ellen_datlow

Busing up to Margaretville took 4 1/2 hours instead of the scheduled 3 1/2. I got through a lot of magazines. By the time we arrived at 8pm I was starved, so we went to a local restaurant for dinner. Organized to meet everyone the next day in Saugerties, where our friends live, and have our other friend, Donni meet us there to do the artist studio tours.

Up and out by 10am to meet Barry and Tom (brothers) at 11am in Saugerties. We had to leave Boots outside for the day (he'd gotten out the cat door in the mudroom when John left the inside door open overnight, and being the exuberant outdoors cat he is, wouldn't come in. He loves being outside, while Eric, the other cat, has no interest in the big wide outdoors and is a bit timid of people-- although he finally warmed up to me a little by the time I left).

Tom, who lives a few minutes down the road from his brother, met us and then so did Donni, driving in from Port Jervis. Beth (Barry's wife) wasn't feeling well so wasn't sure she'd come and Barry had to work. They thought they might meet us along the route. We had maps and cel phones.

Donni, me, Tom, and John drove in one car to the studios on the tour. Early on, John and Donni bought photographs. I was more eager to see pottery, especially from Jemerick Art Pottery, the couple that made a pot I'd admired at John's. We finally got there and I'd realized I'd bought something from them at a craft show in NYC about 7 years ago. Very different style than John's so I hadn't recognized it. They were expensive but had some items "slightly off"--a bubble that you'd hardly notice --for half price. I bought one for myself and one as a wedding gift. They're gorgeous.

I also found something at another studio that I'll likely be giving as a birthday gift. I don't recall the artist but it's "paper work."

I also liked Polly Law's paper work-- she makes paper doll-like tableaux. Beth and Barry met us with their car and Tom took off in his car (he had plans for later). We ended up seeing about 14 of the 25 or so studios.

John took us all out to dinner at New World Home Cooking, a marvelous restaurant specializing in spicy "comfort food" from the Americas. The specialty is blackened string beans as an appetizer (good) and each dish was rated 1-7 for its spiciness. My spare ribs ($5)were a big hit and because there were so many (10) I shared a LOT.

Afterward, Donni left for home and the four of us stopped at a party in Woodstock then went off to some great fireworks--I took photos (for the photos of people I was shooting blind, as it was very dark) but don't know if any--of the fireworks--came out... I'll be putting them up in the next day or so. Drove home after a very long day and Boots greeted us, happy to come inside after being out all night and all day.

Next morning John and I ate at the Margaretville cafe and checked out an antique store and fleamarket in the area. The fleamarket was very sparse. John said that last year the whole field was packed so he asked one of the vendors why it was empty this year. The response was the economy....which to me makes no sense. You'd think there would be more sellers trying to make money and plenty more buyers hoping to get bargains...but hey, what do I know?

Caught the bus at 12:58 and got to Port Authority about 3 1/2 hours later. The bus driver mentioned that getting in so close to schedule was unusual. I'd like to think it made up for the hour late ride upstate.

I may try to get up there again when the leaves turn in the fall.