Saturday 1 May 2021

May Day

Not to be confused with 'M'aidez'   but when I was younger May Day used to be such an important day in the Workers' Calendar - there used to be marches by the Unions.   Now we rarely hear anything of the Unions at all.    My father, who took part in the General Strike in the late twenties and who spoke of it often during my thirties childhood, was a great Union man.   Now it has almost become a day like any other.

Joanne yesterday asked why I called my blog 'Weaver of Grass', so I thought I would tell you today.   I think I have told the story before a long time ago but here goes:

When I was thinking of starting a blog - many years ago - I couldn't think what to call myself.  We were still farming and I was still active  enough to walk with my farmer and t he dogs round the fields - in Summer moving the electric fence before letting the cows out after milking, in Winter just to  keep an eye on the sheep. But it is the evening walk that is relevant here.   We would set off about six o'clock in the Autumn - just as it was getting dusk and the sun was low.   Over the night and day small spiders would have woven their webs over the tops of the grass in the meadow and the setting sun would just catch these webs and they would glisten and the field would look so beautiful.   One evening the farmer said, as we approached the particular meadow where it always happened - 'I wonder if the weavers have been out ' - and I said -'that's it - that's the name for my blog!' and so it became.   Afterwards I found there was a book with the same name.    In the days when I wrote a bit of poetry I wrote a poem about them:

Weavers of Grass

 

In that bright hour

when the sun glows

with the promise of a rising sun,

when the air is cool and moist

and the dew lies heavy on the ground -

then come the weavers

threading their strands through the grass

so that at evening,

when the sun is low

it shines though the silken threads

and shimmers in the fading light

and makes a field of gossamer.

 

I'm not a brilliant poet but I did hope that my blog posts might 'shimmer in the fading light' - I didn't realise I would be fading for quite as long as I have been doing!! 

This morning, out for my morning 'constitutional', I met an elderly gentleman, walking with a stick.  We stopped to speak (his dog stopped too and flopped down on the grass, obviously used to his master stopping).   With no small talk  at all he said, 'How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?' - I asked how old he thought I was and he replied 'late seventies'.   When I told him I would be 89 in October he replied he was catching me up as he was 85.    At what age does one begin boasting about one's age I wonder!!

 

 

38 comments:

JacquieB said...

..............all the way up to 18 to judge from my daughter and then again from 80 going by my partner (and other still rambling Ramblers).

Anonymous said...

I love reading the story of how you came to name your blog. I'm going to be 69 years in a few days. It is wonderful to know that you are almost 89 and are blogging and telling wonderful stories on the internet. A true model you are. Thank you.

JayCee said...

What a compliment, to be told that you look ten years younger. How lovely.

gmv said...

I love hearing how the name of your blog came about. I have wondered about it. Such a beautiful story and told so well I can "see" the shimmering webs woven in the grass.

Country Cottage said...

Love the story behind your blog name. X

Sue in Suffolk said...

I never knew the reason for your blog mane either so it's good to know the story.

Bovey Belle said...

That's a lovely story and along with your lovely poem, you have made it come alive and I can just see it all in my mind's eye.

Glad you had a little chat with the dog-walking gentleman and lovely to have a compliment over your not looking your age :)

Rachel Phillips said...

Like Sue, it is good to know how you got to name your blog Weaver of Grass. I often wondered. A nice story and a good name.

Mary said...

Another one who enjoyed hearing about how your blog name came about.

Anonymous said...

Children of course love to brag about how old they are - I made a dreadful faux pas with a neighborhood 4 year old once, asking if she was going to be 4 on her birthday and being told in no uncertain terms that she was ALREADY 4 and would be 5. Silly me.

ceci

CharlotteP said...

You are hardly fading...your determination would put many 50 year olds to shame!

Sue said...

What a lovely story. I shall always remember that now when I see the grass glistening with cobwebs.

Heather said...

I think we boast a bit about our age when we are young, eager for the years to move on. Then much later in life when we get nearer to 90. That's when there is really something to boast about!
I love your poem and the story of how you came to choose your blog name.

Tom Stephenson said...

That it at least two things I have learned tonight. I loved this post Weave, to the extent that my calling you 'Weave' is an unintended insult. I hope you don't mind me carrying on. I remember 20 year-olds bragging about their age at college, comparing themselves to new students a couple of years younger.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Tom - I love your calling me Weave - please don't stop.

As to the compliment the man made about my age - no man worth his salt put in the difficult position of guessing a woman's age wouldn't knock ten years off!

Virginia said...

Well, you certainly have every reason to be proud of your Weavings - they delight (and educate) us daily, and you are certainly an inspiration to me. When I was really ill, reading of your "can do" attitude and determination really helped keep me going, when sitting in a chair and staring vacantly out the window was all I felt like doing.. So, thank you, and may there be many more wonderful word pictures drawn by you.

Jean said...

I often wondered where the name came from - what a lovely story.
Soon after every birthday my dad used to boast about his age. The minute he was 80 he would say "I'll be 81 next!"! All that changed when he met a lady younger than him..........!!

Sansthing said...

The name of your blog has always intrigued me, it is so unusual. Thank you for your lovely story and explanation.

am said...

Sweet to read your evocative poem today. Thank you, Weaver of Grass.

Debby said...

What a lovely post today...a different glimpse of you, and just as lovely. Thank you.

Susan said...

Interesting questions about age. My late uncle lived to almost 100. He never looked his age and remained active up to 2 weeks prior to death. He never mentioned his age and people felt he was always a good 20 years younger than he actually was. My mother always said: never ask a woman her age, weight and income. All taboo.

Camille said...

Thank you Pat. I've always wondered and a lovely story.

Joanne Noragon said...

Thanks for telling the story again, Weaver. So much better than any I imagined.
I have an old age comparison story, too. A gentleman with a cane stepped up on his side of the curb as I came up on my corner. We both stopped to rebalance and whatnot, and then he said to me, "I'll race you!"

angryparsnip said...

I thought your Blog Name was from a poem or (for me) possible the sentence in a movie ? I will have to think about this. I loved reading your story and I hope as with Tom you don't mind me always calling you Weaver.
When I first started to blog if you did say someone's name you used the blog name. I always think of you as an artist and writer so for me Weaver is lovely.
My blog name has caused me lots of fun comments and a few harmful ones.

The Gud Dugs send wurfs !

Hildred said...

Love the poem and being a Weaver, I'm especially drawn to your Pen Name, Pat. In respect to age (and I DO respect age) to my eternal wonderment I have reach 96 in good health!!!

Cro Magnon said...

I've always wondered where the name came from. Now I know. I've never understood why people are either secretive, or lie about, their age. I do sometimes forget how old I am, but my dear wife is always ready to remind me, by adding a decade or two. I am actually 74.

Barbara Anne said...

I, too, had wondered what the story was behind the interesting name of your wonderful blog and am glad to have read it today. Lovely!

Three days ago (the 28th) I turned 70 so suppose I'll have to give up my hope of growing taller. :)

Pat, you're an inspiration!

Hugs!

Bonnie said...

I love the story of how you got your blog name. It's a beautiful story. Your poem is wonderful too. Thank you for sharing.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I always thought the name of your blog was a line from a poem (with which I wasn't familiar), but little did I know it was YOUR poem! There are certain times, dusk especially, when the light is just right and things do shimmer. (A certain slant of light - why am I thinking Emily Dickinson?)
Concerning bragging about one's age, I think of small children, when they declare their age, but add portions of years onto it, like "I'm six and a half", as that half is so important and makes all the difference. -Jenn

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

"Weaver Of Grass" is a beautiful name. I wouldn't have thought you ever stayed still long enough to collect any cobwebs.

Librarian said...

Late to the party, as is so often the case, I can only nod and add that I, too, enjoyed this post very much.
Thank you, Pat, for letting your blog shine into our days almost every day.

thelma said...

A beautiful poem Pat, those spiders could make magic, a bit like you...

The Weaver of Grass said...

Hildred I knew you were well in your nineties. We have been blogging for many years together haven't we?

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you eveeryone for joining in. Another day dawns - off on my walk now. Back later

Minigranny said...

I've often wondered where your blog name came from - it is a lovely name.Your poem is beautiful!Hope you enjoy your walk and the weather is as perfect as it is here today. .

jinxxxygirl said...

Pat i have had those 'weavers' take my breath away with their beauty... thank you for the reminder.. Keep moving! Hugs! debs

Martina said...

I had a great uncle who, at real age 73, would say he was nearly 89.
Your Poe. Is absolutely lovely.

Jim said...

Nice to meet you, Weave. The Ausies use the term for us, "OBE" for "Over Bloody Eighty." I'll be 88 in October.
..