I am back with the boys now. It feels good to be “home” after a great two weeks in Cambridge. I sure loved being able to walk or take the bus everywhere, and Cosmo and I had a blast at the dog park (Fresh Pond). Shedding a few pounds (along with the BP catastrophe) has inspired me to make walking whenever I can a priority from now on. Am taking the bike in to be tuned up tomorrow as well!
So many options this weekend at Fresh Pond...
Fresh Pond is packed with people and dogs, all day every day. I loved taking Cosmo there, and on the days where she wasn’t feeling like a long walk, I would come back and walk alone. It energized me, just being around people running, cycling, or walking; most of them with a dog close-by. I am not a runner (although I have done my share of jogging over the years) but I definitely picked up the pace these past two weeks. After our morning walk, I would typically walk or hop a bus to Harvard Square.
John Harvard
Dorms. Perhaps in my next life...
Harvard Writers Featured at the COOP
Wandering Harvard and the Square felt great. Again, the energy was there and I embraced it fully. Check out the guy sitting behind Paul in the picture below. He filled page after page with who knows what while Paul and I chatted away. I wrote like that when I was his age. Pen to paper, sometimes hours on end. Granted it was typically at an all night diner and for a JC or UCONN extension class (or even better, a juicy journal entry)…even so, I bet I felt just as inspired as he was feeling that morning.
Algiers on Brattle - Harvard Square
Trish, this next pic is for you. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon with you and Dave, including a “Belated Birthday Lunch” at Full Moon Restaurant on Huron Ave. Delish.
I had not heard of Marimekko before this sit and while I am more of a vintage material girl, I very much enjoyed the boldness of this fabric at their Cambridge Concept Store. And the sundresses were so pretty…
Fabric at Marimekko - Huron Village
Perhaps you know this about me already, but I do love a good book store. It is fun to visit with others who are just as appreciative and are willing to take their time perusing (T&D)…plus, Bryn Mawr is a non-profit that provides college scholarships. A+.
Replaced my lost copy of Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott) for $3. Nice!
I am not typically big into cemetaries, but Mount Auburn Cemetary is a definite exception. It is a work of horticultural genius, for starters. And I felt true serenity, walking along its endless paths.
“It seems as if Nature had formed the spot with the distinct idea of its being a resting place for her children” . This is what Emily Dickenson wrote (about Mount Auburn) to a friend in 1846. This is exactly how I felt, wandering about the place more than a century and a half later.
Raccoon at Mount Auburn Cemetary
Memorial at Mount Auburn
Chapel at Mount Auburn
Back to Harvard Square (I couldn’t get enough)…remember this band from my last post? I was able to return and spend more quality listening time . They needed no fancy acoustics in order to sound great. I love seeing people put themselves out there BIG and am hoping this was a beautiful experience for them.
A Night in the Box from Minneapolis, MN
These girls seemed to really be enjoying each other and the day. Cheers to being young and happy and most likely very smart to boot!
Relaxing outside Crema Cafe
Post Harvard Square, I caught a bus to Huron Ave and Formaggio Kitchen, then walked the rest of the way home.
Relaxing on the T - so much better than driving!
Amazing what one sees, growing on trees...walking is even better than the T!
The pics below are really meant for fellow foodies. I know there are those of you out there who simply eat and drink to meet basic bodily needs. Try as I might to understand, it just doesn’t compute. For me, being thin means my thyroid is out of whack again or I am depressed. So, if you see me and I am looking too thin, you may want to lower your head; pretending not to see me.
Anyway, Formaggio Kitchen is as artisan as it gets. Alas, my little digital camera does not do this place justice – but it will give you an idea of its greatness. I visited several times for a coffee or a sandwich or something simple like that, mainly to justify my wandering the aisles. Except for the last day, when I splurged on prosciutto and beer infused caramels for Paul, and a bottle of balsamic vinegar for me. And Paul. But mostly me.
I struck up a quick conversation with Euan over gourmet pastries and such, and he was kind enough to grant me a picture (thanks, Euan!). All of the staff here are helpful and they know their food and drink. And flowers. I came in on Mother’s Day and watched several amazing bouquets come together in seconds, one right after the other, over and over.
Fiddlehead Ferns and Such at Formaggio Kitchen
A Section of the Chocolate Section at Formaggio Kitchen
Euan, Manning the Bakery Section at Formaggio Kitchen
Honey, How I Love Thee...Formaggio Kitchen
And Mustard. Honey + Mustard = YUM. Formaggio Kitchen
Cheese. Sigh. Formaggio Kitchen
Oil and Vinegar, Vinegar and Oil...Formaggio Kitchen
Baseball Sugar Cookie. How could I resist? Formaggio Kitchen
I think it only fair to end this Cambridge chapter with the pup who made it all possible. This. Dog. Is. Adorable. Thank you Cosmo, for your delightful company these past two weeks : )
Cosmo - Always There to Help with the Crumbs
PS Did you know that you can click on a picture to make it bigger? Just making sure…
Love the pictures, love the stories! You are such a great story teller & writer – makes me want to be right there with you at the moment. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Michele! It would be fun to interview you and take pics of Bella Vita next time we are in town. Congrats to opening the upper space – can’t wait to see what you’ve done with it…
Hey Valynne – I just bought your soaps for staff appreciation gifts. Good to see your stuff still out & about. I’m on vacation – having garden fever; can’t wait to start digging. And sculpting! Henry Moore sculptures are all over. Gorgeous. Take care! When are you coming here for a visit/??
Hey Marilyn, Happy Vacation : )I really wanted to surprise Paul with a CO trip for his Birthday but it is going to have to wait. It is a priority of ours, though!
Hopefully I will have news on MGO soon – fingers crossed there is business travel in my near future…In the meantime, we are checking out Ptown next week – can’t wait!
Thank you for thinking of MGO for gifts. I am going to post pics of the gardens soon – I couldn’t get much to grow on Bear Mountain so this spring has been extra exciting in the outdoor department.
Hi V!
Note the new email….I’m out of the flower biz and into the pet sitting biz again 🙂 Anyhow, I just wanted to tell you how much this post reminded me of Portland, OR. The trips you took to fresh pond could have been Adam and I and good ol’ Beans when we lived in P-town. Dog parks everywhere…and, you are always guaranteed to find a nice group of dogs no matter what time you go. It seems like you are starting to specialize in the extended pet sitting area, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the future holds a job in the Pacific Northwest at some point. Good food: check. Dog crazy people: check. Great coffee houses where college kids write in notebooks for hours: check. 🙂
Thanks for sharing all of it!
H
We have not forgotten our desire to explore the Pacific Northwest, that is for certain.
Did you see the interview with Long Long Honeymoon a few posts down? That is how I would ultimately like to travel : ) Paul seems pretty interested as well…I will keep you posted!
Also, I just met a couple that are starting a new website (see links to the right of the post). They will be featuring free classified ads (hint hint). Are you sticking to Evergreen/surrounding area for now?
Let me know if you decide to go the website/blog route and I will add you to my friendly links : )
Great stuff, Valynne; you are such a talented writer.
Mountain Man shows up regularly at my work. I’m beginning to believe there is a connection between Mountain Girl and Mountain Man…
Thanks for sharing your adventures. Here’s hoping for another Gloamin’ Fest in Evergreen (or Conifer) in 2010.
Bob Bowden
Hey Bob,
Great to hear from you! Jeanie at Mountain Man in Evergreen was the first person to place a wholesale order with me so I am a bit sentimental when it comes to her and her sweet little shop : )
Yes – I am very much hoping Gloamin’ Fest carries on in CO – I had a booth with Gloamin’ three years in a row and am thinking maybe we can be in the crowd this year. Time will tell…
Are you going to make it to the American Workers’ Concert at the Elks in Evergreen this Friday? We are loving our new digs but it is hard, missing our CO peeps and places!
You are making my heart flutter with 20 years of memories of Cambridge. I used to spend every sunday at the Mt. Auburn Cemetary in the summers for my photography class. It’s a great place to hone your photography skills. Did you come across the section of the cemetary that is for children who have died? All the statutes of little cupids and such are erie and beautiful at the same time. A also spent many an hour at the coop in harvard square, although the Wordsworth bookstores across the street was more to my liking. Also spent much time at Formaggio…….ah, the cheeses were so fantastic.
What really broke my heart though were your photos of the cemetary…………the TREES HAVE GREEN LEAVES ON THEM !!!!! Although our winter here was mild, it just seemed to go on and on and on forever from the first snowfall of 42″ last October to snow last week.. The trees in Golden are just now flowering and turning green. Still bare up on the mountain. I so miss having a real spring and a real fall and all the beautiful colors of flowers. I envy you at this moment!
What an amazing place for a photography course. I did not notice the section dedicated to children…it is so immense, I am sure I only walked a tenth of it, if that.
Formaggio is a little slice of Heaven disguised as your everyday, garden variety Huron Ave storefront. Every little thing I sampled and bought was perfection!
The WordsWorth is now Curious George, which is a sweet childrens shop, but then you probably know that. We are loving life, but when you get to envying us too much, just think back on the humidity and the ticks and the mosquitoes : )
Isn’t Formaggio Kitchen the best? I’m so glad it is still there! How ’bout Fresh Pond Market? The pics leave me feeling you are in my old nieghborhood and I am so enjoying this vicarious visit….
enjoy, enjoy! Please e-mail or call…. I am so curious about a few things…. so glad Algier’s and Passim’s are still there!
Fresh Pond Market is still there, as well…I meant to visit but somehow found myself back at Formaggio, again and again…I am curious about a few things as well – did you receive my e-mail? ; )
And Mount Auburn Cemetary…. I used to love walking in there!
I have been to one or two magnificent cemetaries (Forest Lawn in CA, for example) but cannot get over the beauty and tranquility of this place. Would love to go back and spend more time there (not something I would typically say about a cemetary!).
i’m glad you had such a great time up here! I wish we coulda gotten together!!!!!!! Can’t wait to read what your next adventure brings you :o)
Looks like our next adventure (post P-town) will be Colorado &/or Europe…I am going to be greedy and hope for both : ) I’ve got to get to your blog, it has been a while…next time you comment, be sure to leave your blog addy when it asks for your web addy. That way people can click on your name and check out your blog if they’d like. Cool, eh? Still much to learn about the blogosphere but we’ve both come a long way, baby!