For a project (TBA soon), I had to include a LEGO Roger Williams. They don’t really make pilgrim-era figures, so cobbled this together. I can’t decide if he looks more like a 17th century cleric or a magician. Thoughts welcome!

Coming Soon

Returned to the Cem I discovered w/ a member of the RI Cem Commission, we raised some headstones that had not seen the light for two centuries. Perfect E-W alignment, the old RIers believed they would rise to face Jerusalem at the End of Days. Hard scrabble folks, scant inscriptions long wore away.

For Renunciation Day, I ventured to the R.I. woods to find a potential cemetery I saw on the RI stonewall map. Pretty sure I found it. Several places stones in EW alignment, ‘mounding,’ and note the mossy footstone in the second pic.

I had a great time taking @ecorinews.bsky.social through the Hanton City woods. Frank wrote about it and I submitted a companion OpEd about the under appreciated value of folk history.

New to me May Breakfast, Rice City. Appreciated the jonnycakes, but the French Toast was 💯

Happy May Breakfast Month! To celebrate, I share a classic ‘old RI’ name that I recently came across while researching some land I’ve been hiking on: Prushipina Harkness. She went by the charming nickname ‘Prusia.’

My wildest dream has come true that someone out there has this reaction to my weird stuff!

We were beyond flattered when @ribrickartist.bsky.social pledged 100% of proceeds from his lighthouse brick kit to our newsroom. "ecoRI News is one of the few bulwarks against the tides of ecological destruction in Rhode Island, and I am more than happy for this kit to support their work."

Also, lovely hike in Smithfield yesterday. I hope to Holy Christ this spot is not obliterated by a data center.

Two dynamite pieces in today’s @providencejournal.bsky.social from @harrisontuttle.bsky.social and @mackdistrict6.bsky.social. Heartening to see that these two youngins’ have reached a lot of the same conclusions as this not-young Yankee about the RI struggle.

Behold: @ribrickartist.bsky.social’s glorious Providence Public Library facade Lego kit. Assembled by me.

That was hard!

I usually like the word ‘historic,’ but am slightly less excited when used in conjunction with ‘blizzard.’ Dug this out of the basement and it still works. If I got coffee, I can get through anything 🤞🏽

Get excited for a new Lighthouse kit dropping soon! Skied out to it to get some good pics, but rewarded with some good RI Chowder with Dad.

Kath Connolly commissioned this model of her brother’s house as a Christmas gift; I couldn’t post earlier because it was a surprise! With much attention to colors and details, it was a surprisingly challenging project, but also one of my favorites!

Happy New Year! Maylee’s resolution is to embrace her traditional foe - snow. She’s doing it! (NB - had to take her sweater off because the first of the month is when she gets her flea ointment)

Super happy to announce I’m teaming with Friends of Knight Mem. Lib. to create a HUGE model of the lib, one of Prov’s most beautiful landmarks. The friends are fundraising, so if you’re in a giving mood today and love Knight, see the flyer below. You can get a mini model of the library, too!

Thanks for supporting my work this year! I sold out of lighthouses, Wash Bridges, and Pawt City Halls! Today I am happily forwarding portions of proceeds my favorite RI non-profits @ecoRInews @RWPConservancy @provlib @PVDStreets & thank you so much to @PalaceDirt and @Craftland for believing in me 😀

Heads Up Transport Folks! @pvdstreets.bsky.social

Great time at the Dirt Palace yesterday!

RIers - as holiday gifting enters its last days, I beg you to support super talented local artisans. The algorithms are very successful at steering folks away from us, & it has really shown this season. Times are hard for almost everyone, but not Jeff B & the Waltons. Lots of great markets today!

Calling all Pawtucket Lovers! This yummy City Hall build comes in 3 sizes! A big sister for the real fan; the tiny adorable baby that’s inexpensive, very fun, and a potential ornament; and something in between for all those Goldilocks-es out there! www.groverlicious.me

Sweet little build for Hanukkah, old Temple Beth-El, Providence. Portion of the proceeds benefits the Jewish Liberation Fund

Needed a little forest zen today. Smithfield, RI hills.

University Hall, Brown University, Providence, in LEGO. I have not always been a fan of my Alma Mater, but I do feel terrible about what’s happened. It finally happened in my city.

Providence Public Library Kit is now available. To all those for whom @provlib is a special place, this is a great gift (maybe for yourself!). Part of the proceeds goes to PPL. groverlicious.me

This sweet little build celebrates the gorgeous Temple Beth-El, Broad St, Prov. It’s a perfect affordable, little gift for a stocking or night of Hanukkah; add a tea light for cozy magic! A portion of the proceeds benefits the Jewish Liberation Fund. www.groverlicious.me www.jewishliberation.fund

I’ll be at the Downtown Market today, Grant’s Block - come say hi and get a kit!

Check out my installation at the Museum of Work and Culture!

This lovely mosaic is a little different from a normal build and is great for those who like puzzles or paint-by-number. 5% of the proceeds goes to the Rhode Island Foundation! www.groverlicious.me

All online orders come with an adorable tree ornament while supplies last! www.groverlicious.me

Introducing the mini Providence Public Library. Whether you were married there or simply enjoy its beautiful space, this little kit makes a wonderful gift for anyone to whom PPL is a special place. And a portion of each sale goes to PPL! www.groverlicious.me

Frank C from @ecorinews.bsky.social and I hiked in the ‘new’ Buck Hill forest in Burrillville and were gobsmacked by the rampant illegal off-roading we saw. Tons of trash and destruction of ecologically and culturally sensitive spots. Read about it: ecori.org/illegal-off-...

One cute little kit you can get from me this holiday season is the Rhode Island lighthouse which has a little loop piece that can turn it into an ornament! This is perfect for folks who love the ocean/lighthouses! Ideal stocking stuffer! www.groverlicious.me

I sure hope you’ll visit my shop on Cyber Monday, all sorts of RI-themed kits! www.groverlicious.me

I am super excited to be a featured maker at @Craftland pop up on Small Business Saturday tomorrow! Please support RI small businesses this holiday season; hope to see you!

Check out my website! I’ve added new kits for this Holiday Season: Rhode Island Lighthouse, a new Broad Street Synagogue, Providence Public Library, and a dreamy Providence mosaic! www.groverlicious.me

Dad got a little retirement job for the holiday season sorting bricks for this weirdo who makes little Rhode Island-themed kits. He’s resistant to wearing an elf hat for some reason.

This year, many folks reached out to me to create custom gifts to commemorate a family home, a wedding location, or other special place. I love doing these jobs! If you’re looking for a special, unique gift for the holidays, now’s the time to get in my dms!

I was glad to see many of the election results around the country, but do wish that my fellow RI lefties/progressives had put even a fraction of their enthusiasm for the NYC mayoral race into last year’s Prov School Board elections.

I don’t live in W2, but city council has great impact on all Prov. There’s something I like about each candidate, but I most keen on Jill, largely because in my five decades in the area, Prov Pub school parent representation has been scarce in Prov leadership, and it shows.

Hey, read this great @ecoRInews piece about public forest logging. I do not really figure into the article, but there is a pic with me in it from a hike Frank and I took, and I look cute. So had to share! ecori.org/in-search-of...

Mom’s been working in downtown, so I brought her to lunch at CHOP and to see my LEGO PPL model which she had never seen. Priceless Mom response: ‘that’s nice.’

Myself and a few community members recently penned a ProJo OpEd strongly opposing the Gilbert Stuart demo - it’s a highly renovatable building and the demo is incredibly polluting. Also, as a longtime public school teacher, the educational arguments from RIDE are top shelf BS. OpEd screenshots:

It’s someone’s special day tomorrow and these two cuties are part of the decorations!

PVDFest was a blast!