Janisse, I ordered your workshop on Magical Craft, which meets every week for 8 weeks. You say on here it is Tuesdays 7-9 , but on the order page it says Wed 7-9. Just trying to find out which it is before I put it on my calendar ongoing. 😃
Love and best wishes back to you, Janisse. For years I have not remembered my dreams, but now I am having nightmares about the fate of our country.
"Walter is a tall glass of tannic water with an iconic beard.." what a wonderful metaphor! Pat Conroy is not the only master of words here. Years ago I read "Lords of Discipline" before I knew enough about writing to appreciate Conroy's craft. I will revisit it.
All of the happenings you've noted are fascinating. Thank you again for this look into your days.
Janisse! Congratulations on the Mackey Chair -- I'm a proud Beloit alum (tho so long ago there was no Mackey Chair). Also had family who went to Knox ... good small liberal arts schools still doing the work. My family's been in that part of the world since buying a railroad section in the 1860s.
We met ages ago at the Art of the Wild -- I was one of Jack's grad students from Davis. I hope it's a good experience for you, but bring your long johns. Winter in Wisconsin, even in These Times can be bleak.
Janisse, you are an inspiration to me in these dark times. Your love for the wild, for life, for words and for little Fawn remind me of the importance of integrity and of showing up for the work that needs to be done. Thank you for being.
The concert poster is awesome. Unfortunately, I will be in Ohio when the concert is happening. The sawmilling is even better! Yay! Many of my family members ran sawmills. I remember the story about the kestrel as your spirit animal. An amazing falconette. What's in a name? Tecumseh and Mama Cass. The most irritating happenings can sometimes become the funniest stories! I used to be in the outdoor drama Tecumseh! Linnea reminds me of a flower that is also from the north. It is a one of a kind plant and one of only a few named after good old Carolus Linnæus, the Namer in Chief! It was so good to catch up with Little Fawn too. So glad she is enriching your life. Peace.
Thank you for your timely mention of "Return to the Sandhills" I was in the NC Sandhills, just yesterday and was fortunate to see one, just one blooming Pine Barrens Gentian in bloom with its deep cobalt blue petals. It was quite a day trip with a collection of Piedmont Azalea seeds from a location south of the Sandhills. Contrary to their name, Piedmont Azaleas aren't native to the NC Piedmont, although they thrive here in cultivation.
I wanted to complement Janisse on her fine poem about the Spanish poet who was murdered for his sexuality. I have both of her poetry books and this most recent poem, may be her best in my humble opinion. I'm wanting to write at the present time about the recent election and finding it difficult. My psyche is a whirlwind of emotions.
Thank you also for mentioning the gentleman with "hollering" skills. Yesterday, on my way to Bladen County, I passed right through Spivey's Corner where the annual "Hollering Contest" is or was held. I attended just once, more than 40 years ago. Even that long ago, there were few authentic hollerers from the old school still around. One of them demonstrated what an emergency holler and come to dinner holler sounded like. It was a fun experience.
Well shit, Janisse. I'm bawling over here in Swannanoa, NC at the image of a friend giving you the gift of carved fawns in a small bag. I just let the tears rip. I cry easily these days: Hurricane Helene, which destroyed much of my hometown, including an 850-sq foot home I own; a horrific death in our family of a young person who took their life, even though they had no history of mental health challenges, save the past six months; the election; my role as a teacher, supporting students struggling with a mish-mash of a semester due to the storm. But then again, I always cried easily, a gift from my mom. "I cry when I'm happy. I cry when I'm sad," she said. What a legacy.
So I actually came to send a note to you about Sow True Seed, another reference in your good news. My wonderful former student Hannah Gibbons is the marketing coordinator for STS! So gosh darnit, but I was just beaming as I thought about the intersection of her work with your farm, and those connections we must hold onto with our bare frickin' hands, because no one dictator can take that from us, even though we know so much is at stake. I'm just so grateful for your writing, for Raven, for fawn, for crops and mules that fall in love in a heartbeat. Thank you Janisse for being YOU and for building this community for us all.
I have a friend who lives in the Grovemont neighborhood of Swannanoa. I have crossed the bridge from US 70 over to Old 70 many times to visit my friend. I happened to leave the area less than 24 hours before the worst of Helene struck. My motel room was on Tunnel Road, a little more than 100 yards from the Swannanoa River. The Super Eight across the road, had to be evacuated when the river rose from just under 2 feet to 27 feet. Without a doubt, Helene was the worst natural disaster our state has experienced, eclipsing the historic flood of 1916.
Wow! That's a lot. You set a magnificent example of how to live in an authentic and intentional way that adds beauty and positivity to this world. We need that.
Janisse, I ordered your workshop on Magical Craft, which meets every week for 8 weeks. You say on here it is Tuesdays 7-9 , but on the order page it says Wed 7-9. Just trying to find out which it is before I put it on my calendar ongoing. 😃
Love and best wishes back to you, Janisse. For years I have not remembered my dreams, but now I am having nightmares about the fate of our country.
"Walter is a tall glass of tannic water with an iconic beard.." what a wonderful metaphor! Pat Conroy is not the only master of words here. Years ago I read "Lords of Discipline" before I knew enough about writing to appreciate Conroy's craft. I will revisit it.
All of the happenings you've noted are fascinating. Thank you again for this look into your days.
Janisse! Congratulations on the Mackey Chair -- I'm a proud Beloit alum (tho so long ago there was no Mackey Chair). Also had family who went to Knox ... good small liberal arts schools still doing the work. My family's been in that part of the world since buying a railroad section in the 1860s.
We met ages ago at the Art of the Wild -- I was one of Jack's grad students from Davis. I hope it's a good experience for you, but bring your long johns. Winter in Wisconsin, even in These Times can be bleak.
Janisse, you are an inspiration to me in these dark times. Your love for the wild, for life, for words and for little Fawn remind me of the importance of integrity and of showing up for the work that needs to be done. Thank you for being.
The concert poster is awesome. Unfortunately, I will be in Ohio when the concert is happening. The sawmilling is even better! Yay! Many of my family members ran sawmills. I remember the story about the kestrel as your spirit animal. An amazing falconette. What's in a name? Tecumseh and Mama Cass. The most irritating happenings can sometimes become the funniest stories! I used to be in the outdoor drama Tecumseh! Linnea reminds me of a flower that is also from the north. It is a one of a kind plant and one of only a few named after good old Carolus Linnæus, the Namer in Chief! It was so good to catch up with Little Fawn too. So glad she is enriching your life. Peace.
Thank you for your timely mention of "Return to the Sandhills" I was in the NC Sandhills, just yesterday and was fortunate to see one, just one blooming Pine Barrens Gentian in bloom with its deep cobalt blue petals. It was quite a day trip with a collection of Piedmont Azalea seeds from a location south of the Sandhills. Contrary to their name, Piedmont Azaleas aren't native to the NC Piedmont, although they thrive here in cultivation.
I wanted to complement Janisse on her fine poem about the Spanish poet who was murdered for his sexuality. I have both of her poetry books and this most recent poem, may be her best in my humble opinion. I'm wanting to write at the present time about the recent election and finding it difficult. My psyche is a whirlwind of emotions.
Thank you also for mentioning the gentleman with "hollering" skills. Yesterday, on my way to Bladen County, I passed right through Spivey's Corner where the annual "Hollering Contest" is or was held. I attended just once, more than 40 years ago. Even that long ago, there were few authentic hollerers from the old school still around. One of them demonstrated what an emergency holler and come to dinner holler sounded like. It was a fun experience.
Well shit, Janisse. I'm bawling over here in Swannanoa, NC at the image of a friend giving you the gift of carved fawns in a small bag. I just let the tears rip. I cry easily these days: Hurricane Helene, which destroyed much of my hometown, including an 850-sq foot home I own; a horrific death in our family of a young person who took their life, even though they had no history of mental health challenges, save the past six months; the election; my role as a teacher, supporting students struggling with a mish-mash of a semester due to the storm. But then again, I always cried easily, a gift from my mom. "I cry when I'm happy. I cry when I'm sad," she said. What a legacy.
So I actually came to send a note to you about Sow True Seed, another reference in your good news. My wonderful former student Hannah Gibbons is the marketing coordinator for STS! So gosh darnit, but I was just beaming as I thought about the intersection of her work with your farm, and those connections we must hold onto with our bare frickin' hands, because no one dictator can take that from us, even though we know so much is at stake. I'm just so grateful for your writing, for Raven, for fawn, for crops and mules that fall in love in a heartbeat. Thank you Janisse for being YOU and for building this community for us all.
I have a friend who lives in the Grovemont neighborhood of Swannanoa. I have crossed the bridge from US 70 over to Old 70 many times to visit my friend. I happened to leave the area less than 24 hours before the worst of Helene struck. My motel room was on Tunnel Road, a little more than 100 yards from the Swannanoa River. The Super Eight across the road, had to be evacuated when the river rose from just under 2 feet to 27 feet. Without a doubt, Helene was the worst natural disaster our state has experienced, eclipsing the historic flood of 1916.
Thank you for all the updates and the Walter Parks link. I love the poster for the concert.
I gawd, I needed that big bright cornucopia! Thank you for delivering this, Janisse. GIANT mountain-sized hugs to y'all!
Wow! That's a lot. You set a magnificent example of how to live in an authentic and intentional way that adds beauty and positivity to this world. We need that.
If written so much and I need time to process! I'll be back to you. Thank you for this.