Do you have a name for your GPS voice? Mine’s Nigel. My husband’s is Mathilda. Whatever persona you’ve assigned them, the relationship deteriorates when they send you into a traffic jam, down a one-way street or begin yammering in the middle of the best part of your favorite song. I’ve decided to end things with Nigel this summer and use maps to get where I need to go. It’s a quaint hobby, somewhat akin to tatting, but I still think it will come in handy when I land a spot on “The Amazing Race”. My first trip this weekend to the bucolic hills of northwest Connecticut began with a missed exit on the Taconic Parkway that lengthened my drive by 40 minutes. Every journey starts with baby steps, right? If you’re looking for graduation gift ideas, why not package up a Rand McNally Road Atlas and some gas money. The recipient will think you’re cheap or crazy, but it might inspire a summer travel adventure.
Saturday was a cracklin’ good spring day – perfect weather for the 14th annual Trade Secrets garden sale in Sharon, Connecticut.
Proceeds from the sale benefit WSS, an organization providing support to victims of domestic violence.Excited to finally meet master potter Guy Wolff and to see his wares in person after having read about him often in Martha Stewart Living. Simply beautiful handmade pots.Speaking of Martha, overheard one of her staffers advise a vendor to “Make her a deal. She’s a businesswoman.”A rabid fan of “The Godfather” might really appreciate this.Many of the garden antiques were spectacularly expensive, but there was a large selection of budget-friendly annuals, perennials, and vegetables, many of them from certified organic growers like Markristo Farm.And ideas are always free. I love the simplicity of the wire urn overflowing with white petunias.The event featured a well-organized system for processing your purchases. Orders were boxed or bagged and tagged with your individual buyer’s number and moved to a marked location behind the barn. At the end of the day you just had to drive up and hard-working volunteers loaded your car.I drove through so many quaint hamlets with whitewashed churches and country kitchen-style restaurants that I can’t wait to return and explore the rolling hills of Litchfield County.
