Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Before we go any further there is one thing that I must confess, I have a huge sweet tooth. And I mean huge. However, if there was one flavor that I could ever love more than chocolate it would be cinnamon. And so, you can imagine my excitement when the two are combined. This hot cocoa is nothing short of delightful and is a great drink to sip on a cold winter evening. It will warm your bones, and liven your taste buds. 

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

3 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

A few drops of almond extract

Whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cinnamon sticks for garnish.

Cut chocolate into pieces and place in blender or food processor. Add sugar and cinnamon. Cover and blend or process until finely ground. Cook and stir chocolate mixture and milk in a large saucepan over low heat about 10 minutes or until chocolate melts. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla and almond extract. Beat with a rotary beater until very frothy. Serve in mugs. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cinnamon sticks if desired. Makes about 4 (8-ounce) servings.

Lakes of teal -Emanuele Mariotti

There’s one word that comes to mind scrolling through Emanuele’s photos, breath taking. Okay, that’s not one word but still. Scrolling through his pics I can’t help but marvel at the insane places he’s been and seeing these places through his lens (literally) inspires me a ton. Plus, I’m always a fan of seeing gay relationships portrayed the way he and his boyfriend are in Emanuele’s pics. Please, if you’ve gotten this far you HAVE to check out his images down below!

Why do you adventure?

I've always had a beautiful relationship with nature since I was a child. I started camping when I was very young as a boy-scout and I never stopped exploring because I really love the forest and the wildlife.

Why do you explore?

I explore because I'm curious. When I was young I always wanted to see the landscape behind the hill, and now I still want to go beyond the surface of things, to see the hidden beauty behind.

Why take risks in life?

I think that everyone needs to take some risks and get out of their comfort zone sometimes to feel alive, without always being worried about the consequences.

Where are you from?

I'm from Rome, Italy, a city that I love and where I was born and raised.

What is your 9-5?

I do many things during my day, I don’t have a routine. When I’m in Rome I try to work-out in the morning with my boyfriend, the rest of the day is always a surprise. I work as a photographer and I develop personal photography projects. During the weekend I always try to explore new places.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

I grew up nurturing many dreams. One of my favorite dreams was to be a wizard like Harry Potter, to have the power to change things and to live in a magic world (which happens also without having superpowers XD)

Favorite place you've visited?

I have many favorite places. One of the latest that I have added to the list of favorites is definitely Lake Braies, which is a lake in the middle of the Dolomites. I've been there because my boyfriend gifted me a weekend there for my birthday and it was amazing. The atmosphere was perfect, and that place looks amazing every time of the year, so you never get bored. Another beautiful place I’ve been recently is Trentino Alto-Adige, in the north of Italy, in particular, Resia and Carezza lakes. I also loved Japan, in which I lived for a month.

Place you most desperately want to visit?

Iceland for sure, but also Canada (I’d love to spend some time in a cabin house in the middle of the forest), Cuba, Thailand. The entire world :P

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? There are many. The ones I liked most are the stories of the old men and women I met throughout my trips. We should learn from those stories, they could be very precious.

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I have become more curious. I think the more you travel and get to know other cultures the more you want to know and discover in the world.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

My boyfriend for sure. It's thanks to him that I grew my passion for traveling, discovering new places, and sharing experiences with him. He's a really curious person, even more than me, so it's always cool to arrange new trips together. We travel a lot and we never want to stop.

If you could travel with one person in history or in the present who would it be and why?

my grandmother in history, because I loved the way she lived and the passion she had living her life. My boyfriend in the present because of all of the things I said before.

Must-haves for travel?

For sure a camera. I can't imagine traveling without that. For the other things, I don't think I'm the best person to ask this kind of question because It's always hard for me to pack -every time I'd like to carry half of the house with me. The essentials... camera, a good book and someone you love by your side.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before?

You're definitely wasting your time. Open your eyes with the beauty of our world.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

It is very important to understand that everyone is different, and everyone deserves respect. So, respect, learn and listen to who is in front of you. Don't be selfish and accept the world and its differences.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?

I always feel out of my comfort zone when I do something I don't know. Doing things we don't know can be scary, but it helps us to improve, to prove our limits and be aware of them

What would you say to your former self?

feel free to be who you are because you deserve it. Don't be afraid to do what you like and fight for your dreams.

What gives you hope?

love. Human love is the thing I most need to be hopeful.

Where to next?

I’d like to go to Bali at the beginning of the next year. I’d love to come back again to the mountains of north Italy before it gets too cold.

Is flannel always in season?

I think so. Flannel means forest to me. So it's always the season to go to the forest wearing a flannel shirt.

Travel tips? Live with locals, as a local: taste the local food, explore the historical sites, dive into the daily life and get in touch with people living in the place you are visiting, try to understand their habits

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader?

I had many little ones but I don't think any of them would be very impactful. I think many interesting stories have to come on my trips.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

Be more helpful to each other. Because only together can we be stronger.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person... -Marijus Kuokstis

“I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person” is my biggest take away after learning a bit more about Marijus and his travels. He’s a down to earth photographer who just so happens to have one of my favorite pictures ever, one that I have titled ‘the 0’ -hope he’s okay with that haha. scroll through some of his pictures and read about some of his travels below!

Why do you adventure? Adventures give me the feeling of living. We all want to do many things, be in many places, meet so many people, going through on an adventure helps me do these things which makes me happy.

Why take risks in life? You can't get anywhere in life without taking risks, you only do good when you are taking risks and pushing your boundaries.

Where are you from? Siauliai, Lithuania.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Full-time filmmaker/photographer.

Favorite place you've visited? The Austrian Alps.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Machu Picchu, Peru.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Visiting Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, it was a pleasure to meet such good people who are taking care of elephants who have suffered from working long hours in the logging and tourism industry.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person, being in a new environment lets me appreciate the little things that make life so exciting and memories so unforgettable.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? Probably, Christopher McCandless - his story was told in an amazing movie 'into the Wild' he probably was a cool guy.

Must-haves for travel? Comfortable shoes and a camera of course to capture these moments.

Give us some travel tips: First off, rise early. Going out before sunrise will let you see and experience a place in a completely different and unique way. Don't be afraid to travel alone, you'll learn a lot about yourself.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Always be kind and helpful.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Start with exploring places around you, sometimes you'll be surprised how many beautiful locations are just around the corner.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Don't think, just do it, you'll see the world in all different colors.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

The more you learn to adapt the more you will feel your similarity with them.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?I remember my first trip to USA, I went there as a student with work and travel program and being from a small country like Lithuania and barely speaking English was a challenge for me, but at the end of the day I spent there 4 months, met amazing people, improved my English and had one of the best summers in my life.

What would you say to your former self? Be patient and never stop wandering. 

What gives you hope? Sunrise and sunset 

Where to next? Austria

Is flannel always in season? Flannel is always a good choice.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Youtube

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

All The White Horses - A Whimsical Christmas

Styling: Jana Roach, Vanessa Pleasants of The Vintage Whites Market,
www.vintagewhitesblog.com
Photography: Alicia Brown, www.aliciabrownphotography.com

Christmas is a magical time, especially in northwestern Montana when the snow is falling. Vanessa and I are both incredibly inspired by the colors and traditions surrounding the season, and we translated that into this bright and whimsical vintage Christmas shoot.

Carousel horses, painted white and glittered, adorned the table. Antique clocks ticked away in the tree, and sweet teddy bears kept us company as we ate. Candles flickered, and the smell of fresh juniper branches and spruce filled the air, rising from under our thick rope table runner. Our linens were wrapped with velvet bows to add warmth to the room. Vintage mismatched china in blue and gold create a warm Christmas tone for dinner. Blue is one of our favorite colors, especially for winter. We love a white winter wonderland, and blues add color without being too harsh or overpowering to a clean white palette. Nearly every Chirstmas, Vanessa decorates with some sort of blue in a house full of whites. This year, her Christmas is inspired by the vintage dishes she found, patterned with a very unique blue wheat print. While searching for vintage finds in a thrift store, Vanessa came across a carrousel horse and had a vision of one under a tree. That vision sparked the theme for the tablescape, and she later realized that the vision stemmed from the classic movie White Christmas, when the lead character opens a gift and inside is a beautiful white horse.

We used thick rope to create a runner that added great texture to the table. Simply trim a piece of cardboard to the length and width you want your runner to be, and hot glue rope strands to the cardboard until it is completely covered. You can vary your thickness if you want, but we love the look of thick rope in contrast with the soft, navy velvet bows.An old, painted dresser made a perfect buffet in the dining room. Since it is smaller than a buffet or hutch, it is the perfect match for a snug room. Store linens and silver in the drawers, and hang a wreath or garland on the mirror. Presents wrapped in craft paper, ruffled crepe paper, and velvet make for a beautiful landscape under the tree. Ribbon strung through an old watch adds a unique touch to the wrapping. Leaving bigger vintage toys unwrapped under the tree reminds us of the childlike joy and happiness of the season.

I’ve spent a majority of my winters in the northwest, which means plenty of cold weather and big winter coats. I remember the first year my family moved to Montana, we couldn’t see out of the windows because they were covered in snow. We had nine feet that year, and could sled off of our roof on to the thick piles of snow below. I can’t remember a Christmas where my parents didn’t do something special for us. They never start Christmas morning without a pot of coffee, thick pieces of bacon, or fluffy pancakes. For my brothers and I, this was torture because we had to wait until they were done eating before we could open presents. Everything was always wrapped in gorgeous coordinating colors, which inspired ideas for wrapping presents for this shoot. We always had a note from Santa hidden in the tree, and often one more surprise after all the gifts were unwrapped. I’m so thankful for the things my parents did to make Christmas special for my brother and I, and I am so excited to pass those things along to my kids one day.

Bringing the past to life with vintage touches made this shoot one of our favorites, and we were honored to use decorations that someone cherished years ago. Whether you’ve inherited or collected vintage over the years, recreate a Christmas from days gone by for a special holiday season! Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas from Vintage Whites!

---

If We Only Knew -Veterans Day

By: Martha Passman | 2012

On a dusty shelf, in a tiny thrift store in North Georgia, sat an old gold plated glass liquor decanter.

As I traveled along my usual route through the shop, I spotted a decorative bottle resting among vintage glasses and candlesticks, $2.95!  Of course I put it in my stash of finds without a second glance.  I was already thinking about the next treasure to be found.

After a long day of picking, boxes and bags of newspaper wrapped items are usually deposited where ever space is found in my garage, until I can prepare them to be put in my shop.

Months later, while un-wrapping a couple of boxes of merchandise, I came across the decanter.  I studied its shape and speckled remains of gold and I thought how pretty it would look on a book shelf or in a collection of vintage bar finds and bottles.   As I sat there studying the bottle, I noticed a label for the first time, Kentucky Tavern – Personally Selected for Kenneth Gissonne; Rio Rita; 403 Bomb SQ 43 GRP.

I can’t describe the feeling that came over me!  Was this a gift for a person who was part of a bomb squadron?   What or who was Rio Rita?  I immediately dropped everything I was doing and headed straight for my lap top!

The first thing I researched was 403 Bomb Squadron.  Yes!  There it was, the 403rd Bomb Squadron was an active unit of the United States Air Force from 1940 to 1946.  Then later reactivated and then closed during 1961. 

It was activated in 1940, during WWII, as a long range reconnaissance squadron that operated over the mid Atlantic states and later the Newfoundland Straits and the North Atlantic shipping lanes.   In 1942, it was reassigned to Australia and flew from Australia and New Guinea and participated in the Battle of Bismarck Sea.  The squadron also flew over China and Japan performing multitudes of bombing runs.

Now I was on to something!  Next was Rio Rita!  Initially, all I could find was information on a 1927 romantic comedy musical named Rio Rita, written by Florenz Ziegfield and a 1929 movie based on the same story. The story does involve spies and secret service so I assumedsince the movie was the most popular of its day, it must have been well known.  

I finally came across copies of old newsletters that began in 1981.  Known as the 43rd Bomb Group Assn. Inc. – these men remained connected via mailed newsletters and annual meetings!  The 43rd Bomb Group, calledKEN’S MEN, consisted of four different squadrons of bombers, the 403rd being one of them!

I read through several newsletters, announcing member’s deaths, changes of addresses, comments and memories by different members, until, there it was, a small paragraph in the 32nd edition from August, 1989.

“Bryan A. Flatt, 403rd, a new member, says to tell Kenneth Gissonne, 403rd Navigator, he was on the Wewak Mission, 27, August, 1943, and had returned (to base) when Rio Rita came in for landing, shot up, no landing gear, etc.  He will be at the reunion, so see him there to talk it over.”

Ah Ha!  So the Rio Rita was a plane and Kenneth Gissonne was its Navigator!  It sounded as if they had been through an air battle!  I was excited to finally find something!  

Then in an earlier newsletter, 31st edition, dated, May 1989 I read, “On 8/23/43, mission which turned out to be a little rough. Plane was Rio Rita, Crew: Pilot, George Putnam; Co-Pilot, John Taylor; Navigator, Kenneth Gissonne; Bombardier, Phil Wolf.”  The newsletter goes on to list several crew members.  It then states:  “Damage, One KIA, three wounded, two engines shot out, nose wheel retracted, over 200 bullet holes.”

Thank goodness they were able to make it back to base!  I could not imagine the horror of being shot at, losing engines, possibly being on fire and injured and dying crew members! I found three different mentions of the air battle and subsequent crash landing in the air field, but cannot confirm the actual date.  

More research and several hours later I finally found a photo, there she was, the Rio Rita, a B24 Liberator Bomber!

After reading hours of newsletters, absorbing these veteran’s lives, I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude.  Over 750 men were killed serving in the 43rdGroup. These men who were teenagers and 20 year olds, left their homes, traveled to Australia and then New Guinea of all places, experienced terrible Japanese bombing runs on the island, saw native families and villages destroyed, death and suffering not only of the locals but their brother airmen as well.  They came home filled with memories they would never forget.  They came home sharing a bond of experience, hardship, pride and patriotism!  

Each newsletter included a section called Gone But Not Forgotten, listing the men who passed away since the previous newsletter, and there it was, Kenneth Gissonne passed away on March 20, 2005, as reported by his daughter.   I found a mention of his birth on an archival website, October 16, 1920.  He was 22 years old when he left for Australia and died at the age of 84.  Kenneth Gissonne flew 35 missions with one pilot, Al Putnam, and then went on to also fly missions out of the 63rd Group as well.

I thought about my own grandfather, who fought during World War One in France and my father who fought during the Korean War in Korea, and wondered what hardships they encountered, what experiences and memories traveled home with them.  

And yet, even now, during modern times, all the lives lost since 911, the sacrifices and struggles made by today’s military families, the men and women of our United States Armed Forces continue to protect our nation, our freedomsand our rights!   They make the same sacrifices today as those made decades ago and as they travel around the globe, they carry the same unwavering sense of duty andpatriotism!

The gold Kentucky Tavern Bourbon bottle will stay with me.  I have not been able to confirm when Mr. Gissonne received the gift.  Pure conjecture on my part, but I would think it was a special gift presented to him as a 50thAnniversary of his veteran service from WWII, which would mean he received it sometime in the early 1990’s.  

Over the years, I have purchased many things that included clippings or notes or dried flowers that instantly took me to another time.  These vintage and antique items that we all love to collect have a story!  They represent someone’s life, someone’s home, their taste in clothes or furniture or even liquor!  Or they may go one step further, and teach a lesson about history, brotherhood and duty!

Next time you see a memento from the past, pay homage to it, you never know what you might learn!  Past and present, I am forever humbled and grateful for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces!  Thank You!

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

One Nation Under God -Veterans Day

By: Linda Burgess | 2012

Patriotism, as defined by Webster, means great love of one’s own country and loyalty to it. I learned that in my home, my school and in my church. I grew up in a home and family with a World War II veteran, my dad, and a Pearl Harbor survivor, my great uncle.  My father-in-law also served in World War II. My father-in-law also served in World War II. Several years after Dad’s death, I gained a Korean era veteran for a step-father. Yes, patriotism flourished in my home. 

Each school day began with prayer and THE Pledge of Allegiance. Pictures of patriots hung in our classrooms…George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. An American flag proudly hung from the center of the frame around the blackboard. One of the greatest honors was holding the flag while the entire class recited The Pledge. Chills still run up and down my spine as I recall those mornings in a small, rural school in western Kentucky. 

Vacation Bible school held similar places of honor as each day three people made the cut and proudly marched into the church carrying the Bible, the Christian flag or the American flag. On special occasions such as Veterans’ Day or Flag Day or Memorial Day we sang songs such as “God Bless America”, “America, the Beautiful”, or “America” after the church recited The Pledge of Allegiance. 

I often scratch my head as I wonder what happened to all of this. Why do we not see those patriots’ pictures in our classrooms? Why do school children not pledge their allegiance to our flag? Why do we not hear the stories our veterans have to share? Why do many churches not display our American and our Christian flags? The answers neither come TO me nor FROM me but the questions present themselves as fodder for thought. 

Dad never talked to me that much about his military experience. I know that he was an unbelievable marksman who declined the job of sniper. He could hit his target when shooting from the hip with a pistol. He never admitted to that being more than an accidental hit. I hunted with him on many outings where every shot brought home a bird, squirrel or rabbit. He didn’t believe in wasting ammunition. My granddad taught him that during the lean years of the Great Depression. He once ran across a plowed field, dropped to one knee and with one shot, took down a deer on the run. It was a clean shot right through the heart. I knew he never saw action once he arrived in Europe. He helped with clean up and police action. The peace agreement had been reached and signed while he was en route to France. Dad often talked of the beauty of the areas he saw, in spite of the destruction of war. He always wanted to visit Europe again but he never got that opportunity. Among other mementos of Dad, I proudly own one of his dog tags. Part of my tradition for Veterans’ Day is wearing his dog tag in honor of his service. I’m thankful he didn’t have to fight but equally thankful for his patriotic spirit that was willing to fight for our freedom and all the things that make our country great.

My great uncle rarely spoke of Pearl Harbor until after he retired. To some he was known as Doc. Others knew him as Pappy. To me he was Gussie Boy. Although Dad was the marksman, Gussie Boy taught me how to shoot. I had a brand new BB Daisy BB gun and couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. I competed with my brothers (one older and one younger) that Christmas but spent more energy fussing because I couldn’t hit the target. Gussie Boy came to my rescue. He showed me how to use the sights properly and I became a regular Annie Oakley, a name my 21 year old nephew also used on me recently. Gus also gave me my first real gun but that’s another story for another time. During those years of my childhood I didn’t grasp the magnitude of Gus’ service. On Dec. 7, 1941, he would have just been 2 months beyond his 31st birthday. That explains the nickname Pappy. He served aboard the USS Tracey, docked in the harbor that fateful Sun morning. He told of how he stood ironing his dress whites as the attack ensued. He traded his iron for his weapon and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Along with Dad’s dog tag, I have one of Gus’ that I also wear on Veterans’ Day. That is my way of remembering my two favorite veterans on a special day as well as honoring both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. 

Though I didn’t have much time to really get to know my father-in-law, one of my favorite family photos hanging over my desk is one of him in his uniform. Three WW II veterans greatly influenced my life personally and my life in general. When I began teaching sixth grade, I found it very easy to incorporate a special unit wrapped in World War II information. People such as Bill Burgess, Gus Burgess and Jamie Reid preserved our freedom and set the wheels in motion for America to become the greatest nation on Earth. Although those three men were no longer available to visit with my classes, I found others who did. Perhaps my motives were, in part, selfish, but I felt the burning desire for stories to be shared with today’s young people. My generation seems to have dropped the ball with teaching patriotism, respect for our country and to the men and women who keep us free. 

One of my favorite visitors was a woman who served as a nurse during World War II. She came to my class each year for 12 years. She brought her nurse’s uniform and joked about it not fitting. She never failed to tell about going through basic training just the same as any other soldier. My students found it interesting that a nurse carried a rifle, crawled under barbed wire and tossed grenades. “Mert” never left U.S. soil. She served at the Greenbriar Hotel which was converted to a military hospital for a time. Her duties and specific training found her working the spinal cord injury ward. She always shared the story of a big, athletic young man determined to overcome his injuries and walk. With tears and quivering voice we learned that the day came to prove he could walk but the injury to his spinal cord was too great and he could not walk. Mert said she often wonders what happened to him after he left the hospital. These stories need to be preserved and retold. They are the stories of true American heroes.

My mother remarried many years after Dad’s untimely death -another great guy and a veteran. Clark served during the Korean Conflict. Again I was blessed to have a patriot in the family. I didn’t talk to Clark about his military time but he often spoke about friends he made when he and Ben’s grandmother lived on different Army posts and of how they “took in” young soldiers and their families as they tried to make life a little more like home. That’s just the kind of spirit that makes our nation strong. 

Seeing pictures of my fathers and my great uncle send chills up and down my spine. I get emotional when I hear “The Star Spangled Banner” (when sung properly and not so stylized you don’t recognize it) or when I see a squad of veterans bear the colors in the local Christmas parade. I love listening to John Philip Sousa marches and watching fireworks on the 4th of July. I step aside when uniformed service men/women walk in my direction. I feel the need to pull over and stop along the roadside when meeting a convoy of military vehicles. I still stop and watch as military helicopters pass over my head. I secretly hope they can see that I pause to honor them in my own way. I wish I could hear Dad talk about the beauty of Germany or ask Gus more questions about Pearl Harbor. I wish I could thank Jamie and Clark for their service. Since I can’t do that, I can, hopefully pass along my love for America and my sense of respect to those who serve in the armed forces. We ARE the greatest nation and I, for one, wouldn’t live anywhere else.

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

Autumn in the Catskills {& Leaf Peeping Tips}

It is no secret that autumn is my favorite season. I should preface this piece by saying I love the beauty of each and every season. I love the warmth and the outdoors of summer. I love the rebirth of spring. I even love the calm quiet of winter. Autumn however is my favorite. The spirit of the season, a season of thanksgiving, a season of harvest, and a season of the landscapes being washed in color absolutely captivates me each year. The past two years I have gone to the Pacific Northwest for the autumn season. This year it was decided I would spend it with small trips to Maine, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and my favorite, the Catskill region of upstate New York.

This past weekend we returned to Hudson Woods to photograph the peak week of the autumn leaf peeping season. I have never had the luxury of capturing peak week for leaves. This year was an absolute treat and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Hudson Woods for the ability to photograph their property.

I wanted to prepare a short guide of my tips for photographing leaves. We ended up having a day of full sun and a day of overcast skies and light rain. You will be able to tell the difference in the images.

We should start by acknowledging that yes, “leaf peeping” is a real term…and describes the act of intentionally viewing the changing leaves of the autumn season.

Autumn here in the east begins in late September and truly continues on through mid November. The first signs will be the drying of the grasses and ground cover, and of course the vibrant colors of the goldenrod. The leaves will begin to change, subtle hints of yellow will appear. An occasional red tree will appear. Slowly over the next two months the landscapes will morph into a full painterly scene of rich golds, oranges, reds, and yellows. The final phase of fall will be soft yellows and deep burgundies of the last remaining trees. In my opinion this final phase is the best time to view Central Park. The other phases are best spent in the wilds of the New England region.

I personally prefer photographing on overcast days. I find the colors to pop much when the contrast between light and dark isn’t as strong. On sunny days it is too easy for the sky to become over exposed while trying to perfectly capture the color of the leaves.

The harshness of a bright sun will also cause the camera to draw more contrast to the negative and positive spaces in the wooded areas, especially if the trees are in uniform parallel lines. An overcast day will have a softening effect that will make wooded images much more pleasing to the eye.

The most important thing to remember is to always have the camera ready. Otherwise mundane moments become an interesting oasis of inspiration when the colors are at their peak. Don’t be afraid to pull of the road (where it is safe) and take tons of shots.

It is also important to be okay with editing. You can bring out the color in the editing process.

The season is fleeting. Enjoy it. Take as many photos as you’d like, but more importantly enjoy the journey.

3 Easy Fall Recipes All Apple Lovers Will Adore

Apple Cake, Apple Pie, and Apple Cider -Oh My!

a.k.a. Fall Heaven

One of my favorite memories as a child is when we would take our annual trip to the orchard to pick out some pumpkins to carve, take a relaxing hayride, and eat apples literally any way possible. Apple cider, apple fritters, apple cake, apple muffins, apple butter, apple bread, apple pie, apple cider ice cream, apple crisps, caramel apples, candied apples, I think you get the idea. I wanted to share a few of my favorite apple recipes for you to make this fall that I am sure you’ll love. Also, though optional, I strongly encourage you to go find a local orchard to both support a local business but also make the memories like I had as a kid -you won’t regret it.

Apple Cider Cake

boxed spice cake mix, apple cider, melted butter, eggs

1. Start with a standard boxed spice cake mix. Follow the directions on the box, but substitute the water the box will call for with apple cider. Substitute the oil for melted butter. Use the amounts called for on the box.

2. I personally prefer to bake this cake in a Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans in the bottom of the pan. Grease well before adding the batter.

3. Allow cake to cool before inverting on serving stand or plate.

4. Top cake with fresh whipped cream and chopped pecans.

5. Add pumpkin spice to your whipped cream for additional seasonal flair.

Iron Skillet Apple Pie

1 Tbsp molasses

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 pastry shells

8 peeled and sliced apples

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

½ tsp ginger

½ cup white sugar

1. In a large mixing bowl combine apples, spices, sugar, molasses, lemon juice, and ½ cup of brown sugar. Set aside to allow flavors to combine. The acid in the lemon juice will prevent the apples from browning.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place ¾ stick of butter and remaining brown sugar in the skillet. Place in oven and heat until butter is melted.

3. Remove from oven and place one pie crust in the pan, atop the sugar and butter. Fill with apple mixture. Slice remaining butter and place on top.

4. Cover with second crust and slice vents into crust. Top with a dusting of cinnamon. Place in oven for one hour, or until apples appear tender when pricked.

NOTE: If crust is browning too quickly cover with aluminum foil.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

12 apples sliced, 1 Tbsp cinnamon, ½ cup sugar (optional)

1. Place sliced apples, cinnamon, and sugar in a slow cooker and cook on high for 6 hours. Once apples are tender allow to cool.

2. Place in blender and blend until desired thickness.

3. Allow to cool; store in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

---

We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating -Mica Veras dos Santos

What stands out to me most about Mica Veras dos Santos is his unique travels. I am used to hearing about the most photog-famous places (which, makes sense, we are photographers after all) but Mica has been to places I’ve mostly never heard of. After seeing his breath taking pictures of these fairytale like castles or mountain ranges that look like something i’ve only ever seen in movies and hearing some crazy stories (spoiler: one includes a 7 hour journey for a charger) I have quite a few new locations on my bucket list I need to add.

Why do you adventure? Adventure is the driving force that pushes me out of my comfort zone and my routine. We, as humans, usually live a life very based on daily or weekly schedules, and sometimes we have not a lot of flexibility or will to break those. I believe that this is where adventures play a massive role in breaking that chain and motivating me to go beyond my area of convenience.

Why do you explore? Because we have (unfortunately) a deadline. Life is short and we should make the most out of it. See as much as we can, share and live the biggest amount of experiences that we can imagine. Exploring puts all this together. It allows me to get in touch with other realities, other personalities, other cultures, other ways of looking into life, world, environment. And at the end of the line the outcome we take out of it it's translated into a rich juice with a lot of good and balanced values inside.

Why take risks in life? What is life without taking some risks right? I mean look at what we have achieved as humanity. If you really think about it, those who brought big positive changes to our world were mainly people that took severe risks in their lives. I believe that this should be reason enough to challenge ourselves to take the risks we believe that we should take.

Where are you from? I was born and raised in the south of Portugal (Algarve), really on the coast side. I used to live 5 min walking from the beach. I might say I kinda miss home 

What is your 9-5? I work as a financial analyst in the heart of Europe (Brussels)

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? The funny part is that for almost my entire childhood I always wanted to be an army official, mostly because of my father's influence. In the end, things didn't really go in that direction. However, I believe I always wanted to be someone with a story, an experience to tell, and someone that could bring something positive to the world as a whole.

Favorite place you've visited? The group of islands in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Place you most desperately want to visit? Iceland

What has changed about you because of your travels? My travels helped me to reconnect myself to nature and to live a more simple life. Being born in the south of Portugal helped me to have my first years of life a strong connection with nature. I spent most of my childhood years at the beach. Growing up, I was going further and further from this environment moving to more big and dynamic cities, which kind of broke a little bit this connection, at least in a certain part. Starting to travel more helped me to rebuild this link and to reconnect me to what really matters.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? Chris Burkard without any question. Chris is one of my biggest references in photography and mindset. He left his "comfort" zone, where he was very successful, to pursue something more. He went from shooting surfers on exotic and beautiful beaches to wandering and chasing the most remote surf locations with super harsh conditions. Just because he felt that it was what he was supposed to do. I believe he might have a lot of good stories to tell.

Must haves for travel? If you have a sensitive stomach like me, Iberogast will be your best friend while traveling (no commissions here ahahaa)

Travel tips? Always try to follow the good advice from the locals, especially in places were people are kind and have good hospitality towards you. Usually, such recommendations provided me the best experiences of my life.

Give us a story, any kind of story, from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader? On my trip to Sri Lanka earlier this year, I forgot the charger of my camera at one of my accommodations. I only noticed it some days later when I was already super far from that city. I met a tuk-tuk driver that drove 7 hours under a thunderstorm and rain just to pick my charger and to give it back to me. He didn't want to accept my money and in the end, invited me to have dinner at his house and to meet his entire family. It was one of the most special moments I have lived in my life.  

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? I strongly believe that humanity should take a step back to where we were before in order to reconnect to nature and the environment. We should review a lot of our actions -what we eat, what we wear, what we consider life goals and what we believe being "happy" means. We have reached a breaking point and we must take severe and radical actions to try to save and rescue the values that can allow us to thrive. We have disconnected ourselves from people, trying to connect ourselves with social media. We have killed and damaged thousands of species, trying to seek proximity to something that it's not meant to be close to us. We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating. The question at the end of the day is really what matters? What is really important in our world? We should be less selfish, think less about us, and more about future generations. For this reason, I believe that we have reached a sad point where we are not capable of loving in the long run. We are able to love our sons and our grandsons, but the harsh truth is that we are not able to love our grand grand children. If we could, we would not be hurting our world as much as we are. Fortunately, humanity has recovered from a lot of crises of values in the past and I strongly believe that we should stick together to overcome this one. 

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? You will never be too old to start, that's point number one. The second important point is that traveling is the best investment you can do in your life. It's something that will bring you countless and priceless experiences that will follow you during your entire life. At the end of the day, who does not want to have some cool stories to tell? eheheh

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone different than you? Relativity. What is important for me, might not be that important for someone else and vice-versa. We should always try to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person. 

What would you say to your former self? Don't worry. Everything is going to work out ;)

What gives you hope? People. At the end of the day, it will be always about people.

Where to next? Vietnam (so excited)

Is flannel always in season? Are there even shirts made of something else? eheheh

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling -Ivan Diaz

Ivan Diaz has lived a life as colorful as the images he captures. I always love seeing creatives be able to personify themselves through their work and from learning more about Ivan I can’t help but feel that he has turned his intensity for life into such an eye catching unique style of capturing the life he lives.

Why do you adventure? I adventure because I love to explore life’s many unforgettable moments and all the wonderful cultures that surround us. It’s truly amazing being able to see things differently in someone else’s perspective.

Why do you explore? I explore to discover something new, something beyond my own adventure. Life has so many great adventures to discover, so I feel exploring isn’t just about traveling but finding yourself during that moment.

Why take risks in life? If you don’t take risks in life your missing out on what could be an incredible journey. There’s a saying “ You miss half the shots you don’t take in life” so my view is if you don’t take risks you’ll never know the outcome. Good or bad life’s about growth and we definitely learn from every aspect of that.

Where are you from? I’m from Miami, Florida but my ethnicity is Dominican and French.

What is your 9-5? Currently, my daily schedule includes working with clients on banking issues and financial planning, but when I’m not doing that I’m learning and working with brands on photography projects and my own growth as a photographer.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Like any kid growing up I wanted to be a firefighter or a storm chaser because I love the aspect of that feeling of rush, it’s exciting. As a photographer, I feel that same rush when shooting.

Favorite place you've visited? My favorite place I’ve visited so far during my adventures would definitely be Portland, Oregon. It was my first trip and my first time flying on a plane without ( snakes lol ). It was the trip I’d be asking my girlfriend to marry me, so I asked her at silver falls and it was beyond magical during December.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Without a doubt, it’ll have to be Tokyo, Japan!!!! Please, anyone, sponsor my trip hehe.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? The greatest experience I’ve ever witnessed or encountered of humanity would have to be a moment I saw someone literally take their shirt off to give to someone who needed it more. That person then proceeded to buy that person food this great moment is something that made my traveling experience even greater. This showed me that humanity can truly come together and show so much compassion.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel I’ve always been incredibly true to myself as a person and husband, but I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling. It’s helped me understand more cultures and the way people in different places communicate better and show gratitude.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? I would say my wife has to be the person that truly provokes my heart and pushes me to continue reaching my limits in life. She’s always telling me to think and process everything I want to accomplish and that alone is a great gift in life. Having someone provoke your ambitions and starve yourself to climb higher.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would without a doubt travel with Post Malone because I seriously love his work and just his overall incredible sense of being alive and insane lol. If we would travel together we would smash a lot of beer, food, and great laughs along the way. While capturing great photos and listening to great music.

Must haves for travel? Must have for traveling without even getting crazy is beyond important to carry water, snacks for energy, extra clothes just in case of weather changes during hiking. For camera essentials, it would be great for extra batteries, straps, covers, lenses, the camera of course and any other important equipment needed like drones, and lastly yourself haha.

Travel tips? Traveling can get crazy, but I always make sure to get to the airport about three hours or even four hours earlier. Traveling is hectic and even stressful if your flight gets delayed. Always be ready for a quick change and have food ready to eat while waiting.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? In the smoky mountains in Tennessee, my wife and I took one last hike our last day there. The forecast was to snow but we still wanted to go out and adventure. Halfway through our hike, it started to snow. It was my first time seeing snow falling, which was breathtaking to experience. As we kept hiking up the mountain the harder it became because the snow was getting heavier and more slippery. I almost fell to my death but thankfully I did not and was able to continue the hike. When we finally started to hike down it seemed to last for hours. The second we got to the car we realized we left it on the entire time. It was a rental and I never had a car where there was a button to turn on and off. Good thing there was still gas left because the rangers were closing down the national park. It may not be the craziest story but it was definitely one to remember.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? To me, during my travels, I’ve seen a lot and I’ve discovered myself more exploring and finding these wonderful moments. The most improvement I believe humanity can have is to continue growing together. I see it all the time people helping others and we need more love spreading around and impacting our hearts and lives.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Traveling is an experience that let alone is beyond unforgettable. I remember when I got on a plane for the first time it was traveling to Portland, Oregon. I was scared flying for the first time, but my wife told me everything would be great I think it was that fear of the unknown. Discovering new places, creating unforgettable memories with loved ones. It’s the greatest feeling you’ll never regret especially chasing those early morning sunrises. If you don’t believe and take the unexpected jump you’ll never ever know what’s waiting for you out there.

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? I personally feel we learn some valuable lessons every single day in life and even more important lessons from those we’d least expect. Someone I work with that I highly look up too once told me that “ our greatest fear in life is not being able to jump and take that great risk. I know that may seem odd, but to me, this made complete sense. We wait sometimes so long to do what we love most and then without truly realizing it tome passes us by quicker and faster, so take that unpredictable leap and discover your great adventure.

What would you say to your former self? I feel I’ve always been able to adapt to even being under pressure. I think our greatest help comes from believing in yourself and in that single second you’ll feel those discomforts fade away. I’m not saying I’ve never been comfortable because there have been a few moments in my life that I’ve been out of my comfort zone, but I learned to be more confident.

What gives you hope? I’d say make those mistakes and learn what you're worth. Continue taking risks, because you’ll fail sometimes, but you’ll also grow stronger. Push the limits that you don’t think you’ll overcome. It’s alright to not have everything in life, but everything will fall into place at the perfect moment in life.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? Honestly believing gives me hope... Why? Because if we didn’t believe in something we wouldn’t have that fire in our hearts to succeed. I believe in our ability to impact, the impact we can all achieve in life. We can seriously come together if we truly focused on changes. This universe has so many great gifts the beauty of life is powerful and I believe that we can make more impacts just believing and overcoming obstacles together.

Where to next? Heading to Tennessee for thanksgiving just upgraded to the Sony A7iii been working hard on making this possible. I’m beyond excited to chase the journey and create more unforgettable moments with my wife because this life is full of beautiful moments and they’re waiting to be discovered.

Is flannel always in season? Haha honestly I live in Miami, so if anyone’s wearing flannel I’d think they work inside a cooler lol. I personally like flannel, but for somewhere colder

Learn more about Ivan’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their website and Instagram account!

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

What is life if not experiences? - Edgar Querol

From Bali to the barren cold of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Edgar Querol has had his fair share of experiencing all the facets this Earth has to offer to photographers like us. Throughout his life, he always gravitated to art, from graffiti to paintings, then to discovering his ability to express himself through photography which has helped shape who he is today. As soon as I saw these images I was like, woah, I need to book a plane ticket STAT.

Why do you adventure? When you visit a place that you don’t know or have never been, even when you’ve been before, there’s a new world waiting there for you. You just know that you’ll live new experiences, some of them bad experiences (like getting scammed in a bus in Indonesia), but most of them will be great experiences that you know for sure you will bring back home with you and your luggage. What is life if not experiences?

Why do you explore? You can’t just go somewhere and expect something to happen, you must go out, get there inside the mess, and experience everything about it. For me, that’s one of the most important things about photography: you must get inside the mess.

Why take risks in life? Life without risks would be very easy, but also very boring. Only if you risk something can you win something you desire.

Where are you from? Barcelona!

What is your 9-5? At the moment, I’m studying for a national medical examination for graduate school in Spain. I just graduated in June!

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I’ve always loved science and was curious about how the human body works. At first, I wanted to be the one who would discover the AIDS vaccine, and as I grew up I knew I wanted to be a doctor. However, when I was 15, after a trip to Scotland where I took as many photos as I could with an old compact camera, my parents gave me a camera as a present and I’ve loved photography since then. 

Favorite place you've visited? I always think there’s no place better than the other one, I tend to think the best is yet to come. For example, I’ve been to Bali 2 times and I lived it very differently both times, so it is more about how you live it than the place itself. Oh, but I fell in love with the West Coast in the USA and Indonesia, to be fair.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I’ve always wanted to visit the arctic and a lot of places in Africa, such as Kenya and Namibia.

 What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? There was this woman in Indonesia who ran a small hotel. She didn’t have a penny in her pocket when she was young and tried her hardest to get to university. She worked very hard to be what she wanted to be. Now that she doesn’t have any financial problems, she has built a business in which she not only gives the best local experience to her guests but also hires local young women and men and pays them 3 times the usual salary in the area to help them be able to be what they want to be. One of the workers was very happy to work there and was building a new house for him and his family. Most of the business managers just want to make money, I was amazed by how this woman helped her employees.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I’ve been in almost deserted beaches where you couldn’t count all the plastic objects in the sand. I’ve seen people throwing rubbish from the car in the middle of the road and the monkeys waiting on the edge to get something because they know almost everyone does it. That’s so sad and got me thinking about how beautiful the world is, how we are destroying it, and we’re not realizing the damage we do. We must change our lifestyle if we want it to survive.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? My best friend left Spain when we started uni. She studied in London and she’s become an epidemiologist. She’s been in Kenya literally saving people’s lives with just a drinking tap water, and now she’s working in Mozambique and I can assure you she’s making a change in the world. 

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would like to travel with some local that’s been trying to change the place for best, sometimes the unknown people are the most important ones.

Must haves for travel? A passport and a camera!

Travel tips? Buy the flights 4-5 months before the trip if you can. That’s my best option when traveling, it allows me to spend the money in the best places rather than on the flight itself because it’s cheaper! I also try to meet the locals, they’re going to help you and maybe you’ll discover something “instagrammers” just don’t know yet.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? When you live in the first world, you don’t really know how poor people are in some places. I’ve seen a man in Morocco biting a rat in the streets. That’s something you would never do or think anyone could ever do. But some people, in some places, have a life you can’t imagine and maybe it is not as far as you would think it is.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? We are not alone. People who really care are not alone. We can make a change, we just have to take a step forward.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Your life isn’t forever, what are you waiting for?

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? That being different than me is not a bad thing. That’s something a lot of people should learn: there’s no need to (and you just can’t) hate people just because they’re different from you.

What would you say to your former self? Do everything you want to do, don’t ever be afraid!

What gives you hope? Humanity is better than we think.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? We were on a bus in Indonesia and we were the only western people for miles around. We knew that the public bus ride was just 2 dollars each, and a random guy asked us for 20 each. We looked at the driver looking for help and he didn’t stop the scam, instead of that, he asked for those 20 dollars with more hostility than the first one. You just have to breathe and try to make yourself understandable. If you can’t win, you’ll laugh about it when you get home!

Where to next? London! In our study break in October

Is flannel always in season? For sure, at any season for moody photography 

Learn more about Edgar’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their Instagram account!

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

Christmas Tree Shopping

Coat by Stock Mfg Co. 

Boots by Mark Albert Boots. Socks from Domestic Domestic.

Hat by Ball and Buck

Where do I Want to Adventure to Next? — Mayank Thammalla

Why do you adventure / Why do you explore? I grew up in a small coastal town in New Zealand, exposed to nature and this has influenced me to always explore more of the natural world.  I had started to appreciate the outdoors more once I began to take photos about 7 years ago, so photography and adventure go hand in hand for me. Photography to me is a very therapeutic process. To be able to take away a framed memory of a certain place or moment comes with a certain privilege.

Why take risks in life? I think big strides forward can never be taken in the comfort zones of life.

Where are you from? Born: Hyderabad, India. Home: Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Currently: London, UK.

What is your 9-5? Currently a Junior Architect working in London.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I wanted to be astronomer. My grandmother bought me a telescope when I was 11 years old and I remember spending countless nights staring at the stars.

Favorite place you've visited? Very hard to answer because there are a few places that come to mind. Tongariro National Park in New Zealand is mind blowing. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were on the top of my bucket list and I finally visited a few months ago!

Place you most desperately want to visit? Northern Norway, Greenland and more of Iceland!

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Traveling through India with my parents in 2014, my dad wanted us to experience some authentic modes of getting around Jaipur; one being the man powered rickshaw. I was very uncomfortable with the idea, even more so when the cyclist of our rickshaw changed in the last minute to an elderly gentleman who would have easily been around 65-70 years old. I shared the rickshaw with my mom who was also felling very uncomfortable. Throughout the 15-minute journey I was trying jump off and help him to push us along or to make him stop but I didn’t.  It still makes me teary thinking about it. My mom and I decided that this was wrong, but it was his only source of an income; she grabbed his hand and closed them with a few notes in it. He gave us the warmest and whole-hearted smile and hugged my mother.

What has changed about you because of your adventures/ travels? Slow down and be in the present – that moment will never come back! I used to tend to always let my mind wonder and think about yesterday or plan for tomorrow when not realizing that the best moment you have is right now (sounds cliché I know but it’s true). It wasn’t until I heard the whispers of the mountains or the deafening silence of the woods that really got my attention and created moments where I lost track of time…  Made me realize how beautiful and rare our time is on this planet. I feel, the more you pause and awake to the present, you will realize how great your life is.

Who is the most dynamic and thought-provoking person you've ever met? For me, not one person has been most dynamic or thought provoking. My family and my very small knit of friends are all dynamic in their own way who have all impacted and shaped my life.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? My grandfathers. I never got to spend too much time with them and it would be amazing to hear all their stories and adventures while going on an epic hike!

Must haves for travel: Sketch book, camera, open mind.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Be patriotic towards Earth as a whole. Not just what is good towards your country.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? Give it a go, you won’t regret it!

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? No one is you, and that is your greatest power.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? Doing a TED Talk in 2017! I had absolutely no prior experience or confidence speaking in front of people, let along a large crowd. But with months of work and practice, anything can be achieved if you are well prepared!

What would you say to your former self? Be you… The world will adjust…

What gives you hope? I have always believed in the ‘good’ in people. There is ‘good’ in everyone, if they like it or not.

Where to next? Eastern Europe and Tromsø, Norway!

Is flannel always in season? Always (wearing one now)!

Learn more about Mayank’s travels and a glimpse at their life at her website and their Instagram account!

A Trip to Hudson Woods

A dwelling nestled among the Catskill's.

A place where nature meets design.

---

hudsonwoods.com @hudsonwoodsny

Dream of a place, a place where autumn lasts just a little bit longer. The season sets on early as the summer humidity lays in favor of crisp nights and fresh air. The feel that the eternal spirit of autumn is coming. Wildflowers fill the valleys and pastures of the mountain sides, the landscapes become washed with vibrant goldenrod, the deep reds of the Sumac trees, and the black eyed susans that pop up along the winding roadways. Autumn is coming to the Hudson Valley. Many of us have been waiting all year for the first signs of changing leaves, the first signs of apples ripening on the weather worn trees, and the first signs of the many festive weekends to come.

Long winding roads, the kind of roads that you took as a child…big bench back seat, sliding across the leather seats…legs too short to touch the floor. Windows down, the sun shining, the radio dial tuned in to Glen Miller. A Pontiac, a Ford, a 1941 Plymouth with that gas station sticker still in the window, a reminder of the leaner days. The spirit and the imagery is there, the narrative is universal. Autumn comes a little earlier in the Catskills, the Maples start to show their color round about the same time as the goldenrod hits peak color. The autumn lasts a little longer here too. The final colors of the season fade and fall as the frigid days sit in, as Christmas trees are chopped and laboriously tied to the roofs of cars or haphazardly tied in the back of old wooden bed pickup trucks.

Here the season is more than just the changing of the leaves and temperatures, it’s a way of life and a season that is prepared for all year. The mountains and their hollers and many cool spring fed lakes are filled with old fashioned boats and canoes and levity all summer long. Rich greens meet the rich browns and shadows of the forest floors. Autumn though, autumn is a sea of color, a warmth of the spirit, and the idea that nesting season is coming. Pumpkins are gathered, apples are picked, oh so many glorious apples are picked from the aged trees that cascade down the hills and dot the landscapes.

Short swim trunks and leather soled sandals are replaced with clothing designed and produced from nature’s bounty. The purity of the wools, flannels, and leathers bring a naturalness to the season and a knowledge that these timeless pieces were produced by the earth and crafted by the hands of man to created garments designed to cloak and shield man from the chill of the season.

The Catskills are a vast region that is filled with nature, endless nature, history, culture, a dynamic mix of people, and landscapes that invite you in and ask, if not implore you to explore.

That love of nature and upstate New York led us to Hudson Woods Hudson Woods has long been on our radar. Back a couple years ago Paige went for a visit on a frigid early December weekend. Since then we’ve been itching to go ourselves.

Hudson Woods is actually a residential community outside Kerhonkson, New York. The tag line is “where design meets nature” and it truly feels that way as soon as you enter the development. The property designed by Lang Architecture and Brick and Wonder is designed to be a weekend escape from New York city for those that love modern design and the sanctuary of nature. Over the past few years the show house has been used for countless photo shoots and architectural studies. The home is largely built and furnished with materials and goods from regional makers and craftsmen.

I wanted to start this Catskills travel guide series by sharing a few of my favorite images from the home. Our next piece in the series will be a conversation with Hort and Pott, the landscape design studio and shop in the nearby town of Oak Hill, New York.

The home itself is designed to be one of those that compliments the landscape and has a feel that says…. I coexist here, I am a part of this lands story, this land isn’t mine, but I am its. A simple timeless frame holds a home that is so well designed that you will feel an otherworldly experience just by touching the doorknobs.

A Conversation with Jörn Henn

German based photographer Jorn Henn has quickly become one of our favorite photographers. His moody vibes and greens and blues have us captivated. The landscapes he shares have us dreaming of escaping the cities and heading deep into nature! We sat down with him to learn more.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore?

My biggest motivation is keeping moments. I love to be outside in nature feeling the elements. I am a very curious person as well. That’s why I love to visit and explore new countries or places.

Why take risks in life?

It’s more fun. Without risks, life would be boring and you would not be able to surpass oneself.

Where are you from?

Cologne, Germany.

What is your 9-5?

I am an art historian.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

A famous architect.

Favorite place you've visited.

Rio de Janeiro and the Dolomites.

Place you most desperately want to visit.

New Zealand and South Africa. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling?

Meeting poor people. Like, really poor people. And the fact that when you realize that their struggle is connected to the global economy. 

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I became more attentive about my needs and about climate and environment.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

I met Edda Moser, a German opera singer, during a lecture at the Cologne Opera House. Her voice was recorded singing Mozart’s Magic Flute aria “Queen Of The Night”, which is part of the Voyager Golden Record. 

If you could travel with one person in history or in present, who would it be and why?

Otto the Great. He was a Roman German emperor in the 10th century. The kingdom of Germany was a travel kingdom, meaning because of its huge size, the German kings and emperors had no static residence. Several spread over the whole country, and he had to live a nomad’s life, like a lot of explorers do now. Well, and I’ve loved knights since my childhood.

Must haves for travel / travel tips?

Good shoes and a good jacket.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader.

The feeling of slowing down when you are in the mountains. No rush and no stress. And the fact that you have to choose your equipment since you cannot carry everything with you.

Based on your travels, what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

A change in economy. I think big multinational companies and their urge of growth is one of the causes of the climate change and crimes against humanity.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before?

Travel and collect moments and take off your blinders. That you don’t need to travel fast. That there are nice spots just around the corner.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

My grandfather. He thought me to ask questions, not following the mass and trust one’s own heart (he was a soldier in WWII).

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson?

During exams or just when I have to give proof about my skills. E.g. when you ask me for this. But I learned to fight against these fears and keep them small. Hiking helped me as well. The first glimpse of a mountains I wanna climb is always frightening. But on top, you feel like a king! 

What would you say to your former self?

Trust yourself and your skills!

What gives you hope?

That love always wins.

Where to next?

Italy and Rome in October.

Is flannel always in season?

Flannel is always classy. Love it.

Maggie Pate || Nåde Studio

Maggie Pate || Nåde Studio

FROM WHERE WOMEN CREATE

MAGGIE PATE began her career in fashion as a model but is now the owner and designer behind Nåde, an independent textile company featuring her hand-dyed fabrics based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Maggie teaches sold-out workshops on natural hand-dyeing and weaving. She is adamantly committed to sustainable practices. Maggie aims to create beautifully crafted textiles using food products and food waste as well as foraged plants from the mountains of Tennessee and around the world. Her hope is that the hues rendered from these plants and food waste will challenge others to experience food and nature in a new way. She currently splits her time between Tennessee and New York City.

I spent most of my childhood in East Tennessee. When I was an early teen, I began modeling in New York City, which encouraged my interest in textiles and gave me the opportunity to travel more. In my travels I was able to experience the life and culture of other areas, and was able to see the textiles unique to each.

The fashion industry is notoriously wasteful, and it inspired me to find ways to create more sustainable and thoughtful processes by which to create my own fashion brand and textiles. A career that I began as a model has now evolved into me owning and designing an independent textile company featuring hand-dyed fabrics made here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. My brand is called Nåde, and it’s the passion project of my love of fashion as well as my love of natural, sustainably hand-dyed textiles.

“Seeing others dedicated to creating with the same care and passion as myself ignites my passion again.”

Growing up, my grandmother inspired my interest in sustainable living. She grew up in an orphanage in Alabama and became a very resourceful woman. She made her five children’s clothing as well as garments for many of her grandchildren.

Sometimes when I am working on a dye bath or weaving, I feel like a historian keeping the art of slow craft alive in this industrialized world. Both natural dyeing and weaving are becoming extinct as trades as the majority of companies dye synthetically and use machinery to produce materials.

“I love that my products have a story of conservation and a narrative that grounds people within the slow food and slow craft movement.”

The thing that pushes me to keep creating through struggles, both personal and economical, is that my work has a purpose beyond aesthetics or commerce, or even being simply a job. Natural dyeing is about sustainability and more specifically dyeing with food waste makes use of items that could be and will be thrown in the trash. My hope is that my work will educate followers, admirers and those who purchase that there is a better way to create.

You are not a mistake. You are too many exquisite details to be a mistake.”

-Nayyirah Waheed, Salt

I am not sure if being creative has much to do with how I view the world, however I feel that as a creative I am more visually sensitive to it. Therefore, I am constantly observing, making connections, and using visual metaphors. That’s probably just me being idealistic and romanticizing my surroundings.

Travel is a wonderful means for me to both disconnect and reconnect. When I am traveling, it forces me to be away from my workspace and social media, which allows me to disconnect from

the rat race, (which is often how it feels). Often when I travel, I visit countries with a rich history in textiles or natural dyeing. Visiting cultures where textiles make up a large segment of the cultural sphere allows me to reconnect with the craft.

Community plays a huge role in how I create. I rely heavily on local farms and restaurants to collect food waste, which allows me to continue to produce favorite items for my customers and experiment with new ideas.

Luckily, the textile world is truly full of open, generous and encouraging humans. Thanks to social media, I can have conversations with other dyers and weavers from all over the world. I can connect and collaborate in the blink of an eye, and I love that aspect of social media.

Social media can also be a gateway for self-doubt. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: don’t compare your Chapter 4 to another’s Chapter 20. Comparing where you are in your business to where another might be is only going to create frustration and anxiety. I tend to want to jump to the end of books and it is the same with my small business. I want to jump to the section when the business is completely tenable, but everything takes time.

Like many creatives, I have to do freelance work to make ends meet financially. I take photography and styling jobs occasionally; other makers I know have part-time or even full- time jobs. Managing my freelance jobs with my studio work is a struggle, especially since natural dyeing is typically a process that takes several days.

I would say my biggest accomplishment thus far is my natural dye book, The Natural Colors Cookbook, which was released in June of this year. In researching it, I spent over a year exploring the cross-section where food and slow craft intersect. The book aims to create beautifully crafted textiles using food products and food waste straight from your kitchen, pantry or compost. My hope is that the hues rendered from this food waste will challenge you to experience food in a new way. I also hope to urge others to reconnect with the narrative of food and the history of slow craft textiles.

When it comes to my business and my craft, I’m still figuring it out. Not having an answer sounds more appealing and exciting than knowing it all! I think artisans and makers are always finding their style and journeying toward real things. My business and my style are ever-evolving, which honestly helps me stay engaged in my craft. So, for now, you can find me working on my new favorite item in my studio, a large weaving that combines my love for weaving and my passion for natural dyeing with food waste.

MORE ON MAGGIE:

nade-studio.com IG: @maggie_pate

P.S. I Love This

Right now, my favorite item in my studio is the large weaving I am working on. It took a month or so to source all the natural fibers, which come for Australia and Iceland, as well as North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. Then the wool roving was dyed using black bean food waste to create the icy blue hue. Because it is not a commissioned piece, I only get to work on it when I have free time...so it has been on the loom for 4 months now!

Of the Same Mold || Katherine Hanks & Stephanie Anne Martin

Of the Same Mold

Katherine Hanks & Stephanie Anne Martin

FROM WHERE WOMEN CREATE

KATHERINE HANKS AND STEPHANIE ANNE MARTIN are the owners of Annie Hanks Ceramics in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After bonding over their love of ceramics in their hiking group, the two began a journey of creating a collaborative business together. Katherine brought with her the experience of growing up in San Antonio. Her family runs a summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, and it was there that she developed a great appreciation for nature and her relationship to the earth. Stephanie grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and had a mother who encouraged her and her brother to explore through their creativity.

Annie Hanks Ceramics is a collaborative utilitarian ceramics studio in Chattanooga, Tennessee, formed by myself, Stephanie Anne Martin, and Katherine Hanks. Katherine and I first met through a climbing group, and after meeting several times, became friends and learned that we shared a common interest in ceramics. After a while, we started collaborating together to create beautiful functional pieces that our local Chattanooga friends and customers knew as Annie Hanks Ceramics.

I spent most of my childhood between Asheville and various places around the Southeast. My family moved quite a bit, but my mother encouraged my creativity by blocking out time every day for me and my brother to paint or draw. My brother was a big source of inspiration for me growing up, and still is today. When I was 8 years old, we sat for each other to draw portraits. I recall feeling a huge sense of pride in my work. Eventually, I found my own special medium in ceramics and flourished in it.

Katherine was fortunate to be born into an amazingly creative family as well. Each summer, her family would pack up their lives in San Antonio and move out to the beautiful Texas Hill Country to the camp and retreat center run by her parents. This camp, at its core, aims to recover a sense of the sacred. The property is nestled in a limestone canyon with towering abstract and aesthetic bluff walls, and through it flows the crisp, emerald- green Frio River—clear enough to see 20-plus feet below the surface. Having this experience pulled Katherine into spiritual conversation with the natural world and with wilderness. She created her first clay pinch pots after a rainstorm and fell in love with the process.

There are aspects of our studio and business that make Annie Hanks Ceramics exceptionally unique, especially in the way our studio is run. Often, it’s challenging for people to understand what a collaborative studio and collaborative work entail. It’s a foreign idea to many makers, because creativity and artistry is often a single-man concept. Katherine and I have a similar style and aesthetic, and we use that to our advantage as we work through new ideas, new forms and new glaze lines.

Each piece that passes through the creation process within our studio is touched by both of our hands and is of a higher quality for that very reason. We take pride in the fact that we each pay great attention to line and detail and allow each piece to pass through the scrutiny of both sets of eyes.

Our first joint-show was held at Rivers Edge Gallery in Kerrville, Texas. There, the gallery owner, Clay, gifted us two framed shards of pottery from the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. These are prominently and proudly hanging amongst our shelves of completed and in-process work, reminding us daily of the rich history of our craft. Our work is ultimately inspired by the power of nature and landscapes, as well as the softness of the feminine form. Our style developed from our friendship, our passion for the natural world, and our desire to create designs that are as intriguing as they are simple.

Chattanooga is such an incredible place to live as a creative! We have a strong community of small businesses that understand the value of supporting one another. Within the creative community, we have enjoyed working on various projects and collaborations with other creatives. It is through this that we have found a strong community and space for growth within our own medium. We have worked closely with several businesses around town, namely Wildflower Teashop, Niedlov’s Breadworks and Nade Studio. Out of these collaborative projects have come a network of support, friendships and the growth of all businesses.

Aside from being inspired by natural landscapes, we both find inspiration in secondary creative activities. I enjoy working with my hands and finding a rhythm in the kitchen to draw new inspirations. Katherine enjoys gardening and seeing the world through a different creative lens in the form of photography. Practicing these other kinds of creativity, we are able to bring together our unique inspirations and ideas to create beautiful collaborative work.

There are several struggles that can take place in a small business, especially a creative one. It can sometimes be difficult to be taken seriously as a female business owner. Managing a business can be a struggle when you haven’t had a formal business education. But we have done well so far. In the end, our biggest accomplishment is that we successfully opened Annie Hanks Ceramics together, and that every day we get to work together to make beautiful and functional pieces of art for people who appreciate it.

Pursuing creativity makes every day richer. Finding ways to invite creativity into your daily life is a healthy place to start, rather than feeling like every moment of every day must be filled with creative genius. Begin with a sketch-a-day or by making a photograph at the same moment each day, several days in a row. Then allow that inspiration to grow and seep into the rest of your life. Creativity is a rewarding practice and has the power to take you on adventures.

A Conversation with Brandi Carlile

Christmas in August and a Music Crush Confirmed (or…)

Christmas Comes Early: A Magazine Writer and the Story She Will Be Telling For Years.

Liza Turner || August 2012

---

She had me at “Cormac McCarthy”… or maybe “Dolly Parton”...

Oh, who am I kidding? In the most awesome movie cliché moment of my life, Brandi Carlile had me at “Hello.”

In August, I took a long lunch break – one justified with adoring phrases illogically strewn together in nervous excitement: “I love this woman. She is going to call… ME. I hope I don’t say something utterly foolish. Do I refer to her as Ms. Carlile? Her voice [insert any platitude about angels singing and/or music to my ears].” – and decided to spend the few minutes prior to my phone interview just practicing breathing…and securing my cell phone, the one I misplace about four times each day, close by my side.

You see, Brandi Carlile and Tim and Phil Hanseroth’s 2012 homage to the Seattle dairy barn-converted-into-studio production site, Bear Creek, has been on repeat in my car for months. I have been a huge fan of this Washington singer-songwriter since 2007. That year her second album The Story was released, which includes some of my favorite songs:

“Turpentine,” “Have You Ever,” and the title track. Her voice, smooth and pure and yet rich and haunting at times, stirs me. Her storytelling, descriptive of emotions we all experience, but articulated in a rare combination of beauty, intelligence, and occasional playfulness, confirms her status among those songwriting icons whose influence is apparent in her work: Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash. Her fluid positioning somewhere at the intersection of outlaw country, folk, Americana, bluegrass, and rock allows for creativity in sound and style.

I first encountered her comfortable and inviting stage presence in January 2009, at the Brown Theater concert in Louisville. Brandi remembers this concert as well because the crowd stood, entirely engaged, for two hours. Brandi seems smart and funny and simply “real” even as she and the Hanseroth twins do something pretty amazing on a stage many feet away.

When the opportunity came to interview Brandi, I exchanged multiple emails with her incredibly helpful, entirely unpretentious, press team, which brought me to my kitchen table, awaiting a call from “my” Brandi Carlile.

And the call came. A month later, my best friend Melissa and I stood outside a post-show meet-and-greet room in the basement of Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom, giant peel-and-stick guest passes adorning the shirts we spent far too much time picking out, talking to one of my idols. August and September 2012 will go down as two of my favorite months of my adult life.

And thus, I share with you bits and pieces of those conversations. Although part of me wishes you could hear the warmth, genuineness, and really damn funny, but good-spirited, sarcasm in her irrefutably distinctive voice, I can’t lie; a bigger (and without a doubt, more childish) part of me likes keeping that all to myself.

Q. What is one song, from any genre/artist, you wish you had written?

A. “Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen

Q. If you could perform a duet with or write a song with anyone, who would it be?

A. Dolly Parton (perform), Bernie Taupin (write).

Q. Favorite venue? Cities you’re particularly excited to visit this tour?

A. Favorite – Red Rocks; Excited to play – Beacon Theater in New York

Q. Describe a typical day when you’re on the road A. Wake up, down two cups of coffee, go for a walk with my fiancé [now wife] go explore the city we’re in, do a sound check, have dinner with the band, take a shot of whiskey, play the show, meet and greet afterward, movie on the bus with the band before bed.

Q. What are you currently reading and/or who are some of your favorite authors?

A. The Bible; Favorites – Cormac McCarthy (Outer Dark), Jon Krakauer (Into the Wild; Into Thin Air), Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis; Love Wins).

Q. How do you take your coffee?

A. Black – straight up trucker style.

Q. Favorite room in your house?

A. I’m kitchen-obsessed and particularly drawn to reds. All of my favorite kitchen tools and supplies are red.

Q. Favorite piece of art or furniture in your home?

A. Photo of Paul McCartney, taken by Linda McCartney, and given to my fiancé; piano from around 1900 that one of my best friends’ family members gave to me when I was 17. Two things that have traveled everywhere with me: a horse and a piano.

Q. What is the “Looking Out Foundation” all about? Other social issues of importance to you?

A. Growing up, I was a “fan’s fan.” I would follow people only when I loved everything about them. They had to be an activist who stood up for values I believed in. People like the Indigo Girls and Elton John set the bar high. I thought “if I ever get there, I want to give back some of the blessings I’ve been given by having this job.” The Looking Out Foundation serves to promote civil rights, environmental awareness and women’s empowerment.

Q. Describe the perfect Christmas morning. Do you consider yourself a good gift-giver?

A. God, kids, family: Waking up at my house, with my family all around, snow outside, coffee spiked with a little Bailey’s Irish whiskey, kids running everywhere. I’m an over-the-top, far-beyond-my-means gift giver. If I hear my dad say he wants a snowmobile, that’s all I can think about all year.

Q. What are some things few people know about you, but that you don’t mind sharing with us?

A. 1) I love to be humble and pious, but I drink champagne like soda pop. 2) I don’t know how to open a bottle of champagne. 3) I love to be laughed with, but hate to be laughed at. 4) I have eight animals – two chickens, a horse named Sovereign, two cats named Lanie and Blue, a Doberman pincher named Bailey and two goats named Tim and Phil.

Q. If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr., Freddie Mercury. I’d also be in a band with all three.

Q. I’ve read that when growing up, you felt ostracized by some of those in the church community. What is your relationship with the church like today?

A. The church has been a stumbling block to LGBTQ rights and there seems to be a tragic misunderstanding between those voices. I have a lingering “bad taste in my mouth,” but I personally see no contradiction between sexual orientation and religion.

Q. How do you decide the artistic direction of your videos, websites, publicity photos, CD covers?

A. We’re [Brandi and the Hanseroth twins] are heavily involved with the storyline/plot of the videos. Grammy-winner, Michelle Holme (Columbia Records) plays an important role in designing CD covers. I don’t worry about photos too much as long as they look unaltered and honest.

How do you get down from a goose

By: Greta Whitehead || Spring 2013

“Aren’t those geese beautiful?”

The geese belonged to my grandparents, Herman and Lola Render of the Walton Creek area near Centertown, Ky. Summer arrived and with it came more time at our grandparents’ home. It also meant molting season for the geese. Since geese typically molt (lose some of their feathers) during the summer, Mammie took advantage of Mother Nature’s help in harvesting feathers for new pillows. Their feathers sure made neat pillows.

My sister, Jo Carolyn Patton, and I, Greta Whitehead, lived in that neighborhood and were always at our grandparents’ home as much as possible. We had grown up around the geese but we were afraid of them. We knew that geese were sometimes used for security animals because they are so easily excited and alert you to impending danger by flapping their wings wildly and honking loudly to scare off suspected intruders. Still, we loved to find their big eggs. It was always special on Easter to have a big colored goose egg in our basket.

We were daring kids…especially me. I would make one of the geese mad just so it would chase us. The only time we were pinched by one was when we helped our grandmother hold the big geese while she plucked the feathers for her pillows.

She would turn one at a time upside down and hold it with her legs and start to work. Jo and I, as little girls, would try and hold their heads so they wouldn’t pinch her legs. We would get tired and let go a few times. Mammie would end up with black and blue legs but good, soft, fluffy pillows.

Herman Render and Lola Bennett Render, beloved Christian grandparents of our 13 brothers and sisters were near 80 when our family moved on in to Centertown. I have many good memories of Walton Creek people and the good life we had there. Though saddened by our move to town, many new adventures and memories awaited us there.

My dad, the local barber, felt it necessary to move to town so he could be close to his barber shop. Sometime in the 40’s, Dad bought an old Greyhound bus. He converted the old bus into a nice café that sat on Main St. It was quite beautiful, inside and out, with a fireplace, juke box, booth and stools at the counter. The “Blue Bus Café” became the hangout for teens, a safe place that was supervised by good honest folks who believed in their community and its future. Our parents, Raymond “Dick” Render and his loving wife, Lou, ran the café until they moved to Jeffersonville to work in the shipyards.

Times were hard and work was scarce so many families of our hometown had to move where they could find steady work. The Blue Bus closed but the stories of good times there live to this day. Other small cafés have come and gone in Centertown.

Each one had its regular customers who would enjoy a good cup of coffee and the stories shared around the table. More often than not, someone would bring up the Blue Bus Café and fond memories began to flow.

Although we missed our days at our grandparents’ farm, the Blue Bus Café occupied our time and life moved forward.

Lessons and values learned on that farm and in the Blue Bus Café never left us. Whenever I see geese I recall the fun we had helping Mammie make pillows. In reflection I can see that we were learning work and care for the family, but we just thought we were having fun. As I drive down Main St. in Centertown, my mind’s eye still sees that old Greyhound Bus that transformed to a wonderful hangout known affectionately as The Blue Bus Café…a safe place for youngsters to spend supervised time together knowing that Daddy and Momma kept a keen eye on each and every one of us.

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

Carpe Noctem // Evan Pollock

Carpe noctem. Sieze the night. This series by Evan Pollock shows nighttime as it should be seen.