Western Massachusetts

I haven’t been to the area of my alma mater since graduation in (gulp) 1995.  So when my friends Jennifer and Brian (okay, honesty: Jennifer is my close friend Hilary’s older sister, and I haven’t see her or her spouse Brian in a loooooong time.  Like maybe 15 years.  I dibs friendship status regardless.  And since I had a lovely visit with their parents in Michigan last April, I’m really doing a good job seeing all the Heuers!) offered to pick me up in Boston and bring me out to the Happy Valley, I jumped at it.  I’m staying in their home in Hadley, just east of the UMass campus.  But I have taken the time for visit a few old haunts.  I went back to the Hampshire College campus and rang the Div Free bell.  The campus is smaller than I remember…  Then popped across the street to Atkins Farms for cider donuts.  That place is larger than I remember, probably because they have remodeled themselves into a larger space.  I spent some time wandering Amherst and Northampton.  Drove a minivan (after driving once in the past 5 months, this was a shocker) to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown.  Officially: I love Winslow Homer, Camille Pissarro, and John Singer Sargent.   I dislike Degas, Renoir, and Constable.  I have no scientific data to back up these opinions.  But I stand by them. 

Apologies for all the parentheticals.  But really, did you expect otherwise?

Back to ring the bell.  Since the last time I did it, it was dark!

Syrup making machinery.  Waffles seem to be a theme in my life.

Because some traditions MEAN something.  Cider donuts from Atkins.