Squam, again

Last December, I signed up for the fall 2021 session at Squam Arts Workshops when the idea of it seemed like little more than a far off dream. I could barely comprehend the possibility of being vaccinated, let alone getting on a plane or sharing space with strangers.

And then, in September — and rather suddenly it seemed — it was time to go. I was pretty anxious headed into it…about traveling for the first time in so long, about the people coughing on the plane. I wore my KN95 mask, I got there, it all worked out. It definitely felt different than last time, but not necessarily in a bad way. Most folks were being fairly cautious about COVID (as they should, and which I appreciated), but it made for different sorts of interactions. The great thing about Squam is that you spend so much time outside, resting in the beauty of the place. The fact that I could also make new (fully vaccinated) friends was an added bonus. I was really glad that I could make it this year.

Loon calls at night, dinner while the moon rose, hanging out with old and new friends, lots of knitting and chatting on docks and porches and laughing until we cried. I shared a cabin with one of my dearest friends who lives across the country, Megan - we met at Squam in 2017, when we were both first-timers. Katy of Katrinkles was in our cabin, too, and wore the most amazing hand-knit sweaters (she’s the one pictured above in the phenomenal colorwork sweaters).

I took two classes – natural dyeing with alum and iron mordants with Kenya Miles, and patterned hand-stitching with Jessica Marquez, borrowed a kayak and paddled around the lake, and climbed Rattlesnake Mountain with Megan.

In the end, the sum of it was that I had a restful, lovely time. There are many more layers of thought I have surrounding this trip but I’m going to keep those for myself.

I hope that even in this pandemic year+ that each of you are finding moments, places, and ways to find rest and creative space.

PS. Photo credit for the first and fourth photo goes to Megan Roseman, and thanks to Stewart for snapping that pic of Megan and me on the docks.