We have a frog in our pond in the rear pasture, it seems he loves to watch Red and Fate herd the sheep (actually, it’s only Red who herds sheep, Fate runs in circles around them). He appears when Red is nearby and sits in rapt fascination as Red moves the sheep around, as if he is sitting in his living room watching TV, which I suppose he is, in a way.
When Red leaves the pasture, he plops down into the water. I wonder if it is unusual for a frog to love to watch sheepherding.
Maria’s now famous potholders have helped shape her art, her life and now, may help her to get to India, a trip that would change her life in a number of ways.
A social service agency that organizes foreign trips to help the needy has invited Maria to go to India in February of 2017 to teach victims and survivors of sexual trafficking how to make potholders and other fiberwork so they can sell them, practice their art and make a living.
Maria is thrilled about this opportunity, and so am I.
She has absolutely no hesitation about going, something that impressed me deeply. This is the very soul of her and what she wants to do with her art, with her life.
There are a lot of logistical issues to her to deal with, from visas to travel to the substantial cost of going, she will need at least $5,000, possibly more, and we are starting to figure out how to raise and earn that money by November.
It will not be simple, but it is, we both think doable. I think it must happen.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for her to use her art to do good, which is the focal point of her life. And I can’t think of a better cause.
In my experience, just causes get the support we need, especially in the new world of digital communities, a new way of helping one another.
Maria is thinking of making quilts and potholders, some inspired by her trip and the fabrics she sees there, for people who support this trip. She is considering applying for some grants, and also putting together a crowdsourcing campaign.
She is also planning to offer a limited number of her artworks in exchange for support after the trip, perhaps including some of the fabrics she sees in India. She first has to figure out the total cost, how much we can raise ourselves, how much help we will need. We will pay as much ourselves as we can.
I am contributing the registration fee to start – $500 – and will do everything within my power to make this two-week journey happen. But it is her trip, not mine, her journey. That, and the lives I know she can transform, is what makes it special. This is not an opportunity that presents itself every day.
The Maria I met some years ago would never have thought to go on this trip, the Maria I live with and love now didn’t balk for a second. I think she would be a fabulous teacher for those poor women, struggling to rebuild their lives after the worst kind of imprisonment and exploitation.
She has a great heart, empathy and talent and energy. Every day I witness her humanity, love and generosity. Her potholders have launched her as an independent artist, they will carry her to India.
She told me this morning she felt odd about taking such a journey without me, I told her it is not a trip I ought to make with her. She needs to go by herself, this has nothing to do with me, just like the Gee’s Bend trip she made to Alabama.
And I will be honest, it’s hard to leave our farm for two weeks. Also the heat and humidity and travel to India – a place I want to see and will get to see one day – would be complicated for me right now,
I could not be more excited for her.
We are still a bit in exhilaration and shock, we are just sorting things out. She will write about this and explain it further on her own blog, and we will decide if we need to turn to the outside world to help. I believe this trip is meant to be, and one way or another, I believe it will happen.
I said earlier that Rosemary is the most beautiful sheep I think we have ever had, and now that her wool is beginning to grow out, I can see that her wool is very beautiful as well, unlike any other sheep we have had. The Romney’s are famous for being wonderful wool sheep, and we have stumbled on a very good one. She is calming, poised and comfortable here she has settled in with the flock and gotten used to the dogs, to me and to my camera.
