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Face Forward, Time For A Brand New Year

January 3, 2018 Editor

Seek the quiet. At least for a day or two in the deep of winter. A noisy, frantic, consuming world is too much with us.

Two horses in winter sun – and a friend hen.

Snow and light make art. Photo by Chris Brunson

Time for snow and cold.

While celebrations and fireworks may usher in a new year, there is something quite appealing about a calm evening with music, books, good food, a crackling fire. Rest up and renew because there will be snow.

We were here.

How about a resolution to visit a state park (and there are many) or land preserve once a month in all seasons? You'll be surprised at the benefits to mind, body and soul. Pitch in, help out, tidy up while out and about. Set a good example. Small actions do matter.

Learn about animals that are active in the cold Vermont winter on an outdoor exploration Wednesday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, McCLure Education Center, Shelburne Farms, Vermont. Follow footprints in the snow, look for animal homes, find food remains, and discover other animal clues. For ages 5 and up with accompanying adult; registration required. Cost is $7 for children; adults $4. Email cwright@shelburnefarms.org with any questions.

New England is chockfull of history; one place to see it is during the annual Slater Mill knitting weekend. Opening wine and cheese reception, Friday, Jan. 19, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Not all who wander are found.

“A Single Strand Comes Full Circle,” talk by Margery Winter begins at 7:30 p.m. In the artist’s words: “Being an artist and holding a family together while navigating a commercial world caused me to take unexpected detours. These divergences were rich with imagery, materials and inspiration. Though I was paid for my vision, style, editorial focus, creativity and trend spotting skills, my hands were never idle. I now spend my days in my studio using the skills and materials that I have mastered over the past four decades of a commercial career in the handknitting yarn industry. The present is arguably the most fulfilling chapter of my life so far. It seems that art, textiles, fibers and fashion are converging on many levels. I have a fascination with the disrupted urban landscape, a heritage of textile manufacturing and the preservation of iconic mill buildings along with the random chaos of the human presence. My daily walks through this landscape inspire me to create my pieces.”

The weekend marketplace on Saturday, Jan. 20 and Sunday, Jan. 21 at the mill located in Pawtucket offers an opportunity to meet local fiber artists and see the innards of the mill. Also note that winter tours are offered by appointment at other times. The site is known as the “Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution” and includes the Wilkinson Mill (1810); the Sylvanus Brown House (1758); collections of hand-operated and powered machinery, gift shop, and a park overlooking the Blackstone River – the source of the power.

The Blackstone River as seen out of a window at the Slater Mill. Photo by Chris Brunson

The water power of the Blackstone River.

Or plan a visit in spring for the popular one-mile guided walk to explore the founding of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, by Joseph Jenks Jr. in the 17th century.

“For 120 years prior to the arrival of Samuel Slater, Pawtucket was a thriving artisan community of ironworkers and ship builders, settled originally by Joseph Jenks, Jr. who left his father’s ironworks in Saugus, MA to establish a forge in Rhode Island. The tour explores the sites of the first forge, the homesteads of the Jenks family members, and other related structures.” Cost is $5 per person. Suitable for all ages, but most appropriate for ages 12 and up. Requires some up-hill walking through downtown Pawtucket. Comfortable footwear recommended.