A Sign

I was bringing in the garbage cans, thinking about God and a podcast I listened to yesterday about signs. Mid-thought I looked up and saw an enormous hawk circling in the sky. He looped above the hill behind my house; his circles getting smaller then larger again as he took in the ground below. I watched standing still as stone, until I remembered there were groceries in the car that needed unloading. I took several steps away, then looked back. The hawk was now following me, each circle bringing him closer and closer to where I stood. He circled directly above me. I could see his head angled in my direction, taking me in; almost a reflection of my own gaze. I feared momentarily that he would notice I had no great talons or teeth to defend myself with. But, after a 3 or 4 seconds his curiosity was satisfied and he took his leave of me. I stood dumbfounded, wondering if this had been a sign. I sign for what I wondered?

Spinning Dreams

I remember one of the first conversations I had with my housemates when I lived at Wildhorse Canyon (now Washington Family Ranch). I was eager to make friends and find common interests. I heard two of the gals sitting at the table talking about their spinning classes and how they loved spinning (or something to that effect).

My ears perked up and I grew excited. I knew about spinning! I quickly offered that my mom spins and that we have sheep. The girls looked confused momentarily. "She spins their wool," I clarified. I didn't know where I had gone wrong in this conversation. Kindly, they explained that spinning is what you do on exercise bikes. I simply had no idea.

I've never come to terms with the dual use of this word. To me, spinning will forever be what you do when converting a fiber into yarn. Recently, this has become one of my interests. I had the radical idea that I could start a business making yarn. I don't know if it's possible, but in true Johnson fashion, I've purchased a book about the topic and have been thoroughly enjoying it. There are lots of pictures (plus!). The book is called Spin Control.

I've also been researching spinning wheels and this is the one I'm dreaming about owning...


Beautiful, isn't it?