Sherry Chandler

On matters of varying importance

I don’t know about the groundhogs but the raccoons around here are certainly seeing their shadows. Here are a couple of shots TR got of the daylight raid on the supplementary sunflower seed feeders. The birds are many at the feeders this year.

Some people call this Candlemas Day and Your Daily Poem has posted “A Song for Candlemas” by Lizette Woodworth Reese (1856 – 1935)

Issue 2 of Still is up and it includes literature by some of my favorite writers. I draw your attention especially to Matthew Haughton, Bobbi Buchanan, and Elaine Fowler Palencia. Let me tell you that Elaine is one of the masters of the short story. Her collection, Small Caucasian Woman, remains one of the best examples of Appalachian literature and of the American short story. Matthew is circulating a fine poetry manuscript. And Bobbi edits New Southerner.

I want also to share with you this video add for Darlene Campbell’s new fantasy novel, Dragon’s Heir. The artwork in this video is Darlene’s own and I am thoroughly charmed by the notion of using YouTube to do a form of cover blurb. Darlene is also a fine poet who posts at Raven’s Shadowl

And just as a follow up, the other day I did a search on Melverina Elverina Peppercorn and found, in addition to my own post, not much except this musing on names at Vast Public Indifference, where I find that there was more than one man in the 19^th century south named Alexander The Great.

Oh, and Fringe Magazine has an interesting interview with the founder of Bookslut, Jessa Crispin: The Accidental Tastemaker

Christmas at Keeneland

Preparations are under way here at our house for the Christmas at Keeneland Arts Fair over in Lexington next Saturday and Sunday.

Eighty-one artists will be there offering crafts from baskets to wood.

A great place to do your Christmas shopping.

The unfinished turned ornament shown here is made with tree of heaven (bowl) and ash (finial). The carved spoon below is cherry.

Look for TR at booth # 21. Visit his web page to see more of his work.

Look also for Toni Menk at booth #3. Toni is not only a great designer of glass beadwork but also a fine poet and a fellow member of the Green River Writers.

If you miss Christmas at Keeneland, TR will also have several pieces in the Third Annual Gallery & Gifts Holiday Market at the Scott County Arts & Cultural Center. The Gallery is located in the old jailer’s house, 117 North Water Street, Georgetown, Kentucky. The show opens on November 1 and will run through December 19. Gallery hours are 12 N to 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturdays, Sundays 1 to 4 pm.

And you can always purchase his work at the Kentucky Artisan Center or Appalachian Fireside Gallery.

Bowl

Here’s the latest carved bowl from T.R. It measures approximately 18″ x 13″ x 5″. The 30-foot wild cherry tree from which it was carved was killed by an infestation of tent caterpillars followed by drought.

Unfortunately, the bowl won’t make the fair this year. It needs another coat of finish.

Because it is both Lupercalia

and my 60th birthday, I turn to Horace. Like him, I am content enough with my little farm out in the country, beyond the ministrations of boys in goat skins. Here is Ode 1.11:

Please don’t ask to scry the unspoken, Leuconoe,
What end the gods may send,
Not to me, nor to you,
And don’t contend with Babel’s own numbers.
Better thus: Whatever is to be, let be.
If there remain many winters or if
Jupiter now lets forth the last,
Which spends its waves’ force on Etruscan rocks
Opposing. Be wise: strain wine,
Resect long plans for short days.
As we speak, a jealous age has fled.
Pluck the day at hand, it’s as well as may be
Not to trust the one that’s coming.

Translation and bowl by TR Williams. Thanks to Nedda K. Hughes for the birthday roses.

You will find the original Latin and a prose translation here.

Friday Cat Blogging (with bowl and poem)

After Kevin Drum, who started it but doesn’t do it any more (and whose cats have made the NYTimes – eat your heart out, Baxter Black), Atrios, who continues the tradition (scroll down the page), and Bob Harris , who does pudu blogging because he can, I give you what may well be my sole instance of Friday cat blogging (with bowl and poem).

Rabbit’s Nest

In sun dappled morning,
cats leave only bits of fur,
a hind foot no longer
than my little finger
and a stain on the driveway.

Satisfied, innocent, they sprawl
in the grass or cuddle, curled
and purring in my lap.
       from My Will and Testament Is on the Desk.

Order an autographed copy by clicking the PayPal button on the sidebar.

The cat is Baxter Black (don’t ask). The bowl was crafted by my husband, TR Williams. His work is available at the Kentucky Artisan Center, and he often frequents KGAC fairs in Berea. The candlesticks were made by Jason Bowman, also to be found at KGAC. We don’t know who the grandmother is. We rescued her stern and anonymous from the attic.