I have so many words and feelings that I want to express after watching this but those feelings and words are a culmination and continuance of watching you over the years and onward. I told my significant other after watching this one: “I don’t know if she knows how important and special she is to those who watch her.” I told him that I feel like you have to know but I really don’t know if you know. It could be one of those things maybe in which we don’t see ourselves as the magnificent creatures we are but those existing in our realm with us definitely see us in this way. Even though I don’t read through all of your comments, I know other folks have expressed these sentiments with you. I hope you know and feel how utterly moved you make people feel. I literally have never met anyone like you. Ha, I haven’t even met you. Actually, hang on, I just thought of my best friend. You are you and there is no one like you but you would be akin to her. Her name is also Amy. You are a gem, the only one in existence, a glimmer in a moment, an hour, a day, a year, years. Thank you for continuing to do this and literally light up lives, dear friend. ❤
Amy Beth!!! I have a MA in Critical Disability Studies. You did a great job outlining the medical vs social model of disability. I research and write mostly about fatness as a disability through the social lens. Once you start seeing it, it’s hard to unsee how inaccessible the world can be. Yay! Glad you’re learning and leaning into this.
Thank you!!! RU-vid brought you back to my feed at a beautiful time (about 2 episodes ago). Your enthusiasm, intelligence and willingness to share are a treat. I could be sucked down the rabbit holes right with and love living vicariously from northern BC, Canada.
I grew up visiting Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. That’s where my love of fiber arts began. I was about 8 years old and watched a weaving demonstration and was fascinated. My parents bought me a rigid heddle loom and weaving lessons for Christmas that year. 50 years later, I still have that little loom and too much fibery related goodness to count.
We have an island in Burnie, Tasmania, Australia that is affectionally known as 'Bunny Island'. It's a fairly small plot of land between the lanes of highway that cut through. Many bunnies can be seen as cars whiz by and children love it. The food seems to be getting scarce though and I often notice pellets thrown around to feed them.
Amy Beth! You are a DELIGHT. My older brother shenanigized to sneak and stay over night in his college library. He hid in an AV cabinet ( this was 30 years ago). When the librarian did her night rounds before closing the library, she checked the AV cabinet he was hiding in and had a real life, literal heart attack. She was fine, but let this be a lesson young ones! He was THIIIIIIS close from getting kicked out of college. I hope you enjoyed your overnight Shaker stay with the Jersey Cow and it's bff the unknown sheep.❤
Definitely down for a bog and/or shaker craft retreat. And it only makes sense that you and Lindy West are good friends. I didn’t know she had a podcast, but it’s on my list now! ❤
Thank you! I have wanted to watch your podcast for the past 2 weeks but I'm kinda glad life has been too busy and I got to save this for a much needed joy break this evening. My oldest kiddo (they're still a kiddo even though they're over 20, right?) was born with a physical disability and has used a wheelchair for most of her mobility for most of her life and we both loved the book Sitting Pretty. Another great book, if you should like to read more, is Disability Visibility by Alice Wong.
I am 55, round, and happiest in a bog. Some of my people were originally Pennsylvania Dutch, so I would have loved to see the Shaker Village with you. Bog Folk unite! Hugs (Oh, look at Margaret & Margaret for Shaker Samplers.)
From the mixed up files….. is one of my favorite books. I loved it so much, read it so many times. I strive to be organized like Mrs Basil-labeled folders that make sense to me. Middle aged woman lacking estrogen and progesterone here. I hadn’t thought about muscle weakness and menopause link. I will investigate. Yes to feeling exhausted after workouts. I love zumba! 💃 I am so sorry that Annie is feeling unwell. I have been hoarding a stash of Sumo Citrus since January. Here is my best one for you to maybe help your spirits 🧡🧡 🍊. And a hello to the temporarily home for summer teen. Sounds like spring semester was good. Exciting to return for summer semester. Keep up the great work, offspring!
Hello from Vancouver BC. You would be such an amazing teacher. The students would benefit immensely from your thoughtfulness, enthusiasm and shenanigans. How lucky they would be. Love your stories as they are hilarious and I learn alot.
After years of hip issues, due to work and lots of sports, I got serious about glute activation. Now I start every run/ lower body weight workout by doing a glute activation video from Julia Reppel on RU-vid and I rarely have hip pain post workout. Your mileage may vary, but I highly recommend bonding with your glutes😊
We visited Hancock Shaker village in Pittsfield MA. They’re known for their round barn- believing that evil lurks in the corners of a building. The bag I just bought is so nice! Truly quality. Hugs
Oh Amy Beth! I will be a bog buddie and lay on the floor after the gym! That so sounds like my life after any form of exercise. Love it when you pop up in my feed, I know good times and chatter are coming. Know how special you are that you bring a spot of joy to our days. Hugs!
Amy Beth you would love rural Scandinavia. Come visit me in Denmark and we will go hiking through other people’s fields (public trails though private land is common) with grazing sheep or cows. And go to the historic museums where people spend their summer holiday living as in the Viking age or other ages. And we have nice yarn too😁
We have a Hogback…locals call it Hogsback…it’s meant for teens not us that have been adulting for a long time. 😂 I have friends who attempt occasionally and regret it. I love to hike flatish, low impact, minimal change in elevation type trails. Living above 5000’ makes this a little hard to come by. It takes days to recover. I’m fit nearing 57, hanging on to the ovaries, and am no longer a big lady. I will gladly bog with y’all. 🌈🌈🦋🦋
I am a very physcially active woman of 74. About 10 years ago I started fainting. Doctor found (after much testing) that I as anemic. He said the iron carries the oxygen to the muscles and when anemic. When I was at the gym I used up my oxygen supply too quickly because there wasn't enough iron to get it to the muscles. So I fainted( Natures way to protect the organs). Took iron supplements and my tireness and fainting quit. My experience sounds alot like what you are going through.
Listening to this a month - two months late - but stopping in to say that is it normal to feel like a bog lady after you‘ve been to the gym. You work your body really hard in new ways, and it needs time to adapt. Keep doing it, and you will feel less like a bog lady after every time.
Btw, I‘m 55, 190lbs and recently started running again. My legs and hips were not happy with me, but they are getting used to it, thanks to pilates ;-)
I’m an Occupational Therapist in Ireland. One of my favourite models as OT is the PEOP model: Person, Environment, Occupation needs to be in balance for optimal Performance. If that means adapting the environment for example that’s it then. #nolimits
Your gorgeous folk cross stitch would be such a lovely pillow as would your skeleton in a coffin. Your knitting is always gorgeous. Thank you for a great watch.
Over 40, fat, and fallopian free... still have the ovaries... but I've had bad hips forever, darn those genetics. I believe a Wallowing In The Bog retreat sounds wonderful!
From the Files . . . super book. Also, two different videos of it are available. Too bad I live so far away from the Shaker Village. I would have loved being there! In the movie "Cold Mountain". it has a Shaker church. The music is authentic and BEAUTIFUL!!!
You are such a delight, Amy! I can so relate. That Devil's Spine hike sounds TERRIFYING. In my case... age: 64, overweight: yup, ovaries: long retired. I have intermittent knee and hip problems. I have been doing pilates for about 3 years now, which has helped. But I don't get nearly enough aerobic activity because I am very much a Bog Woman who has worked from home much of my adult life. The bog is soooo yummy and I never need a bra. Glug glug glug.
I had a hysterectomy also but on L side... it was 12 years ago and now it feels sore, like a pulled muscle almost all the time and Im worried it might become a hernia... not sure if you can prevent hernia from long time scar... but its so good you are exercising, its always good for us knitters to get out and move around even a little walk! thanks for the book recommendations!
Hey girlfriend, you are one of the funniest f-ing people I know. I have so, so many comments, but will spare the readers of these comments and share just a few. 1) Shakers - when I was growing up, my Father was obsessed with the Shakers. We visited several Shaker Villages and museums. My Father had every book and listened to recording of the Shakers singing and stomping on a near daily basis. I felt as if I was with you in spirit during the telling of your visit (apologies to your husband for crashing your vacation). 2) From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler - one of my most favorite books. For any place that I visit and love, I spend too much time trying to figure out how and where to hide so that I can spend the night. 3) Fat Bog Witch - I am one. I'm getting t-shirts made in case anyone is interested. 4). Podcast and Book recommendations - I have subscribed to every podcast and book recommended (Text Me Back is a new fave and so damn hysterical. *Beware of the possibility of peeing in your pants). 5) We need a TFSS book club. I love you forever!
Audiobook rec for you (if you haven't already ...): Milkman by Anna Burns, narrated by Brid Brennan. Set in Northern Ireland during the 1970s and The Troubles. Stylistically mesmerizing, and one of the best narrations of a book I've ever listened to. Would love to hear your take on it. Also, for an epic Shaker-related tale, check out The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks.
Hello! Fellow fat lady here. 52, post menopausal, 295. I freaking love the gym. It’s not the hips for me but the knees. Yes it kicked my ass when I started and I was a bog being for the afternoon and it still wears me out 6 months later but not nearly as bad. Just keep at it. Also I’m not sure what you’re doing at the gym, but I’m all about the weight lifting and it has been a huge help to my stamina. It’s amazingly good for our bodies especially as estrogen dominant beings.
Thank you so much for the hope that it will get a bit less exhausting…I am focusing on lifting heavy for better aging, with a bit of cardio for better mental health.
Enjoyable and educational as always. Read the Scary Sampler pattern notes, it's full of pop culture objects and references. The numbers are from the show Lost.
I miss the call of the bobwhite. I used to hear it all the time where I lived as a kid, it always cracked me up because it wasn't all chirpy like most birds. My yard here is mostly robins we have more than a dozen pairs that come back every year, this year though we actually got a pair of mourning doves, and a pair of blackbirds. I also have a sparrow pair that put up a nest on my back porch every year. But its mostly robins in the back yard, bullying crows in the front yard and the random other bird here or there, cardinals passing though, blue jays, but those don't stay for any length of time.
I’m 49 and my right hip bothers me. When I’m consistent with bikram yoga, it feels great. But, if I stop for whatever reason it starts acting up. If interested, you get a space heater and heat up a room. And you can find a 60 min bikram yoga video on RU-vid and do it at home. It’s intense. But it helps. Maybe some other type of yoga will help? Best wishes!
Amy Beth, be careful about hormonal therapies. The fatter we are, the more estrogen we make. Breast cancer can be caused by estrogen. Mine was. Hormonal therapy may contain--and probably does contain--estrogen. Be careful. I still have ovaries, but was post menopausal when I got breast cancer. Good luck.
