etc.

A perfect weekend. Relaxing, inspiring, restful, indulgent. The “unplugged, unwired” part was a good idea, although I did, at the very last minute, grip my laptop with white-knuckled desperation and announce to the mister that maybe I should take it with us after all, but he assured me that the internets would survice quite nicely without me for three days, and of course he was right.

We spent the weekend at The Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, New York. Remember how I was talking about my recent fascination with all things retro, the Arts & Crafts movement included? Well this weekend fed that fascination amply since East Aurora is home to a wonderful little A & C utopia, established in the early 20th Century by Elbert Hubbard. I spent the weekend soaking up the atmosphere, talking to the Inn’s docent, reading all the literature I could get my hands on, and even watching a 58-minute video in our room on the history of the Inn & the Roycrofters (who ever watches the complimentary in-room video? Can’t say I usually do!), and I feel like I have returned suitably educated in the Arts & Crafts philosophy and aesthetic. My mind reels still! Minutes after we got home yesterday, I was plying search engines for as much information as I could find (while the mister did laundry. I am spoilt!) and happily stumbled over the Roycroft Campus blog and Elbert Hubbard’s published writings on Project Gutenberg. The immersion continues!

So, anyway, there are pictures of course. General weekend & Inn pictures are here, and a couple of other local curiosities: East Aurora fire hydrants and garbage cans! I can’t say for sure what the story is on these curiosities, but if I were to guess I would say that the painted hydrants are probably a result of East Aurora’s identity as “Toy Town, USA“, and the inspirational quotes & epigrams on the garbage cans are probably thanks to Elbert Hubbard’s reputation as a master of the quip. The title of this post is my favourite Hubbard aphorism (uplifting, isn’t it? Love it!).

I’m home to-day and I have a plan: more reading, a bit of sewing (an idea has been brewing in my mind for days & days and I can’t wait to give it a go!), a walk to the library to return a gravely overdue book (will I ever have a year without fines?) and pick up a hold, and a lot of lounging around with my computer on my lap while I read my aggregator dry and listen to The Weepies. This is my last day of unfettered relaxation before I have to buckle down and start preparing for the Fall and I’m determined to enjoy it!