Tanglewood Pottery Open Studio Sale Mother's Day Weekend

If you are looking for a clever excursion to celebrate Mother's Day, why not head to a pottery sale? Tanglewood Pottery located on 66 Tanglewood Road in New Hartford is holding an open studio sale on Mother's Day Weekend, Friday, May 7th from 4:00PM – 8:00PM and Saturday, May 8th from 9:00AM – 5:00PM. There will be an additional 50% off on all Sale Items from 2:00PM – 5:00PM on Saturday.  The sale will take place outdoors in my Kiln Shed and Tent. All COVID19 protocols will be observed.

Tanglewood Pottery has been creating functional pottery for more than thirty years. Each piece is made from stoneware clay on a wheel with some alterations and most are one of a kind. Occasionally sets are created. The glazes are safe and on exteriors as well as on interiors of the pottery. All pottery is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Torrington Historical Society Opens April 14

The Torrington Historical Society is pleased to announce the reopening of the Torrington History Museum on Wednesday, April 14. The museum is home to the award-winning exhibits, No Place Like Home: The History of Torrington and Pursuit of Precision: The Hendey Machine Company 1870-1954. The exhibits will remain open through October 30th. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12-4. Admission is free.

 No Place Like Home is a self-guided exhibit that takes visitors on a chronological tour of Torrington’s history. Visitors will learn how the town grew and developed and the factors that led to its change over time. Objects from the Society’s collection, as well as reproductions of photographs and maps, are featured throughout the exhibit. Items include Native American tools; 18th-century artifacts; products made in Torrington including brass, clocks, guitars, and bicycles; items brought to Torrington by immigrants; John Brown memorabilia; and a vendor’s cart that belonged to ‘Sam the Hot Dog Man. 

Topics addressed in the exhibit include Geology, Native Americans, 18th-century settlement, the Litchfield County Anti-Slavery Society, John Brown, Immigration, the Flood of 1955, and the city’s rich industrial history. Pursuit of Precision interprets the history of the Hendey Machine Company, a longtime Torrington manufacturer of machine tools including lathes, shapers, and milling machines. A belt-driven machine shop display featuring three Hendey machines is a highlight of this exhibit. 

For the safety of visitors and staff, the Covid protocol will be in effect. Visitors are required to wear face masks and must observe social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be available. Those who have been sick or are not feeling well are asked to remain at home and anyone who is required to self-quarantine should remain at home. To learn more about Torrington history and the Torrington Historical Society, visit the museum website: www.torringtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Field and Forest 5K Run @ Flanders Nature Center

 

Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust is excited to announce the return of their popular Field & Forest 5K Trail Run! The race is planned for Friday, June 4th at the Flanders Van Vleck Farm & Nature Sanctuary in Woodbury at 6PM. All ages and skill levels of runners, joggers, and walkers are welcome to register to enjoy this 3.1-mile run/walk through the trails and rolling hills of the picturesque nature center. 

After the race, participants will enjoy live music by the popular local rock band, Scratch, as well as be able to purchase food from local food trucks and local craft beer from Woodbury Brewing Company. Additionally, Flanders is offering a virtual option to allow participants who cannot attend to still participate from anywhere in the world! 

The registration fee is $25 for all ages (plus processing fees). Those signing up by May 1st will receive a performance race shirt! Registration will close on June 3rd and we will not have same-day race registration. Awards will be given to top male and female finishers overall as well as in 8 age categories ranging from age under 10 to over 60.

 “We are looking forward to an outdoor in-person event that historically has been a fun evening out for the whole family,” commented Heidi Ball who is co-chairing the race with Heather Dever. “We encourage people to register as soon as possible and bring friends and family for this great evening of fitness, food, and fun!” added Heather. 

 For full information and to register online go to https://flandersnaturecenter.org/5k/ . The race will begin promptly at 6PM and will be held rain or shine; however, Flanders reserves the right to cancel in the case of lightning. We are sorry but the event cannot accommodate strollers or pets on the course.

The Art of Spring Foraging in the Eastern Woodlands - April 18, 2021

 Native Americans lived off the land and were able to identify edible plants and fungi from a young age. Most people today don’t invest the time to gain the experience required to know where to look for and how to identify wild food and edible plants. If you have ever been curious about foraging and what is edible in the woodlands of Connecticut, don’t miss the Spring Foraging Forum on April 18 with Griffin Kalin, a Museum Educator and Traditional Skills Expert at the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut. This program is recommended for the entire family and will be held in three one-hour time slots starting at 1:00 pm. 

Simply put, foraging is searching for wild food and provisions. It is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and connect with the land through traditional ways that have become less commonly practiced. Wild greens and edibles in the Spring were an important source of nutrition for many Native communities and this forum offers a fascinating glimpse of how important this food source was. Spring is one of the most important times of year to forage because many types of plants and fungi are just starting to re-emerge after a long winter’s rest, which helps supplement the end of winter food supplies. 

Foraging can be as simple as picking berries or identifying plants, tubers, and mushrooms that are good to eat. It can also involve more complicated and time-consuming processes, like grinding acorns into fine flour or tapping a maple tree for sap. This forum teaches us that foraging is an art that requires us to use all our senses and to understand and respect the habitat that plants grow in. Please note, this program is intended for educational purposes only; never eat any forage item you can’t be 100% certain about.

Space per time slot is limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up for this workshop, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-foraging-forum-with-griffin-kalin-tickets-149317226845. Please call (860) 868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org with any questions. 

About Institute for American Indian Studies 

 Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

How to Make Exploring Norfolk, Connecticut, Easy This Spring

Norfolk is an enchanting small community located high in the Litchfield Hills. Although it is a small town, it has an amazing number of things to do and see, sure to delight the whole family. Known for its natural beauty, classic village green, interesting shops, good eateries, and architectural treasures, this community also makes it easy for visitors to find their way around town. The folks that live here have made a series of virtual visits that give visitors a sneak peek into the Norfolk life that they enjoy and like to share with others. These videos are part of their town-wide, semi-annual festival Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) that takes place every winter and summer.

If you are in the mood to explore one of Connecticut's brightest hidden gems, you might want to watch these short videos to get the lay of the land. A must-see video before an in-person exploration of Norfolk is the guided tour of the Battell Chapel's beautiful stained glass windows, designed by D. Maitland Armstrong and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Three large windows designed by Armstrong and made of opalescent glass fill the west end of the chapel. Tiffany’s five smaller windows face them from the east; they depict the four seasons, with a brilliant sunrise as the center. In addition to highlighting the magnificent stained glass windows, this video provides an overview of all of the attractions that surround Norfolk Green including the Congregational Church, the White House Yale Summer School of Music, the Stanford White Fountain, the Norfolk Historical Society, the Norfolk Library, Battell House and the Chapel. To view the Stained Glass Windows video and more click here. Another option for history and architectural lovers is the nine-minute tour of Norfolk with historian, William Hosley. For the architectural tour of Norfolk click here. Originally founded in 1744 as a farming community, today Norfolk's farmers proudly carry on the town's agricultural heritage that can be seen in a fascinating video, "What Farmers Do in the Winter." Everyone knows that summer is the busiest time for farmers when they are taking care of their crops and produce, making cheese, and tending to their animals. This video gives viewers a glimpse into life on a New England farm in the winter. To watch the video click here.

Husky Meadows Farm is situated on three acres and is an organic-certified farm sustainably growing a wide variety of vegetables. In addition to vegetables, they tend to antique fruit trees including a one-hundred-year-old pear tree, planted by John Curtiss. A new venture that is highlighted in this video is the cultivation of log-grown mushrooms including shiitake, chestnut, and pearl mushrooms. Coming in the summer of 2021, Husky Meadows Farm will also be offering a Seed and Spoon Culinary Retreat to one Covid pod per weekend. This is your chance to actually live on a Connecticut farm!

Broad Field Farm grows organic tomatoes and fresh vegetables and sells them at local farmers' markets as well as at their own stand on Winchester Road in season. In this video, enter an empty greenhouse and learn about the work and different techniques used to cultivate organic produce. The surprising amount of winter office work from ordering seeds to planning for crop rotation and getting the greenhouse ready for cultivation is also discussed.

Lost Ruby Farm is a micro goat dairy and creamery specializing in crafting small-scale handmade cheeses. They use only milk from their small herd of pasture-raised goats. This heartwarming video shows how lovingly these goats are cared for and a glimpse of how the goats live in the winter. If you are a cheese lover and want to try their cheeses, Lost Ruby Farm is open for farm pick-ups Thursday to Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Pre-orders 24 hours in advance are required and can be made by clicking here. 

 These are just a few highlights of the many videos to choose from when visiting the Weekend in Norfolk website. There is something for everyone online that will appeal to the entire family and make in-person visits easy. For a complete listing of videos including many from the Summer 2020 virtual festival click https://weekendinnorfolk.org