Connecticut

Why I Appreciated Irene

Okay, so Irene wasn’t all bad, it’s good to remember that I only lost power for about 36 hours because if I’d lost it for more, I really don’t think I’d feel this way, but there is a huge part of me that liked the loss of power for a day and half. I remember life without FaceBook, computers, and texting, and it’s nice to head back there for a time and not be at the beacon call of technology. It is nice to, for a moment, not have everything at our finger tips.

There is always something lost and something gained as we advance and create, and I really miss the simplicity of life pre-PC. It’s not just the technology, but Sunday and Monday the whole state was pretty much shut down, so there was a degree (if you weren’t a medical worker or a CLP staff) that you knew there was no way to connect with most people and everyone knew it. There was very little that I felt obligated to do—a refreshing feeling.

Why I Appreciated IreneMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:47-04:00

Dragon Boat is Over

Dragon Boat is officially over for the season. This is my first Tuesday without practice since mid June. I’m going to miss it. Last week we saw a bald eagle twice. It flew over our heads letting us know it wanted us to get out of its hunting ground. Last week the weather was perfect and it was a fabulous way to end the season. On Tuesday there was steam coming up off the water in mini spirals that looked like small tornados. It was a beautiful. I wish I had a camera.

One of the staff from Riverfront Recapture (who organizes the race and lets us use a boat for practice) reminded us that while some people were starting their day tense, gripping the steering wheel while driving to work, we were calm and out on the water enjoying nature. I love starting Tuesdays and Thursdays with Dragon Boat all summer.

You can’t beat it. It was a fun season. It helps that we raced so well in Hartford. We came in second place, .03 […]

Dragon Boat is OverMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:48-04:00

Bee Keeping

A few weeks ago Matt and I bought bees, and we are now official beekeepers. I was hesitant to tell a lot of people at first because I was nervous that we would somehow kill the bees, there would be a problem with the queen, or they would swarm. These are all valid concerns, but so far our hive seems to be doing well (knock on wood).

I’m not entirely sure what it says about Matt and me that our first pet as a couple is a hive of bees, but the little pollen collectors have won my heart. They also seem to be considerably less work than many pets. We became interested in keeping bees because of the colony collapse disorder that was rampant over the past couple of years. Bees are vital to our existence and pollinate much of the food we eat, so we thought we might be able to help the bees in […]

Bee KeepingMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:51-04:00

Brooke Siler

I had a wonderful time as the Art of Control Pilates Conference I attended last week. I came away with new ideas to incorporate into my classes, and I was really excited to have gotten to train with all these famous pilates people. I couldn’t wait to tell friends and family. The problem is, outside of the pilates world, most of the people I trained with are not famous. It’s kind of a letdown to come home excited about getting to work with someone famous in your eyes and have people not entirely relate.

Brooke Siler wasn’t a letdown though. Of all the presenters listed at the conference, Jay and Brooke were the two that intrigued me the most. I thought I would just attend all of Jay’s workshops because he is an elder and comes from California. Brooke is in NY, so I thought I’d probably get a chance to train with her at some point. I’m so glad I went to her reformer workshop.

She is a wonderful teacher, with a great, fun-loving […]

Brooke SilerMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:52-04:00

Walking Connecticut: Old Wethersfield

When the weather is nice my favorite thing to do is stroll Old Wethersfield. It is such a beautiful neighborhood. If you get a chance, here is what I recommend.

Park somewhere on Main Street (near The Main Street Creamery). Indulge in an ice cream if it makes you happy (they offer junior sizes that help reduce guilt). If the Creamery is on your left walk straight until you get to the cove. Walk back on Main Street, past the Creamery. At a stop sign take a left onto Garden Street. This will take you to the Broad Street Green. Walk around the green and then go back Garden Street (or go back via Broad St and Marsh St). This is probably about a 3-3.5 mile loop. If you want to make it longer at some point walk down and back up Hartford Avenue, which has a lot of beautiful homes on it too (this will add 2 miles if you go all the way down Hartford Ave.) .

Stop by Comstock Ferre’s (it’s just around their 200th […]

Walking Connecticut: Old WethersfieldMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:53-04:00