Sunday, September 16, 2012

losing the narrative


Today is the last day the store will be open. I'm not there--Harriet is taking care of things. It's just too strange and awkward, and a little sad to be in charge of my own clearance sale.


The store has been the spine of this blog, 
an identity beyond myself. 


I feel like I'm losing the narrative flow here.
 When I take disparate scraps and turn them into a collage, 
my goal is for the sum to be greater than the parts.


I hope that my love of books, history, and nature; 
occasional trips to auctions and elsewhere, 
will give me interesting observations and experiences to share with you
without the store to hide behind.


25 comments:

  1. Gosh Jen, you have so very much to share beyond your store. It seems like I can always count on you to know certain books and places that others don't know. I enjoy how you've expressed yourself here and know there will still be much for you to share as time moves forward.

    Meanwhile, I'm sorry the store is closing. I know it must be hard, but am sure there are many adventures and challenges ahead for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could write a post every day about books!
      Thank you.

      Delete
  2. Hello Jen:
    Let us add our voices to that of Rubye's above. Dearest Jen you are so very much more than your store. You are a wonderful observer of life in general and nature in particular, you have an artist's eye for the unusual and beautiful and you have a natural curiosity in so many things that you will surely have much to say in this corner of the Blogosphere for the future.

    We too are sad to think of the store closing and shall think fondly of it each time the 'Field Bag' goes out with us. But, Life is all about change....new adventures await...!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!

      Delete
  3. you don't need anything to hide behind. if it wasn't for your personality shining through everything, having shone through everything, your store wouldn't have been enough to carry this blog. it is you. it was you all along. so don't worry. I'll definitely come back, with our without your store! but I know it must be hard to let go. I'm sure the next big thing is just around the corner.

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate that--I always hide behind things; am trying to learn to just be...

      Delete
  4. I get it. I feel like the shop and I are a single entity sometimes and who am I without it? But "what does not change is the will to change", and we make room for our new passions. (you know what mine is)!!! I look forward to your daffodil planting, reports on your auction visits and the beauty of the mountains. Who knows what else is ahead? xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always knew that the shop was a fling, and not a lifelong commitment. It's been the heart of this blog though, and I feel a little lost here without it. I'll figure it out.

      Delete
  5. Jen, i think that not being bound by the shop as your main theme will let you be more creative! its fun to change directions with your blog...i look forward reading your posts to come!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you have an interesting view of the world and anything through your eyes, your filter will be interesting to many.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a little sad to hear that today is the last day for your store. You have cllected very inspiring things and you will do for you as you did for the store, Jen. I look forward to hear what you'll find around you, in nature , in books and more...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Jen, Closing the store is a sad event that needs to be mourned and then placed in perspective. I know what you mean when you say the store was the basis for the blog--the lens through which you were able to share and impart your viewpoint. Especially since I am a latecomer here and was never very familiar with the store, I agree with the others that it is your own mind and personality that attracts people to come back here.
    --Road to Parnassus
    P.S.: With fall in the Catskills arriving, I recommend your camera as the best possilble therapy to segue into your new adventures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Get ready for an abundance of pictures of waterfalls and moss!
      Actually, now that the store has closed I'll have time to take pictures of other things. Farmhouses, barns, cows...

      Delete
  9. M-m-m. I think whatever you focus on will interest us. Your interpretations of what you observe have a freshness about them. Bon voyage -- in a figurative sense, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jen,
    Sad that the store is done, I know how you feel but now you are free to blog about whatever strikes your fancy, you will find lots of fun and interesting things to show us and talk about, I have no doubt about that!!
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am sure you will dear Jen!
    -and you still have a shop on etsy in case you want to "hide" sometimes ;)
    It would be lovely to read the stories of the beautiful objects you have there!

    Have a great week : )

    ReplyDelete
  12. oh, jen, even if you feel a little lost now, i hope and believe that your passions will bubble to the surface before long. and we, your readers and friends, just enjoy being in touch with you through your blog no matter what you choose to share with us.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jen.. the store was a by-product of your creativity and love of sharing. To borrow a well used phrase... "the world is your oyster"... this blog is your "oyster" use it as you will. Your words/photographs make us stop and appreciate, explore, and ponder... you have become a friend. One that would be sorely missed. We look forward to each post! Sending you lots of good wishes for a pleasant week... filled with all the things you treasure! Susan

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful blog..gorgeous post and lovely images! Visiting from Demie's blog!Nice to meet you.. I look forward to whatever magic you will share!
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  15. One more layer of the onion has just peeled off, revealing new skin and a slight reaction to direct sunlight.

    Just be gentle with yourself and more will be revealed.

    xo Jane

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Jen,

    You sound so sad. I think that you have much more to share with us beside your store. You live in such a beautiful part of the world and you make such pretty things. Perhaps you can even open up an Etsy shop and sell the things you find through the internet :-)

    Take care!

    Love, Madelief xox

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you dear friends all, for you kindness, good wishes and support.

    I did not not mean to sound sad, just a little lost, which I suppose is to be expected when something I've been obsessing on for two years (and sharing with you for a year and a half) is gone.

    Fortunately there are many other pieces to my life and I look forward to sharing some of them with you!

    xo,

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really enjoyed your blog. It's so baeutiful. I just keep coming back for more. Thanks!

    compare electricity providers

    ReplyDelete
  19. The narrative may change, but your voice doesn't. I'll continue to visit as long as you continue to post...

    ReplyDelete