April News from the Farm

Pottery Update Coming Sunday Morning and Pretzel Intro.....

Hello Colorful Friends:

I’ve had a busy week here doing a mess of administrative stuff and really not enough creativity. Some weeks are like that. I consider myself lucky that not all my life is spent on a computer screen as it has been in the past.

So why was I on my computer??? Because I am having an On-Line Pottery Sale of the Still Life Series of Platters that I’ve made this winter. For this project, I wanted to combine my interest in Still Life Painting with my ceramic practice. My inspiration was antique ceramic vases and pitchers combined with the summer garden flowers that I was missing this winter. Here are some of them.

The pieces that will be available are on my website now for preview. On Sunday April 10th at 9 a.m. EDT, the sale will go live. Set your alarms now if you are interested in snagging one of my new pieces of art. There are 32 new platters. The majority of them are smallish (5-7”) - perfect for a spoon rest, tea bag holder, jewelry catch-all or to hang on your wall as a piece of art. There are 6 larger platters for serving or to hang on the wall. I suggest Flatiron Adhesive Discs for hanging pottery and tiles. They won’t chip the rims of pots like metal hangers sometimes do. You can purchase them on Amazon here. I will try to get the platters out to their new homes next week. They would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift.

Today Julia, Pretzel and I are off to Boston to the Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation Type1Summit. It’s our first trip to one of these events and we are looking forward to it. You are probably wondering who Pretzel is. Last fall I mentioned a trip to Kansas. I never followed up with letting you all know why. Pretzel was the reason. Julia was on a waiting list for a Diabetic Alert Dog for over two years. During the two years, she did fundraising so that she could purchase a Diabetic Alert Dog. Thanks to all the amazing, generous people who made Pretzel possible for Julia. The photo below was taken one winter day when we were introducing Pretzel to the new lambs and adult sheep.

In October, we flew to Kansas and spent a week with Cares, Inc. meeting Pretzel and in classes with 13 other dogs and handlers. It was an incredible experience including two plane rides home with a dog we barely knew. Pretzel has settled in and is part of our family. She is sweet and smart and a great companion for Julia. Her nose is amazing and her alerts are helping Julia with her diabetes control. If you would like to contribute to help Julia continue to care for Pretzel, you can contribute to her Go Fund Me campaign HERE. If you prefer sending a check to help Julia with the vet bills, you can send a check to Julia Duprey at 31 Glen Road, Leyden, MA 01301

The lambs are still coming. We are up to 250 lambs. This week, many of the yearlings learned about birthing babies. Here’s a pretty photo of the older lambs playing king of the mountain close to sunset one evening.

If you are local and would like to celebrate Easter, Passover or the arrival of spring with a pasture raised leg of lamb, we have several Bone-In Legs of Lamb available. Email me at kristinnicholas@gmail.com or you can call the phone number for our farm - 413.774.6514 and I will get back to you to arrange pick-up.

This weeks’ Links I’m Loving…….

• In case you missed Jon Batiste’s performance at the Grammys on Sunday, it is worth a watch. He’s a remarkable artist. You can watch this feature from CBS Sunday morning HERE (9 minutes). It had me in tears. His interview on Colbert (10 minutes) was sweet too. Humble, brilliant, super talented. A guy to watch as he shares his work with the world.

• I liked this 5 minute film called “Where Do Ideas Come From?” by filmmaker Andrew Norton.

• Here is a lovely article on Kaffe Fassett and his incredible home in London. I’ve long been a fan and it’s nice to see all the incredible work in the place it was made.

• This is amazing - embroidered moss and fungi.

• Loved this podcast interview with Rob Forbes, the founder of Design Within Reach. He started his career as a potter. Fascinating life.

• In the recipes I’d like to try one day department, this recipe for Rice Paper Salmon Rolls might help me free up some space in my pantry.

Remember 9 a.m. Sunday the 10th for the Still Life Series of Platters!

My best in color and creativity,

Kristin Nicholas