Ahh March
The beauty of spring before tree sperm
My kids made up a song one December morning on our bike ride to school. Sung to the tune of The Fast Food Song, it goes something like this:
A seagull, a seagull, two bags of trash and a seagull
A mazda, a mazda, two bags of trash and a mazda
Some broken glass, some broken glass, two bags of trash and a seagull
Police car, police car, to bags of trash and a mazda
My kids, laughing as we rode along, we simply naming things we saw. It was gray that day, and windy, with crumpled leaves and old trash swirling around by our feet. I love living in my neighborhood. I love the old brick buildings with the crumbling window sills and the mixed use environment that puts apartments over bars and corner markets. I love how the park comes alive every weekend and evening: people sitting on benches smoking and reading, selling art, laying in the grass.
I’ve lived many places in Seattle but I’ve never lived in one where the space was more activated and alive. Sure, there’s trash and needles and dog shit (stop no why), but there’s also artwork and the smell of tacos and joy. I love my messy neighborhood and all of the people and life it contains.
Early spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Seattle. By late February our most intrepid cherry trees start to blossom. I wonder each year if it’s too early, but the same trees make the first move every time, so they must know something I don’t. Today I biked past the first blooming Tulip Magnolia of the season. It was budding last week, but today I was lucky to witness it in all it’s spectacular glory. I also spied a few Star Magnolias down by Lake Union. It’s the perfect time right now to enjoy some early blooms before all of the trees start releasing their thick yellow fertility goo (aka pollen) making bike rides miserable and covering our (my) face in a fun mix of snot and tears at all times.
I also spent some time hanging out in Cal Anderson selling things on Sunday! It was such a beautiful day and it was really fun to hang out and chat with people for a few hours! I hope to get out there more during nice weather!
Class Updates
The backend of maintaining a website often makes me want to poke my own eyes out. It’s just so tedious and, on top of that, they’re always changing how the backend works so I feel like I have to constantly relearn where things are! But we will persist!
You can now sign up for the pipe making workshop at the end of the month! Discounts available for BIPOC participants.
There’s also the monthly Queer Clay Club on the last Sunday of the month! I’ve updated it so dates are available for March / April / May. Note that the one for March is going to be held a week early on 3/22.
Studio Creations
I’m plugging along in my studio continuing to work on my series inspired by medieval pilgrim pins. I’m really enjoying the direction this work is going and I hope to fire these works in the wood kiln in May!
What’s one stupid1 thing you really want to make but haven’t given yourself permission to spend money, time, or energy creating? What would you need to allow yourself to start?
non-derogatory; funny, meaningless, useless, joyful