A Visit to Elephant's Trunk and the Merwinsville Hotel

Today I did a repeat of a trip I made 11 years ago. Although I'm not doing The Artist's Way--I gave up on daily pages about a year-and-a-half ago--I realized this was a perfect artist date for me. 

After I took Lola to Taylor Farm and we had brunch at home, I headed to Elephant's Trunk flea market. I arrived around 1; it closes at 2. I had hoped to get there earlier, but I was satisfied with my time there. I did maybe a third to a half of the vendor tables. I bought a few things. I saw a pair of shot/liqueur glasses that I liked--the tops were shaped like white wine glasses and the stems were metal and shaped like grapes and leaves. We have more than enough liqueur glasses, but these were really cute. Then the vendor offered me five for $5. Sold.

Next I bought a political button: Betty Ford for President for $1. I saw other political buttons (I collect them) but they were pins I already had or were for candidates I didn't know. 

My final purchase was a promotional container of Bourbon in the shape of Mount Rushmore. Oddly enough, after I saw a promotional Crown Royal barrel, I thought about the Mount Rushmore container I had bought for my sister in honor of our trip there. When I saw this one--I had to get it. 

My real reason for this trip was to visit the Merwinsville Hotel. I had received an email about the hunt for 50 spheres hidden in various places in Litchfield and Fairfield Counties in honor of the 50th anniversary of the hotel's restoration efforts. The hotel is open Sundays from 2 to 4 for visits. Plus after writing about the hotel for a class assignment, I remembered that I had wanted to write about Sylvanus Merwin. 

Now's the time to write a book about him. Yes, I'm writing a time travel book (stalled at the moment) but why can't I work on two? They're very different so each can be a good break from the other.

I went on a tour of the hotel, put aside a few things to buy (t-shirt, a wine glass, and two beer sampler glasses) and started looking for the sphere hidden there. I found it among the logs in the fireplace. I was so excited. I really wanted to find one. I imagined myself searching in the outhouse on the hotel property (ugh) and visiting all the other places on the list. Yay for me. Once home, I registered my sphere online at the hotel's website.

I also talked to a woman conducting a tour who knew a lot about the hotel. She will send me some materials, including a story by a Virginia Smith. 

It's weird Virginia Smith is the name of my grandmother. In a recent true-crime assignment for my writing class, the victim was George Smith--the name of my uncle. 

I hope this portends something good.

Positives and Plans

This is the third post I've started since my last published post. One was about art journals; I'll probably revisit that post when I return to art journals. The other post was basically a list of the annoying problems I was dealing with. It wasn't fun to write, and it wouldn't have been fun to read. I deleted it.

Instead, let's be positive.

The weather continues to be mild. For every cold day or two, we get four or five mild days. Daylight saving time begins this weekend. I heard on the radio today that there's no real reason for daylight saving--it doesn't save energy--and it messes up people's sleep and contributes to accidents. But I like the idea of longer days. Soon it will be dog park Friday season. It will officially be spring in two weeks.

I am planning to see an exhibit on Mexican Muralists at the Whitney Museum of American Art. I haven't selected a date yet--probably in the next few weeks. It will be a real artist date for me.

We received a gift certificate at Christmas for Interlaken Inn. We love this place, although Morgan's Restaurant has gone downhill. For us, the highlight of Morgan's was the night with this tasting menu. Before that we loved the menu options and all our selections. In the last few years, the food is still good, but the menu is uninspired with no specials. We've been very disappointed, and Morgan's is no longer our favorite restaurant.

We've also discussed other getaways. We want to move somewhere south of here in the next two-to-three years and have to explore areas. I want to go to New Hope, Pennsylvania even though I doubt we'll end up there. I have fond memories of day trips to the Playhouse when I was in high school, and there are many things to do. We have an open invitation to visit our friend in Baltimore. I would also like to return to Boston and Salem before we leave Connecticut.

I'm not sure how we'll juggle all these things, but it will be fun to try.

About Last Week

The week started with me editing a story for my writing class. The library was closed for Rosh Hashanah, so I had two weeks to write a story inspired by the WPA oystering murals by Alexander Rummler. I had an idea for my story shortly after receiving the assignment. I wrote most of the story last weekend. On Monday, I edited it and read it in class. It was very well-received--people thought it was a true story. All of the stories were good--even better than the agriculture-focused stories in our previous assignment. I am really enjoying this class.

I also wrote four blog posts last week. This included two posts about our wedding getaway three weeks ago.

I went to the gym three times. It's been months since I've made it at least three times a week. I exercised here three times. Of course, I'm walking Lola every day. Our average walk is around 50 minutes. We've been fortunate with nice weather and need to take advantage of it. Last Monday I saw the (or a) hawk at Oyster Shell Park. It was too far away for me to get a picture before the hawk flew off.

We had a small last DPF of the year.

On Saturday, Jeff, Lola, and I walked on the NRVT from Wilton Center through Merwin Meadows Park to School Road and back again. I suggested we stop at the Red Rooster Pub afterward: photo here. I figured it could be our last opportunity to have a drink outside this season.

I finished the week at a reception for the Autumn exhibition at the Rowayton Arts Center. That could be my first artist date in years.

Overall, it was a good week. My biggest fails were in housework and prep work for my ACT Manual.

Keep on trying.

A Soggy Tuesday and Miscellaneous Catch-Up

We started three or four days of off-and-on rain. I had hoped to get Lola out before it started pouring. We went to Oyster Shell Park and got soaked. We took a slow loop around the park; apparently the scents were quite enticing. I'll get her out again later when we get a window of dry weather.

***

Thursday night I went to a workshop at the Rowayton Arts Center: Collage and Cocktails. It was okay. I wish we had more raw materials. RAC supplied poster board and some painted papers and a few magazines. I brought some of my things (stickers, sayings, etc.) but no one else did. It was my first artist date in a long time. 

***

Saturday afternoon Jeff, Lola, and I went for a walk on the west side of the Wilton loop of the Norwalk River Valley Trail. We parked in a shopping center, walked around a soccer field through Merwin Meadows Park along the river. We decided to stop for a drink afterward at a relatively new restaurant, Red Rooster Pub, which allowed dogs in its patio area. We ordered jalapeno margaritas. 

It's a nice spot; the only downside is that we were seated next to a large window of the hair salon next door and could see people getting color and cuts. Next time we'll avoid the two tables next to the window.

We weren't hungry, but checked out the menu anyway. I liked that it offered a duck bacon BLT and cooked Brussels sprouts with duck bacon. I also liked the make your own salad option. We'll go back for lunch sometime.

The picture doesn't quite capture how it felt to sit there among the green. Strangely enough it reminded me of a lunch we had on our honeymoon in St. Thomas. It was just a sense of familiarity. 

Artist Receptions

I want to do more art-related activities. When I was actively taking myself on Artist Dates, I found many fun things to do. Highlights were going into NYC to see Edward Hopper and Jackson Pollack exhibits. I didn't have to go into the city. I also went to a Haitian art gallery in New Canaan and saw a play reading at Norwalk Community College. Sometimes I just went to a fun store.

On Saturday, two art shows opened in Norwalk, and Jeff and I went to the opening receptions. The first was Sea Views by Brec Morgan. I knew him as a sign painter and muralist. It was nice to see his paintings. Unfortunately, the venue was in an interior design store. It was crowded and hard to move around; I got claustrophobic.

The second reception was for a show called Transformations held at Oakhill Mansion on the grounds of St. Philip's Church in Norwalk. The mansion is beautiful with a majestic staircase, many fireplaces, large rooms, and Corinthian columns on the patio.

The artists had hung paintings along the first floor, up the staircase to the second. Several artists studios were open. Back on the first floor, there a pianist performing, a bar and several tables of food. Norwalk poet laureate, Laurel Peterson and others read poems, but Jeff I didn't stay for that.

Thanks FCBuzz.org for the event email.

Artist Date

It's hard to remember the last time I took myself out on an artist date, but I did it today. I had about two-and-a-half hours between two tutoring appointments today.

 My first appointment was in Barnes and Noble. Afterwards, I browsed for about 20 minutes and bought an Art Journaling.magazine. I bought myself lunch at Panera Bread, a Thai salad with chicken. Panera is in a shopping center with Home Goods and Michael's. I bought some little things at Home Goods (candles, picture frames, napkins and a spoon rest.) I also got a roll-up traveling bed for Lola. Next I went to Michael's. I got a few packages of stickers and some glue. Maybe my purchases will inspire me to work on some ATC's or my art journal.

Writers Retreat Wrap-Up: Wisdom House 2013

I got back from the retreat this afternoon. It was a relatively productive weekend and I'm feeling pretty good about it.

The retreat offered four workshops, two critique sessions and two free-writes. I went to a yoga and writing workshop and one of the free-writes.

I wrote one new poem and five blog posts, and reworked a chapter from a crappy, unfinished nanowrimo novel into an essay.

I also did some shopping, wine tasting, walking and socializing.

Retreat getaways are important to me. Yes, I can schedule writing time, snatch moments here and there in my daily schedule. But it's a luxury to have a whole weekend to work and commune with other writers.

WAC: Lunchtime Artist Talks

The current exhibition at the Westport Arts Center is Solos. I have to admit that I didn't get it looking through the exhibition the first time.

It was great to hear a few of the artists describe their work. I attended two of the talks, and unfortunately, was late today and missed most of the first artist's talk.  It's fascinating to hear the creative choices behind each piece. I still don't get some, but there are others I now understand.

Gail Rothschild's piece (unfortunately, I don't know its name) was the one that I appreciated the most. She uses archaic textiles as her subjects. Her paintings show the making and the unmaking of textiles, just as Penelope wove and unwove a burial shroud each night as she waited for the return of  Odysseus.

What Do I Do For Me?

Wednesday night or actually Thursday morning to be precise, when I turned out the lights at 1AM, I asked myself the title question of this post. I don't know where it came from. It wasn't something that I was consciously thinking about.

Here are a few things that come to mind:

Exercise:
I don't always enjoy the process, but I feel good after exercise. Hiking is fun; it can also be sociable if I go with Jeff and Spike. I like swimming and yoga. But now, I work out mostly at a gym; it's the most economical choice. I like to lift weights; aerobics isn't as interesting to me, but I use that time to read. And I feel good after working out.
            
Writing/Blogging:
Sometimes writing is difficult, and like exercise, I don't always enjoy the process. But it makes me feel good, satisfied when I write. I like this blog because it's a permanent storehouse of my thoughts and ideas that's easy to access. I journal almost every day; most of it is drivel but it centers me and occasionally, I get a good thought or profound statement. My other writing--well, it's harder to describe. I usually get a good response when I share my writing (though occasionally people read things into my writing that I didn't intend.) I rarely submit my writing; I'm not looking for acclaim. It's some other need that I can't explain.

Artist Dates:
I'm using Julia Cameron's term artist dates. The Artist Date is designed to feed creative work by replenishing the inner well of images and inspiration. I can't precisely contribute any of my work to a specific artist date. But I've had some wonderful experiences and having an Artist Date as a to-do has led me to go places and do things I might not have done: a Haitian art gallery, a Jackson Pollock exhibit, a reading of a new play.

These are examples of what I do for me. I need to do more.

20 Fun Things to Do

Listening to my Artist's Way tapes, I was reminded of this exercise: Name 20 fun things to do. 1. hiking 2. antiquing 3. going to craft shows 4. going to bookstores 5. going to museums 6. traveling 7. walking 8. swimming 9. doing yoga 10. watching classic movies 11. dining al fresco with Spike 12. wine tastings 13. trying new restaurants 14. beer tastings 15. walking labyrinths 16. dancing 17. listening to live music 18. reading 19. going to art galleries  20. going to retreats This list is a source for artist's date ideas.

Artist Date: Elephant's Trunk and Merwinsville Hotel

I didn't have a very productive weekend. I barely cleaned; I barely worked on my resume. But I still had a good weekend.

Today I went on an artists-date. I also did another thing that I've been wanting to do for a long time: I went to Elephant's Trunk. Elephant's Trunk is an outdoor Sunday flea market running from April through November.

After a cold start to the morning, the day turned sunny and warm. I spent about an hour and a half wandering up and down the aisles of jewelry, china, glassware, clothing, tires, musical instruments. I didn't buy much--a few political pins, a small carved wooden dog with his head raised in a howl, two sets of fork and spoons made from china. You can make a day of it at Elephant's Trunk--there are food trucks offering hot dogs, sandwiches, fried dough, pretzels, chili, and donuts with tables and chairs nearby so you can sit down to enjoy your food. But you can't linger for long; around noon, I saw the first vendor start to pack up his goods.

I left the flea market and headed to the Columbus Weekend Art & Fine Crafts Show at the Merwinsville Hotel. The Merwinsville Hotel is worthy of a post of its own. It served as a meal stop for passenger trains going through Gaylordsville from the 1840's through the 1870's.

Jeff and I found the hotel one weekend when we were exploring the area and made a wrong turn. I became fascinated with the place and we've gone back several times. Attempts to restore the hotel have been continuing since 1971. While there is still much work to do, Jeff and I have seen a lot of progress since we first found the hotel in the mid 1990's.

Today I purchased some hand made Christmas cards and a few souvenirs--a new Merwinsville Hotel tee shirt and a pair of wine glasses with the hotel logo. I previously purchased Christmas ornaments, tee shirts, a print of the hotel in its heyday and a trivet.

I'll be back in December for Christmas in Gaylordsville.

Back home, I picked up Spike for a long visit to the dog park. All-in--all a great fall day.