News of Ken’s death continues to filter out into the cosmos. Yesterday I received a letter from a woman who had taken a class from Ken. While reading her note tears streamed down my face. “He was not terribly personable, but I saw that he cared a lot that we were learning. The thing that stood out then, and that stuck in my mind, and that brought me to write this letter, is the way …
On this sunny day I returned to the pin loom project. Although I had already laid out the pieces to determine how I wanted them before joining them, I was interrupted by the coming of a guest who would sleep in that bed. So I pulled them. and in the meantime I found more short pieces of yarn and made more squares. I even made more of the neutral in between squares. But today I …
I started taking music lessons about six months ago. I had never learned any music before that. I did not read music. But after practicing at least once, often twice a day (except the two days I was flying to and from visiting my parents), I had been making slow and steady progress through the book of exercises Recently I thumbed back to a couple carols in my exercises book. Then I remembered some music …
Years ago Ken grew some gourds and I made four shekeries – one with clay beads I made, one with wooden beads, one with plastic buttons, and one with semi – precious stones like turquoise, obsidian, howlite. So then Ken grew several gourds for me. but I set them aside after cutting a jagged hole and removing the seeds so they would not rot. After Ken’s death I spent time cleaning the house to make …
Today is a difficult day. Ken died December 19, 2017 around 7:30 a.m. – two years ago today. He had just returned home the night before he died. It had been a difficult night for him. After a bath with lavender oil, he never made his way back to bed. He died in his studio. At home. As deaths go it was a good one and as he wanted – at home with me and …
Long ago I bought some loopers for a potholder loom – probably before Ken died in 2017. After Ken died I just couldn’t weave; I would sit and stare into space, or cry or weave all uneven. After I knit a bunch of necks for friends, I bought a pin loom and started weaving small squares on a 3’x3″ loom. I have laid them out but haven’t decided on the pattern and how I want …
November 15, 1952, sixty-seven years ago, Ken Keppers entered this world Using his many skills, he created his own world of pottery, produce, beekeeping, black smithing, maple sugaring, tending animals, baking, and so much more Twenty-three months ago he left this world. I think of him every day – several times. And I believe I shall always miss him. And feel deep gratitude for the years we did have
Most years we have a frost in September, warm, sunny days in October, and then a grey month of November before winter arrives. This year September was warm and very wet, October cloudy and rainy and now in November we are experiencing typical December or January weather. The geese pull up their feet and sleep in a group. Here is the view out my window after our first snow!
Although the farmers markets here have ended, I am still gleaning and preserving. These slightly blemished peppers came from a farmer friend. I offered to clean and chop, bag and keep a portion and give back a portion so I could have more than I had bought and frozen over the season. Peppers are marvelous. Ripe bell peppers have vitamin C. They are a joy to chop, and don’t need blanching before freezing. So Saturday …
Just flew back from Arizona, and boy are my arms tired. Groan. I did go visit my parents in sunny Arizona, and missed the first snow of the season. This is an old photo that Ken took of me by Jerome some years back I didn’t bring my camera this trip. My parents are camera shy and I need to lose weight. As nice as it was to see them it was nice to get …
