photos: recently

projects in progress

funfetti cupcake, for you

the holyoke saint patrick's day parade, 3/22/09, photos by patrick

spring at the smith college bulb show, 3/21/09

selling girl scout cookies at the new england webcomics weekend

daffodils for a good cause

Eric Carle love

I spent yesterday afternoon at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. It's just up the road in Amherst, sitting on a beautiful spot next to Hampshire College, in the middle of an apple orchard. The architecture of the museum is breathtaking and its contents are lovely. If you've never been there, I recommend a trip, with or without kids (and when you go, don't miss the hands-on art studio).

WAMC's The Roundtable is broadcasting from the museum this morning-- I'm listening while I work right now. Word has it that Carle himself will be on later in the morning. While no longer a Valley resident, Eric Carle's influence is strong around here. Many people I know have personal and/or professional connections to the museum, the author/artist, and his work.

And guess what I just learned? Eric Carle has a blog! (I'm sure at least one of you reading knew this- Hi Meg!) There isn't much there yet, but even online his words are gentle and his stories sweet. You can check it out here.

Have a happy, sunny weekend!

Gold

Last night, walking up the steps into the elementary school, I spotted four green bursts poking through the ground next to the building. Nature's first green, right there, standing proud. I called to the 13-year-old girls walking in with me to come look. They dropped their aloof coolness for a moment to squeal with me: Spring!

The snow has retreated to just a few murky patches.
The light and shadows say brighter seasons are coming, hold on a little longer, we're almost there.



*****
photo by me, taken one year ago.

Pretty Pictures

Time for a little plug on behalf of some folks I really like-- our wedding photographers recently revamped their blog. For some mid-rainy-day prettiness, check out the new look of Upstate Photographers. I adore Paul and Brenda. Wrapping up our book layout and final products is bittersweet-- I'll miss them! I'm sure we'll be calling on them a couple years down the line for family portraits!

Antsy

Cabin fever or spring fever or just a need for something new-- whatever it is I've been mighty restless lately. In addition to letting out the occasional "argh!", the antses in my pants have led me to:

• Sign up for an art class. Starting in a couple weeks, Julia and I will be channeling our inner Van Goghs at Art Always. We're taking an eight-week course in which we'll have the chance to explore drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, fabric arts and who knows what else. Divine.
  
  
• Write. I don't know what's been keeping me from this, but it's time to just do it, no matter how crappy it is. This project was a good jump start.
• Daydream about volunteer vacations. Habitat for Humanity's Global Village program looks amazing. Not to mention the hundreds listed on Charity Channel. Reforesting, building schools, organic farming, trail preservation-- there are so many amazing opportunities out there. I'd love to do one of these with the husband.
  
  

• Researching which bike to buy this spring. I am so done with my too-big, second-hand men's mountain bike and I've been promising myself a new one for years. I'm currently drooling over this baby (the one in the photo above). I can't wait to find out what it's like to ride a bike that's actually the right size for me. Here's hoping there will be some extremely good spring sales on bicycles...
  

Along with the change in seasons, I'm hopeful that a little daydreaming and an injection of creativity will help me get over this fidgety feeling. If not, it may be time to think bigger.

Reminder

The brook would lose its song if we removed the rocks.
—Wallace Stegner

This was Today's Daily Thought from Real Simple, I thought it was worth sharing. I can't wait for spring days warm enough for creek walking...

What a beautiful day*

photo by pat, delicious funfetti cookies by julia.

There are five minutes left of my 28th birthday. A Wednesday birthday (and Ash Wednesday at that) is never as fun-filled as a weekend birthday, but today was very sweet. There was a nice lunch with my co-workers, a birthday éclair the size of my head, funny voicemails and serenades, cute phone calls, nice emails, a couple of fun packages, and a plethora of Facebook greetings. My Girl Scout troop sang an enthusiastic round of Happy Birthday, Julia baked funfetti cookies (if you like funfetti cake you need to try these cookies), Patrick picked up sushi, and Lost was extra awesome. I felt loved, and there's no better way to start off another year in the life.


*"Just like the day before, we waited together/Goddamn what a beautiful day" -Ash Wednesday, the Kamikaze Hearts