Fall is here! Shorter days and cooler temps mean opportunities to get out there and enjoy! I like comfortable, well broken in leather boots for most treks. Ugg boots seem to be here to stay as I have always been comforted by my sheepskin bootie slippers. These are all as welcome as a hot cup of cocoa right now.


Even though home heating costs continue to be on the rise, there's a lot you can do with less heat. One thing you can do is make sure that your air is properly humidified. Dry air feels cooler and can dry out your nasal passages making them more prone to airborne infection. I use Air-O-Swiss humidifiers and have noticed a decline in respiratory infections since setting them up in my home and studio. The models I use pre-heat the water so they will not lower the ambient temperature in your home. Definitely a must!


You can also save a lot by turning down the heat a night. I use goose down comforters year round on my beds but you can also get a lot of comfort from an electric blanket. Mine is made of Egyptian cotton, so it breathes thus avoiding the "night sweat" problem of most acrylic blankets. Likewise you can purchase a goose down mattress topper. They take a bit of work, needing to be lofted every three days or so, but add a new dimension of warmth and softness to your sleep experience. I was introduced to one at a very upscale hotel and promised myself that I would purchase one as soon as I returned home. When the cold wind blows, you will be very glad to have a cozy bed to retire to. You will also sleep better. How many times have you woken up because your mate had accidentally uncovered your side of the bed? Brrrrrrr!


Hats are really essential but if you are not the hat type, at least incorporate hoodies into your wardrobe. Since most of the body's heat escapes through the head, it makes sense to keep it covered in some way. Hooded jackets and sweatshirts such as the C.F. Martin Logo pigment dyed one here are perfect for a jog or walk. It also gives you added protection from the elements should it rain or heaven forbid, snow while you are getting some exercise. Add a knit hat and you are ready for even colder temperatures. The point is to not let the cooler weather changes make a miserable Grinch out of you. Dress in layers using natural, breathable fabrics while out and for your bedding. You will find yourself enjoying fall in style!

PHOTO: Dr. M. in C.F. Martin's Pigment Dyed, Full Zip Sweatshirt. Available online at the C.F. Martin & Co. 1833 Shop

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Roughing it in style! A cabin in the forest can be a a wonderful alternative to a hectic, planned vacation.

Last year we took a fantastic tour of New England which included staying in Cape Cod and visiting Nantucket Island. We spent a lot of time on the ocean for both travel and recreation, (we took the whale watching excursion out of Provincetown), with a stop off at the Breakers in Newport R.I. on the way home. While it was an exciting trip with every minute filled to the brim with sightseeing, perhaps a quiet respite would be in order this year! A vacation should provide recreation but not to the point of exhaustion. Maybe you'd like to sleep in or just spend some time with a good book. How about cooking over an open fire? Renting a little cabin in our country's many parks and reserves might be just the thing.

SO WHAT DO I BRING?

Once you've rented a cabin and seen what amenities they have to offer, i.e. running water, electricity, hot showers, garbage stations, etc., you'll know what to pack. Dried and even canned goods are fine here but you'll need to discard all food scraps and containers in sealed or covered containers. Critters love to stiff out such treats at night and a good campsite will provide a sanitary place to store your garbage.

Cabins which provide some type of bed frame and pad are desirable but if not, you'll need to purchase camping cots. Some that I have seen have legs so you are off the floor. They retail for about $139.00. and can be used again for tent camping.

WHAT'S COOKING?

Many cabins offer a fire pit for charcoal or wood cooking. I would recommend bringing a Crockpot for soups and stews for a single pot dinner. Then depending on the weather, you have the choice to eat / cook outside or not. I have a Trangia 27-5 cookstove with 2 non-stick saucepans, 1 fry pan, a windshield, a burner and a teapot. These all nest into a very small unit and can be fueled either with spirits or a gas bottle. Taking along a "mess kit" like this will save on having to bring lots of pots, dishes and pans. You'll want to make sure that you have enough fresh fruit and veggies for extra hydration and don't forget those snacks! Cheese doesn't need much refrigeration and is a good source of calcium and protein. Our little teapot is very handy for heating water for tea, coffee or even instant cereals such as oatmeal and farina.

STAYING IN COMFORT

If the cabin has electricity, be sure to bring a small box fan. The nights may be cool so a personal heater or even an electric blanket would work. Being too cold or too hot can turn your stay into a miserable event so it will pay off to plan for either extreme. Pack as if you are staying in a motel but include a few extras that you won't find in a cabin. Here's a short list:

1. Towels, Robes & Washcloths

2. Shampoo, toothpaste

3. Water resistant sandals for the shower

4. Insect repellent, (PIC Coils work well)

5. 2 small lamps, 3 flashlights

6. Ice chest for perishables or a small refrigerator if you're staying more than 3 days.

Remember, you'll have to make your own entertainment. Bringing along a portable DVD player, radio, book or guitar might just save the day! Of course you don't want too many distractions as taking in the whole natural experience is part of the aura of cabin life. You needn't repeat "Frontier House" but simply understand that certain things that we take for granted such as indoor plumbing and sinks will now be accessed outside.

Simply remember that the bane of most outdoor adventures includes insect bites, heat, cold and hunger. Plan your best to head off these issues and you can truly enjoy your cabin vacation in style.

PHOTO: Little Martin LX-1E is a 3/4 sized scale guitar perfect for packing along and pickin' on the porch as seen below!

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Here's is a beautiful light centerpiece, perfect for a beer tasting party.

With more people opting to stay home this year, there is no need to opt out of entertaining as well. If you have had your kitchen re-done within the last few years, this is the time to make that investment pay off. You can cater your own affair right at home but you needn't lay out a huge banquet every time you invite people over. Here are some great ideas for entertaining at home where the featured guest is a bottle of wine or beer.

Hosting A Wine or Beer Tasting Party

You can host a "participatory" wine or beer tasting party. Guests are free to bring a few bottles of their favorite wine or beer. You simply supply the glasses, cheese or other appropriate snacks for the evening. The emphasis is on TASTING not guzzling so small tumblers are quite the ticket for a party like this. Set out the bottles of beer or wine and instruct your guests to:

TASTE LIKE A PRO The true secret to tasting like a winemaker or brewmaster is to take your time and use all of the senses to experience the drink.

LOOK Study the wine or beer in the glass. Hold it up to the light. What do you notice?

SWIRL Swirling the wine or beer in the glass helps release the flavor.

AROMA Researchers tell us that 90% of what we taste is actually smell.

TASTE Pay close attention as the beer or wine sits on your tongue. Different regions of the tongue pick up different tastes.

CLEANSE Before moving on to the next sample eat a cracker and have a drink of pure water. This will cleanse the pallet for the next round of flavors.

You can have index cards next to the samples so that your guests can take note of the ones they like and leave comments on what they noted in flavor, aftertaste and balance. A party like this is wonderful opportunity to learn more about what is available and how to really enjoy a fine glass of wine or a tasty brew. There are so many wines as well as types of beer such as ales, stouts, lagers, etc. You may find yourself overwhelmed with so many choices! I purchased a case of Samuel Adams Brewmaster Variety Pack. It contains six distinct styles of beer and gave me a great education on the differences in flavor and texture offered by various brewing processes. I also visited the Yuengling Brewery in PA a few years ago and had my first dark porter in the tasting room at the end of the tour. Do a little research on the types of cheese that compliment the most common variety of wines. As for beer, hot, savory appetizers are always good. The main point is that you'll want to relax and enjoy the evening with your guests. If you keep the menu simple and let the wine or beer be the main attraction, you'll find yourself free from a lot of preparation and work.

If you are set on going out for an evening with friends and the restaurant allows you to carry in your own alcoholic beverages, this idea will work in this setting also. You will save on purchasing high-priced alcoholic beverages at the restaurant while trying some of your friend's favorites. It really is a great way to spend an evening with friends and family with no clean up involved on your part! If you'd like more information on various types of beers or holding tasting events such as this visit George Killians at http://www.georgekillians.com/

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art with banners for Cezanne & Beyond

If your travel plans have been somewhat curtailed by the economy and rising gas prices here is a fantastic one-day, get-away! Many park systems and colleges offer bus trips to museums and other points of interest at discount prices. Why? Well, your taxes and mine go towards maintaining the parks and state colleges in our community. They will often offer such trips, making a smaller profit for themselves than a commercial tour.

Planning Your Day It is always good advice to find out a little information on the show or exhibit you are planning to see. Will there be a lot of walking? How long is the bus trip? Is lunch provided? After getting these basic details, plan and pack accordingly. Some charter buses allow you to leave some non-valuable items such as magazines, books, sweaters, wraps, pillows, etc. on board in the stow-away bins located above the seats. Those things need not be brought into building with you but you should keep a bottle or stainless steel container of water with you. Make sure you write down your bus number and set your cell phone alarm to ring at the time you need to re- board at the end of the day. Once you enter the museum, be sure to get a map as seen here. This will lay out all of the exhibits and galleries that you may wish to visit in an orderly fashion, saving time and steps.

Plan your day to include periodic stops for eating, (if it is nice outside, try lunching al fresco) restroom breaks and foot massages. Comfortable clothing and footwear are essential to a great day out. Side trips should also be planned as they can be a wonderful part of the whole experience. Skip the audio tours too. They tend to heard everyone to the same pieces, causing you to miss the other offerings of the exhibits. You'll even hear that the markers have the same information as what is being spoken in the headphones.

Relax & See What You Want! One of the biggest problems when taking a "guided tour" is pressure to keep up with the group. If you'd rather avoid the tourist trap, I suggest you do a little reading on your own after consulting your map and make your own plans. You will be able to see much more of what YOU are interested in while taking the time to smell the roses. Here I am relaxing at a waterfront gazebo in my comfy sear-sucker pants from ExOfficio and Born of England shoes. We scoped this place out ahead of time and made plans to visit it as part of our personal tour. By doing this, we attended much more than the art exhibit. We went back in time to visit a 12th century French cloister with larger than life paintings by Peter Paul Rubens nearby. Next, we traveled to the orient to experience Asian art and a full sized Japanese Tea House in a garden setting. In the European Art 1500-1850 gallery we found the Knight's Armory and an English Drawing Room.

Since many of these exhibits were dismantled in their country of origin and set up inside the museum, it was just like visiting it there. I've been to The Breakers, the summer home of the Vanderbilt's of Newport, R.I. and can see where they got their inspiration. The palaces of Europe! You can be inspired too but without having to leave the U.S.A.

Ah Yes, Shopping! Museum gift shops are notorious for overly inflated prices for no other reason than they are museum gift shops. However we did find three different shops within the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Two were fairly large but a smaller annex offered ticketed items at 50% off. Guess where we shopped? I purchased a lovely little crock of French spices for under $10. After I use the spices, I'll still have the jar as a memento of my visit to the Cezanne & Beyond show. The point is that you don't have to spend a lot these days. Look for the sales and discounts that can also be had by being a museum member. If you plan to visit often during the year, this is a good way to save even more. The point is to tailor your trip to your specific needs and interests. Don't feel intimidated or afraid to leave the beaten path. We were able to visit virtually all of the galleries on the ground, first and second floors but still had time for an outdoor snack and trip to the waterfront where we saw three wedding parties arriving for photos. Now that was taking in the full experience of what the Philadelphia art district has to offer. You can too! Check your local department of tourism and see what local attractions there may be of interest to you. You'll save time, money and have a great time with just a bit of planning.

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Stage performance of Shakespeare's, "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

The Best Things in Life Are FREE!

One of the best kept secrets in the state of New Jersey is the vast history and accessibility of our state's capitol. The Capitol Complex, located on West State Street, Trenton gives visitors a wonderful sampling of culture, arts, history and literature all within walking distance.
Highly recommended is a visit to the New Jersey State Museum. It is actually four museums in one and according to its executive director, Eric Pryor, allows the visitor to do and see so much, all in one day. He mentioned that the museum is part of the Capitol Complex which offers tours to the Statehouse, Library and Barracks all within walking distance. When we visited, there was a Swedish exhibit on display in the 3rd floor gallery. In the auditorium, which is a free standing building located in front of the museum, we were treated to Shakespeare Live's, rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by a troop of talented young players. Weekend offerings include free live performances by local musicians and actors. Parking is also free as the state employee parking becomes fully available to tourists over the weekend. The museum is looking forward to opening their newly constructed planetarium this spring. There are many archaeological displays throughout the building itself from a tyrannosaurus Rex skull to delicate, decorative pottery. Likewise, the museum also offers grade appropriate archeology workshops and programs during the week.


The Museum Gift Shop
One of the best finds along the tour was the museum's Friend's Gift Shop. Nestled away on the second floor, were found some interesting treasures. Unlike most museum gift shops, the items displayed here were chosen with care. What did we find? Hand made, woven baskets from a local weaver! After our disappointment with the Chinese made Nantucket Light Ship baskets of Cape Cod, this was a redemptive moment indeed. Handcrafted, beautifully constructed, stamped and very reasonably priced, these baskets by Mary were a true find.
When I spoke with the artist, she was well versed in the work of other basket makers, (the mark of a true artist), and said that she likes the plain but practical aspect of her work. May is also well versed on the history of basketry within the state of New Jersey. Her information on the New Jersey Pound Fish basket makes for great reading regarding a by gone practice of commercial fishing which flourished up until the early 1900's. Her beautiful baskets photographed here, are displayed for sale at the museum's gift shop. Baskets such as these have so many uses but are also a statement of artistic expression. Finding May's handmade baskets was indeed one of the highlights of our visit to New Jersey State Museum. It is living art-history which is still being created by a New Jersey artisan.












Photo: Handwoven baskets by craft artist Mary May


Other lovely items we found were printed umbrellas that worked quite well for us as we were leaving in the pouring rain! To your right is a display of beautifully made scarves, shawls, hats and jackets. Once again, this is not your ordinary museum gift shop but more of an artist's boutique. No tacky tourist stuff here. The prices were quite reasonable, especially for one of a kind, handmade items. Showing your New Jersey Arts Council Card gives you a 10% discount at this and other museum shops in the state. Remember that weekends offer a special treat of free live performances on Saturdays at the museum's auditorium with free parking in the garage. The next program is part of the Family Arts Festival featuring performances by Seth Reichgott: "The Appalachian Tale" and Tap Team Two & Co.: "Hoofing in America" plus art making workshops throughout the day. Date: Saturday May 9th, 2009, Time 11:00 am - 5 pm. Admission and parking are FREE. Visit all the events the museum has to offer online at: http://www.newjerseystatemuseum.org/

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A "Light Buffet"! Havaleena Party Lights in a vase, neon light sculptures and flashing party glasses from Coolites

I'm one of those die-hards who refuses to allow the economy to suck the fun out of my lifestyle! Now that doesn't mean you should be insensitive and throw money around. What I'm going to show you will not cost tons of money and be a lot more fun than hanging out at a nightclub. Just start thinking out of the box. How about getting a movie from Netflix, (or even better, the library), inviting a few friends, family or neighbors over to watch? Another idea is to invite some musically inclined people over to play together. This is otherwise known as a jam session but you can likewise invite someone to perform and have the guests chip in to pay the musician for the evening. Feed him and I'm sure he'll come back. How about a Karaoke Party? Karaoke is great fun and you can invite your friends to bring along their favorite songs to sing. Instant entertainment!

We had studio soiree over the weekend and the picture above is a shot of part of the buffet table. Hot pizza snacks, cheese and summer sausage on crackers, cheddar popcorn and drinks were set out on our light show table. You can also use left over all-white flashing Christmas lights too. Run them around the edge of the table or make interesting light sculptures on the wall behind the buffet. We put three Havaleena Party Lights in a clear glass vase for a real "wow" effect. Havaleena lights are cordless, smokeless and will shine for more than 22 hours on three, AA batteries. No flames so we were able to place them near curtains. Our clear, colored glasses are by Coolites and flash in multi-colored sparkles. The point is, make it glitter. This is the time for tinsel town to revive!

Host a Karaoke Party

A lot of your friends, (if not their children), probably already own a portable Karaoke machine. Ask around. If not, the Singing Machine is the one that I have and can recommend. This unit is a semi-professional model and not portable as it has twin stereo tower speakers and a full color screen. You can even plug in your iPOD and play your uploaded tunes over this karaoke system. DJ's are paid a lot to supply music to bars and clubs. Why not do it yourself at your place?

We decorated our karaoke system with a tube of programmable flashing party lights. This way we can choose a pattern to go with the beat of the music. It adds to the "studio" effect and the evening. We have quite a few dedicated karaoke CD's that show the lyrics right on the screen. Your guests will love it! The main thing is for you to enjoy the evening with them. Keep it simple. Spending hours in the kitchen fussing over gourmet messy foods is out. Finger food like mini quiche is definitely in. Go with a theme. It was Valentine's Day so that night we had a big heart shaped box of chocolates on the buffet for everyone to enjoy. This is not a big ticket, catered affair but you can still infuse classy fun into your evening without going broke. Live music whether it is being sung or played also adds to the special and memorable mystique of your party. None of these ideas take weeks of planning or deep pockets. Keep the numbers small and intimate. You'll find yourself enjoying your home entertaining more, with less. Be sure to read our related article, Entertaining Moments of Spring linked above.

Quickie Quiche

6-8 whole eggs

2 cups milk

1 cup grated cheddar, colby or munster cheese

1/2 tsp Hungarian Paprika

1/2 cup sauteed onion

1 cup chopped spinach or broccoli

2 unbaked deep dish pie shells

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sautee your onions. Whisk your eggs, Paprika and milk together. Line the bottom of the pie crust with your cheese, onions and vegetables. Pour in the egg and milk mixture and top with extra Paprika. Bake 40-60 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Variations: Add bacon, ham or smoked cheese!

Cheers!

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Snowshoeing is great winter fun and can be done anywhere there is enough snow. Here I am on location at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. Pilot's Hat by Dorfman - Pacific, Goose Down Jacket and hardshell pants by Moonstone, Gloves by Scott, Snowshoes by Tubbs.

Snowshoeing 101

Who says you have to skip that winter ski trip? Did you know that you can cross country ski nearly anywhere there is snow? You can also snowshoe as I am showing in these photos. Snowshoeing is great fun, easy to learn and can take you over virgin, snow covered trails in style. You can even use them for a jog in the snow! No need for a slope or ski lift either. You can go both up and down hills and trails quite easily. Since you actually float over the surface of the snow, your feet don't sink down, leaving them quite warm and dry. It doesn't matter if the trail is "groomed" or not. Snowshoes take you anywhere you want to go, regardless of the conditions. My Traditional Tubbs Snowshoes fit easily over my suede Ugg boots which allow the bindings a little extra grip. Make sure to bring your snow boots when you go to purchase a pair of snowshoes. Test them in the bindings, not your street shoes! You'll want to wear a pair of hardshell snowpants such as the Gore-Tex Paclite's I have on in the picture. The flattened, sealed, full zipper legs allow you to open them up for a bit of ventilation. When closed, they don't allow snow to blow in. Zippers also help with bulkier snow boots. A good goose down jacket is indispensable out in the snow. Unlike polyester fillings, down is highly breathable yet warm. We were out in 21 degree weather with wind gusts up to 10 mph but were completely warm. Since we were enjoying the snow in a state park and brought our own equipment, there were no parking, ski lift or admission fees. A free day out for a perfect winter get-away. Along with our recreational gear, we brought along some energy bars, a bottle of water and a camping chair with a beverage holder. Livin' large folks! Get a few more winter outdoor ideas from this article: Living it Up! http://drmiczak.blogspot.com/2009/01/welcome.html

Snow Skating

How would you like to have all the fun of skiing but without having to maneuver long, bulky equipment on the slopes? Ever hear of Snow Skates? Well, I didn't until a few years ago and they have to be the coolest thing on the planet next to skis. They are called Sled Dogs and look like ski boots without the skis attached. These snow skates are actually quite short but are waxed just as you would your regular skis. They can be used with or without ski poles and work well on downhill runs or cross country courses. Needless to say, you don't need to check into a ski resort to use them. Simply don a pair of hardshell pants, (you'll probably go down a few times at first), and take off! Use ski poles at first to help with balance. After you get comfortable, you can try a few skateboarder moves which are incredibly easy on Sled Dogs. In fact, how I learned snow skating was to employ a skateboarder or surfer's stance, (goofy or regular), with my dominant foot leading a bit. They do behave like skates so you can dig in for hockey stops or even skate backwards going downhill as shown in the photo above but be sure to check over your shoulder!

When people first saw me using my Sled Dogs they yelled, "Hey, you forgot your skis!!!" After coming back up the hill, I showed them I did in fact have skis...mini skis. Once again, choosing gear that works in many terrains and is easy to operate, increases your enjoyment. Nothing is more frustrating than hauling heavy skis and bindings, paying for access to the trail and then spending the entire day falling. I don't know about you but that doesn't sound like a fun date to me. Sled Dogs combine what I already know, (that is how to skate), with what I didn't know, (well, that was how to ski). It allowed me to expand my skills and try something new. Challenges are good. Better still, just when you've had about all you can stand of complaints over the bad economy and cabin fever to boot, there is a wonderful, priceless outdoor adventure just waiting for you. Each day is a gift and surely not to be wasted. Blues skies, crisp, clean air, watching the hawks ride the draft. What a gorgeous day out! Once you get home from your winter get away, how about making some delicious blueberry muffins? Here's my favorite recipe:


Best Picks Blueberry Muffins


1 1/2 unbleached flour

1/4 cup of brown and 1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup liquid vegetable oil

1/3 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries
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Preheat over to 400 degrees and grease tins or use muffin liners. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk. Combine the oil, egg and milk in another bowl and add to dry ingredients mixing lightly. Fold in blueberries and fill the cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until done. Scrumptious!

When you think about it, with a bit of forward planning and a touch of imagination, you can plan your own Winter Get-Away replete with an itinerary of other places or activities available in the area. This is how you maximize your gas while making it a complete day away. Since it was rather cold, we opted to limit our outdoor time to about 2 hours. After that we went to the mall for a bit of window shopping and were still home in plenty of time to make the blueberry muffins.

Some of the best memories that I still hold dear are those times where my parents did things with us. Fun things. I can remember my Dad taking us sledding at a local park. Just watching him execute a picture perfect belly-flopper on his Flexible-Flyer reminded me that he was once a child too. I think my brother was the one who invented snow boarding because he would fearlessly stand on his sled and ride it downhill like a surfboard. Crazy times but those are the sweet thoughts that get you through the tough ones and we all have them. The trick is to find some space and let go for a while. You'll find yourself renewed and able to keep a positive attitude no matter what the climate.

Spend some quality time with those you love! Check out our gear at the far right.

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