things are better with a parrott

29 & Holding

Last week, I turned 29.  Rich planned the perfect day at two different beaches.  The sky was full of clouds, but it was bright & warm, making it a perfect day to explore.  Rhode Island is full of beaches, but there are a lot of small, little-known spots that are also free. 

We started our day at the Quonochontaug Breachway in Charlestown, RI.  It is a popular boat launch, but we were there looking for quahogs.  Actually, Rich did most of the digging, & he only found one under-sized one so he threw it back. 

We then headed to Watch Hill, a totally quaint seaside village.  We walked to Napatree Point, a wildlife preserve home to piping plovers, osprey, swallows, & other migratory birds.  

We were able to see hundreds of swallows as we walked along the point.  It was amazing to see so many in one location.  At one point we were practically surrounded by them.

On our drive out of Watch Hill we passed by the luxury hotel, Ocean House, where Muffy & Barnaby still play croquet each afternoon {actually, I love croquet.  My sister & I used to play all the time}.


It was a wonderful & completely relaxing way to begin the last year of my twenties.  Rich then surprised me with a night out to see some of our favorite local musicians & our friends.  I am a lucky lady!

Camping Weekend

We escaped for a quick two-day camping trip this past weekend.  We try to go at least once each summer somewhere between Maine, Massachusetts, or Vermont.  Last year we spent a glorious week in Ithaca, New York, but this year we stayed a bit closer to home in Rhode Island.

We chose a site where you had to hike 1/4 - 3/4 of a mile, depending the trail you picked, to your site.  We knew this going in & were all about it...until it came time to haul that cooler in.

On our third & final trip into our site we had the cooler, the sun was setting quickly, & our arms had turned to jello.  We decided to ditch the cooler on the trail & bring the dogs to our site.  Scooter is a runner & always has to be on a leash when outside.  We decided to zip him & Simone in the tent while we ran back to the cooler.  Five or so minutes into our walk back to the cooler we hear little foot, er, paw, steps behind us.  We shine the flashlight to see a little Scootie staring back at us in the night.  Wha...?  Little man managed to tear one of the screen windows in the tent to escape!

The next day proved much more relaxing full of hikes through the woods, dips in the lake, & friends around the campfire.

I go camping because I love to be outside, go hiking & swimming, & being under the stars next to the campfire.  But I also go camping for the s'mores.

Craftland Grand Opening Par-tay!

Hello!  Exciting news - I was accepted to Craftland for a third year!  Craftland is no longer just an annual holiday show, but a year-round gallery & retail space in downcity Providence.  The grand opening party is tonight from 5 - 9pm.  To catch a glimpse of the new shop check out my book-binding friend, Kristin's blog here & here.  If you are in or around Providence you should stop by.  I hear there is a pinata, Narragansett, & a cheese log {would it be a Craftland even without one?}.  See you at the sparkley banner!

p.s. A year from today...Rich & I will be getting married!!

Where to start?

A question I find myself asking as I become busier & busier, but the beginning is always a nice place, I say.  I have had so many things to say, yet so little time to say it.  So I find myself with a little time to sneak a few words in here.  In chronological order I go!

I am happy to say I will be participating in Poppytalk's first Handmade Market, which will begin on Monday, October 1st.  This virtual street market will showcase handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world, & I am so pleased to be a part of the very first one.  I will share the link with you as soon as my "table" is ready!

Because I am part of Poppytalk's Handmade Market, I decided to do an .: early :. update of my shop!

I am SUPER happy to say I have been accepted to Craftland this year!  Craftland is an annual holiday sale in Providence that celebrates all kinds of handmade objects & the people who make them.  It is going to be held at 235 Westmister Street {right across from one of my favorite bars, tazza...drinks & arts+crafts anyone?} from Saturday, December 1st to Saturday, December 22nd.  So if you are in the area, or within driving distance, you must stop by for some Christmas shopping Indie-style.  I will be volunteering for 12 hours or so during the month, I will let you know when so you can say to me as well!

It feels silly already talking about the Holidays, especially since Halloween is really one of my favorite holidays, though I did not design any Halloween specific cards.  I did design some fall-themed cards that you may still purchase in my shop! 

I am not going to rush fall by any means.  It is my favorite time of the year.  I am dreaming of the leaves turning bright, beautiful colors, carving pumpkins, & really picking apples {I say I am going to do this each year & never do}, but at the end of each day, I will secretly be designing & printing my Holiday cards, 2008 calendar, & winter cards.

Today is gorgeous.  I hope you were able to get out and enjoy part of it!   

Hiking into September

September?  Really?  Great!  Because I love Fall.  What better way to start September than with a hike through some uncharted {to me} territory in Rhode Island.  I had purchased three great books last summer about Rhode Island including Weekend Walks in Rhode Island: 40 Trails for Hiking, Biking, & Nature Viewing, Discover Rhode Island: AMC Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, & Paddling, and Rhode Island off the Beaten Path.  Each book had a little something different to offer, though some trails did overlap of course.  Off the Beaten Path is a little quirkier & has more unusual, but fun offerings. 

We chose the Pachaug-Tippecansett Trail, part of the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area on the Rhode Island - Connecticut border.  The trail follows the shore of Beach Pond & was a mix of woods & rocky cliffs & hilltops.

Me looking out to Beach Pond.

We passed by many high cliffs, each one Rich wanted to climb thinking it would be the view our friend Bryan told us about, & each time I thought he was not correct...including the cliff we climbed for this view.  Guess I may have been wrong!  We stayed here for awhile feeling like we were the only ones on the trail for the day, until we were greeted by two dogs & their owners.

Our fishing box, waiting to be used.

We continued on to Deep Pond, where we hoped to find some fish.  Much to our disappointment we did not see any wildlife - no birds, bunnies, even a squirrel or a chipmunk!  However there was still plenty of other amazingly beautiful things to see.

We came upon Deep Pond after passing old stone walls & large cairns & even a small stone pillar that I now know served as the marker between Rhode Island & Connecticut!  We attempted to fish in Deep Pond only to find there are no fish in there.  Oh well.  It was good casting practice for me.

After nearly seven miles of hiking we were quite tired, needless to say!  We found a quite little diner called The Middle of Nowhere Diner.  It certainly was.

It was an incredibly refreshing day & I feel rejuvenated & ready to welcome Fall & all the new projects that are to come!