See you soon, Ohio

Here's to hoping I don't end up spending Christmas in the Chicago Airport!

Holiday Lunch

Tomorrow is the RiverLink Holiday Lunch and $5 secret santa at the Grove Park Inn.

It is very very difficult to find a gift for $5 that isn't a pair of socks.  I had to really put my thinking cap on for this one.  Is the spatula a dead giveaway?

The Citizen-Times

Ella and I went downtown to make a snowman today and ended up in the newspaper!  Here's the link.  We're pictures 19, 20 and 21.

UPDATE***  We also made the FRONT PAGE of the print edition.  See below! :)

the meltdown

Christina and I cleaned the oven last night (and by that, I mean we pressed the "clean" button).  It didn't occur to me that I should move the things around the 900 degree stove until it was too late.  My beautiful stick of butter turned into a disgusting butter pancake

Nostalgia ...

 

I really hope 2011 is the year we all see each other again.  One year is too long to be apart.  Love and miss.

Ohhhh, North Carolina

I want all my friends and family in the northern United States to know that this is what the roads looked like when Asheville City and Buncombe County schools closed for the day. WHIMPS.

So much RiverLink gear!

Today was a great success!  Here's a look at our booth.

Off to market...

Tomorrow, RiverLink will be participating in the "gifts that give" shopping exxxxtravaganza at AB Tech. I was feeling particularly inspired when I got the call about tabling this event back in early November and decided to make terrariums to sell (instead of our usual books, hats and clocks).

Here they are on their way to market!

Carl Sandburg Home

On my way back from Jason's I stopped at the Carl Sandburg House in Flat Rock, NC.  It's closer to Brevard than it is to Asheville and I had thought about going there this summer but never got around to it.  For those who don't know (like me, before I went to his house) Carl Sandburg is a famous poet.  He won three Pulitzer Prizes in his day.  In 1945 Sandburg moved to the estate connemara, which is today, the Carl Sandburg House, a National Historic Site.  Tours of the house are given for $5 or you can walk one of the many trails around the property for free.  There were lots of people out on the trails yesterday and every one of them was super friendly.  Something about North Carolina, I guess.  I remember the same thing happening in Pisgah.

a thanksgiving story

Kevin, Jason and I have had a Thanksgiving dream since we were kids:  "One day, when we have our OWN Thanksgiving, we will have pizza instead of turkey."  This year was supposed to be the year of the Thanksgiving pizza but alas, all the pizza shops are closed on Thanksgiving.  Something about it being a HOLIDAY or something. pshh.  Luckily, in the time since I was 10 my taste buds have matured and I now like (most of) the food at the Thanksgiving table.

Hope you had a happy pizza turkey day!

via Samantha Lewis

A sneak peek into the book

dancing the charleston in the ballroom

1920's Party!

 Americorp folk

 moonshine party favors

Just got home from the fanciest party I've ever been to.  So fancy-that when I drove up to the house a man in a white suit directed me where to park.  So fancy- that when I walked in, the music I heard wasn't coming from someone's ipod--it was a live band!  So fancy- there was an open bar and catered food!  So fancy- men were wearing top hats and tuxedos.

I could get used to these grown-up parties.
For more pictures visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauralovesland/

The latest in fact sheets and raffles

Created by yours truly.  Photoshop and I are becoming fast friends.

The moment we've all been waiting for...

This Friday (5 days from now!) my book is coming out.  Now, I call it MY book but I guess it's technically 70 people's book.  This past spring (or winter), I can't even remember it was so long ago, I submitted images for the Indigo Ink Press' Stark ARThology.  A piece I created many moons ago was selected for the book and will be featured along with my black and white head shot and artist statement.  The book goes on sale November 20th and can be purchased at these places.  It's also available at all libraries and schools in Stark County.  I can't wait to see it!

the fruit of my labor

After weeks of creating, tweaking and editing, the map is printed!  I'm very happy with the final product and excited to send it off to the American Trails Symposium in Chattanooga, TN!

Movin on uppp

My girl Tyra moved out of her 2.5 gallon shack and into this 10 gallon mansion last night.  I think I speak for both of us when I say, "we're really excited!".  The tank has been a long time coming.  She's technically not supposed to be in anything less than 20 gallons (according to fish experts at PetsMart) but 10 gallons aint too shabby either.  

Band of Horses + Jenny Lewis

I went to the Band of Horses concert on Thursday night with my friend Claire and we had a pretty great time.  The opening act was this band called "jenny and johnny".  I'd never heard of them, but I thought the girl had an awesome voice.  Turns out that girl was JENNY LEWIS (of Rilo Kiley fame).  I couldn't believe my luck that I got to see both artists in the same night!

BYOP

Last sunday my friend Chris had a BYOP -bring your own pumpkin- at his house.  It was part potluck, part pumpkin carving party. (The food was delicious, by the way)  My pumpkin, the one in the lower left, didn't really STEAL THE SHOW, but boy was it fun to carve.
Can't believe Halloween is here this weekend.  One last chance to break out the "spelling bee" costume!

A tuesday pick-me-up!

Started off an awesome yoga class with this song tonight.
shake it, shake it, shake it!

Safe Travels!

Yay for new adventure!  My bffe (best friend for eternity) is heading to Malawi today. 

In honor of my girl, Tyra (fish)

as seen in a georgia wal*mart

I was pretty shocked to see this in the check-out line.  I'm sad that Wild Berry sold out.

FAIL

This post was supposed to read "WOW, I MET PRESIDENT CLINTON".  I would have posted a picture of Bill speaking and written a story of how I met him and regaled him with stories of the "clinton" sandwich at Miami University (grilled cheese with a piece of pizza inside). 

However, Bill is a tardy person and a girl can only spread her lunch break so far.  The speech I went to see at 12:30 became the speech that happened at 2:00 :(

looking for a labyrinth? RiverLink's got one!

We are now featured on the Labyrinth Society's website.  Look us up! 

map makin'

For the past couple days, Nancy (water resources manager/ landscape architect) and I have been working on this map for the American Trails Conference in Chattanooga, TN.  Not gonna lie--i'm a little bit proud. 

This map is RiverLink's Wilma Dykeman RiverWay project plan, a 17 mile connection of parks and greenways along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers.  We've still got a lot of miles to connect!

Our trip to Raleigh

 The gang with the Dodge Journey. oooooooo ahhh

Took a trip to Raleigh, NC for a very pointless conference.  But HEY!  We got a sweet rental car, free dinner and to stay at a swanky hotel.  I'm not complaining!

Long way home

Got KIND OF nostalgic while I was in Brevard yesterday for "Tour De Falls" and decided to take the long way home.  I drove up hwy 276, past the Cradle of Forestry, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Asheville.  I've missed these views.

New graffiti on the RiverLink building

No idea what this poem means, but i like the style of it.

A little slice of home on my way to work

River Arts District (RAD)

Chris and I went to the old Cotton Mill Property last night to take some photogs.  It was a great time and thanks to the RiverLink camera I got some good shots.

Someone has already discovered how awesome this building is.  Sketches and a bed.

Environmental Education at the Nature Center

On Saturday RiverLink tabled at the WNC Nature Center as part of the Hey Day Festival. Despite our next door neighbors, the otters, stealing all the attention, I thought it went pretty well. Educating about macroinvertabrates and being next to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education table, made for some serious Summer 2010 flashbacks.

ice house property

Tomorrow a group of 200 volunteers from the Outdoor Industry Association are coming to RiverLink and doing an afternoon clean-up.  One of the properties they are helping with is the Ice House on Riverside Drive.  This morning, I went there and took some "before pictures".

I love fall

 How great is this? Available from Baconwrapt.com

The weather is getting colder and my neck is feeling bare.  It's time to break out the knitting needles again.

Stranded in the parking lot

The only thing standing between me and work.

My very first press release

Prettttty proud that I wrote up this press release, quoted myself and got it in the Asheville Citizen-Times!

Take a look.

The fruit of the World Rivers Day event

I call it "RIVERLINK" by Laura Barry

Officially Official

I was very excited to get my own business cards at the end of last week.  Feeling pretttttyyyyy professional right about now.

Autumnal Equinox + Harvest Moon + Jupiter

So many amazing things are happening in the universe this week. This Monday, Jupiter was the closest to earth it's been since 1963. Today, there is a full moon AND it's the autumnal equinox. What a perfect and beautiful day to remember Kimi Dora Young.

My cousin is a superstar

Hannah rolled into town with two sheep and took home the CHAMPION EWE trophy!

Hate to brag...

but I just met Congressman Shuler!

Hey you photography lovers!

Teton Nosebleed, 2010 by Tyler Mast

I found an awesome photography blog on the world wide web today.
feast your eyes.

World Rivers Day

RiverLink has a big(and exciting!) event coming up September 26th, so if you find yourself in Asheville this weekend, come celebrate World Rivers Day with us. There'll be paddling, drawing and eating--basically everything you need for a great Sunday.
Here are the details:

• 10:30 a.m. -- People from all across WNC arrive at the Sculpture & Performance Plaza with a covered dish of some sort, shuttles take paddling participants to the Asheville Outdoor Center on Amboy Road.
• 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. For a donation of $10 ($5 going back to RiverLink) float from AOC to Jean Webb Park, take short hike to the Plaza.
• 1:00 -- RiverLink Executive Director Karen Cragnolin gives an informal talk on local architecture and history while families, friends and neighbors eat and make drawings of River District houses, shops, landmark buildings, RiverLink Parks, and other river scenes illustrating how you are a Voice of the River!
• 3:00 Drawings are submitted, organized and exhibited
• 3:30 Non-competitive awards decided and awarded

Band of Horses

One of the greatest things about living in Asheville is the proximity to AMAZING MUSIC. I just bought my ticket to see Band of Horses next month at a venue 5 minutes from my house!

my new and improved office

The IT man came in today and helped me rearrange my office so that it is much more FENG SHUI.

The river that started it all

A view from French Broad River Park, where I've found the perfect spot for weekday lunch breaks--the swing set!