While everyone is off having their fun at Rhinebeck…
…I’m here at my temporary home on the prairie. Want a prairie photo? Sure you do.
Can you find the locust hiding in this photo?
Ragdale is wonderful so far. With nothing to do except write, the days each seem 48 hours long. I’m trying not to feel as if I should be writing every waking moment of the day. It’s just not possible. Tonight I took a break from the new book to play around with watercolor. I’ve never really used it before, and it was fun to try to figure out what was possible. My favorite trick so far? Blotting and wiping with a rag. Here’s my first attempt.
I’ll post pictures of the buildings and my room and more of the property soon. Don’t want to give it all away at once, after all! My room is in the Barnhouse (yes, it used to be a real barn), rather than the main house. That means funky angles and a bizarre little closet that would be a walk-in if I were three feet tall. Yeah…I have been sitting in the closet from time to time. I’ll admit it. It’s this teeny little room with sloped sides…hard to resist crawling in there.
You know what was waiting for me when I arrived? A Welcome to Ragdale care package from Norma! As if we needed more proof of how much she rocks. 
That’s right. She sent me Calmer. The most edible of yarns. And red. Enough for a cozy pair of socks. Yes, I already cast on.
I suppose tomorrow the Rhinebeck photos will start to appear. I hope you all had a wonderful time. I’m loving this residency enough that I’m only .06% jealous.
I see that little locust, watching you and keeping an eye on you there 🙂 My other first thought was OMG where are the coffee shops, but I know you’ll get that one sussed pretty quick. And what would you do without Norma. Lucky you, lovely colour, and in the photo, it all coordinates with your watercolour…
Posted by: Alison
I see that little locust, watching you and keeping an eye on you there 🙂 My other first thought was OMG where are the coffee shops, but I know you’ll get that one sussed pretty quick. And what would you do without Norma. Lucky you, lovely colour, and in the photo, it all coordinates with your watercolour…
Posted by: Alison
Wow…you are in heaven, there…
I’d sit in the closet for a while, too 🙂
Posted by: Lee Ann
It certainly seems like you’re keeping busy enough–who needs a wool festival, anyway?? (grin)
Posted by: Deb
Oh cool, a barn and a teeny closet (really! I think that’s neat, I love attic rooms and such with the weird angles) and wow, that was so nice of Norma.
Audrey Niffenegger had a residency at Ragdale, and you’re there now, so I have confidence that you will meet some very inspiring people and your novel will unfold.
Posted by: spaazlicious
Wow that landscape would inspire even me to write a novel, probably not, but i would surely play with the locusts. Im looking forward to seeing pictures of your barn and the rest of the area. And quit hogging all the artistic genes for crying out loud. Love you, stop and smell some flowers.
Posted by: Joel
I hope you are having a great and productive time 🙂 I would send you some Hsuan Wan Wei or however you spell it (cuz I LOOOOOVE Lush and like to share with my fellow curly haired girls now..) but I don’t know where you are, and I’m sure you don’t know me well enough, so well just call it a good intention 🙂
Posted by: Libby
Ohhhh, I love the prairie picture and the watercolor, and your word-pictures. You’re awesome, and I hope the yarn is, you know….making you Calmer. MWAH!
Posted by: Norma
Wow…you are in heaven, there…
I’d sit in the closet for a while, too 🙂
Posted by: Lee Ann
It certainly seems like you’re keeping busy enough–who needs a wool festival, anyway?? (grin)
Posted by: Deb
Oh cool, a barn and a teeny closet (really! I think that’s neat, I love attic rooms and such with the weird angles) and wow, that was so nice of Norma.
Audrey Niffenegger had a residency at Ragdale, and you’re there now, so I have confidence that you will meet some very inspiring people and your novel will unfold.
Posted by: spaazlicious
Wow that landscape would inspire even me to write a novel, probably not, but i would surely play with the locusts. Im looking forward to seeing pictures of your barn and the rest of the area. And quit hogging all the artistic genes for crying out loud. Love you, stop and smell some flowers.
Posted by: Joel
I hope you are having a great and productive time 🙂 I would send you some Hsuan Wan Wei or however you spell it (cuz I LOOOOOVE Lush and like to share with my fellow curly haired girls now..) but I don’t know where you are, and I’m sure you don’t know me well enough, so well just call it a good intention 🙂
Posted by: Libby
Ohhhh, I love the prairie picture and the watercolor, and your word-pictures. You’re awesome, and I hope the yarn is, you know….making you Calmer. MWAH!
Posted by: Norma
Oh, and .06% only? Cripes, that’s not even up to the tax amount on our purchases! ;-D
Posted by: Norma
Cari – I can’t believe you’re in my neck of the woods! I’m in Crystal Lake… I hope you really enjoy your time at Ragdale and that it is peaceful and productive for you. Can’t wait to see your new red socks! ~ Liz 🙂
Posted by: Liz
Aww. Just Aww. I miss you.
Posted by: john
Norma is just the best.
Rhinebeck was lovely and we missed you, but there will be others. Make some art!
Posted by: claudia
You were indeed missed. I got a little Rhinebeck for you for when you get back.
(No, it’s not of the fleece-giving variety.)
Posted by: Em
Oh, and .06% only? Cripes, that’s not even up to the tax amount on our purchases! ;-D
Posted by: Norma
Cari – I can’t believe you’re in my neck of the woods! I’m in Crystal Lake… I hope you really enjoy your time at Ragdale and that it is peaceful and productive for you. Can’t wait to see your new red socks! ~ Liz 🙂
Posted by: Liz
Aww. Just Aww. I miss you.
Posted by: john
Norma is just the best.
Rhinebeck was lovely and we missed you, but there will be others. Make some art!
Posted by: claudia
You were indeed missed. I got a little Rhinebeck for you for when you get back.
(No, it’s not of the fleece-giving variety.)
Posted by: Em
Cute locust. 🙂 I also love that you crawl into that little closet. Because I would have done the same thing. As much fun as I had at Rhinebeck, and as much as I would have loved to meet you in person, I’m happy for you that Ragdale is doing you so much good. Keep soaking it all up!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
You were missed, most definitely. From one Bardian to another, it is so amazing to go back there and have so many memories come flooding back. Plus, it helps to know the lay of the land when there’s a lot of traffic on Route 9!
Post more pictures!!
Posted by: melanie
You locusts made me think of this article:
http://www.pulseplanet.com/archive/Jun03/2953.html
🙂
Posted by: Amber
I was sad that you weren’t at Rhinebeck, but know that Rhinebeck is sooooooo good for you. Savour it.
And I used to sit in closets too.
Posted by: Steph
ENJOY your time at Ragdale (I’m right next door in Highland Park) and, in case you run out of yarn, there is a yarn store right in downtown Lake Forest, called Keewanew Shepherd (or something like that) but it’s a nice little store, with Manos and Brown’s Sheep and other basic wools and novelties too.
Posted by: SusanSW
ENJOY your time at Ragdale (I’m right next door in Highland Park) and, in case you run out of yarn, there is a yarn store right in downtown Lake Forest, called Keewanew Shepherd (or something like that) but it’s a nice little store, with Manos and Brown’s Sheep and other basic wools and novelties too. Oh, and let me know if you need anything.
Posted by: SusanSW
Cute locust. 🙂 I also love that you crawl into that little closet. Because I would have done the same thing. As much fun as I had at Rhinebeck, and as much as I would have loved to meet you in person, I’m happy for you that Ragdale is doing you so much good. Keep soaking it all up!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
You were missed, most definitely. From one Bardian to another, it is so amazing to go back there and have so many memories come flooding back. Plus, it helps to know the lay of the land when there’s a lot of traffic on Route 9!
Post more pictures!!
Posted by: melanie
You locusts made me think of this article:
http://www.pulseplanet.com/archive/Jun03/2953.html
🙂
Posted by: Amber
I was sad that you weren’t at Rhinebeck, but know that Rhinebeck is sooooooo good for you. Savour it.
And I used to sit in closets too.
Posted by: Steph
ENJOY your time at Ragdale (I’m right next door in Highland Park) and, in case you run out of yarn, there is a yarn store right in downtown Lake Forest, called Keewanew Shepherd (or something like that) but it’s a nice little store, with Manos and Brown’s Sheep and other basic wools and novelties too.
Posted by: SusanSW
ENJOY your time at Ragdale (I’m right next door in Highland Park) and, in case you run out of yarn, there is a yarn store right in downtown Lake Forest, called Keewanew Shepherd (or something like that) but it’s a nice little store, with Manos and Brown’s Sheep and other basic wools and novelties too. Oh, and let me know if you need anything.
Posted by: SusanSW
Your room sounds wonderful (just the kind of place i would have loved to go as a kid, especially with that closet!). Glad to hear you’re loving it so much. Miss you. xo!
Posted by: regina
You were definitely missed this weekend, but I’m so glad you’re loving it where you are. It looks gorgous on the prairie.
Posted by: jackie
You so were missed! But we knew you were having a grand time where you were. So for now virtual hugs will have to suffice.
Posted by: Nathania
Too funny — you go to Ragdale, I, in Kalamazoo, went to Vermont. When you’ve chewed and digested your Ragdale time and the itch begins to grow again, take a look at the Vermont Studio Center — they’d have oils on the premises you could buy to get the color out (and life models every morning at ten.)
And Dutch? West Michigan is nothing but. Stop in on your way home. (Meanwhile, go wild. Write down paths you’re sure go nowhere, directions you never would at home. We’re rooting for you.)
Posted by: rams
Norma is the best. The prairie is a good place to be right now…. Rhinebeck is just a state of mind.
Posted by: Cassie
That other thing she included in your care package is a Woolly Scrubs! Wool on the outside, soap on the inside, scrub your body.
http://www.watersedgetrading.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD_Code=WETC_Code=g-1006_Code=G
Posted by: Sarah in Brooklyn
Your room sounds wonderful (just the kind of place i would have loved to go as a kid, especially with that closet!). Glad to hear you’re loving it so much. Miss you. xo!
Posted by: regina
You were definitely missed this weekend, but I’m so glad you’re loving it where you are. It looks gorgous on the prairie.
Posted by: jackie
You so were missed! But we knew you were having a grand time where you were. So for now virtual hugs will have to suffice.
Posted by: Nathania
Too funny — you go to Ragdale, I, in Kalamazoo, went to Vermont. When you’ve chewed and digested your Ragdale time and the itch begins to grow again, take a look at the Vermont Studio Center — they’d have oils on the premises you could buy to get the color out (and life models every morning at ten.)
And Dutch? West Michigan is nothing but. Stop in on your way home. (Meanwhile, go wild. Write down paths you’re sure go nowhere, directions you never would at home. We’re rooting for you.)
Posted by: rams
Norma is the best. The prairie is a good place to be right now…. Rhinebeck is just a state of mind.
Posted by: Cassie
That other thing she included in your care package is a Woolly Scrubs! Wool on the outside, soap on the inside, scrub your body.
http://www.watersedgetrading.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD_Code=WETC_Code=g-1006_Code=G
Posted by: Sarah in Brooklyn
i hope you’ve given in to the crawling into the closet temptation many times over…
love the watercolours. i can feel your creative spirit taking deep, full breaths, not that that makes any sense. basically, it sounds wonderful, hope it continues that way.
Posted by: mrspilkington
Hey, I’m catching up on your last few posts… on rent strikes: do you know this great book by Anders Corr, “No Trespassing! Squatting, Rent Strikes, and Land Struggles Worldwide”. I like it. Also, when I lived in NJ 1999-2003 and was active in the anti war mvmt there I ran into this guy Eric Laursen over and over– he’s with No Blood For Oil New York. I believe he was pretty active on those rent wars and would know lots of folks. His email is at the NBFO.org website.
Hope that helps! Sounds like a great book!
Posted by: Emily
Ragdale looks amazing and so does your first watercolor. Are you sure you haven’t done this before?
Posted by: Marie
i hope you’ve given in to the crawling into the closet temptation many times over…
love the watercolours. i can feel your creative spirit taking deep, full breaths, not that that makes any sense. basically, it sounds wonderful, hope it continues that way.
Posted by: mrspilkington
Hey, I’m catching up on your last few posts… on rent strikes: do you know this great book by Anders Corr, “No Trespassing! Squatting, Rent Strikes, and Land Struggles Worldwide”. I like it. Also, when I lived in NJ 1999-2003 and was active in the anti war mvmt there I ran into this guy Eric Laursen over and over– he’s with No Blood For Oil New York. I believe he was pretty active on those rent wars and would know lots of folks. His email is at the NBFO.org website.
Hope that helps! Sounds like a great book!
Posted by: Emily
Ragdale looks amazing and so does your first watercolor. Are you sure you haven’t done this before?
Posted by: Marie