Botanical Garden number three on our first RV trip to Nova Scotia were the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. We didn’t go out of our way for these gardens; the well-known and well loved property happened to be conveniently along our path up the west-coast. We spent the morning exploring Scottish-fields… Read More »Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
The second botanical garden on our road trip to Nova Scotia were The Wild Gardens of Acadia. Jake and I first visited Acadia National Park 11 years ago after we had just moved in together. It was an energetic trip filled with hiking mountains, climbing rocks, and picking wild blueberries.… Read More »Wild Gardens of Acadia
On our recent road trip to Nova Scotia, I passed the time as a passenger by crocheting. Reading makes me carsick, drawing anything more than a gestural sketch is a challenge on the roads, and writing can’t happen at the same time as an audiobook or the radio. Crochet is… Read More »Yak and Silk Crochet Kerchief
Jake and I took our first ever RV road trip earlier this month. We rented a small 21 foot sleeper van with a pop-top and drove 2200 miles across Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. It was cozy, cold, a lot of work, a lot of planning, and a great… Read More »Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
It’s that time of year again when I’m getting ready for our annual backyard renaissance faire. As an incentive to my guests to bring food, I host a pot-luck competition. Attendees vote on their favorite dish, and the top three winners get their choice of a prize. For two years… Read More »Pot Luck Prize, Red Cape
I have returned as promised with a posting of the finished Golf Course commissioned painting. 24×30″ acrylic on stretched canvas. Wrapped, painted edge, and ready to hang. I quite like how it turned out. I’m not used to working so large, but there’s a satisfying sharpening effect when a large… Read More »Finished Golf Course Commission
I’m back with a work in progress post. I recently finished a 24×30″ painting in acrylic of a beloved golf course on commission. With such a big painting its important to throw down a lot of color quickly to get that white canvas out of view, but with enough precision… Read More »WIP: Painting of a Golf Course
The weather is cooling off, the season is winding down, the adventures are ramping up. Where does the time go? My last posting was in early, rainy June, when summer vibes were a promise on the horizon. I haven’t finished much this summer, but there’s a lot cooking. I’ll have… Read More »2026 Summer Roundup
At the end of May we tried to attend the Robinhood Medieval Festival in Western Connecticut. I even checked the website and facebook page for weather notices before making the hour drive. Just as we, and several other cars were arriving, with clearing in the forecast, the faire announced they were… Read More »Robinhood Faire Canceled
We had a lovely and restorative nine days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, starting with a stop on the way up at the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire. The faire is on open grounds with no protection from weather, and it happened to be raining that day. With a… Read More »New Hampshire Renaissance Faire & The White Mountains Vacation
This was our most challenging fair experience to date. Year three of the Enchanted Orchard Renaissance Festival is located at a large orchard and farm in northern central Massachusetts. What was forecasted to be a 58 and partly cloudy day, morphed into a high of only 50 with all clouds… Read More »Enchanted Orchard Renaissance Faire, 2026 Review
Another story about the winter home-improvement bug. When the world was feeling particularly crazy and violent, I watched my mind latch onto new ‘problems’ directly under my control and within my power to fix. In an involuntary distraction from war, I was suddenly fixated on every imperfection on my walls… Read More »Wall Patches
Maybe it’s not so much of a makeover as I added one smart new piece of furniture and did some deep decluttering. I visited a friend who has a simple IKEA cabinet that was actually deep enough to store 18×24″ paintings flat. That’s really hard to find when it comes… Read More »Craft Room Makeover
Is a wardrobe complete without a trench coat? Well, of course it is; you don’t need all that many clothes if you don’t want. But I love clothes, and I had a gap in my spring outerwear the shape and size of a classic trench coat. A sturdy trench that… Read More »Trench Coat
Well, I worked on something fun this past month. A community member in my local social-justice activism sangha proposed the construction of a giant peace puppet to illustrate our values, and I am among the few with the know-how of how to get it done. Starting with a concept sketch… Read More »Giant Peace Puppet
Obsessed. Last week I whipped up this small hanging basket while sitting in a virtual meeting! Anyone with neurodivergence knows that fidgeting with the hands, or scribbling, enhances engagement in a meeting or lecture, and keeps the mind from wandering. I used unbleached cotton macrame rope and a 6.5mm crochet… Read More »Small Crochet Hanging Basket
I have finished a watercolor painting in 2026. Between all my other hobbies, work, and a busy social calendar, I try to make sure I do one painting a year just for me. The bulk of that painting usually occurs in January. After the holiday rush, as the weather is… Read More »Watercolor Painting, Neighbor’s Barn
Happy New Year! I hope everyone’s winter transition has been smooth. After the holidays I like to slow down and dive into cozy winter hobbies. It’s the time of year when I paint, drum, do more yoga, and of course crochet by the fire. I still make an effort to… Read More »Crochet Pouf
I crocheted a beach bag as a Christmas gift. I’ve made a bag similar to this before, so I knew I could make it nice. I made up the pattern starting with an oval single-crocheted in-the-round. When the bottom was the desired size, I stopped the increases to take the… Read More »Crochet Beach Bag Gift
What do you wear for a coat when you want to dress up in the winter? Puffer jackets and anything nylon feel decidedly informal to me, and don’t belong over a gown or a costume. A pea-coat is better, but they’re so itchy and I decluttered mine last year. There… Read More »Formal Wool Green Winter Cape
In late November we celebrated our sixth annual Family Plague Faire. This is a backyard renaissance faire that my husband and I started in 2020 which we host for all our friends. This year the timing worked out that the faire was the weekend of my birthday, so the theme… Read More »Family Plague Faire 2025
I am on such a roll making and posting things! Today is about medieval hats. Since every event requires at least a new accessory in my compulsion, I’ve made three new hats. I wanted to be the center-of-attention at my combined Plague Faire Birthday Party a few weeks ago, and… Read More »Medieval Circle Hats
A quick post for a project that took me a year. I wanted to make something big, but without a pattern or counting, so I endeavored to make Jake a poncho. This mass of yarn lived next to the couch for the better part of a year and I’d chip… Read More »Crochet Poncho
A few weeks ago, the studio where I dance hosted a fall-exhibition show on a big fancy stage. Our troupe ‘Eternal Rose’ featured prominently with four group dances overall. I myself danced my first ever solo performance, which I also choreographed. We’ve been working up to this show all year,… Read More »Imagine: 2025 Studio Exhibition
From the Isle of Skye to mainland Scotland, we drove straight to the Loch Ness where we took a rainy walk in a forest along its famed shores. Our time near Inverness happened to coincide with a giant marathon! So we had to be mindful of detours and road closures… Read More »Inspirational Tour of the British Isles Part IV: Scotland Part II
By the time this publishes the big dance recital will have passed. A studio showcase in a fancy theatre, and my first public solo-performance. I sewed myself a big belly-dance belt for the explicit purpose of taking up more space on the stage and highlighting some of the movements. It… Read More »Big Dance Belt
We arrived in Scotland after a short early-morning flight from Dublin, picked up our rental car before the sun had breached the horizon, and embarked on a 1.5-hour drive from Glasgow to Lock Lamond via scenic A-82 through Trossachs National Park. The views were stunning, and the traffic at that… Read More »Inspirational Tour of British Isles Part III: Scotland Part I
This weekend was peak fall. Peak foliage, amazing clear weather (if a little warm), and a full schedule of costumed activities. Starting with the last weekend of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire. This has become our most local faire that we attend annually and it keeps expanding! This year there were… Read More »CT Renaissance Faire 2025 & Costume Party
Northern Ireland was surprisingly wonderful. You don’t hear very much about the country as a tourist destination. The Northern Ireland flag isn’t even an available emoji on my phone! Months ago I read a book on the history of the Island to have a better understanding of the division and… Read More »Inspirational Tour of British Isles, Part Two: Northern Ireland
I’m back from a two week vacation in Europe with my husband Jake. The longest vacation we’ve ever taken. It was a unique opportunity to disengage from daily routines, stressors, and the news and explore beautiful ancestral landscapes. We always get great weather when we go on vacation–even when it rains,… Read More »Inspirational Tour of British Isles, Part One: Ireland
The first prize for Plague Faire, 2025 is finished. I whipped up this ‘Blue Mage Hood’ from some gorgeous blue cotton canvas from the stash. The drape on this fabric is exceptional; it really holds volume even without a lining. The edges are surged and hemmed, and the one-size hood… Read More »Faire Prize 2025, Blue Mage Hood
Getting rid of things is hard and maybe you can relate. I don’t want useable things to end up in a landfill, and what if I could cannibalize the thing someday for a craft? Anyway, artists tend to hold onto more than they need, waiting for the right opportunity to… Read More »Retail Space at Yellow Bear Market
Today is my brother’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Eric! My morning meditation has been rolling dill seeds off their dried flower-heads. I know that the season is shortly coming to an end when the mornings dip below 60 degrees in mid to late August. My gentle approach to the garden this… Read More »Big Garden Yields, ’25
Wow, look at me using all of a particular fabric in short order rather than letting remnants sit in the stash for 20 years! Last week I showed you a jumpsuit that I sewed from this printed cotton, and this week I have an equally summery tie-on-dress. A cross between… Read More »Printed Cotton Tie-on Dress
This summer has been so hot!! The humidity and unusual stretches of high (90s+) heat in the northeast have been a brutal symptom of a rapidly changing climate. I’m over here trying to find a little joy and comfort in clothing. I’ve always loved clothes; they impact my mood and… Read More »Printed Cotton Jumpsuit
Back to painting that rock wall! The paint is dry and finished. Here’s the final look before the holds go on. As mentioned last week, I wanted to use neutral colors to give it a natural outdoorsy-rock-alpine feel. I found the most amazing green in the Home Depot Clearance paint… Read More »Basement Rock Climbing Wall Part 2
This one’s been a long time coming. I think it was maybe three Christmases ago Jake bought some climbing holds and promised to build me a climbing wall in the basement. We’ve fallen out of our climbing habit because the gym is 45 minutes away and we both work full… Read More »Basement Rock Climbing Wall Part 1
Dance troupe photoshoot part 2, inside, red costume! Like two weeks ago, these are just a few of my favorites. We are very fortunate to dance in a beautiful old mill building. The best part was no mosquitos inside, and we had the place mostly to ourselves on a quiet… Read More »Troupe Shoot Part 2
Buns in a bag. I’m learning to modify several bread recipes to be made in a ziploc gallon bag, using the refrigerator, over several days, with very short bursts of labor. Even starting days in advance, I find that this method of cooking saves time, is easy to accomplish in… Read More »Buns in a Bag Bread Recipe
The studio where I dance hosted a photoshoot for our very cute troupe so that we will have some proper shots to share with venues for show promotion. Here are a few of my favorites from part one, outdoors in blue. There is a river that runs right behind the… Read More »Troupe Shoot Part 1
A very old and close friend of mine recently graduated with her Masters Degree. This woman also has a tattoo of her dog’s face. I thought she might appreciate a portrait of her dog as congratulations. This little lady is named Daisy. I have many years experience in human caricatures,… Read More »Proud Little Pet Portrait
Strawberries are known to spread. A year or two ago we bought two plants at a farmers market and made a strawberry bed out of an old pond. We converted the pond to a planter by drilling a bunch of large holes in the bottom for drainage and filling with… Read More »New Strawberry Garden
Something like seven years ago we installed cedar raised garden beds in the backyard in front of the daylily farm of the previous owner. Cedar is supposed to be rot-resistant and last a long time. Well, seven years seems to be about the length of its lifespan. The garden bed… Read More »Old Garden Bed Makeover
I have been making a lot of focaccia in a bag. It’s very easy with a few days of passive work and has become a staple when I throw brunch, host a holiday, attend a party, or travel. It’s a good way to use the many herbs that I grow,… Read More »Updated Simplified Focaccia Recipe and Instructions, Vegan
While on vacation in Jackson, NH, we spent an afternoon at Echo Lake State Park wading, sleeping, and painting. Here is my plein air watercolor sketch of the cliffs overlooking the lake. The sun-glare makes the cliffs look darker than I saw them, and the sun and clouds moved a… Read More »Cliffs Over Echo Lake En Plein Air
Hello, again. I am fresh back from vacation where I successfully shut off my brain for several days in a row. We’re all expected to do too much all of the time, and sometimes vacation is no different. Here in the American wasteland no one gets enough time off, so… Read More »Waterfall Vacation in Jackson, NH
Dance has taken center stage since I finished my last painting a month ago. There were two large performances in March that the studio troupe and I were focused on for the first half of the month. The first was for a Burlesque show on International Women’s Day! We were… Read More »Dance, Dance
It feels really good to finish this painting that I started early last year but put down over the warmer months. Last week I posted more progress photos for this piece here. Watercolor on hot-press paper, the scene is of a local game reserve in January where I often to… Read More »Game Refuge in Watercolor
Here with a teaser post of a work-in-progress. A watercolor painting of a local forest in mid-winter before the snows fell. Feels a lot like fall, but the bright low winter sun creates some very stark shadows The painting starts as a line-drawing, transferred onto a hot-press watercolor block. If… Read More »Watercolor in Progress
How many neck tubes can one person make? This one is to match the hat that I made Jake for Christmas. It’s a ribbed half-double-crochet using bulky yarn. He decided he wanted the top a little more narrow than the bottom….when I was already done making the width of the… Read More »Orange Cowl