A Walk at Wentworth Farm

Wentworth Farm, Amherst, Massachusetts

Columbus Day was a perfect fall day...

The brilliant fall colors are starting to quiet down.

I Love My Bike!

As bikes go, it's nothing very special - a Giant Cypress - a hybrid - at least ten years old. For most of its life it sat in the garage or basement, collecting dust. You see I don't feel safe riding on the road with cars, and until two years ago, I lived in neighborhoods with lots of auto traffic. Now, however, I'm lucky to live in quiet neighborhood near the Norowottuk Rail Trail. Just a quick, bumpy ride through the woods to the trail, and I can ride without fear of being knocked over by a car. I might get knocked over by a rollerblader, or perhaps another cyclist, but still it feels much safer. I'm not an athlete, not that kind of rider, but when I'm on my bike, flying down a hill, I feel like I'm 10 years old again. There's no better feeling!

A Winter Hike with Friends

Friends from the Shambhala Center in Northampton gathered for a hike on Mt. Tom in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

I've never hiked in the snow before. It was a warm day, the snow was soft and a little slushy in places. Walking in the snow was challenging, and the mountain was beautiful.

The view from the Dry Knoll, looking toward of the Oxbow (part of the Connecticut River).

It was a more challenging and fast-paced hike than I'm used to, but it was a great day!

Recent Walk II

ALSO TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO: THE ASTERS AND OAKS ARE A FEW OF THE LAST HOLDOUTS TO SHOW THEIR AUTUMN MAGIC.

Recent Walk I

MOST OF THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN NOW. THESE IMAGES ARE FROM A WALK S. & I TOOK A FEW WEEKS AGO. IN NEW ENGLAND THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES ARE SO DRAMATIC IN LATE FALL.

A Quick Evening's Work

I HELPED ANANDA SET UP HER BOOTH FOR THE PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL IN NORTHAMPTON LAST NIGHT. AFTER DOING SHOWS REGULARLY FOR YEARS, SHE'S REALLY GOT THE BOOTH SET UP DOWN. IT WAS EFFICIENT AND QUICK! EACH EXHIBITOR CREATES A LITTLE WORLD IN THEIR 10' X 10' SPACE.

A Different Kind of Project

I'M WORKING ON A LAYOUT AND MATERIALS ESTIMATE FOR THE KITCHENETTE AT THE NEW SHAMBHALA CENTER. I'M SO GLAD TODAY IS A SNOW DAY AND UMASS IS CLOSED. IT'S DIVINE TO HAVE SOME TIME TO PUT INTO THIS PROJECT!

Shelburne Falls Shambhala Center

THIS IS WHERE I SPENT THE DAY YESTERDAY. IT'S SUCH A LOVELY PLACE TO PRACTICE. IT LOOKS LIKE SNOW ON THE ROCKS OUTSIDE, DOESN'T IT? IT'S NOT. IT WAS A RAINY, RAINY DAY.

The Path

THIS IS THE WALKING PATH THAT I RIDE MY BIKE ON TO GET TO THE BIKE PATH. AREN'T THE LITTLE BIRCH TREES SWEET?

IT'S A LITTLE SAD TO SEE THE ALL THE LEAVES ON THE GROUND, BUT THE VIEW HAS OPENED UP. THERE'S MORE SKY, AND OFTEN MORE SUN - SO WELCOME AS THE AIR COOLS.

THIS IS THE BIKE PATH - THE NOROWOTTUCK RAIL TRAIL. IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT ATTRACTIONS IN THE PIONEER VALLEY.

CHECK OUT THE FLICKR PAGE OF AKIHIRO FURUTA. HIS FAMILY HAS A LITTLE SHIBA INU THAT THEY PHOTOGRAPH A LOT! SO SWEET & FUNNY. FOUND VIA CAMILLA ENGMAN.

Bright Sunday Walk

Down & Up

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD QUITE LIKE OCTOBER IN NEW ENGLAND. LOOKING DOWN . . . LOOKING UP . . . IT'S ALL MAGIC!

Paradise City

ANANDA WILL BE SHOWING HER WORK AT THE PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS THIS WEEKEND, FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. STOP BY AND SAY HELLO!

Farm Drive By

COOK FARM IN HADLEY IS BEAUTIFUL - AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE CAFE WITH LIGHT MEALS AND THEIR OWN ICE CREAM! I WASN'T HUNGRY THIS TIME, BUT NEXT TIME I VISIT I'LL TRY THE ICE CREAM. I NOTICED A SHELF FULL OF GLUTEN FREE ITEMS IN THE CORNER BY THE DOOR: BREAD MIX, BISCOTTI, AND WAFFLE ICE CREAM CONES! THAT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE.

Express Yourself

SLOW . . . ONE SIDE . . .

SLOW . . . THE OTHER SIDE!

THE KINDNESS SIDE . . .

AND THE PEACE SIDE.

I WENT OUT AIMLESSLY EXPLORING, AND I FOUND THESE WONDERFUL HOMEMADE SIGNS. I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR MORE.

CLICK HERE TO READ A BLOG POST FROM KARINA OVER AT EL BESO. KARINA LIVES IN ARGENTINA, WHICH HAD ITS OWN DEEP ECONOMIC CRISIS IN 2001. SHE DESCRIBES THE THINGS SHE DID TO ENJOY LIFE WITH LIMITED MEANS - CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN ALL DO - AT ANY TIME - WHETHER WE ARE FLUSH, OR BROKE. I FOUND EL BESO THROUGH 36 SHEA, WHOSE PHOTOS WERE USED TO ILLUSTRATE A FEW OF THE "REMEDIES."

I Can't Stay Away

A GREAT EGRET, FISHING.

POOR FARM SWAMP

NOW THAT I'VE DISCOVERED THIS REMARKABLE PLACE, SO FULL OF LIFE (LIKE THIS GREAT BLUE HERON), I CAN'T STAY AWAY. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BIKE TRAIL EXTENDS ACROSS STATION ROAD, HEADING SOUTHEAST TO THE BELCHERTOWN LINE. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL RIDE.

Evening Ride on the Bike Path

RIDING MY BIKE THIS EVENING ON THE RAIL TRAIL, I STOPPED ON THE SOUTH AMHERST BRIDGE - THE LIGHT WAS MAGICAL! THIS WAS THE VIEW
TO THE WEST . . .

. . . AND TO THE EAST.


I EXPLORED THE FIRST MILE OF THE PATH, NEAR STATION ROAD. IT IS AN AMAZING SWAMP, CREATED BY BEAVERS AND FULL OF WILDLIFE. WHEN I STOPPED TO LOOK AND TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS THE MOSQUITOES DESCENDED. NEXT TIME I'LL BRING SOME INSECT REPELLENT AND TAKE MY TIME. WHAT A GORGEOUS EVENING IT WAS, SO WELCOME AFTER SO MUCH RAIN.