Shoes!

The Devonshires are a leather 18th century shoe based on museum examples from the 1760s through 1780s.  They’re made of top-grade dyable leather, with a beautiful, smooth Italian leather sole for dancing, and are hard-wearing, water- and mud-proof, for even the toughest of outdoor re-enactments.

Pre-Order the Devonshires through August 10, and get the special $100 price.  We’re only making 200 of these shoes, so don’t miss the chance to own one of only a couple hundred pair on the planet!  Visit www.american-duchess.com to order.

Cold!

So glad that I didn’t have to go out today until the temps went up! Looking forward to the “heatwave” of tomorrow. Woo hoo 30 degrees!

Work in Progress

I decided that I was going to try and create a quilt last year…and I knew it would take me a while. I didn’t think it would be this slow, though!

Cutting took the most work…but once that was over, it was just a matter of piecing together the top and adding the border.

Now, I am just waiting for my batting to arrive so that I can put the top, batting, and backing together and get this done! Its going to go on the full bed but I think my next quilt will be smaller…this seems so much bigger than it actually is.

New Beginnings

They say that it takes two weeks of doing something every day to make it a habit. Obviously, I have not been very successful at creating a few new habits in regards to writing or posting. Whoops!

I have vague resolutions for this year, only because I know that they often get forgotten or just fail.

1. Enjoy hiking the Grand Canyon
2. Finish up my kitchen
3. Take more photos
4. Apply for a higher job position
5. Get more kudos for my current position

There are others…but this is a good start.

Spectacle Island

Many of my adventures have taken me onto boats for this summer…and my trip to Spectacle Island was no different.

Spectacle Island is a 15-20 minute ferry ride out of Long Wharf in Boston and is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Today’s island has been reshaped over the years with dumping, erosion, and the fill from the Big Dig to become one of the highest points in Boston Harbor.

The National Park has a green visitor center that has CLIVUS toilets, expansive views of the city, and covered picnic area.

There are a number of trails to walk along and view the city or the lighthouse.  One of these trails takes people along the shore that is scattered with rocks and the occasional dead fish:

The other main feature of the island is the trash that is coming out of the ground and washing up on the shore…seaglass and pottery shards. As an archaeologist, I am always looking down on the sand at the beach for seaglass and random things. At Spectacle, you don’t even have to search…it is all there, but not for the taking.

The ferry to the islands is almost done, just about another month. I hope to get back out to George’s sometime before then to find the dark space again!

Since we last saw our intrepid heroine…

So, I am horrible at updating…I can’t access this site at work and I’ve been trying to be a good employee so that I can do this job for the rest of my life, if I choose…and that happened. So now, I don’t have to be as awesome as I was this summer

Here is what I’ve been doing since I last updated:
In May:

I tried to grow sunflowers…this failed epically. Mostly because there were about a million of them in a tiny pot. 3 of these plants are still alive and one just got a bud on it. How sad am I as a gardener?

I also graduated!
In June:

I went on a 10 day trip to Ireland. I enjoyed most of it, but I was sick for quite a lot of it so that sucked. I might go again just to see if the country and I are more in synch with each other when I’m not coughing myself to sleep.

In July:

I had prime seats for the reading of the Declaration of Independence off of the balcony of the Old State House. It was ok…I always forget how long that document really is, you never hear anything past the first paragraph or two.

I also went on a tour of State Street, which included the Custom House building. Gorgeous! Need to go up to their viewing area…totally worth the 3 bucks.

The next day, I went up to Beverly to try out some awesome cameras and come up with images like this.

And, I made it up and down Mt. Washington for the 7th time!

I went on a whale watch out of Gloucester…it was awesome. We saw 30 whales and had a great time!

Looking back, I realize that I did a lot of cool stuff this summer even if I didn’t think it at the time. I’m going to have to keep up the streak…I want to go find tide pools AND maybe a visit to the national parks of VT and NH if I’m ambitious!

The Price of Freedom

Mahna Mahna

If you have time, I strongly suggest that you go over to the Museum of National Heritage in Lexington to check out the “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” exhibit. It runs through June 27, 2010 and is awesome if only for the ability to be near a bunch of actual Muppet puppets.  I had already seen Oscar up close and I think I get to count Big Bird since I met and shook hands with Carroll Spinney, but I also got to see Kermit, Bert/Ernie, Rowlf, and my favs the Mahna Mahna guy and the Snowths.  There were also a few others that I did not recognize immediately because they were used for commercials, but had many features of later Muppets.

Now, you aren’t supposed to take photographs (Even though it is an exhibit by the Smithsonian and they let you take gazillions of photos) but I still did. I’m sneaky like that

A short description:

“The Museum is pleased to announce that we will host “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World” from April 3, 2010 through June 27, 2010.  The exhibition features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Henson’s talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets and television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including excerpts from Henson’s early career and experimental films.”
You can also download a podcast about the exhibit or borrow a player for free from the people at the museum. You just have to leave your ID with them.

I love that Ernie has his Rubber Duckie with him. They should have put bottlecaps in for Bert.

This now adorns my cell phone wall paper. I love Rowlf…he is a wonderful straight line guy.

Love love love!!!

Things I am obsessed with right now

1. Virtual Villages 4
2. Farmville
3. The idea of sleeping in
4. Making a quilt
5. Ireland
6. Mountains

Should be an interesting summer!

Done!

• I have finished grad school! I tried once before and it didn’t take…this time was much better. I graduate on the 14th!
• I have decided that I need a project for the summer, so I’m going to try and make a quilt
• The trip to Ireland is coming together…just have to decide how many days I want to spend where.
• Blah!