Love the Saint!

This weekend on one of my little outings, we stopped at the beautiful garden and home of the famous American Reinaissance Sculptor Saint Gaudens.

Over 100 of his artworks can be seen in the galleries, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage.

Lincoln was one of his most well known sculptures. I could have spent all day there and now I long to read poetry in the gardens and eat a picnic. Any takers?

This place is in Cornish, NH and is a National Historic Site. Absolutely beautiful! Love, love the architecture! How come we don’t create like the masters anymore?

Oh Fall! How We Love Thee!

Oh Fall…How we Love thee! It was this photograph I snapped this morning of Elizabeth that just put me in the mood!

I was starting to think about Fall today. The exuberant colors, the crisp cool air.

The pumpkins, the mums, the apple picking, the yard clean-up- ohhhh the yard clean up. Sounds like fun, until you look around and realize you will have to do it….oh….like 50 times next month, because you have so many trees.

The first time is so fun, with the camera, leaf piles and the photos, then you come to terms with reality that know one really wants to finish the job.

Currently, I have all of the windows wide open, there is a slight breeze outside and the temps are hanging in there at mid- 70. Honestly, could we really ask for more?

We have some serious traditions in the Fall, and I believe that most New Englanders all share in the same traditions.

Leaf Peeping (and that alone is a major event here and you know the trees are going to be outstanding since it rained 7 months this year!

We love to go Apple Picking.

Pumpkin Picking and Carving

There’s more:
Apple Crisp and Beef Stew (Only My Dad’s Recipe) Making
Mum Planting
College Football

An outstanding trip abroad for me! (Let’s not discuss why nothing is on the books this year) This is my first fall in 6 years not going somewhere fabulous! Booo Hoooo…..and trust me! It is not like I haven’t pulled every trick I know…but nothing has clicked yet!

But guess what my Husband, Mr. Exec pulled out of the hat this year completely out of the blue, inspired by his daily travels around the region?

It all started like this- He asked me if ” I wanted to go on an over nighter”? “Of course” I responded, I am always set for overnighters keeping up with our New Year’s resolution of doing one, once a quarter.

But then I begin to panic a little, because I have a hard time letting go of the control when it comes to booking travel naturally. I panic that he will pay too much for a hotel, he won’t stay at one of my preferred properties, he won’t use my agent rate, he might do a been there, done that trip.

Travel is my department and I just have a hard time not keeping my finger on it. But this time, I didn’t question, I didn’t even ask! I thought hmmmmm…Let me see what he can come up with…. and guess what ? I was completely, pleasantly surprised.

We are going on a simple trip to scout out all of our local covered bridges nearby us.

He said to “get your lens ready” and I can’t wait. SPEAK MY LOVE LANGUAGE USING CAMERA SLANG….THAT IS SEXY TALK! So guess what? This is a perfect lesson in letting go of the control.

I can’t wait it is going to be so much fun! The last bridge I photographed was the one above in February last year, my son had just broke his arm skiing, we were on the way to the hospital. I spotted it, stopped pulled out the glass, and took a few pics. Don’t panic- We got to the hospital with plenty of time to spare. What kind of mom am I?
So get ready for Fall…..it is going to be a good one!

(All photography but the top of image of Elizabeth were taken in the past)

Why didn’t you tell me?

Yesterday consisted of my drive home from Bar Harbor, that was twice as long as it needed to be.  I decided to go the coastal route of 1A which add a couple of hours on to the drive.

We stopped in Camden,  Maine (Which is a beauty of a resort town).  Didn’t have a chance to take any great pics-only this one below bummer-   Camden, is on my list of great overnight spots!

Then on to Rockland, Maine to see Owl Head Lighthouse, that is really at the end of the earth.

We never grew tired of watching the lobster boats floating around!  That is truly New England!

The topography of the land thrilled me at every turn-

Love the ragged coastlines of Maine

Then, I discovered the town of Thomaston, Maine- which at that point I was out of time and couldn’t stop.  That was the biggest disappointment of the summer,  finding a town like Thomaston and then not being able to stop.  

Take a look at what I found and you will feel my same disappointment.  

For you geographers at heart –  Here is the map to show you where I was-

So I am driving and stumble upon this beauty- which happens to be  patriots home.  Not just any Patriot’s home but General John Knox.  

Montpelier- General Knox Home

 

Today, Thomaston is a small, and I mean small, resort area with a large historic district containing Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate architecture.  There are about a dozen houses on the main street that are just fabulous text book architecture.  This is why I am crying…..no time to stop, no photos, and now only a burning desire to go back- and it isn’t really convenient .

Let’s have a history lesson-

After ten years serving his country as Secretary of War, Henry Knox began to long for the life of a gentleman farmer, like the lives his friends George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were living on their country estates. Fortunately for him, his wife Lucy had inherited a vast tract of land in the District of Maine through her mother, the daughter of Brigadier Samuel Waldo. In 1795, newly retired, Knox bade farewell to Philadelphia and moved his family to the newly built Montpelier in Thomaston, Maine, to dedicate his “all to the development of the District of Maine.” There he had a hand in many of the emerging businesses in midcoast Maine: He shipped timber, quarried lime, made bricks, experimented with agriculture, built a lock and canal system, built many roads, and got involved with land speculation. The elegant house he built at the head of the St. Georges River epitomized the dreams of the young republic. It compared favorably with George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s Monticello, and Knox made it the center of many enterprises in midcoast Maine, employing many citizens.

See now why I am sad-  Why didn’t someone tell me?  Just a good excuse to go back there for an overnight fieldtrip.  How fun would that be?  Exploring the main street of some of the greatest original architecture in America?

I am sad to get back to the grind, but loved spending time with these guys discovering more great places in the world!  

Bar Harbor Weekend

This weekend we are hanging out on the coast of Maine…….and man oh man, it has been fantastic.  We have walked around Bar Harbor……………..

 

Tested the waters out…….

Ate lots of Clam Chowda……

We checked out the scenery………….

And ate lots of Ice Cream……………

 

We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Forest and had a 360 degree view of the world………..

And did some hanging out………..

We skipped rocks in the Harbor………..And walked along the seacoast………. (and don’t die of shock, but my husband finally learned how to take a picture with my Nikon, so I am in a shot!….Finally my posterity will know I was for real!)

 

We walked around the town of Bar Harbor and saw amazing views like this……………….

and continued to eat more Ice Cream……….

Lazy Days

We love the Lazy Days of August…….

This is how we feel about it!

Hanging out here on the lake………….

Baboosic Lake, Amherst NH

We love to go at least once a summer to swim and do some fishing (Which is not my thing whatsoever)  but  the boys can catch a dozen fish so easily and I can kick it in the lawn chair……and that is my thing!

Didn't realize how bad we needed haircuts until I viewed Noah in this shot

We like to feed the ducks and those same ducks chased Elizabeth clear to our car for pretzels and made her cry.  Sure how would you feel with an entire pack of ducks chasing you full speed?

Just plain summer fun!

Partly Cloudy and 69 Degrees

Our temperatures have been hanging in the very low numbers this summer with a rain shower nearly every other day.  I have been pulling out out of my bag of tricks, all of my indoor activities  to keep everyone happy, since swimming and sunscreen are not even an option this season.  I’m not complaining though, I don’t mind nice cool San Diego weather on the East Coast, it just takes a little more talent to entertain the younger crowd.

We decided to head north after picking Noah up from the Minor League Manchester Fisher Cats Baseball Camp.  This was his second year attending and he loves working out and training with our local team.  He could play all day every day, and then watch the Rex Sox all night and not complain about it.  (Where the heck is the picture I took – did I delete it…augghhh)

North- you ask?  Yes, to Concord, the capitol of N.H.  a small town with not too much to do, but with great historical significance.   We made a stop at the State House with the gold dome, to continue our citizenship unit that we are so casually completing this summer.

I have lived here nearly 8 years and have only been there once.  I spoke in front of the Senate about 6 years ago, on Families- One Man, One Women, on a political fight against gay marriage in NH when I served on the National Board for American Mothers.  Memories flooded my mind, as I was attacked coming out by a couple of women, and the media that day.  

We continued our Concord day, by making a surprise stop at the space center- Christa McAuliffe Discovery Center.

Noah learns about Moons and Planets

 Remember she was the school teacher who died in the Space Shuttle accident years ago?

Chase lands a space shuttle

 We spent the afternoon learning about space, Mars, weather, viewing the night sky in the planetarium and learning more about the International Space Center, which by the way, will be flying over our house the next couple of nights around 9:50pm.  So if for some magical reason the clouds disappear, we will have this unique viewing experience.

We used telescopes

 This space center was fun to visit, I took the kids to NASA in Cleveland, Ohio, last fall where the big time operations go on.  Space is a very exciting field to study.  I hope to continue to inspire Chase to use his skills perhaps in this area.

Check out Noah’s Face above, as he discovers what astronauts eat in space- not too excited about it!

So remember yesterday, when I said I was going to go to the South shore to the Orchestra with the kids?  Well this guy….my husband, talked me out of it and begged me to go to the minor league baseball game with the younger half of the family, and firework show.

These boys beg for their baseball at the dugout- Yep- they got one!

 How could I resist? As if I really needed another game in my life.    So needless to say, I never made it to John Adams house, to sit and listen to fine music and eat cheese and crackers.  He promised we would go next week, alone to Boston to hear next weeks concert.  I love feeling needed:)  He is negotiating so well right now!  

Noah and Brian enjoying the game together

The day ended up feeling like we were on vacation in our own state.  Just going from one activity to the next-  What’s New?  We love it!

Who Doesn’t Want to Listen to Music on the Charles River While the Sun Goes Down?

Back when we were first married, we used to love to go to Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah and listen to the Utah Symphony play.  We would pack up the cheese and crackers and the drinks, and head up to the mountain with our lawn chairs and blankets.  Those were good times, tucked deep in my memory now.

Yet, just the other day, I found this near close experience in Boston right at the Esplande .  Every Wednesday night- Starting July 29, 2009.  Who doesn’t want to watch the sail boats go by and listen to great music?

The Landmark Orchestra also offers a children musical series that is kicking off  tonight at the John Adams National Historical Park at the Beale house.  You can find the info at the link above!

The Beale Estate, Adams Historical Park

So guess who is taking the two older children tonight?  I can’t wait!  Who doesn’t want to sit and watch the symphony and listen to Haydn and Brahms at John Adam’s place-  Here is the schedule for the concert at  Esplanade on the Charles River in Boston starting next week.

 

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM
FROM JULY 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9TH
AT THE DCR’S HATCH SHELL ON THE ESPLANADE 

July 29 — Young Americans
Youth Orchestra of the Americas 
Touring North America with a stop in Boston, this fabulous youth orchestra brings music of Bernstein, Dvorak, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Gabriela Montero

August 5 — Damsels in Distress
MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra 
Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade 

August 12 — Opera Highlights
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Charles Ansbacher, Conductor 
Featuring Boston Lyric Opera soloists in excerpts from the 2009-2010 season: Bizet’sCarmen, Mozart’s Idomeneo, and Britten’s The Turn of the Screw 
Featuring soloists from Boston Lyric Opera’s 2009-2010 Season 

August 19 — Music of the Stars
Longwood Symphony Orchestra 
A star-studded evening featuring Mars from Holst’s The Planets, music from Star Wars by John Williams, and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major with the winner of the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts competition 
Featuring the winner of the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts piano competition 

August 26 — Felix and Wolfgang
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Charles Ansbacher, Conductor 
Youthful music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn, including Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, with violinist Mariana Green-Hill and violist Marcus Thompson 

September 2 — Green Masterpieces
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Charles Ansbacher, Conductor 
Nature-inspired music by Respighi, Mendelssohn, Handel, and Landmarks Orchestra’s newest commission, The Story of Frederick Law Olmsted, composed by Thomas Oboe Lee with story by Nancy Stevenson 
In collaboration with the Massachusetts League of
Environmental Voters and The Esplanade Association 

September 9 — Season Finale: Brahms German Requiem
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Charles Ansbacher, Conductor 
Brahms’ final grand work, featuring Susan Consoli, soprano, Dana Whiteside, baritone, and the New World Chorale, Holly Krafka, Director 
Featuring New World Chorale 

If I could add more to the last 3 days I would…..

 It started like it does every Saturday at the field watching this all-star play…………

Noah's All- Star Game and a Win

Noah Pitching in the Game

We celebrated the big 12th Birthday of this awesome kid-

Chase and Noah Box it Up in Style

Hard to believe he is 12

Chase was ordained a deacon in the priesthood at our church on Sunday by Brian…………Man I love these two guys!

Monday,  we finally went to the Robert Frost Farm and learned about the great poet, check it off my “Good for Your Mind” summer list……………….

Noah learns how to put something besides me through the ringer

 

Chase checks out his homeschool book collection

Robert Frost Farm

Where Robert would read and write

Hanging with our friends the Spencers

On a perfect summer night like this………….

We had Family Night and talked about courage and here is how we feel about being together…………….

Liz roasting marshmellows at Family Night

Awesome!

A new unplanned addition to our yard.....

Yummy!

Hillary Turned 15!

It is hard to believe that I have a 15 year old now.  It is hard to believe that in a couple of years, I will have an adult.  It all goes by so fast!  

Hillary at the Acropolis, Athens Greece 2008

Yesterday, this chick aged-up and we celebrated at the beach with perfect weather.  Hillary had been staying with her best friends family out there all week at their house.  She has a party planned for next week with her girl friends, so there is more celebrating to come!  The weather was outstanding, only 70 degrees….but it couldn’t have been nicer.

Thanks Hillary for being a fantastic daughter, and for being so obedient.  You are such a great example of everything that is good in the world.  Continue to let your light shine!

Happily Ever After

So yesterday, I talked about trying to get it together with the younger kids and I did just that.  We kicked off the day with a visit to The Palace Theater for a performance of Cinderella.  It’s not London’s West End, and only an hour performance, but it did the job and entertained the kids.  I bought season tickets for the summer performances to try and spice up the humanities at this house.  I don’t ever think it is a bad idea to put a little art into your life.  

Not the best photo since it was taken on my iphone of Cinderella and Elizabeth

After we were going to head to the pool but…….
Due to  another day of abundant rain and 61 degree temps in July, I had to switch to a winter idea-  I took the kids south to Boston, to the Museum of Science.  

 

View of Boston through a window at the Museum of Science

Today proved successful with all of the things that we learned.   Gees we should just count it as a school day, since we haven’t had summer here yet.

Noah dissecting Owl pellets

I absolutly love all of their displays for electricity, lightening and math.  Noah was selected to conduct the lightening storm, (the founder of General Electric contributed this to the MOS).  The MOS offers a great electricity show with Van de Grafff  generators.

Noah prepping to conduct lightening show with wand

A little nervous about what may happen

Later, he had  a hair raising experience literally.

Teaching Noah about positive and negative reactions

With half of the family out of town at camp and on business trips, we didn’t have anything to come home too, so we stayed until near closing.  We built buildings……and tracks…………..

Elizabeth and Noah work on patterns

and learned about motion………

Elizabeth learns about Motion

The big highlight was the new pitching cage that teaches you about momentum.  Noah was throwing a 53 mph fast pitch.  He probably threw 100 balls yesterday.

Pitching Cage

We worked on circut boards and played with magnets………………

Noah working on Circut Boards

We learned about ugly Posseums that live in New England.  We quickly came and went from that presentation.

And we all lived happily ever after in field trip land!