Welcome our new family member

After filling out many applications for many different dogs, Kelly and I were finally approved for adoption of a lovely little girl.

Everyone, meet The Baroness Nymeria Frieda von Hopkins-Michael. Her friends call her Nymeria. She is a short-haired dapple red boar mini-dachshund weighing about 8 pounds with startling blue eyes. She came from a rescue called Out of the Woods Rescue.

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Dash and Nymeria enjoy a sunbeam together in our kitchen near the door to the deck.

Like her dearly missed older sister, Thumbelina, she is a puppy mill rescue. Nymeria comes from Pennsylvania, in Amish country. She did not even have a name, just a tag that said “11”.

Nymeria enjoys some time in the big bed.

She was born in September 2016 so she is about 3 1/2 years old. So she is by far the baby of the household now, which is kind of ironic since she has had a litter of puppies every heat since she was able. This poor little girl lived in a rabbit hutch with a wire floor for pretty much her entire life, until she was rescued.

Nymeria working on her tan on the back porch.

Still, she seems to be in pretty good shape considering all she has been through. She has her appointment with our vet scheduled this next weekend, but her foster mom, Chrissy, and the good folks at Out of the Woods did an amazing job with her initial shots, her spay, and her dental in which she lost17 teeth!

They love spending time together. It really was love at first sight.

She is full of energy and has a great sense of curiosity. So far she gets along well with all the other animals. Just this weekend she touched noses with Violet, which was a huge and pleasant surprise. There were cats in her foster hom who she apparently ignored, but Violet was very concerned upon her arrival. But she doesn’t seem interested in chasing them, and so far she has only had a passing interest in them at all.

She and Dash LOVE to play together, and it’s great because now he will be worn out enough to go to bed without much fuss, the way he would after a long day of walking around at Brimfield.

She is named after Nymeria, one of the direwolves from ASOIAF/Game of Thrones, and after Frieda, a character from Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

The good folks at Out of the Woods Rescue sent us home with food, medicine, toys, and so much more. I can’t tell you how thankful we were for their treatment of our still scared but wonderful little girl. If you are so inclined, please celebrate with us by making a donation so they can continue their excellent work.

~Geoff & Kelly

Two craft shows coming up – now with extra #vintage!

I have two shows coming up, one is this weekend!  If you’re in the greater Boston area you’re in for a treat.  I’m vending as a part of North Shore Vendor Events tomorrow and in March.  These shows feature people with handmade items, like me, and also people that own and run small business.  That means I’ll be featuring a LOT of “new” vintage items I’ve been collecting, fixing, and curating over the past few months.

Come take a look!

Continue reading “Two craft shows coming up – now with extra #vintage!”

Valentine Craft Show & Benefit 2/12/17 Winchester, MA 11am-3pm

You are cordially invited to my first show of 2017.

Love Is In The Air Craft Show & Vendor Sale 2/12/17 11am-3pm Winchester, MA
Love Is In The Air Craft Show & Vendor Sale 2/12/17 11am-3pm Winchester, MA

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Celebrating the Community

Geoff and I may not live in Cambridge anymore, but we still work there and it is my heart-home.  That’s why when a giant fire blew up in the middle of the city at the end of 2016 it felt not only like a giant slap in the face, we anxiously watched as people we knew, first responders primarily, fought to save the community we love.  Some of the people displaced by the fire turned out to be from MIT.  Nobody we knew personally, but the MIT and Cambridge communities rallied around them.

Collective memories are short, especially for tragedy.  That fire was at the beginning of December.  Other things have happened since then, and this next week is going to be a busy one in the US.  Happily, there are still benefits happening in and around Cambridge for the 125 people displaced by those fires.  Displaced is a really clean, clinical term for, “lost everything in a raging inferno from HELL.”  I know, I had to deal with the aftermath of the fire that killed my grandmother.  Once you’ve been through a fire you never, ever forget.

This weekend, if you’re around Cambridge and you can, help these folks out.  I can pretty much promise you they had the worst holiday of their lives, and they’re going to be rebuilding for years.  Here’s a really enjoyable way to lend a hand.

Cambridge Fire Victims Benefit Ryles 212 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Jan 15th 5-11pm

There’s even going to be time to go, enjoy yourself, and get home in time for the Sherlock S4 finale.

See you there.

~Kelly

TODAY! Heritage Craft Fair & Fundraiser

Happy Saturday!

Today Geoff and I will be taking part in the 43rd annual Heritage Craft Fair.  This fair is a fundraiser for the Heritage Chorale.

The Facebook event is here.  There is an entry fee as a part of the fundraiser, $4.00 general adults, $3.50 for seniors and free for children up to 12. All on one level with easy handicapped access.

We’re about to depart for Framingham.  We’ll be there 10am-4pm today.

See you there!

~Kelly

AIR, Empty Shoes, and Coming Out

I’ve been thinking for a very, very long time about writing this post.  Years, actually.  Part of it has been the courage of Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess, that’s allowed me to even think about doing it, part of it has been the necessity of living a life that is so controlled by this somewhat hidden part of myself, and part of it is that I feel more and more like I’m lying by not being open.

Truthfully, there’s still a huge stigma.  I have lost at least one job because of it.  I have family who flatly refused to believe me when I told them.  Interestingly, it was an email I received from a friend at Harvard yesterday that made me realize that not only did I want to spread the word about the contents of her email, it was the perfect venue through which I could finally open up and come out of the mental illness closet.

My name is Kelly Hopkins and I am mentally ill.  I have Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD.

Continue reading “AIR, Empty Shoes, and Coming Out”

La Zombiata – A ZOMBIE Opera

You know, there are some new operas that just don’t interest me that much.  There’s something uninspired or over academic about some of the stuff that I’ve seen recently that has left me cold.

Then Teri* told me she was auditioning for a Zombie Opera.  And I was intrigued.

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Shop Local- your holiday shopping calendar

As much as I try to pretend otherwise, it is November.  And while this does mean that there is a lot of really good music happening this month, it also means that it’s time for Holiday Craft Show Season to really get underway.  My schedule is packed with great shows.  If you need gifts for people who are interesting, quirky, hard to shop for, or just want something one of a kind, look no further.

Seriously, click on that link below.  It’s right down there.

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2nd Annual Inman Sq Harvest Hoedown Sunday 11/9/14 12-4pm

This may rank as one of the more unusual shows I’ve done to date.  Also, I know I don’t have any plaid to wear.  And I do not own cowboy boots.  But, I think it is going to be really fun.  And tasty.  Really tasty.

Crafts, Food, Beer & Cider.  Om, nom, nom.  Come join us.

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Plan your November, Boston! Start here.

There are all sorts of amazing things happening in November this year.  I just happen to be involved in one of them each weekend leading up to Thanksgiving.  Are you looking to plan your activities and maybe get a jump on some handmade Christmas shopping?  Look no further.

Continue reading “Plan your November, Boston! Start here.”