tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52558775018924677402024-03-19T04:48:29.329-04:00Craft KnifeThese adventures are handmade.juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.comBlogger2674125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-50925834472337089332024-03-08T12:41:00.000-05:002024-03-08T12:41:35.028-05:00Homeschool High School Honors World History: DIY Art History Artwork Cards<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Cnwvwfx4GgInYDSt9H6NudfpZj35BJZ_SsEf24_w0fnM7Bbnz85e0wxgLxPeJsR0z-afMc02KrsRFZZGrpMrvr9iiP0_ncKEUq50vYlGQihYMvP_Pumnq23-pXtNBAksGpKMm10kcVlJkE0T25mSxvLV0lOxSYsB3OS-CyzCUnlFpvDN5bq8Pv09teh9/s1000/DIY%20Art%20History%20Artwork%20Cards%20(1%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Cnwvwfx4GgInYDSt9H6NudfpZj35BJZ_SsEf24_w0fnM7Bbnz85e0wxgLxPeJsR0z-afMc02KrsRFZZGrpMrvr9iiP0_ncKEUq50vYlGQihYMvP_Pumnq23-pXtNBAksGpKMm10kcVlJkE0T25mSxvLV0lOxSYsB3OS-CyzCUnlFpvDN5bq8Pv09teh9/s16000/DIY%20Art%20History%20Artwork%20Cards%20(1%20of%202).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The teenager's Honors World History: Ancient Times course uses an AP World History textbook, a college-level art history textbook, and all the other additional resources you'd want in order to flesh the study of ancient history out into a full-year high school honors course.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Among the other many resources I've compiled and DIYed for this study, one of my favorites is the new set of DIY artwork cards that I prepare for every new chapter of <a href="https://amzn.to/3v1lvco" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gardner's Art through the Ages</a>, which in turn I've keyed to the relevant chapter(s) in <a href="https://amzn.to/4a3xaGn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Duiker's World History</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Artwork cards are a major component of a couple of different pedagogical approaches to homeschooling, and you CAN buy sets of them--<a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/art-and-music/art-cards-posters/" target="_blank">Memoria Press is generally considered to have the nicest</a>, if you're in the market. But if you buy sets of them you're not going to get exactly the artworks that you want in the sizes that you want, and depending on where you buy them, copyright can be an issue. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another option, one that I also use, is buying museum gift shop postcards. I LOVE my sets of artwork postcards, and it's nice because they're always high-quality, I know they're not pirated, and I didn't have to do any of the work of sourcing, printing, and cutting out the images. But they're hard to buy online, and they're pricey! I would NOT have the collection of artwork cards that I do if I was paying a buck-plus for each of them. I mean, geez, my kid is going through twenty or so of these cards per chapter in just her current study! And that's not even counting the separate <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/06/homeschool-art-history-frida-kahlo-and.html" target="_blank">political art</a> or <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2021/11/homeschool-art-history-timeline-of.html" target="_blank">history of photography studie</a>s that we've completed fairly recently, yikes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So you've got options, but if you want the highest-quality, cheapest, most bespoke sets of artwork cards, you probably want to DIY them like I do. </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1: Go through the study materials and select the images you require. </span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I always pre-read the kid's textbook chapters so that I can collect additional resources and set up extension activities anyway, so while I'm reading her art history textbook I also note the artworks that are referred to in that chapter. Occasionally, there are also a couple that her history textbook refers to that the art history textbook doesn't, or I might want to collect different types of images referenced there, like the cuneiform tablets from the Mesopotamia chapter, or the Neolithic stoneworks from the Ancient Great Britain section. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step 2: Find the images online and save them.</span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three ways to find good images online. First is just to do a Google Image search and filter the results for Large images:</span></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK7SU-Eao7qEhhIewJHdJyD0FuaO7lPVnnYp6kU_QSkUXIDfnkR1H7ofnPS4ObxrxFsnhvyw3uss1kmuiDvvhorG1vSQK3bDBA6Vu-2FFs__2PYnBX57sWXgYOfhdwsDfjIi5lGphmdRSCBgpJ1Y4ChoE_TFmEZogYfACTEFTXw8w449K416npab0WXkc/s956/DIY%20History%20of%20Photography%20Timeline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK7SU-Eao7qEhhIewJHdJyD0FuaO7lPVnnYp6kU_QSkUXIDfnkR1H7ofnPS4ObxrxFsnhvyw3uss1kmuiDvvhorG1vSQK3bDBA6Vu-2FFs__2PYnBX57sWXgYOfhdwsDfjIi5lGphmdRSCBgpJ1Y4ChoE_TFmEZogYfACTEFTXw8w449K416npab0WXkc/s16000/DIY%20History%20of%20Photography%20Timeline.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a screenshot from when I was collecting images for our History of Photography study, but the process is identical.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You'll often come across pirated images this way, but you're not using your images commercially, so I'll allow it, ahem. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another good way is a Wikipedia search, especially for more iconic artworks. You won't get any pirated images here, but you WILL get some lower-quality images, as many will be photos that contributors took themselves of the artworks in their museum settings. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then ANOTHER good way is to go directly to the website of the museum that hosts a particular artwork. A lot of museums do offer free downloads of digital images of many of their artworks. My special favorite is the British Museum, which will often let me download an image so high-quality that I can print it life-sized--I've done that for both the Rosetta stone and for several cuneiform and hieroglyphic pieces, and it's so cool and useful for detailed study! </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's <a href="https://www.apollo-magazine.com/open-access-image-libraries-a-handy-list/" target="_blank">one list of museums that offer open-source images</a>, but it's definitely not comprehensive because the British Museum isn't even on it. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/terms-use/copyright-and-permissions/images-and-photography" target="_blank">British Museum's image site</a>; I usually download or request the super-high-quality images, because why not! Wouldn't some large-scale Greek vase images look so awesome framed and displayed in my future Life of Theseus-themed bathroom?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/press/news/2014/oasc-access" target="_blank">Metropolitan Museum of Art's image site</a>. I like that if you're not looking for a specific artwork, but rather a time period or style, you can filter your results by open-access so that everything you see is obtainable.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.nga.gov/open-access-images.html" target="_blank">National Gallery's image site</a> provides open-access images and also provides many of the Wikimedia images. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the <a href="https://www.nationaltrustimages.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Trust images site</a>. Only some of these images are free, but there are images that work very well with British history and geography studies. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.si.edu/openaccess" target="_blank">Smithsonian's image site</a> pulls from all its museums and holdings across genres, so it's a great resource not just for art, but also historical artifacts and even primary sources. </span></p></div><p></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3: Print and cut.</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I prefer to print my images with a laser printer onto cardstock, because I want them to look and feel nice. To make the artwork cards a standard size, I print them four to a page--</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBN8iPlBDkCMmaDdw6h6eNVVCPPnlfBUPG8A9R0Fi5L08WSyEx-GakHP4McC4aX0e77LH8tg4R4rYCQI8MKa4sWN7V24J3ve3qU0slJmFUpfksWW64qfkrusRroLI9IZN98ER4I6Ur_A7QlP0ulkhsYP0l3n_LT2nzcvTq0us-JbPF8JCEjq_Kj1NYUfF/s1000/DIY%20Art%20History%20Artwork%20Cards%20(2%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBN8iPlBDkCMmaDdw6h6eNVVCPPnlfBUPG8A9R0Fi5L08WSyEx-GakHP4McC4aX0e77LH8tg4R4rYCQI8MKa4sWN7V24J3ve3qU0slJmFUpfksWW64qfkrusRroLI9IZN98ER4I6Ur_A7QlP0ulkhsYP0l3n_LT2nzcvTq0us-JbPF8JCEjq_Kj1NYUfF/s16000/DIY%20Art%20History%20Artwork%20Cards%20(2%20of%202).jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">--then cut them on a guillotine paper cutter:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY3ev5o58jeQHnnsohcT1czMOUbD3fefS_kTIdH4oFeqSX6EfaTuTylVfKzqYM5y0kOz8M_COY02rBMw30p8_-FzETIygIXBiyYGfwKAir9_Jw0pmANblzNV-qyVTFhE1eUXMdV1XeRAt1y9H-yRMeqHBru9ElfnS0oSCBLUlTafsCkydD9Tv6F8XQIkN/s1333/DIY%20History%20of%20Photography%20Timeline%20(2%20of%208).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY3ev5o58jeQHnnsohcT1czMOUbD3fefS_kTIdH4oFeqSX6EfaTuTylVfKzqYM5y0kOz8M_COY02rBMw30p8_-FzETIygIXBiyYGfwKAir9_Jw0pmANblzNV-qyVTFhE1eUXMdV1XeRAt1y9H-yRMeqHBru9ElfnS0oSCBLUlTafsCkydD9Tv6F8XQIkN/s16000/DIY%20History%20of%20Photography%20Timeline%20(2%20of%208).jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I label the back with title, artist, date, and, for these art history cards, geographic location, and currently I have them filed by textbook chapter.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My teenager is also keeping a comprehensive ancient history timeline, so I print another set of these images as thumbnails onto regular copy paper, and then she glues them into her timeline and labels them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Okay, so how do you actually USE these artwork cards? There are so many ways!</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Flash cards. Memorize the artwork, title, artist, date, and geographic location to add to one's working knowledge of art history. Having a ton of artworks memorized will make it easier for you to slot future pieces into your memory, and allow you to build context and make better comparisons/contrasts, add to your understanding of social history, and write some kick-ass essays, etc.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Sort and organize. Having these visuals at hand allows you to easily make comparisons about style and other features of artworks that may be less noticeable when each image is trapped in the pages of a specific chapter of your textbook. How do the early Native American earthworks compare to Neolithic European ones? How does portraiture vary, and how would you sort portraits stylistically when the images are separated from geohistorical context? </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Order chronologically. We play a lot of history card games in which we have to try to put something in chronological order. We have almost all of <a href="https://amzn.to/3V5E4Xz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these Timeline games</a>, but you can play the same game with art, and not only is it interesting, but it builds a chronological understanding of art on a sensory level.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Display. Once upon a time, a worker who was doing emergency repairs on our old, poorly-maintained, homeowner's special home came out of the kids' bathroom after installing a new toilet and asked me if I homeschooled. I was all, "Yes?" I thought it was the weirdest, most random thing for someone to figure out about me with zero evidence! But when I told this story to the kids later, they were immediately all like, "Um, it's because you tape educational posters to the wall facing the toilet?" Because riiiiight... when I want the kids to memorize something but I don't want to go through the emotional torment of MAKING them memorize something, I just print that thing out onto 8.5"x11" paper and tape it to the wall facing their toilet. I also once put tape onto ALL our things and made the kids label them in French and that's all still around, and every once in a while I printed out and assembled a giant line map of someplace we were studying, made them label that, too, and then hung it in the hallway until I was ready to make them study some other place. I also use pushpins to make little clotheslines across our bookshelves and I have the kids clothespin these art cards to them, and sometimes I'll display them on our magnet boards. I thought I was being sneaky like this, but apparently I wasn't, lol!</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I should probably act like, since these images cost only the amount of the paper and the ink, and they're just cardstock, I'll recycle them when my last homeschooling kid graduates in a couple of months, but you know I won't. I won't have the kids to label me new giant maps for the hallway, so perhaps I'll retire them all permanently on display there!</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-72327536686066620932024-03-04T15:18:00.001-05:002024-03-04T15:18:16.723-05:00Kid-Free in New York City: Day 3 is When We Go to the Library!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwAUC6p1EdsOTgHs-Brg3A3OAIFN4bZh9SwpyUjk8fwH-jsVMrF2et7gAqfuea2RDMmmv9AJP6W4LcGiB7BltvbQPVSk0zdCxECjDtl58vl8sa_jH09cRppVbc-hcYucHFS7quc_lfXsyIei6Tmy8bdkJTqKQyJhVHypRZ6CYM9njY3a1nFndn1hPd47K/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(3%20of%2026).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwAUC6p1EdsOTgHs-Brg3A3OAIFN4bZh9SwpyUjk8fwH-jsVMrF2et7gAqfuea2RDMmmv9AJP6W4LcGiB7BltvbQPVSk0zdCxECjDtl58vl8sa_jH09cRppVbc-hcYucHFS7quc_lfXsyIei6Tmy8bdkJTqKQyJhVHypRZ6CYM9njY3a1nFndn1hPd47K/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(3%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This whirlwind trip was, indeed, a whirlwind! Still reeling with excitement from <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2024/02/kid-free-in-new-york-city-day-2-is-when.html" target="_blank">Hadestown</a>, the <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2024/02/kid-free-in-new-york-city-day-1.html" target="_blank">Rangers game</a>, doughnuts, bagels, Van Gogh, karaoke-singing waitresses, and the view from the High Line, we got up early, checked out of the Republican stronghold, and set out for just a few more precious hours in New York City.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Even on a random Wednesday morning in February, all the other tourists in the city had the same idea, and so we all met up at Rockefeller Center:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6SxLysVUeYPxz2voxe736DEKIVlLiXAO1VawKUduJt8P0IzfE9fN-3jLYW6cmwCO8UhAyB1D0pJUO01rDqfQZ5TEtRk6wwAxjWGfFEORCpzcsISYj4f0ZcU-mlyYIT67Rhvl0Hs6JCTHTy_TczHsaqqfnquWhgOXN86iKeTfMf0YbX5019juexuVy-Pm/s1500/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(1%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6SxLysVUeYPxz2voxe736DEKIVlLiXAO1VawKUduJt8P0IzfE9fN-3jLYW6cmwCO8UhAyB1D0pJUO01rDqfQZ5TEtRk6wwAxjWGfFEORCpzcsISYj4f0ZcU-mlyYIT67Rhvl0Hs6JCTHTy_TczHsaqqfnquWhgOXN86iKeTfMf0YbX5019juexuVy-Pm/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(1%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-88_Dgt7EHpnhpe0ZpTfFhLCMbTaXoJWhcLFysCf5yuhT5QYjYTVSoYruNqCxRNeFKZdgWUz8meWsX6mnLUuT8Gi7N32QdoJlQaiX1LToZEjW9rXNehVR7GdMWyt1XjyU5JJdgKkBxZr-PrIK_uHloGtanB0hdTczMaNlquzwfb4ixfMz3ZtNYUPrp0E/s1500/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(2%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-88_Dgt7EHpnhpe0ZpTfFhLCMbTaXoJWhcLFysCf5yuhT5QYjYTVSoYruNqCxRNeFKZdgWUz8meWsX6mnLUuT8Gi7N32QdoJlQaiX1LToZEjW9rXNehVR7GdMWyt1XjyU5JJdgKkBxZr-PrIK_uHloGtanB0hdTczMaNlquzwfb4ixfMz3ZtNYUPrp0E/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(2%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then all the tourists in New York City all headed over to FAO Schwartz together. My partner basically had to run a deprogramming campaign on me to convince me not to buy <a href="https://www.jellycat.com/us/" target="_blank">these SHOCKINGLY expensive and TINY stuffies</a> for the kids, but I doubt it's going to stick since now I have the store's web address. Yes, <a href="https://www.jellycat.com/us/lavender-dragon-bag-charm-lav4bc/" target="_blank">this keychain-sized stuffed dragon IS LITERALLY THIRTY DOLLARS</a>, but it's so freaking soft. <a href="https://www.jellycat.com/us/amuseable-croissant-bag-a4crob/" target="_blank">This croissant purse</a> is forty dollars, but it is a Croissant Purse. I don't even know what to tell you if you don't think that is worth dipping into your retirement savings for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, well. Stymied for the short-term, I let myself be dragged bodily from FAO Schwartz, and instead we, along with all the other tourists in New York City, headed for someplace that was actually free:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQUtrUC-edq5CAGUDqR7iMH03dUqhNxpyAcsNpskj_G9OJWviTafa2_K2Q4rO9sy6htSx56t3SIG_pQtNCw9bOZw1KChpEJzKPr9llGKekPUxc2kd5xuIpcJ06rbJRwFhU95rqEln4O5QX995jiFDoHF7iSTDEirFnQTuNVR1KOat9BvJ2R08A7uqjp81/s1333/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(5%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQUtrUC-edq5CAGUDqR7iMH03dUqhNxpyAcsNpskj_G9OJWviTafa2_K2Q4rO9sy6htSx56t3SIG_pQtNCw9bOZw1KChpEJzKPr9llGKekPUxc2kd5xuIpcJ06rbJRwFhU95rqEln4O5QX995jiFDoHF7iSTDEirFnQTuNVR1KOat9BvJ2R08A7uqjp81/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(5%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In its smartest move yet, the New York Public Library just went ahead and made an entire permanent exhibition out of its coolest stuff. As soon as we stepped inside, my partner and I essentially abandoned everything else on our to-do list for the morning (Sorry, Hamilton! I'll go check out your grave another time!) and stayed here until we absolutely had to leave for the airport. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beethoven's sheet music in his own handwriting</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6etm7enHdaabO1gMrKoYMY40IQqCPyr9EbkzshHcjTEmHekKhrArhzdybaAtsw2Rc7yuqj6sennXBSfOmCjL0-z4-GIehCUAoIcsErAERvmlHch29Yyy3aKPoA555EW7RECJNy5FF0uHANmQAo790A1-OMMlTqy1yPZoEj75NWhIKoJicOJcFJib7mZAt/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(7%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6etm7enHdaabO1gMrKoYMY40IQqCPyr9EbkzshHcjTEmHekKhrArhzdybaAtsw2Rc7yuqj6sennXBSfOmCjL0-z4-GIehCUAoIcsErAERvmlHch29Yyy3aKPoA555EW7RECJNy5FF0uHANmQAo790A1-OMMlTqy1yPZoEj75NWhIKoJicOJcFJib7mZAt/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(7%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Manuscript page of <a href="https://amzn.to/3P7lavk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Garden</a> in Francis Hodgson Burnett's own handwriting</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsko_MeioHaNNYHqiu4t8a7UoW2tYk_MnFkil0H36VOhk2pSzA-9c1B-L_eDozHNLD8UFQY50ZpPVlpPDkrVRQShaN4AOww8AtMv_675odmO7rIDbmU_rSMx_YGLTS0s-3RTVwJ6CwLZIHN7LPNrm3cqbSJsc0-8O98AF182jIf3eTr2-8QheLOJ2wCBq/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(11%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsko_MeioHaNNYHqiu4t8a7UoW2tYk_MnFkil0H36VOhk2pSzA-9c1B-L_eDozHNLD8UFQY50ZpPVlpPDkrVRQShaN4AOww8AtMv_675odmO7rIDbmU_rSMx_YGLTS0s-3RTVwJ6CwLZIHN7LPNrm3cqbSJsc0-8O98AF182jIf3eTr2-8QheLOJ2wCBq/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(11%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/childrens-center-42nd-street/pooh" target="_blank">real Winnie-the-Pooh and friends</a></h2><div>Finally, <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2024/02/kid-free-in-new-york-city-day-2-is-when.html" target="_blank">some celebrities that I CAN meet and take selfies with</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdONXr-sDAwQP758-9RoO0kWlC5Kd5TvvUlSCu-XHjJ0c7M-O3yKuF6m1lJ3NXl315Jbz8kjaq3R_YoahaFw88b10yjTVNd-DzLtG_WK6rcP-YTRO2qS50vl6HLC9YlreWq8zEQY9AQrX6GG8iaBFKuZozEt5NMiyN4e592W1qf8SWXgBeeQNinEf02uTC/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(8%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdONXr-sDAwQP758-9RoO0kWlC5Kd5TvvUlSCu-XHjJ0c7M-O3yKuF6m1lJ3NXl315Jbz8kjaq3R_YoahaFw88b10yjTVNd-DzLtG_WK6rcP-YTRO2qS50vl6HLC9YlreWq8zEQY9AQrX6GG8iaBFKuZozEt5NMiyN4e592W1qf8SWXgBeeQNinEf02uTC/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(8%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love their sweet little faces! I am devastated to tell you, though, that Roo was lost in an apple orchard...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d5x_RsmCdaZNo7pdqEbvn8mhsbNU-rrtt5KAnfh9fNQPDNWPA8ieuyRpAzS_mKvfYpd6P_K6JELlgdKkHaiswdIXMzK8SAr6MQkYUillj23JPXO7RSteh4SK2Neq28ZiAGgtsCC2ZqYwPxnxpNO_PdE0NJLKqI3Qi9itlQOwMTbeVrR9QUiJ7rD9DB_8/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(9%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d5x_RsmCdaZNo7pdqEbvn8mhsbNU-rrtt5KAnfh9fNQPDNWPA8ieuyRpAzS_mKvfYpd6P_K6JELlgdKkHaiswdIXMzK8SAr6MQkYUillj23JPXO7RSteh4SK2Neq28ZiAGgtsCC2ZqYwPxnxpNO_PdE0NJLKqI3Qi9itlQOwMTbeVrR9QUiJ7rD9DB_8/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(9%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please pay special attention to my precious Eeyore. I took a lot of notice, when I was a kid, of how he wasn't afraid to show that he was sad, and how the creatures around him never seemed annoyed by that:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL8_GKssyZumHjFdz9PiB_y0IKEIXaucSJ2IUPgObc9rL_ASS1vz472pore57mQpb-V49Ili3lV_LQjl2Vk6SQPTxiuu8_HBEFM09K0j5FWUwQErlWbYYxuOKoyskIuWARiJX1ptXBVkvdVLCFAo7r8aLLkfvHdYziYuQsxNlcwQRgm2GJ0c0p_dB-mLw/s1250/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(10%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL8_GKssyZumHjFdz9PiB_y0IKEIXaucSJ2IUPgObc9rL_ASS1vz472pore57mQpb-V49Ili3lV_LQjl2Vk6SQPTxiuu8_HBEFM09K0j5FWUwQErlWbYYxuOKoyskIuWARiJX1ptXBVkvdVLCFAo7r8aLLkfvHdYziYuQsxNlcwQRgm2GJ0c0p_dB-mLw/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(10%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love how well-loved they all look. I just wish that every now and then, maybe once a year or so, they'd get to come outside their box and play with some real kids again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Noah Webster's spelling book</h2><div><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/noah-websters-spelling-wins-and-fails" target="_blank">He's why we spell things weird here in America</a>!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR6PxkXlNO7W4KxKirU7OaMu1cBiTcdXT-a223fdJ_cr_CFsaMAgGfkUCDsc3TAnJ08woWrIwtWcSPW4QILa42FCKc4n36LkqlfrexhFxb9WZWy3qPp23McWllIRwb04lHBg1a5Kp3ZvrDxt09Y_vgRE-4wTey7Zh04_C1lLemsZo0I7JQizB1PE1Beyq/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(12%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR6PxkXlNO7W4KxKirU7OaMu1cBiTcdXT-a223fdJ_cr_CFsaMAgGfkUCDsc3TAnJ08woWrIwtWcSPW4QILa42FCKc4n36LkqlfrexhFxb9WZWy3qPp23McWllIRwb04lHBg1a5Kp3ZvrDxt09Y_vgRE-4wTey7Zh04_C1lLemsZo0I7JQizB1PE1Beyq/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(12%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">manuscript copy of Ptolemy's Geographica</h2><div>On this map of Greece there's a label for Hades, so apparently they knew where that was!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyI9W_QSxKte2g6Ejj5KUJmen12emG4N51Ze3nogzzY9Whdy0MbH3SEcnxv1sC_WGsHOICYsqGZGwemmJj6FdGBoGBX5bRa3EpgbQB-Rm1sHhozv1q9j1m4JA8aN7_Hgh2bjnBEXCGwas0Pqsi8yHut0QulavYaG5lUBejiDAqRFtTShrKbc3uxDZk-i4/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(13%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyI9W_QSxKte2g6Ejj5KUJmen12emG4N51Ze3nogzzY9Whdy0MbH3SEcnxv1sC_WGsHOICYsqGZGwemmJj6FdGBoGBX5bRa3EpgbQB-Rm1sHhozv1q9j1m4JA8aN7_Hgh2bjnBEXCGwas0Pqsi8yHut0QulavYaG5lUBejiDAqRFtTShrKbc3uxDZk-i4/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(13%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/explorations/item/4095" target="_blank">Hunt-Lenox globe</a></h2><div>This globe's claim to fame is that it's one of only two from the Medieval OR Renaissance eras to include the label "Hic sunt dracones!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZwmjc89v-MJ27eoc-5euXX3jprBcHbSUaGgXxPu0Dj1Nn1BevCYVrlACAM5nDLcHN6jZqoslBdo8qGu9OE7F0HpusIAvo0h_hBSSWllxUHYB6OHY3IIshuPvjhktsWjrFDFJ46Qn1CadOYfRQTVuN7Gw0CtO25phcyn26cCgSyyXQyKiwyohGPnqLvq6/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(14%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZwmjc89v-MJ27eoc-5euXX3jprBcHbSUaGgXxPu0Dj1Nn1BevCYVrlACAM5nDLcHN6jZqoslBdo8qGu9OE7F0HpusIAvo0h_hBSSWllxUHYB6OHY3IIshuPvjhktsWjrFDFJ46Qn1CadOYfRQTVuN7Gw0CtO25phcyn26cCgSyyXQyKiwyohGPnqLvq6/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(14%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>marketing materials for the Montgomery Bus Boycott</h2><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so excited that I got to see this--this is the first time that I've ever seen real-life primary source materials from the Montgomery Bus Boycott in person! The handwritten ride-share flyer, in particular, is such a precious artifact.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPcAr7mh__pSn62fUM7fhg0MP6HhUSOtmckthb0gbogRnTGejcH4c1ilbZEw0spKcT-snzePMLBiGNr0OgYG-sbArVlWr7YLaeFN9-8_ts-RXK3pM26ryhfdfORPW4H_GltAUS9h-lHjbXuwYtnLi5673OzlsYhpH3-BB2WK9vsLXSZm8i4QpLM0E2Do6/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(15%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPcAr7mh__pSn62fUM7fhg0MP6HhUSOtmckthb0gbogRnTGejcH4c1ilbZEw0spKcT-snzePMLBiGNr0OgYG-sbArVlWr7YLaeFN9-8_ts-RXK3pM26ryhfdfORPW4H_GltAUS9h-lHjbXuwYtnLi5673OzlsYhpH3-BB2WK9vsLXSZm8i4QpLM0E2Do6/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(15%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>typewritten poem "Malcolm X" by Gwendolyn Brooks</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've never seen this wealth of primary source material before. So many manuscript pages and works in progress! I'd be very interested to know if this was Gwendolyn Brooks' own typewriter, or if she had an assistant who did her typing. Either way, I'm fascinated by the noticeable wear on some of the letters--the "g", especially--showing their frequency of use.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw0AMfiiaypAcpprmgl4iidmyTw2Shpe_xJfCV_pT_92icx3GP11Qg_IsC-vsQUXWu9W4RVOdkMZkXKSFXp-4m00s8nRk8zoNoYiXh_9Yu6hLJjIWK7xpV4ZtB6fG1L27QQoBDe5miOqWlOrd7KsST3w8bIAYdkDVlP_JtjbWLATG6G-4BiqaFsLX0UGf/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(16%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw0AMfiiaypAcpprmgl4iidmyTw2Shpe_xJfCV_pT_92icx3GP11Qg_IsC-vsQUXWu9W4RVOdkMZkXKSFXp-4m00s8nRk8zoNoYiXh_9Yu6hLJjIWK7xpV4ZtB6fG1L27QQoBDe5miOqWlOrd7KsST3w8bIAYdkDVlP_JtjbWLATG6G-4BiqaFsLX0UGf/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(16%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>Shakespeare First Folio</h2></div>I used to work in a Special Collections library, so there were a few items here--the double elephant folio of Audobon's <u>Birds of America</u>, for instance, and this Shakespeare first folio--that I'm already acquainted with. But that just means that I could greet them with not the excitement of novelty, but the happiness of again spotting a well-loved old friend.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00UBMQWeouKVnHgV2BB6hb6JOD0G0hcVEN5zQaY2-mWmjt8JBP2mLPcVek8VRoO_QnN-NZ8hpVevZqAq7W9YpU-dFVb7cHG_RcvLDqtLII0NVkV3C4yXBFu8VbeBOGIOVTLiO_I99lyZmGGI6DldqMTi29IKZ4Zi8wK0BtUMZ_LLER4LvMhGB48IwtZvJ/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(17%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00UBMQWeouKVnHgV2BB6hb6JOD0G0hcVEN5zQaY2-mWmjt8JBP2mLPcVek8VRoO_QnN-NZ8hpVevZqAq7W9YpU-dFVb7cHG_RcvLDqtLII0NVkV3C4yXBFu8VbeBOGIOVTLiO_I99lyZmGGI6DldqMTi29IKZ4Zi8wK0BtUMZ_LLER4LvMhGB48IwtZvJ/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(17%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>cuneiform</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Here's another old friend--y'all KNOW <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-epic-of-gilgamesh-and-gingerbread.html" target="_blank">how much I love cuneiform</a>!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe7RsvJfOSVdSTPBK_h1liRl3RQfCP1xUJMLeU22QHewwyeAN25kLYSpufCnRwZL8aqhmpM58qawjZVqHc1PX6ibHZnmdF8rU81EfesZy4kbtAbLgqt57xBtmt8_x5aAza_ZNwjANYRrh5zTHszw6ZmtSgb-RCdJEaGQwca09jDD_MzFWKkl7ZLBj7bHX/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(19%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe7RsvJfOSVdSTPBK_h1liRl3RQfCP1xUJMLeU22QHewwyeAN25kLYSpufCnRwZL8aqhmpM58qawjZVqHc1PX6ibHZnmdF8rU81EfesZy4kbtAbLgqt57xBtmt8_x5aAza_ZNwjANYRrh5zTHszw6ZmtSgb-RCdJEaGQwca09jDD_MzFWKkl7ZLBj7bHX/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(19%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>manuscript copy of Rachel Carson's <a href="https://amzn.to/49YTtge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Silent Spring</a></h2><div style="text-align: left;">This makes me wish that I HAD made time to bring my now-collegiate environmental scientist here the last time we were in New York City, because she would have freaked out with excitement to see this. But I did get immediately onto my public library's website and put a copy of <u>Silent Spring</u> on hold to read when I got back.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F7A-UCrGP-6jlQ5JJyJE7duG1_eASUl3bIjcKlWg1gAQH6avcchqf_rjfh15_PxUIqFScInPo0iNtfw3z6pY25A34lY6NgszVZdBWebJfby6KgjF0krUWmyF-6w79LdPloZXHcwkC96kZXMUBgtTpKGOPJfxUSGXwyyX6bB7wrHxhsr0AQXakgtcvyUv/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(20%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F7A-UCrGP-6jlQ5JJyJE7duG1_eASUl3bIjcKlWg1gAQH6avcchqf_rjfh15_PxUIqFScInPo0iNtfw3z6pY25A34lY6NgszVZdBWebJfby6KgjF0krUWmyF-6w79LdPloZXHcwkC96kZXMUBgtTpKGOPJfxUSGXwyyX6bB7wrHxhsr0AQXakgtcvyUv/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(20%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>first edition of <a href="https://amzn.to/48LeFW1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Vindication of the Rights of Woman</a></h2><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't catch why, but the NYPL has an AMAZING Mary Shelley collection, including materials about/by her famous mother, Mary Wollstonecraft.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EzTGzGnGE9oFeH7I715bEMauky-6xOnD6m-5W4nna1FMUOJjQFdGpk1PHGJpgECTtbHKC_mTUAWT0TFU_jnAwKCA2Sih6TNvpZY9C40fWIx9pXqMHto4Vj5CdKB0jaMyqdfwMrRnIZhubW5P8pCCIcOyV675f6yCpGPxxQOj-0SLn0iPDPeMlQPUDEsL/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(21%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EzTGzGnGE9oFeH7I715bEMauky-6xOnD6m-5W4nna1FMUOJjQFdGpk1PHGJpgECTtbHKC_mTUAWT0TFU_jnAwKCA2Sih6TNvpZY9C40fWIx9pXqMHto4Vj5CdKB0jaMyqdfwMrRnIZhubW5P8pCCIcOyV675f6yCpGPxxQOj-0SLn0iPDPeMlQPUDEsL/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(21%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft</h2><div style="text-align: left;">This painting, a copy of one that hung in baby Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's family parlor, was commissioned by AARON BURR(!!!) for his daughter, Theodosia.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXXfb7gy3Jbp_nd1j0ypNkCnWqWePdxF5F-tywvE1tsUOxEHlVKZ0XWoNVlz3fcw2DDBT1V24tHiXZrB6lLI9daoxY_zWOQgYIwSvf9Zg-ckJ8yCqcpPKDWCJbC7owdhtGrK2F_gRbMvACzPPCcIFUvPMOx5X2HdPb_56-T1flWCG3XuSYrlfPpBOIXkx/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(22%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXXfb7gy3Jbp_nd1j0ypNkCnWqWePdxF5F-tywvE1tsUOxEHlVKZ0XWoNVlz3fcw2DDBT1V24tHiXZrB6lLI9daoxY_zWOQgYIwSvf9Zg-ckJ8yCqcpPKDWCJbC7owdhtGrK2F_gRbMvACzPPCcIFUvPMOx5X2HdPb_56-T1flWCG3XuSYrlfPpBOIXkx/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(22%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>Gutenberg Bible</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Another old friend! The Special Collections library where I once worked also had a life-sized model of a Gutenberg printing press that my kids could probably draw with their eyes closed, I've made them look at it so many times over the years.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwMMLfS3gpXwnvRf2AXp7iH4E9gBhYQG_RFxDEGPkaUkKgJvC2kdu_dVqoEcOy_2kHa-ZWN88J-_a2D8pOQ4aXo_mRWhMoK_jhXYHmgKI5B7HcBv2arRava0ZgRGsShvU5T2ehDxczcc2Trm4qtdXa4m2_1J9b86wUvM7h_LpU3RFfLSHIes1LJLXVQ4F/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(23%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwMMLfS3gpXwnvRf2AXp7iH4E9gBhYQG_RFxDEGPkaUkKgJvC2kdu_dVqoEcOy_2kHa-ZWN88J-_a2D8pOQ4aXo_mRWhMoK_jhXYHmgKI5B7HcBv2arRava0ZgRGsShvU5T2ehDxczcc2Trm4qtdXa4m2_1J9b86wUvM7h_LpU3RFfLSHIes1LJLXVQ4F/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(23%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>handwritten manuscript of "Transformation," by Mary Shelley</h2><div>I've never read this Mary Shelley work! I was so interested to see her handwriting and all of her in-text edits.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpFbSZ_TXWgn-ppQycSI2XgNupOtFOgFqimuTF4T37HBK0merfiEtfUMJXjVoeWk8ZdfWDlFXEK20VPTbF_12ecWQsJMXtkG5yf7Hv9wOAM9DjyOcgTOMIR0DgHrNtBrbT59PD89d815mPQDn298iR01v87vbE7r9pdkCUIyzO1dob-hlgA2N4xCQJc6Y/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(24%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpFbSZ_TXWgn-ppQycSI2XgNupOtFOgFqimuTF4T37HBK0merfiEtfUMJXjVoeWk8ZdfWDlFXEK20VPTbF_12ecWQsJMXtkG5yf7Hv9wOAM9DjyOcgTOMIR0DgHrNtBrbT59PD89d815mPQDn298iR01v87vbE7r9pdkCUIyzO1dob-hlgA2N4xCQJc6Y/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(24%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2><u>Frankenstein</u> first edition</h2><div>This was one of only 500! Not shown here but also on display: literal fragments of Percy Bysshe Shelley's skull(?!?).</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7m0m9NZhVzypYlHyR81IcdW8-C-PKaMWk3S_iMAOXxqmO7f2_paRIWHI0i0vgAzvwVFW0d4neh-GN7kaDhW0KC_b8nvZdwQ1riq7UUCxM0SqHiEGG3U-mf6c6sowz_WeksuCY9ZnFPB64sUOxr5ynIkM67T5FgfiSuAqN1VGLvsS2XHE4PrHWk-tkiuC/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(25%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7m0m9NZhVzypYlHyR81IcdW8-C-PKaMWk3S_iMAOXxqmO7f2_paRIWHI0i0vgAzvwVFW0d4neh-GN7kaDhW0KC_b8nvZdwQ1riq7UUCxM0SqHiEGG3U-mf6c6sowz_WeksuCY9ZnFPB64sUOxr5ynIkM67T5FgfiSuAqN1VGLvsS2XHE4PrHWk-tkiuC/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(25%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2>the Green Book</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Another primary source first for me! My teenager has been so interested in African-American history during her AP US History study this year that I wish she could have seen some of these materials in person, too.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzf718ubGT4yfVHYlvjZy0MIDM4A2Kxzdyrjmh_qo9LZZCqw9Od2f8NQmFTH3bcIpezYgZNjd5N4K-jlaMy3ZYESHK8u3ajFKkb7-qjMRFDGATWLKAhnBmA2ZxFH4y82nOCUPhPeEbJsgZRT5ZKQXVBkqPJD44ry29HwtNjmj0QAXGoQCdyofLc6KbZ5f/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(26%20of%2026).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzf718ubGT4yfVHYlvjZy0MIDM4A2Kxzdyrjmh_qo9LZZCqw9Od2f8NQmFTH3bcIpezYgZNjd5N4K-jlaMy3ZYESHK8u3ajFKkb7-qjMRFDGATWLKAhnBmA2ZxFH4y82nOCUPhPeEbJsgZRT5ZKQXVBkqPJD44ry29HwtNjmj0QAXGoQCdyofLc6KbZ5f/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2003%20(26%20of%2026).jpg" /></a></div><br />SO MANY COOL THINGS!!!! In the end, only my horror of not showing up at the airport far too early for my flight got me out of that library. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After dragging myself, weeping, out of the NYPL, my partner and I bought some bagels to take home (once again, we did not check our order before we left the store, and once again WE GOT SHORTED BY A BAGEL?!?!), rode the subway to the train and the train to the airport, got screamed at and patted down only a little at security, and then made our way back home to chickens, cats, dog, and one teenager who in our absence had kept up with her schoolwork and ballet, maintained the house and pets in excellent condition, and tbh did not seem super excited to have her quiet haven wrecked by our noisy excitement and cluttery luggage.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">She was happy to see the New York bagels, though!<br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></div></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-82362420273904945682024-02-28T11:20:00.003-05:002024-02-28T11:20:25.700-05:00Kid-Free in New York City: Day 2 is When Dreams Come True!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJuqTI_ArAdSrVwHgq6-P5qyd6xQSrNPPqpV6J6IxXMFUw7QPgMolCZ0gp-Np6WG_A3QzuvUrrSl9ADtwSaX_9DOhZbGyue4EXVPFHT6jBU6nanLv02xDYxqUSDCoIKYQJksb1LlkBsGpw2glTIWv2mFMNKe3Ycz8OFEbC0EZ6rMrMlQ5OmyCAy7msysE/s1333/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(24%20of%2033).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJuqTI_ArAdSrVwHgq6-P5qyd6xQSrNPPqpV6J6IxXMFUw7QPgMolCZ0gp-Np6WG_A3QzuvUrrSl9ADtwSaX_9DOhZbGyue4EXVPFHT6jBU6nanLv02xDYxqUSDCoIKYQJksb1LlkBsGpw2glTIWv2mFMNKe3Ycz8OFEbC0EZ6rMrMlQ5OmyCAy7msysE/w480-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(24%20of%2033).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We woke up to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/winter-storm-live-updates-new-york-city-snow-rcna138521" target="_blank">SNOW</a>!!!!!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was the perfect magical winter morning in New York City. I think the schoolkids even had a snow day? Happily, all the museums and other assorted tourist destinations stayed open, so after a breakfast of cold pizza, my partner and I bundled into our typical February midwestern outdoor gear and headed out into the magic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here in the elevator is when I finally got tipped off enough to Google our hotel and figure out that we were sleeping in <a href="https://3westclub.com/" target="_blank">a Republican stronghold</a>:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgIs-8gMBCEcfmWgAkQJTDx9jbITxfKMr7x4EeJpvtVm8yCruOKCSTPEwT4nSRcVB6rwcbFfrgS9HtlIw6m38UQaf2Y6UNbwd9Fr0vZQM_XyvnSszc0f5QqNEO6AFmypihR8O0YtlW0mN7XeaqdVcOpdSy-TB5QTTuAKGmukhSd1CFR0yX54f1Kr6taYQ/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(1%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgIs-8gMBCEcfmWgAkQJTDx9jbITxfKMr7x4EeJpvtVm8yCruOKCSTPEwT4nSRcVB6rwcbFfrgS9HtlIw6m38UQaf2Y6UNbwd9Fr0vZQM_XyvnSszc0f5QqNEO6AFmypihR8O0YtlW0mN7XeaqdVcOpdSy-TB5QTTuAKGmukhSd1CFR0yX54f1Kr6taYQ/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(1%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm trying to visualize what a Republican women's Galentine Dinner even looks like, but to be honest I don't really know what a regular Galentine Dinner looks like, either, sooo...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Republican stronghold or not, our hotel was SO conveniently located! Just a couple of blocks walking through the snow, and here we are at the <a href="https://www.moma.org/" target="_blank">MOMA</a>:</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpay_pdiC5FioHM4mWrkd4kcBPrStFpLCA68lLwl7F11YGF3zboSRtg9E6OMlXebA1bkXp9w48ndlqr3h47MnK47rwYYmqaAZoamnrIfJQjxCPnYuzYfbipXbEsUuOxgDK2wGI96ERbQ_Y8Hdb0rEX_y5rfQrmBWsA3lfqolQF30QvIdz-1WbgfmLIq7Qg/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(2%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpay_pdiC5FioHM4mWrkd4kcBPrStFpLCA68lLwl7F11YGF3zboSRtg9E6OMlXebA1bkXp9w48ndlqr3h47MnK47rwYYmqaAZoamnrIfJQjxCPnYuzYfbipXbEsUuOxgDK2wGI96ERbQ_Y8Hdb0rEX_y5rfQrmBWsA3lfqolQF30QvIdz-1WbgfmLIq7Qg/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(2%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not really an art aficionado, shame on me, so I mostly wanted to look at the famous stuff:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4uRr27NhRB4ca4f7T1Go_TPfNwFEysH9uHJsGVoCQ0pGmhEz5EDZeYU3HdZGo_893UUA-VLLQTRdtKrdT7-RDXGuT3i0XbqWWV_J4mbsTijuBx_dB_JIRa_vOUPpRdYZC2qNE6DlL4mdr6ME9k3DrjfMZ1C6spCymOdAmis_7ZsHZmopA737agPzDvTA/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(3%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4uRr27NhRB4ca4f7T1Go_TPfNwFEysH9uHJsGVoCQ0pGmhEz5EDZeYU3HdZGo_893UUA-VLLQTRdtKrdT7-RDXGuT3i0XbqWWV_J4mbsTijuBx_dB_JIRa_vOUPpRdYZC2qNE6DlL4mdr6ME9k3DrjfMZ1C6spCymOdAmis_7ZsHZmopA737agPzDvTA/w640-h360/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(3%20of%2033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2mLRnrcKytDzOUFVsD6eS9iUKzc0qDwDYCOayWXYeRpUNO3YQT-2TdQrNM5cwyjMcolB9GUzQrnLzv-Pwy_THBBPGJOemgdZCV7zCUQWRb82SXr4AkBrMoGZwzbEge8gBJL9G7Jy6Qm2g0QUsd9savBXsysggthDVeantmtx9QxNCnOVsrBTETLuDZSG/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(5%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2mLRnrcKytDzOUFVsD6eS9iUKzc0qDwDYCOayWXYeRpUNO3YQT-2TdQrNM5cwyjMcolB9GUzQrnLzv-Pwy_THBBPGJOemgdZCV7zCUQWRb82SXr4AkBrMoGZwzbEge8gBJL9G7Jy6Qm2g0QUsd9savBXsysggthDVeantmtx9QxNCnOVsrBTETLuDZSG/w640-h512/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(5%20of%2033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was SUPER excited to see <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/06/homeschool-art-history-frida-kahlo-and.html" target="_blank">my pal Frida</a>, though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rpa2IYB3Gt5tvxlm9qCGBWQLr0ZGiNTWQswlVs9TsY6Pjs1mExUReSTNinm2yryrDBNHS7Nv31YI6j8I0TJt5mCt5Mfhw27UJD8ubK859Wys4I3AkradNC7y3RhXoXqOiXUQiVRonNv3kD7-cpYztJ1gGcnq7hyFSn2Fkyx6mLDd-k-xC5lRg1U5Ypeu/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(4%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rpa2IYB3Gt5tvxlm9qCGBWQLr0ZGiNTWQswlVs9TsY6Pjs1mExUReSTNinm2yryrDBNHS7Nv31YI6j8I0TJt5mCt5Mfhw27UJD8ubK859Wys4I3AkradNC7y3RhXoXqOiXUQiVRonNv3kD7-cpYztJ1gGcnq7hyFSn2Fkyx6mLDd-k-xC5lRg1U5Ypeu/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(4%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCElKNx-hzmd1lzMev_5bqOyyXi9Yaj4gBFlWfRKgZdhXFipYI-74CQDL5pUhZascu5HxwwvjB0jbEJGgWKNRqTUMbu-1uJGBeqllIGpuuFenikC75K14B5GRvS96ZW-HnbRu-svVIgNans352t-tn5bXv5tafOiNxQGIDI9F-kDHs_ip2PiebUebFJr_/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(6%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCElKNx-hzmd1lzMev_5bqOyyXi9Yaj4gBFlWfRKgZdhXFipYI-74CQDL5pUhZascu5HxwwvjB0jbEJGgWKNRqTUMbu-1uJGBeqllIGpuuFenikC75K14B5GRvS96ZW-HnbRu-svVIgNans352t-tn5bXv5tafOiNxQGIDI9F-kDHs_ip2PiebUebFJr_/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(6%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nxSXd8IT0Fflj101uP1yDEwDgQoQc_PjHwEWVL8EF9Gs5P3wyrtfFBiSzBH-LFak3-kzEH1wJYDPytfbjna8bfbMUUkmWePWwb8G8yV05__ngHh_OXT8-pga5xWLwK3uphAuRnQqEJUtbArsJt3URM1kiZD1ZmSAtwdPitp-lhC-wfvbBsfgKwwgc5-Q/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(7%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nxSXd8IT0Fflj101uP1yDEwDgQoQc_PjHwEWVL8EF9Gs5P3wyrtfFBiSzBH-LFak3-kzEH1wJYDPytfbjna8bfbMUUkmWePWwb8G8yV05__ngHh_OXT8-pga5xWLwK3uphAuRnQqEJUtbArsJt3URM1kiZD1ZmSAtwdPitp-lhC-wfvbBsfgKwwgc5-Q/w640-h360/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(7%20of%2033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And words cannot describe my excitement when I saw THIS crowd:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd678_b31xMfCpAThnbtZYepwMB18p9e9F0VcygtB-yILbksExIKNta8rIFGEJKWrN-Zv05BT0DRkJZUjeIx45HB0Biyk_wlK80MY0pTI_XGDzHMz66hhSPbVtl6bntUxAAZDoZFf7lVm74Chk1CI0fbAXqMISwBvxHtbK3DE75rLZmHKVoNQGvYICLYi/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(9%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOd678_b31xMfCpAThnbtZYepwMB18p9e9F0VcygtB-yILbksExIKNta8rIFGEJKWrN-Zv05BT0DRkJZUjeIx45HB0Biyk_wlK80MY0pTI_XGDzHMz66hhSPbVtl6bntUxAAZDoZFf7lVm74Chk1CI0fbAXqMISwBvxHtbK3DE75rLZmHKVoNQGvYICLYi/w640-h360/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(9%20of%2033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are they looking at, you ask? Why, none other than my old nemesis, Mr. Starry Night!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This <a href="https://amzn.to/48H6PNu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2,000-piece Starry Night puzzle</a> and I have been locked in battle since early December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="475" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCraftKnife%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02WHkNq7z1E1nGG3UWtFcHuSzeCmh5RNV6mozgc9wPTACSBMLutMvgd8nGCg9xUQAQl&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe> <br /> <br /> <iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="670" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCraftKnife%2Fposts%2Fpfbid03Uhw7Ka9m9FUSxsoKfV76okzcEN6QjhhszWGvFjDzLgCWNweYkrbvfiwy5CESuJ1l&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an absolutely terrible puzzle, a miserable experience all around, ridiculously hard AND with pieces so poorly cut that they will fit in places they aren't supposed to be, and I tell it all the time that Vincent Van Gogh would be ashamed of how unpleasant it's being to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fortunately, its real-life counterpart is delightful:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oYWpVC6KsVetglXl_4HgcM_zjZbl3bpHtN95Q93mdAWvxmdEqoBRX9aNUjKDyAawiaTAD0RmxTBojMGalQ2P90R18sMjbnYwVnP0eQxI5FCAfRENN7jvPPs72Kl8XkVqEMBvnmOsxh__Pe5aARsdTVmAvkBgA9Gxg24_66_tuKz69bgJnE4iLp-PRXl5/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(8%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oYWpVC6KsVetglXl_4HgcM_zjZbl3bpHtN95Q93mdAWvxmdEqoBRX9aNUjKDyAawiaTAD0RmxTBojMGalQ2P90R18sMjbnYwVnP0eQxI5FCAfRENN7jvPPs72Kl8XkVqEMBvnmOsxh__Pe5aARsdTVmAvkBgA9Gxg24_66_tuKz69bgJnE4iLp-PRXl5/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(8%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, I think the real-life Starry Night is actually smaller than my puzzle at home? Weird. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wish I had a 2,000-piece puzzle of THIS Van Gogh painting! I'm obsessed with it. It randomly feels like an illustration of some kind of Lovecraftian abomination--I keep seeing that curly beard as squid tentacles, and I don't know why, but I love it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPdcC5-e4oLDTgFQDiGrLrnRmMMlHxohdvoKnCe_xwbeLNVMSDKyyjhFffMFUNajkCs2FvR6LH9u92pIbwwdHfRaLxhRZ1UtPS6n9M9m24ynStb9NteMg8F0KAT0IPTxjIcG9ZCaPfF0qGUHmmK8EffGrp__h1CBTkBji5dqsT-SspCMjKEHc8lSIivyr/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(10%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPdcC5-e4oLDTgFQDiGrLrnRmMMlHxohdvoKnCe_xwbeLNVMSDKyyjhFffMFUNajkCs2FvR6LH9u92pIbwwdHfRaLxhRZ1UtPS6n9M9m24ynStb9NteMg8F0KAT0IPTxjIcG9ZCaPfF0qGUHmmK8EffGrp__h1CBTkBji5dqsT-SspCMjKEHc8lSIivyr/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(10%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Fortunately, my partner has a proper appreciation of art, although I absolutely saw him get chided by a docent for standing too close to one of the paintings. He says he was looking at the artist's brushstrokes, and I believe him, because unlike me he does not have intrusive thoughts that encourage him to maybe just lick the painting a little bit.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tkiGCoO9HnQi9k-W_khkTsM9d7AYD5qZKQY3MrUog3hCX8S8HZ5YwzLLD0gMFvzc7Wrf3mJ5YOqDf4Bj3cUk7WnjJHahFYKDbh7ihGYUZoPYdkkUtJoXwvEyxupTaKdcKDPp5X3QS3-uqjnOTqaS-tynG0mqmfKOi4LjRVIiB4L-1u3jhypjszOu6rIT/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(11%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tkiGCoO9HnQi9k-W_khkTsM9d7AYD5qZKQY3MrUog3hCX8S8HZ5YwzLLD0gMFvzc7Wrf3mJ5YOqDf4Bj3cUk7WnjJHahFYKDbh7ihGYUZoPYdkkUtJoXwvEyxupTaKdcKDPp5X3QS3-uqjnOTqaS-tynG0mqmfKOi4LjRVIiB4L-1u3jhypjszOu6rIT/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(11%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But don't worry--I didn't even lick the Mondrian, even though it's such a pretty red!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlBj8RvFgrw9cvW6yXWN9M9c_tK7La5WcL7bzTrQuh9jb5y3MX5wwD3T9MasE1rM6HyE6TYPy_btEEnUm2Q5LF1TTfKEgGH8S9240yb6AtvN24H5C2TcEwCImp1fhw1nN1y6xQ7z0kzmeJLSx5SIKUE6tihduLA8tSAkdN5xaX-L2u00r0rz_dx3x_ajd/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(12%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlBj8RvFgrw9cvW6yXWN9M9c_tK7La5WcL7bzTrQuh9jb5y3MX5wwD3T9MasE1rM6HyE6TYPy_btEEnUm2Q5LF1TTfKEgGH8S9240yb6AtvN24H5C2TcEwCImp1fhw1nN1y6xQ7z0kzmeJLSx5SIKUE6tihduLA8tSAkdN5xaX-L2u00r0rz_dx3x_ajd/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(12%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Nobody could lick the Monet, because they had a barrier up. It's so big, though, that how would you even decide where to put your tongue?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN74GT0iRxRPLcogS4LAwPrMr33cM_4IWiO-48n0_hOq5o9gaBilM7rlZUkfqDVGtQrcRgT-kLDnV1pue0wFvwpjoPD-Pttu1gtJRyfDXDCJamDDmENF3A7ahga49c227ig9YEpXN6OIoi3tTkmXbME9XWEOx2UAKAOWvuzRLXNxAmh5EyFVPsKBQ6wD9/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(13%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCN74GT0iRxRPLcogS4LAwPrMr33cM_4IWiO-48n0_hOq5o9gaBilM7rlZUkfqDVGtQrcRgT-kLDnV1pue0wFvwpjoPD-Pttu1gtJRyfDXDCJamDDmENF3A7ahga49c227ig9YEpXN6OIoi3tTkmXbME9XWEOx2UAKAOWvuzRLXNxAmh5EyFVPsKBQ6wD9/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(13%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Warhol is surprisingly unlickable, even though he's literally painting food. It think it's probably because most of these soups sound disgusting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBngT4TGOt0otzDlhfemJRDy5kBRNMnqPmES0pMt2tm0FRMdSt5ERk-TAk73KbimTh2WbupnzpUK_W8nPdBqKXvzpVVXPzgG6Ech2f9z0qHE3dFeet2pgw56JCGzkB-lAn_Wwd_dqIsYKP61C_dggDDIdFPnmuGBmuyvG_v-nfs_MabIsisPgbtOsljbUn/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(14%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBngT4TGOt0otzDlhfemJRDy5kBRNMnqPmES0pMt2tm0FRMdSt5ERk-TAk73KbimTh2WbupnzpUK_W8nPdBqKXvzpVVXPzgG6Ech2f9z0qHE3dFeet2pgw56JCGzkB-lAn_Wwd_dqIsYKP61C_dggDDIdFPnmuGBmuyvG_v-nfs_MabIsisPgbtOsljbUn/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(14%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pollack, on the other hand, is VERY lickable:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReLLp5_yshVTun4G9oM3gwTyTjoAyNL6GUOfQKDueT0J-PHVjPHfJ2Eyt5iuwP6_h7DenfuQ57h4AnaOA2G7deuttut6vyJsf4JFswPNOCDihT15f6Hl6aed4htOUau7LX4g2julfBNnNq1pvz3019n4v8f7VmbR5vcY1sHuOsOS8Al-mr5RBuzRRuy6i/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(15%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReLLp5_yshVTun4G9oM3gwTyTjoAyNL6GUOfQKDueT0J-PHVjPHfJ2Eyt5iuwP6_h7DenfuQ57h4AnaOA2G7deuttut6vyJsf4JFswPNOCDihT15f6Hl6aed4htOUau7LX4g2julfBNnNq1pvz3019n4v8f7VmbR5vcY1sHuOsOS8Al-mr5RBuzRRuy6i/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(15%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My self-control really won out, because not only did I not lick the art, but I also did not buy a hundred books in the gift shop. Instead, I sneakily and guiltily took photos of the ones I want so I could request them from the library when I got home. That big biography is actually already on hold for me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m2Gj1p-BqREe9s7FaOzzkfZD1qUce9r_T-cBIdhYtWflcP_KxsNURjfimOWHrOXa2_0fpRuCJrU2XPry6i_ZYgIPdN9zPSXXf_X03k3RQvcPEBvkLkIwuRzvm03zXTXsf8LZ0GixHTUkRhyDzpf0e_TPMEC4AOERWmvv4HnwaMy03h6dTznIkQRT2OxQ/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(16%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_m2Gj1p-BqREe9s7FaOzzkfZD1qUce9r_T-cBIdhYtWflcP_KxsNURjfimOWHrOXa2_0fpRuCJrU2XPry6i_ZYgIPdN9zPSXXf_X03k3RQvcPEBvkLkIwuRzvm03zXTXsf8LZ0GixHTUkRhyDzpf0e_TPMEC4AOERWmvv4HnwaMy03h6dTznIkQRT2OxQ/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(16%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After I'd seen all the stereotypical must-sees, my partner dragged me off to experience the proper modern art:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ZsC8dqggtA4SHQ-RgxkcYboaHwBJ4BGbgFm1idmZ-G34GZWNmuqOS2xOck7a-Vdjm1HBT9RUTiVDKkX6qkXVAQluWz9F-JJQ-6XSp7AJV6gdRqW7W2yDrn3-C1g5mdR-WbIwWMAbfHCMoFSs-EwbZUR9gqsHC6pxQ3oy40Wir0TnA72DsZFnfjW6G7P/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(17%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ZsC8dqggtA4SHQ-RgxkcYboaHwBJ4BGbgFm1idmZ-G34GZWNmuqOS2xOck7a-Vdjm1HBT9RUTiVDKkX6qkXVAQluWz9F-JJQ-6XSp7AJV6gdRqW7W2yDrn3-C1g5mdR-WbIwWMAbfHCMoFSs-EwbZUR9gqsHC6pxQ3oy40Wir0TnA72DsZFnfjW6G7P/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(17%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The giant stacked cubes didn't do anything for me, but fine, I DID love the giant hanging stuffed animal sculptures. My old Grumpy Bear is definitely there in that blue sphere:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuYQnQFxwJV1R5IxwrEcrKU8QTjoytX7bBnRc4d-7rxaeLCSIya7OwX2fU2WkcvdjTwcxqmlpw4_eMskAkzHENHfShtwIyp6CEXNK4w0p51M1QTauFu2ctBZD_g_C6dTFMFSaMp64D__jE6ZvvzYiOkg772oDgSCwBcheNqLS82nGgK-iFrDovsMKTThf/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(18%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuYQnQFxwJV1R5IxwrEcrKU8QTjoytX7bBnRc4d-7rxaeLCSIya7OwX2fU2WkcvdjTwcxqmlpw4_eMskAkzHENHfShtwIyp6CEXNK4w0p51M1QTauFu2ctBZD_g_C6dTFMFSaMp64D__jE6ZvvzYiOkg772oDgSCwBcheNqLS82nGgK-iFrDovsMKTThf/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(18%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After most of the day at the art museum, we'd built up sufficient good culture credit so we could, with clear consciences, then go do <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2024/02/to-do-in-new-york-city-trip-without.html" target="_blank">what is possibly the cheeziest, corniest, hokiest thing you can possibly do in New York City</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kVl-8L2nCuG38jTo6ofCA7aFnX5Z290wktMdZ26Ko5ywWlKQyAUHou_OqcH6UeZWqkLDo3nbVdHFkcpcaFccGm93c_9wmXzq55S2_bq-vwL3mfaWyxUBsvlWRac-sLRn87iP1iTYNKPNExUFrB9JSJBpPWyjXAz5zz0aWt6Su2kHq7XCLXnZIs0QNtgz/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(19%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kVl-8L2nCuG38jTo6ofCA7aFnX5Z290wktMdZ26Ko5ywWlKQyAUHou_OqcH6UeZWqkLDo3nbVdHFkcpcaFccGm93c_9wmXzq55S2_bq-vwL3mfaWyxUBsvlWRac-sLRn87iP1iTYNKPNExUFrB9JSJBpPWyjXAz5zz0aWt6Su2kHq7XCLXnZIs0QNtgz/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(19%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you don't go to <a href="https://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/" target="_blank">Ellen's Stardust Diner</a> to eat overpriced food, drink overpriced (but healthily strong!) cocktails, and watch the waitstaff sing Broadway karaoke, then are you even a New York City tourist?!?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPITTNxGDR5kG6LBaZONfDR2ExypZ6MUXBFeSCqoURz6f9yt_wNDjy2WPeF76SZ5fMT3OsjTPuKUHqdx8Ky0PezczOSF80qZGmmQOwt4TO-WB9EvfFJREpMBXaiYT2MVgWmN3dSEVmbTjufp_1J6bPwCWhFZKxxykMjMl43Gd9_qlElq3I-MMXwqisZcKQ/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(20%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPITTNxGDR5kG6LBaZONfDR2ExypZ6MUXBFeSCqoURz6f9yt_wNDjy2WPeF76SZ5fMT3OsjTPuKUHqdx8Ky0PezczOSF80qZGmmQOwt4TO-WB9EvfFJREpMBXaiYT2MVgWmN3dSEVmbTjufp_1J6bPwCWhFZKxxykMjMl43Gd9_qlElq3I-MMXwqisZcKQ/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(20%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">WE are PROPER New York City tourists!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ8etMs8qJGyE7Y2zthLqxT4L9NdRtN75-LNrukCi_-MIJfpXMb4XiXeOSH7CjmdcaoeGCjbCQog9LefVGXGikEe6YcGr7hosjYjQ5gXpc9spxhujmY6M0kp-sN3XJkY7OPt8o7pRC5Qmy8UYDTMsD4pGBUxn9mNEgqjSkmSmrZzfb7xRtDdGyGOgvY5M/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(21%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ8etMs8qJGyE7Y2zthLqxT4L9NdRtN75-LNrukCi_-MIJfpXMb4XiXeOSH7CjmdcaoeGCjbCQog9LefVGXGikEe6YcGr7hosjYjQ5gXpc9spxhujmY6M0kp-sN3XJkY7OPt8o7pRC5Qmy8UYDTMsD4pGBUxn9mNEgqjSkmSmrZzfb7xRtDdGyGOgvY5M/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(21%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqsvt0P-Eb0jREZ5tTX2UoMrXu_f0-5PQYQ50zOgvla55ncIJxCLbOW-NUpRIWsY3R0FYn56rOxBdqxZa63A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDymhlCo9DYqsAaDV1JIZ_biY0yrdb157-4-ZFLsozvxXONP95R4UxysIwPYwLhcM2s7TNXAeEvWNrJkTwvV_A9eeC_GFnZT4BIxMKf7OmH50kbQrM-2xz4FWgZfv8qHkKPZi4vPsSi6lWDESb6nMN7WwkiCtSwomDh0OxVdkikrzxgrIiSxvljvA4Y86H/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(22%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDymhlCo9DYqsAaDV1JIZ_biY0yrdb157-4-ZFLsozvxXONP95R4UxysIwPYwLhcM2s7TNXAeEvWNrJkTwvV_A9eeC_GFnZT4BIxMKf7OmH50kbQrM-2xz4FWgZfv8qHkKPZi4vPsSi6lWDESb6nMN7WwkiCtSwomDh0OxVdkikrzxgrIiSxvljvA4Y86H/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(22%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids would have HAAAAATED it. There's a non-zero chance the college kid would have cried, because she's done that when less embarrassing things have happened in restaurants. The teenager would have never willingly left the house with me ever again. I had an absolutely astounding amount of fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we're already being corny, might as well take another swing through Times Square!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGUPHzIpjSydvbKmg2yUTMYQPfyarKmc2fGPKmycJCOccF2GYawPn76Gx4OLbndNj5R3EgWWkKntXIPmCPs91QuldRBQjF66PO-dPzWEHUBMxGlX3wn4jf_7FVmduRR4e6_7gBboqulTkwfwwaCN_IPwxMKaP3XLKLQbMa5oUfgqF_aqhaLLLmu2IiZkE/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(23%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGUPHzIpjSydvbKmg2yUTMYQPfyarKmc2fGPKmycJCOccF2GYawPn76Gx4OLbndNj5R3EgWWkKntXIPmCPs91QuldRBQjF66PO-dPzWEHUBMxGlX3wn4jf_7FVmduRR4e6_7gBboqulTkwfwwaCN_IPwxMKaP3XLKLQbMa5oUfgqF_aqhaLLLmu2IiZkE/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(23%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, actually THIS might be the corniest thing we did in New York City, but when we were there last, every time we walked through Times Square, I swear there was an actual line out the door and around the block consisting of tourists waiting to get into the M&M store. This time, there was no line and we had a little time to kill, so in we went to wander:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f3gY0sERkAWHjiWpO_oh9BmGUobPJQ-8NSoYvlRN2P-m2L1Iopg4SwGK8FMsoTWXf9M5-IF7-5s-KirvypWIGKy2fqf-q1GPjLuakAxmOL3mUw-K_A6YKuarf6WmXKJfCEvLVpfRE7xvahhm2zvlwopaFYiAjQEYQwaF6K-tmpU0saV3vysbPqBpuPqW/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(26%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f3gY0sERkAWHjiWpO_oh9BmGUobPJQ-8NSoYvlRN2P-m2L1Iopg4SwGK8FMsoTWXf9M5-IF7-5s-KirvypWIGKy2fqf-q1GPjLuakAxmOL3mUw-K_A6YKuarf6WmXKJfCEvLVpfRE7xvahhm2zvlwopaFYiAjQEYQwaF6K-tmpU0saV3vysbPqBpuPqW/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(26%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And yes, I WAS tempted by the Pride merch. They might even have gotten me if they'd said that they were donating any part of their proceeds to any LGBTQIA+ organizations, because that sweater with the rainbow neckline is randomly very cute?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saved by corporate greed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally could not stand the suspense anymore, and we walked over to stand in line underneath the most glorious marquee in New York City:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GBPVu20fj89-M4hzbfhTxDamypJIuX2H9u9i9TFS_6hBraCizv6OfVqkUA9wxFYjsltt2MIFkSZd3aLSYK9z6RW1n2y3gB2SS8vSW_7pOCy7b-oKlZNayWkYeeyEVnS9hmgUun6O7obRRYyt_FwZAE2ZskbQ5V7bdu0bSboTTJjkoIRAkejl4tsAgH2n/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(25%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GBPVu20fj89-M4hzbfhTxDamypJIuX2H9u9i9TFS_6hBraCizv6OfVqkUA9wxFYjsltt2MIFkSZd3aLSYK9z6RW1n2y3gB2SS8vSW_7pOCy7b-oKlZNayWkYeeyEVnS9hmgUun6O7obRRYyt_FwZAE2ZskbQ5V7bdu0bSboTTJjkoIRAkejl4tsAgH2n/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(25%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was so excited that I was about to cycle right around into a panic attack, but thankfully the line started moving and before I could freak out further, somehow I'd found myself in the third row center of the Walter Kerr Theater, holding an honest-to-god playbill and looking at the honest-to-god <a href="https://hadestown.com/" target="_blank">Hadestown</a> set:</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bpoRAprv2jhTDM6FtFfN1iL5bS4sB2NdGvUlLoLcrWotPzIyNEZCiViVTyuhL3K7EhXLlySqY3TTo7AXTwUpVXka8wSrjv1VCJ3YLMccKB4aC5rdxVd0ui10SxS6vUYfbBF6xzYbVcWKFe7_B4m8HuxvwyKgNi2gUmATyCRqKGJmBXVqxL66NwPhOR-q/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(27%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bpoRAprv2jhTDM6FtFfN1iL5bS4sB2NdGvUlLoLcrWotPzIyNEZCiViVTyuhL3K7EhXLlySqY3TTo7AXTwUpVXka8wSrjv1VCJ3YLMccKB4aC5rdxVd0ui10SxS6vUYfbBF6xzYbVcWKFe7_B4m8HuxvwyKgNi2gUmATyCRqKGJmBXVqxL66NwPhOR-q/w360-h640/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(27%20of%2033).jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sent this photo to the kids with the caption "!!!!", and got a serious of supportive exclamation points and keyboard smashes back. Daughters are the greatest gift a person could have.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_1Neo6YvjLTWNxN1HcnWoZD3Eh6RG-xy5MlxVZotfxhSqXo_SxYKI_anNFjAkkxSMgsnV-GneYwEyBz-SgJ8mR0ya8V9cV9hmFivySeSbwmstTH-7pb4YoaCdauoo1Nw1QJ2fRbBqizdG3wWihtYxoASje9rcPLQNvvLL4OeSGt1lrGd9B6TlLyhLgvf/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(28%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_1Neo6YvjLTWNxN1HcnWoZD3Eh6RG-xy5MlxVZotfxhSqXo_SxYKI_anNFjAkkxSMgsnV-GneYwEyBz-SgJ8mR0ya8V9cV9hmFivySeSbwmstTH-7pb4YoaCdauoo1Nw1QJ2fRbBqizdG3wWihtYxoASje9rcPLQNvvLL4OeSGt1lrGd9B6TlLyhLgvf/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(28%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Y'all, I was so excited at where I was that I did not even notice that every single other person in the audience was also in a flurry of excitement not because it was also their first time at Hadestown and they'd been waiting something like five years for this but actually because apparently LIN-MANUEL FREAKING MIRANDA was sitting two rows directly behind me? And generously doing selfies and autographs with people? And I did not even notice, and if I had noticed, I don't think I would have even cared. If it was Andre DeShields, probably... Eva Noblezada, definitely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, our seats were SO GOOD! We were a little too close to see the elevator set piece (come to think of it, two rows directly behind me was probably the perfect seat...), but the loss was worth it to have the hanging lights swinging over my head. I could see every expression on everyone's faces, and when the main characters knelt at center stage, I was essentially eye level with them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been a fan of musical theatre since I was 13 or 14 ("Phantom of the Opera" was my gateway original cast recording, and then I found "Hair," and then there was the year that I listened to "Evita" on loop...), but this was my first actual live Broadway show. I've watched so many pirated recordings of Hadestown on YouTube that I was actually surprised at how different, better, and more powerful it was to see it live. I mean, I obviously knew that it was going to be better and more special, but I figured I'd seen it multiple times on screen already, so the better and special parts would just be the experience of being there, like seeing my favorite band playing live after having only listened to their music on Spotify for years. But it was SO different, and SO much more special. Live theatre is this Whole Other Thing that is built between you and the actors and musicians brand-new every single time, this whole other ephemeral thing that you experience just the once, every single time. I'm a little glad that I don't live close to New York City and so can't dilute my memory by watching Hadestown every week, like I would absolutely want to. Even if I didn't get tired of it and instead became the Hadestown version of a Disney Adult, it surely wouldn't stay as magical in my memory as it is now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Best. Christmas present. EVER.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the show, I still completely failed to notice the apparently revived Lin-Manuel Miranda fervor as everyone else but me who hadn't already seen him suddenly saw him, and instead my partner and I busted out of the theater (well, I did take a small detour, because a few minutes later my partner looked at me and was all, "Where did you get that Hadestown souvenir cup?!?" I said, "Someone just left it on the aisle floor so I picked it up!" I drank wine out of it last night while watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and it made me very happy), took a hard right just like the YouTube videos I'd watched told me to, and ended up here, hanging out in front of the stage door:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIy0zWaIaIyJlXzl-yDcBrnG_S_KTFLWJI-oIV6WtJepPFus-CRV2MhKeCep5_hYfIUEd0IoS7pLN16WRLfq74vYMYc_kVRZZlaQAsQ1SNtyt3iiiOBVTLOaPcpkqA46ccXRfUje8d5wHrc2NyDfdplVmIRCoVxAJPkkZ26TDAQLTMSN7mUfOJBjRFRiL/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(29%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIy0zWaIaIyJlXzl-yDcBrnG_S_KTFLWJI-oIV6WtJepPFus-CRV2MhKeCep5_hYfIUEd0IoS7pLN16WRLfq74vYMYc_kVRZZlaQAsQ1SNtyt3iiiOBVTLOaPcpkqA46ccXRfUje8d5wHrc2NyDfdplVmIRCoVxAJPkkZ26TDAQLTMSN7mUfOJBjRFRiL/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(29%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYJfdwZ3OmShL892kRTtiAdYp8iRLB2FXXfQ8bpPhjKeSZEmVpm0kxATupFUEJX_JFctAxJ6iYzrXKCdH6e9i4NXMFquv4YCUd3lISQTXzsSg_WzDQ3i-mjO11KNWJiQ-_3111vf-nTWTT4oNx0oUtTFVZZUp88oQHVCeo-bu82VrSQWLgQcEqD68iOxV/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(30%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYJfdwZ3OmShL892kRTtiAdYp8iRLB2FXXfQ8bpPhjKeSZEmVpm0kxATupFUEJX_JFctAxJ6iYzrXKCdH6e9i4NXMFquv4YCUd3lISQTXzsSg_WzDQ3i-mjO11KNWJiQ-_3111vf-nTWTT4oNx0oUtTFVZZUp88oQHVCeo-bu82VrSQWLgQcEqD68iOxV/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(30%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Here's where I FINALLY heard all the Lin-Manuel Miranda scuttlebutt, as everyone else was gossiping about it and showing each other their cellphone selfies. I've never met a celebrity out in the wild--do they mind having people come up to them and ask for photos and autographs when they're someplace like the theater? Like, I know they get paid an absolute ton of money, but they're not being paid right then, so is it rude to make them work when they're not getting paid, or do we just count all the ton of money that they ARE being paid as part of their compensation for having to take photos with tourists on their downtime? I have no idea, but I AM 99% certain that if Lin-Manuel Miranda had happened to have been seated next to me, he would never have experienced someone awkwardly ignoring him as hard as I would have, on account of I have no capacity for interacting with any strange human, much less a famous one. Just... shudder. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, here's me not giving a flip that I didn't see Lin-Manuel Miranda with my own eyes!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsVQjZg756gPdqXNwN0V7QpeFbecl06ZmGotON6tJy9Dr8mgROepFHfppMlk_GUzBClYrJiKGnJu97GInc1pC-0kmWeA_D4OCTwWtYnhafGFJKZHir3V4dLarTo2JbXgRqHHnamZW4He9RgGUSCu7NkJQXD2lE6A79VubhBZR3K9vi96BvT3sfPtn8r7E/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(31%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsVQjZg756gPdqXNwN0V7QpeFbecl06ZmGotON6tJy9Dr8mgROepFHfppMlk_GUzBClYrJiKGnJu97GInc1pC-0kmWeA_D4OCTwWtYnhafGFJKZHir3V4dLarTo2JbXgRqHHnamZW4He9RgGUSCu7NkJQXD2lE6A79VubhBZR3K9vi96BvT3sfPtn8r7E/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(31%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, my first stage door experience wasn't a bust, because the vibe was very good, I got all the Lin-Manuel Miranda hot goss that I'd been oblivious to while it was happening, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sojournerbrown/" target="_blank">Sojourner Brown</a> graciously came out and signed my playbill and gazed upon me with all her talent and beauty:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SHVaakaVFRbrnzGbwNC2BVOG1-CIgj95w_aVfwlvs5OnU1DLxGpra4y_sd57-FjntdvNkynDSSWmy43AzASGQPXeeI6uJbA9wIN-HsMrpWMMVFKkF4AgJ1WGuTyRARxRyo8frx3h-sotgbuTzncUAGkxdUErNE6jKUASw5eMWOvRKczAVYGRulDWW3Do/s1778/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(32%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SHVaakaVFRbrnzGbwNC2BVOG1-CIgj95w_aVfwlvs5OnU1DLxGpra4y_sd57-FjntdvNkynDSSWmy43AzASGQPXeeI6uJbA9wIN-HsMrpWMMVFKkF4AgJ1WGuTyRARxRyo8frx3h-sotgbuTzncUAGkxdUErNE6jKUASw5eMWOvRKczAVYGRulDWW3Do/s16000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(32%20of%2033).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">None of the other actors came out, though, because while we were all standing outside, freezing and gossiping about Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man himself was inside, comfy and warm and schmoozing up all of our actors!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Yq3sDrEIl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Yq3sDrEIl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Yq3sDrEIl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hadestown (@hadestown)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, well. Back to the Republican stronghold, then, for shawarma-- </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3R99P7If-4qEAX3biRSW-7LWjVPUYDI3BuD1Vxxfq0v2zWOmjPiwXw1pNQW27PIoNAHQgDFNyJoHXxB5O5kAwF0Yex67HWiyRm_BQ3oUolHq9gy8iw6OMEs2iL3g4dgW-xocIML4T90DrmQpOy0MaUiD3-Jq5cCsfeOCSHrThkSWhgINeEFrLHV0EJnL/s1000/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(33%20of%2033).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3R99P7If-4qEAX3biRSW-7LWjVPUYDI3BuD1Vxxfq0v2zWOmjPiwXw1pNQW27PIoNAHQgDFNyJoHXxB5O5kAwF0Yex67HWiyRm_BQ3oUolHq9gy8iw6OMEs2iL3g4dgW-xocIML4T90DrmQpOy0MaUiD3-Jq5cCsfeOCSHrThkSWhgINeEFrLHV0EJnL/w640-h360/Kid%20Free%20in%20NYC%20Day%2002%20(33%20of%2033).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />--and bed. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Tomorrow, I meet Winnie-the-Pooh! Shall I ask for his autograph and a selfie?<br /></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-1449600356255099892024-02-24T07:00:00.001-05:002024-02-24T07:00:00.144-05:00Sew a Solar Eclipse Bunting from Stash Fabric<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI52cbN3xORtn9op6NhEx7bKQNxSsmx2eM0zQdP1put7jaoAIS_VD7uLRLhZSjKYk6oX86I8BY6QNHX_fILAwzk8GIreqewwDFa-ifEM8fCDGNeXKXha44_DkUVQ0jZ_ypGhS-qfdYXbhr61H1J-OkiFljRxHuuRQIHF7fV2OdQ0_Eo-qmgUnDXtwMdB8a/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI52cbN3xORtn9op6NhEx7bKQNxSsmx2eM0zQdP1put7jaoAIS_VD7uLRLhZSjKYk6oX86I8BY6QNHX_fILAwzk8GIreqewwDFa-ifEM8fCDGNeXKXha44_DkUVQ0jZ_ypGhS-qfdYXbhr61H1J-OkiFljRxHuuRQIHF7fV2OdQ0_Eo-qmgUnDXtwMdB8a/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>I originally published this tutorial on <a href="https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/sew-solar-eclipse-bunting-fabric/" target="_blank">Crafting a Green World</a>.</i></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br /></i></div><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.76471rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This solar eclipse bunting ensures clear skies for <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/" target="_blank">April 8</a>!</h2><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hey, who’s got a sewing machine and a total solar eclipse happening in her literal backyard this Spring?</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I mean, maybe you, but DEFINITELY me!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Y’all, I am REVVED UP for this solar eclipse. I have been excited about it for nearly a decade by now, and <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2017/08/total-eclipse-of-sun.html" target="_blank">ESPECIALLY excited about it for the last seven years</a>! I’m going to have a yard full of people, I’ve got enough eclipse glasses for everybody, there will be four different kinds of lemonade on offer, and there will be solar eclipse decorations if I have to sew every single stitch myself.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which, considering that Party City doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo, I probably will!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My first official decoration is this solar eclipse bunting sewn from upcycled blue jeans and stash fabric. Y’all know <a href="https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/no-sew-mini-felt-heart-bunting/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;">how much I love buntings</a>, so this choice shouldn’t surprise you. And thanks to the easy templates I used and my sewing machine’s superpower that is the zigzag stitch, I was able to take this bunting from concept to completion in half an afternoon. Here’s how!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s what I used to make this bunting, but remember that I sewed entirely from my stash. So if you’ve got something different in YOUR stash, go ahead and use what you’ve got!</p><ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em 3em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">bunting templates. </span>I folded an 8.5″x11″ piece of paper into an isosceles triangle for the pennants, and a wide-mouthed Mason jar lid ring for the suns and moons. For the total eclipse flare, I traced a sun onto the fabric, then drew the flares by hand around it.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">fabric. </span>I used denim (specifically all-cotton old blue jeans) for the pennants, stash flannel for the suns, and stash Kona cotton for the moons. The eclipse flare is upcycled from an old canvas tote bag.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">bias tape. </span>Double-fold bias tape is my favorite shortcut for sewing buntings! I buy all my bias tape from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Laceking" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: linear;">Laceking</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: linear;"> </span>on etsy</a>, but you can DIY this, as well.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">sewing, cutting, and marking tools. </span>I used my <a href="https://amzn.to/3uA08ie" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">Singer Heavy Duty 4411</a> and a universal needle for this project, but any sewing machine should be able to handle denim plus a couple of layers of cotton-weight fabric. Sharp fabric scissors are handy for cutting out details in the appliques, and I like my <a href="https://amzn.to/42NQQLX" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">Frixion pens</a> for marking, as they erase with the heat from an iron.</li></ul><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.76471rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 1: Create the templates and cut out all the fabric.</h2><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUPeH_CkFffWxR1H0Xl6GqwznALpsbnKtP_cYxOUwYcqnmq9iG9cucZ9W23_HQ_R1BvpvyHNpHV9OD2eLBUdoafi2Elzl1l5yYP5BJv2dNef2P9iFQGPPcbcxQOkOdSoArdN-yldpqSwREzgg5HjWj1H-9eQNoMg6H7KcCMETgyNMVc5Y9f96Dr_b-FU4/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUPeH_CkFffWxR1H0Xl6GqwznALpsbnKtP_cYxOUwYcqnmq9iG9cucZ9W23_HQ_R1BvpvyHNpHV9OD2eLBUdoafi2Elzl1l5yYP5BJv2dNef2P9iFQGPPcbcxQOkOdSoArdN-yldpqSwREzgg5HjWj1H-9eQNoMg6H7KcCMETgyNMVc5Y9f96Dr_b-FU4/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></div><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I cut seven pennants out of old blue jeans using the isosceles triangle template that I cut from a piece of 8.5″x11″ paper. Because this piece is decorative, you can even use parts of the jeans with too much wear to reuse otherwise. In the photo above, check out the pennant at the top of the photo–can you see the worn-out knee there? You won’t even notice it in the completed bunting!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To make the suns and moons, I cut six yellow circles and seven black circles using a wide-mouth Mason jar lid ring as my template.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtm02GTFzpqdDalOm10lY8wu7Gk43SWqehEXTKq9vHxT2dWoGXSJ4eqrfDZ_prWLoS8T0BYAZiQv-hx53VmChGgj9oBTGuaC-gbNeDM3a0H6P1UC6GCn9YoR2YKZoIDHPVpdwQjrERA9jWOWkTMCLMo9LHQ2nBbfCVpNkwms0tato78IjLyuNleckRsSG/s1250/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtm02GTFzpqdDalOm10lY8wu7Gk43SWqehEXTKq9vHxT2dWoGXSJ4eqrfDZ_prWLoS8T0BYAZiQv-hx53VmChGgj9oBTGuaC-gbNeDM3a0H6P1UC6GCn9YoR2YKZoIDHPVpdwQjrERA9jWOWkTMCLMo9LHQ2nBbfCVpNkwms0tato78IjLyuNleckRsSG/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To make that eclipse flare that will be part of the center pennant, I upcycled an old striped canvas tote. I traced the sun template where I wanted the flare to be centered, then traced the pennant around it so that I could hand-draw the flare to fit the pennant.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.76471rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 2: Applique all the Sun pieces.</h2><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3DS9Lb4Ca-vhym4151d-J8vuNlzte-KfDl4O3kVjaHz8rDQCeNU-TdYZQMa1UWZzifRjIdqgZaNwGv76OCQBuuVK3f8xQP-ePzvGCBE4vTwGKZnOI6XRdXNXTvr2F487aAtuI7HVlOQpFnxx-0tPdz0PNE9-HFbwLmFPpCv-I5d2SuGxpkwApjLhMIBr/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3DS9Lb4Ca-vhym4151d-J8vuNlzte-KfDl4O3kVjaHz8rDQCeNU-TdYZQMa1UWZzifRjIdqgZaNwGv76OCQBuuVK3f8xQP-ePzvGCBE4vTwGKZnOI6XRdXNXTvr2F487aAtuI7HVlOQpFnxx-0tPdz0PNE9-HFbwLmFPpCv-I5d2SuGxpkwApjLhMIBr/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></div><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I put yellow thread in my sewing machine, and set it to a zigzag stitch with a length of 2 and a width of 3. I eyeballed the placement of the suns, laying out all the pennants in a row so I could make sure that they matched, then appliqued them to the pennants.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyM6nsFzTJSyR18Ak3DmsXS3gLPnHv3-BCjn36OoRJidatCXU5UiyKskFRsJefVTE6JLatahxk4LuYBnftHS_Ce_HC2L8u-7fynfeV3nPy6A6OBRabH9zFMG8zKEa0krB17-kxXvKhp_T4642z9UQuw1t4rSR305w-27xKnm7bFFar2EUb1cnQgYKAGCz/s1500/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyM6nsFzTJSyR18Ak3DmsXS3gLPnHv3-BCjn36OoRJidatCXU5UiyKskFRsJefVTE6JLatahxk4LuYBnftHS_Ce_HC2L8u-7fynfeV3nPy6A6OBRabH9zFMG8zKEa0krB17-kxXvKhp_T4642z9UQuw1t4rSR305w-27xKnm7bFFar2EUb1cnQgYKAGCz/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX7iKnY9U5XQ7EKu95kGDeENSwtMWYg2s9dUDjYSxxwejXU-cqDZbHD5iPgHK1iCfFKAJdWFpYd1x39IspYW1ayv7pAW9MwScoBzzKwA5LznPoYXucYxvea9UFCX006vREjoTkyXGmQlEcsV47L8XilHsCQ6I94NYTDPQkbdsc1SumUTS9-UknuYvjGLR/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX7iKnY9U5XQ7EKu95kGDeENSwtMWYg2s9dUDjYSxxwejXU-cqDZbHD5iPgHK1iCfFKAJdWFpYd1x39IspYW1ayv7pAW9MwScoBzzKwA5LznPoYXucYxvea9UFCX006vREjoTkyXGmQlEcsV47L8XilHsCQ6I94NYTDPQkbdsc1SumUTS9-UknuYvjGLR/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Appliqueing the flare to the pennant required a bit more finesse, but a confident beginner should be able to do it. Just go slowly and don’t forget to make sure the needle is down when you rotate the fabric.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.76471rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 3: Applique the Moons to the pennants.</h2><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuqyilRovkPcRuzWaSrSwRcVmqEDSCads_hFuZ9u2vkOgB6MjVdMC9REaJpHKoZFNDOANFJTx2cPiO-enMsZhmGCnRJrqWuSgsL4S-O_PE6M0lM9539yScoxhKbXHxw6fZyWP2sQioCjSp-ifv0JX7FRsLrELO0HmiF-cgBUlk0kCz5emAHDBvhGNirq/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuqyilRovkPcRuzWaSrSwRcVmqEDSCads_hFuZ9u2vkOgB6MjVdMC9REaJpHKoZFNDOANFJTx2cPiO-enMsZhmGCnRJrqWuSgsL4S-O_PE6M0lM9539yScoxhKbXHxw6fZyWP2sQioCjSp-ifv0JX7FRsLrELO0HmiF-cgBUlk0kCz5emAHDBvhGNirq/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></div><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I switched out the thread in the sewing machine to black, and went ahead and stitched the moon to the center of the flare, since I knew exactly where it was supposed to be.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To place the rest of the moons, I laid out the entire bunting on the floor so I could eyeball the whole thing at once.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt-cctKgbpObPw3CP987tEuK9X0VQ_H5syMgCadBooL-E5YrAIc2P6HvM5GjLuo1cbGXRIE33fFkDm2mXuGYgWCH9coFvhA7hUoO_Azba85DqCMHVPfOI2pPHCYpNpMdrB1tmysJVWJUCtcVe3O5cVFDnxES0njmrzzy4LTnp1Tc7OzlJ6k6ZbQAtaywn/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnt-cctKgbpObPw3CP987tEuK9X0VQ_H5syMgCadBooL-E5YrAIc2P6HvM5GjLuo1cbGXRIE33fFkDm2mXuGYgWCH9coFvhA7hUoO_Azba85DqCMHVPfOI2pPHCYpNpMdrB1tmysJVWJUCtcVe3O5cVFDnxES0njmrzzy4LTnp1Tc7OzlJ6k6ZbQAtaywn/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re in the Northern hemisphere for the 2024 eclipse, you’ll be facing South, and the Moon will be coming from the West, so we read this bunting from right to left. The Moon passes across the Sun on a diagonal from top right to bottom left. I placed the Moon pieces on each pennant to mimic the process of the eclipse, roughly trying to make them symmetrical without getting too pedantic about it.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Using the same sewing machine settings, I appliqued all the Moons to the pennants. Notice that the Moon goes off the pennant a few times. I trimmed all that away.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.76471rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 4: Staystitch around the pennants, then add bias tape.</h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I switched back to yellow thread, then staystitched the perimeter of each pennant flag with a straight stitch at a length of 3. This will keep the denim from fraying beyond where I want it to, as well as stitching down the edges of the moons that I trimmed.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLB4hbXednQwQX6gEQJQZKcJyuRuE8Rl3d9q4LvyMK-QNxX7E0j9YJRH614f4tBNGlc69cX8olYSfHSl57OhgR8UhPkoenuHTi-Xl8Or6LJqGjnRtZPNhiG5O2Tc6KqRtHi89gmRFRtOjFQPAVPw167MrtY0LmtpzzDuTasxTGRH514C3Ft3HJK5MsUmf/s1381/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="777" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLB4hbXednQwQX6gEQJQZKcJyuRuE8Rl3d9q4LvyMK-QNxX7E0j9YJRH614f4tBNGlc69cX8olYSfHSl57OhgR8UhPkoenuHTi-Xl8Or6LJqGjnRtZPNhiG5O2Tc6KqRtHi89gmRFRtOjFQPAVPw167MrtY0LmtpzzDuTasxTGRH514C3Ft3HJK5MsUmf/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%2001.jpg" /></span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I measured and stitched shut approximately 12″ of bias tape, then started adding the pennants and stitching them into the fold of the bias tape. At the end of the pennants, I continued stitching the bias tape to itself for another 12″, then cut it.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I tied both ends of the bias tape into an overhand knot, and my bunting was finished!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HGH9bXDiR_4EkHQ5zWfv1dQxFRLFjEW060cBAsTQBi-Z3Fk1N5jrxRfAg9Ewp6tqevQFWUPEKskGABYbM00xcVvDUl-pYS6Vu6ptNUYTWtf-SOYZfAYhiVpLmS_bu09FFC2guB02C5YAUiJ3-HbORShANv1zNYfWeJklEg8WUugxDDLyjyOmBJ42jshL/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HGH9bXDiR_4EkHQ5zWfv1dQxFRLFjEW060cBAsTQBi-Z3Fk1N5jrxRfAg9Ewp6tqevQFWUPEKskGABYbM00xcVvDUl-pYS6Vu6ptNUYTWtf-SOYZfAYhiVpLmS_bu09FFC2guB02C5YAUiJ3-HbORShANv1zNYfWeJklEg8WUugxDDLyjyOmBJ42jshL/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My bunting is already installed over my nicest window. After April 8, there won’t be another <a href="https://nationaleclipse.com/maps/map_08232044.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">total solar eclipse that hits the United States until 2033</a> (anyone want to meet me in Alaska to watch it?), but instead of putting this bunting into storage until then, I’m kind of thinking that I’ll find another place to install it permanently–perhaps on my porch? It’s too pretty not to look at every day!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x9Mhh1Qt4D4WBpmsiEcYkfEdjHwv39nlH5k-HykK2YUUSv5mKckx92MTnFEDdC_oXBh0lcNn_1GBX_XpC7oR23tb9Rd865djHxW0Enq5wvwfO5riDDZPSiCqmyQkhrNbu1XSCsHTyiF-nNcTOgSvtTCibsLleJa_dUWw8X6UYrttlWU05qiUJtXhE4F9/s1000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x9Mhh1Qt4D4WBpmsiEcYkfEdjHwv39nlH5k-HykK2YUUSv5mKckx92MTnFEDdC_oXBh0lcNn_1GBX_XpC7oR23tb9Rd865djHxW0Enq5wvwfO5riDDZPSiCqmyQkhrNbu1XSCsHTyiF-nNcTOgSvtTCibsLleJa_dUWw8X6UYrttlWU05qiUJtXhE4F9/s16000/Solar%20Eclipse%20Bunting%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" /></span></a></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-60177169108265799732024-02-22T17:58:00.001-05:002024-02-22T17:58:41.070-05:00Kid-Free in New York City: Day 1<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbxNu4654OG73XOi2QwR809TWfQOkU8L3BYiujgAfw55nojO5nGGvcXDizOeqXNFGto_BdNPbX1skpfAS6JTAYy6x7rfo2eRg5k1bbgnrtIbVQBCN68pLAUzB5Cjeq8aZJrqyc2KmffWSufkK5IrhoV8BJtdDLCkS_Ta3Tx0XShe-92JoQJppZ-okXm8M/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(34%20of%2034).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbxNu4654OG73XOi2QwR809TWfQOkU8L3BYiujgAfw55nojO5nGGvcXDizOeqXNFGto_BdNPbX1skpfAS6JTAYy6x7rfo2eRg5k1bbgnrtIbVQBCN68pLAUzB5Cjeq8aZJrqyc2KmffWSufkK5IrhoV8BJtdDLCkS_Ta3Tx0XShe-92JoQJppZ-okXm8M/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(34%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in late 2021, the <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/01/whirlwind-trip-to-nyc-day-1-indiana-to.html" target="_blank">whole family took a super quick trip to New York City</a> right before Christmas. I was feeling my post-pandemic oats and I could not wait another minute to finally see <a href="https://hadestown.com/" target="_blank">Hadestown on Broadway</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In retrospect, I really should have waited another three or four months, because our trip coincided with a COVID surge in New York City and a lot of the stuff that we'd wanted to do got canceled--including Hadestown, sob. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the next couple of years, I often thought about trying to schedule another quick trip to see the show, but I just never did it. And then for Christmas last year, my partner did it for me!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So just a few weeks after dropping our older kid back at college for the semester, my partner and I left our younger kid home alone to chug along with her school and ballet and take care of the pets, and he and I flew to New York City, just the two of us, for a two-day adventure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's me trying to figure out how to get from Newark to our hotel:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcERe3KskkTEvWHmQl5x75bk7Q0qZejlfdQ_m3yHF56bojthpbCZMJeWcvpwwnHGGK6sqhhyf4i1zjR7ZuzVJBPVsYaHC3ucuTF9kT0Q0F4866TNjp4YFGd9g24JraDyMf7-QH_uIy9PPaIs638SZ4rbbAxaDUUS7WeHJOQp9hR7KBKzyyE8r9DsK1Tt1/s2111/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(1%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcERe3KskkTEvWHmQl5x75bk7Q0qZejlfdQ_m3yHF56bojthpbCZMJeWcvpwwnHGGK6sqhhyf4i1zjR7ZuzVJBPVsYaHC3ucuTF9kT0Q0F4866TNjp4YFGd9g24JraDyMf7-QH_uIy9PPaIs638SZ4rbbAxaDUUS7WeHJOQp9hR7KBKzyyE8r9DsK1Tt1/w304-h640/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(1%20of%2034).jpg" width="304" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But here's what I consider my REAL first thing in New York City:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7hr_UHIz4zTe3-U6VouUxzFXs0sFVdhyO-n5rnfudI98yeauWMvPkAeAlh3y_JpYFUg07zSquZGF2XImN-L0zuQNqPAmmgFzTBGM0140h9QZePB1V4671FNOV6XdIYga0LRo6e2Po_mgZEC3vpzlJGi41AVVNen6-iAvWm_-xRUuMHLpKXP8eyvUxLsn/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(2%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7hr_UHIz4zTe3-U6VouUxzFXs0sFVdhyO-n5rnfudI98yeauWMvPkAeAlh3y_JpYFUg07zSquZGF2XImN-L0zuQNqPAmmgFzTBGM0140h9QZePB1V4671FNOV6XdIYga0LRo6e2Po_mgZEC3vpzlJGi41AVVNen6-iAvWm_-xRUuMHLpKXP8eyvUxLsn/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(2%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My egg, cheese, and pastrami breakfast sandwich is on the poppyseediest poppyseed bagel I have ever seen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fun fact: my partner ordered bagels from bagel shops twice during our two-day trip. Neither time did he check the bag. BOTH times he got shorted by one bagel!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New York City has some hard lessons to teach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stayed at <a href="https://3westclub.com/" target="_blank">3 West Club</a> and were quite comfortable there, with nearly everything that we wanted to do within walking distance. There was kind of some weird decor, though, and when I Googled to figure out what on earth... yeah, <a href="https://wnrcnyc.wpcomstaging.com/3-west-club-reserve-a-room/" target="_blank">the place is apparently run by the Women's National Republican Club</a>, oops. Guess that explains all the Teddy Roosevelt paintings and elephant statuary!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, we were really only there to sleep. The rest of the time, we were out here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKgii2uY5fPTgmu5Bt0VkNaAq449M6dxbuadX43t8sk2mPbj0PaAl9_E_FjPJ5sJslGEGu7zSm3wEPgjEio4CAc12MisZWvW7SeK3oCN0hxAyJkc464NL6445HtJk_gr4adRE8JNX3ymshZOIEq_MMcSFRblNr5p8EFhYp72-94iv58xy01SzwNOKpNiR/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(3%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKgii2uY5fPTgmu5Bt0VkNaAq449M6dxbuadX43t8sk2mPbj0PaAl9_E_FjPJ5sJslGEGu7zSm3wEPgjEio4CAc12MisZWvW7SeK3oCN0hxAyJkc464NL6445HtJk_gr4adRE8JNX3ymshZOIEq_MMcSFRblNr5p8EFhYp72-94iv58xy01SzwNOKpNiR/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(3%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGhwiwotz-2m4f1SLnkcd_BKGHJsUbN-zf3qpcUweKW6I0nwrEb4pDaFaSEOsj4cL6WGyh6e_p3w6rcuGyxgkeybAU8dEo5w6bCc4PdtI4ouYWKy6FsGl1gGe9S3rlEAZ5xzIBwNk0m5Xb5NSbcFbj9g6_FUG7_VUvtEJIxevwo5klof1AVtEAkRKkj6Y/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(4%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGhwiwotz-2m4f1SLnkcd_BKGHJsUbN-zf3qpcUweKW6I0nwrEb4pDaFaSEOsj4cL6WGyh6e_p3w6rcuGyxgkeybAU8dEo5w6bCc4PdtI4ouYWKy6FsGl1gGe9S3rlEAZ5xzIBwNk0m5Xb5NSbcFbj9g6_FUG7_VUvtEJIxevwo5klof1AVtEAkRKkj6Y/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(4%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My partner thought the <a href="https://newyork.museumofillusions.us/" target="_blank">Museum of Illusions</a> looked interesting, so we did that first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbiAbVc0wcgOzGq6G5VRECrmvydRfEAE86bTEA3E0vTmyNXwutdhDfoo4er7XwH3_x0TwmXzOlj15y5s1pSqB0o-IAm6eoPzIxXKbCIRd__7VQQMR2zFIGlfgEBDf27N_8WP7xbiHertuqR5vfG_GxCuAfCWQhz71CM8j9vLIfk5LSgWCgRzD9PzfF1ZR/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(5%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbiAbVc0wcgOzGq6G5VRECrmvydRfEAE86bTEA3E0vTmyNXwutdhDfoo4er7XwH3_x0TwmXzOlj15y5s1pSqB0o-IAm6eoPzIxXKbCIRd__7VQQMR2zFIGlfgEBDf27N_8WP7xbiHertuqR5vfG_GxCuAfCWQhz71CM8j9vLIfk5LSgWCgRzD9PzfF1ZR/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(5%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChXxMCMwNpgthA6AcccH9tGk4affHOl24cMLw-m6qjoeOMu9o8YOuKpjwtM5wnJ3k_sM8hb3Y7ALhPDy6rjAptdNCoSkBtOOVbrj7qAe4XhcGT4iUomwsTRnsGQ1yoGaZRxUlrg3fXizQGxIDhNQ0ndEPzT7mjB1Vl7L0OUMhC4W7gHb38rPX0-w9nHvj/s541/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(10%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChXxMCMwNpgthA6AcccH9tGk4affHOl24cMLw-m6qjoeOMu9o8YOuKpjwtM5wnJ3k_sM8hb3Y7ALhPDy6rjAptdNCoSkBtOOVbrj7qAe4XhcGT4iUomwsTRnsGQ1yoGaZRxUlrg3fXizQGxIDhNQ0ndEPzT7mjB1Vl7L0OUMhC4W7gHb38rPX0-w9nHvj/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(10%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It WAS very interesting, but maybe not $23 a person interesting... or that may just be my New York City sticker shock in general? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vE-HWaTysaTqnewEXgIuEHDGQxtf92m6hZClgaIvCXATvj7vnNT6gkTvhCdc4MFdwH4x7OIcCL4mP0jPn4N-n-zLF3qTwc9ZVkzpdWKA9uHBr1cczm8VWisHB_GcPQ_9ObxAgOAft3N7rRxCUztDfr5WXJUCnR1J3zhYeqnMgORWiQqgx3f7VIBehhrX/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(9%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vE-HWaTysaTqnewEXgIuEHDGQxtf92m6hZClgaIvCXATvj7vnNT6gkTvhCdc4MFdwH4x7OIcCL4mP0jPn4N-n-zLF3qTwc9ZVkzpdWKA9uHBr1cczm8VWisHB_GcPQ_9ObxAgOAft3N7rRxCUztDfr5WXJUCnR1J3zhYeqnMgORWiQqgx3f7VIBehhrX/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(9%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVgBimGJEWxdA6ferB2NNeOv_Jkjq0OAIwuFpLZc6VRO0izVkl4VOwibLBbHndtSefW15jiJyGwT-z-zhTtLoWSCd6pb0idV8f9FUbbisfiTZurwO9mStGqmIPyNw1vlqEXG_WarTzZYkjj2n7rFl6jUYFrdmoz7ewHoAAUKFifEhyuUd59OQXJiAefb_/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(12%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVgBimGJEWxdA6ferB2NNeOv_Jkjq0OAIwuFpLZc6VRO0izVkl4VOwibLBbHndtSefW15jiJyGwT-z-zhTtLoWSCd6pb0idV8f9FUbbisfiTZurwO9mStGqmIPyNw1vlqEXG_WarTzZYkjj2n7rFl6jUYFrdmoz7ewHoAAUKFifEhyuUd59OQXJiAefb_/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(12%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Regardless, it was fun to see all the cool visual effects and take photos of ourselves looking like one of us is really tiny while the other is really short or like we're hanging from the ceiling or standing at an impossible angle, etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5wxQMHDsBXZkP6JYLICUdkcr1ESUuoKkVe4sTFKkYKyFXYX_k-_ayQWGo1FXhazCoortOktHkHSpeGoz41CqZ7ug1TQdl5-4I-r__PB1JVBZPS4SaSNHlBt9fwBfXM2g-FckkeI29GrL2QaFxPWcvK_b32Fy-NNPJsQAG3nxr6apcYStok9DusavLmmc/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(6%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5wxQMHDsBXZkP6JYLICUdkcr1ESUuoKkVe4sTFKkYKyFXYX_k-_ayQWGo1FXhazCoortOktHkHSpeGoz41CqZ7ug1TQdl5-4I-r__PB1JVBZPS4SaSNHlBt9fwBfXM2g-FckkeI29GrL2QaFxPWcvK_b32Fy-NNPJsQAG3nxr6apcYStok9DusavLmmc/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(6%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="590" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCraftKnife%2Fposts%2Fpfbid094qefRne8GT9sbQcGTP9VVZbssZwyWzkbGZA8YvJpXMrmsVGW1cc3nZ3iGVcucsFl&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Someone who actually knows how to work their camera phone would have done better, because I was fighting for my life trying to figure out how to take selfie videos or use the self-timer or not have fourteen chins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1GAHwPyzJF8WLF_xZJK9nlJq3kciDWp34MXX-5k0ETtMhnXtym537hk-Tn5ZpJMgvWQfqyTBW5OyYuA4OJin0RdAnb7nx3Xs5fvHzltYybmNknE_6VtzSok0qfdqDdLWnX7Prt-T4aGJ2UJY0pE0PTvaNXAy9R9imfCbfP7btpy7jTO1ivirITEH7PjN/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(7%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1GAHwPyzJF8WLF_xZJK9nlJq3kciDWp34MXX-5k0ETtMhnXtym537hk-Tn5ZpJMgvWQfqyTBW5OyYuA4OJin0RdAnb7nx3Xs5fvHzltYybmNknE_6VtzSok0qfdqDdLWnX7Prt-T4aGJ2UJY0pE0PTvaNXAy9R9imfCbfP7btpy7jTO1ivirITEH7PjN/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(7%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpabYPejXwy3Q3qduqokNrsVsNLW_ND9fvbxgiqJrokOP0U4tcD1jEfMkQrdRpAy8SDiFN1J6XfoKqlrVoA2RJ1JlkUcuLMyckG8ZiUaTA3sCUF_5yhkNXwhG5FwDuTjVMcUv1XN4ipbxH2npM-FRWsinrQ9hcHGO811oopfcbXQNJITWfTrr0WG_eqhj3/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(11%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpabYPejXwy3Q3qduqokNrsVsNLW_ND9fvbxgiqJrokOP0U4tcD1jEfMkQrdRpAy8SDiFN1J6XfoKqlrVoA2RJ1JlkUcuLMyckG8ZiUaTA3sCUF_5yhkNXwhG5FwDuTjVMcUv1XN4ipbxH2npM-FRWsinrQ9hcHGO811oopfcbXQNJITWfTrr0WG_eqhj3/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(11%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this illusion is the coolest, but my teenager says she can't see it! Can YOU see the dots undulating in a wave-like motion?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I ever go back, it will be well-researched and with a shot list in hand!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnACIu9OOBvBe8tUEgUIlZwMSrbyJmjlmnLEukFxPNlIvojdFpzlCZyh3FEzQzfSDqx1h68VuGecj7h6SPqYIrgr-fI-8Xu537siMefolaKv9YWk6uQsVoU1uKprhaRzQebarMqVzbklzdFonpl6cwD9OV6oXEN2bWwNmuxT6N4DK4B7cwoSRLDeO6fxaf/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(8%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnACIu9OOBvBe8tUEgUIlZwMSrbyJmjlmnLEukFxPNlIvojdFpzlCZyh3FEzQzfSDqx1h68VuGecj7h6SPqYIrgr-fI-8Xu537siMefolaKv9YWk6uQsVoU1uKprhaRzQebarMqVzbklzdFonpl6cwD9OV6oXEN2bWwNmuxT6N4DK4B7cwoSRLDeO6fxaf/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(8%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd wanted to do <a href="https://www.chelseamarket.com/" target="_blank">Chelsea Market</a> and the <a href="https://www.thehighline.org/" target="_blank">High Line</a> the last time we were in New York City but the weather never seemed right for it. This time, though, the weather was wonderful, AND we were just a few blocks away!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD3TALpie4Q8870fw1tUI6s2TuBCSwRqJxwF-Jh2L6uMDAf2fzGMHpvHASVs-sA8wbBll2Qia4Y-LRBrV4txfF5q5CQKXS7tIjbShziLnbIO_aGkKUSDv9HdQ1kn7HEUyJjqu_tPxkmXcbeH7G63fsyuHZDG-1L4NLbFS_212u_I3X1d8Z7pBGkkTRVXj/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(21%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD3TALpie4Q8870fw1tUI6s2TuBCSwRqJxwF-Jh2L6uMDAf2fzGMHpvHASVs-sA8wbBll2Qia4Y-LRBrV4txfF5q5CQKXS7tIjbShziLnbIO_aGkKUSDv9HdQ1kn7HEUyJjqu_tPxkmXcbeH7G63fsyuHZDG-1L4NLbFS_212u_I3X1d8Z7pBGkkTRVXj/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(21%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BgCYuJjHA4O-44UKeMkarpJ9AmacoeGbRkaxhRqtWcf12IejxjJ6F03nUVREvA7MW1xgzShHWLKrdYmKbLbq_ZM1T1vB1IBHkGLES-9fOMjIbi5Qg0gPoy516IE5XQWqa12GXmErhNNU8H7qrMs6iD_cEhOt9DMEXf-ikEV27OF-0urEIwBSIcecBSrC/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(22%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BgCYuJjHA4O-44UKeMkarpJ9AmacoeGbRkaxhRqtWcf12IejxjJ6F03nUVREvA7MW1xgzShHWLKrdYmKbLbq_ZM1T1vB1IBHkGLES-9fOMjIbi5Qg0gPoy516IE5XQWqa12GXmErhNNU8H7qrMs6iD_cEhOt9DMEXf-ikEV27OF-0urEIwBSIcecBSrC/w360-h640/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(22%20of%2034).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had to looky-loo at every single food stall and menu board, but all we actually bought to eat were these delicious mini doughnuts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE4fwepmwqca9E18tX00je0M85bKeXCnyCToSX9mFx6cJUSky8_QNG3mW_HSV6VRf0m6XKkzUOjoutk39Yo8VvelqtxGW29XCZFFpRx8QWd2hB8tR6cUKMct6K-0XPRzatMB9d4JsSUoTiHc1GFQc5cyCQW2_0kzBnqT2Sdpow86ccVt4onWlpJavXlyv/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(23%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE4fwepmwqca9E18tX00je0M85bKeXCnyCToSX9mFx6cJUSky8_QNG3mW_HSV6VRf0m6XKkzUOjoutk39Yo8VvelqtxGW29XCZFFpRx8QWd2hB8tR6cUKMct6K-0XPRzatMB9d4JsSUoTiHc1GFQc5cyCQW2_0kzBnqT2Sdpow86ccVt4onWlpJavXlyv/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(23%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUDLE8uw9DmBqRNeEP6yBf4V-J1QUcgxl_plKkhz-n00V_XM42IMrZpxqXk5Nl6047fUAxltxQTQGH0lMG9cZkKrTxtx_mrHatxew33ReMAqaLuL-RmnJLY-utuw-qcGgKGOGV8eNUpdCvrNXo2C7USWcFfFmR5yH0DKkYtCHefI8N5XqRKNcguC1-Gjb/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(24%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUDLE8uw9DmBqRNeEP6yBf4V-J1QUcgxl_plKkhz-n00V_XM42IMrZpxqXk5Nl6047fUAxltxQTQGH0lMG9cZkKrTxtx_mrHatxew33ReMAqaLuL-RmnJLY-utuw-qcGgKGOGV8eNUpdCvrNXo2C7USWcFfFmR5yH0DKkYtCHefI8N5XqRKNcguC1-Gjb/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(24%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, to the High Line!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfIATffAMZ53g3B5_BZutri23VT4-cV98iRFbSmfbIbI1FWCwZrN7znYT3TAnzmNdIUq0v8ppGP1Ot4uBVk2Z9Po3vqVMOxoZG21el_lGkaTmzgkqzjhuCiRpcHmcS-iF5pC-3ub4X5JD6da4PMOJxoLDoSDJI_hB2Isifyxj_jE049EsVEniR7F3X-yO/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(14%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfIATffAMZ53g3B5_BZutri23VT4-cV98iRFbSmfbIbI1FWCwZrN7znYT3TAnzmNdIUq0v8ppGP1Ot4uBVk2Z9Po3vqVMOxoZG21el_lGkaTmzgkqzjhuCiRpcHmcS-iF5pC-3ub4X5JD6da4PMOJxoLDoSDJI_hB2Isifyxj_jE049EsVEniR7F3X-yO/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(14%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcHISdR_gt_xIfXflc7HzxSqywzHGP4Toj28XgKxrWE1pFqUlQhuxMI24tovpfJlbO-hHLP0zrYMdnNb6HP0dFDiM7B4SyIkEx5SDD_dXxD3gLgWg9dLX3KRn4Z-SFcvg5EPrCy4nC3R9sAFgJrlO_n5LuBo53ngVlx4I5vSBUvS1gRBz9d5p6Q3SGqqO/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(15%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcHISdR_gt_xIfXflc7HzxSqywzHGP4Toj28XgKxrWE1pFqUlQhuxMI24tovpfJlbO-hHLP0zrYMdnNb6HP0dFDiM7B4SyIkEx5SDD_dXxD3gLgWg9dLX3KRn4Z-SFcvg5EPrCy4nC3R9sAFgJrlO_n5LuBo53ngVlx4I5vSBUvS1gRBz9d5p6Q3SGqqO/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(15%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we were on the High Line we saw <a href="https://littleisland.org/" target="_blank">Little Island</a> and decided that what we ACTUALLY wanted to do was go there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we did!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C4_Jmw_UHjjiiSzrI9RNdFz_gQeWxzvcDWOpCNQRFdvcyyFO4fgbCXrr2daeDN_B2Nm1gF69LV3K6BLPY4FHRsrJYNLFi8ANKD4rJI-yiPnHxPGvPe42EUY1fhyJ5AMxilBHcnWoKmsbiq41TXCk5ZshwomR0aHUqyuIIWFAl9tiJskRUhLbHD1yd0mq/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(17%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C4_Jmw_UHjjiiSzrI9RNdFz_gQeWxzvcDWOpCNQRFdvcyyFO4fgbCXrr2daeDN_B2Nm1gF69LV3K6BLPY4FHRsrJYNLFi8ANKD4rJI-yiPnHxPGvPe42EUY1fhyJ5AMxilBHcnWoKmsbiq41TXCk5ZshwomR0aHUqyuIIWFAl9tiJskRUhLbHD1yd0mq/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(17%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaEGcZdCcJ0WQ7i0CFVmaUQirUwadtggLmVMw3_NlCbzQPjbZ1rnYgJijLcrH0NpAfo7aL9tjtVa3sPKlwWt4PSGjhdv9w0H1wOr2cOpLjzBxgq42odvXR1QHvWmPxFN_gyYeSpHG3drtGaA34FspEGbICCOYOgzreinWS_yIunNMKDztOOqqTzUI1t3f/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(16%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaEGcZdCcJ0WQ7i0CFVmaUQirUwadtggLmVMw3_NlCbzQPjbZ1rnYgJijLcrH0NpAfo7aL9tjtVa3sPKlwWt4PSGjhdv9w0H1wOr2cOpLjzBxgq42odvXR1QHvWmPxFN_gyYeSpHG3drtGaA34FspEGbICCOYOgzreinWS_yIunNMKDztOOqqTzUI1t3f/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(16%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>There are some really lovely vistas of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River from the upper levels, including a tiny Statue of Liberty super far away. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNesOPfg9rCXE8BVZXN_CqlNGKlvQDPjQtDVLriBwt-nI8Ec-xo-Cn8r6fM5JFrcs2crG3pQOgbi4KCzBCYKJWjdu1xGi__y6xiZfmRp9koklgGuJo6HM5TGQF8kprwko1uPi0JEk4xVt9w_ZcU4XArRUD0Bz11UIPZg9g32gYyVvxzOTW9xUeQLrmgAUT/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(20%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNesOPfg9rCXE8BVZXN_CqlNGKlvQDPjQtDVLriBwt-nI8Ec-xo-Cn8r6fM5JFrcs2crG3pQOgbi4KCzBCYKJWjdu1xGi__y6xiZfmRp9koklgGuJo6HM5TGQF8kprwko1uPi0JEk4xVt9w_ZcU4XArRUD0Bz11UIPZg9g32gYyVvxzOTW9xUeQLrmgAUT/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(20%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For most of the afternoon, we just wandered--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Zjp9jAetg4c-th9XZKUlBj7Jo9VTCh8XxwaUY8HMqKyld_DCdaVRAFIToehyWFAWOtDloYRA8oyDL4XsHuyJpWRCa8Ytve_rsUOtSlr49OnD924Ir4TQq2Vmgqs6QbJFPJrfwJ4IiQFoX31YXE5D0z-TzYoveBM2G0YXCYBR_j2gbE60B22bl_MPd66i/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(18%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Zjp9jAetg4c-th9XZKUlBj7Jo9VTCh8XxwaUY8HMqKyld_DCdaVRAFIToehyWFAWOtDloYRA8oyDL4XsHuyJpWRCa8Ytve_rsUOtSlr49OnD924Ir4TQq2Vmgqs6QbJFPJrfwJ4IiQFoX31YXE5D0z-TzYoveBM2G0YXCYBR_j2gbE60B22bl_MPd66i/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(18%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE043VNFPVJGiV3s9Sa_eal-aB03NV6RTBsTfh1UZD3IR2PAlsPlbYb7pbobQfgAaMQz9R6sRjZAAzeMTQbhdKkVC6UT8RMxS9YzArDCAeTOLqjkqu6pbiJe5w4Oy6W6TkW0_XtJbnWHIN5-s5lGu3LUlIccKmp8rWbwhj4jsTR4ZpVWf7g5JzDYV5bZvg/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(19%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE043VNFPVJGiV3s9Sa_eal-aB03NV6RTBsTfh1UZD3IR2PAlsPlbYb7pbobQfgAaMQz9R6sRjZAAzeMTQbhdKkVC6UT8RMxS9YzArDCAeTOLqjkqu6pbiJe5w4Oy6W6TkW0_XtJbnWHIN5-s5lGu3LUlIccKmp8rWbwhj4jsTR4ZpVWf7g5JzDYV5bZvg/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(19%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--detoured back to Chelsea Market for a proper lunch--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxTr09aEntlV7jzXHgLzbTw7s7u3lDeX5KKYSSynZBBpyAqIG2HwepN4izIID8E3WJfFirVr3mYHQMR4YOuSGUlyXk0xsulc5al_aCZgx2TzZi2tMm-CfWAsQMVLRCqib6NuNn9Tv3_I1rKXVEjxzgBg7S0-q3EIaK54Azw40bgE7yODbaDAN1DE5VBIV/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(26%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxTr09aEntlV7jzXHgLzbTw7s7u3lDeX5KKYSSynZBBpyAqIG2HwepN4izIID8E3WJfFirVr3mYHQMR4YOuSGUlyXk0xsulc5al_aCZgx2TzZi2tMm-CfWAsQMVLRCqib6NuNn9Tv3_I1rKXVEjxzgBg7S0-q3EIaK54Azw40bgE7yODbaDAN1DE5VBIV/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(26%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--wandered some more--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Az26wkqOZLb_1T02qICBDn4D3UlNgiltO8Q2sV2MHdPkClaFGOfN5f272N2PjYMS-b4N4geC3F_zYeKYI8nwSILqaIaLODsv5cl0AeVORrsnbQWLIh4wue_wb4wVwrgwJBDr01Jpj80_A4pr13RjwGahjxEAAPNABp1OoIH0_JScCIvVtIA8XDzaavNQ/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(25%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Az26wkqOZLb_1T02qICBDn4D3UlNgiltO8Q2sV2MHdPkClaFGOfN5f272N2PjYMS-b4N4geC3F_zYeKYI8nwSILqaIaLODsv5cl0AeVORrsnbQWLIh4wue_wb4wVwrgwJBDr01Jpj80_A4pr13RjwGahjxEAAPNABp1OoIH0_JScCIvVtIA8XDzaavNQ/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(25%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwtVb7Qk2qkDGR5Tj1UhqAF8Zk6sB-pe2vhREZNB0ZHmIoAgKg-H7Ums6yMoAGpMtyDiobVciavzh4FiTkJYyMKNKSmPawra4CRdgPom_NwQ4Dq8lg1b1elR_GV1KJfl6Ow7g1DsyxOZRR0rjxaVwzydINKrOAAeLKsKBYnJBkoYx2UDsiC8ixuba-eHR/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(27%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwtVb7Qk2qkDGR5Tj1UhqAF8Zk6sB-pe2vhREZNB0ZHmIoAgKg-H7Ums6yMoAGpMtyDiobVciavzh4FiTkJYyMKNKSmPawra4CRdgPom_NwQ4Dq8lg1b1elR_GV1KJfl6Ow7g1DsyxOZRR0rjxaVwzydINKrOAAeLKsKBYnJBkoYx2UDsiC8ixuba-eHR/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(27%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--and then got completely lost in Penn Station. Fortunately as we were wandering determinedly in what turned out to be the absolutely wrong direction, I saw two people in Rangers jerseys walking the way we'd just come from. So obviously we let them go by, did an about face, and followed them straight to <a href="https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden" target="_blank">Madison Square Garden</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How is this for happy coincidences? Before we scanned our tickets, I spent ages in the gift shop mooning over the New York Rangers knit hats. I really wanted <a href="https://amzn.to/4bNZsGz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this one</a>, but I would have taken any of them, but mostly I didn't want to pay what they were charging for anything so I left empty-handed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New. York. City. PRICES!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So imagine my hysterical excitement (or do not, because it was A Lot) when we finally scanned our tickets, and just on the other side was a guy handing out free New York Rangers knit hats!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuggg5UK7KT6jFSTycUZ1GptntVKqbGdZzRU-oPS24p1gCka0orRAwa5T8YkMWq8jaegouE5s-o9snb52q9DY65hJb0DuLd6w9y4rfPLYwqtu7rQ3kibc0FFlGF6x-mkyq5FAknV2f5fZfdLaJfudpSSl9pEWnMMEPt-T7vsXAaiXaTPtOtyyuudv5Onb/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(28%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuggg5UK7KT6jFSTycUZ1GptntVKqbGdZzRU-oPS24p1gCka0orRAwa5T8YkMWq8jaegouE5s-o9snb52q9DY65hJb0DuLd6w9y4rfPLYwqtu7rQ3kibc0FFlGF6x-mkyq5FAknV2f5fZfdLaJfudpSSl9pEWnMMEPt-T7vsXAaiXaTPtOtyyuudv5Onb/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(28%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's itchy as hell and I do not care. I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You know you've got great seats when you take every escalator that exists, then finally emerge into the arena, show the usher your seat number, and he points up and says, "Last row." Lol! Who doesn't love a bird's-eye view!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4iyr98gnsJoayTyPHgN-Cca-PV9FWasQsuFeQASFeRzqF5pGFxx5mG7Kn1kJscakvlIuNYDwJbSS5jwJj2gvhFdN96y82KIRHR0pavEy8HIeUfX2r9x9kp60HKEnGqXlDLLtq9e637p2XX2M7HY7sNOgbk4uNrfaOg-z-X08_rYR70w05a5HKNJ0R0YN/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(30%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4iyr98gnsJoayTyPHgN-Cca-PV9FWasQsuFeQASFeRzqF5pGFxx5mG7Kn1kJscakvlIuNYDwJbSS5jwJj2gvhFdN96y82KIRHR0pavEy8HIeUfX2r9x9kp60HKEnGqXlDLLtq9e637p2XX2M7HY7sNOgbk4uNrfaOg-z-X08_rYR70w05a5HKNJ0R0YN/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(30%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere around here in between plays the DJ played "Suffragette City" so I texted my teenager a video--David Bowie is her favorite!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Rangers weren't playing very aggressively that night--in fact, they spent most of the game just sort of skating leisurely around the rink, handing the puck over to Calgary whenever they got tired of passing it back and forth--but Calgary seemed fine with it enough to let them score twice, so we got to watch the Rangers win in their home arena!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYAlml0l1kYGKx0zcA4_3YDzcgROpB1k_S-qRTt5TpymMoNGmcUxRwLzrKuDz_JSE5fN5u3j1JOzNkW_CzzzMFDIkufhlZCMHz1IJHrjM8ruAVNxN8u295aCftGHY2AI49laiexSNiOKsbwwUtuDqtqdigfhcrI5v8EcFb3NNMDejUWMfr1cRKZQkymA4/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(31%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYAlml0l1kYGKx0zcA4_3YDzcgROpB1k_S-qRTt5TpymMoNGmcUxRwLzrKuDz_JSE5fN5u3j1JOzNkW_CzzzMFDIkufhlZCMHz1IJHrjM8ruAVNxN8u295aCftGHY2AI49laiexSNiOKsbwwUtuDqtqdigfhcrI5v8EcFb3NNMDejUWMfr1cRKZQkymA4/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(31%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Afterwards, I wasn't up for the bar hopping or clubbing or M&M store shopping or whatever on earth the other billion people out in the streets were doing at 10:30 pm, but happily our walk home led us through Times Square, so we got to sneak in a little more sightseeing:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_9nEtiB63h0wBYspI5y9eAjEBt6LQmXRrprY3wlluDg5fJdMrgoRK-wXgHBTHDStEnkPSfS-NsGPlGbbyAQx1RkC5dSkZGUUGljLQwi9xZILtn-R499-ka_3gK-quDvsPO5vbKNz010XiRYWBzLJks2SKbRkJduOAUBbsAeCJ8CiJknVdWS1y2cB-ArA/s1000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(32%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_9nEtiB63h0wBYspI5y9eAjEBt6LQmXRrprY3wlluDg5fJdMrgoRK-wXgHBTHDStEnkPSfS-NsGPlGbbyAQx1RkC5dSkZGUUGljLQwi9xZILtn-R499-ka_3gK-quDvsPO5vbKNz010XiRYWBzLJks2SKbRkJduOAUBbsAeCJ8CiJknVdWS1y2cB-ArA/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(32%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsHST0mMJLPgYSylCpb5lI5JXgovuSBvmUdfHzHMa6Z3xoVY9YApo47ZRKzCp6ylKV8Loqj-d6x4Ooc7Mw1OuSyJCcdCBzcVEZW9a86o5yoz6TVqLh2AIifDQpGktfa6q30duAK_ohonkoi8DcB5Y6q3ECEoLyEiHUdnYGhSOSXty8Jd-vG7XO-XmfXtr/s1778/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(33%20of%2034).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsHST0mMJLPgYSylCpb5lI5JXgovuSBvmUdfHzHMa6Z3xoVY9YApo47ZRKzCp6ylKV8Loqj-d6x4Ooc7Mw1OuSyJCcdCBzcVEZW9a86o5yoz6TVqLh2AIifDQpGktfa6q30duAK_ohonkoi8DcB5Y6q3ECEoLyEiHUdnYGhSOSXty8Jd-vG7XO-XmfXtr/s16000/Whirlwind%20Trip%20To%20NYC%20Day%2001%20(33%20of%2034).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was back to our Republican stronghold for pizza and Princess Bride on cable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow: HADESTOWN!!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></div></span></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-76068524846012711542024-02-12T07:00:00.002-05:002024-02-12T07:00:00.150-05:00I Found These Super Cute American Girl Doll Storage Containers, and I Am Definitely About To Have a Mid-Life Crisis<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTy-rUsdAelTrnEAVXX8rBYGubZauVdWICDdorgtD07qvkZgH18dwUDN9CZaLlqH_D3QUWIHw6tUwklx_N75hUbepxHnLcYLbx2EX5uPUiiJjMQy-cUiBGdhgSSBZUkovFzO13s1GD0A9JjM3QqZmIc2hwqaI71z9D18GbP7FFzsvG_c_oQnNU-4iYQL6/s1250/American%20Girl%20Doll%20Mini%20Storage%20Containers%20(1%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTy-rUsdAelTrnEAVXX8rBYGubZauVdWICDdorgtD07qvkZgH18dwUDN9CZaLlqH_D3QUWIHw6tUwklx_N75hUbepxHnLcYLbx2EX5uPUiiJjMQy-cUiBGdhgSSBZUkovFzO13s1GD0A9JjM3QqZmIc2hwqaI71z9D18GbP7FFzsvG_c_oQnNU-4iYQL6/s16000/American%20Girl%20Doll%20Mini%20Storage%20Containers%20(1%20of%202).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because the best way to spend a rainy, gloomy afternoon is sitting on the floor all by myself <strike>playing with</strike> organizing the kids' old toys!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few weeks ago, I had a little time to kill after dropping my kid off at college and before starting on the 4-hour hike home, so I decided to stop in Columbus, Ohio, and do some shopping in the Big City.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I mean, not like Nordstrom/Macy's/Sephora shopping. I mean World Market/Container Store/LEGO Store shopping!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the Container Store I found these super cute American Girl doll-sized latching plastic containers, and they are the perfect size to store all the little sets of American Girl doll accessories. Look at all those tiny baking and picnic supplies, all organized in their adorable wee bins!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDvLWnOFCzXJiWvm_m6R8IUKoStufzsQMN8aPRJH0G2FLudm0tlTWLaN7EXSC3NPZDQvep3hCiPLGQ9UyFr_C2TjMCFafJ72t6SmWS8jIJMeljMRAKs6si-rQOkOH6z_a0QVGAtO-k5qeqsAZTyVJI1OnseIQ5v0K37ydBHe7M6efpcbtE5M-j54zYJ0v/s1000/American%20Girl%20Doll%20Mini%20Storage%20Containers%20(2%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDvLWnOFCzXJiWvm_m6R8IUKoStufzsQMN8aPRJH0G2FLudm0tlTWLaN7EXSC3NPZDQvep3hCiPLGQ9UyFr_C2TjMCFafJ72t6SmWS8jIJMeljMRAKs6si-rQOkOH6z_a0QVGAtO-k5qeqsAZTyVJI1OnseIQ5v0K37ydBHe7M6efpcbtE5M-j54zYJ0v/s16000/American%20Girl%20Doll%20Mini%20Storage%20Containers%20(2%20of%202).jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't buy enough to hold all of the millions of miscellaneous accessories that my younger kid, especially, has for her American Girl doll, but here are <a href="https://amzn.to/3SOYcLT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">similar mini containers on Amazon that you can buy in bulk</a>, so I might stock up.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, I'm the only one who's touched the kids' American Girl dolls in years, and then it's only been to lovingly wash all their little clothes and wipe the dust off their little faces and brush out their hair and gently nestle them into the bigger storage bins that I selected and bought for them. That was... rough, honestly. <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-great-teenager-room-remodel-we-put.html" target="_blank">Transforming the kids' old playroom into the teenager's bedroom</a> required that I once and for all put away a lot of their childish things, and doing that whole remodel right after sending my older kid away to college was probably not the best timing for me, emotionally.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like, yay for the kids being ready and happy for all the growing up that they're doing, but I was pretty happy reading books and baking cakes and <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2012/08/creek-stomping.html" target="_blank">stomping in the creek</a> with my four- and six-year-olds, thank you very much. I'm not entirely sure what I'm meant to do after this younger kid leaves for college really soon. Get a full-time job, sure. Do some DIY projects around the house. Learn to crochet. But, like... what am I MEANT to do? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">With these kids, I always knew exactly what I was meant to be doing. Raise them. <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-best-homemade-play-dough-recipe.html" target="_blank">Make play dough for them</a>. Take them on adventures. Cook themed family dinners. Buy them matching pink Converse and purple Dr. Martens and spiky orange backpacks. Take them on picnics. Get them a cat. Get them a dog. Send them to summer camp. Coo over their art projects. Raising these kids has literally been my life's purpose for nearly twenty years. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl8ywbw-4hPJxsE0LNK3ajvB5C13C8hzthlH-KCg7iRGTXyaQMR2sZKWt1QYgFrkCEgcUh9jx2rpoft6T9S2lhoeK1lmhdKaGzlJ6ALKJtot3bFyjWcyE6DoII7YL5zx6zKEaDbqXv-EOW6tUouNfq4W8gKOB8VZPkASh0I-U9b-DaTj2nD2H02Tru6rb/s640/Washington,%20D.C.%20November%202012%20(21%20of%2023).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl8ywbw-4hPJxsE0LNK3ajvB5C13C8hzthlH-KCg7iRGTXyaQMR2sZKWt1QYgFrkCEgcUh9jx2rpoft6T9S2lhoeK1lmhdKaGzlJ6ALKJtot3bFyjWcyE6DoII7YL5zx6zKEaDbqXv-EOW6tUouNfq4W8gKOB8VZPkASh0I-U9b-DaTj2nD2H02Tru6rb/s16000/Washington,%20D.C.%20November%202012%20(21%20of%2023).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those backpacks, though!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now what? I just... semi-retire? I send them care packages and text messages and letters, take them on summer vacations and fuss over them during winter breaks? And what about the other 23.5 hours in the day? I'm simply... doing whatever? What else is even meaningful TO do?!?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Y'all, I'm pretty sure I am ramping up for the <a href="https://acendahealth.org/am-i-having-a-midlife-crisis-and-how-do-i-handle-it/" target="_blank">BIGGEST MID-LIFE CRISIS THAT EVER CRISISED</a>. Like the most slowest-motion car wreck ever, I can see it coming, but I do not have a clue how to stop it. So, start popping the popcorn, I guess, because I feel like things may get wild around here in a few months...</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, looming mid-life crisis, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-31788324440360640882024-02-05T16:28:00.002-05:002024-02-05T16:28:53.238-05:00To Do in New York City: The Trip Without Teenagers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPHgwajQCsj5JgTYMJIrKQmcjRMg_soLp1jhH1m3OQvZ0yVpkaAhb4bOwTkA8AXmQnPJJYWey8txFTjJ_p6uN3_tjrOLkY1tXEyAI27aoTVNQ-h8TkgKKDJxz9RJga_oMIx-gJQUY05nqqXqEHjlCW1TL-knFaR3hVK-Mx5aFuV8QoaHNn8vcLOlmjeSr/s1500/NYC%20Day%2001%20(14%20of%2035).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPHgwajQCsj5JgTYMJIrKQmcjRMg_soLp1jhH1m3OQvZ0yVpkaAhb4bOwTkA8AXmQnPJJYWey8txFTjJ_p6uN3_tjrOLkY1tXEyAI27aoTVNQ-h8TkgKKDJxz9RJga_oMIx-gJQUY05nqqXqEHjlCW1TL-knFaR3hVK-Mx5aFuV8QoaHNn8vcLOlmjeSr/s16000/NYC%20Day%2001%20(14%20of%2035).jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because after all, <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/01/whirlwind-trip-to-nyc-day-1-indiana-to.html" target="_blank">I DID tell Patience and Fortitude that I would come back to see them again</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Later this winter, my partner and I are taking our second whirlwind trip to New York City, this time without the teenagers. We're going to see if we can take another run at my all-time favorite Broadway musical that I've never seen live, the musical that we traveled all the way to New York City once already to see but it was cancelled because of COVID so I still haven't seen it: <a href="https://hadestown.com/" target="_blank">HADESTOWN</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Could I possibly be more excited than I am right now? Nope!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One excited fact of the many that I could spout: Ani DiFranco, who sang the role of Persephone in the 2010 Hadestown concept album, is joining the cast to reprise that role! I'm going to try to figure out how to stage door afterwards to get her autograph (and yes, I have literally looked up <a href="https://youtu.be/KQvvbBU5GD4?si=AKyv_MsCTZ-iUyLC" target="_blank">YouTube videos of the Hadestown stage door</a> so I can learn the social script...).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Other than Hadestown, Matt and I will have approximately 2.5 days in New York City to sightsee. I cannot even triage what I want to try to fit into 2.5 days--my Google Map of stuff that I want to do in New York City has 80+ pins!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here, though, are some of my current favorite ideas, mostly in case I get there, freak out with excitement, and can't remember what I wanted to do most:</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://newyork.museumofillusions.us/" target="_blank">Museum of Illusions</a></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz9MvIexzld/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz9MvIexzld/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz9MvIexzld/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by SAVANNAH VINSON (@_queen.sav_)</a></p></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the museum on my list that my partner is most excited about, we're definitely going here! He's a graphic designer, and graphic designers apparently get VERY worked up about visual illusions...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I actually feel a little guilty that we're going here without the teenagers, because they would LOVE it, but in this Year of Our Lord 2024 I'm trying to convince myself that I cannot not do something just so I can save it to do with people who do not, or shortly will not, even live with me full-time. SOB!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.chelseamarket.com/" target="_blank">Chelsea Market</a></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aOWGZgnlZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aOWGZgnlZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aOWGZgnlZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Chelsea Market (@chelseamarketny)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because if you don't go to a food hall, have you even been to the city? This has apparently been my rallying cry of the past year, since I've somehow managed to find an indoor market in every city I've visited since the day we dropped my kid off at college and decided to check out <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/01/i-left-my-heart-in-ohio-and-soothed-it.html" target="_blank">North Market</a> on our way to watch to the Blue Jackets play.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chelsea Market is a very short walk from the Museum of Illusions, so we'll head there afterwards for lunch and window-shopping.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.thehighline.org/" target="_blank">The High Line</a></span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1IOfQgs2RD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1IOfQgs2RD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1IOfQgs2RD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The High Line (@highlinenyc)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Will it be too cold to walk the High Line after Chelsea Market? Maybe! It definitely felt too cold last time we were in New York City, also in the winter, so we didn't do it. </span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nhl.com/rangers/" target="_blank">New York Rangers Game</a></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MChitue3P/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MChitue3P/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MChitue3P/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by New York Rangers (@nyrangers)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guess who's going to be screaming her head off from the nosebleed seats in Madison Square Garden?!?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am almost as excited about this as I am about Hadestown!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.biggayicecream.com/" target="_blank">Big Gay Ice Cream</a></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjjSinKLUpj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjjSinKLUpj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjjSinKLUpj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Big Gay Ice Cream (@biggayicecream)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think there's supposed to be a location of this local ice cream chain actually in Madison Square Garden, because what more thematically-appropriate food for an ice hockey game than ice cream?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.moma.org/" target="_blank"><b>Museum of Modern Art</b></a></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2XgXH9ueq0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2XgXH9ueq0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2XgXH9ueq0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by MoMA The Museum of Modern Art (@themuseumofmodernart)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Unless the second day that we're in NYC is insanely beautiful and we decide to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge instead, I think we're going to hang out in the MOMA. Y'all know how I feel about Vincent Van Gogh so I really want to see "Starry Night," and I'm also excited to see their Dali and Wyeth works.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.ellensstardustdiner.com/" target="_blank"><b>Ellen's Stardust Diner</b></a></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-P-66L_Pr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-P-66L_Pr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-P-66L_Pr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Ellen’s Stardust Diner (@ellensstardust)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The kids are going to be thrilled that they weren't invited when I tell them about this place, because I can tell you right now that Ellen's Stardust Diner is Not. Their. Vibe. Tbh, it may not turn out to be quite my vibe either, ahem, but nevertheless I really, really, really want to experience it at least once!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://hadestown.com/" target="_blank">Hadestown</a></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kwTB_MHgY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kwTB_MHgY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kwTB_MHgY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hadestown (@hadestown)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Watching this show is the whole reason for our trip and I can. Not. WAIT!!!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Rum House (@therumhouse)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>" target="_blank">The Rum House</a></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-kBdqPxJc/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Rum House (@therumhouse)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bars intimidate me because I never feel like I can crack the social script, but my partner and I DO like to try new cocktails, and this one is very close to Walter Kerr Theatre, so it would be a nice place to unwind afterwards and talk over every second of the show.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.nypl.org/locations/schwarzman" target="_blank">New York Public Library</a></b></span></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2P-GzAM0rq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2P-GzAM0rq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2P-GzAM0rq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The New York Public Library (@nypl)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We'll have to leave for the airport halfway through our last day in New York City, but I think we'll have the perfect amount of time to FINALLY go inside the New York Public Library to meet <a href="https://amzn.to/3SKQdj4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Winnie-the-Pooh</a>! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Metropolitan Museum of Art</a></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C07OwY4Rpzg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C07OwY4Rpzg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C07OwY4Rpzg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (@metmuseum)</a></p></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I most want to see the Temple of Dendur and the Greek statues. This isn't at the top of my list for this upcoming trip, but it will quickly move higher up my list if the weather is gross!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.ess-a-bagel.com/" target="_blank">Ess-a-Bagel</a></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2w-0OeusDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2w-0OeusDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2w-0OeusDF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Ess-a-Bagel (@essabagel)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's one of a billion bagel shops in NYC, and one of a hundred within easy walking distance of our hotel, so maybe we won't hit this *exact* one, but we're definitely going to stuff ourselves with bagels the whole time we're there... so maybe we will!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My college kid still talks about the bagels she ate in New York City and wants us to try to mail her one? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://intrepidmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Intrepid Museum</a></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C25annzNAzQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C25annzNAzQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C25annzNAzQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Intrepid Museum (@intrepidmuseum)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They have a space shuttle!</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.doughnutplant.com/" target="_blank">Doughnut Plant</a></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1PxBmeR-Cb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1PxBmeR-Cb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1PxBmeR-Cb/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Doughnut Plant (@doughnutplant)</a></p></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Doughnut Plant was almost the first thing that we did during our first trip to NYC because it's in Grand Central Station, where we were currently lost. We could not for the life of us figure out how to buy 7-Day Metrocards so we decided to take a breather and eat a doughnut.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sufficiently sugar-fueled by my Brooklyn Blackout, I finally realized that the ticket machine I kept unsuccessfully trying to buy subway tickets for was a TRAIN-ONLY ticket machine. Finding the subway ticket machine was a whole other thing, but it wouldn't have been possible without my Brooklyn Blackout! If we end up anywhere near Grand Central Station on this trip, I'm eager to try another one.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.themorgan.org/" target="_blank">Morgan Library</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzT33zatKd-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzT33zatKd-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzT33zatKd-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Morgan Library & Museum (@themorganlibrary)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's always fun to see how the fancy people lived, but mostly I want to see what my future library should look like.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.thegreenespace.org/" target="_blank">The Greene Space</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuARiNZsjsk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuARiNZsjsk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CuARiNZsjsk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Greene Space at WNYC/WQXR (@thegreenespacenyc)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This spot is the NYC NPR venue for performances and live radio shows. I would be STOKED to attend a taping of an NPR program, especially. </span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.dominiqueanselny.com/" target="_blank">Dominique Ansel Bakery</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-dz9ev__l/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-dz9ev__l/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2-dz9ev__l/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by dominiqueansel (@dominiqueansel)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I am already going to be well-fed with all the bagels and pizza and doughnuts I plan be continually eating... but I also want to try a cronut!</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://folkartmuseum.org/" target="_blank">American Folk Art Museum</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="730" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAmericanFolkArtMuseum%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0MDnFfEtYSdFf84R685yGEHMxtc2wmr9RqSSffEwmMLydGtCQz45BbeP3Eym8s2Y2l&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">I'm pretty excited to see a free museum on a topic that I'm very interested in! </span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://skyscraper.org/" target="_blank">The Skyscraper Museum</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6tHYpuuzU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6tHYpuuzU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6tHYpuuzU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Skyscraper Museum (@skyscrapermuseum)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm not sure what-all is in this museum, but all they had to tell me is that it's free, lol! If we do anything else in Lower Manhattan, stopping in here would be worth it just to have 30 minutes when we're not spending money. </span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.nps.gov/ston/index.htm" target="_blank"><b>Stonewall National Monument</b></a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6Vl17u928/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6Vl17u928/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6Vl17u928/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Stonewall National Monument (@stonewallnps)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This is another place that I ran out of time to take the teenagers on our previous trip to NYC, so I'd feel a little sad seeing it without them--but also, I really want to see it!</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.tenement.org/" target="_blank">The Tenement Museum</a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyEKGjbtyPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyEKGjbtyPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyEKGjbtyPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Tenement Museum (@thetenementmuseum)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I also wish I could take my teenager to this museum, which would give her such good insight into her AP US History class. </span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.esbnyc.com/" target="_blank"><b>Empire State Building</b></a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C04Z11SuHt_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C04Z11SuHt_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C04Z11SuHt_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Empire State Building (@empirestatebldg)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I kind of want to go just for the Percy Jackson vibes, but it's bonkers spendy and anyway, my partner is afraid of heights... We'll at least find a good viewpoint one night to check out the tower lights!</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialghostbustershq/" target="_blank"><b>Ghostbusters Headquarters</b></a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiWrbbFsc74/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiWrbbFsc74/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiWrbbFsc74/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by @officialghostbustershq</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;">My partner and I would both be beyond excited about this if you could do more than just look at it from the outside... but if we find ourselves in the neighborhood, we are 100% going to walk over, look at it from the outside, and take a million photos of each other pretending to be real ghostbusters!</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="https://trinitywallstreet.org/" target="_blank"><b>Trinity Church</b></a></span></span></h2><p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LThyBOPV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LThyBOPV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2LThyBOPV3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Trinity Church Wall Street (@trinitywallst)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We walked right past Trinity Church on our previous trip to NYC, but it had a ton of scaffolding and assorted construction around it so we didn't go over, thinking that the cemetery (and Eliza and Alexander Hamilton's graves!!!) would be blocked. I've since learned that we probably could have seen them around the construction, dang it.</span></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.themuseumofbroadway.com/" target="_blank"><b>Museum of Broadway</b></a></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxicV8-r-ss/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxicV8-r-ss/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxicV8-r-ss/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Museum of Broadway (@museumofbroadway)</a></p></span></span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The reviews that I keep seeing about this newer museum waver between "it's so cool" and "it's a tourist trap," so I don't really know what to think. It doesn't look like they have a ton of artifacts from most of my favorite productions, though, so I think it's probably skippable at least for this trip?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Okay, y'all: THIS is the mess I'm trying to narrow down into a 2.5-day itinerary! Please let me know if you've got awesome tips or must-do activities, or if you can recommend/warn me away from any of these spots.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Except for Ellen's Stardust Diner, that is. I already know they sing there, and I promise that I want to go anyway!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, handmade homeschool high school studies, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-88182715447552104112024-02-01T15:26:00.000-05:002024-02-01T15:26:24.237-05:00Homeschool AP US History: A Family Field Trip to the Levi and Catharine Coffin House<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5c_nIc1HHohmVyb3wE8ocTyiv9wv-34l7jhlpOKjLRY5k3oHwjktjNgjTTJvcWovNT7GXaIC3PXMaXuiLkjvCWpo0qIKFwJgRPXt1BHNNfXbwTzthhFX9m0H9ilEswSk_4nGjEaCZ_-O1eWXApdDuJlhZTCeraJtW1YAwHgynbow3uWxisHkNmTyEP4p/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(6%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5c_nIc1HHohmVyb3wE8ocTyiv9wv-34l7jhlpOKjLRY5k3oHwjktjNgjTTJvcWovNT7GXaIC3PXMaXuiLkjvCWpo0qIKFwJgRPXt1BHNNfXbwTzthhFX9m0H9ilEswSk_4nGjEaCZ_-O1eWXApdDuJlhZTCeraJtW1YAwHgynbow3uWxisHkNmTyEP4p/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(6%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Can I still call it a homeschool field trip if there's only one homeschooler in attendance?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadder question: will I still be able to call it a homeschool field trip when there are NO more homeschoolers in attendance? SOB!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For the moment, though, it's eyes forward, because I have one homeschooler in attendance, and that homeschooler is taking a deep dive into the Underground Railroad.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The worst thing about the AP history courses is they absolutely FLY through the material. The older kid's AP European History study crammed information into her so quickly that we had very little time to build context and make real-world connections, and to be honest, it shows in her middling retention of the material five years later.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've addressed that problem with my younger kid by, in the case of her World History course, abandoning AP altogether and instead creating our own study, laser-focused on Ancient History, from the recommended college textbooks, and in the case of this AP US History course, focusing very little on exam prep and using that extra time to enjoy more immersive studies of select topics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Such as the Underground Railroad! The kid has long been interested in the experiences of the freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad (thank you, <a href="https://amzn.to/42ixH4J" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Addy Walker</a>!), and thankfully, located as we are in southern Indiana, we're within driving distance of several locations important to freedom seekers and relevant to the history of enslavement on American soil. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But somehow, until Winter Break, we'd never been to the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad itself, the <a href="https://www.indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/levi-catharine-coffin-house/" target="_blank">Levi and Catharine Coffin House</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Possibly because it's low-key in the middle of nowhere, but oh, well--that's why we bought a car with excellent fuel efficiency!</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC4ugl1ZpHGAVWryN4nGBpy07pr31FkkRIy4H_UxJ2VPeeLSgwk_VMscj47hZg__Cr2cWuNByqsynuKZWfeu4G3oC6e-PxhtwD_fsoPtiybyqmogrs4bhqwnGOlFjr0ypPUY8x-Y6AYv74bUTGNqYI-KQBTN7yt725gJtz_4q4qdBfvvxsHvOxavrix-V/s1000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(7%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC4ugl1ZpHGAVWryN4nGBpy07pr31FkkRIy4H_UxJ2VPeeLSgwk_VMscj47hZg__Cr2cWuNByqsynuKZWfeu4G3oC6e-PxhtwD_fsoPtiybyqmogrs4bhqwnGOlFjr0ypPUY8x-Y6AYv74bUTGNqYI-KQBTN7yt725gJtz_4q4qdBfvvxsHvOxavrix-V/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(7%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Catharine and Levi Coffin were Quakers, who moved to the Quaker community of Newport (it's now called Fountain City, but I didn't get around to asking why) in 1826. From then until they moved to Cincinnati in 1847, their work assisting freedom seekers on the journey north was an open secret. They evaded bounty hunters who knew there was something going on but could never catch them, and just in case they were caught, they never knew more than one other connection of the Underground Railroad in either direction.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The museum next to the house is just one gallery, but it has some really thoughtful exhibits. I really liked this recreation of the box that Henry Brown shipped himself within:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkEU5EgfoLaGkHBtpyGYpQbxvsZIhygIpqKW7YnONR7SaBBoxzPBGKntbZrSWCCPiaw4T6JcZ6kc8pC3b44R6dCkaZaBp84yks765vZFXHKn5QmU7iLZbIgA2VKqxfYx8Vou1fir-QX6ASCJQIdlHJ-8RsnQsrnth1jFXE4b1sqnsp7oaR6nIDpkcwG1y/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(1%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkEU5EgfoLaGkHBtpyGYpQbxvsZIhygIpqKW7YnONR7SaBBoxzPBGKntbZrSWCCPiaw4T6JcZ6kc8pC3b44R6dCkaZaBp84yks765vZFXHKn5QmU7iLZbIgA2VKqxfYx8Vou1fir-QX6ASCJQIdlHJ-8RsnQsrnth1jFXE4b1sqnsp7oaR6nIDpkcwG1y/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(1%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And we have a pair of shoes from William Bush, handed down through generations of descendants. I LOVE personal artifacts like these, and I think this is an example of why these smaller museums are so important. The bigger museums of the world, the Smithsonians and the American Museums of Natural History and the British Museums, have millions more objects than they know what to do with, so the only stuff that gets displayed is the canonical stuff, the stuff most vital to the understanding of the most people.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But smaller museums can show items that are not so much exemplars of the type, but are more personal, intimate, and meaningful to the local community that the museum serves. I might not give this pair of shoes a second glance if I was looking at them in a Smithsonian museum, nor would they probably be placed on display there, competing, as they would be, with thousands of other similar artifacts in better condition or belonging to better-known people. But knowing that these shoes came from a person involved in the history of this exact place, who worked here, was buried here, and whose descendants still partly live here, is always just the absolute most awesome feeling.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo6stsKF7FOe00fu1mFf8zihoyNIzVSgoSQrstsjA5TSgNZvj4lnA_jIS59gCUnsJrX_Vd1eMV0ethN1KzEBz3OdItfPkN2Z7LX6MeM6QhNVpFCLW3RkbOffOuQI5bIuk6GMtRgxs4hoHesWCeRLZ1hsH_E1RouACJ2AfW6mMCI3Lvq7mStRPyv_ZJUf0/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(2%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo6stsKF7FOe00fu1mFf8zihoyNIzVSgoSQrstsjA5TSgNZvj4lnA_jIS59gCUnsJrX_Vd1eMV0ethN1KzEBz3OdItfPkN2Z7LX6MeM6QhNVpFCLW3RkbOffOuQI5bIuk6GMtRgxs4hoHesWCeRLZ1hsH_E1RouACJ2AfW6mMCI3Lvq7mStRPyv_ZJUf0/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(2%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing that I didn't love about this museum was the noise level. While I was trying to read the sign below, there were at least two--maybe even three?--other audio things going on in the same gallery, all talking over each other. It might not even be noticeable if the gallery was full of people, but it was just the four of us rattling around in there, and I found the noise level nearly unbearable, yikes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This map is interesting, though, because these paths to freedom look like they make a point of dodging around that entire south-central area where I live:</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0hnj-o5aZcFzkSJA9Yxxbc2GTZsWXjtsMVRxESAV03CHjnreAocsMBIG7E50tETTsNzUd7lLiCdArTIsLu0H30iMFWKY8j2xoTr6y79EyJUBWiiQVbXoB2EVzPSy78VTcdwfmXLQgkKPTK1KfEZgiJwipEhEF9E-oSO0Kkz2q2-qCrVb1DkCyky8_SNO/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(3%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0hnj-o5aZcFzkSJA9Yxxbc2GTZsWXjtsMVRxESAV03CHjnreAocsMBIG7E50tETTsNzUd7lLiCdArTIsLu0H30iMFWKY8j2xoTr6y79EyJUBWiiQVbXoB2EVzPSy78VTcdwfmXLQgkKPTK1KfEZgiJwipEhEF9E-oSO0Kkz2q2-qCrVb1DkCyky8_SNO/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(3%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It would have been all forests and caves and small towns and pioneer settlements, so I don't get it. Must do more research!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's another cool map, this one of the town of Newport. I thought it was interesting that Levi Coffin actually owns a few pieces of property on this map. One is a store that sold only goods manufactured using free labor, but I forgot to ask what that really big piece of property on the far left of the map was. Dang it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPDTUnawP2npmyU-nkfLsLNt-T6HmO8hWFd7U5MU3cG-k3EWPDxfpWjlb8lx2xZoTDG9jZJ1vcKEo2m-Hu-iLTjlW4Gu0pBSOfxQTiQNdZL6TX4SVm6eubwyEYoWUoqgHb933m7rDUYmwA2NkUNjPYQD5oVb-GBtugDO6noIAL06ToLZ8L4K3riTojVMp/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(4%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPDTUnawP2npmyU-nkfLsLNt-T6HmO8hWFd7U5MU3cG-k3EWPDxfpWjlb8lx2xZoTDG9jZJ1vcKEo2m-Hu-iLTjlW4Gu0pBSOfxQTiQNdZL6TX4SVm6eubwyEYoWUoqgHb933m7rDUYmwA2NkUNjPYQD5oVb-GBtugDO6noIAL06ToLZ8L4K3riTojVMp/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(4%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our guided tour of the actual house was super interesting, and I didn't take more than a couple of photos only because I was too busy stumbling all over myself to pepper the tour guide with question after question. She wasn't prepared to speak about the artifacts in the house, all of which were of the correct era and had been donated by locals (inspiring SO MANY QUESTIONS in my heart!), or really much about the building and architecture of the house itself, but she was very game to answer all of my other questions about local law enforcement, the professions and later lives of the Coffin children and further descendants, the chain of ownership of the home after the Coffins and how it became a museum site, the possible education/literacy level of Catharine Coffin, speculation about what it would look like to make this historic house ADA compliant, what the neighbors might have known about what the Coffins were doing, the general information structure of an Underground Railroad chain, where the kitchen garden might have been located, the actual division of labor regarding caring for freedom seekers (mostly relating to my theory that Catharine did far more hands-on work than Levi did), etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-frJNgL3Pry5HFzg4uBUL-3wEuTrqral2l-bosQG7TiL-dZupoLlbvnAhpz-QBVoGa_780jLhvOb4DrIyw590XlJvZTOtGh-HxI-Wz6y6sarqrNHrSIgV2Z8-aSAEQVOex_B7fG5-sVFP6igbTSt6Uuvyrh_j9C8Mb68UY4uYDMJFnW2zYnwMaDsJTdf/s1500/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(8%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-frJNgL3Pry5HFzg4uBUL-3wEuTrqral2l-bosQG7TiL-dZupoLlbvnAhpz-QBVoGa_780jLhvOb4DrIyw590XlJvZTOtGh-HxI-Wz6y6sarqrNHrSIgV2Z8-aSAEQVOex_B7fG5-sVFP6igbTSt6Uuvyrh_j9C8Mb68UY4uYDMJFnW2zYnwMaDsJTdf/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(8%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This awesome little door, below, looks like it would lead to a little closet, and could easily be hidden by just stacking a couple of boxes or a bed against it, but it leads to a storage area that extends the entire length of that room. People could hide in it if the Coffins thought they were about to be raided. All four of us got a turn to crawl inside and look around:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJztdcatBPMuHM3pNETXoNVEKFVdf9ymfvLivjx245bpSwO2vyjv7lgxSZWiqIUFpJw-42KiB-EHXoZOcQXktg5-TaHk2vF68LU05zPxiNftDuB1U2Ir9XmKUHcMeP9lxLXyDnNdPGL1fh95CaBVD5wLQvByhdCDtEv4aUgyRaD6vVYC0V64l3sJfNzW6y/s1000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(9%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJztdcatBPMuHM3pNETXoNVEKFVdf9ymfvLivjx245bpSwO2vyjv7lgxSZWiqIUFpJw-42KiB-EHXoZOcQXktg5-TaHk2vF68LU05zPxiNftDuB1U2Ir9XmKUHcMeP9lxLXyDnNdPGL1fh95CaBVD5wLQvByhdCDtEv4aUgyRaD6vVYC0V64l3sJfNzW6y/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(9%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also really love this spring-fed cistern. There was no reference to it in any of Coffin's papers, and no physical evidence of it when the house came into the custody of the Indiana State Museum. Excavations uncovered it by surprise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k2qHVCEktvHMLzcbl0VJymtxEt4kM2CFA19qAa-Rza6VWUv6OMXZ-nMc3p8CxIMOVKFKzQZWMEYilRrgXgIn1nrsuDGJZS3sxBXi6CsG4BMN-uMDBDdrhUxFfQ4wKsoRb6EnX5z_YtlQdiOnw3MVFzuWpWYREP_Y8p2fQcdQ0sZeKxgIoKL_MOspUIxz/s1411/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(11%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k2qHVCEktvHMLzcbl0VJymtxEt4kM2CFA19qAa-Rza6VWUv6OMXZ-nMc3p8CxIMOVKFKzQZWMEYilRrgXgIn1nrsuDGJZS3sxBXi6CsG4BMN-uMDBDdrhUxFfQ4wKsoRb6EnX5z_YtlQdiOnw3MVFzuWpWYREP_Y8p2fQcdQ0sZeKxgIoKL_MOspUIxz/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(11%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's theorized that the Coffins could use this cistern to collect part of the household water, in addition to the creek that they also used just a few yards from the house. That way, no matter how many people were inside the house, anyone spying on them from the outside would only see people going to the creek to fetch a perfectly normal amount of water perfectly suited to the number of official residents inside the Coffin house:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKRmA513zS7OsYfaSv7U2ztZK2tR4JelmC1h0MS6hhMny2FKKeAw2S2fb320zLgIsNCpLI0o5ogBW_kyt4JhqdlYFmMmrplOvJ60M_OybyWLK2hhWOY4jZ3FUs7IKYmMbFZtUGMnUcQ3hcvUNF5SVmX5_mrZTWWAcJCMVhPUbfJR8yGwZ-YJLK3htXiZg/s1344/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(10%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="756" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKRmA513zS7OsYfaSv7U2ztZK2tR4JelmC1h0MS6hhMny2FKKeAw2S2fb320zLgIsNCpLI0o5ogBW_kyt4JhqdlYFmMmrplOvJ60M_OybyWLK2hhWOY4jZ3FUs7IKYmMbFZtUGMnUcQ3hcvUNF5SVmX5_mrZTWWAcJCMVhPUbfJR8yGwZ-YJLK3htXiZg/s16000/Levi%20and%20Catharine%20Coffin%20House%20(10%20of%2011).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a really great museum and house tour, really interesting and really accessible to a wide range of interests and abilities. We were all completely engaged and fascinated, and afterwards, we spent a very late lunch at the Big Boy and a very dull two-hour car ride back home gossiping about it. I've not also got the <a href="https://amzn.to/49jqqnC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reminiscences of Levi Coffin</a> on my bookshelf, and you know I cannot keep what I'm reading to myself AT ALL so I'm sure we'll all spend even more time gossiping about it in the next few weeks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a few other things that my teenager and I have done in support of her Underground Railroad study:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2024/01/i-read-twelve-years-slave-and-now-im.html" target="_blank">audiobook and discussion of 12 Years a Slave</a></li><li><a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/09/two-days-in-cincinnati-with-my-girl_0498371306.html" target="_blank">trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center</a></li></ul></div></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, handmade homeschool high school studies, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-61202961443966469042024-01-29T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-29T07:00:00.268-05:00Homeschool History/Culinary Arts: Homemade Chocolate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_W5I2h860H1ULr-WGbyomV44hJD3rLh5P5QBlf1iMXXdjse1FuEa3xjUN60AXyNakM9KCdAq37_I_RXS3AmX8U96lAsJW_b28h5zEHQ4EBS9VzeI6SWf0wYI8YKO3V5sGMveIUIolNDdRR_ii3oA2IqZB3uasNYsbtaQBEITUwpxKm-HC5wixBeBb2Sw/s1778/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(2%20of%203).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_W5I2h860H1ULr-WGbyomV44hJD3rLh5P5QBlf1iMXXdjse1FuEa3xjUN60AXyNakM9KCdAq37_I_RXS3AmX8U96lAsJW_b28h5zEHQ4EBS9VzeI6SWf0wYI8YKO3V5sGMveIUIolNDdRR_ii3oA2IqZB3uasNYsbtaQBEITUwpxKm-HC5wixBeBb2Sw/w360-h640/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(2%20of%203).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The teenager's Honors World History: Ancient Times study (2 semesters; 2 high school credits) is a LOT of work, because we're using two college textbooks as the spine for this DIY course:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3OfYB7E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Duiker's World History</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3vXOs8Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gardner's Art through the Ages</a></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This homemade chocolate project is relevant to Duiker Chapter 6, "The New World," and Gardner Chapter 14, "From Alaska to the Andes: The Arts of Ancient America." It also builds context with <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/03/mapping-yucatan-peninsula.html" target="_blank">our study of Mesoamerica</a>, and <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/03/my-girl-scout-troop-went-on-caribbean_28.html" target="_blank">trip to the Yucatan Peninsula</a>, from two years ago. We discussed the Ancient Maya's relationship to chocolate then--our local university's art museum actually has a Maya vessel that still has the dregs of ancient hot chocolate inside!--but we didn't do any hands-on chocolate-making projects during that particular study.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yay, because it gives us something new to do this year!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This TED-Ed video about the history of chocolate is surprisingly thorough for being less than five minutes long, and since our study of chocolate is mostly contained to the Ancient Maya, it builds context by centering chocolate within world history:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ibjUpk9Iagk?si=4Zwedwu-5B7ACDs-" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you'd rather your student read than watch, here's about the same level of content as <a href="https://annex.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/index.html" target="_blank">informational text from the Exploratorium</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For our hands-on project, I bought <a href="https://amzn.to/3UkskQi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Make Your Own Chocolate kit</a> from Glee Gum--<a href="https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/handmade-reviews-make-chocolate-kit-glee-gum/" target="_blank">the kids and I have actually done this exact same kit before</a>, but since it was a whopping ELEVEN YEARS AGO(?!?!), I figured we might as well give it another go!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The kit is marketed to and suitable for young kids like my own long-ago wee ones, but it's actually quite suitable for this nearly-grown teenager and fully-grown me, as well--as long as you're a beginner chocolatier, I suppose. If you can temper chocolate in your sleep this kit probably wouldn't cover much new ground for you, but the teenager and I didn't find the instructions or the activity babyish or overly simplified. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And look! We got to taste real cacao beans!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZmUsBeiwSKLGk2ILreYCfsBpQFWUOtVbnUO7_gP-Wm368FZ6q-p7Dsu0G0qc-m5UzRkLLBj4qsHObaA2Zzo83iCprnKNxx_QSmkKQN2KjHqHVADF_ymaEWRzhIcfzEuieE_bfy7OUUON_gZfmltB1bh-sg5Yof9bg8Pi5YTmMc8RNHI6eldktT3BIiQx/s1250/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(1%20of%203).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZmUsBeiwSKLGk2ILreYCfsBpQFWUOtVbnUO7_gP-Wm368FZ6q-p7Dsu0G0qc-m5UzRkLLBj4qsHObaA2Zzo83iCprnKNxx_QSmkKQN2KjHqHVADF_ymaEWRzhIcfzEuieE_bfy7OUUON_gZfmltB1bh-sg5Yof9bg8Pi5YTmMc8RNHI6eldktT3BIiQx/w512-h640/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(1%20of%203).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The kit is sort of like a Hello Fresh for chocolate-making, in that it provides the ingredients in the amounts needed, and then you heat and combine them as directed. I especially liked the sticker thermometer for easily taking the temperature of the chocolate. My teenager was more than capable of completing the entire project independently, so all I had to do was hang out, take photos, add weird mix-ins to the candy wrappers, and then enjoy all of the chocolate!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtGZlSE_n4JB6_5y_eKN2UOZHBS3dfvW27HAyjWWvc2G6hXyex8mUFrtjCvkivJQVWq5N2ITFpOb0U_Akj__sWLkuvPDXfbJBPha44XzwaJW60ufIcGpIlVQihVYGmBay2SRotm2d9upyO56Elos4E2pobdj_VvTi17KHOJsyqFyDAGY-tv4S610Xg31N/s1250/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(3%20of%203).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtGZlSE_n4JB6_5y_eKN2UOZHBS3dfvW27HAyjWWvc2G6hXyex8mUFrtjCvkivJQVWq5N2ITFpOb0U_Akj__sWLkuvPDXfbJBPha44XzwaJW60ufIcGpIlVQihVYGmBay2SRotm2d9upyO56Elos4E2pobdj_VvTi17KHOJsyqFyDAGY-tv4S610Xg31N/w512-h640/Make%20Your%20Own%20Chocolate%20Kit%20(3%20of%203).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">For mix-ins, we tried various combinations of candied ginger, dried unsweetened cherries, and peanut butter. The latter two in the same truffle was my favorite combo.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you wanted to extend this activity even further, there are a ton of ways you could go:<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live within driving distance, <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2013/06/cincinnati-ohio-to-hershey-pennsylvania.html" target="_blank">Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania, would be a fun, educational-ish trip</a>. They mostly want to sell you things, but if you're thoughtful, you can make the things that they sell you work as enrichment. We didn't visit <a href="https://hersheystory.org/" target="_blank">The Hershey Story</a> on our own trip, but it looks much more legitimately educational, ahem.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your kid gets really into the foodcrafting part of the experience, you can buy more of the same ingredients from the kit and <a href="https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/how-to-make-raw-chocolate" target="_blank">make more chocolate from scratch</a>. Kid-made homemade truffles or <a href="https://amzn.to/3SckHsP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chocolate bars</a> would be such a lovely Valentine's Day project or handmade gift!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another super fun but low-effort chocolate crafting project is coating random foods in chocolate. <a href="https://www.thegunnysack.com/chocolate-covered-gummy-bears-recipe/" target="_blank">Chocolate-covered gummy bears</a> ARE surprisingly delicious, as are sour gummy worms, mint leaves, and, um... Ramen noodles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're working with a young kid, and don't want to mess around too much with molten chocolate, you could make them a batch of <a href="https://teachbesideme.com/edible-chocolate-slime/" target="_blank">edible chocolate slime</a> for a fun sensory extension activity. Or make <a href="https://littledelightscakes.com/molding-chocolate/" target="_blank">modeling chocolate</a>, which sculpts well and is also delicious!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some books that pair well with making your own chocolate:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3U6Jtx0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Bitter Side of Sweet</a>. </b>Pair this with any chocolate study to bring insight and empathy to the serious problem of child enslavement that plagues modern chocolate production. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3u7WHyR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book of Chocolate</a>. </b>This is a very readable history for apt middle grades and up. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3SfuzSz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</a>. </b>It's not for the history buff, ahem, but it's perfect if you're doing the kit just to have fun with candy. If you've never read this book aloud to your kids, are you even a homeschooler?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3u2EToX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chocolate Fever</a></b>. Yes, it's a children's book, but it's really, really good! Find an audiobook version that you can listen to while you do some of this food crafting, and you can probably get through the entire book in one session.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4940FHC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Making Chocolate: From Beans to Bar to S'more</a>. </b>This book is a completely excessive tome about making chocolate from scratch, but if you've got an older kid who's interested... well, you're homeschoolers for a reason!</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to know more about all the weird math I have my kids do, as well as our other wanderings and wonderings? Check out </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></p></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-21892540470069949272024-01-26T13:14:00.001-05:002024-01-26T13:14:32.940-05:00I Read Twelve Years a Slave, and Now I'm Going to Go Spit on Edwin Epps' Grave<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkE8cCIcq7wmplSVlUobLR522UZHdjyd9zOopxKDr3Rsuw4a7suRxkGI1mMACZpiVoZF2Hf8YBfPcvXPpptc6uG5zrhrTfBf52P5pcg3yl71k9_NinHFHVhcLS_bjJaquTEYFbFTxFVzApPbVwd6E4gGJbmrYL_A7dLKzyhCuyVqPkLnTPvgDfmrsg_uJ5/s1000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(3%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkE8cCIcq7wmplSVlUobLR522UZHdjyd9zOopxKDr3Rsuw4a7suRxkGI1mMACZpiVoZF2Hf8YBfPcvXPpptc6uG5zrhrTfBf52P5pcg3yl71k9_NinHFHVhcLS_bjJaquTEYFbFTxFVzApPbVwd6E4gGJbmrYL_A7dLKzyhCuyVqPkLnTPvgDfmrsg_uJ5/s16000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(3%20of%204).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I read a bunch of these one-star Goodreads reviews to the family, and we were simultaneously horrified and howling with laughter. People are so hilariously awful!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18478222-twelve-years-a-slave" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Twelve Years a Slave" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378793462l/18478222._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://amzn.to/4bfpt1a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twelve Years a Slave</a> by Solomon Northup<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6206938311">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
My teenager and I have been listening to this book together as part of her AP US History study, usually listening for an hour or so at a time... but this last time, we listened to two and a half hours together, all the way to the end, in the audiobook equivalent of not being able to put it down because it was so exciting!<br /><br />The teenager chose this book over both <a href="https://amzn.to/4bnSurM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe">Uncle Tom’s Cabin</a> and other possible slave narratives because, frankly, it was the shortest. I'd never read it before, and neither of us have seen the film, so we both came to it fresh. I was interested to see what each of us thought about it, she who's read several children's fictional accounts (shout-out to Addy Walker!) and YA histories about US slavery but nothing this graphic or wrenching, and me who's read fairly widely on the subject, but almost entirely in college classes. We've taken a lot of <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2013/07/sesame-street-to-gettysburg.html" target="_blank">road trips to Civil War sites</a>, but shamefully few to <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/09/two-days-in-cincinnati-with-my-girl_0498371306.html" target="_blank">sites where we could learn about the enslaved</a>. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbI_T1tNHT0ROL1ZvwRm2_xKHeTEjqNgz-tkyFpVUpJF_OowS58RawKZFz2vrcoc8BodsoLA8bRxX7GnvdZnveJqff1d3E5tvuqu4YMlhyphenhyphenVfPWisDxsVhciuVL-XjTD1Fm7j8zYbFklAJH5KTaZv1tIEWBzKC52CVpDWfyosuHLpmaypjBE6UNSbiSB-f/s1000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(1%20of%204).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbI_T1tNHT0ROL1ZvwRm2_xKHeTEjqNgz-tkyFpVUpJF_OowS58RawKZFz2vrcoc8BodsoLA8bRxX7GnvdZnveJqff1d3E5tvuqu4YMlhyphenhyphenVfPWisDxsVhciuVL-XjTD1Fm7j8zYbFklAJH5KTaZv1tIEWBzKC52CVpDWfyosuHLpmaypjBE6UNSbiSB-f/s16000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(1%20of%204).jpg" /></a><br /><br />Spoiler Alert: OMG this book is EPIC. It is INCREDIBLE. It is distressing, and action-heavy, and suspenseful, and sad. It has vivid characters who I can't get out of my head, villains whose graves should be spat upon, heroes who should have statues made and scholarships founded in their honor, and victims who bring to life the vile nature of enslavement.<br /><br />Like, seriously. I was shocked at how good this book is! Because it's for my teenager's history course I was prepared to read it even if it was dry or boring or we just didn't enjoy it--I mean, it's school, that's kind of what it's known for! So I was shocked and thrilled that this book is genuinely good, genuinely exciting, genuinely interesting. I saw some people in other reviews griping about having to learn all about how to pick cotton in the book and they didn't like learning about it and thought it was boring. I mean, though... it's high-key NOT?!? If you don't pick cotton right, or don't pick enough of it, you get your ass kicked! And then get your ass kicked more the next day when you can't pick even that much on account of you're injured from getting your ass kicked! And if you're female, you're also getting raped on the regular, and then when the enslaver's wife finds out that her husband is serially raping you, you get your ass kicked for that, too. That... doesn't feel boring to me. It feels uncomfortable, which I'm guessing is what the negative reviewers are actually not liking about Northup's memoir.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmz3xnv2PFx_rgFzO6xiHBswCYjHku8gn74yk3AkeW26s8I-KsT-fTn6mXgi17o8eQzeucgxu5L9g1lGwC58Dwnr-Tfe-4_CTtRvA1GvzplDDAUGaw-5b71Ia7_kUvUIqRHteExBpxAoyP048QlgXMD5gsxhywpxxWXZo2Y4cz0eishJVciwenMjWP-Km/s1000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(2%20of%204).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmz3xnv2PFx_rgFzO6xiHBswCYjHku8gn74yk3AkeW26s8I-KsT-fTn6mXgi17o8eQzeucgxu5L9g1lGwC58Dwnr-Tfe-4_CTtRvA1GvzplDDAUGaw-5b71Ia7_kUvUIqRHteExBpxAoyP048QlgXMD5gsxhywpxxWXZo2Y4cz0eishJVciwenMjWP-Km/s16000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(2%20of%204).jpg" /></a><br /><br />Everyone should read this book, and I'd say that ideally they should read it in high school. It's pretty graphic, but the graphic scenes are terrible in the way that graphic scenes ought to be, in that they're in service of telling a very important story. It's not boring, unless you're just completely uninterested in learning about any type of life different from your own. And it's a living testament to the value of human life and the importance of those who give service to help others.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Under the theme of Some People are Incredible but Other People are Terrible, here is a gross bit of backlash to Northup's memoir: 163 years after the publication of <u>Twelve Years a Slave</u>, a person unaffiliated with any academics at all wrote and published a book (<a href="https://copanobaypress-gallery.com/pages/about-us" target="_blank">through the small press that she owns and serves as the editor, designer, and proofreader for</a>) entitled <a href="https://amzn.to/3u0d0xR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">200 Years a Fraud</a>, in which she claims that Northup lied about the events of the book? That does make some of the other one-star reviews that were a lot more racist, revisionist, and conspiracy theory-forward make more sense. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/v1v6z4/is_it_true_that_12_years_a_slave_is_mostly_a_fake/" target="_blank">Here's an excellent series of rebuttals to that very weird book</a>, including some primary source evidence of its veracity.</span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQw2jUIzQ1Fkc5cKB1N-WfdB7vr275-aIlzyNC32OxQ5GgaHwCatbeIPs8X7-a72Vt89xFIJx1TxJA3xkyfNSZaG-sW6cJU7MjIs-TzjUtwpxkoebhAGl3ttmne7BdGySDrs5omEc0iXJ3fI1W7_Wc39v-E5NjT1LGvFSzoCiVx9DrG2CXTV7dQ-NCZa9/s1000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(4%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQw2jUIzQ1Fkc5cKB1N-WfdB7vr275-aIlzyNC32OxQ5GgaHwCatbeIPs8X7-a72Vt89xFIJx1TxJA3xkyfNSZaG-sW6cJU7MjIs-TzjUtwpxkoebhAGl3ttmne7BdGySDrs5omEc0iXJ3fI1W7_Wc39v-E5NjT1LGvFSzoCiVx9DrG2CXTV7dQ-NCZa9/s16000/12%20Years%20a%20Slave%20(4%20of%204).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>I was so invested in this book that after the teenager and I finished it, I went on a deep-dive to learn more about Northup's life afterwards. </span>Unfortunately, by all accounts, Northup did not cope well with his trauma upon his return to freedom. His mother had died during his incarceration, and the seven-year-old daughter he'd left greeted him as a 19-year-old woman who introduced him to the newborn son she'd named "Solomon." Northup spent time as a speaker on the abolitionist circuit, and, of course, helping author his book, and became famous enough that during the Civil War, Union soldiers who traveled through that Louisiana area sometimes sought the plantations were Northup had been held. They sent back news of this in their letters, so happily we know that Patsey, the woman who'd been repeatedly raped, and at least once beaten almost to death, by Epps, had left earlier in the war and so had at least survived long enough to achieve freedom. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I wish we also knew what happened to the small child Emily, daughter of Eliza, who had also been held with Northup in Washington, DC. She wasn't sold onward to Louisiana but was instead retained to be forced into sex work. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Census records tell that Northup and his wife often separated, and eventually official record loses track of him entirely. It was rumored that he suffered from alcoholism, and was likely often unhoused, as Anne Northup's obituary refers to him as a "worthless vagabond." I am so sad that this was not a happy ending!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a better ending: <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/12-years-a-slave-portraits-683439/" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter collected portraits of 46 of Solomon Northup's direct descendants</a>. I LOVE this!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There are two more happy stories: <a href="https://deepsouthmag.com/2013/10/21/the-woman-behind-12-years-a-slave/" target="_blank">that of Dr. Sue Eakin</a>, the historian responsible for publishing a new edition of Northup's memoir and bringing his biography into prominent academic light, and that of Samuel Bass, <a href="https://nationalpost.com/feature/unravelling-the-lives-of-the-man-who-spent-12-years-a-slave-and-the-canadian-who-saved-him" target="_blank">the Canadian who successfully got actionable information to Northup's family and lawyer and was directly responsible for Northup's rescue</a>. When my teenager and I listened to this book together, one of our favorite parts is when Bass is discussing why he'd put himself in so much danger to help Northup. He says that he wants to do this good deed so that later in life he can think about what he did and feel good about it. I mean... FAIR! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We don't know what happened to Northup at the end of his life, but we know the entire biographies and final resting places of his enslavers (because of COURSE we do, sigh...). You can actually still visit <a href="https://www.lsua.edu/about-us/university-history/points-of-interest" target="_blank">the house that Northup was forced to help build for Edwin Epps</a>--it's currently on the LSUA campus! I high-key love how people are using the memorial page for <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118944104/edwin-epps" target="_blank">Epps' Find a Grave entry</a> to roast him, and I'm definitely not NOT going to make a point of looking him up and spitting on his grave if I ever happen to be in the area, although I will probably gag myself trying and then end up barfing all over his grave because spitting is so nasty.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I guess barfing would be better anyway?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My teenager and I listened to this book together as inter-disciplinary work for her AP US History and AP English Literature and Composition studies. For a high school student, there are some excellent extension activities to add more meat and rigor for these studies, in particular. For students who need more practice writing about literature, or in using close reading as evidence for implications, I really like the <a href="https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/twelve-years-slave-analyzing-slave-narratives" target="_blank">reading/writing prompts at Edsitement</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries (where I promise I NEVER spit on graves!), handmade homeschool high school studies, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-80381347455583817222024-01-24T07:00:00.003-05:002024-01-24T07:00:00.144-05:00My Very Own Girl Scout Cookie Booth Calculator: How Many Cookies to Order for Booth Sales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ewl4uSEG-KbSiqVuC67DTQNod0S2rWF1fyPL_TlMp1cVToCKZVznj3XeJOyH19q4_B1GEU0eYbclSBM1Isw1NVUQ4HK5qvwV2imXnH8rQRnNTlKEGxOwQkURRPwZxUGeU07SwFjJX_OfFTiAWYWnvtDd1qk52w0PsrKfczbohIHwAJOQOVONVhUo9jsR/s3506/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3506" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ewl4uSEG-KbSiqVuC67DTQNod0S2rWF1fyPL_TlMp1cVToCKZVznj3XeJOyH19q4_B1GEU0eYbclSBM1Isw1NVUQ4HK5qvwV2imXnH8rQRnNTlKEGxOwQkURRPwZxUGeU07SwFjJX_OfFTiAWYWnvtDd1qk52w0PsrKfczbohIHwAJOQOVONVhUo9jsR/w465-h640/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2002.jpg" width="465" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy First Week of Girl Scout Cookie Booths!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My Service Unit's Girl Scout cookies are being delivered by semi-trucks this week, and this weekend is my troop's inaugural cookie booth of the season. This is my younger kid's last year in Girl Scouts, and therefore my final year of cookie captaincy. And so, like a Girl Scout Ambassador earning the My Cookie Resume badge, it's time to share what I've learned!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're a returning troop, I've written before about <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2019/02/girl-scout-cookie-booth-analytics-or.html" target="_blank">my VERY involved process of calculating super accurate predictions of how many cookies to order for booth sales</a>. That process was crucial during the years that my Girl Scout troop was routinely selling 10,000+ boxes of cookies per season, because even a small error in percentage REALLY adds up when you multiply it by 10,000. One year, I miscalculated how many Trefoils we'd need for our Initial Order so badly that it took us almost the entire season to sell just that Initial Order--yikes! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The last couple of years, however, as the kids have grown up and everyone's high school graduation is now in sight, they've become more focused on spending all those cookie profits on cool adventures, and less on earning even more piles of gold to swim around in like Scrooge McDuck, so cookie sales have chilled out A LOT. That means, as well, that I can chill out on the math quite a bit. So here's my MUCH more casual method of calculation that works just fine for troops whose total sales goal is less than 2,000 boxes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And an even bigger cheat sheet: I'll also tell you exactly what percentages we're ordering for booths here in our Central Indiana council, so you can do the same if you think your customers will have the same preferences as our Hoosiers. NOBODY should have to suffer through a season of trying to upsell customers on Trefoils!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The situation that makes this calculation method work particularly well for my troop is that, as a well-established Girl Scout troop, we have a well-established non-Hot Spot location. We've spent years crafting a warm relationship with this business, and during cookie season it's our primary selling spot. So unlike in <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2019/02/girl-scout-cookie-booth-analytics-or.html" target="_blank">that booth analytics post</a> where I showed you all my bar graphs comparing different locations at different times over the course of the cookie season, this year I mostly only have to calculate for a single location.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've also got fewer kids who want to sell at booths this year, so unlike our heyday years when I might have had three booths going simultaneously and some kind of booth running for something like 15 hours over the course of the weekend, this year it will probably just be one or two booths, for probably a max of 4-5 hours, over the course of an entire weekend. It's no longer a struggle to simply have enough cookies in the troop stock to send to booths, so I can afford to be a LOT more chill about precise ordering. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I miss the excitement... but I don't miss the stress!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">ANYWAY...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For a returning troop to make a reasonably precise prediction about cookie percentages for a booth at a single location, find three booth sheets from that location last year. You want booth sheets from super early in the cookie season (and you should be really encouraging the kids to sell hard super early, because that's when your sales will be highest!), and from booths in which you had a full inventory and didn't sell out of anything. You're not going to know how many Toffee Tastics you could have sold if your booth didn't have them in the first place!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, I originally pulled this booth sheet, but when I sat down with it I immediately realized that it wouldn't work:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Oys6papipADnarbD-UbSjzs-C76-xKHRnxFP6J0kCR8he9re1YkUebPm-qWiy9UBGwZDEqWPqnsMdfw6Djqu6rVfbTzYXMAaITP3L2Kh7SrmU4f2n0ss-gl1ScAWAQnObSg5xg3BG_nEioD30Yjd2g2MWMLT3mnMKVZgz19-7FLh35pEicglIYpMtCjZ/s3506/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3506" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Oys6papipADnarbD-UbSjzs-C76-xKHRnxFP6J0kCR8he9re1YkUebPm-qWiy9UBGwZDEqWPqnsMdfw6Djqu6rVfbTzYXMAaITP3L2Kh7SrmU4f2n0ss-gl1ScAWAQnObSg5xg3BG_nEioD30Yjd2g2MWMLT3mnMKVZgz19-7FLh35pEicglIYpMtCjZ/w466-h640/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2003.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We ran out of Adventurefuls at that booth, dang it! I can't calculate how many we sold if we didn't have them for the entire time!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This one works!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi71jL0wchH7W7YmX2CZTAJ7Up-kumO6vdx95ursDNkKLgljtsll2ZdRgpUsFHA0icp37C2yCUbfHbCKrVSPR7buqSFyRB_S1xN2w-J4DAkrGGRgqNXXNL74l93eD_pnpg0xDlugExRrE8Er163DvdxalmAxoUFTgC-JBiwgyg89opJ-JXJHF3Ho7fRbR/s3506/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3506" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi71jL0wchH7W7YmX2CZTAJ7Up-kumO6vdx95ursDNkKLgljtsll2ZdRgpUsFHA0icp37C2yCUbfHbCKrVSPR7buqSFyRB_S1xN2w-J4DAkrGGRgqNXXNL74l93eD_pnpg0xDlugExRrE8Er163DvdxalmAxoUFTgC-JBiwgyg89opJ-JXJHF3Ho7fRbR/w466-h640/Cookie%20Booth%20Sheet%2004.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And you can see that I already did my percentage calculations for it--I should hope I did, because Initial Orders were due last week!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To calculate percentages of each cookie, you need to know 1) the total number of physical boxes sold (don't count donations!) and 2) the total number of each type of cookie sold.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The calculation is this:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Type of Cookie = x% of Total Sold</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You plug in the numbers for the type of cookie and the total sold, then solve for x.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For instance, Lemon Ups:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">9 = x% of 262</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">9/262 =x%</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After you get the answer for 9/262=.034, multiply it by 100/move the decimal two places to the right to get the percent</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3.4 =x%</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Complete that calculation for each type of cookie, and you'll know what percentages of each you sold at that booth.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do the same calculations for two more booth sheets, then average them to find the average percent of each type of cookie sold.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the percentages I ordered:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">ADVENTUREFULS: 6%</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">LEMONUPS: 4% </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TREFOILS: 4%</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">DOSIDOS: 8%</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">SAMOAS: 21%</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TAGALONGS: 11% (I might have under-ordered these, so I'll throw in an extra case when I stock the booth)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">THIN MINTS: 43% (I might have over-ordered these, but you can ALWAYS sell Thin Mints)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">S'MORES: 2%</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TOFFEE TASTICS: 2% (be very conservative about these, because they're SO hard to sell if you overstock them. If you happen to sell out at a booth, just have your troop's <a href="https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/troop03479434?fpkp=1" target="_blank">Digital Cookie QR code</a> on hand so customers can order for Girl Delivery)</span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So you know at what percentage you should order; now, you have to figure out how many total boxes to order!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For this, you're not going to average. Instead, if you're a returning troop, find your top-selling booth and calculate that one, then add a little more for optimism and to make completely sure that you won't run out. Our top-selling booth last year sold 262 boxes of physical cookies (don't count donations!) over 5 hours. Divide 262 by 5, and they sold 52.4 boxes per hour. I'll round that up to 60 per hour.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To decide how many boxes of each type of cookie to bring to that booth this year, then, I just have to know how many hours it will run. If it runs for, say, 2 hours, then I should bring 120 boxes of cookies at the minimum, and early in the season I'll pad that even more if I've got the troop stock to do it. I'll definitely throw in another case of Tagalongs so that I don't have to run an emergency case over mid-booth!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And if I have the troop stock, I will ALWAYS round up to the nearest case. I never send partial cases if I can get away with it, because they're just that more unwieldy to carry and count. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To do the math, break each percentage back down to its decimal, then multiply by 120.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the cookies I would bring to this two-hour booth:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">ADVENTUREFULS: .06 x 120 = 7.2 boxes = 1 CASE</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">LEMONUPS: .04 is smaller than .06 so I'm not even going to calculate; I'll just bring 1 CASE</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TREFOILS: 1 CASE</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">DOSIDOS: .08 x 120 = 9.6 boxes = 1 CASE, but sometimes DoSiDos randomly sell like wildfire, so if I have it I might even bring 3</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">SAMOAS: .21 x 120 = 25.2 boxes = 3 CASES</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TAGALONGS: .11 x 120 =13.2, but I'm worried I underordered so I'm going to throw even another case in there and bring 3 CASES</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">THIN MINTS: .43 x 120 = 51.6 = 5 CASES</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">S'MORES: 1 CASE</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">TOFFEE TASTICS: 1 CASE</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're a first-year troop, it's SO hard to give you an estimate of how many cookies to bring to your booth. Per-hour rates are very location-specific, and honestly, they're very troop-specific, too! One of my troop's greatest sources of pride is how HARD they work at cookie booths. The kids are all highly experienced, they're very active sellers with multiple tactics, they work specifically to up-sell and solicit cookie donations, and their per-hour sales rate is, therefore, higher than kids who don't put themselves out there that much or are less well-practiced in salesmanship. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you're a first-year troop, there are a couple of strategies you can use to help you predict how many boxes of cookies to order for booth sales. One is to use your troop's selling goal, calculated by adding up each kid's individual selling goal, as a target. Order maybe 50% of that at your Initial Order, and for the first couple of booths, bring as much troop stock as you can carry and keep track of. Your goal will be to not run out of cookies so you can get good per-hour sales estimates for future booths. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If your Service Unit has an active Facebook group or well-attended Service Unit meetings, you can also consult other troop leaders to see what they bring. Just keep in mind that your mileage will vary quite a bit regarding answers! There will be a troop leader who will confidently tell you something like "oh, a couple of cases of this and a couple of cases of that, etc." because they simply don't keep track, or another troop leader who will give you an extremely low number because their kids spend every booth staring at their phones instead of selling, or another troop leader who tells you a GIANT number because their kids are cookie-selling machines.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I've never tried this particular tactic, but I'd also maybe recommend calling your council's cookie staff and asking them if they, by any chance, keep track of booth averages or per-hour sales for your Service Unit booths or even specific Hot Spot booths. They should, because they certainly have all those numbers available to them, but who knows if they're actually doing anything with those numbers, sigh. If it was me on staff you wouldn't even believe how many pie charts and line graphs I'd be shoving in your face!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Y'all, I really can't believe this is my last year selling Girl Scout cookies. What do people even DO with their February when they don't have a house full of cookie boxes?!?</span></div><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">P.S. Want to know more about all the weird math I have my kids do, as well as our other wanderings and wonderings? Check out </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-5499293868176051822024-01-22T13:36:00.005-05:002024-01-22T13:36:50.933-05:00Alchemy: A High School Chemistry/Geometry/World History Combo Study<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri78eypzjTfv1yrtReOcpTimKKBrTufMC2tTdyN_SGqdqc5jH-dKTegIFBAycu-eqIfH0yAE2OGnd5aZygQN5j9_DrOCTkUO58w-lQtD8AUSzyu1-wnLhmWOKSxnHlHYC8PNpwW4XLM6QJrmoXeZjuL8_l6UqPTKTD2_3FGUYwDO0V-nSMNDarMn2n3RZ/s1142/Alchemy%20Study%20(2%20of%202).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri78eypzjTfv1yrtReOcpTimKKBrTufMC2tTdyN_SGqdqc5jH-dKTegIFBAycu-eqIfH0yAE2OGnd5aZygQN5j9_DrOCTkUO58w-lQtD8AUSzyu1-wnLhmWOKSxnHlHYC8PNpwW4XLM6QJrmoXeZjuL8_l6UqPTKTD2_3FGUYwDO0V-nSMNDarMn2n3RZ/s16000/Alchemy%20Study%20(2%20of%202).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We use <a href="https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-chemistry-flexbook-2.0/" target="_blank">CK-12's Chemistry for High School textbook</a> as the teenager's spine for <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/12/homeschool-high-school-chemistry.html" target="_blank">Honors Chemistry</a>, with, of course, our own lab component added and a LOT of supplementation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We started supplementing right in Chapter 1, when we added a short study of alchemy to the textbook's brief history of chemistry.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I think that most teenagers find the concept of alchemy interesting--it's mystical and a little spooky, and it's very, very incorrect. Teenagers have SO much fun learning about adults who were incorrect!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, there really aren't a ton of great resources about alchemy that work well for a high school/undergrad readership, and there are a TON of contemporary, fantastical, and otherwise ahistorical resources that muddy up any kind of student-led research. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Therefore, this study of alchemy was necessarily a short one, able to be completed within 1-2 hours. You could draw out the art component further, of course, by requiring a more polished piece that used a larger vocabulary of alchemical symbols and moves, but this brief afternoon's work was enough for our own purposes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After reading the relevant material in the CK-12 Chemistry for High School textbook, my teenager and I watched this Crash Course History of Science episode (if your student isn't studying History of Science as a discrete topic, I highly recommend reviewing the playlist and adding applicable videos to their science/history syllabi as interdisciplinary enrichment):</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gxiLuz9kHi0?si=FzVwWL6fEFeEnnpE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Crash Course videos tend to be meaty, so it might be worth going over it a couple of times to make sure you absorb all the info.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After the video, my teenager and I looked through a number of alchemical illustrations and excerpts from alchemy books from alchemy's heyday. This <a href="https://www.getty.edu/research/exhibitions_events/exhibitions/alchemy/" target="_blank">Getty Research Institute's virtual exhibit</a> is a treasure! Click on the link in the caption of most of the images to be taken to the digitized version of that book, which you can then flip through to find other interesting images and text. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The teenager practiced her close reading to notice all the details in each piece of artwork, and used semiotic analysis to attempt to interpret the pieces. But also take time to notice how lovely each piece, is, as well; alchemy artwork is ART!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Using these pieces and some reference books, we then spent some time playing around with creating our own artwork that had (or looked like it had, lol!), alchemical meaning. The nature of the pieces also meant that the teenager could use the works she created as process pieces in her geometry art portfolio:</span> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG4tNrHJDA_lcUN7RLs52W_-SEGOw6pSR2mLaI8Fq0UEm5oC_JFTI1KEL6vnakNVTpl4ToTjlhISUD6fNWhxqdUVU3vhmffJkOJMD-x_TgRYYhL7Up6cmsGpe3WjUk9B891JEPpEogyaWvM5LC6vszNDz8RBrhJ8QKRxQr3kxKoXLt2dtYmsoypga1sVV/s1285/Alchemy%20Study%20(1%20of%202).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG4tNrHJDA_lcUN7RLs52W_-SEGOw6pSR2mLaI8Fq0UEm5oC_JFTI1KEL6vnakNVTpl4ToTjlhISUD6fNWhxqdUVU3vhmffJkOJMD-x_TgRYYhL7Up6cmsGpe3WjUk9B891JEPpEogyaWvM5LC6vszNDz8RBrhJ8QKRxQr3kxKoXLt2dtYmsoypga1sVV/s16000/Alchemy%20Study%20(1%20of%202).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Check out the accurate geometric shapes and the overall balance of the piece! DON'T check out my noisy digitization of the work; I really need to learn how to clean up art when I scan it, sigh...</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">That was as far as we took this particular lesson, but here's some further reading appropriate for an interested high school student:</span></div><div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3Stit9O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alchemy: The Great Secret</a>. This is a fairly accessible history for those who watched the Crash Course video but would like to learn more.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/48UWGgI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alchemy: An Illustrated A to Z</a>. I wouldn't use this as a textbook supplement, but it was an excellent art reference. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3vOVyNm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alchemy and Mysticism: The Hermetic Museum</a>. Most of the text was beyond me, but it has tons of art to reference.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">My favorite thing about alchemy is how it sits just next to being correct; like, they were wrong about the Sun and the Moon and dragon's blood and the mystical marriage of lead and tin, but while they were drawing their allegorical wedding feasts and busily melting silver in little pots, they were butting up against the actual chemistry that alchemy would evolve into. What they did reads now as adorably naive just because we know better, but these people were actually pretty bad-ass wizard scientists.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They also for sure all had lead poisoning, which explains a LOT of their artwork.</span></div><div><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, dog-walking mishaps, home improvement projects, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p></div></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-63004519800240788172024-01-18T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-18T07:00:00.127-05:00Homeschool High School English: Gothic Literature, The Haunting of Hill House, and Why Teenagers Should Watch Rocky Horror Picture Show<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFU8ZIT27lc8YVlzvPEXdJS63-JeT409A_UWrteS8FzuwulDgJ3BD_QaDLOjbAylVqLFq3hVlxOWIxV6Yv_SiJoXZeKC5mJ3X0T4MMKxxTMFnjdC4mrEUrnJgobfD7qteb3EU5-DtJ3OB8Cs5-szlHfHYAWMA1pB5SbqimVNFqE9PGAnCLeyX2RSgM2Wv/s1000/Haunting%20of%20Hill%20House%20Unit%20Study%20(1%20of%201).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFU8ZIT27lc8YVlzvPEXdJS63-JeT409A_UWrteS8FzuwulDgJ3BD_QaDLOjbAylVqLFq3hVlxOWIxV6Yv_SiJoXZeKC5mJ3X0T4MMKxxTMFnjdC4mrEUrnJgobfD7qteb3EU5-DtJ3OB8Cs5-szlHfHYAWMA1pB5SbqimVNFqE9PGAnCLeyX2RSgM2Wv/s16000/Haunting%20of%20Hill%20House%20Unit%20Study%20(1%20of%201).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 2023 pumpkin army is a vision of Gothic decrepitude!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />If you know me AT ALL, you will be so surprised to learn that I think that you should watch <a href="https://amzn.to/4aUL9iZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Haunting of Hill House Netflix series</a> with your teenagers before you read the book!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's really good, first of all, and it stars one of the guys from <a href="https://amzn.to/3S3cdE2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leverage</a>, which is another teenager favorite around here, and it's so genuinely scary that my one chicken teenager actually noped out of the experience, and it's a terrific set-up to the Gothic literature genre, especially the idea of the decrepit old house as a representation of the darkness inside ourselves... AND it's completely different from <a href="https://amzn.to/3RZ5JpO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Haunting of Hill House book</a> in every important way, BUT has enough nods to the book that when you read it with the teenagers afterwards, they can discover all the little connections for themselves as an aid to interest and an encouragement for close reading.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The only thing to be wary of is that my teenager loved the Netflix series so much that she was Big Mad that the book was completely different, and therefore decided that she Did Not Like the Book, which is a shame because it is so good, just... different. So if your teenager, like mine, is spiteful and loves herself a grudge, maybe rethink this order.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For all the other teenagers, it's 1) the TV series, then 2) the book!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="tumblr-post" data-did="10ef99d6e41bf188e473a86bd06c917902057a3c" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:QLvv3_LxMmz8C9GoQh0xWw/722303965399859200/v2"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/brutaliakhoa/722303965399859200/what-if-the-house-was-haunted-what-if-the-house">https://www.tumblr.com/brutaliakhoa/722303965399859200/what-if-the-house-was-haunted-what-if-the-house</a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><script async="" src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Genre studies are very good for high schoolers, because a genre study gives them a lot of practice picking out themes from different artifacts and doing a lot of comparison/contrast, all supported with lots of evidence and that good flow of logic that connects evidence to conclusion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Gothic literature makes an excellent high school genre study for a few reasons:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1. It's not exactly horror, so it shouldn't actually scare off the scaredy-cats, but it IS horror-adjacent, and has a kind of aesthetic that really appeals to a lot of teens. Even kids who aren't super emo tend to appreciate Gothic vibes!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2. It's a genre that's covered a lot of ground, historically, so it gives teenagers more practice reading and analyzing older works than they're often used to. A lot of the teenagers that I've worked with get so fussy when asked to read anything with challenging language/syntax, including just about anything that's not completely contemporary. But they'll work harder for something that they find genuinely interesting, and I have a lot more luck making <u>Frankenstein</u> interesting than I do <u>Romeo and Juliet</u>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3. Speaking of <u>Frankenstein</u>... there are so many excellent female authors within the Gothic literature genre, and this study is a great chance to focus on Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson, Toni Morrison, Anne Rice, and other important female authors within the canon. Gothic literature is, as far as I know, entirely Eurocentric, but there are plenty of Black voices to add, especially if you delve into one of my favorite sub-genres, Southern Gothic. Researching to find works by other POC or authors across the sex/gender spectrum or other continents (now I'm thinking that some Japanese horror could also work?) would make an excellent final project for a teenager!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="tumblr-post" data-did="9fc57f62f1f2695661a24f28bcf99dd6350ceefc" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:-b-6UcA8Q0NfvshiC9mJpA/730460890258980864/v2"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/angrylittleburd/730460890258980864/spatial-horror-isnt-i-am-in-a-scary-place-so">https://www.tumblr.com/angrylittleburd/730460890258980864/spatial-horror-isnt-i-am-in-a-scary-place-so</a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><script async="" src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For our <u>The Haunting of Hill House</u> study, I got my teenager's buy-in because that Netflix series was so good. After we finished, I asked if she would want to read and study the book version next.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Reader, she did!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After that, I'd planned to go on a whole Shirley Jackson deep-dive with her, doing some short stories (including "The Lottery" of course!) and then my own personal favorite Jackson book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3O7aexn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We Have Always Lived in the Castle</a>. Alas that she didn't love the book version, because it caused me to scrap those plans, but to be honest, broadening the study out to cover other authors over a larger time period was more academically sound, anyway. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For a semester-long, in-depth study that you could put on your kid's transcript as its own English course, I suggest reading several entire novels together. A lot of very early Gothic is super messed up, though (*cough, cough* <a href="https://amzn.to/48FbOyP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monk</a> *cough*), sooo... pre-read! But even without the most messed-up stuff, though, you've got <a href="https://amzn.to/3u1IIdN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frankenstein</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/423EPSw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dracula</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3HkOwSN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3vBh0VZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Picture of Dorian Gray</a>, etc. I don't usually like to get too invested in authorial intentionalism, but author studies of Mary Shelley and Oscar Wilde would make good rabbit trails if your teenager seems especially interested in their works. Or utilize those author studies in their history course to add more inter-disciplinary work. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">More modern Gothic choices could include Shirley Jackson, Ira Levin (<a href="https://amzn.to/3Sm7T4q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosemary's Baby</a> is the more obvious choice, but <a href="https://amzn.to/3HlTT4b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Stepford Wives</a> plays with the theme of place in the Gothic genre in some interesting ways that your high schooler can use for their compare/contrast paper), Anne Rice, and Toni Morrison. If you do <a href="https://amzn.to/420nVE1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Interview with the Vampire</a>, consider contrasting it with <a href="https://amzn.to/4aSPIdT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter</a>, which is just as schlocky as it sounds, but actually has some interesting things to say about enslavement. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a <a href="https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10/18/brief-history-gothic-horror" target="_blank">New York Public Library list with even more Gothic literature books</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you don't have an entire high school semester-long course to dedicate to Gothic literature, I also like the idea of covering the same ground via short stories. <a href="https://mclaughlinteachesenglish.com/eleven-scary-stories-of-the-gothic-in-literature/" target="_blank">This list of Gothic short stories</a> has Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allen Poe, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner on it, and also includes "The Yellow Wallpaper," mandatory reading, in my opinion, for any Liberal Arts major in the making.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a <a href="https://www.thegothiclibrary.com/african-american-writers-of-gothic-literature/" target="_blank">list of Black authors of Gothic fiction</a> that I've put on my own must-read list. I read <a href="https://amzn.to/47FAdTD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl</a> back in undergrad as a slave narrative only and I've only read Octavia Butler's post-apocalyptic <a href="https://amzn.to/48Arh3c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Parable of the Sower</a>, so I'm very interested in reading/re-reading the works from this list through a Gothic lit lens! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="tumblr-post" data-did="271c9ad553a2150fe160933e397bce6b04535610" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:Gbi92hlGjHlv1Z1bps1nuQ/691764710603980800/v2"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/string-star-lights/691764710603980800/rocky-horror-picture-show-asks-what-would-happen">https://www.tumblr.com/string-star-lights/691764710603980800/rocky-horror-picture-show-asks-what-would-happen</a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><script async="" src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script>
</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm trying very hard not to raise a bunch of hopelessly unemployable Lit majors like myself, so even with high school English, and EVEN with high school AP English Literature and Composition, which is the teenager's current study, I like to extend the analyses beyond just written text to a wide variety of other cultural artifacts, and the work beyond just reading and writing to a wide variety of other intellectual explorations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortunately, movies, music, and theatre are all very easy to incorporate into a literature study, because you can use many of the same analytical processes with them. They tend, especially movies and theatre performances, to hit the same plot and thematic beats in much the same way as literature does, so it doesn't feel like a big stretch for a teenager to write about them while writing about literature. But you can then help your student notice the parts that ARE different, like costume and setting and acting choices and audience, and adding those analyses helps them deepen their thinking on their topic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As part of this study, we watched <a href="https://amzn.to/3SigHYX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Rocky Horror Picture Show</a>, both at a family-friendly live show and (because the teenager fell asleep during it, lol) at home. Especially if your student has already studied <u>Frankenstein</u>, <u>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</u> is semiotically rich with its overtly mad scientist and self-aware Frankenstein's monster and heroine who is required to choose between man and monster. If you watch a live show, you also get to add in the audience as further cultural artifact; the concept of a self-aware, non-consensually modified character has a lot of appeal to a lot of people, and witnessing an audience seeing the experience as a celebration instead of a taboo is enriching. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also recommend <a href="https://amzn.to/3tUKCgi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hunger</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/47Ceqfu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pan's Labyrinth</a> as semiotically rich Gothic horror films, although Pan's Labyrinth scares the snot out of me! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For a more in-person folklore/social history/anthropology element, and depending on how scaredy your own teenagers may be, it can be very fun and intellectually rewarding to visit a haunted house (in October), or attend one of those paranormal/ghost hunting excursions that a lot of cities have. Even <a href="https://thesanatorium.net/paranormal/" target="_blank">my own corn-fed Indiana locale hosts several such events</a>. Place semiotics is easy to see during these activities, and although analysis of a first-person event can be extremely challenging for this age range, it's a useful skill that teenagers should start developing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Other hands-on activities for this study include creating one's own Gothic art (take a rabbit trail down the path of Gothic art for a day or two first, because that's another whole entire fascinating exploration!); DIYing a model haunted house that fits into some of the themes you've explored (if you do this, add in some extra STEM skills by <a href="https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/files/re-createpeppersghostsmallfilepdf" target="_blank">incorporating this Pepper's Ghost element</a>); or, of course, writing one's own Gothic short story or poem. If you've got a bit of a reluctant writer, or just one who gets writer's block, it's fun and low-stress to first have them write themes, elements, characters, etc. on notecards to pick at random to be included in the work, or even to write a circular story, in which every five minutes you pass your stories back and forth and collaborate on all of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And in my family, we end essentially every study with a themed family dinner and movie night. Is the most Gothic dinner food bloody finger breadsticks, or is it mummy head meatloaf? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You're all wrong. It's mashed potatoes carefully unmolded from my skull pan, with pats of butter melting in the eye sockets.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">P.S. Want even more high school lit studies? My kids really love the Gothic vibe, and we've done full studies on both <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-snarky-frankenstein-unit-study.html" target="_blank">Frankenstein </a>and <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-snarky-dracula-literature-study.html" target="_blank">Dracula</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">P.P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, road trips to weird old cemeteries, handmade homeschool high school studies, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-17675990150794571092024-01-16T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-16T07:00:00.126-05:00My England Travel Journal Is... Excessive<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">It took an extra six months and a final boost of half of <a href="https://amzn.to/3tHFxrS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Crown Season 3</a> on DVD, but my England travel journal finally went from this--</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFFXgcH8pC6s9E9Q9j1KLVdBhp295XiG5yc3ue9T44lktgxoNHrUrtKWQVEFMWtPbQOx1QSIBs8xndx8ruOuYwn-6_qgTDQZuQynWenVduVpWwg-CSv_5RAP-pLdgQh_zJHDPdVhrMntMjN_e5lqxdg5oLpQn3NJ1CwQSAWYXC4kY5hCk4fZ76pBnkyjJ/s1250/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFFXgcH8pC6s9E9Q9j1KLVdBhp295XiG5yc3ue9T44lktgxoNHrUrtKWQVEFMWtPbQOx1QSIBs8xndx8ruOuYwn-6_qgTDQZuQynWenVduVpWwg-CSv_5RAP-pLdgQh_zJHDPdVhrMntMjN_e5lqxdg5oLpQn3NJ1CwQSAWYXC4kY5hCk4fZ76pBnkyjJ/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">--to this!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvLrgRkQQGczS-XrfaCCqPiKdPSqTifJGLwfDhgOdDJ37hZucsIAcOyzhVkLXGgFpBaX6LcdPiNcvFLvBeLPLwhj1hwPFW7xWKKMIja8G-zI5S1BpNt-MwAxsU_EEdOHU6MiOeFyIsCN0mtl5aoiQ7WvPAPzCCprB6Tzw0gZFBkrBP02w58wBw6Gl1wbF/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvLrgRkQQGczS-XrfaCCqPiKdPSqTifJGLwfDhgOdDJ37hZucsIAcOyzhVkLXGgFpBaX6LcdPiNcvFLvBeLPLwhj1hwPFW7xWKKMIja8G-zI5S1BpNt-MwAxsU_EEdOHU6MiOeFyIsCN0mtl5aoiQ7WvPAPzCCprB6Tzw0gZFBkrBP02w58wBw6Gl1wbF/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It might be just a tad overstuffed...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The actual travel journaling didn't take six months, but I also wanted to incorporate all of my favorite family photos from the trip and some of the ephemera I'd collected. </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie09e6eX3SV_XM1XF9L1VbIzsUmRlSM380IqO0HitCvs3J4N3HLtHUa9pUdZGT17FAorHLNzvYndaUv2bG_ljwpK2gElG8ckmg5mcvXuxBDpbWTUZ-nrMytVwodw8pOUbkjblXJ4IVVjSWZl2YSar7gzV7MhxelhCjcIEJSAKS8mjl9YOrP__gXaSKqySJ/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie09e6eX3SV_XM1XF9L1VbIzsUmRlSM380IqO0HitCvs3J4N3HLtHUa9pUdZGT17FAorHLNzvYndaUv2bG_ljwpK2gElG8ckmg5mcvXuxBDpbWTUZ-nrMytVwodw8pOUbkjblXJ4IVVjSWZl2YSar7gzV7MhxelhCjcIEJSAKS8mjl9YOrP__gXaSKqySJ/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then at the Half-Price Books Outlet one day I found an old <a href="https://amzn.to/425r2La" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eyewitness Great Britain</a>, the kind where every page is illuminated with all the little pictures and maps and infographics, and things got a little out of hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiAmvs6M9H4VsvKNdI0dYqVzbVJFr6QktsWIeysPC5KOkn5zO6WOvn6DLTv1frP4cjjwH9JFjWc0gxDl6ELnxp4VuEauoNGfU8CwiGRTn_PlQUznB86L-k6M5PN5I5ydRx9FW9_fvGHdmL1TdQKkNQdiM8jCMLZ1SAZrQa4NBr_zCNo-w7I3zbJX98E1Y/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiAmvs6M9H4VsvKNdI0dYqVzbVJFr6QktsWIeysPC5KOkn5zO6WOvn6DLTv1frP4cjjwH9JFjWc0gxDl6ELnxp4VuEauoNGfU8CwiGRTn_PlQUznB86L-k6M5PN5I5ydRx9FW9_fvGHdmL1TdQKkNQdiM8jCMLZ1SAZrQa4NBr_zCNo-w7I3zbJX98E1Y/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the book may indeed be morbidly overstuffed, but now I'll never forget the name of the <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/08/day-11-in-england-to-avalon-with-king.html" target="_blank">delicious ice lolly that I got at the ice cream truck after making it down from Glastonbury Tor</a> without having a heart attack--</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xfRzmZSHjhDmaQlVpkk3JhdDc6QNHzWSaOfAYdl9uYgYJ7Ib983g908I3aQFuURe14hIR6iAsaynaYyDIB0jwu_3oacKB7Zc37TORUPuGomooAeVoxkg6410yEP3HcHyaJtLkBu-MgZtPMcNucuVhmfF4nHQ1hC7QQ8RTMsqCNCuZRrv_S_TnL_D1xr/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xfRzmZSHjhDmaQlVpkk3JhdDc6QNHzWSaOfAYdl9uYgYJ7Ib983g908I3aQFuURe14hIR6iAsaynaYyDIB0jwu_3oacKB7Zc37TORUPuGomooAeVoxkg6410yEP3HcHyaJtLkBu-MgZtPMcNucuVhmfF4nHQ1hC7QQ8RTMsqCNCuZRrv_S_TnL_D1xr/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><p>--or the excitement/exhaustion of <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/06/day-2-in-england-in-which-i-meet.html" target="_blank">our first day in London</a>, and how maybe some of us possibly wanted to curl up on the grass and die in front of Big Ben, but we rallied and toured <a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/" target="_blank">Westminster Abbey instead</a>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLYnNAomMME2v0zr85JpwxeI37F-JFBYAzpzhlGZJuA5KumARBboqteuKX9XNZPHmtPNz8JPlcNXBIHIO8wRSIDyPYUEljMWefr2oDAvm3BbiWzTkhA_PfeoayR2prg0Oyh09VQLhthQocYyApPkca_ff4tLWlmntyu3tt4uoExbZWsnZdpCBfvr17Zv3/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLYnNAomMME2v0zr85JpwxeI37F-JFBYAzpzhlGZJuA5KumARBboqteuKX9XNZPHmtPNz8JPlcNXBIHIO8wRSIDyPYUEljMWefr2oDAvm3BbiWzTkhA_PfeoayR2prg0Oyh09VQLhthQocYyApPkca_ff4tLWlmntyu3tt4uoExbZWsnZdpCBfvr17Zv3/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I ever want to remind myself of the <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/07/day-6-in-england-pax-lodge-tower-of.html" target="_blank">floorplan of the White Tower</a>, or reassure myself that yes, the Uber Boat schedule IS completely impossible to interpret and no, I <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/07/day-7-in-england-back-and-forth-by-boat.html" target="_blank">do not EVER want to get back on that boat again</a> no matter how lovely the Tower Bridge looks from the water, all I have to do is turn to my travel journal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZOF7flLxmFD6wWJqUUEtD8hshvRmWy_OH-Q7Vps7M7trCxazUPvqhoE51qZc7C46SvNxPlBheLkPo7wVAm4uN2SSqZADRpGQxbGE5zFABRMAUCLA04omOiC9h24iexKUGfZNxVCxZIn7D1_NpE-rs7kt-BpnbNbkOadHtC3g1LcUgb2NW-JBdI54nqa5/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZOF7flLxmFD6wWJqUUEtD8hshvRmWy_OH-Q7Vps7M7trCxazUPvqhoE51qZc7C46SvNxPlBheLkPo7wVAm4uN2SSqZADRpGQxbGE5zFABRMAUCLA04omOiC9h24iexKUGfZNxVCxZIn7D1_NpE-rs7kt-BpnbNbkOadHtC3g1LcUgb2NW-JBdI54nqa5/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can also use my travel journal to remind myself that <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/07/day-8-in-england-in-which-we-draw-dread.html" target="_blank">I DO want to go back to Canterbury one day</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYVcD9QjH82cuDBroUjVfskZjRmlDm2zI_o0IU7Obfo2K6HetiJcf2-EKx35xyULMNFuEcJW1nT2V_MuSd9asth4XLWFH3FykEyqJr1xJQJE0xHNR017t-NPJSxa-rudGqx54ssh17cQQi8J9G5V4rGfxxnZq7vMU21lw2bCRe4drkqsWO7sgQZPAVxcV/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYVcD9QjH82cuDBroUjVfskZjRmlDm2zI_o0IU7Obfo2K6HetiJcf2-EKx35xyULMNFuEcJW1nT2V_MuSd9asth4XLWFH3FykEyqJr1xJQJE0xHNR017t-NPJSxa-rudGqx54ssh17cQQi8J9G5V4rGfxxnZq7vMU21lw2bCRe4drkqsWO7sgQZPAVxcV/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, of course, anytime I want to debate with myself about which of the approximately 1,000 photos I took of my family at Stonehenge is the most marvelous, I can just flip through my travel journal and admire them all:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs3VgNKNxwvUayDnI57RxciJQoAB0PpdxBxRErAViJteo3U2j9Z3eRH0yw2wufE9ceYCIfZg6009IXMozPCuVbMhAFv59WZAYhQPwIV4aXq7wkzu6nWMJwzRYD-craBanfMzU_WXptqjE8OtsBPJ4pNjpEVwsGe9npq_U3nhRBmf4QJM8N85q-xXdqIGT/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs3VgNKNxwvUayDnI57RxciJQoAB0PpdxBxRErAViJteo3U2j9Z3eRH0yw2wufE9ceYCIfZg6009IXMozPCuVbMhAFv59WZAYhQPwIV4aXq7wkzu6nWMJwzRYD-craBanfMzU_WXptqjE8OtsBPJ4pNjpEVwsGe9npq_U3nhRBmf4QJM8N85q-xXdqIGT/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguknC0OsjPmCN9ZUZ6XgosQwy_4RpFM_SvNc96SxwSXP0HnlpiEPBWWgUz_zaFBsoquZahTrYYCN5Le6TcB7a0t6Zsw3ujwYeXUyVLZE0kd6-30PPS9no6Hs_0-nRbRhDQpwZtaaasU0gNdvLrcMvyP93X1gj1oEW_u6j0kzhRxvlVCYy_lkQ8ZF4OJsWv/s1000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguknC0OsjPmCN9ZUZ6XgosQwy_4RpFM_SvNc96SxwSXP0HnlpiEPBWWgUz_zaFBsoquZahTrYYCN5Le6TcB7a0t6Zsw3ujwYeXUyVLZE0kd6-30PPS9no6Hs_0-nRbRhDQpwZtaaasU0gNdvLrcMvyP93X1gj1oEW_u6j0kzhRxvlVCYy_lkQ8ZF4OJsWv/s16000/England%20Travel%20Journal%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></div><br />It's the perfect final chapter to a perfect trip!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't think I've got any massive trips coming up this year, not with all the fun my partner and I are going to have adding a second college tuition to our bill schedule. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But we ARE going to New York City for a couple of days later this winter so I can finally see Hadestown on Broadway...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Okay, and my Girl Scout troop IS currently planning a spring trip to Boston...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And my younger kid and I might need to do some college visits after acceptances and financial aid offers come out...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And my older kid might be studying abroad next Fall, and if she does, well, it *would* be nice to go visit her...</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-81937395082744526202024-01-14T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-14T07:00:00.130-05:00Sew Nesting Fabric Baskets from Stash Fabric<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOyM1_Kc-S9zIoQUUHgap9MhMjZ8CdOCqxVcZ-pScJ4I4R2W0ew-kitiXVp61hIx70SNwafsakJDVY_P9DOeJMsSJUtMz2gAhkhDERr2g5o8zHVngXdTBqWLJoc5u40XzfXD0CAwWUTCtLsSQ4G_egYpvCk33s5qYTWPG6hYLRt2yLzyGG_0Sl97gFh49/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(14%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOyM1_Kc-S9zIoQUUHgap9MhMjZ8CdOCqxVcZ-pScJ4I4R2W0ew-kitiXVp61hIx70SNwafsakJDVY_P9DOeJMsSJUtMz2gAhkhDERr2g5o8zHVngXdTBqWLJoc5u40XzfXD0CAwWUTCtLsSQ4G_egYpvCk33s5qYTWPG6hYLRt2yLzyGG_0Sl97gFh49/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(14%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p><i>I originally posted this tutorial on <a href="https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/sew-nesting-fabric-baskets-stash/" target="_blank">Crafting a Green World in 2023</a>.</i></p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Nesting fabric baskets make sorting and storing all your stuff super easy!</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m willing to admit that I have too much stuff. But I mean, everyone has too much stuff, right? Please tell me that we ALL have too many books and mugs and LEGO sets and gel pens and plastic dinosaur figurines and interesting rocks… and they’re all important!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Other than getting rid of some of my stuff–which I am NOT willing to do!–I feel like keeping stuff contained and organized goes a long way towards making my house look only charmingly cluttered. Pile of interesting rocks on the bathroom counter? Put them in a cute fabric basket, and now they’re decorative! Soda can pop tops all over the kitchen table because the teenager “collects” them? That little fabric basket is the new pop top holding area!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last week, I showed you how to sew a single fabric basket. These nesting fabric baskets sew up just the same, but give you a lot of storage options. Sew a set in the same colorway from the same fabrics, and they’ll all match each other and your decor. Since they nest, they don’t take up a lot of storage space, but when you need them, you’ve got four whole baskets’ worth of storage!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To make a nesting set of four fabric baskets, you will need:</p><ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em 3em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">five squares of outside fabric for each basket. </span>You’ll need a set of five squares in each of the following dimensions: 6″x6″, 5″x5″, 4″x4″, and 3″x3″. I generally use quilting cotton for this, although I’ve also upcycled some curtain fabric that was definitely some kind of polyester, and it turned out beautifully. The outside fabric for the set of baskets in these photos is an old pair of dress pants.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">five squares of lining fabric for each basket.</span> You’ll need a set of five squares in each of the following dimensions: 6″x6″, 5″x5″, 4″x4″, and 3″x3″. Quilting cotton is also great for this, and it’s what I’ve used for the linings of these baskets, but I’ve also used old bedsheets or other random yardage in my stash.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">cutting and sewing supplies. </span>Fancy supplies like a <a href="https://amzn.to/3S1Fm3P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gridded cutting mat</a>, clear gridded quilting ruler, and <a href="https://amzn.to/3RGxGCH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">plastic sewing clips</a> are fun to have, but you can work with any ruler, straight pin, and sharp scissors.</li></ul><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 1: Measure and cut the fabric for the four nesting fabric baskets.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftVZje9FsagfKZZxSdL8FjTYvTysaf0eW40EC3qXAp1Wtgu32IwynsF1vcruwvzbg15VNA8y6KEE_dnEXqQQi960amhNqNXNDPSz7F0EHYKosMrjYZpqf2SnaZbbgPznWPjrZZ0RQX8qzmG95j_NbPzzFLB-RzueaHbyWuHwZLD2K9BD8YzmKIwjFy1K1/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(1%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftVZje9FsagfKZZxSdL8FjTYvTysaf0eW40EC3qXAp1Wtgu32IwynsF1vcruwvzbg15VNA8y6KEE_dnEXqQQi960amhNqNXNDPSz7F0EHYKosMrjYZpqf2SnaZbbgPznWPjrZZ0RQX8qzmG95j_NbPzzFLB-RzueaHbyWuHwZLD2K9BD8YzmKIwjFy1K1/w640-h426/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(1%20of%2014).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the 6″ basket, cut five 6″x6″ outside pieces and five 6″x6″ inside pieces.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the 5″ basket, cut five 5″x5″ outside pieces and five 5″x5″ inside pieces.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the 4″ basket, cut five 4″x4″ outside pieces and five 4″x4″ inside pieces.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the 3″ basket, cut five 3″x3″ outside pieces and five 3″x3″ inside pieces.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 2: Sew the pieces of each basket into a T-shape.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In order to make these baskets look the best, you need to be <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2020/10/how-to-sew-quilted-rainbow-mug-rug.html" target="_blank">REALLy precise with your seams here</a>. If you have trouble sewing a perfect seam, consider drawing yourself a sewing line in washable ink.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You will sew each piece with a precise .5″ seam, and you will start and stop precisely .5″ from the end of each edges. I know it’s fiddly, but your baskets will look soooo nice this way!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9wJxwiRqRQrDyYr6pe8xDKhuWbgtToQVCRAQmvzClyiurK1goh0DBakxfGKkGflsB1B6xArz-7opplAIy2SRwaBJXJHizfPe3l1Fj8F8jUcCi2fGOpCu7BOFlLmq_nzVsgnqo7ZVbdsg8pAAEkN4gHqB9KAOHFtqe75DDJ01gTcQwoQHgb3ySc1Jjom_/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(4%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9wJxwiRqRQrDyYr6pe8xDKhuWbgtToQVCRAQmvzClyiurK1goh0DBakxfGKkGflsB1B6xArz-7opplAIy2SRwaBJXJHizfPe3l1Fj8F8jUcCi2fGOpCu7BOFlLmq_nzVsgnqo7ZVbdsg8pAAEkN4gHqB9KAOHFtqe75DDJ01gTcQwoQHgb3ySc1Jjom_/w640-h426/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(4%20of%2014).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Check out the photo below, in which I’m sewing one of the cross pieces of the T:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwE1SBPIASuGRMYvhGJkhlCiWS3S0KHRpKQ6BIm6zrec-msOMDc42wl2Sv40iyKu-E70pWgP1nr-9vl7VT2QvlXZNhscsUlwppiaFIz6B9_5xPJvRM_HVYDKXtNFoKIMyf59kRWw3upo55H-O2yXWeFJZnZi8CtZ2mMc1ont6vlR2e7EKZ3zohktZiw10i/s1500/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(3%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwE1SBPIASuGRMYvhGJkhlCiWS3S0KHRpKQ6BIm6zrec-msOMDc42wl2Sv40iyKu-E70pWgP1nr-9vl7VT2QvlXZNhscsUlwppiaFIz6B9_5xPJvRM_HVYDKXtNFoKIMyf59kRWw3upo55H-O2yXWeFJZnZi8CtZ2mMc1ont6vlR2e7EKZ3zohktZiw10i/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(3%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s a zoomed-in view of where I stopped my needle:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFdWzlHsd_VM1sfOskFV_ZWjuYultCVcxW2MUbC6B2riRs6e8EDa9i1xHq9kN1ztmNSin_gzZ2xwEE7yJeEHxlxHgDcpoLgbGidlY0oBexpAW9GgsHTKSwzLFlBL6R6XD1banM7Gh_T0EuksE9plLgyweuxaqXQA2Wy6UyduH2WJ7KULtP-yBD0sGiRUw/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(2%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFdWzlHsd_VM1sfOskFV_ZWjuYultCVcxW2MUbC6B2riRs6e8EDa9i1xHq9kN1ztmNSin_gzZ2xwEE7yJeEHxlxHgDcpoLgbGidlY0oBexpAW9GgsHTKSwzLFlBL6R6XD1banM7Gh_T0EuksE9plLgyweuxaqXQA2Wy6UyduH2WJ7KULtP-yBD0sGiRUw/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(2%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those precise .5″ seams allow you to use the stitching lines as your starting and stopping points for the cross pieces.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 3: Sew adjacent sides together to form a cube with an open top.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt74226ToGgmNMq5A3LwQzORmq91iXdeeAL-ClWsRC2-l4_giKE-rYbjndYkCEAAYY9z0lZN1D484zLkdBUT4awRXTgpSVG_tqg-4BzIWa0jtz9uyah5_D7O9d8CV5xbTJ6o39CJeL2q1-H2HAEPTy7f6tuafO0Kt0GwU3CCACr8Zd6DRH31AYgwQ_OC5O/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(5%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt74226ToGgmNMq5A3LwQzORmq91iXdeeAL-ClWsRC2-l4_giKE-rYbjndYkCEAAYY9z0lZN1D484zLkdBUT4awRXTgpSVG_tqg-4BzIWa0jtz9uyah5_D7O9d8CV5xbTJ6o39CJeL2q1-H2HAEPTy7f6tuafO0Kt0GwU3CCACr8Zd6DRH31AYgwQ_OC5O/w640-h640/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(5%20of%2014).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sew each adjacent side together, again with a .5″ seam allowance. You can start sewing right at the top of each seam, but down at the corners, stop again .5″ from the end.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5tJozbaN7YYILZ6N76pSJsT1dKatGdRZEWvYx8j2WTIJJ12z5NL1-qeHFBcf6BsHUNrpt85ExYVqMNvj2mpzEee-N0nCYhyQX3UIoKH2SOksEe09duGY1-hfENhwWugpCX7FqkoDifSMDiOy11iPPwZ6qfnc563EVrb4oovt6lJl7P7OIH4JdAawvA42/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(6%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5tJozbaN7YYILZ6N76pSJsT1dKatGdRZEWvYx8j2WTIJJ12z5NL1-qeHFBcf6BsHUNrpt85ExYVqMNvj2mpzEee-N0nCYhyQX3UIoKH2SOksEe09duGY1-hfENhwWugpCX7FqkoDifSMDiOy11iPPwZ6qfnc563EVrb4oovt6lJl7P7OIH4JdAawvA42/w640-h426/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(6%20of%2014).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’ve been really precise sewing your T, you will see exactly where to stop stitching, because that’s where all the stitch lines will meet. If you overshot on a piece or two, though, just snip the stitches that went too far:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzyHGDkSpy-Zi1Qa9OVeQky1Yn8Idu3YeT81e9ahejBFMNi3CirLMmNRGRAuWooAiCxwMuCs1pSYmWrsunyaUfJJ04ZDC1nwZTf3NzDE-bZ60TCz81BWgsgl2HSKNq4m7xHzLRARF2t-XyVB0Lf5FT72OkL9CB1VVAhDaLGziUlm3791YM3TIyNDj4WkL/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(7%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzyHGDkSpy-Zi1Qa9OVeQky1Yn8Idu3YeT81e9ahejBFMNi3CirLMmNRGRAuWooAiCxwMuCs1pSYmWrsunyaUfJJ04ZDC1nwZTf3NzDE-bZ60TCz81BWgsgl2HSKNq4m7xHzLRARF2t-XyVB0Lf5FT72OkL9CB1VVAhDaLGziUlm3791YM3TIyNDj4WkL/w640-h426/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(7%20of%2014).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just snip the couple of stiches that you overshot by, and you're good to go!</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 4: Insert the lining into the outer fabric and sew a fold-over binding.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAw8yPKkRShrQsHIHtX0z7mCaB3alqM1hk64EVpPdd6983xhRq8CGh3G4ih8vVeUgwRkApwhiEBLU277jj5rqfc8HGoqdSjogdkZ57f8xUJ6ui4E30RbZgZIjDCJBd8yGBmJz6K0e2JWmppXTiyNkwSsD2_WB_1E93cf3QuVs_Mqh-eRYGijgANqUbLTl/s1500/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(9%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAw8yPKkRShrQsHIHtX0z7mCaB3alqM1hk64EVpPdd6983xhRq8CGh3G4ih8vVeUgwRkApwhiEBLU277jj5rqfc8HGoqdSjogdkZ57f8xUJ6ui4E30RbZgZIjDCJBd8yGBmJz6K0e2JWmppXTiyNkwSsD2_WB_1E93cf3QuVs_Mqh-eRYGijgANqUbLTl/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(9%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Turn the outside basket right side out, but leave the inside basket inside out. Insert the inside basket into the outside basket, and line up all the corners and side seams.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fold the top edges down twice, so that the raw edge is encased. Pin or clip the fold in place:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWmxCSWvJDvDX9GFojKqqbmJsPA4q5SUepS0Lqer0H06xl1gydOjx8VYoX6f0Lq1Ffxy1eWtFUDFNjEuI9FKv3KsokSAs3HrT4__zE_edAaFsn4XPZl34jDQGpTgf_FCmaPqjHcsvPD5c1sSK3IbsIT2EM3xTx0fvupvqDsn1zI7L2n4LVvNKnQJnIINE/s1500/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(10%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWmxCSWvJDvDX9GFojKqqbmJsPA4q5SUepS0Lqer0H06xl1gydOjx8VYoX6f0Lq1Ffxy1eWtFUDFNjEuI9FKv3KsokSAs3HrT4__zE_edAaFsn4XPZl34jDQGpTgf_FCmaPqjHcsvPD5c1sSK3IbsIT2EM3xTx0fvupvqDsn1zI7L2n4LVvNKnQJnIINE/w426-h640/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(10%20of%2014).jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Edge stitch around the binding to secure it. It gets trickier the smaller the basket is!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL7Fodf0yetqRG6JivN_DfGLT-IRv4Mk75E-9GL5NdBK2XU0timQUIJBblm_gltuueGhk0d2m_WjXHz-hxqOV1fnsoQ-RhpbvKa-s-tf1RQEt1qrUcGN0fkBppNkiqCNVA4bd0JDtMTVvd5INckPgVB2_v4HWwSPTJQLjiO1quPSkeM-OFhRhSD-xjWLq/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(12%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL7Fodf0yetqRG6JivN_DfGLT-IRv4Mk75E-9GL5NdBK2XU0timQUIJBblm_gltuueGhk0d2m_WjXHz-hxqOV1fnsoQ-RhpbvKa-s-tf1RQEt1qrUcGN0fkBppNkiqCNVA4bd0JDtMTVvd5INckPgVB2_v4HWwSPTJQLjiO1quPSkeM-OFhRhSD-xjWLq/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(12%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That’s one of the reasons why 3″x3″ is about the smallest you can go.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Look how fiddly that 3"x3" basket is to finish!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXKz99PUSNXv636cQle-eRV27kQztzqF97Q2eJGkMQLTvBgqAgACTFgATF7ttITAhqCAXIIl4WKDoEVpCFOgEN4miox-u1hWc5F70E0iCiHOs0WI-1BaCk77KI29tYFKvXg1Uk7GK44gv9kRVbTyPi52SSTSFk_aOOkYDpYVCI977H5nVDidW2no20ptK/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(11%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXKz99PUSNXv636cQle-eRV27kQztzqF97Q2eJGkMQLTvBgqAgACTFgATF7ttITAhqCAXIIl4WKDoEVpCFOgEN4miox-u1hWc5F70E0iCiHOs0WI-1BaCk77KI29tYFKvXg1Uk7GK44gv9kRVbTyPi52SSTSFk_aOOkYDpYVCI977H5nVDidW2no20ptK/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(11%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I especially love how great these baskets are for sorting projects in progress, like toys, puzzle pieces, and sewing supplies while I work. And when they’re not needed, they look so neat and tidy nested together!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdl793PUWnxVSjQ7an1lYu5frGckeKHM_RSHDOSYmjHQ0Gek4bDlYIPnT_sgcZ8S4778N6VAhNxWlEJylngrqWm7Nt6jDJJuc3IXfzR37XKYhkHg0Lm5zvaqrxWlVPChyphenhyphenHNUbeWU7Srki-qpcSbj1C90qjfGbXM-3BrU_VH-0MaqAWaDARvZYS9wE2EX3/s1000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(13%20of%2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdl793PUWnxVSjQ7an1lYu5frGckeKHM_RSHDOSYmjHQ0Gek4bDlYIPnT_sgcZ8S4778N6VAhNxWlEJylngrqWm7Nt6jDJJuc3IXfzR37XKYhkHg0Lm5zvaqrxWlVPChyphenhyphenHNUbeWU7Srki-qpcSbj1C90qjfGbXM-3BrU_VH-0MaqAWaDARvZYS9wE2EX3/s16000/Nesting%20Fabric%20Baskets%20(13%20of%2014).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These basket sets are a great stashbusting project, because you can make a set or two for every room. I used up that entire pair of dress pants making cute, useful fabric baskets for my house. My stash fabric bin is thrilled!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-43880635345647085652024-01-07T07:00:00.001-05:002024-01-07T07:00:00.141-05:00How to Make the Easiest Sewn Fabric Baskets<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpsHSnw-E75nwgoc5CqPjgj_NcSMMFelxYvkJOjRdw_2uIHZ2fncH5-44zmBbhIczTuHl_rXfvjtduaEwNG1jeEHtHxAIZD6ssNO7RNWUnJ8YwR8YhmCdePth8CI-II78LXllUJXtxBx7zV2A4z5vs_RMvA9SapoKV1SvX9TyofhfK75GG4bjXMKSKrUk/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpsHSnw-E75nwgoc5CqPjgj_NcSMMFelxYvkJOjRdw_2uIHZ2fncH5-44zmBbhIczTuHl_rXfvjtduaEwNG1jeEHtHxAIZD6ssNO7RNWUnJ8YwR8YhmCdePth8CI-II78LXllUJXtxBx7zV2A4z5vs_RMvA9SapoKV1SvX9TyofhfK75GG4bjXMKSKrUk/s16000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(10%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you have enough fabric baskets to hold all your stuff, then obviously you don’t have too much stuff!</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So what if my solution to my minor tendency to hoard interesting rocks, empty thread spools, soda can pull tabs, and pretty matchbooks is just to toss them into these beautiful sewn fabric baskets? The stuff is out of the way, attractively stored, and if one day you really need me to make you some pull tab chainmail, I will be able to get right to it!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These fabric baskets are purposefully a bit on the droopy side, because I don’t like to sew with artificial materials like interfacing. A little interfacing or even cereal box cardboard would firm them up, though, if you prefer that look. I like my baskets to look as slouchy as I am!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To make these baskets, then, you won’t need interfacing, but you WILL need the following:</p><ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em 3em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">five 6″ squares of outside fabric. </span>I generally use quilting cotton for this, although I’ve also upcycled some curtain fabric that was definitely some kind of polyester, and it turned out beautifully.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">five 6″ squares of lining fabric. </span>Quilting cotton is also great for this, but I’ve also used old bedsheets or other random yardage in my stash.</li><li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">cutting and sewing supplies. </span>I know it’s just one more thing to buy, but I finally gave in and bought myself some of those <a href="https://amzn.to/41LdqEo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">plastic sewing clips</a> that are on trend. I’m not as obsessed with them as TikTok, is, and they’re a lot less eco-friendly than the steel pins that were good enough for your granny, but I WILL say that I never again want to sew binding without them!</li></ul><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 1: Cut the outside and the lining fabric.</h3><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMCjb9ai4ChvVZtYqQz6Gd-Yoc1Q1F0eaTVIM6XqF9iKgRUXR_YMbQ4gzcbNkrN4m6x8NlUHCgoAKewDiqSHzAyT2kyfoPR40Inx-jsoSprcef-pOP5rmzzAaMQvJ67lqZcDGS2TMVEaH5z_KfmuOB3_dPGHYpvxL2dySw1mcslLrMumJaQtnRnLuAYzY/s1500/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMCjb9ai4ChvVZtYqQz6Gd-Yoc1Q1F0eaTVIM6XqF9iKgRUXR_YMbQ4gzcbNkrN4m6x8NlUHCgoAKewDiqSHzAyT2kyfoPR40Inx-jsoSprcef-pOP5rmzzAaMQvJ67lqZcDGS2TMVEaH5z_KfmuOB3_dPGHYpvxL2dySw1mcslLrMumJaQtnRnLuAYzY/w426-h640/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(8%20of%2010).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cut five pieces of fabric that are 6″ square for the outside of the basket, and another five pieces for the inside. Arrange your pieces like this:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGB2GgMLJWfNutsynrs_ESTnQrujzKjJJZRmKcn2iaa7GYWXZsALyZsMsTdOhLL4Gpb7nPqVzrel66OWm1NXGeDjry6ATwe5P6I5dCwSNGDsx8R5YoGPKs_YXbeu1eQ7zygyR4qOoTd7Loy4RlGXZbwgkG3zMJCWIZgN4-mxGO69VFHobyYWMY4yuY6vh/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGB2GgMLJWfNutsynrs_ESTnQrujzKjJJZRmKcn2iaa7GYWXZsALyZsMsTdOhLL4Gpb7nPqVzrel66OWm1NXGeDjry6ATwe5P6I5dCwSNGDsx8R5YoGPKs_YXbeu1eQ7zygyR4qOoTd7Loy4RlGXZbwgkG3zMJCWIZgN4-mxGO69VFHobyYWMY4yuY6vh/w640-h512/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(2%20of%2010).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’ve ever in your life done any math, then right now you’re asking me why you have to cut five different squares of fabric for these baskets, when obviously you could just cut one piece of fabric three times that length and save yourself sewing two seams.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The answer is that 1) I own a 6″x12″ gridded quilting ruler that I’m obsessed with and all I do all day is think of things to cut that are 6″ or 12″, and 2) the seams help the basket have crisper edges. If you want to save yourself a couple of seams I won’t stop you, but your basket won’t look as cute.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also, if you’re sewing a print fabric, like my pink one in the finished photos, you can rotate each piece so that its aligned in the proper direction before you sew it. No upside-down prints on YOUR baskets!</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 2: Sew the pieces into a T-shape.</h3><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2KoyZpeK8lmfMGwu4nPvL_ZRr1Ip0iT6vQ-iUbon_ebEe4LFQ9C0Llbme83VZ6ofIHujBAlZqZJhygJ_A0GQVb4IzYI2HJVYx5oAuDb6io_6eDRcwNQh3ny4zh5N9hk2POnFWhaazBjYgswmoD2JXUiwB3L1s3gDiRGL6t8d5MM7QuwjkNsAFT06Mhpw/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2KoyZpeK8lmfMGwu4nPvL_ZRr1Ip0iT6vQ-iUbon_ebEe4LFQ9C0Llbme83VZ6ofIHujBAlZqZJhygJ_A0GQVb4IzYI2HJVYx5oAuDb6io_6eDRcwNQh3ny4zh5N9hk2POnFWhaazBjYgswmoD2JXUiwB3L1s3gDiRGL6t8d5MM7QuwjkNsAFT06Mhpw/w640-h640/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(1%20of%2010).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In order to make these baskets look the best, you need to be REALLy precise with your seams here. If you have trouble sewing a perfect seam, consider drawing yourself a sewing line in washable ink.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06bXnnH2WdrqQnSi-TrXH2S9yrhYDsnJ93tL3gx98tn0fOlLRiMXv3o3Tmo7avTBqqcbyd8ZmMZzvY8m4wxSQIn1puE7Jta8XBqZ4lsnXdlbsz-YsDICkq5nRyPqIh0J_a4S7F-PviOqyHuzMvRd9FqeaZZHz-RRfD8b3jQ5BGTSCvHft9WFpyxI5ngWs/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06bXnnH2WdrqQnSi-TrXH2S9yrhYDsnJ93tL3gx98tn0fOlLRiMXv3o3Tmo7avTBqqcbyd8ZmMZzvY8m4wxSQIn1puE7Jta8XBqZ4lsnXdlbsz-YsDICkq5nRyPqIh0J_a4S7F-PviOqyHuzMvRd9FqeaZZHz-RRfD8b3jQ5BGTSCvHft9WFpyxI5ngWs/w640-h640/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(4%20of%2010).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You will sew each piece with a precise .5″ seam, and you will start and stop precisely .5″ from the end of each edges. I know it’s fiddly, but your baskets will look soooo nice this way!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ironing each seam open also really helps you sew precise seams on those cross-pieces. In the photo below, the stitching line is my starting point for sewing a cross-piece. At the end of the seam, the other stitching line is my stopping point!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTjEgoafRmlNIqj4uUduQZ1JSCzoLwpG6qSF2HR-zyk3AbnzM3YBh9NsHxLx9TZjcjpUmA8dOhfaLnhgIcVFjjc9thm-YKgX_U5a4v4re1llhFZ6p4EdpqkseoEvUbmpi5E8ir9A2QMcBJky6I4Nq-bcjPeAFZsUmMkKR-p8TRyY9k-HZAzdiSCKOYeQj/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTjEgoafRmlNIqj4uUduQZ1JSCzoLwpG6qSF2HR-zyk3AbnzM3YBh9NsHxLx9TZjcjpUmA8dOhfaLnhgIcVFjjc9thm-YKgX_U5a4v4re1llhFZ6p4EdpqkseoEvUbmpi5E8ir9A2QMcBJky6I4Nq-bcjPeAFZsUmMkKR-p8TRyY9k-HZAzdiSCKOYeQj/s16000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(3%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do this for both the outside fabric and the lining fabric, until you have two perfect T pieces.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 3: Sew adjacent sides together to form a cube with an open top.</h3><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sew each adjacent side together, again with a .5″ seam allowance. You can start sewing right at the top of each seam, but down at the corners, stop again .5″ from the end. If you’ve been really precise sewing your T, you will see exactly where to stop stitching, because that’s where all the stitch lines will meet. If you overshot on a piece or two, though, just snip the stitches that went too far.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Step 4: Insert the lining into the outer fabric and sew a fold-over binding.</h3><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNE8Loa-TJs2OB4wcTm3YZumIjCd-L9_kNMyxdAjjqCf-x_TPLBgfm9w7zIlRU7zJ1LvS3bkvMT4OPdF9azB2zSTDjnu8D8a6r_Diib_wOXKvmXunXfd6NWSXzHexJrJyJOe_bk3BCEHr9o2WMpa3u18_NA_iDxwTX47HTJ3DMLDnddunMMbU2mBIrptJ/s1500/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNE8Loa-TJs2OB4wcTm3YZumIjCd-L9_kNMyxdAjjqCf-x_TPLBgfm9w7zIlRU7zJ1LvS3bkvMT4OPdF9azB2zSTDjnu8D8a6r_Diib_wOXKvmXunXfd6NWSXzHexJrJyJOe_bk3BCEHr9o2WMpa3u18_NA_iDxwTX47HTJ3DMLDnddunMMbU2mBIrptJ/s16000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(5%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Insert the lining fabric into the outer fabric, wrong sides together. Make sure the corners match and that the seams are lined up.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fold the top of the lining and the outer fabric over twice, so that the raw edges of both pieces are enclosed. Two .25″ folds will give you a perfectly square basket, but feel free to fold them over more if you’d like a shallower basket and a wider binding.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pin the binding well with the pin or clip of your choice!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxHqIjJA7ja3f7DqEIHdM8cLKYYZfqOooYj40Rxm9344EXlHefK6SDhnlEmHzb8IoO6777Gz2ZPNejXFFOjrOQLtnWKu_gkl9CZD2zk6DDUyRs0e6673XMcI621ees2sZmwRrHs_RyB2xpJxHHBdD9nw6N-OjwsY1GxE0G5SLNs7xScUCX2d19VcX_cb/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQxHqIjJA7ja3f7DqEIHdM8cLKYYZfqOooYj40Rxm9344EXlHefK6SDhnlEmHzb8IoO6777Gz2ZPNejXFFOjrOQLtnWKu_gkl9CZD2zk6DDUyRs0e6673XMcI621ees2sZmwRrHs_RyB2xpJxHHBdD9nw6N-OjwsY1GxE0G5SLNs7xScUCX2d19VcX_cb/w640-h512/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(6%20of%2010).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://sewguide.com/edge-stitch/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">Edge stitch</a> the binding in place.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJijdH4M-csF2ukanqz6ULvsq1xFIyrxa5cfKp8RHl_AXJQNK_03lNsCxrcSoZTpaqZV88pYWeJeQe4KNFWm-VANtTxh8mjKp76432a-A3R0jXqTwjlGy6XagNmdnn9-SQKokkAVkCli9_tYELfFC7KCENaC4P-ZKw1yZcB0NLuZYI16CXgSAMfAGewh4G/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJijdH4M-csF2ukanqz6ULvsq1xFIyrxa5cfKp8RHl_AXJQNK_03lNsCxrcSoZTpaqZV88pYWeJeQe4KNFWm-VANtTxh8mjKp76432a-A3R0jXqTwjlGy6XagNmdnn9-SQKokkAVkCli9_tYELfFC7KCENaC4P-ZKw1yZcB0NLuZYI16CXgSAMfAGewh4G/s16000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(7%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These sewn fabric baskets are so quick to make that they’re an easy way to give some handmade love to your loved ones. Every now and then I’ll surprise one of my teenagers with a new little basket that matches their room decor, and that <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-dozen-teenagers-went-to-homecoming.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">homemade matching game</a> that I made a few weeks ago was lovingly packed into its own little fabric storage basket when I sent it to my niece.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGBaEBFof-ObiRFoBxvFvBPwYbXKKqm7rqJXgh0SPa8MK_ToYo-8ShNVMRJaqowiYiea_dCyIoAj-Jeprvju9K3aLZ8VuPQtu9I-kUxq-epdIejmKpBuvrd7DENg_52njtAg_mNZP2KeBsGnIQ9lIFR3KqIl83GkFgOLbYRTJKhhbarr_RatMSLIMvIKV/s1000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGBaEBFof-ObiRFoBxvFvBPwYbXKKqm7rqJXgh0SPa8MK_ToYo-8ShNVMRJaqowiYiea_dCyIoAj-Jeprvju9K3aLZ8VuPQtu9I-kUxq-epdIejmKpBuvrd7DENg_52njtAg_mNZP2KeBsGnIQ9lIFR3KqIl83GkFgOLbYRTJKhhbarr_RatMSLIMvIKV/s16000/Sewn%20Fabric%20Basket%20(9%20of%2010).jpg" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The most important use of the fabric baskets, though?</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Holding all my pull tabs, empty thread spools, interesting rocks, and best bits of sea glass, of course!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></p><p></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-2159315998447140262024-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:002024-01-04T07:00:00.141-05:00I Read The Cold Vanish and It Really Bummed Me Out<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_ZG1fte7wGxzv-6P_bIImPZmHxo4UiBHb0WMDS5LB_Ixug5fdEPpILVudYgtqikwQKVhNSutlLF9yYPE3Fb97L2qkH1Fxw21v9RdSLl4C-TmG2rfxCA3YEK0yM02wLDBPfwhuOefOyY21mMywr8RcSG6HrkVis-TtX53d-h56dgZ6wsMsTJKtKJZ_vPT/s2063/The%20Cold%20Vanish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_ZG1fte7wGxzv-6P_bIImPZmHxo4UiBHb0WMDS5LB_Ixug5fdEPpILVudYgtqikwQKVhNSutlLF9yYPE3Fb97L2qkH1Fxw21v9RdSLl4C-TmG2rfxCA3YEK0yM02wLDBPfwhuOefOyY21mMywr8RcSG6HrkVis-TtX53d-h56dgZ6wsMsTJKtKJZ_vPT/w372-h640/The%20Cold%20Vanish.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaned Christmas off the coffee table, and now it's time to eat Domino's and watch Trolls!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because why would I want to read something lighthearted and fun over my Winter Break staycation, when I could instead read something seriously depressing?</span></div><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48717769-the-cold-vanish" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574335466l/48717769._SX98_.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4aG6SLl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America's Wildlands</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1143818.Jon_Billman">Jon Billman</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6108481634">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book is tied with <a href="https://amzn.to/3NI1EVS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When You Find My Body</a> as a compelling, first-person story of what it’s like to love someone who’s gone missing in the wild. The author, Jon Billman, spends the most time with Randy, the father of <a href="https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/mysterious-stories-blog/jacob-gray" target="_blank">Jacob Gray, a bicyclist missing from Olympic National Park</a>. Billman writes vividly about Randy’s obsession with searching for his son, and it really moved me… although not, I don’t think, in the way that Billman intended. Unless he wanted me to spend New Year’s Eve super sad about the meaningless and futility of life?<br /><br />In between writing about Jacob and Randy, Billman writes about the cold cases and search efforts for other people mysteriously missing in the wild. Cases like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/xz97t5/the_disappearance_of_amy_wroe_bechtel_lander/" target="_blank">Amy Bechtel’s</a> and <a href="https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/mysterious-stories-blog/martyleger" target="_blank">Marty Leger’s</a> highlight how mysterious and frustrating it is when a person simply disappears, and how often it’s not even in what we would think of as “the wild”--both of those cases happened on marked trails. Bechtel’s case, especially, illustrates how easily a missing person’s loved ones can turn on each other or behave unpredictably; if Bechtel’s husband had submitted to a lie detector test, something that seems like a sticking point for her blood relatives, would it have put their minds at rest, or would the test’s notoriously faulty results have caused him to be unfairly targeted? <br /><br />However, my biggest takeaway from this book is Coast to Coast AM, a radio show Billman mentions a few times in the book. I found its podcast version on Spotify, and while it’s not going in my regular rotation, it did keep my family entertained for a few hours off and on while putting together puzzles over winter break. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/3EwFCHlfY6VRv4Poqp7wPB?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I’ve since been told that in 2020-2021 the show was all about the anti-mask COVID conspiracies, which is gross, but I found that at least in the recent episodes the dynamic of the host nodding thoughtfully and asking engaged questions while his guests ramble on in pseudoscience nonsense-speak is actually kind of charming? Like, did you know that you should be writing down your dreams because they’re all precognitive? Also, aliens!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, Billman’s point in mentioning Coast to Coast AM was to bring up Sasquatches, and the people who believe in Sasquatches, and to kind of, in a wavy-hands sort of way, connect them to the search for Jacob Gray, in particular. I feel like the point he originally wanted to make was how kind, helpful, and generous the <a href="https://www.olympicproject.com/" target="_blank">Olympic Project</a>, in particular, had been regarding the search, including allowing Jacob’s father, Randy, to stay in their headquarters. The larger, better point was possibly meant to be how, due to lack of government oversight/interest in the plight of the missing on public lands, the absence of a definitive clearinghouse of data, and disorganization and petty disputes over authority, it fell to a group of goodhearted crackpots to fill in the gaps as best they could. However, what Billman ends up writing about is how he sat there and watched as Randy grew more and more desperate, and more and more willing to entertain all the crackpot ideas that came his way, whether it was aliens or Sasquatch or wild goose chases caused by every psychic with a cell phone and/or access to his Facebook page. It was abject--you could tell Billman also found it abject--and it ultimately felt unkind and voyeuristic, the way that he notes every time Randy brought up Sasquatches, or followed a lead that was about Sasquatches, or, in a scene that jarred and upset me, cried out to Sasquatches who might be watching invisibly to ask them to help him find his son. It felt wrong to vicariously stare at this man in the most broken moments of his life, a bridge too far while attempting to illustrate what it’s like to be a person whose loved one is missing in the wild, and it made me question Billman’s capacity for compassion. <br /><br />I was also really uncomfortable with Billman’s anecdote about accompanying Alan Duffy and a couple of his bloodhounds on a completely unnecessary walk through the former neighborhood of the late JonBenet Ramsey just so Duffy could show Billman that even after all these years, his bloodhound still smelled cadaver at her house. The current homeowner--and her young child!--were apparently in their yard at the time, and these guys were enough of a disturbance that the homeowner threatened to call the police. I know Duffy and his bloodhounds do a lot of good, but this particular display was crass and unethical, it distressed innocent people, and Billman should have declined to participate. <br /><br />Overall, though, this book is better than those few isolated lurches into looky-loo-ism. I did come away feeling like I could see the experience of loving someone who’s gone missing in the wild. That experience, though, is desperately sad, and this is, therefore, a sad book to read. The culmination of all of Billman’s first-person work is the phone call he receives near the end of the book from Randy, telling him that Jacob’s body has been found by some biologists working in the park. It is a terrible result, not the least of which because all of Randy’s efforts of the prior 16 months had been towards finding Jacob. He followed every lead, however unlikely, he dove into swollen rivers to search underneath logjams, he hiked over impossibly rugged terrain, he drove as far as <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2016/09/cruise-to-alaska-day-10-victoria-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada </a>simply to see if Jacob might have gone there. And nothing that he did helped find his son. Those biologists were always going to be in that place at that time. He could have sat his butt at home that entire time and the result would have been the same. That’s the saddest thing, to me. If it was at all possible for a parent to find their child by force of will, by effort or determination, Randy would have found Jacob. But he didn’t, so it’s not possible.<br /><br />I suppose my main takeaway from this book is that in these years-long searches for missing people, of course there are going to be people behaving poorly, but fortunately Billman also includes plenty of stories of people behaving admirably, as well. <a href="https://boulderreportinglab.org/2022/01/13/nonprofit-k9-search-and-rescue-team-offers-closure-to-fire-victims/" target="_blank">Duffy does admirable things with his bloodhounds</a>. Elite cross-country runners volunteer their time to search backcountry areas that typical searches couldn’t touch. Randy Gray benefits from the kindness of strangers over and over again in his search, and is, in turn, kind and generous to everyone around him. Jacob sounds like he was an awesome guy, and I hope that Randy is able to feel some peace now that he knows where Jacob is.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2459821-pumpkin-bear">View all my reviews</a>
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-9111778886275271592024-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:002024-01-02T07:00:00.126-05:00How My High School Girl Scout Troop Earned the (*cough, cough* unofficial *cough*) Harvest Badge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWaL9RXy_VgLtf-PPcH7mQp01m_HEDZwmviaOqHeAIMKmYT-TPP4yL9lWU44gdfTPLVvp4jhjjKXkPJ3y7lVTL2auXjuZit9NCSROy9ZadBAjA1I0ieODt-MXEt0jGc_9fw6_avTk648_mo7wmeMisPhixfNxNK05RNPXQW30XRfE6FvsGD1wpNhwLVvj/s1042/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(2%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWaL9RXy_VgLtf-PPcH7mQp01m_HEDZwmviaOqHeAIMKmYT-TPP4yL9lWU44gdfTPLVvp4jhjjKXkPJ3y7lVTL2auXjuZit9NCSROy9ZadBAjA1I0ieODt-MXEt0jGc_9fw6_avTk648_mo7wmeMisPhixfNxNK05RNPXQW30XRfE6FvsGD1wpNhwLVvj/w512-h640/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(2%20of%204).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2021/04/my-girl-scout-troop-earned-totally-made.html" target="_blank">we made up another Girl Scout badge</a>.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm telling you, though, that if you've got a troop of older kids, especially Seniors and Ambassadors like I do, and you're not <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-endless-possibilities-of-retired.html" target="_blank">letting them make up badges</a>, then you're sleeping on some of the best girl-led experiential learning that Girl Scouts offers!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Because if you've got a troop of older kids, I know you know that the official GSUSA badge offerings for those age groups suuuuucks. I'd way rather have a bunch of happy and engaged kids flouting the Girl Scout Badge Police than I would a bunch of bored kids reluctantly working through that same dang Robotics badge for the umpteenth time (Seriously, GSUSA? Three Robotics badges per level? At EVERY level?!? And they're all pretty much the same?!? Please hire me to revamp your badges I will do such an awesome job I swear). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway... during last Spring's budget/planning meeting my Girl Scouts got super revved up about <a href="https://treasurehuntersbadges.com/Autumn-Harvest-Artistrys-Re-release-expansion-of-retired-councils-own-p149787668" target="_blank">this cute Harvest badge design</a>--</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8By-JAec5HpEXm4-s_eCjF0dt-WrWTP40Lv3vfHxNp684q2BRVAbwYBi76czXYW-kBiP8i4u4YciBhkB6S_gKKB1fx6IjcwNkDqUd3AJR-6_Gf3Kgtzq7O9xbljWaoqdNSyii2Byuo7ryM7yVgZTpjPJXNo8OwgA8PyNGCDeOTn2PFwJgNYbrJGqeM7z/s1053/Harvest%20badges.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1053" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8By-JAec5HpEXm4-s_eCjF0dt-WrWTP40Lv3vfHxNp684q2BRVAbwYBi76czXYW-kBiP8i4u4YciBhkB6S_gKKB1fx6IjcwNkDqUd3AJR-6_Gf3Kgtzq7O9xbljWaoqdNSyii2Byuo7ryM7yVgZTpjPJXNo8OwgA8PyNGCDeOTn2PFwJgNYbrJGqeM7z/s320/Harvest%20badges.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">--and decided that they wanted to earn it this autumn. And so we did!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The kids decided on most of the activities, and I fine-tuned them and sneaked in a few more educational bits. Our local council is also offering an Apple Quest fun patch this season (similar to <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/05/every-councils-own-girl-scout-fun-patch.html" target="_blank">the one I listed here</a>), so I also bought those and we added in some more apple-themed activities to our plans.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are our activities!</span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Research apple varieties; taste-test apples.</h1><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For our apple pie meeting, each Girl Scout was asked to bring approximately five pounds of one apple variety, a small serving plate, and an informational label that they'd researched and created for that variety. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">At the start of the meeting, every Girl Scout sliced one of her apples (giving me a good chance to observe and make sure that they all had appropriate knife skills for our upcoming tasks) and displayed it on its serving plate, then we went around the room and each Girl Scout spoke about her apple variety while we all tasted it. Every apple variety was purposefully bred, so it was interesting to hear what characteristics each variety was supposedly bred for--and if we agreed! The kids also quickly noticed that the apple varieties browned differently, so that was interesting, too.</span></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Make apple pie filling; make homemade pie crust; bake an apple pie; learn to decorate a pie.</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB4znmebDMbZWHc7hT7v8bQzljoKY10H9F-mNIA9WOcdXgnnlVxAPu3I1S-5aJukLvOeKJXFYf8W4AU-SNpM64XvlMxC9egp7fxIfE0QCEsXIktFTzH2DcqOH-rGRa5fIBhPMqI93CYaYtaihnx4YBf36ltkg7rHD3y1akKIV2EYILEYhyPLiDHID0WQK/s1106/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(3%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="885" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIB4znmebDMbZWHc7hT7v8bQzljoKY10H9F-mNIA9WOcdXgnnlVxAPu3I1S-5aJukLvOeKJXFYf8W4AU-SNpM64XvlMxC9egp7fxIfE0QCEsXIktFTzH2DcqOH-rGRa5fIBhPMqI93CYaYtaihnx4YBf36ltkg7rHD3y1akKIV2EYILEYhyPLiDHID0WQK/w512-h640/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(3%20of%204).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As you can tell from the heading, this step accomplished a few of the required activities for the Harvest badge and the Apple Quest fun patch. The Girl Scouts were most excited about baking a pie and decorating it, and since apple pie filling is dead simple and <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/02/my-kids-baking-class-or-growth-mindset.html" target="_blank">my teenager knows exactly how to make homemade pie crust</a>, I figured that baking an apple pie from scratch was juuuust about doable as a Girl Scout meeting.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And it just about was!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's what I asked each Girl Scout to bring:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">approximately five pounds of any variety of apple</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">sharp knife</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">cutting board</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">mixing bowl</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">oven mitt</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">rolling pin</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">measuring spoons and cups</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">hair tie or bandana</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A couple of the cleverest kids (or the kids with the cleverest parents!) also brought a vegetable peeler and/or a cutting/coring thingy and a dish towel. I attempted to teach everyone how to easily peel and core an apple with just a paring knife, but this did NOT go over well--the kids hated the very idea of it, and they traded around the peelers and corers instead. Kids these days!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I used troop funds to buy all the pie crust and the rest of the apple filling ingredients, as well as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, aluminum pie tins, a 12-pack of Mason jars, and several prepared pie crusts.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">After everyone had taste-tested the apples, my teenager taught the rest of the Girl Scouts how to make pie crust from scratch, while my co-leader and I assisted. It was a process, but everyone did create a pie crust! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The kids wrapped their pie crusts in plastic wrap and put them in the refrigerator to chill while I taught everyone the dead simple process of making fresh apple pie filling from scratch. I encouraged the kids to use a variety of apples, relying on their taste-testing to help them choose, and to taste the filling as they went to make sure that it was to their preference. We might have a picky eater or two in the troop, ahem...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">When the pie filling was ready, the kids took their pie crusts out of the refrigerator and learned how to roll them out and put them in the disposable pie tins I'd bought. They added the filling, then rolled out their top crust and decided how they wanted to put it on. When planning this meeting, the kids had been interested in learning how to decorate their pies and make cute pie crusts, so I showed them several inspo images from <a href="https://amzn.to/3v6FYMG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pie Style</a>, but everyone ultimately decided to make a lattice top, which was a new skill for most.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkq9u9tuhFsS_GmRnEj674faPjTpBz2nyDyuQtv5o-LCSCJXLYbMX4u_DV4gLpadr7EeYV4LmPexbYZj1bnMDQh-2C1MUrlcGLjnv_PurdpsCL9Jk59GsIlnihYalu2s_aIJug02jbDgLkYpYTEZflt7usaqTBFNKukUAIzUosVlDxR-Akg1GnZmXahrX/s1000/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(1%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkq9u9tuhFsS_GmRnEj674faPjTpBz2nyDyuQtv5o-LCSCJXLYbMX4u_DV4gLpadr7EeYV4LmPexbYZj1bnMDQh-2C1MUrlcGLjnv_PurdpsCL9Jk59GsIlnihYalu2s_aIJug02jbDgLkYpYTEZflt7usaqTBFNKukUAIzUosVlDxR-Akg1GnZmXahrX/w640-h360/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(1%20of%204).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Then the kids crimped the edges, wrapped their pies VERY well in plastic wrap... and put them back in the refrigerator to take home. We did NOT have enough room to be baking five whole pies at once!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Instead, I brought out the prepared pie crusts and the kids used those, along with any remaining apple pie filling, to make hand pies and/or muffin tin pies. I think they might have liked that activity the best, because they baked quickly and then the kids could eat them!</span></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Learn strategies to use up surplus apples.</h1><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Food waste is one of my personal issues (and the troop has those pesky picky eaters!), so it was important to me to show the kids some ways to preserve or prepare apples that you don't feel like eating out of hand or in a pie.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Both applesauce and apple juice are the easiest thing in the world to make, so I had both my giant stock pot and my very old juicer (it was a wedding gift!) out, and at the start of the meeting, since applesauce does take some time, I asked the kids which they'd rather make. They agreed on juice, so at the very end of the meeting, after each kid had cleaned up but before she left, she got to juice herself a pint jar's worth of apple juice to take home with her. This was a new experience for almost everyone, and I think they all really liked it! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And, of course, the most important strategy to use up apples: while the kids worked, they threw all of their peels, cores, and scraps into a giant bowl in the middle of the table. After we'd cleaned up, I tossed the entire bowl of scraps to the chickens, and they feasted!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Create an apple recipe book.</h1><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgT3dHu9BZUfUme0pjHfGvLsLeLgG7wAL5n-Pgrv2cc1QNIZjxOCzM665bC8M6UgxC2OKkGruHsY_tSFUsTUnbU_WXY9EP18-rDfzzabgOfuItHEmhvDSxGVQTJOdo0zo2p4lm9CLIn3chBboWlS_31XxxIPx8IiqF-RhtTiXjPo3LEUZ_zQDCdEsmMea/s1250/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(4%20of%204).jpg" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgT3dHu9BZUfUme0pjHfGvLsLeLgG7wAL5n-Pgrv2cc1QNIZjxOCzM665bC8M6UgxC2OKkGruHsY_tSFUsTUnbU_WXY9EP18-rDfzzabgOfuItHEmhvDSxGVQTJOdo0zo2p4lm9CLIn3chBboWlS_31XxxIPx8IiqF-RhtTiXjPo3LEUZ_zQDCdEsmMea/w512-h640/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(4%20of%204).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since most of those apple pie activities has been to earn the Harvest badge, the kids needed, in my opinion, one more apple-centric activity to completely earn the Apple Quest fun patch, so I made a Shared Google Doc and asked them to each contribute one apple recipe so that we could make a little cookbook.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd hoped they'd get super into the project, and at that time we had an upcoming volunteer date at a local food pantry so I also had it in my head that perhaps we could print the recipes into a little booklet for the pantry to hand out during those times when it was swamped with apples, but the kids did not get super into the project, and so we didn't do anything more with it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To be honest, I think they were just flat-out sick of apples! But the project did remind me that my favorite cake, <a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2008/09/moms-apple-cake/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen's apple cake</a>, exists, and it's just as delicious as I remembered, so as far as I'm concerned the whole thing was a huge success. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Contribute to a harvest meal for someone in need.</h1><div><br /></div><div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The kids definitely wanted to do a service project as part of this badge, but they dithered a bit over what, exactly, they wanted to do. Also remember that high school kids are VERY busy, and some of these kids were also working on college applications, scholarship applications, Gold Award applications... It is a lot of work to be a high school student these days!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I researched a few opportunities for them to consider, including serving a meal at one of our city's shelters or hosting a food drive for one of the local food pantries. The idea that the kids liked best, though, was volunteering on a specific day to help food pantry patrons choose the components for a Thanksgiving dinner. So the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we went to the food pantry's distribution location and helped fetch and carry and otherwise made ourselves useful. I carried soooo many frozen turkeys!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Make an autumn craft.</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6A2Z2RmrUY1mCc7X8EOScId2FB6HsbUCyxTN-JCzxHD7W17szwSGhhZHazOlN7YBhGUtJ8I1olMIEfETktg5c7_VAIK8HM39IWT34OLJhhOey3maztmZ6Lnm-ZIJIYjBUePhadPwET7Ah26N73sv6YYRGCFuOtI9nEehFLlnsksFPHccZmnZlYLsUxpU0/s1000/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(1%20of%201).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6A2Z2RmrUY1mCc7X8EOScId2FB6HsbUCyxTN-JCzxHD7W17szwSGhhZHazOlN7YBhGUtJ8I1olMIEfETktg5c7_VAIK8HM39IWT34OLJhhOey3maztmZ6Lnm-ZIJIYjBUePhadPwET7Ah26N73sv6YYRGCFuOtI9nEehFLlnsksFPHccZmnZlYLsUxpU0/w640-h640/How%20My%20High%20School%20Girl%20Scout%20Troop%20Earned%20the%20Harvest%20Badge%20(1%20of%201).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The kids wanted to make gnomes, but we kept running out of time to make them. Eventually, when we met to wrap the gifts they had bought for the kid we were sponsoring for Christmas (for the same food pantry as the Thanksgiving project!), I tacked gnome-crafting onto that meeting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I actually had almost everything for <a href="https://partieswithacause.com/simple-no-sew-gnome-tutorial/" target="_blank">this gnome project</a> already in my stash, so I just bought a faux fur remnant, rice, and hot glue. The gnomes all turned out sooo cute, with bodies made from one of my partner's old Henleys and hats made from some of my infinite felt stash. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">References and Resources</h1><div><br /></div><div>Here are some other resources I had available during our Harvest badgework:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Lovers-Cookbook-Revised-Updated/dp/0393540707?crid=2RV1EQU9G9SGZ&keywords=the+apple+lover%27s+cookbook&qid=1703170535&sprefix=the+apple+lover%27s+cookboo%2Caps%2C475&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=cd118b45197ebb6c9721614cb0fea385&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0393540707&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0393540707" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Book-Pie-Everything-Need-Perfect/dp/0358229286?crid=1BXVYQ3WRG8GC&keywords=the+book+on+pie&qid=1703170564&sprefix=the+book+on+pie%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=ff6b69bbcf08517f0ec93a5f10480d04&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0358229286&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0358229286" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Academy-Fillings-Custards-Techniques/dp/163586111X?crid=3PE598ZB5ZZ2N&keywords=pie+academy&qid=1703170592&sprefix=pie+academy%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=0d8fcac4fc4836083bdc1dd35db0222c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=163586111X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=163586111X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Camp-Skills-Need-Make/dp/168268413X?crid=1PA4JKUHFHL8W&keywords=pie+camp&qid=1703170617&sprefix=pie+camp%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-4&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=51c35d77e15513a1f8fcd9671416e647&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=168268413X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=168268413X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Squared-Irresistibly-Sweet-Savory/dp/1538729148?crid=2AO7G0IE38VP9&keywords=pie+squared&qid=1703170642&sprefix=pie+squared%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=89a148f25c0b793c85ab66324bdfdf19&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1538729148&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1538729148" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Style-Stunning-Flavorful-Fillings/dp/1645670775?crid=2Z02LL04FTFUI&keywords=pie+style&qid=1703170662&sprefix=pie+style%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=093946d34c615e33f095c423fbbe97bc&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1645670775&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1645670775" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3NBmSo1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Apple Lover's Cookbook</a>: This book has photos and information about lots of apple varieties, and the recipes are good for Girl Scouts to flip through to see all the yummy possibilities for cooking with apples.</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3RrVbzg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book on Pie</a>: The recipes in this book look DELICIOUS, so it was another book that was fun for Girl Scouts to flip there. There are so many kinds of pie!!!</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/41Eghze" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pie Academy</a>: This has good process photos, especially of making the pie crust and making a lattice top. It has several different pie crust recipes, and some unusual recipes for pie fillings (one contains KETCHUP!?!?).</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3RvUpRJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pie Camp</a>: This was my main reference book for the pie meeting. I taught the kids McDermott's "20-20-20" method for baking, passed on her tips for preventing a soggy bottom, and demonstrated how to make and use the foil shield that prevents a burned top. We also used her cooking instructions to make the muffin tin pies.</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/48a0SJs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pie Squared</a>: These are essentially sheet pan pies, both sweet and savory. This would be a good recipe book if you wanted to serve fresh-baked pie at your Girl Scout troop meeting.</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3v6FYMG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pie Style</a>: Even though it was plenty for the troop to learn how to make a lattice pie crust, because decorating pies was something they'd expressed interest in I showed them the photos from this book of faaancy pie decorations. Everyone went "Oooh!," but nobody wanted to give any of the ideas a try just then, ahem...</li></ul><div>Overall, I think this turned out to be a very successful badge! The kids wanted to do it and helped plan it, everyone learned a new skill, a couple of kids got a chance to practice their leadership by teaching the others specific techniques, we did some community service, and now each kid has some more practical life knowledge in her toolkit. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Up next: cookie season, including seeing if I can sneak in a cookie badge or two, and travel planning, including me looking for yet another retired or Council's Own travel-focused badge that these well-traveled kids haven't yet earned. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hire me to create more travel badge for older kids, GSUSA! I'll do an awesome job!</div><div><br /></div></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, dog-walking mishaps, road trips, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></div></span></div></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-24085745463476168292023-12-30T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-30T07:00:00.135-05:00Upcycle Photographs into Stickers: Three Methods That Really Work<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko2mh6dJxf-eC53pw_QQ4HZKhYBSBAGLQiJ87J_mV2D8HWXTdx7OEO6eF2HzV3nXmFJnJTMnGa4LIF91YLcGvggkOKZT8MUB8ywLkJir_tUE_cENRE8rzBL5gnVe794mThEuGptj6W4hOZ9A9jQrWp_yNZzkp9BoQSLQhGJe5R1iCuNzXSmJSYC37_avK/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(11%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko2mh6dJxf-eC53pw_QQ4HZKhYBSBAGLQiJ87J_mV2D8HWXTdx7OEO6eF2HzV3nXmFJnJTMnGa4LIF91YLcGvggkOKZT8MUB8ywLkJir_tUE_cENRE8rzBL5gnVe794mThEuGptj6W4hOZ9A9jQrWp_yNZzkp9BoQSLQhGJe5R1iCuNzXSmJSYC37_avK/w640-h512/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(11%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>I first published this tutorial on <a href="https://craftingagreenworld.com/articles/upcycle-photographs-into-stickers/" target="_blank">Crafting a Green World</a>.</i></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Upcycle your old print photographs into stickers, and you’ll unlock a whole new way to display and enjoy those magical memories!</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t do a lot of crafting with print photos anymore, so I was a bit dismayed recently when I found a huge stack of 4″x6″ photos leftover from my scrapbooking days. Gotta clean out my closets more often, I guess!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I recognized all these photos as ones that I have digital copies of (I’m still not ready to talk about The Terrible Hard Drive Erasure of 2017…), so I could have just tossed them all into the recycling. But yikes, how wasteful would that be?!?</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaWoESCuICjuE7Qp9ktY_QPSiZfGHjENzRU3mPPJYQevKpzkyLKCDwZ4ZSRuQQ8eeer6hmYaSPgkvChQUuY22js_xM8rKAFfvj7XkS0SHU7v2377uX9d_Ms-1m4L35U3L5cjS79cgcKseru80R8apaL8ig8iS2JbFWRyvbY3TMx7f1C4rWGOWACm03in2/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(1%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaWoESCuICjuE7Qp9ktY_QPSiZfGHjENzRU3mPPJYQevKpzkyLKCDwZ4ZSRuQQ8eeer6hmYaSPgkvChQUuY22js_xM8rKAFfvj7XkS0SHU7v2377uX9d_Ms-1m4L35U3L5cjS79cgcKseru80R8apaL8ig8iS2JbFWRyvbY3TMx7f1C4rWGOWACm03in2/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(1%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mind you, I have no problem tossing stuff that I truly want to toss, but Past Julie clearly spent time and money on this photo order, and all the photos are of my adorable babies, now almost all grown up, and our fun traveling adventures. As far as I know the <a href="https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/jedi-training-academy/" target="_blank">Jedi Training Academy</a> no longer even exists at Walt Disney World, so that photo of <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2012/09/disney-day-1-disneys-hollywood-studios.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s;" target="_blank">my tiny padawan winning a light saber battle against Darth Vader himself</a> deserves a fate much more exciting than the recycling bin!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also, there is genuine terror in her eyes in that photo, and I laugh every time I look at it. Kid was pretty sure she was fighting for her life up there!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have fun crafting plans for most of these surprise photos, the first of which is stickers!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are three easy methods for upcycling print photos (and book pages, wrapping paper… just about any paper works for this!) into stickers, along with the pros and cons of each method.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Method 1: Adhere a photo to an existing sticker.</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpTIfSuK8hWcTo8KncMTtnXOxSwcyn-7T0LibrYL8p8StpkX7iAWUiqEFqb_wNSldaecm-uI-g5zmqQCjEigTL-NI16kge3wpmBFFOshinAwO7RaAKmnqEJ0T1SkKh5xesD8imZkK-CPcrNUpT9UIX3NWmU9RJBzfUW8wIRne1F8OjEixrLT9r4NNgNg-/s1500/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(8%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpTIfSuK8hWcTo8KncMTtnXOxSwcyn-7T0LibrYL8p8StpkX7iAWUiqEFqb_wNSldaecm-uI-g5zmqQCjEigTL-NI16kge3wpmBFFOshinAwO7RaAKmnqEJ0T1SkKh5xesD8imZkK-CPcrNUpT9UIX3NWmU9RJBzfUW8wIRne1F8OjEixrLT9r4NNgNg-/w426-h640/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(8%20of%2011).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pros: Quick, materials are easy to obtain.</h3><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Con: Stickers are low-tack.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’ve got a <a href="https://amzn.to/3RKhJvs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sheet of printer labels</a> on hand, you can have your own photo stickers ready to go in minutes.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These stickers will be pretty low-tack, so cutting the photos down a bit will reduce their weight.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m182Kqw_mvybhQVOygP4eMry4yd7dzKDkWtYqJJZYru3TWfFT_C46rWeBmn0vtQmnNfu6yJR3lkuzYF4LgtGZEu32BQpZk-rpk113LtTXEW-NPucCnkjpwIReRWfg1uu0wre8b3QB-b_BqSi3RtnfZYtLEgIya7TnO8os14jzYP5gvOExeADWKWVPKGT/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(7%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m182Kqw_mvybhQVOygP4eMry4yd7dzKDkWtYqJJZYru3TWfFT_C46rWeBmn0vtQmnNfu6yJR3lkuzYF4LgtGZEu32BQpZk-rpk113LtTXEW-NPucCnkjpwIReRWfg1uu0wre8b3QB-b_BqSi3RtnfZYtLEgIya7TnO8os14jzYP5gvOExeADWKWVPKGT/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(7%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Use an excellent white glue, like <a href="https://amzn.to/41BUoAs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aleene’s Tacky Glue</a>, to adhere the photos to the front of the label sheet. Let the glue dry, then cut out the photo stickers.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9warzTMbweV18FI6gSLshXNVzHgz0_8wGSr4GkX5iAI-x7hkuN-3M0keUWw2gcOsCHxGXDmu_mpmAw9IWheba_1MzljIs8NpiZdCTMnc3OZBS4ZhZ2pD6eI71tV0lsfiG76g0CZqxOhsBS-CEn10tKgTVboryrlv1PDwWzVt_9fz8LMCsPdCh1kPfqMW/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(10%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9warzTMbweV18FI6gSLshXNVzHgz0_8wGSr4GkX5iAI-x7hkuN-3M0keUWw2gcOsCHxGXDmu_mpmAw9IWheba_1MzljIs8NpiZdCTMnc3OZBS4ZhZ2pD6eI71tV0lsfiG76g0CZqxOhsBS-CEn10tKgTVboryrlv1PDwWzVt_9fz8LMCsPdCh1kPfqMW/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(10%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Glossy photos don’t make the best stickers right out of the gate because of how easily they show smudges. To solve this, laminate the front of each photo by sticking a piece of clear tape to it.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fair warning: I, personally, am MISERABLE at jobs like this. One of my teenagers even installs all my screen protectors for me because she can’t stand looking at the state of my phone screen, all bubbles and trapped lint, when I do it myself. I had to cut down that photo above right because I somehow managed to trap a giant cat hair under the tape, sigh. So be super careful with your own tape lamination!</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Method 2: Paint the back with Aleene’s Tack it Over and Over Again glue.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN00Fo26qVpcSF94hMpo7LBqD4EJMXQBeQ5JjYC7O3ICiiaZMuhmBl9_AzzQKcjXTxrXr1yfA0-emvH-0Tgb8INhEdMcnFRougkkbqlBkko8KRISB-BsxDcH32ocBQn_vuxlhxLlZkZ7-34K8VIieNm3b4zPdxiQL1Pt356nXzuotfyGFOJ3lV9C5OHNx/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(9%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN00Fo26qVpcSF94hMpo7LBqD4EJMXQBeQ5JjYC7O3ICiiaZMuhmBl9_AzzQKcjXTxrXr1yfA0-emvH-0Tgb8INhEdMcnFRougkkbqlBkko8KRISB-BsxDcH32ocBQn_vuxlhxLlZkZ7-34K8VIieNm3b4zPdxiQL1Pt356nXzuotfyGFOJ3lV9C5OHNx/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(9%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pros: Most eco-friendly, least use of additional materials, stickers are repositionable.</h3><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cons: Most time-consuming method, requires a specialty supply.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is my favorite way to make stickers. It’s super easy, and I used to do this to make re-usable stickers for my kids from old book pages, toy catalogues, and our drawings all the time–tbh, I think the bottle I used for these stickers is the same bottle I was using way back then!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To make these re-usable stickers, cut your photo to size, then coat the back with a VERY thin coat of <a href="https://amzn.to/48rlegI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aleene’s Tack It Over And Over Again glue</a>. I like to do this on top of parchment paper, so I can brush excess glue off the edges of the photos and onto the paper:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUQV3IMmk53-LmnH5DTENSSNFBsibgewujazjZQHnxIHiu3A80Pkekesl9WkMXMo_9U-c0sKkwL0j_1OVf_Lf3iA4GeV2TzhL2tqqyg9kKKdhURDrP7w82ZwRbED0bk1H_h2gYUdexZ_oGcKBb3cY5d99zUcod8lNYdnZpkhf13A1swjodQl8II8oCeWL/s1500/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(6%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUQV3IMmk53-LmnH5DTENSSNFBsibgewujazjZQHnxIHiu3A80Pkekesl9WkMXMo_9U-c0sKkwL0j_1OVf_Lf3iA4GeV2TzhL2tqqyg9kKKdhURDrP7w82ZwRbED0bk1H_h2gYUdexZ_oGcKBb3cY5d99zUcod8lNYdnZpkhf13A1swjodQl8II8oCeWL/w426-h640/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(6%20of%2011).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let these photo stickers dry for about 24 hours, then peel them off the parchment paper. Even though they are repositionable, I like to stick them to wax paper to store them.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Method 3: Use a store-bought sticker maker.</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31SzYG7OYRlDmM9x_UmeB5w3VIFhNdTOBexTgniOacHQ8EmNOeVboPKOi5PZ8eEirpfFzhqD_QrGlyewUF9o6Q2qZppfkJmxeUsVig3GpJoXXnuc2M6GRAiQhdDXgvg5z2H1MR6SXsPzYyWh0X8_psh9zuKcCNix5lqAJK8BcGIIXBVliAatX-Dzhfe4B/s1500/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(2%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31SzYG7OYRlDmM9x_UmeB5w3VIFhNdTOBexTgniOacHQ8EmNOeVboPKOi5PZ8eEirpfFzhqD_QrGlyewUF9o6Q2qZppfkJmxeUsVig3GpJoXXnuc2M6GRAiQhdDXgvg5z2H1MR6SXsPzYyWh0X8_psh9zuKcCNix5lqAJK8BcGIIXBVliAatX-Dzhfe4B/w426-h640/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(2%20of%2011).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pros: Makes the highest-quality stickers by far.</h3><h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 1.47059rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cons: Most expensive, least eco-friendly.</h3><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wouldn’t buy one of these for myself, but I do use the snot out of the <a href="https://amzn.to/3tvOLHm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Xyron Creative Station Lite</a> that I bought for my kid back when she was a tween. She creates a lot of art, and I thought that she might like to make stickers and magnets out of her own little art pieces… and she does!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But yikes, this machine is made entirely of plastic, and each cartridge is made from more plastic. Please feel free to spam me with suggestions for more eco-friendly models!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BsuFIDe-BXpLfhlVLxWrYuTu-Tr84zrfhXv6dEsXF9bW4p_fwbOsFsDKiu6vQmuMFylz6sB9-2YfIDyeEOjE0xx0NCcOtaNbxx65fKfSLNahsljrN_3CGyjUCyjc1rfCjwXbeUGu80pA_875xAV8-_sh6Q9I1M-mSKd7OlWjGTmPk5WCPLYKWH3eGrL-/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(3%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BsuFIDe-BXpLfhlVLxWrYuTu-Tr84zrfhXv6dEsXF9bW4p_fwbOsFsDKiu6vQmuMFylz6sB9-2YfIDyeEOjE0xx0NCcOtaNbxx65fKfSLNahsljrN_3CGyjUCyjc1rfCjwXbeUGu80pA_875xAV8-_sh6Q9I1M-mSKd7OlWjGTmPk5WCPLYKWH3eGrL-/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(3%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will say, though, that the stickers this machine makes are WONDERFUL, easily equivalent to good store-bought stickers. We’ve worked with materials as thick as food packaging cardboard, and the stickers always come out well. This cartridge even laminates the top of the sticker, so glossy photos remain smudge-free.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ugh for all that plastic, though!</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-jhPIB4S9hlW20o5IbiIpVXfAel7UpVDnmwb376HgR3rm1U8V_RqFjRsXTrUwpvsVUcIjyuacglK_mylb3LAc-I5fS4CwOgRmsY92cfwzeqkLiMNkA8UtohSuzpbu3fmCdfk36aii1RGdTROIW29j_hizjO2KDNqccIM8tLYZC27PcdgeyZ68g0WwrLL/s1000/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(4%20of%2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-jhPIB4S9hlW20o5IbiIpVXfAel7UpVDnmwb376HgR3rm1U8V_RqFjRsXTrUwpvsVUcIjyuacglK_mylb3LAc-I5fS4CwOgRmsY92cfwzeqkLiMNkA8UtohSuzpbu3fmCdfk36aii1RGdTROIW29j_hizjO2KDNqccIM8tLYZC27PcdgeyZ68g0WwrLL/w640-h426/Upcycle%20Photographs%20into%20Stickers%20(4%20of%2011).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #4b4f58; font-family: Figtree, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wasn’t excited to find these photos in the back of a closet, true, but I have to say that I am excited to have a fun little way to display some of them! It definitely brings a bit of magic into my daily grind to catch a glimpse of a happy memory and a sweet kid or two.</p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-26593326146975383392023-12-28T07:00:00.003-05:002023-12-28T07:00:00.159-05:00In Which the Key to Happiness is Raclette (and Twinkle Lights!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w7ESh_X6HpKCFS2zJdLgU_0y1vc2Jww7mqZQZh3dwqtbZvXgwyprCBz1EI_2d-sr9S7uFW5GCZ6x6WhF0R0DYuWxK5awcBdr-LCAH7LQkNJNogf2d73wrX_xLRAInAPeDPhN8tLUMG22WcPB4gO-5mOSqmo7X6WQT3ZhGdevU8Hy174CSzL9wwZmgpNa/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(4%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6w7ESh_X6HpKCFS2zJdLgU_0y1vc2Jww7mqZQZh3dwqtbZvXgwyprCBz1EI_2d-sr9S7uFW5GCZ6x6WhF0R0DYuWxK5awcBdr-LCAH7LQkNJNogf2d73wrX_xLRAInAPeDPhN8tLUMG22WcPB4gO-5mOSqmo7X6WQT3ZhGdevU8Hy174CSzL9wwZmgpNa/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(4%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There were a couple of new-to-me festive holiday activities that I wanted to try this year, because after all, what is Christmas without a glut of too many holiday activities? The Christmas tree farm and five Nutcracker performances and White Christmas Family Movie Night and one or two Krampus street festivals clearly aren't enough to sustain one. If one is truly serious about thoroughly exhausting oneself re: Christmas, one must ALSO drive over an hour each way to visit a Christmas market and walk the grounds of the art museum to see its light display!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't really know beforehand what one does during a Christmas market, but happily we all arrived at <a href="https://www.carmelchristkindlmarkt.com/">Christkindlmarkt </a>hungry, because to the best of my knowledge now, post-visit, what I *think* one does is stand around in the lines for various food stalls, then stand around and eat the food you bought, then walk past displays of nutcrackers and ornaments and those German wooden cut-out things for sale, then buy some more food and eat it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The lines for all the food were super long, so we divided and conquered, with my partner and one kid standing in line for these weird spiral-cut deep-fried potatoes on a stick things, and me and the other kid standing in line for <a href="https://amzn.to/3TDOltl" target="_blank">raclette</a> sandwiches.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As the kid and I were standing at the end of the long line, she said something approximating, "Ugh, I'll be glad when we get closer to the raclette stand so we can get away from whatever this disgusting smell is."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I said, "Uhhhhh...."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you don't like to smell gross things, I'm afraid that I have terrible news for you regarding raclette.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But look how festive it is!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTv2MDDmWLrDMwS-U-Gs0cPsnXpsqdmgINBv91UJ0-wIBWrtyIIe4H5dowHazKdidhhUe0HEft3eRHNqBDJGTIpxTcvF8apHX5aVt_UbXLJmu-kBY8nyJYFwI4FZzN4hBpg3nGc8O1oJnej32Q3EyWqQneXhldkyRY4W1WLiv9Sc9zUQU6hvzCxFxyrXXg/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(1%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTv2MDDmWLrDMwS-U-Gs0cPsnXpsqdmgINBv91UJ0-wIBWrtyIIe4H5dowHazKdidhhUe0HEft3eRHNqBDJGTIpxTcvF8apHX5aVt_UbXLJmu-kBY8nyJYFwI4FZzN4hBpg3nGc8O1oJnej32Q3EyWqQneXhldkyRY4W1WLiv9Sc9zUQU6hvzCxFxyrXXg/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(1%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was my first raclette experience, as well, and checking out the view of the hyper-efficient raclette assembly was quite a lot of the fun:</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbs60tUPPLtJFaQsI7JwhWLIAE3-xvrIeHePEn8Lb84Oyud8v0EhG3zsYqSr6dWkgykocKPJrwQ_Akemo9_RaukZ1rTvGHecX3PxQ1VOFKfk1gFZ3rJUuUb1zG7gCxFLIhNNDyXCN4RDxiLw__jozUuER_iLyVfI5fqtZWGbTEdjOUcdaXTQZOfb04SUy/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(2%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbs60tUPPLtJFaQsI7JwhWLIAE3-xvrIeHePEn8Lb84Oyud8v0EhG3zsYqSr6dWkgykocKPJrwQ_Akemo9_RaukZ1rTvGHecX3PxQ1VOFKfk1gFZ3rJUuUb1zG7gCxFLIhNNDyXCN4RDxiLw__jozUuER_iLyVfI5fqtZWGbTEdjOUcdaXTQZOfb04SUy/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(2%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw90TeZaFWyIvzyy61H-EjI752dhvSbKpsVnHV9WSH43FWnfYUXr6Tg559vuxv2D59GGm6s2Jlb9MAERDeFJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But was it worth the wait (and the lingering scent of raclette)?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Friends, I only hope that I smile at my partner sometimes the way that I am smiling about this raclette sandwich:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4JcNaLH3kliBTPFF5gXiUn29a_u_Szg2VWBuUpVVO8USYEAWrTDE6NLzjiJ4D-o0yAnZl_2dexzRuWfdgZeq8S185uUKk1cUuUAMDdz77K0jSsW-Eg4U93RItSN50G80T8emvL_itL4rZyFClrShYHSi5bpkFORuFrJnryCwzjelU8Iqv35xT7EQ2ehO/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(3%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4JcNaLH3kliBTPFF5gXiUn29a_u_Szg2VWBuUpVVO8USYEAWrTDE6NLzjiJ4D-o0yAnZl_2dexzRuWfdgZeq8S185uUKk1cUuUAMDdz77K0jSsW-Eg4U93RItSN50G80T8emvL_itL4rZyFClrShYHSi5bpkFORuFrJnryCwzjelU8Iqv35xT7EQ2ehO/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(3%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And when the weird spiral fried potato on a stick envoy returned with weird spiral fried potatoes on a stick to eat along with my raclette sandwich?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q4elalZG0gDZjODRgjKHudWLpw6f1zG_ddfxj3IiFIB3VJzQKVWtMNtZhOpOZBHrDhjWhnyb08FzRd25x-lQAfT1_gCdabm8YGC-ANapWVOyCUQoVEkBVNwBKCYQ9HcgyB3kUuielW_xKC4VjjgbEo0xBwlXYMEUO9tEJqE1ejFTlPoL7W5mykGRGGLX/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(6%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q4elalZG0gDZjODRgjKHudWLpw6f1zG_ddfxj3IiFIB3VJzQKVWtMNtZhOpOZBHrDhjWhnyb08FzRd25x-lQAfT1_gCdabm8YGC-ANapWVOyCUQoVEkBVNwBKCYQ9HcgyB3kUuielW_xKC4VjjgbEo0xBwlXYMEUO9tEJqE1ejFTlPoL7W5mykGRGGLX/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(6%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Y'all, this may have been my most favorite culinary experience EVER. My previous most favorite culinary experience ever was the yogurt with Nutella and sour cherry spoon sweets that I ate for breakfast every morning on our <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2017/07/greece-with-kids-hadrians-arch-temple.html" target="_blank">2017 Greece trip</a>, but raclette sandwich and weird spiral potato on a stick now reigns supreme.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who knows what even more delicious food the world might offer?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluCDN_5DkuMJGN_GzZ7jJ8pgmPR73ilqDZuKQbS-wgLBj6R-cgAZFOBRONLBhonwfYg7dZVkKr8IhzhBr5JpKJX2NSPWsHWsUDvQdUnQA2MjkRCQIf1I5ux6LasaS0out5z9_FX3uljHwL4Ad1iSOrPqQ-Bdue4VAli7kIcQ-mOPjFlY4G6sdEfSfjPqX/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(5%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluCDN_5DkuMJGN_GzZ7jJ8pgmPR73ilqDZuKQbS-wgLBj6R-cgAZFOBRONLBhonwfYg7dZVkKr8IhzhBr5JpKJX2NSPWsHWsUDvQdUnQA2MjkRCQIf1I5ux6LasaS0out5z9_FX3uljHwL4Ad1iSOrPqQ-Bdue4VAli7kIcQ-mOPjFlY4G6sdEfSfjPqX/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(5%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So... yeah. You stand in line to get stuff to eat, stand around and eat it, walk around to looky-loo at the pretty decorations and Christmas stuff for sale--</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ76ux89oXFGihK2AzNn875L7MqEeqlFq7V_dQ7pFsTH16-dY3LRnXgX2pGC7Z62-kXzy8mGYZPsj_7IiGjHg5UiPYcyjxFhR13dLhIPUuyCFUcMBdl95VokcpuebroQkdDWUy3ELZIRMv9GMdZicZAnZACYyPMLkBeLnqses-rDZ1tuI7Izs_-wMPugM/s1250/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(7%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ76ux89oXFGihK2AzNn875L7MqEeqlFq7V_dQ7pFsTH16-dY3LRnXgX2pGC7Z62-kXzy8mGYZPsj_7IiGjHg5UiPYcyjxFhR13dLhIPUuyCFUcMBdl95VokcpuebroQkdDWUy3ELZIRMv9GMdZicZAnZACYyPMLkBeLnqses-rDZ1tuI7Izs_-wMPugM/w512-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(7%20of%2017).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNMmkkK3XZsqy93Qsl1qlIAjRRrqD1M6N_NjJ0CMPBQe1dLB-gBWrPcqsGzRg78748ojkfutf5CUFshmrzSVOpv5M7fuXhC2C7hyphenhyphenVBXRlj4HUvWIXa_yn_YApMgWUuas2lnWng39Da9OQTBuH6vBxA3qLdOnDW9LD8S-wSzgXZ5QKLz_dJZ73WQMtU8Jw/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(8%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNMmkkK3XZsqy93Qsl1qlIAjRRrqD1M6N_NjJ0CMPBQe1dLB-gBWrPcqsGzRg78748ojkfutf5CUFshmrzSVOpv5M7fuXhC2C7hyphenhyphenVBXRlj4HUvWIXa_yn_YApMgWUuas2lnWng39Da9OQTBuH6vBxA3qLdOnDW9LD8S-wSzgXZ5QKLz_dJZ73WQMtU8Jw/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(8%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniZrnYkGBHOe2_6RYgZH6XfC48K_XT_7k1vszcPsEknhtSnETu4GMbmLZuPsjXQTUaJ4_6st6M0oXXzdoqN-jd-KTtf8PsB22nY1nLlgB-5wSnGwc7qls_TbMwXpMNTMyGumwtKEhjdXDVi_OPFaRZSvEz_ebVQFB5SiU3gYcFeL4cZohNBboaXJjMl24/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(9%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniZrnYkGBHOe2_6RYgZH6XfC48K_XT_7k1vszcPsEknhtSnETu4GMbmLZuPsjXQTUaJ4_6st6M0oXXzdoqN-jd-KTtf8PsB22nY1nLlgB-5wSnGwc7qls_TbMwXpMNTMyGumwtKEhjdXDVi_OPFaRZSvEz_ebVQFB5SiU3gYcFeL4cZohNBboaXJjMl24/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(9%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--and then stand in line to get something else to eat. To even out the sublime raclette experience, this Belgian hot chocolate was DISGUSTING. It tasted very... buttery? I'm terribly upset by the idea of drinking butter, and it turned out that so is everyone else, as it took the four of us splitting it to finish it off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-aKtItd8zFQYlKMSWRJjj0vSvTufnXbKPhIj2CQH-sdCUu9ijM9kavfYWkXXKJdsPJiU_cLGoGf9FMI82inSr7xILrpawPSn90W8tchWl1tHd02GWMPzSua11SVXQgikj8GmfQi0mzUiJe4L4tFBw4Vcj6uoKMMJ2GkEMKICoF06s_64HFf8kYe8c_8p/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(10%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-aKtItd8zFQYlKMSWRJjj0vSvTufnXbKPhIj2CQH-sdCUu9ijM9kavfYWkXXKJdsPJiU_cLGoGf9FMI82inSr7xILrpawPSn90W8tchWl1tHd02GWMPzSua11SVXQgikj8GmfQi0mzUiJe4L4tFBw4Vcj6uoKMMJ2GkEMKICoF06s_64HFf8kYe8c_8p/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(10%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And no, don't ask why we didn't just toss it if none of us liked it. That requires far more common sense than any of us have. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fortunately, this crepe was delicious!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSZFGuttwinF6nIzZDJwqVH8Q6KAJoS3Kg-2D_IcmPkZ3itRFHRBX8skH20e9SfO5wvERSj791oezCsA4F9hjWryMnDypoFFGxFvxpm8au5RTYslrH0oefeW-e1OSFM2R3GnVCFt0811nOXBCkhd-aSvHD5YMAOqeo4EreRFBCqq3NYSj1NE88slibxY/s1000/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(11%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSZFGuttwinF6nIzZDJwqVH8Q6KAJoS3Kg-2D_IcmPkZ3itRFHRBX8skH20e9SfO5wvERSj791oezCsA4F9hjWryMnDypoFFGxFvxpm8au5RTYslrH0oefeW-e1OSFM2R3GnVCFt0811nOXBCkhd-aSvHD5YMAOqeo4EreRFBCqq3NYSj1NE88slibxY/w640-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(11%20of%2017).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had just about pushed through as many crowds as I felt like pushing through by the time we left to get to the <a href="https://discovernewfields.org/winterlights" target="_blank">Newfield's Winterlights</a>. Every year the Newfield art museum puts up this light show on their grounds, and I'd finally reached a critical mass of Facebook friends posting about it to make my FOMO severe enough that I was willing to shell out genuine cash money for the purpose of looking at twinkle lights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7yXcOjymwucBoZLN3HBnvLVKaooFZ0Vcvh7njyXxJpbpdHxmJIikAL-XKjMZYfnYMk0t5iK4oMDgghKYX1FLaaDFoIXvtwzANaGcnN9IdAZ29Q9MxcV_-iZLzP-505Kxi08IJfcFntRdkQxHxS5fbB7C0fzUa2SSOp_Cp7QnutBrkd3GrQQ4b1QkITh3/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(12%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7yXcOjymwucBoZLN3HBnvLVKaooFZ0Vcvh7njyXxJpbpdHxmJIikAL-XKjMZYfnYMk0t5iK4oMDgghKYX1FLaaDFoIXvtwzANaGcnN9IdAZ29Q9MxcV_-iZLzP-505Kxi08IJfcFntRdkQxHxS5fbB7C0fzUa2SSOp_Cp7QnutBrkd3GrQQ4b1QkITh3/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(12%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They WERE very pretty! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite was the landscape below, which was set up to twinkle along to music. When we walked up, it was just starting the Waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and y'all KNOW <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2020/01/its-possible-to-have-entire-nutcracker.html" target="_blank">how I feel about Nutcracker stuff this time of year</a>!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqay_WgPnc6vDerVAf-ilnIha4fmAP9RH3M01Fhw2pJ5OwD2QYZ9WpInZErhVJal55vY3PHRVzDV8rFnQgMY2BlzyQHzHTG8e0SUrUcoP1Rm8NU5YVyYEVDltaUjm-55sRwoqcwHzhbhGT4akCrRkmhMe4AT1BrTHZUWC480EQCLXy0NMEYMHFXooYk-C/s1000/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(13%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqay_WgPnc6vDerVAf-ilnIha4fmAP9RH3M01Fhw2pJ5OwD2QYZ9WpInZErhVJal55vY3PHRVzDV8rFnQgMY2BlzyQHzHTG8e0SUrUcoP1Rm8NU5YVyYEVDltaUjm-55sRwoqcwHzhbhGT4akCrRkmhMe4AT1BrTHZUWC480EQCLXy0NMEYMHFXooYk-C/w640-h360/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(13%20of%2017).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I should have brought my DSLR, but my brain was in Quality Family Time mode instead of Cool Photography mode and I didn't think of it, dang it. So just imagine how awesome these shots *could* have been if I'd taken them with a proper camera instead of my at least five-models-outdated phone:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKFcE7HIZIXCF4FeDi5ZM2qzf_UMIUp9nYEwFS_2mcNClKcHEXT51u6-w3-Ss1pQ-gYWaJAwX0RtFhocJKreEy5u-wOVXeJW-kQ33-Qw7wus752iP2YEiFwUr97NJTaDkmn_fUfZ_qWZ5xsY4icmih2xMftlORlxnB0PbOZZxB3UnHIPiOC8dMyZRfwat/s1000/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(14%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKFcE7HIZIXCF4FeDi5ZM2qzf_UMIUp9nYEwFS_2mcNClKcHEXT51u6-w3-Ss1pQ-gYWaJAwX0RtFhocJKreEy5u-wOVXeJW-kQ33-Qw7wus752iP2YEiFwUr97NJTaDkmn_fUfZ_qWZ5xsY4icmih2xMftlORlxnB0PbOZZxB3UnHIPiOC8dMyZRfwat/w640-h360/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(14%20of%2017).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjC7OUsrmhOPTUv3k9sethLRDwPv50-mn4gGh_60hHZc6x-qL5cA5AWiDVa-j65dYQvSwEZgor2yzKg_gZHUydtDJ5xYh6jXl7R23gf1DwblEmxQrgPkRtLUbCIn6XypUmxsrF-dgxwDTzbcvi8vD9qmaQ-TUqlNhuqjBLj9mwfGjiLoLWMdiKmTzfq9H/s1000/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(15%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjC7OUsrmhOPTUv3k9sethLRDwPv50-mn4gGh_60hHZc6x-qL5cA5AWiDVa-j65dYQvSwEZgor2yzKg_gZHUydtDJ5xYh6jXl7R23gf1DwblEmxQrgPkRtLUbCIn6XypUmxsrF-dgxwDTzbcvi8vD9qmaQ-TUqlNhuqjBLj9mwfGjiLoLWMdiKmTzfq9H/w640-h360/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(15%20of%2017).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYBCcO4NIOnKyOFNBCQ_R0B22MmgG44W60QjOUl9GFsObdRwCrAeN6Er9UV3ywQB_mW2eYuXXJGUnbn7CavB4z7ioww5ccbSzVIpHtOrn4lUXvk6HLYWpKBFH1MbDOEG1GcyAN2zpwippvSNQnWuPY6GkAFMhoHayaFCwnkEae2PMDx908g7x3pie5wSJ/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(16%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYBCcO4NIOnKyOFNBCQ_R0B22MmgG44W60QjOUl9GFsObdRwCrAeN6Er9UV3ywQB_mW2eYuXXJGUnbn7CavB4z7ioww5ccbSzVIpHtOrn4lUXvk6HLYWpKBFH1MbDOEG1GcyAN2zpwippvSNQnWuPY6GkAFMhoHayaFCwnkEae2PMDx908g7x3pie5wSJ/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(16%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1k8F8IHAiaX73tiBFhfcZXM4C24K4_wTHoXB9tXlxSLcmWWM3Lel41rC9wuQFYrQzG05oqSLBDGpdXIAQ8OnaVv-oCeMxZPGCDvnkeXhTDkgMBxuwkh7mrkRoC5X7vx0TJOSlikihjgV2W2AYUVq3BqbjOnkVu0zEqQTNjt6r9unzE51n9-W7RZl9rIR/s1778/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(17%20of%2017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1k8F8IHAiaX73tiBFhfcZXM4C24K4_wTHoXB9tXlxSLcmWWM3Lel41rC9wuQFYrQzG05oqSLBDGpdXIAQ8OnaVv-oCeMxZPGCDvnkeXhTDkgMBxuwkh7mrkRoC5X7vx0TJOSlikihjgV2W2AYUVq3BqbjOnkVu0zEqQTNjt6r9unzE51n9-W7RZl9rIR/w360-h640/Christkindlemarket%20and%20Winterlights%20(17%20of%2017).jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />My other favorite spot at Winterlights was this pathway with the motion lights:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwRXkbRq3sq1jdzADQprlUeqmvbdS0B69hT9lyejL0LDdvrBpibOfTn4uudtkgg5JkYRuRShUWmTf02U8RGAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I am a sucker for motion lights! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas is VERY important to me, and every now and then, as the kids grow up, it hits me hard when I realize that they've outgrown one of our Christmas traditions. No more public library story times with Santa, no more <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-visit-with-st-nick.html" target="_blank">Children's Museum winter exhibit (with yet another visit with Santa</a>, ahem), no more doing a <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2010/11/ornament-advent-calendar.html" target="_blank">little Christmas activity or craft every single day in December</a>. I don't even take the kids shopping anymore to pick out gifts, because they've got driver's licences and Amazon accounts!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the things that I had not anticipated, though, is how fun it actually is to try out new family activities as the kids grow. My little kids would not have had the patience to stand in a bunch of lines at Christkindlmarkt and eat a bunch of food and walk around and window shop, but my big kids love that kind of stuff... other than the overwhelming raclette miasma, of course. They would have enjoyed Winterlights even as little kids, but my partner and I would have spent all our own attention wrangling them and making sure they didn't wander off into the dark art museum grounds and didn't trip over extension cords or fall off decorative pedestrian bridges into tiny canals filled with twinkle lights, etc. Or maybe one kid would have been pitching a fit instead of just sulking quietly like a teenager. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So I dunno. I'm still trying to find my way with these grown-up beings who used to be so small, but I think this was a pretty fair approximation of a holiday win. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I do think that I can kind of still smell raclette, though...</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-70821848845864023742023-12-26T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-26T07:00:00.134-05:00I Finished the Wool Felt Moveable Alphabet (and the Dolch Sight Word Cards!)<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkWfkhxxvZ_y180BztOQxwKByQ4hmO0nAOx1Mcls_6EJXX8D-2oMakqsu4FJQQyHvYk_0vMHi0WT09FyiRy8KkhpSKoSN-s108me66XieKBpuZQOs05m898xEXJzLKTbNEgGWj1mhao37yK5t3n57V513bLGHnRZLsVj9p_dWPX3dsIbFemlOyPjn6RKz/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(5%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkWfkhxxvZ_y180BztOQxwKByQ4hmO0nAOx1Mcls_6EJXX8D-2oMakqsu4FJQQyHvYk_0vMHi0WT09FyiRy8KkhpSKoSN-s108me66XieKBpuZQOs05m898xEXJzLKTbNEgGWj1mhao37yK5t3n57V513bLGHnRZLsVj9p_dWPX3dsIbFemlOyPjn6RKz/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(5%20of%209).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once upon a time, waaaay back in January 2023, Past Julie thought, "Ooh, I have the perfect idea for a cute Christmas gift for my niece! I'll hand-sew her a moveable alphabet out of the rest of my stash of wool felt. I'll just sew, like, one letter a week and she'll have SO many letters by Christmas!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">June 2023 rolled around, and Past Julie thought, "Hmm, no big deal. I'll just start stitching a couple of letters a week."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">During the October meeting of my mending group, I happily cut out letters and burbled to my fellow menders that "I just need to sew one a day and they'll be done in plenty of time before Christmas!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">During the November meeting, I said, a little more grimly, "<a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-wips.html" target="_blank">Just two a day</a> and I can squeak them into the mail just in time for Christmas."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Those <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-wips-grapefruit-cinnamon-wool.html" target="_blank">last couple of days in December</a>, it was more like six a day while binge-watching Chicago Med DVDs, but look at the glorious result!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU03gRkwa53oR3oyKNwS4qKw153XZwutnT7hKg38nbgwPfbp32tOU01DnRfMkudX0-S3CMmySBfh_FqgeHXuLBags6KzKZ_tN5bPTMmx6p0Ktg5FqEHihYzYDFobelBOCMxkYWL-Xpx6vbw1uJ-IV81qSdWFWlcK9E3e9zoPiXT0p3wGGMWMVCYTrYUdA/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(1%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDU03gRkwa53oR3oyKNwS4qKw153XZwutnT7hKg38nbgwPfbp32tOU01DnRfMkudX0-S3CMmySBfh_FqgeHXuLBags6KzKZ_tN5bPTMmx6p0Ktg5FqEHihYzYDFobelBOCMxkYWL-Xpx6vbw1uJ-IV81qSdWFWlcK9E3e9zoPiXT0p3wGGMWMVCYTrYUdA/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(1%20of%209).jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am SO pleased with them! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a rooster for size comparison, because the entire flock could not get it out of their heads that these colorful nuggets were perhaps made of delicious chicken food:</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb9bRVcEU7X80ViBZDTn8VUtW7-N-AU7Q3KipNqVXannMGkpuCOpRtOVXwXtFWsSyAiO-V-M0l8N44-koIU8vhMNtBYgMJ_i0vXLlQWubIqXY0LGlugwJYleJjsAxHZjDe2i5zZowwFOTiftqqwIXdWEQprloUgqc0CMfdDhvoel_LxYVDRJDWSCgLXHO/s1500/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(2%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb9bRVcEU7X80ViBZDTn8VUtW7-N-AU7Q3KipNqVXannMGkpuCOpRtOVXwXtFWsSyAiO-V-M0l8N44-koIU8vhMNtBYgMJ_i0vXLlQWubIqXY0LGlugwJYleJjsAxHZjDe2i5zZowwFOTiftqqwIXdWEQprloUgqc0CMfdDhvoel_LxYVDRJDWSCgLXHO/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(2%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite part of this project is that even though yes, it took a lot of me-hours to accomplish, the materials are ENTIRELY stash!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikndezxIgnVyWIkjT8MAF6i2v2-U7mFpPb4anllW74OY3BOpPJsRO02nvU_HB47K50P5VYzwIWUg2T5StM5DsyPDMT63xhzuYVi82UseDOOgTQRy1PPeDDV8-s1S26OWARb0tMysaiqzSJb3ICOBlrgOpm8-1cQdJwHHJrb_MvouepJ-BWIqd05WL0O2Yd/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(3%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikndezxIgnVyWIkjT8MAF6i2v2-U7mFpPb4anllW74OY3BOpPJsRO02nvU_HB47K50P5VYzwIWUg2T5StM5DsyPDMT63xhzuYVi82UseDOOgTQRy1PPeDDV8-s1S26OWARb0tMysaiqzSJb3ICOBlrgOpm8-1cQdJwHHJrb_MvouepJ-BWIqd05WL0O2Yd/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(3%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The felt is a really nice merino wool felt that I bought long ago for projects with my own kids (<a href="https://www.weircrafts.com/product/100-merino-wool-felt-12-color-mini-bag-basic-colors/" target="_blank">it's this exact set</a>, but I bought 8"x10" cuts instead of the 4"x6" cuts shown here). I blanket stitched the letters with <a href="https://amzn.to/3tkem60" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">basic-grade Amazon embroidery floss</a> and I stuffed each letter with snips of that same felt, and won my own personal game of wool felt chicken because after the very last letter was stuffed, I had less than a handful of little wool felt snippies left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I even had all the colors left! I managed a complete rainbow to start the set--</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywE9vFoB6MrDFO4oJko-_SYAUt7voMtK9CaKj7L5d4XRz__VKvcSitcnM3vSN7BM5tlqLCz-xSoLGg09HWv8dfxp-MRgVZ-69ltfHSdMJBV1l4wCJ16Ae741jz0kPSg7QqfU7j33zjcc75hNfPlgOIdsoNr393kfTq9M4NWSaiZpmbE_AhmasnAx9OBpq/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(4%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywE9vFoB6MrDFO4oJko-_SYAUt7voMtK9CaKj7L5d4XRz__VKvcSitcnM3vSN7BM5tlqLCz-xSoLGg09HWv8dfxp-MRgVZ-69ltfHSdMJBV1l4wCJ16Ae741jz0kPSg7QqfU7j33zjcc75hNfPlgOIdsoNr393kfTq9M4NWSaiZpmbE_AhmasnAx9OBpq/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(4%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--and also had enough grey, brown, black, and white to make a nice variety and multiples of every letter (except for X and Q, ahem):</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLoFh3pbzQALSxT4tJyy6G-Mm9XtfWi33XMephXaeo1O4ADAERUOEVX7L7SXEX7gGffIKDWQhgY0oTSSBdv_YeICItbnTeGuCu1dktgsASTPao6TyZbdNPi2jOslTSaPjc2WlDr714GkFQH6jaVWG9KunCCmfJPV4498xvp_OLGOTwEhddM9rQRd_9Za1/s1500/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(6%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLoFh3pbzQALSxT4tJyy6G-Mm9XtfWi33XMephXaeo1O4ADAERUOEVX7L7SXEX7gGffIKDWQhgY0oTSSBdv_YeICItbnTeGuCu1dktgsASTPao6TyZbdNPi2jOslTSaPjc2WlDr714GkFQH6jaVWG9KunCCmfJPV4498xvp_OLGOTwEhddM9rQRd_9Za1/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(6%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My partner handled creating all the <a href="https://sightwords.com/sight-words/dolch/" target="_blank">Dolch sight words</a> in the same font and size, and I backed each one in pretty paper and laminated it so my niece can use them as templates to make words with the wool felt letters:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJP9Oos2VqmXGtG-wUOVmoaymxYHkP_chLY5-n4QKgSHAAAQKHRrCxmBsun5gKzzxToGyioRJO-XxdKC7WMFIjXSG4uIjdGPDLGesJ-UCapGIt075wLlEyDHeT4z4-SQOp_ZQesE7VMmv0uK3AAq6qebdbRRyoawpq9gBXp5QA7aujSuahwdhImB1-4NS/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(7%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJP9Oos2VqmXGtG-wUOVmoaymxYHkP_chLY5-n4QKgSHAAAQKHRrCxmBsun5gKzzxToGyioRJO-XxdKC7WMFIjXSG4uIjdGPDLGesJ-UCapGIt075wLlEyDHeT4z4-SQOp_ZQesE7VMmv0uK3AAq6qebdbRRyoawpq9gBXp5QA7aujSuahwdhImB1-4NS/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(7%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wool felt has such a lovely feel, though, and the colors are so pretty, that I'm hoping that the letters alone are a fun sensory experience. Sensory experiences build intrinsic knowledge and increase one's love for a topic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's clear that the chickens, at least, appreciate the sensory appeal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNojuAjiFXzOQ-20qTKFC5VJvPtFxQt0fQ0NNzqptNw4FgahhqUWa6w73JPBq9v9UQmxSpnQSB346OWXGbyAHBz6PV9ZP5sjEUQ_gltUlPIQW01BcVBcHg3she7lXZD12ki_0cLDR0VbnQeSqS_awbOEsr2W_Qq5yHMgqLTYw-ECscrk8usIwkYaSblW1/s1500/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(8%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNojuAjiFXzOQ-20qTKFC5VJvPtFxQt0fQ0NNzqptNw4FgahhqUWa6w73JPBq9v9UQmxSpnQSB346OWXGbyAHBz6PV9ZP5sjEUQ_gltUlPIQW01BcVBcHg3she7lXZD12ki_0cLDR0VbnQeSqS_awbOEsr2W_Qq5yHMgqLTYw-ECscrk8usIwkYaSblW1/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(8%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though this project took a loooong time, it was not hard at all, and I actually would recommend it as a beginner-level hand-sewing project for absolutely anyone. Over Thanksgiving break my college kid sewed a perfectly acceptable "I" after about five seconds of instruction, and it's now mixed in there somewhere with the rest of the letters, completely indistinguishable from the lot (well, *I* can distinguish it, but definitely nobody else could)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw_WcQsrup0G7CLSO7UyjBO2Vcbxp9Vy8UDImBCyJ_1bYgumBcHTyvcucxdWx0uVTnc2a2oajzIA1w5_a8iBdzlQeHx-Mve7nU0NbZcemza8B_4LVCeAOa434ybPfmguAMlfy1FuvfKkghpJnV_nzuQLPHKXopRfnix_gMKa_tM-OO3ciIPkd4uqJJpNu/s1000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(9%20of%209).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw_WcQsrup0G7CLSO7UyjBO2Vcbxp9Vy8UDImBCyJ_1bYgumBcHTyvcucxdWx0uVTnc2a2oajzIA1w5_a8iBdzlQeHx-Mve7nU0NbZcemza8B_4LVCeAOa434ybPfmguAMlfy1FuvfKkghpJnV_nzuQLPHKXopRfnix_gMKa_tM-OO3ciIPkd4uqJJpNu/s16000/Wool%20Felt%20Moveable%20Alphabet%20(9%20of%209).jpg" /></a></div><br />Best. Christmas. Yet. Now, to figure out something even more unwieldy to make for next year!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-72966976625919044092023-12-22T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-22T07:00:00.132-05:00Homeschool Time Fillers That Aren't Busy Work (Even for High Schoolers!)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zy6y68hEAjHk-lK5PnxbcRMzo2o0RJC___83SJTdRW4Nk1deQsAUlcbv9RdaKQyInbBe-jcpNXgM3GOn2Ass4uqolRWdm-28DDB0NNThX6Tuj2GiRjAGYP7j_iB7rUaBXPyx0EWzJJriow1y2q1qDvdrH15KOwyh84MRsCLmBeSRKCgSnIT7ug_DqkvX/s819/Hive%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zy6y68hEAjHk-lK5PnxbcRMzo2o0RJC___83SJTdRW4Nk1deQsAUlcbv9RdaKQyInbBe-jcpNXgM3GOn2Ass4uqolRWdm-28DDB0NNThX6Tuj2GiRjAGYP7j_iB7rUaBXPyx0EWzJJriow1y2q1qDvdrH15KOwyh84MRsCLmBeSRKCgSnIT7ug_DqkvX/w640-h640/Hive%2001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My high schooler would be horrified to know this, but I do sometimes assign her work that's more of a time-filler than it is a substantive assignment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, it's because she has a busy week and I want to keep her on schedule but not add to her stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, it's because *I* have a busy week and I want to keep her on schedule but not add to *my* stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes we've finished up a big unit of study but it's not the perfect time to start the next one, or one of us isn't feeling 100%, or we've got an appointment or some other thing that would interrupt her flow, but I still want her learning that day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Essentially, time fillers work well for all those times and gaps when you want your student doing something educational, but you also want it to be low-stakes for both of you. The student is using her mind but not wracking her brain, and YOU don't have to review, edit, correct, or evaluate!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's some of my favorites from my collection of high school-level time fillers that are educational but low-stakes:</span></p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Board Games</h1><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes teenagers just need a break from book work and screen work. Reading textbooks and solving problems and filling in answers is also just one limited, specific type of learning, so I don't like that to be all my high schooler does for school all day. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We don't have a formal logic study currently, but logical thinking is an extremely beneficial skill, so I encourage a lot of logic games that I file as math enrichment. We play word games, association games, and creativity games for English credit, and historical games like Senet, Mancala, and Go for history/geography credit. Occasionally, I'll even find a game that we can play in my high schooler's target language.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some of my favorites:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Zone-Games-5525890-Possibilities/dp/B000EN5ZLW?crid=3Q5DX42SA82JB&keywords=hive&qid=1703012252&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=hive%2Ctoys-and-games%2C146&sr=1-1&th=1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=754c4db42efc1140fee2b0631c1d76c6&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000EN5ZLW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B000EN5ZLW" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Egyption-Strategy-Storage-Keepsake/dp/B00FJTMD2A?crid=2TIL3J5R1BJEA&keywords=senet&qid=1703012280&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=senet%2Ctoys-and-games%2C106&sr=1-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=0293da9a25848d70959ac1460f6ff90f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00FJTMD2A&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B00FJTMD2A" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Othello-Classic-Game-2-Player/dp/B01MXWTYLF?crid=3J5AJ3TO36DB9&keywords=othello&qid=1703012302&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=othello%2Ctoys-and-games%2C124&sr=1-4&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=9027c57c5c2c5bf4230ff0df0ddae8c8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01MXWTYLF&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B01MXWTYLF" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E5QL2AC?coliid=I39U1TD9NUPK5Z&colid=22G4TDLCIWATK&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=1b26e2f1f14565a76f18778cd9c524ce&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00E5QL2AC&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B00E5QL2AC" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019O19BU?coliid=I31ZVE7NO3ZT9K&colid=22G4TDLCIWATK&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=a1491fbf1647986ac9a19547504db2f8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0019O19BU&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B0019O19BU" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>We've got some made-up games that we can play anywhere, as well, most notably the </span><a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2022/10/homeschool-high-school-creative-writing.html" target="_blank">Wikipedia Game and Dictionary Definitions</a><span>, and once in a blue moon I'll go to the trouble of downloading and printing an online-sourced game like </span><a href="https://phylogame.org/game-play/" target="_blank">Phylo</a><span>, especially if it fits into a niche in a subject that we're studying.</span> </span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Documentaries</h1><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I already see the public library as my personal streaming service, so it doesn't feel like a big deal for me to do a quick catalog search whenever I'm planning the next few weeks' studies and just go ahead and request any documentaries that are on-topic and look interesting.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Documentaries about a topic of study build depth and context, and now that we're all such ipad babies, focusing on a piece of content for a whopping one hour really is something that we need to do every so often to stay in practice!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My immediate go-tos for documentaries are anything PBS, National Geographic, or BBC. Independent films and documentaries produced by news publications are also good, but I usually avoid anything else you might find on cable (TLC is most definitely NOT!) as being less in-depth than I want for a high schooler. The teenager and I are currently in the middle of a <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/uranium-twisting-dragons-tail/" target="_blank">two-part PBS special on uranium</a>, which I'm counting as enrichment for her Honors Chemistry study, but here are some other documentaries we've watched for high school:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Six-Disc-Special-Narrated-Attenborough/dp/B005C9YZIM?crid=10XFZYR2ED6TM&keywords=bbc+planet+earth&qid=1703004950&s=movies-tv&sprefix=bbc+planet+earth%2Cmovies-tv%2C117&sr=1-1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=36f2924e142db62882ccb754e3dbb1aa&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005C9YZIM&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B005C9YZIM" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-States-Got-Their-Shapes/dp/B005ELVCDY?pd_rd_w=YvNdO&content-id=amzn1.sym.d95de1d6-8400-4c9d-8ae8-144769325aef&pf_rd_p=d95de1d6-8400-4c9d-8ae8-144769325aef&pf_rd_r=MZ711QW3NKSY1FP9S9W7&pd_rd_wg=vweby&pd_rd_r=16a87624-22b1-45f2-9c7f-0c03cf267b5b&pd_rd_i=B005ELVCDY&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=bcdb5b8662a76be69da9a665ed53c650&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005ELVCDY&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B005ELVCDY" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Burns-National-Parks-Americas/dp/B07B64T736?crid=2QAGX7AQ09CR&keywords=ken+burns+national+parks&qid=1703005103&s=movies-tv&sprefix=ken+burns+national+parks%2Cmovies-tv%2C117&sr=1-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=629b1858fb0178e3efc1fb211c21ab2f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07B64T736&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07B64T736" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Experience-Stonewall-Uprising/dp/B004AR4W4O?crid=25NOYJ6CK8ULZ&keywords=stonewall+uprising&qid=1703005174&s=movies-tv&sprefix=stonewall+uprising%2Cmovies-tv%2C116&sr=1-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=33c5aa0bdcee9d201a29f7cbab2ed1eb&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B004AR4W4O&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B004AR4W4O" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/GOOD-EATS-ALTON-BROWN-Holiday/dp/B000M66HHW?crid=14W5E6JTN6JZ8&keywords=alton+brown&qid=1703005231&refinements=p_n_format_browse-bin%3A2650304011&rnid=2650303011&s=movies-tv&sprefix=alton+brown%2Cmovies-tv%2C113&sr=1-4&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=7090a5d1f7f866bc1f01de0c469ddfaf&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000M66HHW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B000M66HHW" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Camp-Becky-Fischer/dp/B000KLQUV2?crid=3D4BBPTNL1Y9X&keywords=jesus+camp&qid=1703005363&s=movies-tv&sprefix=jesus+camp%2Cmovies-tv%2C156&sr=1-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=1f5c918b07e399b041b700b1d5b98a91&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000KLQUV2&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B000KLQUV2" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Although they aren't quite documentaries, there are also a ton of lectures, presentations, and streams available on YouTube. Q&A sessions give me secondhand cringe, so we don't watch that part, meaning that the actual run-time is shorter than listed. This is also a good place to find performances that enhance liberal arts or language studies; my homeschoolers and I have watched lots of plays on YouTube, and lots of TV shows performed in whatever target language they're studying at that time:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1m-MS4zz6w?si=dbrM6NT_uurLsZgD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FymNP8copac?si=iKTxj1VJuRkL_3nx" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZbrgWSpRVV4?si=Efo_mdjQtus6tj_f" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pae2AMnmUVA?si=8A5OVC3vMySqKIsw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Podcasts</h1><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We listen to a lot of audiobooks for the teenager's English credits, mostly while she works on her studio art and I do a handicraft and we chat. I don't want to give up that precious stitch-and-bitch time even when we're not burning through a 14-hour tome, though, so in between books I'll often fill in that space with a podcast. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You can usually find a dozen different podcast episodes on any topic, so it's not hard to find something that fits into the teenager's current studies, but vetting new ones to see if they're good or if they're trash can take some time. We've also got favorite podcasts that are educational without necessarily being on-topic; here are a few:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/2bB44RWKrgs1jhylH1NBtL?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/25PdDOYwfXDFvZ4pI1JWDh?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/1HhgxCadyWTQ09MiqQ136u?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/7Mf2fhNUVEKSOvby3K315b?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/show/3nZo0GuEfiOMacTbOb2ESE?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></span></div><div> </div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Puzzles and Solitaire Games</h1><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We loooove our puzzles, with my teenager spending as much time working sudokus as my partner and I spend working crossword puzzles. Just in the last year or so the teenager seems to have mostly grown out of (or just mostly completed!) all of our in-house hands-on logic puzzles, but here are some of the favorites that she particularly enjoyed from childhood through the first couple of years of high school:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/ThinkFun-Rush-Traffic-Logic-Girls/dp/B00000DMER?crid=2SMUBWM1KIO2U&keywords=rush+hour+game&qid=1703016097&sprefix=rush+hour+ga%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=e482290e3deca34f21bf827ee6a666b9&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00000DMER&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B00000DMER" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brainwright-STAX-Purrfect-Puzzle-Pieces/dp/B0CFG6Z9CK?crid=1Z6SILWP4N4QX&keywords=cats+stax&qid=1703016209&sprefix=cats+stax%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=b494c2c2dc83dd0ccb9ea996e2f953fe&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0CFG6Z9CK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B0CFG6Z9CK" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/SmartGames-SG423US-IQ-Fit/dp/B0084ZJ9RS?crid=2JNMZTWK1824S&keywords=iq&qid=1703016295&sprefix=iq%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-8&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=4bc1f367b377ec24bddb233d50166c07&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0084ZJ9RS&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B0084ZJ9RS" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tangram-Geometry-Silhouette-Tangrams-Challenge/dp/B005IDO63Q?crid=YDZS7MAJY8H0&keywords=tangrams&qid=1703016373&sprefix=tangrams%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-15&linkCode=li3&tag=crakni-20&linkId=343c47648938d4ae547f67a5dc47d637&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B005IDO63Q&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=crakni-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=crakni-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B005IDO63Q" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These days, if I want to assign her a short time-filler puzzle that's something fun, I'll have her do the daily Wordle, <a href="https://murdle.com/" target="_blank">Murdle</a>, or <a href="https://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle" target="_blank">Set</a> online. All three update daily, so there's always a new puzzle!</span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Process-Oriented Projects</h1><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think that sensorial knowledge is still important to continue building, even into these older kid years. It's also important to continue building one's creativity and to remain comfortable with play, experimentation, and the concept of doing something simply to experience the process. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To encourage my teenager to stay creative and experimental, I'll sometimes surprise her with an assignment like finding a new cookie recipe to bake, or creating a sticker design based on something we've been studying, or flipping through a stack of books I got from the library with her in mind, etc. Basically, I just want to stretch her out of her comfort zone of what she normally likes to bake or draw or read. Or maybe I'm just craving cookies but don't want to make them for myself! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The art/math combo is my favorite focal point for building sensorial knowledge and experimenting with process. Over her high school years, the teenager has been compiling a portfolio of geometric art, and adding to it is a great way to bake some low-stakes math enrichment into the school week. Making things like mandalas, polyominoes, and tesselations put sensorial math knowledge into use, and build on geometry process that she's learned. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, I'm obsessed with the spirograph!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the lead-up to a holiday, there are all kinds of sneakily educational, mathematically sophisticated holiday crafts to create. There's a lot of beautiful math involved in <a href="https://www.handmadekultur.de/projekte/sternanhaenger-aus-holz_137932" target="_blank">wire-wrapping beads to make stars</a>, or <a href="https://yellowhouse72.blogspot.com/2012/12/folded-paper-star-tutorial.html" target="_blank">folding precisely symmetrical paper ornaments</a>, or <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/Ac8ENlqBBdtWxj-DZN03CW2wqMFfJEHctGr0D0lK1aycb81z1Qn8GJw/" target="_blank">stitching felt mandalas</a> or snowflakes. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When there's not a holiday on the horizon, sometimes we'll just do something random like check out an origami or paper airplane book, or buy ourselves a DIY kit and decide to learn how to crochet. I'm currently low-key obsessed with a friendship bracelet loom that I made out of corrugated cardboard, so there's a lot of weaving going on around here.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we move into the Spring semester of the teenager's Senior year, I can't decide if we're going to be doing more of these types of assignments, or less. On the one hand, I'm not opposed to ending one's high school career with a whimper rather than a bang, so as the teenager starts to finish her last units of study one-by-one, I don't want to necessarily replace them with equal amounts of puzzles and documentaries. But on the other hand, I do think that most of us need a goodly amount of productive work most days, so I definitely don't want a teenager to finish up all her learning and then sit around on my couch for several months actively not learning, ahem. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps I'll see if there's a larger, more culminating-type project that the teenager would be interested in working on during those increasingly free school hours further into Spring? Or perhaps we'll get very, VERY good at crochet!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, homeschool projects, road trips, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!</span></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-87011738762279875352023-12-20T07:00:00.002-05:002023-12-20T07:00:00.130-05:00I Read The Pornography Wars and Now It's My Least Crowd-Friendly Special Interest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgsnKj3YLZu4TaPcPZ0T99M8B5E0pruiNbs9DKkp8uv9mnpSsmsHm9qnFsTsejkxTHgHp9Iju_MKfyQyZ-ALrntUqGPrZ-_daXrjEO5mpQx0yMOMQjk6HpPZup_ZIe9GIoDO1SAhYSIkHm6NgPlG06gNmJSfKds1GHPTABi0cv2KBfRa0f9tpqCZFEEOt/s1000/The%20Pornography%20Wars%20(1%20of%201).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgsnKj3YLZu4TaPcPZ0T99M8B5E0pruiNbs9DKkp8uv9mnpSsmsHm9qnFsTsejkxTHgHp9Iju_MKfyQyZ-ALrntUqGPrZ-_daXrjEO5mpQx0yMOMQjk6HpPZup_ZIe9GIoDO1SAhYSIkHm6NgPlG06gNmJSfKds1GHPTABi0cv2KBfRa0f9tpqCZFEEOt/s16000/The%20Pornography%20Wars%20(1%20of%201).jpg" /></span></a><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58532152-the-pornography-wars" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America's Obscene Obsession" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1649034307l/58532152._SX98_.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3tkc5YH">The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America's Obscene Obsession</a> by Kelsy Burke<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6044015179">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
What a world we live in! The other day, I sincerely told my teenager that if I’d known, at her age, that one day I’d live in a future in which Spotify Premium* exists--nearly all the world’s music at my fingertips for just eleven bucks a month!--it would have literally been my own personal “It gets better” moment. Seriously, all. That. Music! And every day I find something new! I’m still low-key in my deep dive of comparing different versions of “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1Eqaby11BMQVIp5EY3cZhD?si=RLhND95ySUeYDy2jwSnEeQ" target="_blank">The Nutcracker” as played by different professional orchestras</a>, and yesterday, I found a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/06hF30Puhj3Hung5b1JAXD?si=66acd64323534d89" target="_blank">cover of “Life on Mars” sung by Sophia Anne Caruso</a>. What a world!<br /><br />*This is not an ad for Spotify Premium. <br /><br />Simultaneously, the fact that you can also now find nearly all the world’s porn at one’s fingertips has gone mostly unnoticed by me, but I love myself a social history, so I was interested enough to dip into this book… and now I might possibly have found myself obsessed with the history of pornography?<br /><br />But to be fair, Burke drew me in right from the start with a history/analysis of the <a href="https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/venus-of-hohle-fels-the-earliest-known-depiction-of-a-human-being-in-prehistoric-art" target="_blank">Venus of Hohle Fels</a>, the earliest figurative depiction of a human yet discovered, and y’all KNOW <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-first-book-that-i-read-about.html" target="_blank">how I feel about the art and artifacts of early peoples</a>!<br /><br />Just by looking at it, the Venus of Hohle Fels is pretty porny… and off we go into the history of porn!<br /><br />There wasn’t as much history of bygone eras as I’d wanted--I wanted to read about Victorian porn!--but I was very interested in Burke’s analysis of a few more contemporary key historical moments that changed how we make and consume pornography. There’s the internet, of course, which made commercial porn shoots less viable because nobody really needs to rent backroom DVDs anymore, and the Pornhub monopoly, which made those shoots now nearly worthless, because why buy a website subscription when you can get raunchy clips for free? It was enlightening to see interviews in which sex workers who said that they could once upon a time earn a living filming porn on contract now have to operate more like gig workers, with porn shoots, camming, public appearances, and escorting. Apparently <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/style/onlyfans-porn-stars.html" target="_blank">not even OnlyFans is a one-stop solution</a> for most sex workers, especially when it can’t ever seem to decide if it will take major credit cards or not.<br /><br />There is actually less history overall in this book than I’d been anticipating. I guess I’d expected a timeline/analysis of seminal works (lol!) and their various historical impacts, and we do get some of that, from the Venus of Hohls Fe to Deep Throat (you should <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/deep-throat-1973" target="_blank">read Roger Ebert’s review of that film</a>!) to the Girls Gone Wild franchise that I remember from my own misspent 20s… but also with a lot of present-day first-person narrative of what it’s like to attend an ethical feminist porn shoot or an anti-porn convention or a sex workers conference, etc. I never could quite nail down (lol!) the author’s thesis, I guess, or even really how she wanted her analysis to flow, which often left me confused about the purpose of what I was reading and/or weirdly displaced in time--there was a very long passage about commercial shoots, for instance, that I was very interested in, but I could not for the life of me figure out if this was a contemporary shoot or something from, say, the early 00s? Based on Burke’s later discussion of the ways that MindGeek/Pornhub has made commercial shoots obsolete, I’m guessing it was the early 00s.<br /><br />I was also less interested in the lengthy discussions of the various contemporary anti-porn movements. Historical anti-porn movements, sure--the California Measure B legislation in 2012-2017ish is super interesting, and to my mind has a lot of connections with ongoing legislation across the country to limit/determine what public school teachers can do--but the discussions of the contemporary stances against porn just went round and round: feminists are against porn for these reasons, religious conservatives are against porn for these reasons, etc. The feminists who are opposed to porn have a point, at least, but so do the feminists who are okay with porn, as do the sex workers involved in creating it, as do the free speech laws. I did have a fun time looking up an author’s reading of <a href="https://amzn.to/487CnfN" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds</a> and snickering over it, though--my teenager, who was also watching this reading with me, kept shortening Jenson’s call to arms of “Turn, Run, and Tell” to “Turnt,” which… snicker! But what I really wanted, and didn’t get, was Burke’s final conclusion and stance; after all, she’s the one who just wrote a book about it! She must have opinions!<br /><br />Instead, you are not going to BELIEVE what she does in the final paragraph of her book: she spoils the series finale of The Good Place?!?!? I mean, yes, fine, the show has been out for a few years, but still: it was a big twist! And she didn’t even give a spoiler warning first! <br /><br />Although I got frustrated with the various philosophical stances since they were portrayed as, and seem to remain, unrectifiable (lol!), I was very interested in Burke’s references to a few cultural artifacts that seem like they could be more revealing, notably <a href="https://www.dressember.org/blog/hot-girls-wanted-review" target="_blank">Rashida Jones’ documentary, Hot Girls Wanted</a>, that seems to portray porn’s incessant acquisition of 18-year-old talent as VERY close to human trafficking, and the <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/death-of-a-porn-star-201939/" target="_blank">Twitter controversy involving August Ames</a>, which seems to have as much to say about mental health as it does homophobia. As well, there’s a short mention of <a href="https://www.humpfilmfest.com/" target="_blank">Dan Savage’s amateur porn film festival, Hump</a>, and of a few performers who’ve done some compelling advocacy (<a href="https://youtu.be/PnK9Y7yuGWg?si=p8ndtMpg47Jhg3np" target="_blank">including TEDTalks!</a>) that I would have loved to have seen entire chapters on; this feels like the closest society has come (lol!) so far to true feminist, ethical porn.<br /><br />I left the book with a lot of topics in mind that I’m still curious about: IS feminist ethical porn possible? Is there an ethical way to legitimize sex work? What do popular trends in porn say about the society that creates/consumes it? How has the takeover of “indie”/”pro-am” porn affected the marked sizeism, colorism, and racism clearly evident in most commercial porn? Burke did a little bit of semiotic analysis of a couple of commercial films that have historical resonance, primarily in her discussion of racism and pornography, but I’d love to read more about that. I mean, she barely touched (lol!) 50 Shades of Grey!!!
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2459821-pumpkin-bear">View all my reviews</a>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, dog-walking mishaps, road trips, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></div>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-29256539688775027702023-12-18T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-18T07:00:00.131-05:00Mending at the Library in Mid-December<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCE3cwnLn96fkQThWjJ4g_1uMmS9QXSQ58dz8G-Svkh1v6Jdq8L1MRO44sFViEwcoE_kcXhk0i12X4eg9C-Y3fTDZPx71rjjE_XwmcBnmRQTRU9-CTTXytES3vhNecF_xrKeZGGP9yVgoXd3gbNR8xJcT90yyOQ3dbZvCroWg7Ijl64f95Jf7zWMIJArs/s1777/December%20Meinding%20Day%20(1%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCE3cwnLn96fkQThWjJ4g_1uMmS9QXSQ58dz8G-Svkh1v6Jdq8L1MRO44sFViEwcoE_kcXhk0i12X4eg9C-Y3fTDZPx71rjjE_XwmcBnmRQTRU9-CTTXytES3vhNecF_xrKeZGGP9yVgoXd3gbNR8xJcT90yyOQ3dbZvCroWg7Ijl64f95Jf7zWMIJArs/s16000/December%20Meinding%20Day%20(1%20of%202).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Every month, my mending group volunteers at the library for one afternoon, mending whatever people bring in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, we do send people away--like, we can't resole shoes or anything--and sometimes we'll tell them something to buy and come back with next month, like if they need a very specific zipper or something, but the group actually has a pretty big stock of bits and bobs and notions and fabrics, so mostly people can walk in with a damaged piece and walk out with it mended. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To be honest, I didn't attend this latest Mending Day expecting to mend anything; I'd hoped I could set up at a table in the back, just happen to let all the patrons wander over to someone else, and spend four hours sewing my Girl Scout troop's Elf Project stocking and the wool felt moveable alphabet for my niece's Christmas present.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I did get the stocking sewn!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgC6_C-0BhNIgrVwOk8n1UaCTwdUWqD-pbaoYJF6gwYKS3L69-yFNFXbnCOBG4n9KXywfSECueDL3qBNfNmV9vvAGUKIdO5lqPkbXsj5QaDcq_Kc8lA4nDbYUV-JEZd3wfjB36N9I4RJTwF519fHjCHg0G0Abx2Qvx6c5vi8BQrUcYM-QBZJ_w_s341-I/s1779/December%20Meinding%20Day%20(2%20of%202).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgC6_C-0BhNIgrVwOk8n1UaCTwdUWqD-pbaoYJF6gwYKS3L69-yFNFXbnCOBG4n9KXywfSECueDL3qBNfNmV9vvAGUKIdO5lqPkbXsj5QaDcq_Kc8lA4nDbYUV-JEZd3wfjB36N9I4RJTwF519fHjCHg0G0Abx2Qvx6c5vi8BQrUcYM-QBZJ_w_s341-I/w360-h640/December%20Meinding%20Day%20(2%20of%202).jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />After that, I had time to take about one stitch in my next felt letter, and then I was too busy actually mending things to pick it up again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our group has a regular monthly clientele of older single men who bring us their mending every month, which... fair and valid! I'd totally do the same! So I <a href="https://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingDiscussions/topic/75197" target="_blank">mended a couple of tiny holes in a sweatshirt</a> and a hoodie, then let the patron borrow my needle and thread and talked him through mending the rest while I sewed up a rip in a pair of fleece pants and another in a sheet. <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-which-i-mend-my-familys-clothes.html" target="_blank">For my own mending, I like to stitch only, with no interfacing</a> allowed to muck up my sensory experience. But for this mending, another volunteer taught me how to use <a href="https://amzn.to/48eYxfK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tricot interfacing</a>, which comes in both white and black for matching purposes, and stabilizing the fabric DID make the sewing go a LOT more quickly!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then a librarian from a different branch came in to ask about the possibility of the group mentoring teen learn-to-sew programs. I am VERY interested in that, so we spoke for a while and hopefully next year, I'll find myself sewing with teenagers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then I sewed up a very fiddly rip in a very fiddly open-weave decorative pillowcase, using even more tricot and a bunch of stitching lines across the rip to ideally stabilize the fraying seams so that I don't see this patron again in January to mend that same rip again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Near the end of our session, a patron came in wanting us to sew up a rip in his pocket. The only problem? He was literally wearing those pants right then...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">His marching orders were to come back in January, with the pants washed, dried, and NOT on his body.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, dog-walking mishaps, road trips, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255877501892467740.post-58802629429192608232023-12-14T07:00:00.001-05:002023-12-14T07:00:00.134-05:00December WIPs: Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Wool Felt, and College Application Essays<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_nwvNS7f-OOfY-JED5Ir7Mwc77ftE8IS3mpntDkrdbNj0rTRGeA-akwAammCcQyvnQouEU8yfOo0406alPo6yli_Ge8z7BDrxQwPRBQyzIS_AU_QFYAtjgXx2XVtZkZWjwEqnmtUWqGaum90WW0vVIBKnfALdoG7JuqX8o7Q8wIcYQJL5gT0bw31zx8r/s1000/December%20WIPs%20(4%20of%204).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_nwvNS7f-OOfY-JED5Ir7Mwc77ftE8IS3mpntDkrdbNj0rTRGeA-akwAammCcQyvnQouEU8yfOo0406alPo6yli_Ge8z7BDrxQwPRBQyzIS_AU_QFYAtjgXx2XVtZkZWjwEqnmtUWqGaum90WW0vVIBKnfALdoG7JuqX8o7Q8wIcYQJL5gT0bw31zx8r/s16000/December%20WIPs%20(4%20of%204).jpg" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nutcracker is finished, and Christmas is on the horizon! </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's what I'm currently working on, trying to finish, or at least determinedly not abandoning:</span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">SUCCESSES</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oKTClqEldCfWuGKhzQHIRq5Rs6LlZt2f468xnjgSXD_tq8u-i_b2UNhYYGge4SCgW6Gxt7NnpvMSf4x-jynAMGDj12May_JmiFA49ZPTGXckz-dY8ZuD_fiLb8Jlr-yff5jZ7DcZOHozj-acgvaGQMY3KdQ56h0Ios1X7vwChbJ7JFPOeLILwroKEH5M/s1000/December%20WIPs%20(1%20of%204).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oKTClqEldCfWuGKhzQHIRq5Rs6LlZt2f468xnjgSXD_tq8u-i_b2UNhYYGge4SCgW6Gxt7NnpvMSf4x-jynAMGDj12May_JmiFA49ZPTGXckz-dY8ZuD_fiLb8Jlr-yff5jZ7DcZOHozj-acgvaGQMY3KdQ56h0Ios1X7vwChbJ7JFPOeLILwroKEH5M/s16000/December%20WIPs%20(1%20of%204).jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look at that Mouse King army, all sewn and stuffed, labeled with ribbons that read "Team Mouse 2023," and ready to be wrapped and handed off to a corps of little mouselings!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sewed these mini Mouse King stuffies from the <a href="https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/12469768-nutcracker-stuffies-mouse-king-nutcracker-prince-clara-by-pumpkinbear" target="_blank">Nutcracker stuffies fabric</a> that my teenager designed a couple of years ago. I also sewed a complete set of the mini stuffies for the teenager so she could hang them on our Christmas tree... but it turns out that the performance casting document that the ballet department sent out to the parents omitted one kid's name from the Mouse corps, and therefore I was short exactly one Mouse King!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Obviously, the solution was to give that kid my own kid's ornament, lol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So technically this remains a WIP, as my own teenager's set is short a Mouse King until I upload a fabric panel to Spoonflower that's all Mouse Kings, have it printed and sent to me, and then re-sew that stuffie for her. That's an AFTER Christmas project for Future Julie to enjoy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also in the realm of Still-But-Not-Really-A-WIP is the stocking that I sewed for my Girl Scout troop's Elf Project kid. I managed to sew it start to finish during my mending group's monthly Mending Day at our local public library--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjtCa7CR_S5fXKJ2TH-7zJU89Zjhfu3njSDE1nvNq0kLOpNASZWsv4F4blGWjY-0MbgjJB0lzj3av8NkPMJsJ2CpbLhWHJla4EWn54DAMFUGjUIEllGCbudsgPxWZLnFeiYEYzi9X5rjboi5dVtlM_fdtzyOkYimPz3SEdVqszZ6rR7SAvpyohu5yedM9/s1994/December%20Mending%20Day%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="1121" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjtCa7CR_S5fXKJ2TH-7zJU89Zjhfu3njSDE1nvNq0kLOpNASZWsv4F4blGWjY-0MbgjJB0lzj3av8NkPMJsJ2CpbLhWHJla4EWn54DAMFUGjUIEllGCbudsgPxWZLnFeiYEYzi9X5rjboi5dVtlM_fdtzyOkYimPz3SEdVqszZ6rR7SAvpyohu5yedM9/w360-h640/December%20Mending%20Day%2001.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--then the next day the troop met to wrap all the presents they'd bought for our sponsored kid and stuff this stocking. I just have to run out today and buy a couple last things, have my teenager wrap them, and then I can pack up everything and drop it off for the kid's caregiver to pick up before Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also at that meeting, we made a pretty epic version of <a href="https://partieswithacause.com/free-holiday-gnome-patterns/" target="_blank">these gnomes</a>, which required me to score some faux fur remnants from Joann's, dig through my fabric stash for the body and hats and noses, buy five pounds of rice, make a sample project, then walk five Girl Scouts through their own versions. We had to do some on-the-spot trouble-shooting when their bodies came out weird and none of us could figure out why, but eventually five ADORABLE gnomes are now all sitting fat and happy in five Girl Scout homes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FAILURES</h3><div>Unsurprisingly, I suppose, after all the extra holiday projects I put on my own plate, most of <a href="https://craftknife.blogspot.com/2023/11/november-wips.html" target="_blank">my November WIPs</a> remain WIPs. I haven't even touched the skull quilt block or the weaving loom or the England travel journal since then. </div><div><br /></div><div>That kind of project is what the cozy, relaxed week between Christmas and New Year's Eve is for!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">CURRENT WIPS</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-bQqVzb6h3pDvi54roytwprSrLe7Lfg899AprPyiFiyfveQ-E_SXNR4CYtG-faEpYs5PR9Os5lcH5nilgJAO-MFAJVPcBhHEjroNJj22kxZuZ2LcfnnGsqlWu-NQ8LNNJGqcMBmJACpyHvjJfMfMW82SCNuzPK93iAY_E9VB0KWF1Loi8otTdrvqkb0r/s1000/December%20WIPs%20(2%20of%204).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-bQqVzb6h3pDvi54roytwprSrLe7Lfg899AprPyiFiyfveQ-E_SXNR4CYtG-faEpYs5PR9Os5lcH5nilgJAO-MFAJVPcBhHEjroNJj22kxZuZ2LcfnnGsqlWu-NQ8LNNJGqcMBmJACpyHvjJfMfMW82SCNuzPK93iAY_E9VB0KWF1Loi8otTdrvqkb0r/s16000/December%20WIPs%20(2%20of%204).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I called my teenager in to take a process photo of my hands kneading this cinnamon dough for an upcoming tutorial, and while she was at it she also took a photo of me fighting for my life to keep my fuzzy monster foot slippers (I bought <a href="https://amzn.to/3GIiksi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these </a>in 2019 and still wear them allll winter every winter!) out of the frame.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These grapefruit slices took a LOT longer to dehydrate than I thought they would. I think I cut them too thick?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQmT2JHEmd_n47FgGo2nbir3unv62ExW6XpfT8oyxJ1znwNjPBEcO9ILOp7G-v81ftkF-SpdZNpRKA1MyaBZprZAVXofAIbIylLnnoGrEAV5XGad3LwoPMkiixW3OdR7ju58eDlW89ykFEE5Es9Vlx9EFtv8hEYpcZBoAe8aqWD5UmSgNDxYNzwrPzasj/s1000/December%20WIPs%20(3%20of%204).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQmT2JHEmd_n47FgGo2nbir3unv62ExW6XpfT8oyxJ1znwNjPBEcO9ILOp7G-v81ftkF-SpdZNpRKA1MyaBZprZAVXofAIbIylLnnoGrEAV5XGad3LwoPMkiixW3OdR7ju58eDlW89ykFEE5Es9Vlx9EFtv8hEYpcZBoAe8aqWD5UmSgNDxYNzwrPzasj/s16000/December%20WIPs%20(3%20of%204).jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My goal is to write tutorials for both of these projects for my next couple of freelance writing pieces, in the process making a nice winter dried grapefruit slice and cinnamon cut-out garland for my kitchen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Y'all, I only have SIX MORE LETTERS to sew to complete my niece's hand-sewn wool felt moveable alphabet! They are turning out as cute as they can possibly be! I still need to sew a carrying bag, print and laminate some sight word cards to go with the set, write my niece a holiday letter, and then pack and mail it all off to her. Do you think a Saturday mailing is too late to get it to California by Christmas?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other remaining tasks: finishing up one last handmade-ish Christmas present, keeping an eye out for the last of the family presents to trickle in and then wrapping them, helping/prodding the teenager to finish up college applications and her Gold Award proposal, and picking my college student up from Ohio after she finishes acing all of her final exams. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After that, it's nothing but cookie baking, movie watching, gingerbread house decorating, and board game playing for the rest of the year. I can't wait!</div></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">P.S. Want to follow along with my unfinished craft projects, books I'm reading, cute photos of the cats, high school chemistry labs, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CraftKnife" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Craft Knife Facebook page</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">!</span></p>juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18141123092139829629noreply@blogger.com0