At The Goddess Door Family Home looking toward the front yard
The summer has ended, and we are well into the color explosion of Autumn. Here at The Goddess Door, I’ve been contemplating where to head as we move into the quiet season, and how to manage the future busy seasons ahead.
The problem is a good one to have: too many things that I love to do. My primary job is as a Physical Therapist, and I love my work. I get to help people keep moving or return to moving, to be in concert with their physical selves. There are so many parts to that work that bring me joy, the technical knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology, the challenge of figuring what muscles or neuromuscular connections are contributing to a problem, the coaxing and cheering a person through a challenging rehab, and the pride in a person’s achievement. Sometimes, people are in terrible and difficult situations, and it is my work to make things more bearable, less painful, and more meaningful for their lives. It is an amazing and rewarding job that I feel lucky to be able to do.
I learned to do a little needle felting. Gnome Problem!
And there is fiber art, which soothes my soul, and offers new challenges and creative opportunities. And it isn’t just knitting, it is spinning, playing around with dyeing, washing and carding wool from a gifted fleece, even (gasp!) crocheting. There are so many adventures ahead! And I do love to teach. Lately, in the knitting world, I’ve been getting texts or calls through a network of people who know I am a knitter and teacher. People are referring people with knitting problems! I love it. We’ve met for coffee and talking yarny things, and it is a blast. I have some studio space available, and the potential is there… for teaching, for displaying, for a place to set up my stuff. There seems to be a lot of stuff.
Jens Jensen overlooks The Clearing in a painting by Charles Peterson
There is also the house! Oh, the vacation rental part of life. It is fun, too. I’ve met a bunch of really nice people who’ve treated the house kindly and enjoyed their time visiting Door County. The house is in a country setting, on 5 acres, and offers a quiet connection to nature that is something special while vacationing. And of course, I love the house, lots of happy memories, lots of hope to be able to keep it in the family.
With all this comes a whole lot of work, managing the calendar, cleaning, yardwork, supplies, etc. It is many hours in July and August, not so much now and for the next season.
It goes without saying that all of this is on top of being a mom and wife, making time for my family while also managing all the schedules. The question becomes, with my limited time, where do I spend it? How do I see The Goddess Door developing?
I think I have to be realistic. I have dreams. Big fibery dreams. But these dreams would happen only if I only had that one thing to do. So… will I be happy with smaller dreams, and a slower pace?
I think I will. I will be selling my knitting once a year, at the Friends of Gibraltar Holiday Fair the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I will be teaching only in the winter, when the Vacation Rental is slower. I will keep being a PT and growing my skills (I plan to get my orthopedic certification this winter!). It all will be at a more low key pace, so that I can try to continue enjoying all these things.
Comfortable in your body, warm in soft knitwear, and cozy in a country home. These things I can work on through The Goddess Door.
