn’t have the right shoes, so I had to take the photo of other side at an awkward angle. The blue sky and white cloud is breathtaking.
Then we had to “play” with the couch. This is the sign of a major cleaning, when we dismantle the couch and clean all the underparts of cobwebs and crumbs. We never remember how it comes apart, no matter how many times we do it.
The phrase “unceasing play” was on my mind while doing this. It comes from a Buddhist prayer and describes the play of consciousness – mental activity such as thoughts and emotions. This morning I read a translation that said “dexterous play” but I’m used to “unceasing play” and I like it much better.
Oh I love this so much! You made a fort and by whatever name…that’s so fine “play”!! I will look up those play terms later. But, for now, a story…
When big grandson was little, he had a favorite quilt (that my mama’s best friend had made). The fabric used had stars printed on it and one of his favorite things to do was to lay on the couch, feet in the air…quilt draped over his little feet/legs. One time, my daughter asked if she could ‘come in’ and he welcomed her into his little fort. What she learned, that she never would have know if she had not looked from the “other side” – was that when the cloth was held in this way, the light would shine through, making a dazzling sky of stars!
Magic can happen when we play.
I’ll never forget this story. ??
This is a wonderful story, Nancy. Yes, now that you mention it, I made a fort. I remember really enjoying making forts as a kid.
first off … that’s quite an amazing trellis … and yes, a quilted fort indeed
it must have been wonderful to carry the sun and wind into the house at the end of the day
It is quite the trellis. Made out of “cattle panels” fencing bent in half and works great for tomatoes. Sadly, the quilt feel off the trellis and I didn’t notice until it was pretty wet with melting snow. So it had to come inside and dry out on the clothes racks next to the woodstove. At least it was warm when it went back on the couch.
yes, neverending is my word. spring is in my mind, I’m sweeping…
There’s something very refreshing about sweeping up with a broom.