The Rotary

Spring at Drumlin Farm

2012-03-19T20:29:00.002-04:00

It's spring!!! Our new springtime tradition is a visit to the Drumlin Farm in the beautiful countryside of Lincoln, Massachusetts. The farm was full of new life, both plants and animals, including kid goats that were only a couple of hours old! What a wonderful place this Drumlin Farm.

Repentance

2012-03-04T20:04:00.000-05:00

As I sat down to think about what to share with you from the last month, what kept coming to mind was food. Always with the food over here, right? In the past few weeks, I've found not one but two new favorite restaurants! First, I enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner at Ten Tables Cambridge which can be summed up in three words: braised short ribs. Enough said. And Saloon, a great new 1920s styled bar and restaurant in Davis Square. We also invited some friends over for a "Taste of Wisconsin" this weekend, which was great fun. For you non-Midwesterners, if you're wondering what would be on the menu at such a gathering: scrumptious cheeses from Dodgeville WI (thanks Formaggio!) Potters Crackers, deviled eggs, cranberries (yep, Wisconsin is the nations leading producer of cranberries), soft pretzels, Bookbinders mustard, beer bratwurst served with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and applesauce. Oh and that's not even all of it! For dessert there was Heavenly Hash, and if you've never had it, you must google a recipe for it right now. And be amazed at its existence and enduring popularity. Two other items you may not have known have Wisconsin roots: Jelly Belly jellybeans and Andes chocolate mints! Oh and to drink? Brandy old fashioneds and ofcourse, beer: Hinterland, Leinenkugel, Schlitz, Pabst, and Lakefront Brewery.

Long story short (well, not really) I feel like I really need to reacquaint myself with vegetables. So, for dinner tonight I've cooked up some braised collard greens. Sure, I cooked them with bacon, but it's a start...

Weekend visit

2012-01-30T21:22:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was spent touring my lovely sister around Boston. The stops: the Russell House in Harvard Square, the Museum of Fine Arts (ofcourse!), Mike's Pastry and Carmen in the North End, Tuck's Candy in Rockport and Helmut's Strudel House on Bearkskin Neck, Halibut Point State Park, Ipswich (but the Clam Box was closed!), Woodman's in Essex (lobster rolls!), and it all ended where it began-in Harvard Square-with lunch at Crema Cafe on the way to the airport today.

It was such a great weekend and I miss her already :(

Carta Inc

2012-01-23T21:35:00.002-05:00

You know how sometimes you go online to look up one little tiny thing? And all of a sudden, two hours and like thirty Pinterest pages later, you realize you forgot what you were even looking up to begin with? Yeah, that never happens to me either.

Long story short, I have no recollection of the route that brought me to Angela Liguori's site, Carta Inc, tonight. But am I ever glad I got there. First, the design of the website itself, is so serenely pretty, it's just a pleasure to look at. Second her products are just as lovely...handmade books, ribbons and my favorite the vintage glassine envelopes! And third, she's in Brookline! Hooray for awesome Boston folks.

All photos courtesy of http://shop.angelaliguori.com/

Holiday

2012-01-16T10:17:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things about a holiday off of work is the luxury of breakfast at home. You see usually my breakfast entails a Kashi granola bar (dark chocolate almond, if you're wondering) and a cup of coffee in my to-go mug. But today I can sit around in my PJs and a hoodie drinking coffee out of a ceramic (!) mug and eating something in a bowl. With a spoon, even!

I celebrated this lazy morning by making a smoothie (mango, banana, pomegranate juice and honey) and having some yogurt and maple granola with fruit.

While I may be enjoying my day away from the MFA, I hope at least some of you make it to the museum because it's free admission in honor of Martin Luther King today.

And now that my lazy breakfast and internet time is wrapping up, back to working on my latest Typology set. Hopefully to be posted later this week!

Wishing you all a lovely day :)

Egg-A-Go-Go

2012-01-08T21:23:00.001-05:00

You know how sometimes all of a sudden it seems like every woman you've ever met is pregnant? Welcome to my world. I am well prepared for many a baby gift now though! How adorable are these clever little onesies from Sarah Coyne of Egg-A-Go-Go?

And how fun is the shop name Egg-A-Go-Go?

Newburyport and Plum Island

2012-01-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

Is it possible that I haven't posted about Newburyport yet? I kind of can't believe it. I first visited within my first couple of weeks of living on the east coast and it still holds a dear place in my heart. This past weekend, I was able to enjoy the unseasonably warm temps out on beautiful Plum Island and at Oldies Marketplace in downtown Newburyport. And I took a lot of photos of the ocean. Yeah, again.

Papercuts

2012-01-02T18:31:00.001-05:00

Ever since coming across some Polish papercuts during my time at the University of Kansas Anthropology Museum, I've been enamored with the art of papercutting. The intricate designs and graphic quality of the images can be just amazing. I recently came across a lovely reuse of Polish papercuts by Milton Glaser in the AIGA design archives. Very cool.

I also just learned of Boston based Joe Bagley who is an archaeologist by day and papercut artist by night. I feel like we have a lot in common! His beautiful work is featured in the photos here, and you can see more in his Etsy shop!

Dream Big

2011-12-29T21:31:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a very happy New Year! Here's to nothing but health and happiness in 2012!

I've been meaning to bring back more artist/crafter features on the Rotary, so that will be my New Year's resolution. Forget all of that eating right and working out business! Okay, okay, I'll do that too. Hrmph.

Boston's own Merriweather Council created the embroidered piece shown above and I think it is a perfect sentiment for kicking off 2012. Here's to a great year.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-18T21:40:00.000-05:00

Hope you all are enjoying a happy holiday season!

Tonight I baked like a thousand spritz cookies. And ate probably half of them. Man do I love butter cookies! The lucky few that escaped my clutches have now been safely packed up for giving...

Sandwich, MA

2011-12-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

Have you been to Sandwich, Massachusetts? So far, it's one of my favorite towns on (in?) Cape Cod. Pretty laid back but with a few excellent spots, like the Brown Jug gourmet grocery store and cafe, which you may remember from here.

These raspberry cookies I got there are AMAZING.

A new find was an antique shop where I got a great bentwood chair for $15.

Apologies for the stereotypical sunset on the beach shot, but I just can't help myself! The views were, as always, gorgeous.

Soup's on

2011-12-05T22:20:00.002-05:00

Came up with a new potato soup recipe this weekend! Tis the season for soup.

On a related note, I am so excited to have signed up for the breadbaking class at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in a couple of weeks. What is better on a cold winter night than a hot bowl of soup and fresh baked bread?

Potato Leek Soup
1.5 Tablespoons olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green parts, washed and chopped
3 medium-large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
5 cups of chicken stock
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup of sharp cheddar
1/4 cup of plain yogurt
Salt and pepper
Freshly chopped scallions

Heat olive oil in a pot and add leeks, sauteing until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add chicken broth, potatoes, and bay leaves. Boil until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Remove bay leaves and puree using an immersion blender (or pour into regular blender!), adding more chicken stock to thin out the consistency, if desired. Add 3/4 cup sharp cheddar, stirring until melted. Finally, stir in 1/4 cup plain yogurt, and salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped scallions.

Farmstands in Fall

2011-11-15T21:37:00.000-05:00

More fall goodness! One of my favorite things about Massachusetts is all of the quaint farm stands. These two, the Bolton Spring Farm and Derby Ridge, are in a beautiful area about 40 miles west of Boston.

P.S.
I must admit...I had actually taken these photos LAST fall. Oh how time flies! I can still taste the fresh cider donuts like it was yesterday though...

Fall? Fall!

2011-10-09T21:11:00.001-04:00

I didn't even notice it was Fall until I started looking at it through the viewfinder today. It turns out, it's here! Time to bring out the hot cider...

I heart carbs

2011-10-05T22:25:00.002-04:00

I LOVE bread. Really, I blame it on my parents for getting me hooked, growing up there was always fresh bread in the house. If my mom hadn't baked it, then my Dad had bought it from the grocery store bakery. Every day there was bread. And we ate it with everything. Pot roast and mashed potatoes? Bread. Roasted chicken and baked potatoes? Bread. Bread, bread, bread, bread bread.

One of my favorite vendors at the Arlington Farmers Market is Mamadou Bakery. The Mamadou folks are absolutely lovely and the bread is incredible. My favorite creation: Cranberry walnut bread, peppered goat cheese, sliced apples and fresh arugula. Mmmmmm.

Another round of Portsmouth

2011-09-21T21:49:00.001-04:00

A few more photos from my trip to lovely Portsmouth. I discovered so many great new spots, including the art and craft shop Nahcotta, the sweet little paper store Gus and Ruby Letterpress, tugboats, estate jewelry stores, the aforementioned bakery, and so much more.

A little bit of color

2011-09-19T21:41:00.001-04:00

Today has been not so great. A late late night of traveling set me up for a bit of a rough morning. My commute home taking over an hour and half (to travel SEVEN miles) took the wind out of my sails for the evening.

Trying to conquer the grumpy, I infused a bit more happy into my life tonight by searching for some mood brightening photos. A splash of color always makes things better, right?

Portsmouth Baking Company

2011-09-13T21:57:00.002-04:00

Three days off over Labor day weekend meant there was time for a quick trip to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. My experiences with New Hampshire have been kind of spotty so far, some spots have been amazing some have been, well, less than amazing. I won't name any names here, cause every town gets a second chance, right? I am so grateful to locals Liz, Brigid, and Virginia who recommended Portsmouth!

One of my favorite spots was the Portsmouth Baking Company. I've developed an affinity for really good coffee & sandwich spots and the PBC did not disappoint. Delicious sandwiches on fresh crusty bread and great coffee from the local Arlington, MA (let's hear it for Arlington!) roastery, Barismo. All in a beautifully designed, clean and airy space. I'll surely be back to the PBC soon. Real soon.

The Typology

2011-09-10T20:58:00.001-04:00

I am so excited (and a bit nervous!) to put my latest project, The Typology, out into the world. It's something I've been working on for a while now and really has been a labor of love.

A little bit more about the concept behind the project:

By definition, a Typology is an assemblage based on a shared attribute. Working with artifact collections for the past ten years, I became interested in objects and art functioning as a group. How patterns, both visual and intellectual, resonate and are revealed within collections.

Each Typology is a set of nine images, threaded together visually, conceptually or both. In observing those patterns, a new cohesive whole emerges.

New typologies will be posted regularly. Follow along via Twitter or Facebook!

I love pizza

2011-09-01T21:41:00.000-04:00

I've got a bit of a reputation for liking variety in my menu. Rarely will I eat leftovers more than once. I'm constantly looking for new recipes, reading food magazines and trying out new dishes. Even if I really enjoy something, you can bet it will be weeks if not months before I make it again.

Except...pizza. Pizza is special that way. I am pretty sure I could eat pizza everyday for the rest of my life. And love every minute of it.

This week's pizzas:
pesto, corn and jalapeno
and
tomato sauce, sliced tomatoes, red onions, and fresh oregano

Already planning the next round!

Rangeley, Maine

2011-08-30T22:25:00.001-04:00

While I do have hundreds more photos, this is my last Maine post. For now, ofcourse. Maine, I will be back as soon as I can! The last stop on this little tour is Rangeley, a beautifully serene spot in the mountains. In case you weren't yet convinced that Maine is a magical place...before I left I said if I get to see a moose and the northern lights, the trip will be a true success. And well...

Tomato-palooza

2011-08-23T21:59:00.002-04:00

I'm taking a little break in the Maine photos (yep, there's MORE, if you can believe that!) to bring you tomatoes! The humble tomato is one of my favorite foods. And now that tomatoes are finally abundant at the farmers markets, I've vowed to not take a single one for granted. Every week I buy more tomatoes. One of my favorite meals is a simple sliced tomato with olive oil, onions and salt. Paired with fresh bread from Mamadou Bakery and vermont cheddar? Man oh man.

Acadia National Park

2011-08-16T21:50:00.001-04:00

For years, I've had visiting Acadia National Park on my list of "someday" things to do. The bucket list, if you will. Not sure why, as a Midwestern girl, I had picked Acadia, but I was definitely onto something. I finally got there and it is every bit as magical, ethereal (or maybe just foggy?) and breathtakingly beautiful as I'd imagined. For the first time ever, I walked through clouds. Literally.

Portland, Maine

2011-08-11T20:06:00.001-04:00

Portland was the first stop on last week's trip to Maine. What a charming and beautiful town! I only wish I could've spent more time there. Some of the highlights: the best french fries ever at Duckfat, a delicious coffee from the friendliest baristas at Bard Coffee, and Rabelais, a wonderful little bookstore full of beautiful cookbooks.

Portland, I'll be back soon!

The Maine Blueberry

2011-08-08T21:07:00.003-04:00

The wild Maine blueberry is a magical little thing. So tiny. So delicious. So perfect in every way.

I decided the best use of a pint of blueberries I picked up this weekend was turning them into a Blueberry Crumble. Because the only thing that could make these fabulous little berries any better is to cover them in sweet, buttery crumbles.

Maine Blueberry Cobbler
Adapted from a Whole Foods Recipe

1 pint (about 2.5 cups) wild blueberries
1/2 tablespoon flour
1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oats
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rinse fruit and drain thoroughly. Put berries in a mixing bowl and add the lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon flour. Combine, and pour into a pieplate. Combine the remaining ingredients using a pastry blender (or your hands!) until they resemble coarse breadcrumbs. Cover the berries with the topping and bake for thirty minutes until the top has browned and the fruit is bubbling.

P.S.
I went to Maine for five days. I absolutely loved every minute of it. Okay, except for the 30 minutes when I was stuck in traffic on I-95. Other than that, it was magic. Stay tuned for the series of Maine photos!

Burdick Chocolates

2011-08-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

My latest discovery in Cambridge, L.A. Burdick Chocolatiers. The French macarons are amazing! Especially the lavender one. And not just because I love all things lavender, I swear!

As you might have guessed, the chocolates were absolutely delicious as well.

Outside Spaces

2011-07-28T22:14:00.000-04:00

Living in an urban area, even the smallest outdoors spot can feel precious. I love a lot of things about cities, but I also love a lot of things about the country. And lately, I find myself missing the open fields of greenery around Wisconsin.

As I mentioned earlier, one of my favorite spots this summer is the back porch. I love just sitting out there among all of the plants and flowers with a glass of wine. Marveling at any that have managed to survive being in my care...

New York New York

2011-07-24T18:56:00.001-04:00

I just got back from a much needed weekend relaxing with friends in New York City. The agenda consisted simply of eating, drinking and laughing. Done, done and done.

Nervous System jewelry

2011-07-14T22:21:00.004-04:00

A couple of years ago I had a booth at the Renegade craft fair in Chicago. And it rained. Ohhhhh did it rain. Two full days straight. POURING rain. I mean rivers of water unlike anything I've seen before......okay you get the idea. Surprisingly though, business was amazingly good, folks were out in droves. Great! Between the customers and the weather though, I only managed to escape my booth a couple of times. The first time, I was immediately drawn in by the Nervous System booth, eyeing one of their necklaces. I picked it up, put it down, picked it up, put it down. I decided if I sold one more bag, I was completely justified in returning to buy it. Luckily I sold another bag shortly thereafter and went running back to buy what has been one of my favorite necklaces ever since.

Nervous System is Jesse Louis-Rosenberg and Jessica Rosenkrantz who met as undergraduates at MIT where he studied math and computer science and she studied architecture and biology. They have done a beautiful job of combining all of their expertise, don't you think? I am so happy to see their continuing success.

Photos courtesy of Nervous System

Cape Cod returns

2011-07-11T22:23:00.001-04:00

Okay, after a brief hiatus...the final set of Cape Cod photos! These were actually all taken in Sandwich, MA at the cutest little lunch spot, the Brown Jug, where I (quite fittingly) had an absolutely delicious portabella sandwich. The shop houses a small deli, a variety of wine and a great deal of fancy foods that will make you wish you were throwing a dinner party sometime soon. The walls in the cafe were decorated with a great variety of cheese wheel boxes. Very neat.

Cape Cod, Vol. 3

2011-06-30T21:19:00.001-04:00

On to Martha's Vineyard...

Cape Cod, vol 2

2011-06-29T20:34:00.000-04:00

Cape Cod, day two

Cape Cod, vol 1

2011-06-28T20:48:00.001-04:00

I took a LOT of photos in Cape Cod. A somewhat ridiculous amount. The weather was crummy for beach going but perfect for photography, overcast and foggy. I love fog. I hate driving through fog, but boy do I love taking photos in fog. I digress...I loved Cape Cod, it really is the New England you see in movies. For the rest of this week, I'm sharing images from my first ever visit to the Cape, so stay tuned!

On Walden Pond

2011-06-22T21:47:00.000-04:00

Henry David Thoreau lived in a self built cabin on the shores of Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847, for what he called a two year experiment in simple living. From those two years came the basis for his book, Walden. Hiking around the Walden Pond State Reservation, you can easily see how he would've found the area inspiring. I look forward to going back and bringing a bathing suit next time!

I actually had already visited Henry's gravesite at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord this past fall. His small headstone is part of a family plot there and he is also surrounded by a surprising number of dead authors from the Boston area. So many, in fact, that they all reside in an area called Author's Ridge!

New foods from Formaggio

2011-06-16T21:12:00.004-04:00

And now for the latest installment of interesting new foods I got at Formaggio Kitchen! Above are a few lychee fruits, which I actually picked up as a little treat for my friend Sophia. I did try a couple, just to see what they're all about...quite tasty, these little guys! Fairly mild, kind of slippery, and mostly sweet. If you do come across them, they are easy to eat: just peel the skin off (which is actually much easier to do than I expected) and eat around the pit. They really are kind of strangely beautiful, no?

I also picked up some little Turkish green plums which are very good sprinkled with a bit of salt.

And because I'm always a sucker for a salty bar snack...some toasted, salted corn. Is this what corn nuts are? These looked like gargantuan corn nuts. Yum.

Nella Pasta

2011-06-15T21:32:00.002-04:00

I came across wonderful Nella Pasta at the SOWA farmers market a couple of weeks ago. I love that it was started by two food loving friends who found they shared a passion for fresh pasta. A passion for pasta is something I can really get on board with!

Nella uses only locally sourced ingredients, so they can see, touch, taste and smell everything they put in their pasta. You can sample their fillings at the farmers markets and wow, yes, they really are that good!

AIGA Best of New England

2011-06-09T07:00:00.013-04:00

The AIGA Best of New England (BoNE) Show is a biennial design competition and celebration of some of New England's best designers. Tonight is the opening reception and awards ceremony for winners of the 2011 BoNE design competition.

Come by the 808 Gallery at Boston University for a drink, a tasty hors d'œuvre and some great design work. Cocktails start flowing at 6PM. Buy tickets and get more info here.

Hope to see you there tonight!

Porch time

2011-06-07T21:47:00.001-04:00

For oh so many years I've dreamed of having an outdoor living space. Of any variety, really. Porch, deck, yard, fire escape, stoop, anything that will allow me to sit (or even perch) and soak in summer. Well I finally got one and you are going to have to drag me off of it kicking and screaming. In like, November.

Perfect for a nice dinner outside. Tonight it was orechiette, peas, red pepper, and chicken sausage with pesto and parmesan. Quick and easy with the added bonus of not heating up the kitchen too much. Do you have any favorite warm weather meals? You might want to break those out in the next couple of days...

Sunday at SOWA Open Market

2011-06-05T17:30:00.001-04:00

I finally made my first trip to the SOWA open market today! The sun was shining and it was really just the perfect day for meandering about. For those of you unfamiliar with it, SOWA Open Market is a craft fair + farmers market + awesome food trucks + nice folks. A great way to spend a Sunday.

My fellow Midwestern expat, Lulu's Stabby Critters (really just the best shop name ever), has been in the Boston area for less than two months and was already selling at the fair! Be sure to stop by her booth next time around.

I also got to try the Clover Food Lab food truck, which I'm always hearing great things about. And it certainly did not disappoint. Chickpea fritter sandwich + hibiscus iced tea = perfection
I sure am all about equations today, eh? Guess I'm in the mood for math?

Stormy weather

2011-06-02T21:28:00.003-04:00

My thoughts go out to all of those affected by yesterday's severe weather. The storms stayed mostly west of Boston, but it did make for some interesting skies around here. And the night ended with quite a spectacular light show.

Formaggio Kitchen

2011-05-24T20:33:00.003-04:00

Stopped into one of my favorite spots, the Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, on my way home today. I love how it feels like a quaint European market and every time I go in there, new treats await. Today, I got some of my beloved roasted fava beans with chile and salt, castelvetrano olives, fiddleheads, a loaf of ciabatta, green almonds and a mint sandwich cookie. Have you ever tried green almonds? They are a bit crazy but oddly beautiful. Read more about them here. The cookie was from the Lakota Bakery and ofcourse it was a showstealer, and ofcourse I ate it so quickly that I didn't even pause to photograph it!

Arlington Great Meadow

2011-05-23T22:13:00.002-04:00

A lovely spring day at the Arlington Great Meadow. One of the many nice things about this spot is that it's right off the Minuteman Bikeway.

Wardrobe remix

2011-05-20T10:07:00.001-04:00

Does a change in season make everyone feel like they just don't ever have the right clothes in their closet?? Or maybe it's just me? Spring for me is especially tough, it's neither warm nor cold and I never feel like I've dressed appropriately. I've been fighting the urge to keep going out and buying new clothes because for some reason that rarely seems to fix the problem, does it?

My new plan is to try the 30 for 30 wardrobe remix challenge from Kendi Everyday. Take 30 items in your closet, turn them into 30 new outfits. Save a pile of money.

Good idea, eh?

Nahant

2011-05-17T21:51:00.001-04:00

I just realized I didn't share the photos from a trip to Nahant a few weeks ago. It is a breathtaking spot right on the ocean, just north of Boston. The town actually served as a set for the movie Shutter Island! But, just so you know, that's not the island in the photo above. I was a little disappointed to learn that the lighthouse in Shutter Island doesn't actually exist in Nahant, it was built just for the movie.

Leah Giberson

2011-05-15T19:40:00.000-04:00

I'm dreaming of summer. On a cross country roadtrip. In a camper. With nothing on the schedule but days full of sunshine and nights full of stars.

Leah Giberson's work is letting me live vicariously for now.

Oh Sunday

2011-05-08T21:00:00.002-04:00

Today was a good day. Got some work done then took a nice long drive through the scenic Massachusetts countryside, stopping at a flea market to browse for treasures. And tonight was the first cookout of the season. Hooray for warm weather! It felt incredible to sit outside with the fire going, sipping a beer and watching birds in the trees. And the reward for all of that hard work? Delicious grilled steak, cheese, pepper, and onion sandwiches!

Happy weekend

2011-05-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

I am very much looking forward to enjoying a long weekend. That third weekend day makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?

My weekend starts off with the opening reception for the MFA Community Arts Initiative Project led by Raul Gonzalez. Maybe taking in some of the First Friday festivities before continuing on to enjoy the view (and maaaaybe a cocktail) from the top of the Prudential building.

Wishing you all a fun and sparkly weekend! What do you have planned?

Providence-part deux

2011-05-04T20:58:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share a few more photos from a beautiful spring weekend in Providence.

Small Point Cafe, Providence

2011-05-02T21:08:00.001-04:00

Wandering around Providence RI on Sunday morning, I was so happy to find a coffeeshop that was actually open at 9AM. I was even more excited that it was the perfect coffeeshop. The Small Point Cafe is a new addition to the Downcity area of the town, as I've learned. It's exactly the kind of coffeeshop I'm always looking for...modern but comfortable, cozy but still hip and...open on Sunday mornings. You'd think that last one would be a given, but not so in Providence, it turns out.

Oh oh and they have a donut robot??! Freshly fried donuts at the touch of a button! Somebody better make sure I never get my hands on one of those magical machines.

PS
They sell little plants in brightly colored pots too :)

Hannah Blount Jewelry

2011-04-28T22:33:00.000-04:00

I'm loving all of the faceted metal jewelry from Hannah Blount. Hannah is a true New Englander having grown up on Nantucket and now basing her handmade jewelry studio in Boston. Learn more about her by following along with her blog.

Drumlin Farm

2011-04-24T16:38:00.003-04:00

I've been talking about visiting Drumlin Farm for a while now and today was the day. What a gem this place is! I'm sure being there on Easter Sunday helped make it more enjoyable for me, I imagine it's usually a lot more crowded. I'm not one for crowds. The glorious southern California like weather didn't hurt either. Sunny and 70 degrees! This was likely the 1st time my elbows have seen in the sun in about 8 months.

Drumlin Farm, in scenic Lincoln MA, is part working farm and part animal sanctuary. All of the wild animals in captivity had a little story about the circumstances that brought them there. It was so sad reading about broken wings, lost eyes, and other maladies. But it makes you really grateful that Mass Audubon has taken them in when they surely would've perished in the wild. And they are now helping teach the public about appreciating nature and wildlife. A very important job for this ragtag bunch.

I hear Drumlin also sells meat and eggs from their farm as well as CSA subscriptions. Can you tell I'm loving this place? Can't wait to go back!

The largest, most pregnant pig I've ever seen. It would've been a wonder to see her move around.

Jane the cow heading out for a stroll

These two seem like unlikely friends, no?

Adorable goat kid

Farm fields

View from the top of the drumlin

Sophia Ainslie

2011-04-22T08:22:00.003-04:00

I had soooo much trouble choosing which images of my friend Sophia Ainslie's work to show you. Only three??? How's a girl to choose? You must promise you will go see the rest of this series, Fragments, as well as her other incredible work.

Sophia's show, Inside Out, was recently reviewed in the Boston Globe and is currently on exhibit through May 1st at the Kingston Gallery. She will be giving an artist's talk at the gallery on Monday, April 25th at 6:00PM. Check it out!

Made in Lowell

2011-04-21T08:15:00.004-04:00

Photo courtesy of Liz Smith

This flower pin by Liz of Made In Lowell makes me happy. It's warm and bright and reminds me that spring is here. And that is a good thing. A very very good thing.

Irene Pizzolante illustrations

2011-04-19T20:42:00.002-04:00

Aren't these illustrations by Irene Pizzolante so sweet? Originally from Venezuela, Irene is a Savannah College of Art and Design grad currently based in Boston.

I can't help but think that the following illustrations are two possible outcomes of the "office romance" above. Maybe a nice triptych is in order here ;)

Boston Marathon Monday

2011-04-17T22:20:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to pop in to say good luck to everyone running the Boston marathon this year. It is an inspirational feat and you should be so proud of yourselves for taking it on. And a round of applause for everyone involved...organizers, volunteers, general cheer-ers on. It truly takes a village!

Chroma Lab

2011-04-14T22:01:00.003-04:00

I just learned about the great work of Chroma Lab from my friend Liz, aka Made In Lowell, via the Twitterweb. I don't imagine I'm the only one admiring their work at the moment...Chroma Lab was just featured in Dwell magazine! How fabulous! Congrats to this Boston-based duo on making slick hand-painted clocks and for getting noticed doing it!

Photos courtesy of Chroma Lab and Dwell

Some days

2011-04-10T20:28:00.000-04:00

Some days you just need a little bit of sparkle.

Cynthia Rowley at the MFA

2011-04-07T22:16:00.003-04:00

Another week, another great event at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Last night I had the pleasure of taking part in putting on an MFA Fashion Council event featuring designer Cynthia Rowley! Cynthia showed pieces from her line and did an informal interview with our curator Pam Parmal. It was a nice, intimate setting and a great time was had by all. I especially love that Cynthia's inspiration for some of the pieces was an historic textile by Sonia Delaunay, who is currently the topic of a show at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum.

I also got to meet Cynthia's lovely Director of Public Relations, Elyssa Dimant, who is quite accomplished in her own right. I'm very much looking forward to getting a copy of her book, Minimalism and Fashion. Not to mention she is the only 6 months pregnant woman I've ever met who could stylishly pull off wearing a leather sheath dress and 4 inch platform heels. Very impressive.

Photos Courtesy of cynthiarowley.com

Bill Cunningham at the MFA

2011-03-29T20:39:00.001-04:00

The film Bill Cunningham New York is showing at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on Wednesday night. I was lucky enough to get a preview of it and must say I loved it. Bill seems like a sweet man with an insane work ethic who loves what he does more than anything. His outlook on life is refreshing and I really think this movie will appeal to everyone, not just photographers or fashionistas. More information on tickets here.

An added bonus, blogger Martini of Beyond Boston Chic will be on a panel alongside MFA curators of photography and fashion to answer questions!

Best pizza night yet

2011-03-26T23:37:00.002-04:00

Pizza night! Again! And the little guys above were one of the stars of the show.

It all began with a visit to the always wonderful Wilson's Farm in Lexington for some delicious ingredients like fresh buffalo mozzarella, pizza sausage, and veggies. Though things got a little rocky when my usual pizza dough recipe seemed like it wasn't really rising. But I didn't have any other options, so I used the dough anyway and was relieved to see it baking up like usual.

Pizza #1
Tomato sauce, italian sausage, hot cherry peppers and grated buffalo mozzarella.

Pizza #2
Herbed olive oil, thinly sliced sweet potatoes, crispy pan-fried red onions, toasted walnuts, Bulgarian goat's milk feta (thanks to my Mom who packed a huge block of it in her suitcase and flew it in from Chicago last weekend!) and toasted walnuts.

I'm not even going to pretend like I ate responsibly. It's a wonder there's any left over at all!

Maple Sugaring

2011-03-21T21:16:00.003-04:00

It's maple sugaring season! Turns out I didn't really know anything about how that delicious syrup travels from the tree all the way to my pancakes. Until this weekend! My mom was in town visiting, so she was treated to an educational tour of a maple sugar house. It was really quite fun.

The Turtle Lane Maple Farm is a small mom and pop operation in North Andover, MA. Paul and Kathy, the couple who run the farm give great educational tours on weekends during the sugaring season, which is really mostly just the month of March, because in order for maple sap to flow, it needs to be cold at night but warmer during the day. (See, I told you I learned something!) They walk you through the whole process, providing delicious samples along the way. Well worth a visit. And while you're there, be sure to pick up a jar of maple butter. Oh, you'll thank me later.

The wood burning stove fueling the boiling operation

Steam rising as the syrup boils down

Steam escaping through the roof

The syrup archives. Each bottle represents one boil.

Whiskey socks

2011-03-15T21:56:00.000-04:00

Has it really been 10 days since my last post?? Yowza.

I've been a bit under the weather this last week and suffering through a terrible cough. After drinking cup after cup of hot tea, consuming half a honey bear, many teaspoons full of Wal-tussin (hey, it's SO much cheaper), and 2,000 (or so) Halls lozenges to no avail, my cough seemingly was finally cured last night by...a shot of whiskey. With some honey in it, ofcourse. Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe it was good timing, but all I know is whiskey might be my go-to cough syrup from now on. This newfound cure also makes me wonder if my aunt was really onto something putting whiskey soaked socks on my feet when I had a fever as a kid. Ahhh, whiskey socks.

Since I haven't been doing too much lately, I will share some photos from a recent trip to one of my favorite parts of Boston, the North End. There was pizza. It was delicious.

Dinner at home tonight

2011-03-05T16:10:00.002-05:00

I'm so looking forward to dinner tonight. I got a delicious parmesan cheese, some fancy bucatini, and a beautiful loaf of bread from Salumeria Italiana (LOVE this place) in the North End today. Can't wait for the wine drinking and overeating to begin. It almost makes me wish it was a little snowy outside, to make the evening that much cozier. Almost.

Preserve recycled products

2011-03-02T20:56:00.002-05:00

Preserve is a Boston area company designing great products from recycled materials. They turn anything from margarine tubs to Brita water filters into well designed toothbrushes, razors, colanders, cutting boards, and all sorts of other useful things.

By far one of their most innovative ideas is their toothbrush subscription plan. You choose how often you'd like a new Preserve toothbrush, and voila one shows up in the mail! And when its 3 months (listen to your dentist!) are up, you can either drop your toothbrush off at one of Preserve's recycling locations or even mail it back to them. Then rest easy thinking about how much smaller your carbon footprint is.

New Bedford, past and present

2011-02-20T21:41:00.004-05:00

Did you know Frederick Douglass once lived in New Bedford? I love that you can't help but stumble across history when living in New England. New Bedford was also one of the whaling capitals of the world and you can learn all about the town's role in the whaling industry (as well as see an impressive collection of scrimshaw!) at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. A massive whale skeleton suspended over the lobby makes for quite a dramatic entryway.

Nowadays, New Bedford seems like a blend of historic, artsy and a little bit of gritty. A unique vibe. Walking around downtown, there are quite a few little restaurants and shops but also a fair number of vacant storefronts. I recommend checking out the hip little mexican joint No Problemo. Also, Artificial Intelligence for some nice vintage odds & ends plus iPhone repair (?). The Green Bean coffeeshop has the most beautiful afternoon light and some delicious coffee.

A little bit outside of downtown New Bedford there is a church with the most incredible facade. You can see the spires from clear across town. My photos cannot do it justice.

A wintry ocean

2011-02-16T22:08:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I wondered...what does the beach look like in the winter? Pretty spectacular, it turns out. Crane's Beach, in Ipswich, and the area surrounding it are beautiful. And you might get a glimpse of a coyote! Looking forward to going back for a tour of the Crane Wildlife Refuge.

Montague Book Mill

2011-02-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

Books you don't need in a place you can't find is the clever little tagline of the Montague Book Mill. The Book Mill is a used bookstore set in an old grist mill out in the beautiful countryside of central Massachusetts. Definitely one of the most unique bookshops I've been to! A lovely spot to spend a cozy Saturday afternoon with your cup of coffee.

I ♥ NYC

2011-02-07T21:50:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite buildings, in Chelsea

I spent this past weekend in New York City, which I haven't visited in many years. And totally loved it!

View from the New York Public Library steps.

Here's a partial lineup of places visited, food eaten and things seen:
French Roast Uptown
Times Square-Daytime all the time.
Mood fabrics-ofcourse.
The High Line
Earnest Sewn-Got a great new denim jacket!
Eataly-For the love of god, go there and get a plate of the Spaghetti with cheese. Immediately.
Uniqlo
Devachan-Who knew my hair could be THIS curly? And soooo smooth.
The Half King
El Quijote at the Chelsea Hotel
The New York Public Library
St. Patricks Cathedral-Absolutely breathtaking.
The Apple Store-Cause you can't not go in there.
Central Park
La Bonne Soupe
Spike Hill
Juliette Williamsburg-LOVED this place.

St. Patrick's cathedral

The view from the Apple Store on a rainy day

Chelsea

La Bonne Soupe Restaurant

A view from Central Park

Looking forward to seeing you again soon New York!

I love donuts

2011-01-29T21:11:00.001-05:00

I do, I really really really do. For two years, I lived around the corner from Joe's Bakery in Lawrence KS and the intoxicating smell of fresh donuts would waft through the windows. Oh those were good days. Dangerously good.

Dunkin Donuts is pretty much king around Boston, so a field trip out of town for an extra special donut was in order. Kane's Donuts in Saugus did not disappoint! I had one of their signature honey dipped donuts and maaayyy have taken a Maine blueberry and a lemon filled (powdered, ofcourse) to go. It's a small place with an old school feel to it and I loved it. Being there totally reminded me of going to get donuts with my Dad as a kid. Boy, my Dad really really loved donuts. I guess it runs in the family.

In other news, it's been snowing. A LOT.

Design Museum Boston event

2011-01-26T21:15:00.000-05:00

Looking forward to attending this brand release party for Design Museum Boston at Continuum tomorrow evening!

Lazy (and freezing!) Sunday

2011-01-23T16:12:00.003-05:00

Ccold winter days need a little bit of color to help brighten up the house, so I'm extra thankful these little purple flowers are still going strong. It's 20 degrees outside. Which, I suppose, doesn't sound crazy cold, especially to those of us still used to Midwestern winters. It's the "feels like" 7 degrees that hits home. SEVEN. Dig out the hoodie sweatshirt and big blanket, I am staying inside today! The day has been filled with pancakes, cleaning up my studio, dreaming of being in Borneo, trying to find a frame for the print I got for Christmas (thanks Cindy!) and cuddling up under my quilt to do some reading.

I'm also trying to eat extra healthy to make amends for some recent decadence and radishes are my vegetable of choice today. Have you ever tried toasted, buttered bread topped with thinly sliced radishes and a bit of salt and pepper? So tasty! I am a firm believer that few things are as delicious as freshly toasted, buttered bread. Still ahead, making braised collards for dinner and maybe venturing out of the house to go to yoga. Maaaaybe.

Stay warm out there kids!

Travels to Northampton

2011-01-19T22:01:00.002-05:00

From Amherst onto Northampton, which was exactly as I'd always imagined New England towns would be: quaint, full of beautiful old buildings and nestled in the mountains. And it reminded me SO much of one of my favorite places: Lawrence, KS. Clearly, I am a very much a fan of Northampton. I can't wait to come back this summer when it's all greened up. Dinner (and a great beer selection) at the Dirty Truth and brunch (awesome banana pancakes) at Sylvesters.

Welcome to Amherst

2011-01-17T21:29:00.001-05:00

I just spent a couple of very cold, slightly snowy days exploring around Amherst Massachusetts. For those of you unfamiliar with it (which I was until this past weekend!) Amherst is a college town right in the middle of the state, about 90 miles west of Boston. The town has been home to a fair number of famous people as it turns out: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Uma Thurman, Augusten Burroughs, J Mascis and my personal favorite...the guy who invented the Dewey Decimal system, Mr. Melvil Dewey himself!

If you are by chance visiting Amherst, consider staying at the UMass Hotel at the Campus Center. The building is a hulking concrete modernist (looks Brutalist to me, but really, I don't know that much about architecture) structure designed in the 1960s by Marcel Breuer. In contrast, the hotel room interiors were recently redone in a very modern, minimalist style. I especially loved the bathroom. Seriously!

Downtown Amherst has a nice selection of restaurants and little shops. One of them, Amherst Books, is relatively small but with an impressive selection of books, especially art books. Not a ton of them, but interesting and uncommon titles. The other spot I loved is The Clawfoot Tub. A very well curated shop of home goods, many handmade and/or locally made. The shop was so cozy, you want to buy everything in there just so you can recreate the atmosphere in your own home!

Snowpocalypse 2011

2011-01-12T21:13:00.001-05:00

New England isn't kidding around with these Nor'easters! Before moving out here, I was under the impression that the "Nor'easter" was a dramatic but rare occurrence. True, I was basing pretty much all of my knowledge of this weather phenomenon on what I saw in The Perfect Storm but, George Clooney wouldn't mislead me would he? I'd like to think not. Mostly because he's just so good looking. But, I digress...

So, yes, today another apparently not so uncommon Nor'easter came through New England and left behind over 18" of snow! It was actually very pretty and since most of Boston was shut down, I was able to just sit at home and enjoy a good old fashioned snow day. Which meant blueberry pancakes, corduroys, fuzzy slippers (again!), roasting veggies, sewing and reading a good book. All in all, a pretty great day. Hope you all stayed cozy and warm too!

Watch a great timelapse video of the storm here.

Scenes from the weekend

2011-01-09T16:15:00.001-05:00

The weekend began with a trip to Redbones in Somerville on Friday night. It was a really fun spot full of jovial people; I especially liked the downstairs dining/bar area. A good beer selection (Alagash White, yum) but I must say I was a little disappointed by the food. The St. Louis ribs were pretty tasty, but the cornbread, beans and cole slaw were a bit bland. I will have to try again though, maybe it was just an off night?

It was a snowy weekend, so I especially enjoyed staying inside all warm and cozy. Wrapped in the new (supersoft) scarf my Mom knit me, padding around in fuzzy slippers and drinking lemongrass tea. Other highlights so far: a new duvet (it's down blanket time!), coconut curry stew, and one last weekend with the Christmas tree.

I did go out for a little walk along the Mystic River this afternoon and got a shot of the pair of swans that have been hanging out there for a couple of weeks now. I suppose I've seen swans before, but never just out and about, i.e. not in a fountain or a corporate park. They are really dramatic animals, so graceful as they float along. Also much, much larger than I remember.

Next up...yoga class and pizza. Maybe a movie? How I love Netflix on demand.

Hoping your weekend was lovely!

I Resolve

2011-01-06T22:29:00.002-05:00

By Micah Lanier

Come April, we will all need a little help keeping up with those sometimes lofty New Years resolutions we made months earlier. I know I do! Now your iPhone can help make you healthier, friendlier, more athletic, a morning person, a cat person, a yogi, or whatever else your optimistic little New Years Eve heart desired. Really, is there anything the iPhone can't do?

The I Resolve project was started by NYC designer Chris Streger who had designers create a resolution for the new year as an iPhone wallpaper. So you can't avoid it. Brilliant.

The few posted here may just might make it onto my iPhone...

By Alex Westgate

By Evan Stremke

Sharon Montrose Animal Photos

2011-01-04T20:37:00.000-05:00

Sharon Montrose's Animal Collective shop is overflowing with these striking yet adorable photos of all sorts of animals. It is incredible that she is able to capture these guys with such expressions on their faces!

The six little cuties you see here were one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year. You must go visit their baby animal friends. Oh and in case you think you can handle even more cuteness...dog photobooth. Yep, you're welcome.

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T20:45:00.002-05:00

Looking back on this past year, I have so many great memories. I wanted to share with you a little glimpse back through 2010. Wishing a Happy New Year to you all!

January-Yahara River, Madison WI

February-Northern Wisconsin

March-John Nolen Drive, Madison WI

March-Moonrise over Lake Monona, Madison WI

April-Kenosha WI

May-The Barking Crab, Boston MA

June-Madison WI

June-Galena IL

July-Wisconsin Union Terrace, Madison WI

July-Backyard BBQ, Madison WI

August-Wisconsin Union Terrace, Madison WI

August-Newburyport MA

September-Wells ME

October-Walden Pond, Concord MA

September-Halibut Point State Park MA

November-The Back Bay Fens, Boston MA

December-South End, Boston MA

Boston's South End

2010-12-19T15:56:00.003-05:00

I spent some more time exploring Boston's South End neighborhood yesterday. The weather was lovely...sunny and crisp. You know you've lived in Wisconsin when you describe 35 degrees as "lovely" and "crisp."

Some of the new spots I discovered: Flour bakery for an incredible gingerbread muffin and a mean macchiato, Motley for the next time I need to buy anyone the perfect gift, Turtle for unique women's clothes and accessories and the South End Athletic Company for all of my sporty needs. As soon as winter boots weather is over I'm heading back to SEAC for a new pair of ASICS tigers-or maybe I'll find myself back there sooner for one of their group runs. Here's hoping for some motivation on that front. Maybe someone will get me that for Christmas.

Today is all about fuzzy slippers and warm cups of tea. Up next...Black Bean and Pumpkin soup (thanks again for the recipe, Christina!) and toasted walnut blondies. Ahhhh Sunday. Hope you are all having a great weekend as well :)

Clementine Jewelry

2010-12-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

From the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts comes jewelry by Cassie of Clementine. These three necklaces are my absolute favorites. You should check out her Etsy shop for more lovely pieces!

An Apple a Day poster

2010-12-13T22:13:00.001-05:00

The 2011 Apple a Day poster by Vik Design is hot off the press! This latest version is printed in fresh, minty green. Or maybe Granny Smith apple-y green, more appropriately.

Looks like it's time to start planning for your New Year's resolution to eat healthier! Secretly, I use mine to hold all sorts of fruit and veggie stickers, not just apples. Shhhh...

Creative Capital: Designed in Boston

2010-12-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

Design Museum Boston explores the influence and importance of design in everyday life, with a special focus on the Boston area. Bringing their exhibits to galleries, retail environments, public spaces and the web, the Design Museum Boston provides an innovative alternative to the traditional brick and mortar museum.

Tonight is the opening reception for the museum's latest exhibit Creative Capital at Boston City Hall!
A little bit about the exhibit from their website:
Boston is a Creative Capital, a culture center for all creative pursuits: visual and performing arts, media, and, especially, design. But what exactly is design? It is where creativity and industry meet. It is a visual planning process. It shapes our world. It is everywhere. Everything around us has been designed: the buildings we live and work in, the landscapes and spaces we move through, and the things we read, watch, and use. There are thousands of designers in the City of Boston. This exhibit showcases work from a select sampling of these many design practitioners. Some of the things you see may look familiar. Notice the public park where you eat lunch? The lobby you pass through on your way to work? The kitchen tools you use every day? Great design at your service, created in Boston.

Gleena Ceramics

2010-12-07T21:08:00.002-05:00

I've long admired the lovely ceramic work by Asya Palatova of Gleena. I especially love the soft, pastel colors. Take a peek at her shop and her blog.

Scenes from the weekend

2010-12-05T20:35:00.001-05:00

A weekend well spent:
A trip to Hingham for lunch at the Snug (best Shepards pie EVER)
Baby alpacas
A Christmas tree
Slow braised collards
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
A new bulletin board for my studio (Yay!)
Many episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

A Dose of Color

2010-12-02T22:34:00.002-05:00

Night comes early nowadays and I find myself seeking out bright colors.

Cups at Keiko

2010-11-29T20:56:00.000-05:00

I'm hoping to make it over to the Keiko Gallery to see their exhibit It's All About Cups '10 before it closes on Dec. 2nd. The pieces shown here are from my two favorite artists in the show: Hatanaka Atsushi and Sasakawa Kenichi.

The city at dusk

2010-11-19T08:28:00.001-05:00

The sunsets in Boston have been incredible. I'm not sure if that is always the case, or there's something in the air, but I've seen some truly brilliant sunsets over the Charles River. My favorite time in a city is at dusk on a Friday, it feels so sparkly and full of promise. It reminds me of my days in Chicago when the weekend was all about just spending time with friends. I miss those days. Happy weekend, friends.

Great Brook Farm State Park

2010-11-17T22:14:00.001-05:00

Great Brook Farm State Park is a beautiful little spot in Carlisle, MA. I was already loving it and THEN I found the cranberry bog where I finally got to see a cranberry harvest in action! A couple of years ago while living in Wisconsin (another cranberry capital!) I was determined to see a harvest, but my timing was always off. So I felt extra lucky when I stumbled across this harvest.

In the winter the park has cross country ski trails, so I'll surely be back soon!

The White Vessel

2010-11-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

I am in love with this piece. It's asymmetrical, organic, beautifully textured and simply stunning. I tried to photograph it from multiple angles to give you a sense of its shape.

White vessel by Jacquie Stevens, a Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indian woman, 1987.

MFA 1993-545

Art of the Americas Wing at the MFA, Boston

2010-11-13T22:35:00.002-05:00

As we speak, the new Art of the Americas Wing opening gala is underway at the Museum of Fine Arts! Believe me, the new space is stunning and absolutely worth a visit. It opens to MFA members starting tomorrow and opens to the public Saturday November 20th. Watch MFA Director Malcolm Rogers speak about this momentous event.

The new wing contains 53 new galleries of American Art. 53!! And I swear every one of them is more inspiring than the last. One of my favorite exhibits is the ship gallery, which you can get a sneak peak of in the video below. A couple of my other favorites include samplers from Colonial Boston and the Ancient American art. Allow yourself plenty of time, because there is a lot of ground to cover!

P.S. Saturday November 20th is a FREE community day. Really, that was the only way to improve the experience.

Museum of the Modern Snowglobe

2010-11-10T22:08:00.004-05:00

I came across the snowglobe museum during open studios at Vernon Street Studios in Somerville. It makes me sad that Kansas is not represented. A snowglobe was apparently one of the few souvenirs I didn't pick up while living in Lawrence or I would happily donate it to this impressive collection. Any Kansans out there have an extra snowglobe?

New Hampshire Coast

2010-11-08T10:30:00.004-05:00

The beach in New Hampshire just after Hurricane Earl came through. The waves were spectacular. As were the crowds. Note to self: maybe avoid Hampton Beach on a holiday weekend.

The Grocer

2010-11-07T15:58:00.005-05:00

Who knew finding a good grocery store in the Boston area would be an arduous process involving way too much time spent on Yelp.com? There are many many grocery stores to choose from, but the quality of the produce and the overall experience varies greatly. I still have yet to find a one-stop shop but I'm getting closer. Many of you Bostonians have heard about the glory that is Russo's. Their produce selection and quality is really great. And the fresh baked cinnamon rugelachs?? Yowza. Last time I got a box of those, I almost had to follow it up with buying a pair of elastic waist pants. Russo's is great, if only it was a little closer to my home.

Enter...Wilson's Farm in Lexington. Lo and behold, it's just as great (if not better!) as Russo's but closer to home! Hooray! That's the great thing about Boston, there are SO MANY options for everything. Thanks to John and Sophia for turning me onto Wilson's.

Wilson's Farm was founded by Irish immigrants and has been in operation at its current location since 1884, so they must be doing something right. Like making the best apple cider donut I've ever tasted. I happened to be at Wilson's with about 5,000 others on Halloween weekend, but the payoff of having to wait a few minutes in line for a fresh donut was that no more than two minutes passed between the doughnut coming out of the fryer and my consuming it.

Other goodies I got there were fresh raspberries and the ingredients for a delicious Arugula Pear Salad. Simply toss fresh arugula leaves with a little bit of olive oil, salt & pepper, a chopped pear (apples are good too), some chopped nuts, and fresh grated parmesan cheese. Yum. That makes up for the donut(s) right??

Ork Posters

2010-11-01T21:10:00.001-04:00

I might need to get one of these to match this one. Unfortunately, they don't have one for Madison WI. Really, it would look pretty neat, being on an isthmus and all. Hopefully it'll be an addition to the lineup soon. Or maybe I should stick to only living in cities that have Ork Posters?

Nashoba Valley Winery

2010-10-31T18:33:00.001-04:00

It's fall in New England, so really you'd better be out there picking some apples. These apples are from the Nashoba Valley Winery, a lovely little spot in Bolton, MA. The scenery was beautiful, even if the apples were getting to be slim-pickins. To be fair, it was the last day of the picking season, so the early birds got the apples, I suppose.

The winery is in a beautiful barn and there's also a restaurant set in a lovely little house. Can't wait to go back and try that. A perfect spot for a nice brunch on a lazy winter Sunday. For now, I had to make do with a fresh apple cider donut. Poor poor me, I know.

Hello Massachusetts

2010-10-30T11:34:00.005-04:00

Good to meet you. Keep up the beautiful scenery and I think we're going to get along just fine...