Happy Mabon! | QuirkyKnitGirl

Today is the Autumnal Equinox and the official first day of fall. Which, really should be the middle of fall, but I think I’ve already ranted about the somewhat arbitrary deliniation of seasons.

Of course, here in San Francisco it doesn’t feel much like fall. It feels more like summer today…what’s up with that, California?

Anyway. This weekend it DID feel like fall, and I had spent a lovely morning checking out the Frida Kahlo exhibit at SF MoMa. Kahlo is one of my favorite artists, and it was such a thrill to see some of my favorite paintings in person. I especially love “The Broken Column” and “The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Senor Xolotl.” I’m also moribdly fascinated by some of her darkest pieces–”A Few Small Nips,” “Henry Ford Hospital,” and “The Suicide of Dorothy Hale.” There’s something so dark, yet at the same time so beautiful about them.

I was struck by the size of the canvases, however. For some reason I expected the paintings to be larger. I don’t know why, but I was starteld to see how small some of them really were. It’s inspiring to see, she was such an amazing artist and person, and I’m so glad I got to see the exhibit.

I’m hoping it cools down here; fall is my favorite season, and I want to make some progress on goals that I’ve set. The biggest one is getting my apartment in order. I’m not a neat person–in fact, I’m kind of a slob. I’m a packrat, and I’m easily distracted. But the thing is, I don’t like it. I don’t like that I feel guilty getting rid of things that I don’t need or use, that could be better used by someone else. I don’t like having clutter everywhere that I trip over, or having difficulty finding things, or being so overwhelmed that I can’t even get simple cleaning done because I don’t know where to begin. I don’t like that I don’t have people over because I don’t want anyone to see how my place looks. Living like that, home doesn’t feel relaxing or welcoming.

I’m making progress but it’s hard. It’s made even harder by the fact that my mother loves to send me things. Which is fine, but they usually aren’t things I have a use or place for, but if I get rid of them she sees it as me not loving her. I don’t want to hurt her, but I have to change this. My hope is to get everything in order by Samhain, and then work on a year–one year–of not letting it slip back out of control. I hope it works.

Tarot Card of the Day: Princess of Wands

http://www.elizabethkateswitaj.net/ EKSwitaj

Where the seasons should be drawn really depends on where you’re living. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Autumn Equinox seems quite reasonable.
http://maryknits.wordpress.com Mary

You can DO IT!!! I have to get over the whole “I can’t throw this away or my mom will feel bad” thing, too. Or get her to stop sending useless things, but that is unlikely.
http://knittinggoddess.typepad.com Nicole

It is hard… until this year I held on to the things that my mother got me that were not my style or not useful. But then I realized that I would live a better life without all that stuff and that my mom would want me to have the best life possible.

She still gives me useless stuff. However when she is here (which isn’t often) I pull out the stuff that she gave me that I really did like. When Michael and I had our parents over for dinner I served dinner with serving pieces and table linens that my mother gave me (she secretly envisions me being part of the Junior League or something) and she was beaming. Maybe keep a couple of things that you do like and mention them to her from time to time???

I say take it slow. A bag or box to goodwill (or to the curb) a week. Samhain sounds like an excellent idea, it’ll give you a fresh start to the year.
http://poemsandotherrambles.blogspot.com/ Carolina

You know what, I’ll join you on this one if that’s okay. Getting organized (and to keep it that way) is not my strongest point either so it might help if we don’t have to do this alone.