Coming home

That is how I felt as I got closer and closer to Yellowstone.  It is how I felt when I checked in to start my summer job in the park.  Lots of hugs and "what are you doing here?!?!" comments from so many old friends who still work here, some of them having done so for decades.  My motor memory remembered the twisty, hilly drive up from the north entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs where I was happy to see the usual group of elk lounging on the grass.   More old friends, hugs and catching up.  Then on down to Old Faithful, spotting the occasional lone bull bison along the way.  Man oh man, it feels good to be back amongst the wilderness, the wildlife and the wildness.

Being here makes the long, at times stressful, 2200 mile drive across the country seem like a distant memory.  Aside from the sheer exhaustion I'm still trying to shake, that is.

Hoping for lots of adventure, outdoor time and great conversation this summer.  You know, the best things in life.  

One of my very good friends lives in a house where this is the view from her front porch.  Lucky her!  It's a guest ranch just north of Yellowstone.  This is where I spent the night before going into the park.

I have been thrown right into work so I haven't explored yet or taken any pictures.  I'll be sure to take some soon and post them.  Meanwhile, here are some lovely flowers from the rose garden in my hometown.  My aunt and I walked around and around, drooling over these beauties.  I'm so grateful the city workers and volunteers put forth the effort to provide something so exquisite for everyone to enjoy.

Epic (TV) inspired jewelry blog hop

Today is reveal day for the Epic Inspiration Jewellery Design Challenge and Blog Hop hosted by Melissa Trudinger of Bead Recipes.  End of April, she proposed a challenge to look to a favorite TV show(s) and then create jewelry inspired by a character or clothing or the overall aesthetic of the production.  

Her words specifically:  

"Design at least one piece inspired by the series, by the characters or the setting, the costumes or the story, even a particularly inspiring line from the show."
 

Immediately, I thought of Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge.  As much as I enjoy these shows for their interesting plots, characters, and historical references, I keep watching in large part for the clothing and jewelry.  Remember the fashion show Lady Mary attended in Season 5 where she said "Oh, yummy" about one of the dresses on a model?  That's pretty much how I have felt about both of these shows since episode 1, season 1.  Stunning stuff! 

I also thought of Grantchester and Vera and The Bletchley Circle and Endeavor and Inspector Lewis.  Then I went old school and thought of Little House on the Prairie and Facts of Life and, heaven help me, The Donny and Marie Show.  I know, I'm dating myself.  

In the end, these are the pieces I came up with:  

The pendant is actually a cluster clasp of glass beads from a vintage necklace I found at a garage sale.  The other beads are also glass.  The rose is from my stepfather's garden.

Here's a close up of the back of the clasp / pendant.  The stamped letters read JAPAN.

This necklace was inspired by the character Hildegard Staunton (played by the lovely Pheline Roggan) in episode 1 of Grantchester.  I could see the character wearing this necklace in post-WWII England with a sweater set, wool skirt and shiny black heels. 

This pair of earrings was inspired by Mrs. Isobel Crawley (played perfectly by Penelope Wilton) from Downton Abbey.  They're kind of old-fashioned in that they are twist on earrings.  The faceted beads are much more shiny in person, and the silver / pearl flowers are rather feminine, I think.  I could see her wearing these on a social outing that is less formal than dinner at the great house.  Don't you love her relationship with the Dowager Countess?  God love Maggie Smith - Lady Violet is hands down my favorite character on the show.  She always has the best lines!

These were inspired by Lady Mary's character, also form Downton.  They are quite simple, but they're long & dark with a bit of sparkle & swing - kind of like Mary.  Michelle Dockery does such a great job portraying this character, from the sibling rivalry to the grieving widow to the woman taking charge of her heritage and romantic life.  I have moments when I think she is cruel, but her granny puts her in her place often enough to humble her.  (Remember the line "A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears" Lady Violet zinged her way after she insulted Lady Edith, AGAIN?  Love it.)

The connector is from Kabela Designs, and the chain came from Stinky Dog Beads.

Green-yellow pearls, garnet rounds, Czech glass, glass / brass chain, faceted glass seed beads,  faceted glass round as the pendant.

This necklace came about after looking at stills of Lady Edith, again from Downton.  I have a fondness for her character (could she please catch a break in season 6, Julian Fellowes???), and I adore the clothes and jewelry Laura Carmichael gets to wear while playing her.  Like her, this piece is delicate, classic, and feminine. 

For anyone interested, Downton Abbey's current costumer, Anna Robbins, has a Twitter account where she posts about the clothing & accessories used in the show.  It's rather fun to read.

Please visit the other participants to ooh and ahh over their creations.  The list is below:

Melissa Trudinger             https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/ (the hostess)

Karen Mitchell                   http://overthemoon-design.com/

Andrea Glick                      http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Karen Martinez                 http://www.fairiesmarket.com/

Lennis Carrier                    http://windbent.wordpress.com

Lindsay Starr                      http://phantasmcreation.blogspot.com/

Mona Arnott                     http://bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.com/ 

Lee Koopman                    https://stregajewellry.wordpress.com/

Shaiha Williams                http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

Veralynne Malone            http://veradesigns.blogspot.com

Elisabeth Auld                    http://www.beadsforbusygals.com

Kelly Schermerhorn          http://meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com (you're here!)

Dini Bruinsma                    http://www.angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Jami Shipp                          http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com.au/

Terri G                                  http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/

so long Hudson Valley, hello Mohawk River Valley

Hanging out in my hometown at my parents' place.  I'm in between our drafty farmhouse with the amazing bird life in the back yard and living the national park seasonal life.  I've a different kitten to play with, familiar green spaces to find respite in, and plenty of family to spend time with.  

Life is indeed pretty good.

these bloomed just before we moved out - lucky us!

My little sister's cat, Mula.  She's just started showing me her belly.  I've yet to rub it as she can be quite sassy.

"Flowers have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike some strains of music. They relax the tenseness of the mind. They dissolve its vigor." - Henry Ward Beecher

The next to last photo depicts a lovely, sweeping view of the Hudson River and Catskill Mtns. beyond.  It was taken from the steps of a formal garden on the grounds at Bard College.

Just up the road from campus is Montgomery Place (the front porch is shown in the bottom-most photo).  The grounds of this historic home is where many of the flower and amphibian photos I've posted as of late were taken.  I've been visiting once a week for the last month to see what is newly blooming and what is due to mature next.  The irises are mostly fully open at the moment as the lilacs, bluebells and bleeding hearts fade.  Next up are peonies, and I'm very much looking forward to them.  

This coming week will be our last living in this very pretty part of New York - well, perhaps until spring semester 2016.  Tim will soon be off to Washington, D.C., and I will soon be headed west for taller mountains and larger open spaces.  A city girl, I am not.  They certainly can be fun and provide any number of delightful distractions, but I quickly get overstimulated and need to retreat.  So the boy will intern & spend lots of time at the museums while I hike, camp and have long conversations over meals with friends.  Well, I have to work as well.  No one really gets to live in Yellowstone for free after all! 

a day for flowers

Watching frogs, taking drives, baking bread

a small orchard - one among many in this area of New York

lots of mosquitoes, frogs and bird noises here

hopefully no alligators, but I did see a muskrat who was too quick for me to get a photo

the first tulip to blossom in our front yard

lovely area chock full of bluebells

"Whadda ya lookin' at laydee?"

the Jabba the Hutt of this here pond - or at least that's what I imagined it to be

just chilling on the old lily pad

I love this sign although I've yet to see a turtle

whole wheat with sunflower seeds and oats - yummy!

Teen Geek and my need to read

books that just came in the mail

Our local library offers a wonderful service on Saturdays called Teen Geek.  Folks are invited to come to the library with any sort of device - laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc. - about which they have questions.  Or in my case, they just need someone approximately 1/3 their age to tell them how to use something they got as a gift.  Yep, that's me  - technologically challenged.

I broke my Kindle back in early November when I dropped it on the kitchen floor.  Tim replaced it with one of those tablet thingies that does a whole lot more than download ebooks.  Okay, I admit I was a little intimidated which is why it sat in its box until about two weeks ago when I decided the Teen Geek was going to show me the way.  After insisting he couldn't make fun of me for not knowing how to use it and being a little afraid of it, he smiled and made magic happen.  That might sound a smidge dramatic, but that's how I look at it.

And I've been reading like crazy since.  In the last two weeks, I've read actual books and ebooks like it was my job.  (If only!)   

I read all four Kate Atkinson books about ex-cop-turned-private-investigator-turned-civilian Jackson Brodie.  I watched season 1 of Case Histories a few years back, and once I stopped seeing Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy of the Harry Potter movies, I was hooked.  The books are a little gritty at times, but I love me an English cop drama.  (Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn, is a favorite.  I love how she calls everyone "pet."  Perhaps I should read those books too.  Hmm.)

I read the first book in the Hunger Games series.  I know, I know....I'm only years behind the trend on that one.  I have seen the movies at least.

I read another in the Flavia de Luce mystery series - The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley.  I stinking love these books!  I have a suspicion these will be a reread in a few years' time.  If you haven't read them, and you're a fan of English mysteries, go get them!  Borrow them, download them. 


I'm currently rereading Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy in anticipation of seeing the movie with Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba.  I love the late 90s production with Nathanial Parker as Farmer Oak and Paloma Baeza as Bathsheba!  I have a copy on VHS, PBS nerd that I am.  


Good gravy, how boring would life be if we couldn't lose ourselves in books now and again?  

It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.  – Oscar Wilde