C'est Suzanne

Some Pottery and Raku

2012-06-03T08:35:00.012-04:00

Raku is a pottery technique that has it's origins in 16th century Japan.

The raku technique, like other pottery techniques such as pit firing is about the firing process, but association with raku often goes much deeper into its philosophy, roots and cultural significance.
Japanese raku and the western version are similar in many ways but there are also some significant differences.

Just about all other types of pottery are loaded into a cold kiln, where the firing proceeds slowly until the desired temperature is reached.
This firing cycle may take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours or even longer.
When the kiln has reached the right temperature, which is generally determined through the use of pyrometric cones, it is shut off and allowed to cool enough to remove the pottery or ceramics using bare, or lightly gloved hands.
The cooling cycle may last from 12 to 24 hours or longer.
The pottery is considered finished when it is taken from the kiln.

In raku, the pottery may be loaded into a cold kiln, but are often preheated and loaded into a hot kiln.
The firing proceeds at a rapid pace with the pottery reaching the desired temperature in as short a cycle as 15 to 20 minutes.
Some raku firings can last up to several hours depending on the individual pieces and their firing requirements.
Glaze maturity is judged by the trained eye without the use of cones or measuring devices.
When the firing is determined to be completed the pottery is immediately removed from the kiln.
Since at this point the glaze has melted, tongs or other lifting devices are used.

This is the stage in the process where traditional and contemporary raku differ in technique and treatment.
In our western version the pottery is treated to an after firing reduction phase.
The pottery is put into a container with combustible material such as sawdust, or leaves and allowed to smoke for a certain length of time.
The carbon rich atmosphere reacts and affects the glazes and clay and produces unique effects on the surfaces of the pottery.
Some of these effects are metallic and crackled glaze surfaces and black unglazed clay.
When the pottery has cooled, they are washed with an abrasive cleaner to remove all residue of soot and ash and then dried.

My daughter Audrey's advanced ceramics class at her high school has what is called "Raku Day". The ceramics students arrived at school early before the rest of the student body around 7am with the two other male art teachers. They then took the school golf cart down to what is known on the campus as the beaver pond due to the extremely large beaver hut and dam there.

A large bond fire was built on the shores of the pond as a "kiln". The student fired their works outside and so the rest of the process begans. The western technique of raku comes in many forms and usually is left up the individual to decide what type of rapid cooling to use. In this case they used straw and let the pieces steam and smolder for optimum interest in glazing color. Any area of course that was not glazed came out matte black.

Students ate their lunches outside and remained with the raku festivities until dismissal at 2:20 that day. Luckily the weather that day was absolutely gorgeous and everyone had a great time.

And lucky me, I get to look at the lovely pieces at home each day now!

Our Horse Charles.

2012-06-02T15:48:00.005-04:00

This video is of course another horse but this gives an idea of piaffing.

Here is our horse Charles. He is a "flea bitten grey" thoroughbred gelding but was never on the track. Because he is older now he is almost white. We know he was never on the track because he does not have a tattoo on the inside of his gums the way track horses do. He was once an eventer or a cross country horse in his youth up in Massachusetts but now he is purely a spoiled pet. He can still jump really high. We laughed and laughed the day he heard the "Star Spangled Banner" played at the local high school football game which is near the stable where we board. Charles started to do a piaff which is a dressage move when the horse trots in place without moving ahead.
He is eager to please and gentle as a lamb. A love too. And we love him.

Cosi fan tutte: trio- Soave sia il vento (Solti)

2012-06-02T10:09:00.001-04:00

Jason Mraz - Butterfly (AT&T Blue Room)

2012-06-01T16:26:00.002-04:00

The New Bed.

2012-06-01T09:40:00.003-04:00

About a month ago I purchased a new bed and it was scheduled to be delivered late yesterday. Well, sure enough it came and it looks very similar to the one above. It has linen upholstery on the headboard with buttons and the "box spring/platform" is also upholstered in natural linen. I think it is very pretty. The old bed is a "sleigh bed" from a Canadian company and that will be going into the guest room along with its memory foam mattress that I love.

Today I will shop for a mattress for the new bed. More posts to follow when the whole production is set up.

Garden Fest at The Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Ct.

2012-06-01T07:10:00.001-04:00

List of events for GardenFest 2012
	June 1 -10 Kick off the garden season in Old Lyme with this exciting series of events that take place in and around the Museum’s historic gardens. This fourth annual event is a ten-day celebration of the site’s historic gardens, featuring special events, and family activities. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities for all ages and interest levels. Most events are free with Museum admission.

Friday, June 8
Saturday, June 9
10am-5pm
Sunday, June 10
1-5pm

Back for a second year, Blooms with a View: A Display of Art & Flowers.
On June 8, 9, 10, a group of talented floral artists display the stunning arrangements that they created to interpret works of art. The floral interpretations in Blooms with a View play off the colors, line, shapes, and subject matter of the works that inspired them in masterful ways.

See all of last year's arrangements...

New to this year’s GardenFest the Museum presents the miniature masterwork of Old Lyme artist Renée Wilson with the installation of Pleasure Gardens: A Miniature Majaraja Palace. Based on several majaraja palaces in India, the Pleasure Gardens is a fantasy creation of a mythical palace, complete with gardens, several pavilions, and a remarkable elephant stable. It took decades to complete.

Photo by Rick Scanlan

Friday, June 1 9am-3pm Garden Gang Plant Sale The heirloom perennials, unusual annuals, and fascinating succulents range from $5 to $50. Many are similar to those in Miss Florence’s garden. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s garden projects.

Activities for Families
Each Sunday, visitors can pick up all the painting supplies necessary to make their own masterpieces in garden or down by the river. No experience necessary.

Saturday, June 2
Toe Jam Band’s “Green Show”
Tom and Vinny’s high energy antics combine original songs and interactive storytelling to remind us why we should take care of our planet. With songs like "Do the Can Can," children learn the importance of recycling and how everyone can help keep the Earth healthy.

Sunday, June 3
Fun and Arty Garden Party
families will enjoy a day filled with artful garden projects and other fun activities.

Sunday, June 10
Bring on the Flower Power and tie dye a t-shirt.

Friday, June 8
11am-2pm

Annual Garden Luncheon

The Museum will honor its Garden Gang volunteers during the fifth annual garden luncheon. Spend a lovely afternoon touring the gardens, Pleasure Gardens: and Blooms with a View. At noon, a lunch by Seaflour Gourmet of Essex will be enjoyed overlooking the Lieutenant River.

Festive garden party attire and hats encourage.

There is an additional fee for this event and reservations are required. The Luncheon supports the stewardship and preservation of the Museum’s historic gardens and riverside landscape.

For more information or to reserve a table, please Call Sarah at 860-434-5542, ext. 122.

Sponsored by
Wilber & King
Where Gardens Take Root

Celebrate the Museum's Garden Gang!

Get your GardenFest best and hats ready.

	Wednesday, June 6 11am to 3pm Potter Demonstration and Sale Master potter from Litchfield, CT, Guy Wolff demonstrates how he makes his garden planters that are inspired by 18th and 19th century pottery designs and are a favorite of Martha Stewart. Planters available for purchase.

	And in The Shop... Great Goods for the Gardener Garden items and beautiful gifts will be plentiful in The Shop during the Museum’s 3rd annual GardenFest. Featuring garden sculptures, vases, heirloom seeds, floral jewelry, garden books, and other great items.

Some Ladies in Waiting of Hamburg Cove, Ct.

2012-05-31T09:42:00.023-04:00

A sign outside the feed trough announces who will be eating the food on Tiffany Farm.

I woke up early this morning and discovered after bringing the dogs out that it was a gorgeous morning outside. So after dropping my youngest son at his school I decided to head a few miles north to a section of the town of Lyme called Hamburg Cove.

Hamburg Cove was settled by farmers in the mid 1800s and many of the homes are still in pristine condition. The cove itself is part of the lower Connecticut River. The water is deep and is still used as a port for sailing and power boats alike. There remains one large dairy farm in Hamburg/Lyme that was started by the Tiffany family in 1841. The Tiffany family continues to own the farm to this day.

Click here for more information on this historic farm and their Holstein dairy cows.

This pretty home sits across the street from the "Ladies in Waiting".

I have always thought this little bridge looked like something out of a fairy tale. It was just recently renovated.

The lucky folks who live in this section of Hamburg Cove can keep boats right in their back yards. The water is quite deep here so even large boats can be accommodated. If you travel south from Hamburg Cove you will wind up directly in the main part of the lower Connecticut River which of course leads directly into Long Island Sound. It is about a half an hour boat ride from Hamburg to the Sound.

My oldest son took sailing lessons for years and years from this small dock in little Opti's. They would have races all summer. Lots of fun for boys who are 10, 11, 12 years old.
He is 6'4" now and could probably not fit into an Opti any more.

Samuel R. Hazo - Arabesque/ 20 Beautiful Oases.

2012-05-30T09:26:00.005-04:00

20 Most Beautiful Oases in the World.

1. Ubari Lakes are part of Erg Awbari Oasis in the Sahara. Located near Fezzan and 30kms north of Germa in Libya, these salt water lakes are a central trading point for many locals, who gather at the edges of the lake selling souvenirs and other goods.

Umm Al-Maa, meaning Mother of Water, is one of the largest lakes in the oasis but unfortunately, like all the lakes, the water table in the area is so low that the lakes are drying up

As well as the waters being extremely dirty, the saline levels are now similar to the Dead Sea (which is great news if you like floating in crud). The abandoned city of Gebraoun is also relatively nearby with its impressive ruins, the settlement is testament to the life-sustaining qualities that the lakes once had.

2. Huacachina is a small oasis town in the Ica region of southwest Peru. This oasis, named ‘Oasis of Americas’, is a popular resort with local families and tourists. A legend says the lagoon was created when an inquisitive young hunter disturbed a beautiful princess bathing. She fled, leaving the pool of water behind which became the lagoon.

3. Turpan, or Tulufan as it’s also known, is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uygur Region in China. It is just 8km west of the ruined city of Jiaohe, a border garrison town destroyed by Genghis Khan during the Han dynasty.

4. We’re not entirely sure where this desert oasis is but we had to include it because, surely, this is what most people perceive as the typical oasis mirage? If anyone has been there, shoot us the location.

5. This wonderful desert lake is set within Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhao, Brasil. It forms part of a system of fresh water lagoons which fill up with rainwater during the first six months of the year and then gradually evaporate over time to be topped up again the following year. Some of the lakes within the park are dotted with palm trees. This lonely lake, however, has one solitary dry branch decorating its banks.

6. Crescent Lake in China’s Gobi Desert sits on the edge of an ancient city that once saw traders embark on their journey along the Silk Road to the West. Today it is drying up and has dropped more than 25 feet in the last 30 years, in part due to water being redirected for local farmers and a doubling of population, resulting in the slow disappearance of a lake that has existed for thousands of years.

7. The beautiful oasis of Chebika in Tunisia is probably one that most people know about without realizing it. It is where Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was filmed. The story goes that the oasis was actually named after one of the characters, Chewbacca.

8. This stunning image shows three men quenching their thirst at a small waterfall in the Saharan oasis of Timia, in Niger. It’s a picture perfect portrait of everyday oasis life for local desert dwellers.

9. There are always small enclaves or villages dispersed near bodies of water, no matter how small, and this image shows why. Even in desert areas wholes farms can exist with the life giving powers of water.

10. This remote desert lake, fringed by sand dunes is located in Khar Nuur, Mongolia. It’s a refreshing swimming spot for travelers who manage to venture into one of the world’s vast desert plains.

11. Nahal David is a quiet oasis found near Bethlehem, Israel’s Palestinian West Bank. It’s certainly a far cry from the war-torn images often associated with that part of the world.

12. This sprawling oasis is the village of Tinerhir, located at the foothills of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. Todra Gorge and oasis are about 14km away so travellers normally visit both oases on the one trip.

13. Ghardaia is the main town in M’zab oasis in northern Algeria. Founded in the 11th century, the city was built around a cave which was reputedly inhabited by the female saint Daïa, and is still revered by M’zabite women today. The oasis offers some wonderful examples of original Arabic medieval architecture and is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.

14. This castle is part of an oasis on the western shore of the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia, called Qatif. The city dates back to 3,500 BC and was for many years the main town and port in the western Gulf, which meant it was a popular spot for invasion and take over by ruling powers through the ages. This resulted in an eclectic mix of architecture and the area now boasts some of the best archeological sites in the kingdom.

15. This oasis is hidden in the depths of the Oman desert, where a number of green oases dot the landscape. A few oases in the tiny Sultanate, on the corner of the Arabian Peninsula, are hotspots for botanical studies into agro-biodiversity where many of the ancient oasis are in rapid decline; researchers want to figure out why.

16. Nakhl Fort sits overlooking a lush, green date-palm oasis in Oman. These impressive forts were strategically placed across much of the Oman desert, like many places, to protect villagers from invasion.

17. This beautiful unnamed oasis is situated in Niger. If you have any further info, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section. Considering the recent unrest in the country it’s amazing to find places like this still.

18. The lush green carpet of shrubland and fields sit in stark contrast to the barren hills in the background of this typical oasis village. Any clues to where it is?

CREATELINKTOWARDSTHISARTICLE

PREVIEWQUOTE

20 Most Incredible Desert Oases
1. Ubari Lakes are part of Erg Awbari Oasis in the Sahara. Located near Fezzan and 30kms north of Germa in Libya,...

Saro Tribastone - Fanusa (Acoustic Mix)

2012-05-30T09:18:00.003-04:00

Beautiful and serene. A calming video to watch.

Peony.

2012-05-30T07:26:00.003-04:00

For you from my garden.

Pop Arts Ball to Benefit Lyme Academy of Fine Arts Scholarships.

2012-05-30T05:01:00.003-04:00

Tickets

Marilyn Monroe Table for 10: $10,000
Jackie O Table for Eight: $5,000
Liz Taylor Table for Six: $2,500
Patron Tickets: $250, $500 & $1,000

Guest ticket: $150
Your individual ticket entitles you to a full, open bar all evening, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction of striking and diverse art and non-art offerings, reserved seating for dinner, dancing and free parking for the evening. You may choose to sit with friends at dinner (call us with names) or to be seated with new people.
Tables of six, eight or ten are available.
If you are unable to attend, you may choose to send a donation to:
Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, 84 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT 06371.
All proceeds to benefit student scholarships.

Patron Table Hosts

Marilyn Monroe Patron Hosts

Jackie O Patron Hosts

Liz Taylor Patron Hosts
The Joffray Family
The Sulmasy Family
Dr. Robert W. and Mrs. Ann P. Pratt

2012-05-29T21:23:00.002-04:00

My deer friends.

See the turkey in the bottom right hand corner?

Very early in the morning if you look out my bedroom windows or one of the windows in my bathroom you can see all of my yard down below front and back. Well, this morning I was getting ready to step into the shower when something caught my eye. The dogs were still asleep so I was careful not to wake them for they make a huge noisy mess when they have intruders in the yard whether they be human or animal.

I looked out to see our resident deer and resident turkey having their breakfast together in perfect harmony in my backyard. No fussing, no one afraid, just eating.

I do not have a photo of it but when the deer and the turkey went nose to nose I said to myself, "this is why I live in the country for moments like this." It was special and I almost felt like I was intruding from my spot high above.

Quiet times in the country woods are so special when nature reminds you that we are all God's creatures and we can all live in harmony. I feel honored to see what I did this morning.

To see beautiful acts in nature makes me feel like a better person inside and out.

~Suzanne.

C'est Suzanne: "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" Final Scene

2012-05-29T21:10:00.004-04:00

C'est Suzanne: "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" Final Scene: Click the title see a clip. The final scene of my favorite movie with my favorite score. Arguably one of the best movies ever made. Enjoy!

Memorial Day in Old Lyme 2012.

2012-05-29T08:59:00.026-04:00

Yesterday was Memorial Day and of course here in Old Lyme we have a parade. I am continually pleased each year to see the number of people who not only turn out to see the parade which features soldiers, two bands from the High School and Middle School local politicians, fife and drummers, the fire and police departments and of course all the girl and boy scouts and various little league teams but who attend the services after the parade. Last year the parade was rained out so this year it was nice to stand under a shade tree and clap for everyone.

The parade traditionally ends at the Duck River Cemetery in the center of town where the winners of the grade 5 essay contest "What Memorial Day Means to Me." are announced. The three winners then read their essays to the crowd of several hundred residents. Next a wreath is laid at the foot of the flagpole in the cemetery by veterans. A four gun salute was followed by the Old Lyme Select Singers who sang "Amazing Grace" a Capella.

Usually pure white peace doves are released at the end of the ceremony but I heard that the man who owns them is moving so the doves were not present this year. I missed them.

The main street was blocked off so I had to park my car down by the golf course in town. In this little inlet sometimes I used to see a very large blue heron bird looking for fish. He was not here today though. Too many people around I guess.

I have always thought the folks who live in this house have such a nice view.

These ladies decided to multitask. Tennis/Parade watch...

Luckily I managed to park my car right here under a tree in the shade. It was pretty warm out by the time the parade and service came to an end.

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter

2012-05-27T15:39:00.002-04:00

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter My friends Eddie and Jaithan celebrated a wedding recently. Here is video from their wonderful family ceremony at the beginning out in California. I so love these guys and their families.

The Junior Prom 2012

2012-05-26T09:57:00.004-04:00

Here is my daughter Audrey last Saturday afternoon before she left for the junior prom which was held at the Pequot Museum on the Pequot Reservation, near Ledyard, CT. They had beautiful weather that day. She finally wound up wearing this yellow dress after discarding two other blue dresses she has that have yet to be worn. (yes, price tags still on them...) She had a yellow pedicure to match. All the young ladies looked very beautiful and all the young men very handsome.

They all went on a bus together up to the museum which also took them home again to the school. A bunch of the girls drove to a sleepover at her friend's house down the street from us.

The next morning she said she had a fun time, danced a lot and the food was really good.
Next year she is on the Senior Ball committee and they want the theme to be "The Great Gatsby". I think that is a cute idea. Just think of all the dress possibilities! I told her she has to make one of the blue dresses she already has work!

National Honor Society Induction 2012

2012-05-25T07:47:00.013-04:00

Yesterday evening my daughter was part of a small group of students inducted into the National Honor Society at her high school. She has roughly 85 students in her graduating class next year and naturally we were extremely proud of this honor she achieved!

Congratulations Audrey!

The white candle symbolizes purity, the red candle a love for lifelong learning and scholarship, the blue candle for service to the community and the purple candle stands for leadership.

The Ivoryton Playhouse Repost.

2012-05-23T20:05:00.007-04:00

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Ivoryton Playhouse.

The roses look and smell wonderful.

Older than the Westport Playhouse and older than the Provincetown Playhouse is our little summer stock playhouse here in a section of Essex, Connecticut called Ivoryton. The building that is now the Ivoryton Playhouse was built in 1911 and was originally used for a recreation hall for the employees of the Comstock-Cheney factory which still stands empty about a half mile away. The factory made products from ivory which of course became illegal. Then the factory was used for the manufacturing of pianos.

Probably the building would have been torn down long ago according to the history written about the playhouse if it weren't for a man named Milton Stiefel. Stiefel was the "right hand man" of David Balasco, considered by many historians to be one of the greatest directors in American theater. Stiefel's players started their company and called themselves "The New York Players" in the mid 1930s.

Through the years from 1938- 1979 great actors such as Katherine Hepburn (a local), Helen Hayes, Marlon Brando, Art Carney (a local), June Lockheart, Don Ameche among dozens of others played to audiences during the summer months at the Ivoryton. The inside of the theater is jammed with black and white photos of actors of days past who have performed at the Ivoryton. When you walk through the halls of the theater, it's like stepping back into history. The theater was closed up tight this February but in another post I will show the inside. It is really something to see. The 2010 season list just came in my mailbox a few days ago.

The theater these days is run by the Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation and the new group of players is called The River Rep.

For more about the Ivoryton Playhouse visit their website here.

A list of actors from the 1930s. Click to enlarge. Click here for a complete list of actors. See if your favorite was a player at the Ivoryton.

The Ivoryton Playhouse in February without all the beautiful roses in bloom.

Matching elephants on the porch to greet you in a nod to the village of Ivoryton's past.

These plaques are what hang on historic buildings in our area for the National Register of Historic Places. That piece of rope hanging is attached to a large bell to call people in from intermission. Everyone goes outside on the patio in the summer.

The shingle covered building in the back of the playhouse is where costumes were once made and stored. Now costumes of course are mostly rented from big warehouses in New Jersey by the Meadowlands.

The old factory building still stands empty. It is not very large at all. It would be a nice building for condos or an office. They have a great view of the countryside from those windows including fields and a stream and the village of Ivoryton itself.

A tiny Episcopal church in Ivoryton village that has always captured my imagination.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day in Old Lyme.

The boy scout float.

The Techno Ticks float had a robot on it the my son James helped to build. The cardboard cutout on the right is of Dean Kamen, inventor extraordinaire, chairman of the entire robotics programs throughout the country. James met him last year at his house in New Hampshire after James won an award for being on the robotics team. James helps the team as a graduate mentor now being a Sophomore at Clark University.

My son James.

Essay contest winners for "What Memorial Day means to me". Each student/winner read their essay in front of the very large crowd at the cemetery and then received a medal and a savings bond.

Mr. Mervin Roberts giving the benediction. He gave us the piano we are now enjoying in our home.

"The Select Singers" from Lyme-Old Lyme High School sang a cappella.

The laying of the wreath.

Releasing the white peace doves. After this we all headed back to the firehouse where 1,000 hotdogs are served.

Lebanese Potato Salad for Memorial Day.

2012-05-23T09:02:00.000-04:00

I was looking for a link for a good potato salad recipe for a Memorial Day late lunch we are having at our house after the parade and ceremony at the cemetery. I have a traditional recipe for Hungarian potato salad but the calories are huge although it is delicious. I thought I would try this one. I am going to give it a test run tonight or tomorrow just to be certain we like it before serving guests.

5 lbs potatoes I like red or white skins on

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice.

3 3/4 tablespoons extra-virgin Italian olive oil

5/8 teaspoon sea or kosher salt

1 1/4 to taste ground black pepper, to taste

5 scallions, thinly sliced

1/3 cup chopped fresh mint from the garden.

Boil potatoes, al dente. Cut into two inch pieces. Combine with additional ingredients. Chill.

Fortune Cookie Cupcakes

2012-05-22T11:47:00.003-04:00

With three children having gone through elementary school my youngest is about to enter into middle school in our school system here in Old Lyme this August. The somewhat old-fashioned tradition is that the children are allowed to bring in cupcakes for the class to celebrate a child's birthday. My son's birthday happens to always fall during April vacation week so we usually wait until things settle down at a later date to send in cupcakes with the teacher's permission.
In addition, this year there is a student in his classroom with severe peanut allergy so I had to contact that mom and make accommodations for that child. I didn't want that child to feel left out of the fun.

At any rate, my son loves all things Asian. One year we had Yin and Yang cupcakes, another year we went with red. This year we decided to do Fortune Cookie cupcakes similar to the one you see above. I did not have the time to take an actual photo this morning before we were out the door but you get the general idea.

I think my son was happy with the results and the kids in the class will like reading their fortunes this afternoon.

Sleeping Giant State Park on a sunny Sunday.

2012-05-21T10:34:00.019-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day and we decided to go back to my hometown of Mt. Carmel, Connecticut and go for a hike at Sleeping Giant State Park. For more information about the park and activities there click here.

There are many, many trails throughout the 1,650 acre park. We decided to take the purple trail which runs along a pleasant shallow river with a waterfall at one end. The river cuts through a pine forest and it smells heavenly. I have always loved the way the light shines down through the tall old trees.

I actually grew up at the base of this mountain in a neighborhood where Quinnipiac University now stands. In fact, my house that I once lived in as a child now serves a dorm for college students. Yesterday was coincidentally the university's commencement day and it seemed strange in a way to see parents and students in caps and gowns walking back to our old house. Oh well, such is the passage of time I suppose.

At the top of one of the longer hiking trails on the "giant's stomach" is this castle that was built in the 1930s as part of the public works projects in the depression.

Across the street from the main picnic area in the park is the Dickinson House. This is an 1600s historic home that has been preserved meticulously back to its original condition. Every school aged child growing up in this area knows this house inside and out do to numerous school field trips here.

That's me wondering how that huge hole was made in the dam where the waterfall once was. Years ago the water rushed so hard in the springtime over this wall you could not even walk across it. In the warmer summer months however the water would just be a gentle trickle over the top.

The main picnic area in the center of the park.

Silvie came along for a walk too. She really enjoyed herself. Those are my winter white legs in the background. I need to get outside more now that it's warm.

Be yourself.

2012-05-15T08:53:00.003-04:00

Les Miserables 2012 Sneak Peak : Beyond The Trailer

2012-05-13T18:50:00.001-04:00

"Happy Mother's Day" from the set of Les Misérables

2012-05-12T09:30:00.002-04:00

I love this!