Gathering & Building…
This month has been extremely satisfying. I often spend early mornings out in the dewy forests and meadows of this island, gathering project materials (mostly dead sticks & branches). It’s very quiet, contemplative work, except for the moments when I startle a wild creature, or one startles me (generally a large Dutch hare or a panicked pheasant- they come bursting out of the brush as I move along).
When I have what I need for the day, plus maybe a cup of blackberries for breakfast, I bundle the sticks together and cycle back to camp.
There, in the afternoon, I build…also quiet, contemplative work, punctuated by the occasional difficulty (the sudden snap of a branch that breaks in my face with a loud crack), or the arrival of a curious visitor or a noisy tractor (see below!). All in all, things are very peaceful in my make-shift outdoor studio. At this point, I have just one week to go- by next Saturday everything will complete, and I’ll have to head back to NYC and get my city life on again. Sigh!
