Tomorrow is my first US book signing! As we often do on this island full of artists (especially after the fire at A Bunch of Grapes Bookstore), the event is being held at a friend’s house. Let’s all pray for a beautiful DRY evening! But the hostess told me that yesterday she decided to “cut her lawn” in anticipation of the great event, and how did she choose to do it? With a scythe. Yes, a scythe…you know, those old, long, curved sharp cutting things often associated with Russian peasants dutifully working the estates of the Tsar and his friends hundreds of years ago? (Well, you would expect my friends to be a bit quirky, wouldn’t you?). Why she has a scythe in the first place should be left for her to tell herself, probably over long family dinner parties. But the fact is, she has one, and she’s used it on my behalf.
Now, there are many things that I love about this idea, but two are foremost in my mind. First, there is the wonderful synchronicity between the fictional Russian setting of
Tangled Roots, and the historical image of Russian peasants wielding their scythes. Some of you may remember how much I love these sorts of convergences from
this one of my blog postings.
But the other great thing about my friend and her scythe is the way she taught herself to use it. How? On the internet, of course. And, of course, on the internet there are hundreds, if not thousands, of sites all about scythes. I have been called naive before, but it has been the internet and the blogging world which continues to show me just how many people there are in this world, and how many amazing things they get themselves up to. So I must now call your attention to the website
The Scythe Connection. It will tell you everything you would ever need to know about scythes and the people who wield them, plus (of course) they have their own video on You Tube….and here it is (what else are friends for?).
Call me old fashioned, but I just love this!
And now fellow time travellers, I will say goodbye for a couple of short weeks while I devote myself to hanging out with my husband and kids, friends and family, and see out the end of another wonderful summer, a summer which has brought world travels, plenty of work accomplished, a wedding and the birth of a new family member – a special big welcome to my new little great-niece!!!!!
See you all soon……..
Congratulations on the birth of your great neice.
Sorry, but I’ve always associated scythes with Monty Python and Death (who carries one)! I’ve always worried a great deal about using a scythe because I thought as you swung you ran the risk of swishing into your own lower legs. Now I see the swing is bigger than that. Why did I never think of looking on the internet?
Good luck with the signing and have a great break with your family. See you when you get back.
My father-in-law always used to use a scythe to cut the long grass then he got a strimmer….:)
How freaky, scythes and book signings, syncronicity and the wierd wide web! I hope it goes really well, mazal tov on your great neice (you are FAR too young to be a great aunt!) and have a wonderful few weeks.
Congratulations….a new addition to the family is such a lovely thing!!
I’m afraid I’m with JJ on the scythes ….Monty Python and Death!!
Good luck with the book signings and have a fabulous summer break. I look forward to hearing all about it when you get back 🙂
C x
Hope you had perfect weather for your book signing! Did you take any pics?
congratulations on your great neice, your book signing and your entire summer! Have a good break – look forward to hearing all about it.
Congratulations, and I hope the book-signing went really well.
I am pretty sure that when I was young the farmer in Quebec used to use scythes to cut their hay. Indeed I remembered what they looked like (particularly the grip half-way up the handle.
I hope you have a good holiday, and look forward to having you back in the UK.
Hope the signing went well Sue! It sounds great!
Enjoy the rest of the summer:-)
Hope the book signing went well and that you are now having a wonderful holiday!
May all your scything times be happy ones! 😉