Author: Janet

I like to share travel deals, destinations, and travel tips!

How to Keep Kids Learning During Winter Break Winter in the Woodlands with IAIS

Winter break is exciting for kids. No school and lots of free time, but boredom can soon set in. If you want to beat boredom this year, try an innovative way to keep kids busy and away from the TV, movies, and video games by signing up for Winter in the Woodlands! The Institute for American Indian Studies is offering this special educational program that will include games, crafts, and activities inspired by Native American culture on Thursday, December 28, and Friday, December 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both days.

Snow Snake!

The activities are planned for both indoors and outdoors on the grounds of the museum and will showcase the lifeways and lessons of local Native Americans. Each day the museum’s educational staff will offer an exciting roster of games, and craft projects. A special highlight is listening to Native American stories told by a professional storyteller. These stories share Native American history, customs, rituals, and legends through exciting narratives that have been passed down for generations. Often stories educate children about culture, morals, and values.

Story Time

Getting kids outside in the fresh air is a bonus to some of the traditional Native American games they will play like snow snake, snow boat and hoop and pole. The crafts that children will create indoors will be keepsakes that they can bring home. Just some of the crafts planned include making cornhusk dolls, buzzers, and beaded artwork. This two-day program is designed to teach children new skills and to ensure a smooth transition to going back to school.

This two-day program is best suited for children age six to twelve. Parents are invited to stay and participate adding another dimension to family fun and quality time. The price of participation is $40 per day for non-members and $30 per day for members of the museum. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. To register click here https://iaismuseum.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/14302 or email events@iaismuseum.org or call 860-868-0518.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres, the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

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Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum Decorated for the Holidays

Don’t miss this opportunity to view the Torrington Historical Society’s Hotchkiss Fyler House while it’s still decorated for the holiday season. In December the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum takes on a special ambiance as it is adorned with Christmas trees, vintage ornaments, antique toys, white lights, and greenery. Guided tours of the first and second floors will be available select days and evenings through December 30th.

Take a guided tour of one of Connecticut’s notable house museums, decorated for the Holiday season. The Hotchkiss Fyler house was built in 1900 and features original family furnishings, impressive woodwork, painted and stenciled walls, and collections of fine and decorative arts. During the holiday season, the house takes on a special ambiance when it is decorated with Christmas trees, vintage ornaments, wreaths, greenery, and white lights. Antique toys from the society’s collection will also be on display. Evening Tour tickets always sell out, so please register early! Walk-ins for daytime tours are welcome if space for the time slot is available.

Evening tours are available on December 20th at 5,6, and 7 pm. Daytime tours are being held on December 21,22,23,28,29 and 30 at 12 noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. For tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/o/torrington-historical-society-4663695939

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Full Moon Walk with Institute for American Indian Studies December 26 @ 6

If you are looking for a fun and refreshing way to walk off some of the holiday goodies you have been eating then join the staff of the Institute for American Indian Studies for a Full Moon Walk on Tuesday, December 26 at 6 p.m. This year, even the moon is in a festive mood and will be fully illuminated on December 25th, 26th, and 27th. This full moon after the Winter Solstice takes the highest and longest path along the night sky. One of the names of the December full moon is “Long Night Moon” because it shines above the horizon longer than most full moons, making this walk extra special.

As participants walk along the beautifully wooded trails on the grounds of the museum under the glistening full moon they will learn what names Native Americans gave the December full moon and what it meant to them. Participants will learn how different Native American peoples traditionally used the monthly cycles of the moon and nature’s corresponding signs to track the seasons.

A highlight of this experience is to witness and celebrate firsthand the beauty of December’s full moon, as Native American communities have done for centuries. For example, the most common name for the December Moon, attributed to the Mohawks, is the Cold Moon which perfectly describes the cold days and nights during this time of year. The woodland walk ends at the newly restored 16th-century Algonkian village where a warm fire, hot chocolate, and stories will greet participants.

Inside the wigwam

Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a flashlight, and wear sturdy footwear. If there are weather-related concerns on the day of the program, please contact the museum at 860-868-0518. The price of participation is $5 for IAIS Members and $10 for Non-Members. To register click here https://iaismuseum.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/14300

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres, the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

JanetLeave a comment

Tina’s Baskets & Woven Arts Offers A Creative Option for Holiday Shopping

Are you ready for holiday shopping? It’s officially gift–giving season, and Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art located in Studio #305 at Whiting Mills in Winsted is here to help. Admittedly gift giving can be kind of selfish… what’s better than that feeling of satisfaction knowing you have found something wonderful and unique for that special someone on your list? At Tina Puckett’s art studio, shoppers will find something unique and not mass–produced for your just as unique friends and family members at various price points. Best of all, this shopping experience lets folks see and feel their choices in person while supporting Connecticut’s artists and the local community.

In an atmospheric studio, visitors will find Master Weaver, Tina Puckett, a national and international award-winning artist known for her woven arts and dimensional weaving creating phantasmagorical pieces that are as beautiful as they are useful. The studio is cheerfully decorated and is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in December. An added perk of shopping local is that shoppers will meet Tina and learn what inspires her sought-after woven pieces, making it a memorable experience this season. While shopping don’t forget to enter the raffle for a festive handmade basket!

Finding the perfect present can be a tricky business – and yet a local artist Tina Puckett weaves baskets, bowls, wall hangers, and sculptures that are pieces of art. Tina’s Baskets & Woven Art is sure to satisfy even the most discerning on your holiday list. Visiting her rustic art studio is an adventure in itself, especially if you are on the hunt for something special that is sustainable, ready to be used time and time again, and loved for years to come.

Many things make Tina’s Baskets and Woven Arts, unusual. Each piece is inspired by Tina’s imagination and the natural beauty of bittersweet vines that she weaves into the dynamic shapes with hand-dyed reeds that create a mélange of colors that will not be found anywhere else. What enhances the character of each piece is the addition of the bittersweet vine that is foraged by Tina in the woods near her studio in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut.

New this year and perfect for friends and family who love learning and creating works of art is a gift certificate to take one of Tina’s Basket Weaving Classes. The classes offer teens and adults of all abilities the opportunity to learn more about the timeless art of basket weaving from a master in the field.

Tina’s Baskets is also open by appointment and all woven art and baskets are available online at http://www.tinasbaskets.com.

About Tina’s Baskets
Tina Puckett is an internationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven arts. You can see her works in studio #305/ Tina’s Baskets. Located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet vines, and a variety of found objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at galleries across the World and at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are preferred and can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

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BraeVal’s Scottish Roots Offers Holiday Gifts Inspired by Heritage

Admittedly gift giving can be kind of selfish… what’s better than that feeling of satisfaction knowing you have found something wonderful for that special someone on your list? At BraeVal, one of Connecticut’s treasures located in the heart of Litchfield, shoppers will find something that is unique and not mass–produced at a variety of price points. Best of all, this is a shopping experience where folks not only get to see and feel the quality of this upmarket brand in person, but they also get to meet the founder of the company and learn how his heritage inspired him.

The story of BraeVal goes way back in American and Scottish history. It all began when Gregor McCluskey’s Great Uncle, Big Jock McCluskey was caught poaching on the land of a great Scottish Lord, not once but twice! It was then that Big Jock decided to leave Scotland for America because he believed that he would be free to hunt, fish, and wander, without trespassing on any royal estates.

In America, Big Jock McCluskey became a bounty hunter, fur trader, and gold miner. It was as a fur trader with Native Americans where Big Jock stuck gold. He became famous for trading his red and black tartan plaid with many Native Americans who were amazed at its deep red color. Legend has it that Native Americans had never seen such cloth dyed a brighter red and believed it was made from the blood of McCluskey’s prey and enemies. Today, we know this fabric as Buffalo Plaid.

BraeVal, a Scottish word for Upland Rivers is a love affair between Gregor McCluskey’s American soul and his Scottish heritage. Today’s clothing conceptualized by Gregor, a relative of Big Jock, exemplifies this because each piece is not designed; rather each piece is engineered with features found nowhere else and accented with authentically made Buffalo Plaid. McCluskey often says he channels his Great Uncle’s love of the great outdoors and the many summers he spent in Scotland when creating something new for BraeVal.

There are many things that make BraeVal’s clothing distinctive. First off, it is engineered to be the best of the best because it is infused with the style and finish of European sporting fashion that has been time-tested in the field, out on the town, and then merged with American comfort. The shirts are made of proprietary Tierra fabric made of ring-spun Merino wool and long staple Egyptian cotton developed by McCluskey that results in an eco-friendly machine washable garment. The shirts are comfortable, durable, breathable, and a natural alternative to synthetics. All of BraeVal’s limited designed tartans and checks are an exclusive contemporary interpretation of historic patterns found nowhere else, ensuring that BraeVal’s customers stand out in the crowd. Best of all, and too many to mention, BraeVal’s garments offer many unique features – shirts for example, have a hidden bi-swing back, triple stitching, roll-up sleeve stays, below-the-waist pockets, and many more features.

BraeVal is located at 3 South Street in Litchfield and is open from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. through December. For online orders http://braeval.net.

About BRÃEVAL

BraeVal is a Scottish word for the Upland River Valleys that exist between the mountains and rugged brae of the Scottish highlands, where streams and rivers tumble to loch and sea. It is pronounced ‘brave-all’. It is a land of arduous challenges in a place where sporting adventure is welcomed as part of a very robust lifestyle. The name was chosen because it symbolizes the special sense of outdoor adventure that excites all sportsmen and women. At BraeVal, they believe that this imagery holds the heart of every sporting adventurer who ever hiked beyond the view of the town. BraeVal is a lifestyle brand of clothing that has endured for generations. They are an original American design born of comfort that offers time-tested classics in the Scottish tradition. Located in Litchfield Connecticut.

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An Old-Fashioned Wassail Holiday Celebration and Open House @ Glebe House

Wassailing is an annual tradition that involves blessing orchards to ensure a good harvest for the year to come. The celebrations involve music, song, dancing, and a recognition of what orchards give to us. It dates from the Anglo-Saxon era, traditionally taking place on the Twelfth Night, but now wassails take place between early December and February. Wassail is a beverage made from hot mulled cider and spices and will be served on Friday, December 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Glebe House located in the historic heart of Woodbury Connecticut. Members are $25 and non-members are $30, and tickets are available at http://www.glebehouse.org or by calling the museum at 203-263-2855.

Wassailing, like many other folk traditions, is a way for people to mark the turning of the seasons. Participants at the Glebe House’s wassailing event will gather around a warm fire and enjoy this iconic holiday beverage while listening to the joyful sounds of the season. Wassail is indeed both a noun and a verb. Mostly it is a salutatory celebration of a long year as you gather with those you cherish and raise a glass of good cheer to toast to a healthy, happy new year and enduring friendships. For wassail is, first and foremost, a salute.

Another highlight of this event is that The Glebe House Museum’s Main Floor will be set for the holidays, and open for viewing and the purchase of holiday décor. Guests may partake of sweet and savory hors d’oeuvres and a choice of beverages including warm “spiked” Wassail, hot chocolate, apple cider, wine, and sparkling water. Enjoy Yuletide Caroling and the company of friends and neighbors as we celebrate the joys of the season.

On December 2, the Glebe House will be hosting an open house and holiday gift shop from 11 am to 3 pm. The museum will be decorated with unique decorations, including ones that may be purchased. Costumed docents will guide visitors through the downstairs of the house as young docents make pomander balls and demonstrate quill writing. Find that unique decoration or a special gift in the Holiday Shoppe located within the Glebe House Museum. Vintage and handmade items will be available for purchase. Cash, check and credit card accepted.

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