The Power of Women in Detroit

Detroit Skyline & River Photo by ERSwett

I used to 
like to travel, until
I discovered that it wore me
out. More recently, though, I have been
teaching myself how to sustain myself and find joy
even when away from home. So when in
Detroit to visit family last week, I 
explored on foot & in a car,
with my camera and
an open heart. 

Morning Glory Coffee & Pastries Photo by ERSwett

Coffee Pie at Sister Pie Photo by ERSwett

Taking breaks
for treats & coffee 
may be a cliche, but it's a
thing. Delicious coffees and pies in
interesting places run by cool
people warms my
body and my
​soul.

Walking in Grosse Pointe Farms Photo by ERSwett

Walking sustains
​energy, as does witnessing
creative Little Free
​Libraries...

Little Free Library in MI Photo by ERSwett

Belle Isle Little Free Library Photo by ERSwett

and eclectic
gardens on street
corners inviting me to
'Be Patient.' 

A cool garden in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Photo by ERSwett

Once again
I found myself
between generations,
sitting with Aunt Al waiting
for the dog walker to arrive and,
later in the day, celebrating my godson's
14th birthday on the 14th with a
celebrated 'Bumpy Cake.'
Who knew?

Waiting for the Dog Walker Photo by ERSwett

The Bumpy Cake Photo by ERSwett

In the midst of it all,
I was surrounded by strong
women figuring out how to find joy
in various messy places - from
single-motherhood to 
compost.

Henry the dog brings joy to his family Photo by ERSwett

You got it.
Compost. I just
can't not seek it out.
In this case, I explored Detroit
Dirt, a thriving organization that processes
food waste and animal manure
between old warehouses
and the highway.

Compost at Detroit Dirt Photo by ERSwett

As I stood among 
the eight mounds of compost,
trying to keep warm as it snowed and
the wind blew, I felt the power of earth's capacity
to renew itself. It takes energy to create
life from waste, but that is just
what the amazing Pashon
Murray is doing.

Detroit Dirt Photo by ERSwett

With Pashon Murray at Detroit Dirt Photo by ERSwett

Three days before
the Women's March 2020,
I was surrounded by strong feminine
energy, the kind of energy that changes the
world. Scraps to soil. Soil to plants.
Plants to life-giving energy
so that we can
​breath.

Focusing on Everything at The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory Photo by ERSwett

After Detroit
Dirt, I visited the Anna
Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
in Belle Isle Park. Anna's story is impressive,
but while there, warm and protected from freezing
breezes blowing off the Detroit River, I thought about the
power of focus - - When we focus on one thing, often something
right in front of us, there is clarity and purpose. Trying to
see and do it all just gets confusing. It's funny to
me how I notice the bird sculpture more
when it is blurred in the background,
than when I tried to get it and
everything else in focus.

Focusing on Ferns at The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory Photo by ERSwett

So when not
exploring and playing
with extended family, I made
time to read and sew, taking a media
holiday of sorts. I hadn't planned it this way,
but it turns out I read about another inspiring and game-
changing woman, Rebecca Burgess and the Fibershed Project.
The subtitle "Growing a Movement of Farmers,
Fashion Activists, and Makers for a 
New Textile Economy" 
connects to, well,
​everything.

Fibershed, By Rebecca Burgess Photo by ERSwett

Mending a silk nightshirt Photo by ERSwett

It seems that
2020 is turning into
a year for making connections
among people, places and possessions,
in particular, clothes. Compost remains the focal
point, but clothes and their relationship to our identities
may be a parallel story line...We'll just have to see.
But I'm having fun being with people I love,
meeting people who inspire, and
feeling the power of the
feminine spirit
wherever
I go.

Living Wall, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle Park Photo By ERSwett