Clementine

Things I've Found in the Woods

2009-11-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

"Moss Cake"

Painting Faces

2009-11-02T10:47:00.003-05:00

Halloween was sorta sad this year: nothing ruins a good trick-or-treat like a drenching rain. I went to Elmer's hoping to get some great pix of kids in costume, getting their faces painted by Nan (small town business owner/New Orleans Jazz Fest Art Director). I left having only taken about 5 pictures total—mostly because I felt weird taking pictures of other people's children. Am I the only one who feels creepy doing that?

I also wanted to share this short film that won our town's 3rd annual film festival this year. Set at Elmer's, it stars several of my coworkers and involves a music scene (featuring several local singer/songwriters, see if you know 'em) that was filmed one day while I was working. Fun! It's a pretty dang cute and funny short, I think you'll enjoy it. Plus, now you'll have a mental image of where I work every Sunday (and where, despite my promises, I did not greet each new customer with a menu and a "Welcome to Autumn, F*ckheads!" yesterday).

Things I've Found in the Woods

2009-10-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

"About face"

Summit House, Mount Holyoke

2009-10-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

Here's a view of what awaits at the top of Mount Holyoke (the hill, not the college). The Summit House was once a hotel, one of several "mountaintop hotels" in New England... and, trust me, they're using "mountain" in the East Coast sense; elevation=900-something feet. But the base is almost at sea level, I'll give 'em that. There was once a funicular that carried visitors up the (verrrry steep) hill from the Halfway House. You can see the red roof of the HH at the bottom of the photo below.

From the DCR website comes this very Ken Burns-esque notion of Mt. Holyoke:

From the early 1800s, Mt. Holyoke played a significant role in the cultural identity of the United States. The view from the summit – cultivated farm fields, framed by rugged mountain and impenetrable forest – told the story of a young nation transforming itself from wilderness into a civilized landscape. It was this vista that made Mount Holyoke an important tourist destination in those days, second only to Niagara Falls.

I chose an overcast day to make the hike up Mt. Holyoke. And since it was after Columbus Day, the Summit House was closed for the season. But the ladybugs hadn't gotten—or hadn't bothered to heed—their eviction notice. A closer look reveals that every little black speck in all these other photos is actually a ladybug. The place was covered in them.

It was so strange to imagine vacationing up there, once upon a time, at the "top of a mountain" that's actually at a lower elevation than the house in which I live (at 1700 feet or so, for those who like to know those things.) But the view—yes, the view was quite expansive.

Things I've Found in the Woods

2009-10-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

"Thorned sides"

Hard frost

2009-10-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

It seems rather silly to be posting these photos of last week's hard frost now that it's SNOWING here. That's right, snowing. All. Day. Long. Sunday. Like that, the growing season has ended. Nothing left to do but cut down the blackened remnants of another ethereal, ephemeral season. *sigh*. I'm not ready for you, yet, Winter.

Things I've Found In the Woods

2009-10-16T00:01:00.001-04:00

"Whorled"

Greylock Summit

2009-10-13T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's a little after the fact, but I wanted to share these photos of the incredible cloud masses and fall color my friend Mary and I found at the summit of Mt. Greylock last week. It was a fantastic hike. I made Mary go waaaaaaay farther than she'd anticipated, but the reward? An incredible view from Stony Ledge, which the last photo only hints at. I love Western Mass in the fall. (plus, how cool is that ceiling in the war memorial tower??)

Things I've Found In the Woods

2009-10-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

"Beauty and the Beast"

...which also begat "Beauties and the Beast"

(So, clearly, the Japanese Anemone are not from the woods. But that moldy, phallic mushroom? Straight from the depths of the forest. I certainly did not grow that.)

Things I've Found In the Woods

2009-10-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

I'm a collector. In in the woods or in the fields, I'll often pick things up off the ground and stick them in my pocket. There was one hike in particular, I remember I walked home with a dozen large rocks filling every pocket.

Inspired by Mrs. French's new flickr group, I've decided to start documenting the various things I find and feel compelled to keep. Join me here every week to see what new thing or things have caught my eye. And as always, click to enlarge. :)

"Time devours all things" —Ovid

Scintillating Dog Videos

2009-09-30T11:53:00.007-04:00

Just because I can, I made some videos of everyone's favorite chocolate lab at his preferred swimming spot. The first two are of Zeke trying to encourage me to WALK FASTER AND GET THERE ALREADY (PREFERABLY WITH A STICK OR TWO). The second two are, unfortunately, totally backlit, but you'll get the general idea of dog + sticks + water. Oh, and you'll get to hear me yammering at him (and breathing and grunting--sorry!), as I generally do. See if you can hear the cute wheezing noise Zeke makes while doing the doggie paddle.

Falling Slowly

2009-09-23T12:05:00.006-04:00

It has begun, folks. The the slow fade, the turning inward. We've already had two light frosts. I'm relishing the smaller moments, a bee on the echinacea, a frog in the grass. Here's what it looks like around these parts right now.

On my fall garden to-do list:

* dig up the dahlias, let them dry out, then put the tubers in paper bags for winter storage
* mulch the beds (I'll admit, this is the one I'm least likely to get to)
* finally plant the Montauk Daisies I got weeks ago
* plant my new spring bulbs
* dig up and re-plant 2 lilacs that I accidentally planted in an ant-infested hell-patch

what's on your fall garden to-do list?

Breaking Through

2009-09-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

Everyone's favorite chocolate lab, Zeke, had a little setback a few weeks ago—in the form of a huge, tennis-ball-sized abscess on his chin. Ewww. He had surgery and required plastic drains for a few days: even more Ewww! That meant steroids, antibiotics, and strict instructions not to go in any water. None. Zip. Zilch. Zeke rode it all out like a champ, but I knew he was yearning for a swim.

So yesterday, after we went to get his stitches out, we went down to Wilcox Hollow, a little flat-water oasis between two dams on the Deerfield River in Shelburne, Ma. Zeke was so happy. The sun was making its best attempt to break out, and the hazy cloud cover made for the coolest reflections in the water. All in all, a great little break for a person and a pup.

barnyard

2009-09-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

Well, they're not puppies, but they're still pretty cool.

I love a good, old barn, full of cobwebs, slanted rays of sun, and young, spindly-legged hens.

don't look now.

2009-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

Seriously. Sit down first.
Then look.

Because, well........

PUPPIES.

They're five weeks old. There are 7 of them, all black labs bred by Laurie and Joe Frye in Goshen, MA.

I hope your Labor Day looks a lot like this—limbs akimbo, eyes half-closed.
Happy Labor Day :)

Meet me at the midway

2009-09-01T11:42:00.002-04:00

Join me at what might just be the nation's most adorable summertime ritual: the country fair. There are lots of fairs in Western Mass, including the Tri-County Fair in Greenfield, the 3-county Fair in Northampton (where do they come up with these names?) and the mother of them all, The Big E in Springfield. But my favorite is and always has been the little Cummington Fair. This year was the 141st Annual Cummington Fair. This fair has been happening every year since 1868—amazing, right? It's primarily a livestock and agricultural fair, with a midway thrown in for fun. So come, take a stroll, here's what we'll see:

Antique tractors!

Sheep!

(Why are these girls wearing red t-shirts? I have no idea.)

Poultry!

Agricultural delights!
Cows!
Food!

And everyone's favorite:
the Midway!

There was also a fantastic Demolition Derby on Friday night, but it was too dark and rainy for photos. Next year!

Happy Trails

2009-08-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

I had a little bump in the road with the old "one big hike per week" resolution—a bump that my new physical therapist thinks is compressed discs in my mid-back. Wow, way to make me feel old, body—thanks!

So I took two weeks off to speed some healing and I just got back to going on "real" hikes yesterday. I was pressed for time, so I just did a little one—South Sugarloaf in Deerfield, MA. I have to say, there's nothing that makes you feel more self-conscious than hiking and huffing and sweating to the top of a hill and then mingling with all the folks who drove up the mountain road to the summit. The attraction of Sugarloaf is a nearly-iconic view of the Connecticut River valley, the Holyoke mountain range, and the patchwork of fields in between.

As I wound my way up the smallest, narrowest spiral staircase I've ever been on to the top of the observation tower, a charming older man below me said to his friend, "I bet this is lots of fun when a girl in a miniskirt is above you!" Yes, I'm sure that makes for a grand time all around. Then, as we shared the 5x5 foot square deck, one of the (old, chubby) charming men pointed to a man nearing the summit on the road—"Look at him, he jogged up here." His friend said "Eh, jogging is bad for your knees." Truer words have never been spoken by an old dude who drove his car up to the top of a 700ft hill to take in the view.

Sparkly!

2009-08-25T13:04:00.004-04:00

So I've kinda been neglecting my little bead-n-stuff destash shop, LuluBeads. But I've got so many supplies that I can't possibly ever use--it's time to refill the shop. And looky here! Gorgeous cubic zirconia stones, tons and tons of 'em, just waiting for someone to incorporate them into some PMC or artclay or metalwork projects. Plus, aren't these pix hotttt? I want to blow them up and put them above my desk or something. If you make jewelry, come by and see what I've got in the shop!

Book Review

2009-08-23T00:01:00.001-04:00

In today's New York Times Book Review, my father's memoir. We knew the book was assigned for review several months ago; my mom and I had given up hope that the review would run. But low and behold, here it is. And as my mom said, "boy, did that reviewer sure have Bob's number." Especially that part about the Morphine haze! Oh, if she only knew.

My dad would have been ecstatic to see this review. Please excuse me while I shed a few tears—grief and pride, combined.

the living is easy

2009-08-19T10:57:00.007-04:00

Finally, it's summer. Hot, hazy, humid. Just in time for the back-to-school push.

I celebrated this past weekend with a music festival. Outdoors + Josh Ritter = swoooooon. The first ever MASS MoCA music festival was really quite nice. Great food (and totally reasonably priced, to boot) and local BBC beer on tap. Carleen and I found a spot on the grass and spread out a blanket. The mill architecture was brilliantly lit. When Josh came on to close out the fest, we abandoned the blanket and parked ourselves front-and-center. The only disappointment? He didn't do "Kathleen." Boo to that. (Oh, and for Carleen, it was spotting the wedding ring on his hand.) But all in all, a lovely way to spend a summer Saturday.

Holy mother of all sales

2009-08-12T10:08:00.003-04:00

Okay, you know I have a deep, deep love of all things Bailey Doesn't Bark. Seriously, I think RJ is this --><-- close to taking out a restraining order on me and my effusive, loving mouth (that sounded gross, but I think you know what I mean). Holy shiznit, people, she's having a 50% off sale right now! On EVERYTHING. She's off to Ireland so everything will ship in a few weeks when she's back. But holy cow. I think I did well, I only bought 3 things. But then I emailed my mother and told her what she needed to buy.

There's a coupon code involved, you'll have to click on over to the announcement on Heart Handmade to see the deets. Then shop till you can't breathe!

Super Summer Sale!

2009-08-07T12:58:00.002-04:00

The goldenrod is out, the cicadas are droning.... It's time for the late summer Clementine clearance! I've got so much cool stuff waiting for its fall debut, but first I've got to make some room. So I've put a large number of items on sale, some up to 40% off! Come treat yourself or someone you love—everything here is on sale.

Flowers make everything better.

2009-08-06T07:00:00.002-04:00

These flowers are for you, my sweet blog readers. Because they're lovely. Because you've been so kind with your comments recently! Because summer is so fleeting. Because I have A TON OF PHOTOS OF FLOWERS IN MY IPHOTO. I might be slightly obsessed with taking pictures of flowers. Also, did I mention they're lovely? :)

Stamp Envy

2009-08-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

I got a package from Finland recently. The stamps were the most amazing I'd ever seen. I had no idea stamps could be sexy. Those crazy Scandanavians! They are so frickin' cool. I'm seriously considering framing this envelope. Such a shame they had to be run through the machine. Though the cancel gives them a certain rock-'n-roll vibe, I guess. Or street cred?

Fall preview

2009-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

My fall collection is really starting to come together. I'm loving the idea of affordable little luxuries—lush gemstones, 14k goldfill, unusual combinations. Here's a sneak peek—these pretties will be hitting the shop in the next few weeks.