Canandaigua

My music video debut: Starry-eyed on the East Coast, with John Fahey plucking “West Coast Blues” on my heartstrings. The struggle continues.

Scout Ties

Came across this posse of hand carved Boy Scout neckerchief slides in a big shed on Routes 5/20. I think the beastie and the lumberjack are my favs, though points are awarded to the eagle with the half accomplished eagle twist tied together. Before, not so much was I bringin back the bolo. Now, much.

So that ye may perceive their mechanisms:

It

Just back from Upstate New York. Good times with the family, especially Mom putting her motto to work lettin’ cake be, lettin’ white vino be, lettin’ her ink out from under her wristwatch.

Oddly enough, Lisa’s mama is from the exact same Finger Lake zone as my mom. We were both back there recently, a week apart. More landscapes, locals, and treasures to come….

Calendar Girl

Though she may be biondi of capelli, Lisa is hands down Japanese of spirit. Following her feature on WEB SKET as Calendar Girl #08.29.10, never has this been more super duh. Google Translate, don’t fail me now:

Today’s calendar is in the grocery Gravel & Gold mission I have asked Lisa.
This store is conscious craftsmanship, vintage clothes / accessories as well, local artists, of course, around the country, We have many unique items collected from various Japan. On weekends, Writer’s Workshop and seminars and free, it is also hosting an event that food system.

Best elevator pitch so far!

You Know What They Say

Ok.
So Nicky sent me this video and I watched it right away and laughed in public a lot, but was somewhat concerned that Lisa would think that it was too cute too cursive too something. But then Marcel made it into my dream last night, so I watched it again today, and laughed in public again today. Reminds me of the really good jokes my brother used to tell me….but he keeps them all to himself these days. So cute concern be damned! Nicky, you’re awesome.

A rack of His own…nearly

Full up on Menswear!

We know. Often Gravel & Gold is a bit sparse on the menswear front. Trust us, we are trying. But as you Fellas know- dialed menswear is hard to come by. However, we have recently had some luck getting items for the Men Folk in the shop. Some vintage, some new, all awesome.

We’ve got a super rad collection of vintage Czech military jackets and some lovely handmade shirts from Al’s Attire. Ladies and Gents-if you want your dude to look as awesome as you do then consider getting him a handsome gift or send him our way and we will try to help him navigate the shop rack.

Yay.

Sad Days Lonely Nights

Mark Gravel has been away all summer roof gardening, cooking his beans, and feeding another city’s swarm of appreciative diners. We’ve missed him. Thankfully we’ve sorted out a time for him to come back to cook for us this fall…..find out more here.

Inside is a sauna.

From today’s NYT. If I’m getting this right, in fact, both of Signore Forte’s 60-foot Trojan horses are saunas.

SunRay’s Gypsy Wagon

I don’t know if I’m gonna make the wait if Lloyd keeps leaking pics like these from his upcoming book on tiny houses….

Here is SunRay Kelly’s latest project, a home atop his 1984 Toyota dolphin camper. SunRay was one of the featured builders in Lloyd’s book Builders of the Pacific Coast—you might remember him way up in a sling positioning the cupola on the “big yurt” temple, barefoot. Here are some details on his truck slash car slash”solar/electric/diesel hybrid power plant” that is also cranking out a bunch of inspiration and good vibes, courtesy of Lloyd’s blog:

The sides are cedar, there’s a forward solarium, a stained glass rear window, and a back porch. There will be 3000 watts of solar panels (some of which will fold down), two 156 volt banks of lithium iron phosphate batteries, and a 12 inch GE electric motor. The Toyota’s gas motor has been removed and a four-cylinder 1500 cc diesel motor installed that will run on bio diesel.

The batteries will be charged 3 different ways: one, by plugging into a standard 110-volt electrical outlet; two, by the PV array installed on the roof and wings; and three, by a 26-kw Perkins diesel powered generator (a “gen-set”). As SunRay explains, “Trains have for years been run with an electric motor powered by a diesel generator.”

As Lloyd says in his post, SunRay is building on a super tight budget. If anyone is interested in investing in this worthy, edifying project, please contact him: sunray@sunraykelley.com

Hats Off to KPIG

I’ve been a proud piggy listener of KPIG radio, 1510 on the AM dial, for some time now, so it was with considerable dismay/denial that I took to listening to paltry FM stations these past couple of days while my trusty pork lenders sorted out for me why 1510 on my AM dial is no longer crackily playing fantastic mom-friendly tunes like Ry Cooder, Joy of Cooking, Bonnie, B.B., and so on, but is currently instead a Chinese-language broadcast of some kind. After summoning the courage to confront this fact by asking Nile about it, she confirmed that she too had heard the Chinese language and was also in denial.

So after fixing myself a tall, soothing mug of mint tea this evening, I went to the KPIG website to confront what’s what. Well, it’s true, fellow piggies. There’s no more KPIG on the Bay Area 1510 AM dial, only KPIG on the FM dial, available in a couple areas so far away that I’ll never pick them up on my way to work. Streaming online, yes, some, but it’s not the same. Sad, sad day. I sorta miss the denial even.

Congratulations, Rose and Terrell!!!

Beautiful Rose just gave birth to this lovely baby girl, Marley.  Welcome to the sisterhood, Little One.  I haven’t spoken the proud parents yet but I hear she is 8lbs 5oz, 20 inches long, and was born at 2:50 pm 8/13/2010 in water.  Yes! Mazal-Tov!  Hooray!  Well done!  Wooooo Hoooooo!  Congratulations!

Terrell, Rose, and Mama Mary meet Marley

Rosie and Marley contented

Rose with Bean wearing Pregnancy Protection Amulet

Upstate Caper

We’ve just received a package of magnificent indigo-dyed capes, linen scarves, and sarong-shaped airport glamor gear from the good Upstate folks and we’re finding that they look great on everyone, especially Dennis, whose baseline steez is difficult to improve upon.

Invisible Ocean 2010

Our dear friend Eli is organizing another round of Invisible Ocean up at Old Mill Farm, Mendocino this upcoming September 11th and 12th. Now is the time to get tickets! And check out the photos here. This year’s awesome times will sound like:

Daniel Higgs
Karl Blau
The Mumlers
Bill Wesley’s Array Orchestra
Blushin Roulettes
Soft Shells
Songs for Moms
Salt Minds
Bad Paradise
TV Mike and the Scarecrowes
Hits
Sea of Bees
City of Progress
Saything
Show Business
Jeepneys
Vaginals
Slick

dj’s

DJ Don’t Tell Mom
Jonny One Time
Hit the Deck

GOOD
TIMES!

This is a sculpture I made

I don’t need to explain.

Man Bling

Pete Trachy is one of our very most discerning friends/customers/roomies. Never one to withhold his critique, we find that when it comes to liking/not liking new items in the shop, he’s generally right on. He’s especially keen on the classic items―the handsome leather things, the timeless canvas bits, the lifetime tools, those kinds of things, you know.

So you can imagine my delight in finding that the insane intergalactic rings we just got in from Andy Lifschutz are his favorite things we’ve ever had in the shop. Favorite as in he really really wants one, favorite as in he immediately began mumbling about how if he just picked up an extra nursing shift at the General he could afford one, favorite as in he feels that they explain a lot about his inside self to the outside world and that by strategically pointing-pointing with one perched on his finger he could really “cut through a lot of the bullshit at dinner parties”. As usual, how right you are, Trachy.

IJAHMON

A little something I saw yesterday when I was walking Susie’s dog Emma, whom I plan to install permanently as The Shop Dog in hopes of more golden dog duty moments to come. In a neighborhood like ours, seems likely.

Still Warm

Here NOW! Josey Baker Bread!

Levain Loaves from right round the corner, lovingly crafted by rising artisan Josey Baker.

Look out for Josey Baker Bread each Wednesday at the shop.

Harvest

Sunday’s harvest at Gospel Flat Farms.

Stoked on Angel’s Harp!

Turned on by the honorable Augustino Roelofs of White Flight to this fine gentleman; Angel Damazo.

Full

End of the day boss-ladi haben.