The Dusty Cellar (The Things I Do, The Places I Go)

A Daydreamy Day

2013-05-21T09:41:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Lemon Hill

I love old homes.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Any style.
Any condition.
Any location.

Welcome to Woodford

When I visit an old home,
I get all daydreamy
imagining life there.

Welcome to Laurel Hill

Nothing breaks my heart more than the destruction
of a quality, historic building
to be replaced with a cheap, modern structure.

Laurel Hill hardware detail

So I am happy to say...
within the boundaries of the largest city park

in the United States are the former summer homes

of prominent Philadelphians:

Lemon Hill features a completely oval room on each of 3 floors.

The Mansions of Fairmount Park

Woodford

Living near these treasures,

but never visiting the mansions

I thought it was about time I did so.

I really enjoyed the knowledgable docent at Laurel Hill.

Happily, the homes have all been preserved.

Woodford

Sadly, they are managed by different organizations.

This makes it difficult for visitors to compile

an itinerary for visiting them.

The Art Museum features temporary shows at Lemon Hill.

No matter how much you love old homes or architecture,

visiting them all at once would be mental suicide.

A city view across the Schuylkill River

above Boathouse Row as seen from Lemon Hill.

Pick a few to see or visit them over a period of time.

You can catch summer concerts at Laurel Hill.

Three down...four to go.

Maybe next week.

Here is MY guide to help you

next time you are in Philadelphia:

East of River

Mount Pleasant (Georgian) 39°59′0″N 75°11′59″W / 39.98333°N

3800 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Philadelphia, PA

is administered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Open Tues-Sun: 10 am-5 pm, except major holidays

Admission: $3; Students and Children (12 and under)-Free

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Woodford (Georgian) 39.993377,-75.187559

2300 N 33rd St East Fairmount Park, PA 19102

is administered by the Farimount Park Commission

Open Tues.-Sun., 10 am to 4 pm

Admission: $5 adults, $3 senior citizens, $2 children

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Strawberry Mansion (Federal with Greek Revival) 39.994193,-75.190386

2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19132

is preserved by The Committee of 1926.

Open: Exterior Construction is completed.

Admission: Adults - $3

**********

Lemon Hill (Federal) 39.970704,-75.187252

Sedgeley and Lemon Hill Drs, Philadelphia, PA 19130

is operated by Colonial Dames of America.

*Overlooks Boathouse Row and has a city view.

Open April - Nov., Wed - Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: Adults - $5

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Laurel Hill (Georgian) 39° 59' 28.35" N 75° 11' 41.18" W

7201 Edgley Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121

is operated by Women for Greater Philadelphia

*Views of the Schuylkill River from the back.

If the area is closed for a Regatta, tell them you want to visit the mansion.

Main Floor Tours:

Open Tues.-Sun., 10 am to 4 pm.
Admission: $5 adults, $3 senior citizens, $2 children

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

West of River

Sweet Briar 39.976591,-75.20077

1 Sweet Briar Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131

is operated by Modern Club of Philadelphia

Open: July 1-December 15, Wed-Sun: 10 am-4 pm.Admission: $3 per person

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cedar Grove (Federal) 39.97914,-75.20444

1 Cedar Grove Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131

is administered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Tues-Sun: 10 am-5 pm, except major holidays

Admission: $3; Students and Children (12 and under) - Free

Check for construction closures.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

View from Belmont Mansion Dr.

Belmont (Palladian) 39.990911,-75.213194

200 Belmont Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA

is managed by the American Woman's Heritage Society

and houses The Underground Railroad Museum.

*From the front is a great city skyline view.

Admission: $7 Adult, $5 Student/Sr/Child, Under 6 Free

Summer: Tuesday-Friday 11 AM-5 PM, Weekends 11 AM-5 PM

Winter: Tuesday-Friday 11 AM-5 PM, Weekends Noon-5 PM

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Map

The mansion names are often shared with

neighborhoods in the community.

Don't let that confuse you.

Laurel Hill is also the name of a beautiful, historic

cemetery nearby. It is also worth a visit.

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The Big Bad Wolf

2013-05-20T09:22:00.001-04:00

I think the wolf gets a bad rap
in all those kiddie stories.

Naiche

I met the friendliest of wolves
this weekend ...

Kotori

and received lots of Wolf Love.

Takoda, Mocha and Kotori

It seems that people

who live in small homes

and have small children

sometimes think it would be a good idea

to also get a large wolf.

Takoda, Naiche and Mocha

As sweet as these animals may be -
there is a need for some common sense
before adding one to the family.

Kotori

The animals here are rescues
from such homes.

Takoda

Now they are lovingly cared for
at the Howling Woods Farm
in Jackson, New Jersey.

Some are available for adoption
for those who meet the requirements.

The farm is not open to the public,
but if you call them you can arrange a weekend visit.

Chante'

And before you BUY any pet,
remember that breeders sell animals to make money.
Many are not really concerned about
the animals once you pay for them.
Additionally, breeding stock is often kept in horrendous conditions.

Sierra

That is why we only adopt our pets.
Despite the rumors...
You CAN adopt puppies.
Adoptables are not always problem animals.
You can find pure breeds.

So check out
petfinder.com
for your next pet.

Samson

Click here to make a contribution
to help support these wolves.
I can attest to the quality of care they receive.

Full Photo Gallery

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Seasonal Sensations

2013-05-16T07:06:00.000-04:00

Sweet and Creamy
A New Addiction

Like I really need another addiction.

Fragrant

Lily of the Valley

Beautiful, except for the inevitable sneeze that follows.

Melodious

House Wren

Endless, sometimes you just want the song to stop.

Soft

Pomeranian Ears

And so lovable.

Eye Candy

Candy without the calories.

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Brought to You Today By the Letter E

2013-05-02T07:57:00.001-04:00

Espionage
A young man in the army
during World War 2
finds himself in the thick
of allied Espionage.

Enigma

As a member of Ultra,
he kept a closely guarded secret.
Britain possessed the Enigma -
a Nazi encoding machine.

Enciphered

Our soldier,
Adolph G. Rosengarten, Jr.,
interpreted the Enciphered messages
intercepted from the Germans.

Enjoyment
But it was not for his work as a spy
that our soldier wished to be remembered,
rather
for the beautiful garden he left
for public Enjoyment.

Escape
Escaping the summer heat,
the Sr. Rosengarten family
summered in Wayne, PA

Estate

Their Estate named Chanticleer,
after the fictional castle in Thackeray's novel the Newcomes,
eventually became the full time home of the
entire Rosengarten Family.

Education
When our soldier died in 1990
he generously left his property
for the enjoyment and Education
of the public.

Endures

Chanticleer Endures today
as a pleasure garden
overseen by a board
of Rosengarten relatives.

Chanticleer Garden
786 Church Rd.
Wayne, PA

Thank you Adolph G. Rosengarten, Jr.

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Little German Schoolhouse

2013-05-01T08:49:00.002-04:00

It was a BEAUTIFUL day,
and enroute to my destination

I had an urge just to drive down a random country road.

Lo, and behold....

I heard angels singing.

A German schoolhouse was on this sight since the early 1700s
and run by the Deep Run Mennonite Church.
This structure was built about 1842.

If you peek inside a window,
there remain the old desks
and the wood stove.

I fell in love.
Cue Angels.

Amusing historical information can be found here.

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Nabbed by Officer Robin

2013-04-16T12:31:00.000-04:00

What seems to be the problem, Sir?

No, I'm sorry,

I do not know why you pulled me over.

Yes, my inspection is current.

Just inspected this month in fact.

I believe you would need a search warrant
to justify entering my car, Sir.

No, I'm not trying to be a wise guy.
I'm just stating the facts as I understand them.

Thanks for letting me go with just a warning
and, uh, well...that too.

It seems that now I have a marked car.
Lucky me.

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PH is for Philadelphia

2013-04-12T10:00:00.002-04:00

You know you are from the Philadelphia region

when all things F become PH.

Philly Phlowers

Chestnut Hill, Philadephia, PA

Ben Phranklin Bridge
Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA

Phord Ghetto Cruiser
Broad Street, Center City, Philadelphia

Photographer Phriend
Cherry St, Lenfest Plaza, Philadelphia, PA

13 Star Phlag
Cherry Street, Center City, Philadelphia, PA

Well, you get the idea.
What letter does your town begin with?

An Owl Hunt

2013-04-11T07:09:00.003-04:00

I know where it is nesting.

So I paid a visit one sunny morning.

But, Mrs. Owl was not to be seen.

So instead I meandered down to the lake.

I watched this blue heron for lack other subjects.

And to my surprise,

I caught a little action there instead.

Though I will have to revisit soon to see if I can catch Mrs. Owl at home.

Peace Valley Park
Bucks County, PA

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Hiking and Railroads in Hamburg, PA

2013-04-08T09:34:00.001-04:00

My husband has always loved being outdoors.

And, on many occasions, so do I.

Just not quite as often as he does.

Mark in Murren, Switzerland

We have hiked mountains thru

Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Virginia,

New York, California, Pennsylvania, Germany, Austria,

and the Swiss Alps.

Our vacations are always planned around mountains.

The Precipice, Acadia, Maine
Sadly, you will die if you fall. I lived to tell about it.

His idea of hiking is getting to the top of the mountain as fast as possible.

And even at his age,

he is still as fit as when he was running track in college.

So he gets up those mountains pretty fast.

Hawk Mt, Pennsylvania via Skyline Trail
I had a migraine and not enough water so
I offered myself to a rattle snake, but it didn't bite.

The rattle snake that refused me.

I, on the other hand,

always have a camera in hand

and like to take my time

enjoying the scenery on my way to the top.

(And, I am not as fit as I was in college.)

The Swiss Alps
That yellow speck is me...crying.

Those times when he comes running back down to me,

to tell me how much further away the top is...

and I am panting for breath...

Well, it is at those times that divorce crosses my mind.

Now, when we plan a hike he asks if
I will be taking the divorce papers with me.

Wellsboro, PA
He ran down a trail to this valley just to beat the posted time.

I've pretty much given up trying to keep up with him anymore.

In fact, I've found him some hiking friends

and arrange hiking dates for him

and then I go play with my camera.

Mark, Marty and Chris

Recently, he and two friends hiked part of the Appalachian Trail

near Hamburg, PA.

I dropped them off and was to pick them up in 3 hrs

at a predetermined location where the trail crosses a highway.

I gleefully hurried off with the car and camera to have some fun on my own.

Exploring Lenhartsville, PA while they hiked.

About 2.5 hrs later, I get a call...

"We are no where near the meeting point."

(I had a sense they had no idea where they were.)

I let them know, in that case,

I was going to tour a train museum about 15 mins from the meeting point.

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg, PA

Another 2 hrs later,

I get a call,

"We think we are near the train museum."

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg, PA

I walked outdoors and there they were.

Crazy, exhausted hikers who had lost their trail

walking up 3rd Street in Hamburg, PA.

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg, PA

I am so glad I didn't join them on that hike

or I would have filed those papers!

Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg, PA

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Book Impressions

2013-04-02T12:33:00.002-04:00

I've read a lot of books...a lot.

Let's just say, if I don't remember reading it,

it probably wasn't worth reading.

Some books leave a lasting impression,

these are some of them.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls

This is no ordinary memoir, Jeannette walls has a story to tell

and her life story no less.

From surviving life in abject poverty

with completely dysfunctional parents

to becoming an editor, journalist and writer.

I found it hard to put the book down,

in fact...I don't think I did until I finished it.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

A single mother with only a 3rd grade education

raises two boys alone in Detroit.

This is the story of one amazing woman

and the self determination of her troubled son.

What she and both her sons did to open the doors

to become highly successful men.

Today, Ben Carson is a world renowned neurosurgeon.

I am a big fan of Ben Carson.
You can meet him in this video.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A novel narrated by the character Amir.

Amir spends his youthful days Kite Fighting,

something I had never heard of before.

Race, class, culture, love, career, abuse, life and death:

A rich story beautifully woven together.

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

I don't typically read war stories,

but this one was an exception.

The writing is stellar.

The author had a unique gift of packing

so much meaning into a singular word

and I read every word.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

If you haven't read it you really should.

Entertaining and amusing

yet tackling some heavy issues.

Very well written.

Devil in the Windy City by Erick Larson

Chicago, The World's Fair and a Serial Killer.

A true life mystery, graphic.

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Powerful.

And here are some Honorable Mentions:

Girl With the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Drume

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Under the Tuscan Sun by France Mayes

(The book not the movie, of course!)

The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Love reading too?
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Photos from my Phila Flower Show Gallery

For more book interpretations visit

Also linking to

Katherines Corner

Ready to Waltz

Little by Little
Favorite Things

Now excuse me while I get back to my book.

ESP Revisited and a Ramble

2013-03-27T21:00:00.001-04:00

I do not have Extra Sensory Perception.

As handy as that would be in life,

it is not something I can claim to possess.

But I have, on occasion had a premonition.

The one that stands out most in my memory

is when I heard my daughter, age 2,

walking down the steps and I knew she was going to fall.

Fall she did.

I've also had those gut feelings

about things.

I always listen to the gut feeling,

it has not let me down!

But that is not what ESP is referring to in this post.

ESP is Eastern State Penitentiary

And I revisited it.

And although fascinating,
I didn't want to blog the same history I blogged before.

In the name of progress
so many places like this are leveled
to make room for newer, cheaper, and uglier construction.

And that is a pet peeve of mine.
Out with the old and in with the new.
This story of Whitemarsh Hall is a perfect example
of what gets me on a rant.

Al Capone's Cell

Imagine what Europe would be like
if they practiced that principle.
All those old castles and churches....gone?

But not to worry,
for now Eastern State Penitentiary operates as a museum.
As far as I know,
there is no wrecking ball waiting to level it.
THAT makes me happy
because I find beauty here.

Now I think I'll read a biography about Al Capone.

My ESP Gallery is here.

Whitewater on the Tohickon Creek 2013

2013-03-18T11:22:00.000-04:00

Oh where, oh where is spring?

After all, there was a spring dam release

into the Tohickon Creek this past weekend.

Instead of spring like weather,
it was about 30 degrees with snow flurries.

And these crazy paddlers were in the cold water!

Some even had bare hands.

How they kept a grip on the paddle is beyond me!

Only my toes got wet
and I was sure I had frost bite!

My husband says I am crazy for sitting on the rocks
for 4 hrs. taking photos.

Clearly...he has not yet met crazy.

Compared to these people...
I am perfectly sane.

Photo of me on the rocks by David Dami Photography

Brrrr....

My full gallery of photos is here:

2013 Tohickon Creek Whitewater Paddlers

I took over 1200 but only kept 309 shots! :)

Killin' Time

2013-03-14T07:23:00.000-04:00

That's what happens when you don't read an invitation carefully.

You are either early or late...
and even though is was the beginning of
Daylight Savings Time,
we still managed to arrive early.

So we killed some time by riding up
Mt. Penn in Reading, PA
to the Pagoda there.

From here,
you can see the city of Reading below.

Built in 1908 as part of a luxury resort that never happened,
the Pagoda now belongs to the city
and is a bit of a tourist attraction.

The Pagoda managed to survive the anti Japanese sentiment
caused by World War 2.
Now you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the Cafe located inside.

Now back to our regularly scheduled life.

Convention Confessions

2013-03-13T07:36:00.001-04:00

I almost hate to admit it.

It so isn't me.

Or is it?

I choose to believe not.

But the tickets were free, so why not?

A visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show.
I would normally avoid it like the plague.
But...a camera friend and free tickets...why not?

Katherine's Corner, Little by Little, Ready to Waltz

At Home in Milford

2013-03-06T10:07:00.001-05:00

On a recent scouting mission for my camera club,

my eye was really just attracted to this bridge.

A bridge over the Delaware River
connecting Pennsylvania with New Jersey.
And I love bridges with pedestrian paths.

But the true treasure
is what I found on the other side of the bridge.

Milford,
a little town that history forgot.

Just park a few vintage 50s cars along the street
and you'd swear you were hearing
Elvis crooning from a window nearby.

I am not sure how this sweet little town
has avoided the CVS, McDs, and Target wrecking balls.
But I sure hope they continue to do so.

I did not see one chain store on main street...
hallelujah!

And seriously,
how can you not LOVE a place with
a Honeysuckle Lane?

I am thinking this would make a great side trip for
my camera club.
I'm just not sure what Milford residents
will think being invaded by people with cameras.

My Photo Album for Milford, New Jersey

Walk and Click
Katherine's Corner
Ready to Waltz

Are We There Yet?

2013-03-04T09:12:00.002-05:00

They come in by the thousands

as a cacophony of barking and honking fills the air.

Here, they take brief respit during their 3,000 mile

trek from their wintering grounds

enroute to their nesting grounds

in the Arctic tundra.

Families travel together.

Flying at an altitude of almost 3,000 feet

they cover 50 miles per hour.

While feeding on the ground,

lookouts keep a watch for predators.

Upon sighting a threat,

they call out

encouraging the entire flock to take flight.

This is a Snow Goose Migration.

A pretty amazing sight.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

100 Museum Road, Stevens PA 17578
Numbers typically peak the first week of March.

My Middle Creek Park Photo Gallery

Our World
Sweet Shot
Communal Global
Rurality

Happy Anniversary to Friday My Town Shoot Out

2013-03-03T18:02:00.002-05:00

Happy Anniversary to Friday My Town Shoot Out.

FMTSO is a linky blog that I participate in.

It was started 4 years ago...

and while the founders have moved on to other things,

running FMTSO

continues through volunteers.

Barry Edward Fraser April 3, 1943 to July 20, 2010

Bells for Barry

We joyfully rang bells for Barry when he finished his chemo treatment.

We were saddened at his passing.

I love the people associated with FMTSO.

Of all the linkys I have participated in,

this is the most friendly people,

down to earth,

gracious,

and committed to visiting and commenting.

One of my first blogging friends...

JarieLyn.

We still visit and comment.

Mark, was a regular contributor

wo kept us all laughing with his humor.

He occasionally drops by...

but grandkiddies are filling his days now.

People have come and gone,

the blog goes on...

but I still value each one I have met through this venue.

For the Love of History

2013-02-25T11:36:00.000-05:00

Way back when I was in high school...

back when teachers still used chalk and chalkboards

instead of those new fangled smart boards...

...way back then,

I hated history.

I had a teacher

who stood next to her desk

in the same place every day and

leaning ever so slightly against it

she...

LECTURED.

That's all she did.

Day in and day out

she lectured.

I was bored stiff.

I hated her class...

I had that teacher twice in 3 years.

Jump ahead a few years to college.

I had a tough old bird professor for history.

She was brutal.

Complete with blue book exams

where you couldn't write fast enough...

But I loved her class.

She rarely lectured.

She brought history alive.

We read historical fiction...

or biographical works from the periods we studied.

We took field trips.

After a visit to Winterthur Museum in Delaware,

I was smitten.

Thanks to that professor,

I now love history.

I devour historical fiction, historical accounts and biographies.

And I love to visit historical places.

Just the feel of them makes my heart sing.

A peek inside:

My Stover Myers Mill Photo Album

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Our World Tuesday
Communal Global
Favorite Things

Cycling Through Life

2013-02-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Twenty some years ago

we moved into our current house with two little girls.

Several years ago

a new couple moved into a house down the street

and now they have two little girls also.

Watching their family grow

brings back sweet memories.

Memories of when we were young

and running behind bicycles too.

Am I that old?

Let's see, the next bicycles I run behind

will likely belong to the grandkids of my future!

I don't feel that old.

But then I'm not running behind a bike either.

I snapped these photos while my little neighbor was learning to ride her bike.

I think it is time to get them on a CD and deliver them to her Mom and Dad...

before they have grandkids!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

52 Photos Project

Cool Clicks Thurs.

The Great Train Wreck of 1856

2013-02-18T08:11:00.000-05:00

Ambler, Pennsylvania

What's in a name?

Well, in this case, quite a bit.

On a hot day in July 1856 the kids of

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church

of Kensington, Philadelphia

were looking forward to escaping the heat by train

for a picnic in Shaeff's Woods in Wissahickon, PA.

The train was carrying between 1,100-1,500 people

straining the steam engine pulling 10-12 passenger cars behind.

The train was running late due to the time needed to

load all the passengers

as well as the time it took to build steam pressure along the way.

A train engineer leaving from the Wissahickon Station
in the opposite direction

waited the customary time for the "Picnic Special" excursion train

to make its way through a shared section of single track.

However, the engineer of the "Picnic Special" never telegraphed

about his delays because he believed he could make up the lost time.

Both trains proceeded on course.

Along a blind curve on the single track

the trains collided in the early morning hours.

Introduce a Quaker woman living near the Wissahickon Station:

Mary Ambler.

She gathered supplies and hurried to the scene.

Her help was so notable that the train station was renamed

Ambler Station in her honor.

Twenty years later, the town's name was also changed

from Wissahickon to Ambler.

This was the largest train wreck if it's time

killing between 59-67 and injuring up to 100 more.

Sadly, the engineer from Wissahickon assumed guilt and commited suicide.
He was absolved of guilt but it was too late.

For more information:

Ambler Main Street

Wikipedia

The photos have nothing to do with the train wreck.
They were taken at GATSME Model Railroad Club
in Fort Washington, PA.
After 37 years,
the club needs to find a new home.
Everything will be disassembled
and stored until something can be found.

Our World Tues., Communal Global, Tones on Tues.,

Double the Trouble

2013-02-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

My sweet not-so-little Pomeranian named Nittany

had two shots at his check up on Friday morning.

Afterwards he started throwing up

and by dinnertime his face was getting puffy.

We made our way back to the veterinarian

for an ER visit where he received shots of Benadryl and Prednisone
for an allergic reaction to the morning's shots.

Pretty quickly, his symptoms subsided

and life returned to normal.

At 12:30am my teenage son woke me up and said,

"Something is wrong with Nittany."

The poor thing was beside himself.

He kept scratching, shaking his head

and couldn't sit still.

What would have been really nice

is if I could have spoken to MY vet

and asked about giving him OTC Benadryl.

But noooo. My vet doesn't have 24 hr emergency phone coverage????

So we had to take him to a 24 hr Animal ER Hospital,

pay for ANOTHER check up and another Benadryl shot.

This time we were also sent home with

OTC Benadryl instructions and steroid pills.

So yes, I could have just given him OTC Benadryl

instead of rushing off to another ER visit.

Now I am looking for a veterinarian

that has ER 24 hour phone coverage too.

And I kind of decided,
I'll stop thinking about adopting a little friend for Nittany.
I don't think I could handle double the trouble.

Sweet Shot Tuesday

Adored

2013-02-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

This beautiful hand carved frame appears to hold a mirror
when in reality it is empty.

The purpose of the frame was to
surround the figure of the mistress
as she made her way down the staircase
to her husband below.

How simply romantic.

And that would so never happen here.
I married an engineer.
He is simply so practical.

Lambert Castle
Paterson, NJ

Mather Mill

2013-02-13T16:12:00.002-05:00

I was on a quest to locate the oldest local building still standing.

I thought I had found it...

A mill built in 1690.

But it seems,

the mill was rebuilt in 1820.

Foiled.

I asked a local historian

who did not know...

So, I am just going with this old mill.

The land on which it stands

was purchased by a British army officer from William Penn.

The officer's son, Edward Farmar, built the first mill on the site.

The second mill was built by Joseph Mather.

Today, the mill is in disrepair

and is structurally unsound.

So I'll show it some love here.

The Great Falls in Winter

2013-02-11T12:23:00.001-05:00

I find it truly amazing how,

when I am interested in something,

I just don't notice the cold.

When focused on getting a series of shots

I can stand outside for hours...

complains a certain husband.

And let's just say this trip was especially cold.

With the added mist freezing to all the surfaces
walking was treacherous.

The same mist covered my sunglasses, camera and lens
making visibility impossible.

So I more or less aimed, shot and hoped for the best.
Mental note: Next time cover the camera and bring a lens cloth.

Fortunately, a certain husband wore his ski gear so he was plenty warm.
If only the camera wasn't getting wet then I would have had more time....

But if I was with camera friends,
we would have found plastic, gotten our lens cloths
and returned for more photos.
But I won't complain.

The Great Falls
Passaic River
Paterson, NJ

That Whole Downton Abbey Thing....

2013-02-08T11:41:00.000-05:00

Are you hooked?

I am.

But I already know the spoiler of how Season 3 ends...

although I refuse to watch the episodes before they air in the USA.

I think it is kind of ironic though...
that America is so wrapped up in this series.

It seems we Americans are conflicted
over our feelings about the rich people we love to hate.

I am in the camp the believes wealthy people add value.
Just look at what they leave behind for us to enjoy!

And seriously, who are you going to tax
if you destroy those making lots of taxable income?

Oh, I'm not trying to make any enemies...
I just really liked touring this old mansion
and getting lost in the old world that once was.
Kind of like an American Downton Abbey.

Lambert Castle
In 1851 at the age of 17
Catholina Lambert left England for America,
the "Land of Opportunity."
Lambert became successful in the silk industry in New Jersey
and built this home in Paterson, NJ
to house his collection of art.
But in 1913 debt found him and he had to sell his art
and mortgage his home
where he continued to live until he died in 1923.
The property now belongs to Passaic County
and can be toured for a small fee.