Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Brrrr...
We drove to camp on Monday to begin work on the room in the basement. There is lots of snow on the ground, somewhere between 12 and 18 inches. And it has been COLD - check out the thermometer.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Interesting Exhibit on an Ancient Civilization
I read about this exhibit in the NY Times and am hoping this post will serve as a reminder to me that I'd like to go see it sometime. The exhibit is at New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World and is called “The Lost World of Old Europe: the Danube Valley, 5000-3500 B.C.”. It is on display through April 25th.
Here is an exerpt from the Times article. "For 1,500 years, starting earlier than 5000 B.C., they farmed and built sizable towns, a few with as many as 2,000 dwellings. They mastered large-scale copper smelting, the new technology of the age. Their graves held an impressive array of exquisite headdresses and necklaces and, in one cemetery, the earliest major assemblage of gold artifacts to be found anywhere in the world.
The striking designs of their pottery speak of the refinement of the culture’s visual language. Until recent discoveries, the most intriguing artifacts were the ubiquitous terracotta “goddess” figurines, originally interpreted as evidence of the spiritual and political power of women in society.
New research, archaeologists and historians say, has broadened understanding of this long overlooked culture, which seemed to have approached the threshold of “civilization” status. Writing had yet to be invented, and so no one knows what the people called themselves. To some scholars, the people and the region are simply Old Europe."
Here is an exerpt from the Times article. "For 1,500 years, starting earlier than 5000 B.C., they farmed and built sizable towns, a few with as many as 2,000 dwellings. They mastered large-scale copper smelting, the new technology of the age. Their graves held an impressive array of exquisite headdresses and necklaces and, in one cemetery, the earliest major assemblage of gold artifacts to be found anywhere in the world.
The striking designs of their pottery speak of the refinement of the culture’s visual language. Until recent discoveries, the most intriguing artifacts were the ubiquitous terracotta “goddess” figurines, originally interpreted as evidence of the spiritual and political power of women in society.
New research, archaeologists and historians say, has broadened understanding of this long overlooked culture, which seemed to have approached the threshold of “civilization” status. Writing had yet to be invented, and so no one knows what the people called themselves. To some scholars, the people and the region are simply Old Europe."
Sunday, December 20, 2009
SNOW!!
I think we've now had more snow in New Jersey this season than they have had at camp. And all of that in one storm yesterday. We woke to this.
There was so much blowing it is hard to measure, but we got at least 18 inches. And today was our Messiah concert. We braved the roads, which were still a mess this morning (and this evening too for that matter), and drove into Red Bank to help set up the stage of the Count Basie Theatre. Chorus members wandered in as they got themselves plowed out and we ended up with most of the choristers and all of the orchestra. The audience, however, was very sparse. Too bad. Those that didn't show up missed a fabulous concert.
There was so much blowing it is hard to measure, but we got at least 18 inches. And today was our Messiah concert. We braved the roads, which were still a mess this morning (and this evening too for that matter), and drove into Red Bank to help set up the stage of the Count Basie Theatre. Chorus members wandered in as they got themselves plowed out and we ended up with most of the choristers and all of the orchestra. The audience, however, was very sparse. Too bad. Those that didn't show up missed a fabulous concert.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Back in NJ
We had a very nice trip to the Adirondacks. We have been trying to figure out why we feel so relaxed when we are there for a few days, even when designing a finished basement. Having good friends helps. We went out with friends 2 of the 4 days we were there, which never would happen in NJ. But also, on these short trips we can escape the mundane tasks like paying bills, etc. We even managed to take so many leftovers we did little grocery shopping or cooking. So I guess it is like a mini-vacation. Now we're back in NJ and have to pay the bills that were in the pile of mail waiting for us, go grocery shopping, etc. Sigh.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Before
We have spent much of this visit to camp in the basement designing my new sewing room to fill this empty corner.
The project continues to grow - now we've decided we need to replace the basement steps too - so who knows when the "after" picture will be posted.
The project continues to grow - now we've decided we need to replace the basement steps too - so who knows when the "after" picture will be posted.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
What We Do Best
... spend money. Or what I like to think of as stimulating the economy - that's a good thing, right? Or what W likes to call retail therapy. Today the economy we are stimulating is that of the north country. We came to camp yesterday to start the process of building a room in the basement. It is going to be mainly a sewing room for me - yea! We went into town today and ordered the lumber and sheet rock. We also need a replacement handle for the back door and the best place to buy that was pretty close to Lake Placid. So we figured why not go to Placid Boatworks and order our new boats - especially since they were having a sale: order and pay by January 15th and get a paddle for free. Given that the paddle is worth nearly $500 and that they never put the boats on sale - they can't build them fast enough - we figured that was a good deal. We'll pick up the boats in the spring. This is what my boat will look like.
It weighs about 20 pounds. We are already looking forward to getting back on the water. Though we could go paddling now if we wanted. It is 50 degrees today and the locals are already bemoaning the lack of snow.
It weighs about 20 pounds. We are already looking forward to getting back on the water. Though we could go paddling now if we wanted. It is 50 degrees today and the locals are already bemoaning the lack of snow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
