At this very moment we are house sitting, to see whether Italy suits us. So far, the winter hasn’t been better than in Hungary. And as in every January I dream of sunny places elsewhere on earth, if it weren’t for the variety of animals we may care for.
Meanwhile, I embroider, whether we housesit or travel together, whether I hike in National Parks, camp in medieval abandoned churches or drink coffees in cafes.
This piece of fabric, hand dyed with mulberry, starts to form slowly while hiking in Italy
Writing this with two cats on my lap, Tina and Ted, whom I care for while house-sitting, I ponder: can you imagine how it is to cope with a neighbour in Hungary who never wanted anyone living next to him, yet who bought a house in between two other houses. Who suffers from normal behavior. Who bullies. One of his ideas was to ‘abduct’ all our cats. A hunter who organizes trophy hunts to Africa. After the happening of all our cats gone, our home wasn’t feeling much of a home. It was easy to leave it all behind and find something elsewhere.
Hiking in Abruzzo, Maiella National Park gave me little opportunities to embroider so the project goes very slow.
It is good to be away and be into the never seen before. As a traveller I need this more than anything else. Together with Geo I form a steady team where we venture in our yellow van through Europe. With an open mind, trying not to form wishes and known ideas into reality. To stay open for the unexpected. To view from another corner. To embrace discomfort and shape it into something welcome.
Sitting in a sauna in wintery Umbria, with a cool pool waiting to let steam off and camping in a medieval abandoned church in Basilicata are just incredible places to embroider. The places I find in nature are always soothing, this one was in Madonie Regional Nature Park.
This post is for you who bought one of my pouches, for you who didn’t and would never, for you who read this. For this new year that just started, I wish you to stay agile and not let go of good ideas, even if they seem not particularly great when you start. Do what your heart tells you but keep the mind watching over it. I wish you optimal health and flexibility, an open mind and moderation in stuff that doesn’t really feed you, except in being outdoors and enjoyment in what nature offers.
Another large piece in the making and with us on our journey so I may have time to finish it before we are back where my sewing machine is.
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