Daddy and Q on the Millstream in Woodstock.

The same waterway where, I believe, my father shot this photo of Bob Dylan and an unknown friend in the '60s:

Thanks to Wabi & Sabi for reminding me this morning of these gorgeous images of the Dolly sisters, which are truly inspiring me today.
Just, wow.

Walking the streets of Woodstock.
The Golden Notebook...source of so much of my early literary wanderings.
The Woodstock Artist's Association, now a museum, site of a large part of my father's early career.
Q stepping into my family's past.
Woodstock's farmer's market.
Q sampling a local fresh peach cobbler topped with seasonal berry sauce and a generous helping of whipped cream.
Yum.
The preamble to a home-cooked dinner at my mum's house...complete with Cole Porter and trashcan hats.
Sampling mum's homemade spaghetti.
Family: SIGH.
The Q loves her spaghetti.
Outside the chamber of commerce...
...playing tourist in my own hometown.
Tinker Toys, quite possibly among the best toy stores on the face of the earth...
...and the place where we found most of the treasures for Q's second b'day.
Bubbles with Dad.
Vintage Woodstock on display.

Ah, I have finally reached the Woodstock segment of our trip back East.
This is my mum's house, where we spent four days jam-packed with food, fun, laughter and old friends, all set to the soundtrack of Cole Porter, which my mum had playing pretty much continuously in the kitchen.
The imperturbable froggy in my mum's koi pond.

Emma greeting my husband for the first time (the play structure was loaned by a friend for Q's visit).


Q exploring the back gardens.


Q watches as my mum digs in a bag...
...and comes up with an early round of birthday gifts! Needless to say, the basketball rig was a hit. Just look at her entranced face.
My mum's house is a kind of adventurer's paradise, and a good reflection of the way our family has always lived.
She is a wildlife artists and a world traveler, and everything she touches is beautiful.

For as long as I can remember, she has collected antique pen knives, stones (from the earthly to the sublime), and indian fetishes.
She is also an artful gardener.
Feeding fish.

Emma the Australian shepherd.


Even the food is beautiful at my mum's house.
Some of her work.


Studio.

I'm always sad to leave my mum's space. She has a cool and soothing way with spaces.