Mersydotes

What exactly is a mandala, and why are they sooooo delicious to crochet?  According to Wikipedia , "a   mandala... is a spiritual and ritual s ymbol  in H induism  and B uddhism , representing the u niverse .  In common use, 'mandala' has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos  metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm  of the universe ."   Apparently, many mandalas are circles represented symmetrically within a square, which makes me think of granny squares.  Are granny squares so relaxing to stitch because they are " a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space , and as an aid to meditation  and trance  induction?" (Wikipedia)  Imagine yourself as a little ant crawling along the stitches from the outer edge inwards, each stitch linked to the next, everything formed from a  single thread that could be unwound with a tug. ...

Two weeks ago on a Thursday evening, Mr. Mersy came home and said he had Friday and Monday off of work.  It seemed like too good of an opportunity to miss for an impromptu summer vacation.  Where to go for a long weekend?  How about Canada?!  We thought it might be nice to escape NYC over the 4th of July and head somewhere nice and quiet.  So we hopped into the car on Friday morning, tossed a suitcase in the trunk, snuggled Penny in her bed in the back seat, and drove 6 hours north till we crossed the St. Laurence and reached Montreal.  Little did we know that we'd arrived not only on Canada Day, but also smack dab in the middle of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Quebec City summer fest- it was a hopping place indeed! Montreal In Montreal there were museums and botanic gardens and fireworks and street art galore. Quebec City In Quebec C...