May 22

guess. I may put the site initially under the name alanloreficeandcompany.info instead since it's really a part of alanloreficeandcompany.org and of course, a place to publish to in case the other spot has technical problems again. Either way though if you just type in the number you will be able to get to the site. The part about the universal focus is very important to me as I think it is to you. Our effort of the heart isn't limited to a state, even to a country really and is quite portable. I don't believe in a narrowness of view that rigidly draws lines on a map and refuses to share with beings on the other side of the lines. It's good to begin close to home though. It's funny, today I was asked about the trees and I spoke of them as any farmer or biologist would. I can talk about varieties, relative strengths and merits, adaptability, ecological concepts and so on with a calm pragmatism that is far removed from the lyricism and reverence for life I feel when I'm in the Grove looking up at the sky or when grieving the loss of a trees I knew each by it's own name for the 3 years I struggled to keep them growing. It's not that either view is wrong; without one view I might have a hard time getting anywhere and without the other it wouldn't be worth doing at all. At any rate, some of the trees that were winter injured never grew again. It's sad especially when you see the trees around them growing that lived. There were a lot of reasons. Most likely the most important was that they weren't quite adapted to the temperature extremes of the area but health and location in the Grove were also partly responsible. That's how it is I guess. One moment it's the magic of seeing the blossoms above the wind swept grass on a warm evening or putting together a meticulously drawn irrigation map. The next it's struggling on the hill to put a hundred chicken wire cages around trees that rabbits and groundhog have discovered or trying to unwind a big messy tangle of hose from the shed. I think in caring for them in that way I've learned more at a deeper level than any class could have taught me because in the sacrifice I became part of their existence in a small way and understood more. It's hard to explain but I thought you'd understand what I mean. Reflections on a rainy day! Anyway, the spindle and fibers haven't arrived yet so I'm going to try to get a bit done in the studio tonight. They should be in soon though as they were mailed a few days ago! The trick with spinning cotton I understand is that the fibers are rather short and so you have to work with very short lengths at a time. There is a picture of Gandhi spinning I'd like to find. He's spinning and smiling a broad smile that belies the tremendous struggles he went through to liberate his native land. It's an inspiring picture! I'd better get out to the studio and get started now though. Once the rain dries up I'll have to respray all the trees and finish up the limb training.


	Through My Eyes Thursday May 22 Here we're looking at a grapevine down by the stream. It's raining so it's a good evening for a Windhorse project!(This isn't actually from today, but I thought you'd like it. I didn't get much done in the studio last night as I spent more time trying to get the webpage started.) I promise to add more tomorrow... ( please click here to read of the day with me! ) Through my eyes ( I notice that if you type out the name alanloreficeandcompany.com you get this neat page that says it's under construction in a bunch of different languages. They put this out for me; it wasn't my design as you could probably guess. I may put the site initially under the name alanloreficeandcompany.info instead since it's really a part of alanloreficeandcompany.org and of course, a place to publish to in case the other spot has technical problems again. Either way though if you just type in the number you will be able to get to the site. The part about the universal focus is very important to me as I think it is to you. Our effort of the heart isn't limited to a state, even to a country really and is quite portable. I don't believe in a narrowness of view that rigidly draws lines on a map and refuses to share with beings on the other side of the lines. It's good to begin close to home though. It's funny, today I was asked about the trees and I spoke of them as any farmer or biologist would. I can talk about varieties, relative strengths and merits, adaptability, ecological concepts and so on with a calm pragmatism that is far removed from the lyricism and reverence for life I feel when I'm in the Grove looking up at the sky or when grieving the loss of a trees I knew each by it's own name for the 3 years I struggled to keep them growing. It's not that either view is wrong; without one view I might have a hard time getting anywhere and without the other it wouldn't be worth doing at all. At any rate, some of the trees that were winter injured never grew again. It's sad especially when you see the trees around them growing that lived. There were a lot of reasons. Most likely the most important was that they weren't quite adapted to the temperature extremes of the area but health and location in the Grove were also partly responsible. That's how it is I guess. One moment it's the magic of seeing the blossoms above the wind swept grass on a warm evening or putting together a meticulously drawn irrigation map. The next it's struggling on the hill to put a hundred chicken wire cages around trees that rabbits and groundhog have discovered or trying to unwind a big messy tangle of hose from the shed. I think in caring for them in that way I've learned more at a deeper level than any class could have taught me because in the sacrifice I became part of their existence in a small way and understood more. It's hard to explain but I thought you'd understand what I mean. Reflections on a rainy day! Anyway, the spindle and fibers haven't arrived yet so I'm going to try to get a bit done in the studio tonight. They should be in soon though as they were mailed a few days ago! The trick with spinning cotton I understand is that the fibers are rather short and so you have to work with very short lengths at a time. There is a picture of Gandhi spinning I'd like to find. He's spinning and smiling a broad smile that belies the tremendous struggles he went through to liberate his native land. It's an inspiring picture! I'd better get out to the studio and get started now though. Once the rain dries up I'll have to respray all the trees and finish up the limb training. And so, as always we'll continue on to tomorrow* my one gentle enduring dream bright so for now I bid goodnight!)