tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242165992012-02-10T09:38:23.579-05:00Tricks of the trade and misadventures on the quest<br>to live resourcefully, sustainably, and creatively.Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.comBlogger1481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-60014327011776146142012-02-10T09:10:00.001-05:002012-02-10T09:13:16.064-05:00

In front of the Rainbow Hostel. Photo by Kasia. The first time I stayed at the Rainbow Hostel, I meant to come for a weekend and stayed for over two weeks.  I've been returning as often as possible ever since.  This past June was my most recent visit.  It had been four years since my last visit to Ireland, but when the bus dropped me off at the Rainbow Hostel, Carmel gave me a warm welcome, and

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-47490962648355594432012-02-08T14:47:00.000-05:002012-02-08T14:47:41.315-05:00

Click on image to buy from your local indie bookstore. I'm a big fan of this relatively new title by Maine herbalist Deb Soule. It strikes a wonderful balance in tone and depth: accessible to someone with little or no experience in herbalism, but specialized enough to contain valuable info for even experienced herbalists. It speaks from both the intellect and the heart, and is a nurturing

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-65882972284946677772012-02-01T08:41:00.000-05:002012-02-01T08:41:12.882-05:00

Click on image to buy at your local bookstore. Okay, I'll be honest:  I don't have any kids, I'm a youngest child, and I don't babysit for love or money, so I'm not your obvious first choice to review a kid's herb book.  But I will say that, while I purchased this as a gift for a young acquaintance, I want a copy for myself!  The recipes are not only fun but very, very useful.  The songs are a

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-7383395064760066212012-01-30T08:46:00.000-05:002012-01-30T08:46:56.791-05:00

Watch Kristen flee the Vikings! (A round tower used by monks to escape from Viking raids.) Dysart O'Dea Castle, part of the Clare Archeology Centre, may be a little ways off the beaten path, but it's very much worth a visit.  While there are castles every which way in Ireland, most of them are closed to the public, since Americans seem so prone to suing people.  Dysart O'Dea Castle, however,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25914538061168532212012-01-26T10:36:00.000-05:002012-01-26T10:36:40.447-05:00

Click Cover to Buy from your Local Indie Bookstore Backyard Medicine, by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal, is an absolutely gorgeous combination of information and full-color photographs.  It's also my go-to book for in-depth info on easy to find (and easy to grow) medicinal herbs.  Backyard Medicine is very readable, and the bulk of the book is made up of a short chapter on each of fifty

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-66743859557331368042012-01-25T22:14:00.000-05:002012-01-25T22:14:54.857-05:00

"Offering to Venus," by J. W. Godward I'm not sure if I know anyone else who really loves Valentine's Day.  Those without a significant other feel left out of all the hoopla, and those who are attached are either nonplussed or stressed about the holiday.  For me, it's a stepping stone that helps me through the dourest part of the winter. New England seems to be tailor-made for Christmas.  We

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-63669444607248987522012-01-10T09:49:00.000-05:002012-01-10T09:49:36.210-05:00

"Human Element" by Jonathan E. Russell Healing, to me, is a process by which a person (or animal or plant) returns to whole-ness. This is often literal, for example in the case of a scrape: As the scrape heals over, my skin becomes whole again. Or it might be more figurative: If my digestion isn’t functioning properly, I can’t fully take advantage of the nutrients in my food, so my body won

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-39618751061516620362012-01-06T10:10:00.000-05:002012-01-06T10:10:08.421-05:00

The Christmas season was a blast here at Looseleaf.  Thank you so much to everyone who placed orders!  I had a ton of great phrases and quiz answers to create from, and enjoyed every sentence of it. There's a new presentation format available now:  a softcover handbound with a Japanese stab binding.  These booklets are 5" by 7", and are available on Looseleaf's etsy site.  The covers are

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-51050164919224874312011-12-16T10:41:00.000-05:002011-12-16T10:41:27.306-05:00

December sure is flying by!  I've been having a blast writing stories for Looseleaf, not to mention taking care of the usual holiday preparations.  But I wanted to make a quick stop here and point out a great novel that was just released this month. The Angel Makers is the story of a small village in Hungary during the early 1900s.  Sari is the daughter of an herbalist, and when he dies she

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-55326660199231608252011-12-01T09:09:00.000-05:002011-12-01T09:09:36.798-05:00

"Mother Earth," by Jonathan E. Russell I feel in perfect health whenever the ocean breeze catches me by surprise - especially in Ireland, where that breeze has traveled over thousands of miles of ocean, and there’s something especially clear about it. I feel in perfect health whenever I’m really, honestly laughing. I feel in perfect health the first many times I smell dirt in the spring (

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-57733453356053966202011-11-14T14:57:00.000-05:002011-12-02T09:14:06.386-05:00

Mother Nature's Wild West, by Jonathan Russell  When I first started VaguelyBohemian.com, part of the impetus was that I know so many cool people - many of them with nontraditional careers or callings like acting, dancing, juggling, writing, and art.  Now that I've got a few blogs under my belt, and a website design that doesn't make my head spin, I think it's about time to start paying some

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-79579511916973355952011-11-04T12:26:00.000-04:002011-12-02T09:14:06.388-05:00

Miso soup is my go-to food whenever I'm feeling a little bit overindulged, motion sick, or just plain queasy.  It helps that it's yummy and nourishing, and I love to eat it anyway!  Most miso soup contains seaweed, and we don't have local seaweed in Vermont (what with being landlocked).  But we do have lots of kale! Vermiso Soup a little olive oil 1 bunch kale, rinsed and cut into small strips

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-9546283224674033022011-11-03T11:05:00.000-04:002011-11-03T11:05:18.671-04:00

As the days get colder here in the northeastern U.S., here are a few more photos from my midsummer trip to Ireland.  When I visited the Burren Perfumery in 2005, for whatever reasons I was nonplussed.  Not so this trip!  We visited the shop first, sampled all of their wonderful new herbal balms, and ended up bringing some borage balm home.  Then we had a walk around the garden, where I took these

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0Burren Perfumery, Fahee, Co. Clare, Ireland53.04429259572759 -9.05093605087893153.03167509572759 -9.069929550878932 53.05691009572759 -9.03194255087893tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-59508108023471629142011-11-02T14:04:00.001-04:002011-11-02T14:10:55.883-04:00

Today I made my very first attempt at a Japanese four-hole stab binding, and it worked!  Okay, so it's not rocket science - but it's nice when something works on the first try! This was still a very rough draft.  I want to clean up and tighten the lines of the stitches, and get a bigger awl (for punching those holes):  The one I have was quite a bit too small.  I improvised with a nail, which

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-53269964373893202992011-10-16T00:01:00.002-04:002011-12-02T09:14:06.389-05:00

I've blogged before about ethical issues concerning food, but this Blog Action Day, I'd just like to say a few words about how delightful food is.  There are such a wonderful variety of tastes to choose from:  earthy-sweet carrots, rich cream (or, for me, goat's milk), nectar-like honey, warming chai.  I've gotten to enjoy an even wider range of tastes since I've become a fan of tea and, more

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-14610274345758160532011-10-07T12:05:00.000-04:002011-10-07T12:05:16.103-04:00

Shop Indie Bookstores Imagine, if you will, a circus.  Or maybe a carnival, since you walk through it from act to act.  This carnival has the artistry of Cirque du Soleil, is completely in black and white, only opens at night, shows up unannounced - and some of the acts might be real magic. The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, has an interesting and compelling story with a satisfying ending

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-40687366101112913822011-10-03T13:58:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.443-04:00

"Autumn," by Giuseppe Arcimboldo When I moved to Philadelphia, I was psyched about shopping at Trader Joe's.  I'd heard about the place for years, especially from some friends in L.A.  It sounded like some kind of crunchy paradise, where food was both organic and cheap.  The nearest Trader Joe's was quite a ways across the city, but my boyfriend and I would zoom over on his motorcycle and then

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-35943847030048149282011-09-29T14:03:00.003-04:002011-11-03T08:31:04.892-04:00

If you know me in person, you've already heard about this book :) If you're looking for an accessible, fun, compassionate, and well-balanced book on herbalism, this title is a great pick.  The bulk of this book is dedicated to specific herbal remedies for everyone in the family -- children, men, women, and elders. There are tons of yummy herbal dishes and treats, a section on everyday ailments

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-4756887801723464472011-09-22T14:07:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:22:01.748-04:00

If you click right here, you'll find a 45 minute flow sequence with Elise Lorimer, courtesy of Yoga Journal.  I've been really enjoying this sequence, because of the lively but unhurried flow, the circular "mandala" the movements describe around the mat, and the strength workout provided.  Most of the movements stay low to the ground, and that's not for everyone - a friend of mine described it

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-54952248249620729732011-09-20T12:28:00.000-04:002011-09-20T12:28:03.043-04:00

On the way home from Ireland, we had a layover in Newark.  There's nothing to make you feel human - after seven hours on a plane and the culture shock of going from Shannon to New Jersey - like a good cup of tea. (The tea is set on the sill to the right.)

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-39902048904604629922011-09-12T21:44:00.000-04:002011-09-12T21:44:14.478-04:00

As the foliage here in Vermont starts to take on a golden tint, I'm still remembering the lush midsummer wildflowers of Doolin.  Here are a few photos, taken while walking through the bogland above the village. Dandelion and, I believe, wild thyme.  Dandelions seemed much less prevalent in Doolin than in my hometown.  Perhaps because they thrive on challenges, and the locals in Doolin don't

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland52.98888708523341 -9.37672442380380752.68712608523341 -10.204797923803808 53.29064808523341 -8.548650923803807tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-19364152751122316822011-09-07T23:01:00.001-04:002011-09-07T23:32:28.277-04:00

One gorgeous day in Doolin, with an unexpected couple of hours to spare, we decided to have tea, at the mouth of a prehistoric souterrain in the burren.  You know you're really lucky when you have the opportunity to sit out under a clear blue sky, surrounded by stone and wildflowers and ocean, and sip on a cup of tie guan yin while contemplating the stories that might live in that stone.  You

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland53.019662498342996 -9.37049906820061652.717901498343 -10.198572568200616 53.321423498342995 -8.542425568200615tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-45627995284987665782011-08-28T20:20:00.000-04:002011-08-28T20:20:00.609-04:00

The old church in Roadford, Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland.  Summer 2011.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-70496865348790320472011-08-10T22:14:00.000-04:002011-08-10T22:14:47.654-04:00

You remember how I resolved not to feel sorry for myself about not making it to Pennsic this year?  I'm doing a good job.  After a month of traveling, it's great to be back home.  Still, I have whiled away a few minutes here and there looking for news of Pennsic.  This evening, I was surprised to come across a Twitter account by the guy I knew only as

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1Worth, PA, USA40.970728452646874 -80.1374529386230340.912680452646875 -80.18521693862303 41.02877645264687 -80.08968893862303tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-60478696846903934962011-07-29T12:33:00.001-04:002011-07-29T12:37:34.786-04:00

Yarrow  My first destination within Ireland was Galway.  When I worked there in '05, Galway really felt like home to me.  But when I returned for a couple weeks in '07, I felt out of place - like revisiting your old college campus and realizing that most of your acquaintances have cycled out, plus you don't have a purposeful reason to be there anymore.  This year, though, I was surprised by

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland53.2737969 -9.05177989999992953.2517339 -9.135364899999928 53.2958599 -8.96819489999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-83118694860925262462011-07-20T20:03:00.000-04:002011-07-20T20:03:37.035-04:00

Help!  The Vikings are coming! I'm back!  I can't cover the month I just spent in Ireland in one post, so I'll offer you bits and pieces over the next several blog posts.  For the time being, I'll say that I had brilliant conversations with people from all over the world, tons of tea, gorgeous walks through breathtaking land (sprinkled with historic and prehistoric sites, not to mention an

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-4566813319706856552011-05-13T14:12:00.000-04:002011-05-13T14:12:36.732-04:00

I proclaimed my geekdom (again) by "liking" LotR, The Hobbit, and Peter Jackson on Facebook.  Plus, I got all teary when I watched a video from the set of The Hobbit. My one gripe with Tolkein - and it's not a unique one - is the lack of chicks in these stories.  Here he created a vast mythology, encompassing multiple ages, cultures, and peoples - but his women seem to be an afterthought.  It's

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-33593590865943251022011-02-21T20:15:00.002-05:002011-02-21T20:16:16.668-05:00

Dear Vickie, Yes, there is a Santa, and boy are you on the naughty list.  What happened to the days when your models displayed beguiling chagrin at being photographed in their smalls?  Why do you no longer care to convince me that your products will make me feel pretty, or sensually sexy?  Why, oh why, is every page of your catalog now solely imbued with pseudo-orgasmic rage? Vickie, Vickie. 

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-56072937623632903582011-02-03T16:40:00.001-05:002011-03-25T11:35:05.789-04:00

I love dogs, but beyond their basic awesomeness, one of my favorite things about dogs is that they're a good way to start a conversation.  Say "hi" to a stranger on the average American street and you might get a "hi" back, or a glare, or no reaction at all.  But ask a stranger about his dog, and there's a sort of melting that takes place:  His defenses drop, and he gets this goofy little

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-42745302427450078842010-11-01T13:26:00.000-04:002010-11-01T13:26:44.341-04:00

Congratulations, Nydia!  I'll email you the submission form for your five phrases.  So far, the Five Phrases Stories are my favorites to write, so I'm particularly excited to create this one :D Thank you so much to everyone who entered for your feedback and for sharing your fave fairy tales!  There were a few I don't know, and they're definitely going on my reading list. I hope everyone had a

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-37664514332895782032010-10-28T23:13:00.000-04:002011-03-25T11:59:57.746-04:00

In addition to Halloween, there's another really rockin' event happening this weekend: The Rally to Restore Sanity.  I wish I could go, but as a next best thing, I'm covering a friend's shift so she and her husband can go.  So, I'll be working all day on the 31st.  In order to preserve my own sanity and generally have more fun, I'm extending the deadline for entries to midnight EST on Halloween

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-6032587184523583172010-10-17T12:01:00.006-04:002011-03-25T12:12:37.460-04:00

...to all who have found their way here from Mrs. B's!  I'd like to invite you to scroll down to Thursday's post, Halloween Hauntings and Giveaway, where I introduced myself as part of the Haunted Blog Tour and offered my own Halloween giveaway of a Looseleaf Handcrafted Five Phrases Story (you pick five phrases, I fit them into a one-page hand-bound story) set on Halloween.  I hope you'll enter

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-67375336118429389002010-10-15T10:38:00.001-04:002010-10-15T11:00:21.418-04:00

Today, thousands of bloggers are writing about water as part of Blog Action Day.  Many participants will be talking about the scarcity of clean water in some places and the overconsumption of water in others, and these things need to be talked about.  But I'd like to take just a couple of paragraphs in appreciation of one of water's many gifts. I'm in the midst of an herbalism course, and during

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-33099821813032922492010-10-14T00:01:00.003-04:002011-03-25T11:59:57.751-04:00

Hello and welcome round the campfire!  Pull up a seat - and throw on some extra logs, if you like, since the nights are getting longer and chillier as we head toward Halloween.  I hope your journey - from Mrs. B's Haunted Blog Tour, or some other hospitable way station in the ether - was a pleasant one! I hope you'll join me in exploring tricks of the trade and misadventures in my quest to live

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-73775495986921399902010-10-11T10:45:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:22:01.753-04:00

Dear Yoga Journal, Please don't become yet another fashion magazine disguised as a health mag.  I was cool with your features on yoga wear, though I'm kind of attached to the comfy-yet-flattering sweats that I also wear to bed on extra-cold nights, and I don't feel a need to be trendy while sticking my butt in the air and trying to keep my hands and feet from slipping in opposite directions.   

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-83774779858637728382010-10-04T10:29:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.452-04:00

Back before midsummer I promised some "Mea Culpa Mondays" - in which I demonstrate ways to alleviate my green-related guilt and make life easier at the same time.  Since time has danced his merry and compulsive way into fall, I guess I should get on that! Today's suggestion regards household cleaners: If the Smell Makes You Woozy, Don't Spray it Around Your Home For me, this guideline nixes

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-46915307264337607432010-09-16T14:13:00.001-04:002011-03-25T11:35:05.794-04:00

Welcome back to the campfire!  Or perhaps you never left, and it's me who's returned, since I was hardly unpacked from Pennsic when I found it was time to pack up yet again, this time to head to what my sister has affectionately dubbed "herb camp."  No, I was not off at camp to either recover from or indulge in illicit substances.  Rather, I'm lucky enough to be taking part in what is essentially

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-14017272449902791962010-08-31T19:20:00.000-04:002011-03-25T11:58:58.765-04:00

Packing away Pennsic garb and supplies is something like packing away Christmas decorations: There's a bit of nostalgia in seeing them go, but they wouldn't be so special if you kept them out all year.  (Of course, with some creative mixing and matching, I find it's pretty easy to wear garb in everyday life.  Especially when you live in Vermont.   So not everything gets packed away.) Pennsic

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-73424776506453192522010-06-25T21:49:00.002-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.458-04:00

This cartoon, from xkcd, always cracks me up.  For being both green-related and creative, it's earned it's place this Frivolous Friday.  Here's to the Man of la Mancha: I will always get teary watching that film, no matter how much of a sap it makes me. It is, perhaps, not a non sequitur to segue from Don Quixote into announcing that I'm now 99% sure I'm going to visit Pennsic this year.  (

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-40792312138397550392010-06-17T23:58:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.463-04:00

Welcome 'round the table, friends! Please load up your plate with pesto-drenched pasta, fresh salad, and kale-potato-tomato frittata, because lord knows there're scads of veggies in the fridge! CSAs are programs where you pay a farm up front for a season's worth of food, and then pick up a share of the farm's produce each week.  "CSA" stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which is to say

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-56086334539177646372010-06-14T14:21:00.001-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.467-04:00

Welcome, friends, and gather round the campfire - which is fueled by hand-gathered branches and fallen limbs, and so, I think, carbon-neutral. There are periods when I'm trying to be especially mindful of my environmental impact when I find myself going a little bonkers.  I not only make sure to avoid excess packaging and worry that I'm recycling everything that should be recycled, but I worry

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-90607236043976339832010-06-10T23:41:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.471-04:00

Hello friends, and welcome 'round the campfire.  Please pour yourself a long drought of water and drink deep. I've tried not to follow news about the oil spill in the Gulf.  It's too heartbreaking.  When, for example, @nprnews twittered "BP spill=months of sad animal photos ahead", I just couldn't click through.  The thing about this one is - even if you and I went all out, trucked down there

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-28337279850746771572010-06-05T20:30:00.021-04:002011-03-25T11:35:05.795-04:00

"Dance like no one is watching."  You've heard it before, but I'll write it again.  And if it helps, dance with no one watching. In one episode of Friends (from back in my bad old days - heehee - when I watched TV), Rachel and Phoebe went running together in Central Park.  Phoebe ran like a little kid, with arms and legs flailing.  Joy! When I first took belly dancing lessons, a friend of mine

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-34962955270163366402010-05-26T14:34:00.001-04:002010-05-26T14:57:52.827-04:00

A friend of mine - an astute, genuine, young, beautiful woman - expressed yesterday that she believes "deep down, every single one of us loathes her body as much as she loathes the ones she compares herself too."  She was talking about this culture of insecurity and consumerism that advertising/media has created.  A culture that encourages us (women in particular) to regard our bodies as

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-91058355902830715982010-05-21T17:23:00.001-04:002010-05-21T17:25:37.811-04:00

This week, check out PsyBlog, wherein Jeremy Dean takes psychological research from academic journals, then successfully navigates that tricky balancing act whereby the info becomes accessible without being dumbed-down.  My fave article so far?  "Six Psychological Reasons Consumer Culture is Unsatisfying"  Here's a sample: This experiment suggests that thinking of material purchases in

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-57146071345042523372010-05-17T12:29:00.002-04:002011-11-02T15:22:01.758-04:00

I have discovered that the back deck is an excellent place to do yoga.  Thank you, Spring!  As I was finishing, my cat joined me in savasana.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-42929447221423960202010-05-15T21:28:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.474-04:00

Anne Johnson over at The Gods are Bored has had a rockin' idea:  Let's protest big oil and big coal by flying kites in support of solar and wind power.  Here's to showing support for sustainable energy, adding beauty to the world, and having fun all at the same time! Don't have a kite?  Here are some DIY instructions from Squawkfox.  If you want something fancy or just already assembled, check

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-48489450392697535282010-05-14T22:18:00.002-04:002011-03-25T11:26:32.172-04:00

The new rendition of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, is not about Robin Hood, Marion, Friar Tuck, or any other of the Merry Men.  It is a slick, swashbuckling, lotta-fun popcorn flick with characters of those same names.  Fans of the period genre are advised to go in a lighthearted mood and enjoy the inside jokes (e.g. a Princess Bride reference), plus a hodgepodge of

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-26179562677766645032010-03-16T21:17:00.001-04:002011-03-25T11:26:32.173-04:00

Megan asked: Did you say you wrote a book? I'd like to hear more about that. I'm very interested in writers and how they do it. Hmm...I did write a novel.  It was an on-again-off-again affair for a few years, until I decided I was going to go bonkers if I didn't finish it.  So rather than going to Pennsic last August, I took advantage of the apartment being empty and set myself up with a DIY

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-48352542406099283322010-03-04T13:58:00.001-05:002011-03-25T12:00:28.235-04:00

My knight has been on yet another journey, as I have (for a while at least) moved out of the Great Big City and back to the Country.  Following the move,  I celebrated Pine-Scented Festivities, then flew to the Southern Hemisphere to visit Summertime.  Now, for an undisclosed amount of time, I am back in the Country...except when I'm visiting the Great Big City, which still has its appeal (you

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-46798587017638084292009-11-19T13:53:00.001-05:002011-03-25T11:26:32.175-04:00

Several years ago, my sister asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  It was summer - too early for the question - and we were walking down a sunlit street.  "A knight in shining armor," I said. Obviously, I wasn't serious.  As I remember it, I wasn't even keeping my eye out for romance at the time.  I just thought I was being cute. Six months later, I unwrapped the lad in the photo.  I loved

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-53304028673396886132009-11-12T13:40:00.014-05:002011-03-25T12:13:08.430-04:00

A few months ago, I thought I might try learning to read runes. I love letters and words, so the concept of using the letters of an alphabet for divination appealed to me.I've had a tarot deck for a few years, and I've found it to be a good resource - and fun as well. I don't know if I believe the average tarot reading is supernaturally influenced. But I do find that the act of fitting my

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25428689860798608332009-11-09T17:34:00.004-05:002011-11-03T08:32:27.271-04:00

This is the book that I use most often. Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living by Annie Berthold-Bond is a recipe book for everything from hair dye to car wax and sink scrubbers to under-eye cream. The vast majority of these recipes are simple and user-friendly; much cheaper than an off-the-shelf product; and use gentle, easy-to-find ingredients like vinegar, baking

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-57889705875488359492009-11-03T18:53:00.000-05:002011-03-25T11:59:57.754-04:00

Walking up the street dressed as a dryad,* I wished everyone passing a Happy Halloween. It reminded me of the rural west coast of Ireland, where even folks walking down the opposite side of the street will usually call out a "hiya." I kept that habit for a while, then seem to have lost it in the city - even on streets that are quiet enough to make greeting everyone practical. But on Saturday,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-67499442894601254162009-10-31T10:58:00.008-04:002011-03-25T11:59:57.757-04:00

I'd like to wish you all a rousing Halloween!I hope everyone enjoys their serotonin and caffeine.Just keep some candles burning brightIn case you take a wrong turn tonightAnd run amok of something un(fore)seen!

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-42822206076710145812009-10-26T17:18:00.001-04:002011-03-25T11:59:57.760-04:00

My boyfriend has no Halloween spirit at all, but proved what a good sport he is by accompanying me to the local pumpkin fest here in the Big City. In addition to the weekly farmers market (yum!), there were hay bales and pumpkins galore - and a petting zoo! Maybe an adult shouldn't get quite so excited about a few goats and chickens, but when a country girl's been in the city for as long as I

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-67480951880044033722009-10-25T18:19:00.002-04:002011-11-03T08:35:07.295-04:00

Synopsis: The authors discuss the definitions of witchcraft, and chart witchcraft's historical, anthropological, and religious manifestations from ancient times to the present. This book also includes an analysis of the importance of the internet and films in the dissemination of modern witchcraft - and the personal tensions as a secretive, initiatory cult becomes an open and recognized

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-16608876481439438822009-10-18T14:31:00.010-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.483-04:00

A few years ago, I made friends with a Rhode Island Red named Koko. I had an ailing horse, and Koko was a resident at the same barn as my mare. Koko was a particularly well-socialized hen, and lonely because her brood-mates had all been carried off by a fox. I would sit in the door to my horse's stall for hours, and Koko would take dust baths right next to me, let me pet her, and once brazenly

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-20434626028329960792009-10-15T08:35:00.003-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.487-04:00

This year's topic for Blog Action Day is climate change, bringing me to the subject of that all-important carbon footprint. I'd (genuinely) love to be offsetting mine by donating loads to Greenpeace or buying up acres of rainforest to preserve. But at this point, I'm at a small-step stage. In the pursuit of "first, do no harm," here are a few of my fave strategies:Make the local farmers'

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-90940254020218379562009-10-13T16:44:00.015-04:002011-03-25T11:59:57.762-04:00

My three favorite holidays are inextricably linked to chocolate: Easter (chocolate and chicks), Christmas (chocolate and pressies) and Halloween (chocolate and costumes). While for many adults, these holidays fade into commercialism and extra errands, I say they're all the more valuable for us grown-ups.A friend recently noted that few folks dress up as what they're really afraid of, instead

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-67477622928626044582009-10-12T13:10:00.003-04:002009-10-12T13:34:45.494-04:00

There once was a writerly lassWho thought the big city was classBut discovered that PhillyTaxes freelancers sillySo returned to her free country grass.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-16357259164529274032009-10-10T19:53:00.004-04:002009-10-12T11:47:48.115-04:00

Once upon a time, I sat down in a hotel room and - for lack of anything better to do - started a website. But print is my first love, and before too long, I had had way too much fun with VistaPrint. There was a postcard promo going on, and I came up with just under a dozen postcard designs promoting my new domain - before I had properly figured out what I wanted to do with the site itself.Alas,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-58028256106457464592009-09-26T20:48:00.006-04:002011-08-12T09:08:23.198-04:00

"You know, in my line of work you get a feel for these things, and I can tell you two are a great couple. How long have you been together - two, three years?" asked the inebriated judge.Now, for those of you who haven't been, Pennsic is a wonderful place to pick up chicks (and guys). But I had decided before arriving that I was not looking to get picked up. I didn't want Logan to get stuck with

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-46538180773627558442009-07-13T19:10:00.008-04:002011-08-12T09:08:23.199-04:00

I was home - but almost no one else was. Of the three folks left, two were too buzzed to remember me even if we had known each other. Logan was partaking but coherent; I'd never met him before, but he was kind enough to help me unpack, and even volunteered to sleep elsewhere that night, lending me his bed so I could wait to set my tent up during daylight hours...But beds were the last thing on

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-20508837133702126152009-07-09T20:11:00.010-04:002011-08-12T09:08:23.201-04:00

Logan and I met through mutual friends.or...I hadn't been to Pennsic* for years and didn't plan on staying for long: I only had a few days that I could squeeze out of my schedule. But summer after summer I'd failed to revisit the folks who had so beautifully welcomed me at my first Pennsic, and with a bohemian's penchant for traveling, I wasn't sure when I'd spend another August in the

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25748060803569997612009-06-15T22:38:00.007-04:002011-11-02T15:22:01.762-04:00

Yesterday was nice and warm, so my boyfriend - we'll call him Logan - took his boa constrictor for a walk up the street. His daughter was visiting, and took her chestnut-colored Pomeranian along for the walk. Folks were hanging out on their stoops and on sidewalks, and the double-takes were priceless.The boa was happy to be out, looking around, sensing the air with her tongue, reaching forward

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-21475480209768655502009-06-10T18:38:00.015-04:002009-11-19T14:00:31.091-05:00

On February 1, 2005, I arrived in Ireland with a work permit in hand and a single connection who was gracious enough to meet me in Galway city and show me around. Soon I was situated in a house ten minute's walk from the City Centre, my connection went home to Limerick, and I set about trying to find a job. But first, I must have breakfast!I had bought a package of Flahavan's oats, eager to 'do

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-40110845749529241492009-05-30T20:10:00.006-04:002011-11-03T08:35:58.528-04:00

AndTheDonkey.com is most concerned with the character of the gypsy, the bohemian, the wanderer. But for a contemporary portrait of the Romani - the group most oftenlabeled as 'Gypsies,' this tome - in which Isabel Fonseca describes the four years she spent with Gypsies from Albania to Poland, listening to their stories, deciphering their taboos, and befriending their matriarchs, activists, and

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-63705926092362959792009-05-19T19:12:00.004-04:002010-05-14T23:55:10.311-04:00

Yesterday I learned that a friend of mine - who was not a particularly close friend, but was a dear one - passed away on May 6. Dan was a jeweler who vended at SCA events, Renaissance faires, and so on; he made these lovely delicate little creations with large, deft hands. He was a serene and good-humored presence in places that can often be rowdy and overwhelming, and although I usually only

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-77750216414253641822009-02-12T09:33:00.002-05:002011-03-25T11:26:32.181-04:00

I'm on Facebook. I rarely log in (as you may have noticed, I haven't been logging into Blogger very much lately either...) and have my privacy settings ramped up to the max, but it's a good way to get back in touch with people.I have one friend from college, who also rarely logs in, who I've never lost touch with. We don't get to hang out much, since he's off in a sunny, young L.A., but every

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-70083470825417065912008-06-21T23:02:00.005-04:002009-10-12T12:08:02.443-04:00

Bar Island.A beast's head.Along the ocean drive path, in Acadia. Looking back toward Sand Beach.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-82591890780446513662008-06-12T12:49:00.006-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.492-04:00

After noticing a few slugs on the basil and tomato plants, it seemed time to follow in my grandmother's footsteps and let the little fellows drink themselves to death. The only beer in the house was two thirds of a six-pack Wolaver's organic India pale ale. Wolaver's might be a little high class for slug-baiting, but since it's been hanging around the pantry for a while, I figured it'd do.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-42318667342344380712008-06-10T13:49:00.005-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.496-04:00

Between the rising price of ... everything ... and an impending move to a big city where life promises to be more expensive (not to mention more toxic), I've been inspired. I am hereby eschewing brand names and making my own. So get ready for easy, cheap, eco-friendly events like sprouting beans, growing veggies, and make-it-yourself make-up.Here, you can see three "square foot gardens" in

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-4594062457512430292008-04-11T22:41:00.005-04:002009-10-12T11:47:58.963-04:00

Look! New pages are popping up and old ones are getting dusted off and shined up! AndTheDonkey.com's subject is now "a signpost for the vaguely bohemian." Please forgive any broken links and other messiness during the next couple of weeks while these improvements are pulled slowly but surely out of our metaphorical hat. Check it out!

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-63977819434659403532008-01-25T13:54:00.000-05:002009-11-19T14:00:31.092-05:00

I am obviously suffering from inadequate exposure to ocean air, which would explain why I'm watching tourism vids about places I've already been to and/or lived in.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-21956564950512250422008-01-08T12:40:00.000-05:002009-10-12T12:08:02.445-04:00

...when you've got a January thaw!You might have noticed I've been neglecting this blog...what with the holidays, graduate applications, getting the Talk to Strangers Campaign up and running at TalkToStrangers.org, various obligations, and the general gray malaise of winter, I'm afraid it's taken a back seat lately. But having accomplished (or survived) the first four hurdles, nature's taken

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-35476715699690906732007-12-06T14:12:00.000-05:002009-10-12T11:47:58.964-04:00

Odd, a little bit (okay a lot) of snow transforms my backyard from a nice but modest place into something everyone wants pictures of. So, for all of you who didn't get a snow day this week, here 'tis.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-61594310193158218432007-11-13T13:52:00.001-05:002009-11-20T14:55:35.981-05:00

Every year on St. John's Eve each village on Inis Mor has a bonfire. Many villages along the west coast of mainland Ireland also celebrate this holiday, and if it's a clear night you can see the bonfires of Connemara and County Clare across the water. Everyone in the village comes to the bonfire, and celebrations might last the whole night through. Refreshments are passed around, songs sung,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-38870022295831489472007-10-29T14:01:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.018-05:00

The first fort I visited on my last trip to Inis Mor was Dun Eochla, an almost cozy sort of hilltop fort that is isolated enough that you might not see another visitor during your stay there.If you look closely along the left side of the photo below (a view from the Dun's walls), you'll see another round, apparently stone structure. It's actually a concrete water reservoir that has been

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-62773193523350851382007-10-24T11:22:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.020-05:00

The other day I walked out of the restaurant a few minutes before it opened to fetch my forgotten water bottle from the car. The clouds were all fish scales and mare's tails across the sky, back lit and painted by the setting sun. I wished I could lie down on the grass and just stare up until darkness fell. I even contemplated, on a whim, putting the keys in the ignition to see if I drove

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-82410367663456264942007-10-22T22:24:00.000-04:002009-10-12T11:49:46.544-04:00

Yesterday I resolved to cut down on sweets at work, at least until Halloween. Understand, this isn't a mere matter of no more munching on skittles at the desk. Au contraire. I work at a fine dining restaurant, and the desserts I planned on turning down are quality creations. But I walked into work with a steadfast heart.While I was typing up the menu, My manager, D---, walked in with a Baked

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25585672073647792662007-10-18T22:39:00.000-04:002009-11-20T14:55:35.983-05:00

The cemetery on Inis Mor is practically on the beach, because this sand is the only place deep enough the bury the dead. Near the back of the cemetery, hidden from the road, are the stone ruins of a medieval church, half-buried in the sand.When I first walked in the door, I saw a búllan stone, a sort of one-piece stone basin, filled with coins and rainwater. There were lots of five cent pieces,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-11566312685810593732007-10-17T11:03:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.022-05:00

One of my favorite walks is to go up the road past the old church (see yesterday's post), then keep going straight to the coast and walk along the rocks and beside the fields to the town pier. Doolin can get quite busy in the tourist season, but it's possible to do this walk without seeing anyone but cows.The first photo looks back along the coast where I've been walking. If you look closely,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-20758344954516688442007-10-16T10:44:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.023-05:00

When in Doolin, I have almost always stayed at the Rainbow Hostel, just a couple of doors up from McDermott's Pub. In addition to having an ideal location, it's a really comfortable, friendly place that seems to attract great conversationalists and just plain cool people. I've never had a lonely evening there.The first picture shows the front of the Rainbow Hostel itself, while the second is

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-15915851367713879432007-10-15T09:40:00.000-04:002011-11-02T15:21:36.500-04:00

As a New Englander, I was raised in a fairly pristine environment. We have plenty of forests left wild, and fields full of brush and wildflowers. Parts of Ireland, on the other hand, have been divided over generations into small, fenced-off pastures. When I first saw Co. Clare from above, flying into Shannon Airport, I thought it would make me feel claustrophobic. I discovered anything but.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-73208815622832151182007-10-13T11:41:00.001-04:002009-11-19T14:00:31.094-05:00

After that whirlwind trip, I spent about a week in Doolin, County Clare. I always do a lot of walking while I'm there. That way you're all tired out and feel you deserve a drink at the pub in the evening! And the sessions in Doolin are not to be missed.Here are a couple of photos from one of those walks. I believe the second was a church; and perhaps the first was an associated residence.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-42193481702172738742007-10-12T10:53:00.001-04:002009-11-20T14:55:35.985-05:00

We had several hours on Inis Mor, and so hiked out to Dun Duchathair, the Black Fort. It's neither as obviously spectacular nor as popular as Dun Aengus, so it's a good place to avoid the crowds.This prehistoric, semi-circular cliff fort has a harrowing entrance along the cliff edge. It also contains the remains of several stone buildings. They still make for good shelter from the wind for a

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-67541592512368469582007-10-11T11:02:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.025-05:00

Flashback: In late May, I flew into Dublin (from Italy) and spent the night in the airport. In the food court I found some really cozy chairs that you could turn to face eachother - thus creating a comfortable sort of tub for myself and my bags - and slept well until about 4:30am, when the cafe opened.Then I met up with a friend from New York to join him on his whirlwind tour of the west coast.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25731432323426296192007-10-10T14:00:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:31.095-05:00

Sometimes, like these traffic cones, a website design gets overgrown and outdated. Thus, the new look and title. Check out the even snazzier home page, which incorporates more photos taken on my trek in Ireland. I hope you like it!Oh, and the traffic cones can probably still be found in Doolin, Co. Clare, not far from Doonagore Castle.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-86622374831602690912007-09-28T22:49:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.026-05:00

This site is soon to undergo a transition, as I finally wrap things up from my four months of traveling this year. There's been so much to get done since I got home, that the less urgent things (like making sure my boots are reconditioned and sorting through the thousands of photos I took in Ireland and Italy) have been left till last. But I should have some of my favorite photos up soon. I'm

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-14234286910394892032007-09-22T15:50:00.000-04:002009-10-12T11:48:12.978-04:00

Yes, I have horribly neglected this blog. But I will bring it up to date soon! Sorry!

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-6313776705903611462007-05-18T04:02:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.027-05:00

I'm flying back to Ireland the end of May, thence to Donegal. I can't even begin to write about Italy at the moment...its been a glut of food, history, lovely rolling patchwork quilts of vineyards, and so on. I hate to think of leaving, but it's always good to be going back to Ireland, and I've wanted to see Donegal for a long time.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-88302084700212068332007-05-18T03:46:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.028-05:00

...were spent in Galway, hanging out and getting ready for the trip to Italy. Laundry and pubs and packing... A friend requested that I bring her back Italian poppies, which might be a bit difficult...I don't think they like it if you bring that sort of thing on the plane...

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25836449579289425382007-05-17T06:46:00.000-04:002009-11-20T14:55:35.986-05:00

The walk back to Dingle along the coast road was filled with beehive huts and old stone walls, including those of a prehistoric fort. But the big news along the road was that part of the coast road had caved in. 'We couldn't see it clearly,' the photographer and I had been told at the pub the night before, 'but it fell into the ocean!' Really, we discovered, it was a bit of the cliff that had

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-69066510155626534742007-05-17T06:16:00.000-04:002009-11-20T14:55:35.987-05:00

I was lucky enough to have met a fantastic photographer from Poland, now living near Cork, so I had company for the walk to Dunquin, a little town on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Check out his website for some fantastic photos.We took the hill path out, about a three hour walk, peaceful and beautiful. The views of the islands walking down toward Dunquin were not something to miss, and we

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-39445226254359614282007-05-17T06:12:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.144-05:00

I spent the first half of the day trying to get my laundry done, but nothing was open. Ah well, hand-washing and praying that it dries again.Mostly just hung out around town, a sweet little place, with a nice centre. And Murphy's Ice Cream Shop, a big plus... The hot chocolate is a religious experiance.

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-19663137338627624972007-05-17T06:07:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.145-05:00

Taking the bus was strange...the road went by so fast! I had to hunker down in the seat so I couldn't see out the window. Guess I've gotten used to the walking pace.I am a bit sad to be giving up the whole walking up the coast plan...it would have been an accomplishment. But I'm enjoying myself more now, and I have the energy to go out to the pub at the end of the day. And if you haven't been

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-21516142934279133722007-05-17T05:58:00.000-04:002009-11-20T14:55:35.989-05:00

Killarney seems like a nice town, but it's not quite to my taste. A little too busy for a holiday, without being a real city. It seems like the major daytime activity is shopping...so I headed off to the National Park and Ross Castle, where I found Ross Castle and a German guy who's not only staying at the same hostel as I am, but also heading to Dingle tomorrow by bus. We spent a lot of time

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-1249618697955225662007-05-17T05:44:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.147-05:00

Today I cheated. I walked from Black Valley out through the gap of Dunloe, but got a lift from Kate Kearney's Cottage (the tourist base between Killarney and Black Valley) to Killarney. I have to confess, it was a relief.But first, there was the walk out of the Valley, a pleasant, quiet climb. And then there was the Gap of Dunloe, a stunning walk with seemingly endless streams of tourists,

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24216599.post-25168612362031251822007-05-17T05:28:00.000-04:002009-11-19T14:00:12.148-05:00

NOTE: Due to sporadic internet access, this blog is horribly out of date...ahhhh! But I will try to catch you up...Now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.First off, I have to confess that I've decided to take a sabbatical from the hike. The long days on busy roads are getting me down, so I'm planning to spend a few weeks in Italy visiting a dear friend. She even researched plane

Kristen Eatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10643974205311266203noreply@blogger.com1