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Environmental News and Information MNN - Mother Nature Network

Old Lyme Midsummer Festival Schedule of Events

Old Lyme Midsummer Festival Schedule of Events

heading to OL tomorrow, so maybe - we will...
.. and i just learned that a friend of mine will be a featured artisan.... we have had a great time here in the past. the kids are able to build small  wooden sailboats that actually float among other things...

Living large: A look inside the tiny house movement

Living large: A look inside the tiny house movement


cool idea. these are obviously single person dwellings but the concept makes sense... do we really need all of this crap surrounding us?

dog park and trash museum

it's..... a beautful day in the neighborhood. izzy needs a walk. heading to the dog park and then we're off to the hartford trash museum this afternoon....look for updates and my review of the museum to follow shortly.....
caio...! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ahh. a very cool place indeed! the kids learned all about recycling, the things that are recycled (typically) and were able to view the process through large second floor viewing windows which overlook the work area. there were loads of displays and hands on activites as well as sculpture and a structure made up of trash (aka) re-purposed and re-used material. there was a craft area to create new things out of old and tons of colorful recyling/trash-related info "littering" the walls. i must admit, i wasn't sure what to expect when a friend tipped me off about this place but i am pleasantly surprised-a place truly worth checking out in the city of hartford and... admission is free!

Member's Only Garage Sale - West Hartford REI

Member's Only Garage Sale - West Hartford REI

maybe worth checking out if you happen to be a member, which i am...
this saturday \westhtfd REI

get out...

well.... we have been out of town for a bit, back to my native nh to visit with some folks and just enjoy being there. one superlative byproduct of this visit was that in just 48 short hours i was able to visit with some of those people that have been in my life- all of my life but who i very rarely get to see. and THAT is a beautiful thing....

on the agenda this week.... i hit the jackpot last week when i discovered and snagged, (don't worry they handed them out back in may but this was THE last one and it is all mine) a very comprehensive guide to almost all of connecticut's hiking trails.
so today we will check out a rather simple route in windsor locks which is more of a walking path than a trail but the kids could potentially ride their bikes or whatever...so, thanks connecticut forest and park assoc. and ct woodlands; http://www.ctwoodlands.org/ it will come in handy.

plannning more... i'll post later....

farmington river bike trail

we had a fantastical day riding along the farmington river trail yesterday...

don't you just love his children's books? eric carle museum of picture book art

looking forward to visiting this museum in amherst ma. with the boys .we have many of his books... free admission with the public library pass, however, there are also several other ways to save on admission according to their site.

Jimmy Cliff: Tiny Desk Concert : NPR

Jimmy Cliff: Tiny Desk Concert : NPR

so .. thinking about going on saturday to see him in vt... it may be a long shot tho, so there's also that wilco show in n. adams ma. well just in case anyone is interested these are the two shows coming up this weekend... however i have been kicking myself for years for passing up the chance to see jimmy cliff in stowe vt. many, many years ago...

jimmy cliff:  http://www.pentanglearts.org/events/event.cfm?EventID=190

wilco..& more: including the great mavis staples and avi buffalo:  http://solidsoundfestival.com/

Ashlawn Farm Coffee - Specially roasted coffee in Lyme, Connecticut

Ashlawn Farm Coffee - Specially roasted coffee in Lyme, Connecticut

i adore this place. when i lived in this area fulltime it was the only place that i would buy coffee... also**they offer a farmer's market here on fridays and saturdays throughout the summer. the farm animals don't seem to mind the smell of roasting coffee beans...

cacti in connecticut

as a small aside, i wanted to take a moment to apprectiate the unique cactus that my grandmother delia nurtured for years along the side of the cottage. i sometimes glance outside in the summer to find people passing by with heads turned pointing to this prickly plant that seems almost juxtaposed in this part of the country. until now, i never really knew what type of cactus it was. i am pretty sure that it must be the eastern prickly pear- (which happens to be edible by the way.) this winter-hearty plant seems to thrive here- maybe beacuse of the salty-sea air. in short, it is true; cacti grow in connecticut.
thanks dee.

Spotlight on: Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) Prairie Blog Prairie Moon Nursery

more things i'd like to cook

Ohh May…

did i mention that i love to cook...? this blog has a few good ones

Vegan Lentil & Black Bean Chia Burgers « Ohh May…

Vegan Lentil & Black Bean Chia Burgers « Ohh May…

think i'll make these.

another cool event in ct

great day at the beach today and a friend told me about this event which happens each year in griswold, ct. Home Page buttonwood farms sunflowers to suport make-a-wish foundation donates 100% of proceeds from sunflower sales to the charity... check out their site. coming up in july.

la playa

well, it seems as though the weather may shift soon giving us some rainclouds after tomorrow, so... beach it is for friday- right after the white elephant sale and coffee. hoping that the kids are finally ready to let me shop this year...

The Willimantic Food Co-op

The Willimantic Food Co-op

did you know that one of the largest fish hatcheries in the east is right here in the constitution state?? yep...!! so, we are heading off to central village, CT to the: quinebaug valley trout hatchery in the morning to check out the fishies for ourselves. and... admission is free!


after that, it's off to: willimantic food co-op to stock up on the good stuff....not free, but that's ok.... a girls gotta eat!

...guilford Art Center :guilford, CT next week & white elephant sale old lyme this weekend!

*guilford, ct ... Welcome to Guilford Art Center : Guilford, CT **great event- great art.  adults $7, children under 12 are free***

**this weekend white elephant sale lyme st. old lyme, ct.  held at the first congregational church...

it's that time of year again. bargain shoppers unite- strollers NOT recommended,) I found this out the hard way years ago. this event is big and super crowded. normally falls on a smokin' hot new england wknd- so be prepared.
cars lined up all the way to the venue, free parking. 2 days- fri 9am-2pm/sat 8am-noon.  get there early, second day is 1/2 price... great sale for used sporting gear, art, furniture... just about everything!~

Sailfest : Sailfest in New London Connecticut CT

Sailfest : Sailfest in New London Connecticut CT

haven't been to this yet but have always wanted to check it out. maybe this will be the year...admission is free

52 Great Getaways in Connecticut, attractions, travel and hotels

52 Great Getaways in Connecticut, attractions, travel and hotels

ok, so now i've really done it... just signed up to be a CT ambassador... hopefully this will lend itself to my finding even MORE great and potentially free things to share with ya'll.... just you wait.

Oil in the Gulf Live Video

Oil in the Gulf Live Video

A sad sad sad REALITY.........

we sometimes just leave this running and watch. my son cannot get over how fast the numbers fly, think it is about five gal./sec?

Facebook | SHACK AT THE WADSWORTH ATHENEUM (6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/12)

Facebook SHACK AT THE WADSWORTH ATHENEUM (6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/12)

free music

crabbing

do you know that crabs love dino-shaped chicken nuggets? found out last year by accident... crabbing tomorrow with the boys. maybe we'll switch up the bait this year...hmm, taco shells perhaps...

Splendid Cheap Eats: The Splendid Table

Splendid Cheap Eats: The Splendid Table

free movies for kids.... en plein air art fest and free yoga on the beach!!!

free: MOVIES you cannot go wrong really, but pick and choose. marquee cinemas in westbrook,ct does this every summer... we think it's pretty cool. not first run but not ancient either. check out the schedule for YOUR area...there are several states listed...


free festival: old lyme's annual 'en plein air fest offering locally grown  and hand-made products as well as activities for families... free..  !!   Midsummer Festival -- Old Lyme, CT (see below)


July 30, 2010 to July 31, 2010

Kick off the weekend with an outdoor performance on Friday evening on the banks of the Lieutenant River at the Florence Griswold Museum; on Saturday, the town becomes a Market En Plein Air offering fresh Connecticut-grown flowers, vegetables, fruits, breads, fine cheeses, herbs, and hands-on activities. Location: various throughout Old Lyme. Time: Friday, 7 - 9 p.m.;Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost: free. Information: 860-434-5542 or visit http://www.oldlymemidsummerfestival.com/
 
..... lastly,  my favorite; yoga on the beach...
free YOGA: thursday:6pm: Yoga on White Sands Beach, Old Lyme, class is free, donations are accepted for the Lyme’s Youth Service Bureau. White Sands Beach is off of Old Shore Road off of Route 156.

**hopefully this is current info. i have attended these yoga classes in the past and yoga in the evening on the beach is really fantastic!!

annual fourth of July kids parade

this must be our 6th year participating in this parade, it is lots of fun...

line up sat. july 3rd at 9:45am hartford ave. sound view beach old lyme, ct

prizes for most festive bike, stroller and individual....dogs, bikes, virtually any type of velocipede you can imagine are welcome here....!

free carousel ride after parade for all....courtesy of jerry & dee vowles of the carousel shop. hartford ave. old lyme...

red, white & and blue makes a monkey out of you. '...see you there!

Michael Pollan Had a Picky Eater, Too - KitchenDaily

Michael Pollan Had a Picky Eater, Too - KitchenDaily


...because feeding children is always such a pleasure.... (  :

by the way, I am currently reading:  Michael Pollan's book:  In Defense of Food

check it out...
http://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/

new britain museum of american art

have been neglecting my little blogspot of late...

: (    HOWEVER.... this week has been busy with the first Rockcats game my kids have ever been to.....such a fun place for kids!!! checkout the website http://www.rockcats.com/ 

cheap but not free.... sooo worth it.

heading to the beach for the weekend... I'll keep you posted on freebies from Old Lyme, CT area over the next few days..... by the way- heading to New Britain Museum of American Art next week.... totally free for kids 12 and under.

happy independence day!!