Holidays in the Wind

Block Island was amazing. I'm so glad we went during the off season. It was so quiet.

The entire island is only about 11 square miles. There were only a few paved roads, and maybe two dozen shops all clustered in one area, mostly closed for the season.

As the grey sky loomed and the gusty winds blew, it seemed as if the island was stuck in time -- farms with cows, horses, and geese, old hotels with big porches and rocking chairs overlooking the water, dirt roads, cliffs overlooking the ocean that actually didn't have houses on them. Usually a location's natural areas are the only places you can find real, serene, understated beauty. Not so with Block Island. The entire thing was just one picturesque sight after another.



The island is a perfect place for a vacation alone, and I'm not even really a proponent of solo dining or solo moviegoing. Those things are actually quite weird and sad. But Block Island in the off season is the place to be when you want to be alone with your thoughts and relax. It doesn't even require deep contemplation and all that stuff that people talk about but never actually do. You can just be; you don't have to think at all. Only open your eyes, take it in, and remember.



*~Check soon at my Etsy shop for some new photographs from Block Island!~*

Mini-Break in Striper A-Go-Go Land

I'll be heading off to Block Island for four days starting this Sunday! I'm hoping the post-tourist, chilly, autumn atmosphere will prove relaxing and inspiring. I've bought a new SD card for my camera, and I'm going to pick up some watercolors, I think. I may end up making a kindergarten-style mess of stick figures and "Ooh, honey, that's a great - ....what is it?"s, but there's no harm in trying. I've recently found a creative bone in my body (it may be my pelvis...oo baby), so I've been trying to build it up and nurture it (with some thrusting and such). The acceptable fruits of my labors are up for sale at my Etsy shop.

In regards to de-fattening, never fear the mini-break, I keep telling myself! You will not gain back those 40 pounds you've lost, nor will you continue forever on this seemingly endless (4 months, peeps) plateau of flabby doom. The Backwoods Companion and I are packing healthy foods (read also: cheap foods, as shite on the island goes for double or more) for breakfasts and lunches whilst on holiday, and I'm pretty sure island cuisine will consist of baked seafood and vegetables for dinner most nights. I'll also be bringing multiple sets of workout clothing for varying weather and some weights and resistance band. I'm actually pretty excited to run around the island. It seems like it will be some seriously awesome atmosphere, and I'll be able to scope out some good photography spots on my way. Hopefully I will diligently forget the locations of bakeries, chocolatiers, and ice cream shops that I run by.

The BC will be spending alot of his time fishing. That was actually the impetus for the trip, and the fact that there is an ocean-view motel and nice little shops on a beautiful island is only secondary to the amount of striped bass found in the waters off the coast. That will leave me to fish until I give up in frustration and then spend hours upon hours relaxing alone in quiet solitude. Lordy, lordy, who took my forty? I can't wait!!!

Seamstrocity

So I was poking around Etsy last night and found my new favorite crafter. I found her while searching for some kind of cat-themed scarf for myself. Instead, I found scarves for cats. And alot of other apparel for cats. And not your lame, big-ticket store animal t-shirts, but full-blown, rock-on cat outfits.

Amandalyn's work is thoughtful and also just really damn cute. The best part of it all is her model. Remy the kitty has apparently managed to control his rage at being dressed up, and, as evidenced by this awesome picture, is simply content with playing the martyr. If I tried costuming my Skitty, my face would be ribbons and my hands bloody stumps. Must be nice having a tolerant cat, eh?

So, yup, Amandalyn and her seamstrocity (her word, which I wish I came up with first) are definitely worth a look-see, whether you just want to check out some funny pictures, or if you'd like to dress your cat like the surrogate child you know it is.

Mishmash

I've recently been asking myself the question, "Why blog?" Now I'm sticking with, "Why not?" and asking nothing else.

I don't really have a set theme in mind, but there is a mishmash of share-able tidbits that have been floating through my mind: my shrinking waistline (cross your fingers for it), photography, kitties, crafting, life on the Cape, vegetarianism, helping homeless animals, and, of course, everyone's favorite - raving, expletive-filled, lunatic-esque rants about everything from tourists to lazy fitness class leaders to moldy wine...seriously, who knew wine could grow mold?

So strap in, and I'll be back tomorrow with some absolutely genius post that will leave you craving more, more, more! ...Or just some self-indulgent drivel that I narcissistically expect other people to care about. Whichever.