Between Maseru and Maputsoe is at town known for their weavings. We stopped at one of three weaving outlets suggested in our guidebooks. The front room of the building was made out of cans and is where the weavings are displayed and sold. The back room is where the looms are and where the tapestries are made.

We stopped at each loom and watched the artisan weave their tapestry. Amazed by the deftness of their fingers, and the beauty of their work.

As we walked in, I was immediately taken by a tapestry that was hanging that was of the mountains and trees in deep hues of green, purple and blue. The more I looked at it, the more I questioned whether it would feel too dark in our home. Then I saw this incredible tapestry of a woman with a water jug on her head. Her dress was a deep red. The colors were bold, not bright but bold and beautiful. I fell in love with it. Niko took one look at it and said he like us to find another one. He feels like we have enough art of woman in our house and would like to balance it with something more gender neutral. And so we went back and forth and chose a weaving that depicted village life in Lesotho to hang in our living room.

I just cannot stop thinking about the woman with the jar. I am beginning to realize that when we find something we love we should not be so quick to let it go. It is important to find a compromise with those who share our space for what goes in our shared space. However, I also know that I could have hung her in my office. I like the one we got, but I do not love it, nor am I moved by it as I was with the woman with the jar. With art, should we go with what we love, or with what fits, or compromise on something that everyone likes enough? I think with art, we should go for that which speaks to our soul and save the compromise to where it will be displayed.