October Milkweed Residency

Milkweed Residency always feels like coming home. This year, last minute, we reverted to the original trio of Pati (at left), Tim, and me. Jill is in the background here helping us harvest.

Ticks were very busy this year so we stayed in the horse pasture and nearby. Saw lots of dogbane as well!

I was so happy to see Jill and she was very kind to Lester. He was their one remaining pet but weeks later, he was gone, too.

I steamed immediately after processing the harvest and later separated the pods into "burst" and "not burst" bags. Thank goodness I realized on the way home that I could detour to Oberlin and throw both bags in the freezer next to the paper studio, and leftover stalks there as well. I love efficiency (and there is NO way those pods would have fit into my home freezer!).

This is a bit out of sequence but it's after stripping stalks that I steamed. I did much of it on the first day but then left the rest over a day or two.

I tried to work around meal prep and meal times to get the batch stripped before throwing it into the woods.

This year we had a field trip to Kalamazoo! I had missed the Washi Transformed show that has been traveling for years in a few different locations, so I was eager to finally see it. Yuko's piece is on the left of the title wall and more pieces were distributed through both galleries.

Eriko Horiki's illuminated washi

Yuko Nishimura's folded washi

We also had a visit to the book arts center and caught up with Jeff. I think afterwards I went straight to bed but I can't remember exactly the sequence of my naps. I could sense we were all slowing down in our own ways and while I was greedy for their company, I was also glad to turn in early at night. After the harvest and Kzoo trip were done, I was curious to see Pati's paper studio setup for the year, and loved seeing her watermarks both on her mould,

and stored on the fridge!

This reminded me that I also want to get a vat warmer (not what this was made for but an excellent investment).

I was jealous of their giant nasturtiums! I planted mine from seed for the first year ever and they were tiny, but then again, they were in planters.

And, of course, part of the joy of Pati's and Tim's company is shared meals. This time I did a big batch of japchae, which I haven't made in years there, and it sustained us over a few more meals. Pati did a bang up job with her first kongjang/kongjorim, since I get paranoid now about not cooking with enough protein (I can't put meat in my japchae anymore so I wanted protein somewhere).

On the way in, I stopped in Ann Arbor to lunch with Cathy and meet her new wonderful mentee, Trina. On the way out, I got to see Katherine and visit the art library and museum, where I did a quick visit to the Korean gallery. There's not much to say about my annual Michigan visit because it's always the same: nourishing, rejuvenating, full of wonderful friends, and my favorite papermaking fiber. I'm so grateful to my impeccable hosts, who are incredibly good humans and artists who work with genuine integrity while staying curious and open, always, while creating beauty every single day.