For someone who loves horses and color, it's hard to beat a horse race. At the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY, you can stand right up against the fence that lines the track. I snapped this shot just as 12 horses broke out of the gate for the first race of the day. I love all the jockeys' vibrant shirt colors and can see them making their way into some JAKE & META creations sometime soon...
Have you ever tried a goat burger? Or duck fat fries? If not, you can definitely find both at the General Grocery Store in Saxapahaw, NC. Proprietors Jeff and Cameron are perpetually inviting and gracious, and the food is always delicious. Supporting their local famers and businesses (which, as a small business owner, I love), the place is low-key yet gourmet and draws a crowd every weekend. No wonder the Durham-Chapel Hill-Triad area is described as "foodie"!
Every year we go to the beach in North Carolina, and this year was no exception. The weather was hot but pleasant, and the expansive beaches were beautiful and relaxing. I love the sound of the ocean. And this particular beach has a sea turtle conservancy that offers nightly seminars and "turtle walks." You get to learn about the types of sea turtles, which ones lay their eggs in the North Carolina sand, and if you're lucky, you get to see one in action. This year we were not that lucky, but the evening excursion with the conservancy was full of information—and anticipation! Maybe next year...
Recently we went to Vermont, partly just to see the countryside, and partly to try to find the sugarhouse that housed the little calf I drew so many years ago (aka the JAKE & META mascot!). We did find the sugarhouse and along the way were treated to some beautiful lanscapes and vistas. All the flowers and trees seemed to be enjoying the recent rains and warm weather. A great way to spend the weekend.
Not sure what it's like where you are, but where we live, it's the year of the 13-year cicada. We've found hundreds of shed outer layers, hooked onto plants, porch columns, even onto the nose of a stone porcupine we have! And now all of these bugs are in the nearby tree tops—thousands of them. Their buzzing is incessant and loud. At first we thought it was a neighbor's machinery but were amazed when we finally realized what it was. The one in this photo is pre-shed. Though his red eyes look almost plastic, I knew when he moved that he saw me snapping his photo!
This past week was absolutely fantastic, spent in NYC at the 2011 National Stationery Show. Months of preparation and planning came together in what you see above: our corner booth on aisle 1100. We met many interesting and nice people, including our neighbors Fisk & Fern from Brooklyn. The preparations took a while, but not too long. Here's what we had to start with:
We also were finalists in the Best New Product competition (!), which meant we were able to place a board with selected note cards in the front lobby. This was a great way to gain exposure, and several people who came to our booth said they'd seen our products out front.
Now it's down to business! Following up and fulfilling orders. And thinking about next year...?
Sunsets never get boring. Even though the same general thing goes on every evening, each brings its own colors, clouds, and beauty. This is what the sky looked like last night, and I bet it's going to be gorgeous again tonight.
