an extended weekend

{Before I get carried away telling the tale of our weekend, I want to let you know that Kathreen has posted an interview she and I did on WhipUp, and you can enter there to win a copy of The Creative Family! That ends later today.}

Well that was a longer trip than expected (and full of far more of the above than we expected). The last 24 hours of our trip started with a sudden car breakdown, waiting for repair shops to open (of course it happened on a Sunday), finding a hotel for one more night, and coming up with ways to spend 24 hours with three kids in a hotel room in the middle of a strip mall with no working car. Oh yes - an adventure in ingenuity and patience. Our bodies are all now full of chlorine, I'm quite sure, but thank goodness for hotel pools. And mechanics that work quickly (once they open). And cardiovascular workout equipment that fascinate small children.

(in the Mount Holyoke library)
But before all that drama began...we had a really wonderful time in Western Mass! Odyssey Bookshop hosted a great book event and Crafternoon - my favorite part (always) being the one-on-one chats and visits with you. It is truly such a treat to have an email name I've "known" and seen for so long come to life as a flesh-and-blood moving and talking person (more likely than not with a smaller, adorable one on the hip, too)! It was such a pleasure to meet so many of you on Saturday - thank you for making the journey on such a gorgeous day - and thanks to Odyssey Bookshop for a great afternoon. (And again, I come to you with no pictures of the book event. I seem to forget my camera - and everything else - when suddenly in front of a group of people.)

Some other (photographed) highlights of our time in the Valley (am I saying that right? Can I call it 'The Valley"?) - delicious dinner at Fresh Side in Amherst (and some great uh, "college" entertainment that followed), the reading room at Mt. Holyoke's library, and a really special visit and breakfast picnic to a farm with friends. (And oh, what a difference a few hours south makes in the seasonal growth. There was so much color!)

Sadly, our car trouble quite literally steered us out of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art before we could go in, but we all left so enamoured with the whole area that we're sure we'll be back there soon. That is, after we've recovered from this little adventure.

Comments

[thedoodlegirl]

Your blog makes me feel SO happy! You are so talented. Thanks for sharing with others. :)

[sarahjane]

Oh look at that shop! I grew up in MA too, and just LOVED all the wonderful places to find. sorry about the breakdown...you are so positive about it (in a blog at least) but thanks for the great run down! What a treat!

[camerashymomma]

i'm loving those pictures on flickr! i think i relive my childhood through your images amanda, they invoke so many memories for me. glad you're back safe and sound.

[Qalballah]

Back safe and sound. Welcome Home.

[Samantha]

LOL! That sounds like my week last week. Glad you are home safe. xoxox,
Samantha

[heather]

so sorry for your troubles... thank goodness for indoor pools. nothing like the very unexciting bill of a car repair though. ugh.

i have not a single picture from the day sadly. but it was lovely to meet you and chat a bit. your family is as warm and friendly as one might imagine. and hats off to your kiddos by the way. they really handle all of this with such ease - all these strange adults meeting them as if they were neighbors. could be a little weird for kids, your kids take it all in stride.

[Sarah]

Why couldn't you call it the Valley? Locals (of which I used to be one but sadly no longer am) and non-locals alike call it that and you can too.

I'm feeling vaklempt after reading your post. I don't know Fresh Side (must be new since we moved away?) but I know the Odyssey and the violin shop and the Food Bank Farm used to be our CSA. And I'm having fun speculating what hotel you stayed in (Holiday Inn Express in Hadley??). Sob. I miss the valley. Not that life here isn't good. It is. I just miss that place and the people we left there.

[Heather, whatchabuildin]

Hi Amanda,
Again, so nice to meet you in person! It is always nice to finally match a human figure to the email - and blog!

We fell in love with the area too! After we left the bookstore, we headed to Northampton and enjoyed ice cream, sunshine and magnolia trees in bloom! We decided to save Eric Carle Museum for our next adventure to Pioneer Valley. A beautiful drive back to Vermont though. Colors are definitely better down there!:)

[Madeline]

Like the reader above, you are making me nostalgic for the "happy valley" (as it is also called). I went to college there. It was one of the areas that I have lived in that instantly felt like home. And about the car trouble and hotel stay in a strip mall - I so sympathize. We did the same thing on vacation when we hit a deer and had to spend two nights in a Wal-Mart strip mall. :( The pool was a huge hit and the kids wanted to stay longer.

[fiveflowers]

So glad to hear you made it home safe and sane. It's always the adventure with kids!

[Suzanne]

Hi Amanda,
It was so nice to meet you on Saturday! Gosh sorry about your car trouble, wish I had known so we could have helped you guys out. I did get a picture of you reading at the Odyssey and a pic of you , me and Melissa. I posted the pics on my blog but I can send you them by email if you like. Just let me know:-)

[Carrie]

Life is never dull,is it?
I am excited to learn that there is an Eric Carle museum of picture book art-how cool!

[Sara]

What an adventure! The library is beautiful. I could spend hours there reading.
-Sara

[kosenrufu mama]

sorry for your car adventures, but welcome home with a lot of things to tell us...

[Gillian]

I was so sad to miss the event! My second child was was born the Tuesday before and I had to be realistic that attending a reading 4 days postpartum was not wise! I'm glad you liked the area though. I grew up here (in South Hadley) and still live here (in Northampton) so I have spent lots of time in all of those places. The Mt Holyoke Library actually has this fantastic octagonal tower room that you can get to by a very scary elevator. The view of the old tree in the courtyard from there is fantastic.

Let me know if you ever do decide to come back to the area and I'll give some good local info.

[Kirsten]

Sounds like you turned a frustrating car problem into an opportunity. Looks like a lovely trip.

[Berlinswhimsy]

Sounds like despite the unscheduled trouble, you all had fun and made the best of it! I'd love to visit that area...

[Jane]

My alma mater! Oh, how I miss that reading room....

[melissa s.]

what an adventure! welcome back!

[Ram in the Thicket]

Hi Amanda, We had fun meeting you on Saturday. Sorry about your car trouble and that you missed the Eric Carle Museum. I was thinking as I drove home, "I wonder if she knew about the Eric Carle Museum". I just posted about our trip to meet you on my blog, take a peek! http://raminthethicket.typepad.com/ram_in_the_thicket/2008/04/meeting-soulema.html
Hugs, Melissa

[Meredith]

An Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art?!?!? Oh my gosh! How wonderful!

[Mama Urchin]

I so know what you mean about recovering from a trip.

[Caroline Inckle]

What a fantastic book shop! it looks amazing.
We have a book shop in a big old church here in Inverness it reminds me of that.
Glad you had such a good weekend minus the brake down!
Caroline
: )
http://carolineinckle.wordpress.com/

[aujah]

what a lovely time you all had!!

[Jote]

Sorry for your car troubles, but so glad that you enjoyed such a beautiful part of the country. I hope you go back to the Eric Carle museum. My little sister is about to graduate from Hampshire College and I would have loved to have her show you around. :) If you ever get down to Texas please let us know, we'd love to come out and support you and your incredibly lovely book.
peace,
jote

[Jennifer]

What beautiful photos! So inspiring...

[Eva]

I, too, went to college in "The Valley" (yes, you can call it that), and it always held for me a special brand of New Englandy-ultraliberal-artistic-natural-collegiate-historical kind of magic. I miss it, and it's wonderful to hear of your family's rapture with the place! Now that I'm in Seattle, I rely on folks like you to take me back--to the Fresh Side, among others.

Next time, make sure to visit the Black Sheep coffee shop in Amherst. Organic delights!

Keep the stories and photos coming...

[Jena]

Hi Amanda,

I love your photography! inspiring!

[Katherine]

Sounds like you had a great time despite the car. Funny you should mention the Eric Carle Museum, I'm just thinking about buying some of the new fabric from their online shop!

I finished reading your book, it was fantastic, I'm already planning to make some pencil rolls for little ones I know.

[Clare Adams]

I finally got my copy from Amazon.com of your book. Last night I lay in bed, reading it. I had no idea it was a "reading" book versus another "crafting with kids" book. I only made it through the first two chapters. It is wonderful. I am so pleased to get such a personal message from you. I have enjoyed your blog, caught some inspiration from you (embroidering my son's sketches), love your photography and feel so close to your parenting style. I think this is a great book to give to new parents and those with toddlers and children of all ages. I am thinking of ordering more copies for a few family members and friends. Thank you for taking time in your life to write this book.

[geek+nerd]

Hi Amanda - looks like you had a lot of fun!

While you were adventuring in Mass, I was adventuring in Portland. Awhile back, I think that you mentioned Two Fat Cats bakery - and I wanted to thank you! Oh boy, those were some gooooood cupcakes! Thanks for the recommend!

[Sonja]

Ha! As soon as I read "Amherst" I thought ERIC CARLE MUSEUM! I'm so bummed on your behalf...
Of course, I've never been there either, but I drool over their website quite regularly. One of these days I'll make it back to the East Coast for more than just a layover!

[Bree]

That bookstore picture was beautiful!

[becca selma]

hello! i can't believe you were in the valley and i missed you. i was helping my step-mama prepare for passover. but, my dear friend kerri picked up my book for me and had you sign it! thanks! sounds like you had a great time...you visited some great spots. come back and visit again :)

[melissa]

Hello Amanda,
A beautiful spring day to meet a beautiful and inspiring woman.
We had a lovely time meeting you and I survived my twins first visit to a bookstore. All the best to you and yours from Melissa, Florine, and Clementine.

[Carolyn]

Sounds like a good time despite the trouble! Beautiful pics. :)

[shannon]

Oh my! Your story of car trouble brings me back to our own story of on the road woe. My son (who is 100% healthy now) had lots of medical problems when he was a baby and each trip to see his doctors required a 6 hour drive to Atlanta. It was my brilliant idea to drive our very old Volvo instead of renting a reliable car to save a few dollars. As we pulled into Atlanta the car started to do a beat box break dance and my husband turned and looked at me and just shook his head back and forth. Many days later and many dollars poorer we had to admit that our wagon was toast and had to be left behind. We made a desperate effort to try and buy a car in a day but. . . well if you've ever tried to pick out a car you know it cannot be done in a day. So off we drove for home in a rental that cost three times what it would have cost to just rent something in the first place. Wow was that a bad trip!

[Jen]

Hi from the wilds of Southern Oregon! I grew up in the PV (yes, THE Valley) and love love love going back there. Sorry for your troubles, I know many folks would have loved to have help you out! I was encouraging my best friend to visit your Crafternoon, but with two small kiddos, you know how it can be... I love this post, its like two great things I love all rolled up in one (thats your blog and my old stompin' grounds). Cheers, and heres to automotive fitness all around.

[Lissy]

I've been reading your blog for a while now.
It's just so inspiring & I have been encouraged to do more ARTY things with my kids. My daughter loves all things art & not so much my 4 year old boy, but I am working on that.
Oh, & I am going to see if my local library will buy your book so that many other Aussies will see The Creative Family! (I've put my order in for Mothers Day!)
Bless you XXxx

[Andrea Kidssweet]

If you get to, head back to the Eric Carle museum. I went with my kids (we went an hour out of our way on a trip to Maine) about 3 years ago. The art on the walls was terrific, but even better was the art studio. There were big tables set up in a light airy room. On each table were paper samples of all shapes and sizes and sample projects to inspire lots of creativity. My whole family (kids were 8 and 3 at the time) even my husband got busy making collages. I still get a thrill when I look at what I did. Also, it was a Saturday when we went and there was an African dance troupe performing. And best of all, we actually saw Eric Carle. I am a primary school librarian, so this was huge to me.

Love your blog and love your book. By accident I ordered 2 from Amazon rather than one. It would have been such a hassle to return it, so I just passed it along to a friend.

Thanks
Andrea

[Stacie Smith]

You will have to return. The E.C. Museum is worth the trip. I wish we were just a car ride away.

[Myshell]

Ah yes, Amherst...my husband went to college there and after 11 years, I still love hearing his crazy stories....
I totally agree with you about Earth Day...kids need inspiration, not doom and gloom. The company my husband works for puts on the town's big Earth Day Celebration every year. Looking forward to Earth friendly educational booths, good drinks and live music this Saturday. Get down with the banjo and fiddle...always gets me dancing! Cheers to all!

[Paper Dolls for Boys]

Sounds like a fun family weekend, despite the car trouble. Definitely come back for the E.C. museum, it's right up your alley. :) Tracey

[Catherine]

Oh I used to live in Western Mass and I miss it SO very much! I went to Smith College in Northampton (and spent lots of time at Mount Holyoke as well--took some classes over there and also that library is open 24 hours/day during finals and Smith's isn't. Perfect for a night owl like me). So I lived there for my 4 years at Smith and for a year and a half after. Love love love the Valley :)

Oh the whole place just gives me the warm and fuzzies! I really hope to move back someday!

[Lisa Hamilton]

Hi,
I live in Hadley and we call it the Happy Valley too! The Food Bank Farm has been our CSA for years-- you should come back when the flowers are in bloom! Seriously, 10 foot sunflowers!

[Lisa Hamilton]

Hi,
I live in Hadley and we call it the Happy Valley too! The Food Bank Farm has been our CSA for years-- you should come back when the flowers are in bloom! Seriously, 10 foot sunflowers!

[bipolarlawyercook]

Oh, the Valley! I went to MHC, and I think that reading room (and the library altogether) is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I lived in the Valley another 4 years after law school... as soon as I win the lottery, I am moving back.