Disturb Me

image from here

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars. We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes; And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed - sir francis drake -1577

Share the Care

These two girls are doing a great job of gathering information and mobilizing support for the folks impacted by last week's terrible storms. Check the website or facebook page for information about local efforts -- however small or big.

It was a BIG day for Four Hats Press

With the help of some brawn, some brains and a heavy-duty engine lift, my Vandy made its trek from one basement to another this weekend. No small amount of hours or energy were spent to ensure the move was a smooth one. I'm so grateful to have a community of people who were willing to take on this hefty task. See below a few pictures of the process.

The fellas used a lift to extract the 2000 pound beast from one garage and up into the bed of a truck for transport. First, they removed the carriage (which I was later told is not the best idea as it's a bear to put back on),* to make the transport a bit easier.

There was a precarious moment during which the lift dropped the press down onto the concrete in a quick and heart-wrenching thud. No one was hurt in the process, and

the press survived the beating, too.

Here she is sitting atop the bed of the F350 truck. What a haus.

The trickiest part may have been getting the truck up my driveway and into the garage to be lowered to the ground.

The guys handled it with class and (from my angle, what looked like) ease.

The BIG move from Cory Bordonaro on Vimeo.

Here are the last few moments of the ordeal, the shuffling steps that put the press in it's resting place in my little studio. I love the sound of the feet on the concrete floor as they divided the weight among many hands, taking the small steps necessary to get it into the right place.

Without over-romanticizing, I actually think this moment illustrates a picture of what the last couple of years have been for me. When it came to knowing where my interest in the art of letterpress would take me, there were a lot of starts and stops. At times, the task of maneuvering my way into a world that I knew nothing of seemed entirely too big. I felt ill-equipped to find my place: a self-proclaimed crafter among real artisans. But it was -- it is-- a continual shuffle of small steps towards goals. It is a group effort, as I think on and thank the countless people who have carried my weight through their sharing, their teaching, their support.

I simply can't believe that I am now the proud owner of a Vandercook. I've woken up the past two mornings to sneak downstairs into the basement to have a look at it -- the proof that the working and waiting was not in vain. I now have cold hard proof that this adventure is real.

Thank God that though I felt like He may have had writer's block for a while, He's still writing my story.

* If you're a printer and have advice for me as I clean and replace the carriage, please do share! Any tips and/or resources are welcome.

Easter Feast

Coupled with the satisfying truth of the resurrection, it was so good to eat and be filled by this Sunday meal of:

Croque Madame c/o Cozy Kitchen

French Macaroons with Chocolate Ganache c/o Martha

And this amazing view from the front porch of my parents new home, c/o the Creator

Hope it was a Happy Easter for you and yours!

320 G-Unit

Let it be known, that in T-minus 8 days, my press makes its way into this space that I've prepared for it to live and (hopefully soon) make beautiful things!

Revolving Doors

image borrowed

I'm home with my parent's this weekend for the big move -- a departure from the only house I've ever called home. This is the house that welcomed me home from the hospital and housed me for 25 restless Christmas Eve night sleeps. It now holds a million things that require decision: give away, donate, keep, move. More than the material, this house is a reminder of the friends that filled it, the misadventures that occurred in the backyard and cul-de-sac and the meals enjoyed around the kitchen table. Nonetheless, I will help my parents and together we will leave it behind... just another cog in the wheel that keeps bringing change.

And this transition is well-timed with my personal upheaval. I, too, am on the brink of new things. As one chapter of my little life closes, I move on from a job and an existence I've known for nearly two years. One marked by leisurely mornings spent walking my neighborhood streets, Ira's voice drumming softly in my ear. One that allowed time for cooking and reading and crafting. One that afforded me the time and freedom to travel and discover new things about the art that I'm learning.

With this season ending, come a thousand little goodbyes. Not only am I seeing the end of my actual previous existence, but the hope of several that I imagined in the future for myself. For now, with pain and heartache, I realize, New York is a no-go. The same for the plan B idea I had to return to Georgia and re-carve out life there. Also extinguished is the short-lived but so-fun idea of moving to North Carolina to find work in the printing industry. The last several months have been filled with sparks of interest in every direction. Without realizing it, I put stock in every new one, and now, slowly, I have to let the idea of each fade. I have to re-acclimate to the idea of staying where I am, letting the adventure exist partly in the streets, people, and culture I already know. I pray to find the joy of that without succumbing to the ease, comfort and complacency that sometimes accompany lingering.

When Moses led the Israelites away from Egypt, he knew where he was taking them. They were not just leaving from an old way of life, they were going to a new one. And, I'm certain the Lord has used the last two years of my life to prepare me for where He intends for me to tread, even on familiar streets.

Girls Making Passes

I've spent hours digitally trying-on, at-home trial ordering, and posing in front of the mirror with new glasses from Warby Parker. The company provides free try-before-buy trials of five frames and offers feedback for the best fit. Plus they donate a pair of glasses for each one purchased. The cherry on top? All frames with Rx lenses cost a grand total of $95. Go on and have a looksy for yerself.

I know this sounds like an advertisement, but I assure you, I am not receiving a lick of payment for this endorsement.