Comments for building bridges

Comment on Roadtrip! by Dana

Dana — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:20:47 +0000

Have you ever seen this website Alex? http://roadfood.com/

We’ve used it a lot on our road trips!

Comment on Handmade things by erin

erin — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:24:50 +0000

Oh, I love the shawl, especially!

Comment on Handmade things by Alexandra

Alexandra — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:15:11 +0000

I added links to the pictures!

Comment on Handmade things by Alexandra

Alexandra — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:06:13 +0000

Oh, how I wish Alan had become that kind of a potter Erin! He is too challenge-oriented and got more into sculpting. All we got from his ceramics days are a few masks, a garbage can than we use as a pencil holder, a bunch of miniature park benches, and the remains of a viking ship.

But I understand you avoiding crochet because it made you stressed. I had that with music. I tried learning instruments in my teens but found it too stressful since I could no ignore the mistakes I made. I knit AND crochet now. I find crochet much easier than knitting because I can undo things much more easily but I like the results of knitting and I’m slowing learning how to unpick things. I’ll be posting pictures of all I made soon. I’ve also started attempting to sew and would love to be able to make a quilt and a few items of clothing.

Comment on Handmade things by Erin

Erin — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:37:50 +0000

Oh! I will look forward seeing much more about threads and needles and the creations you handicraft with them on this blog! I know the feeling you name, of treasuring that beautiful thing –made by hand. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was little girl, but then she passed away and I drifted away from it. A few months ago a good friend here in Chicago, who had also learned as a child, took crocheting up again, very seriously and I love the things she makes -and have a gorgeous scarf, a treasure, that she gave me for my 50th this year. I tried briefly to start up again myself, but found myself more stressed than relaxed as I struggled to learn again. (I am spatially challenged, always, and was working with a fuzzy yarn and having devil of a time choosing where to tuck in for a stitch as I started a new row.) So I suspect I will stick to clay for now which is a crazy meditative escape, as you husband has likely told you. And then I can eat from and serve friends coffee in (and enjoy seeing at my friends´houses) those pieces I remember forming and drying and later, choosing a glaze for and dipping –all from a undistinguishable lump of muddy earth.

Have you posted a pic of your scarf on the blog? I’d love to see it! The baby’s dress, too!

Comment on Wonky hip by Jen

Jen — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:43:23 +0000

Whoa!!

Comment on Becoming Torontonian by Alexandra

Alexandra — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:22:35 +0000

Thanks Erin! I’m glad you feel I managed to bring the city to life for you.I came to Toronto with zero expectations – actually, I assumed I would do my PhD and go back to Montreal, which I loved. But the city took hold of me, grew on me, and made me feel for the first time in my life that I could belong somewhere.

Comment on Freedom by Alexandra

Alexandra — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:20:28 +0000

I have to say, I was quite unprepared for that general feeling of exuberance at the end of a long winter after my first winter in Canada (and I lived in Montreal then). I grew up in a country where large parts of it has no defined seasons beyond warm to hot. I fins it’s worth going through winter just to experience that general happiness that suddenly overcomes everyone in the spring and summer.

Comment on Becoming Torontonian by Erin

Erin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:43:31 +0000

What a lovely post, just the one I read before it, about the Phillipine lunch that made you (happily) late back to work. I am so enjoying my catch up here, Alex. You make Toronto come to life for me –not just the city but the spirit of the city – just as you once brought Barcelona to me.

Comment on Freedom by Erin

Erin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:34:40 +0000

Oh, I know that feeling — that carefree exuberance (especially in the first days of spring in a northern clime) that makes you want to whistle!

This post is the second prompt in two days that’s told me loud and clear that it’s time to check my air pressure and get my bike out of the garage! We’ve had a really late Spring here (you, too?) but yes, it is bike time!