November 1, 2013

Today, we made a decision to see no more Capitol buildings for the rest of the trip.  Our choices today were to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA and then go to church in Great Barrington, MA.

The pictures you see here were either the originals or prints that are in the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Norman Rockwell Museum

There is a complete collection of covers of the Post magazines illustrated by Norman Rockwell.  Many of them were from private collections, donated to the museum.

 It is almost that time of year to give thanks.  This is one of the Four Freedoms collection.
A lot of thought and effort went into his paintings...to include many photographs, detailed sketched and the finished paintings.  Many of his models were local people.

Many of you have probably seen this one before.  It should be a reminder to get your flu shots.  We got ours today administered by a family friend (wink).

"The Lineman" was originally done to promote AT&T.  It later was said to belong to Verizon who in turn donated it back to the museum.

Rockwell's vision of the Main street of Stockbridge. 

How could any mother not call this Thanksgiving?  A soldier being home enjoying something with his mother that he learned to dislike in the service.

 

 Do unto others...

 To all the Red Sox fans out there...

 Rockwell's place where he did his paintings.  It is said that he was an immaculate painter and that everything was clean at the end of the day, whether he was working on 1 or 6 paintings.

We learned that one of his paintings was stolen from storage in New York City.
Rockwell painting "Sport" stolen.

This sculpture was done by Peter Rockwell who is widely known as a sculptor.

As promised, after a wonderful vacation, we went to church.

Where's Grammie, just outside the doors of the Old Trinity Church in Great Barrington, MA  The Trinity Church is where the song “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” began and where the movie “Alice’s Restaurant” was filmed.

The cross still remains, although inside.

You can get anything you want.....

People and places.

The National Academy for Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame award for "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie.

Today, the Old Trinity Church is known as the Guthrie Center.  It is an Interfaith Church.

The Guthrie Center. 

Even the day started out to be really rainy and blustery from the storm passing through, things were much better by the time we left the Church.

By Saturday evening, we should have seen all of our grandchildren and most of our children.  It has been a great and wonderful ride, each of us sharing it with our best friend.

Halloween, 2013

It was a short trip driving parallel to the Hudson River to Albany NY.  On a rainy day it was a good day to stay indoors, so we visited the Capitol building.

After many years in the building and over budget,  finish work on the inside was stopped and basically called good.  It was determined that the building could not support a rotunda and the plans for completion was scrapped.  It is an elaborate building with a lot of hard carving of many famous historical people's heads. 

Tomorrow, New England just around the corner.  Fresh Maine air and Apple Crisp are not far away.

OK, Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin show is on...gotta go.   Save some candy for us.

October 30, 2013

We spent the night at our usual place in Pittsburgh.  It is at the Air Reserve Base right next to the Airport.

If you ever get to the city, there is plenty to do and boat tours along the river.
Boat tours

We left town and headed Southeast to visit the Flight 93 Memorial in Stoystown, PA.  It is off the beaten path in what used to be coal mining land that has been closed for many years.  Currently they have a wall with the names of the 40 people that died.  One can only surmise how many more might have perished if it were not for their bravery.

 If one looks along the wall in the previous picture, there is a wooden gate that separates the wall area from a rock in the clearing where the plane went down.  The only people allowed to enter the area are relatives of those who died.

There are plans for a visitors center to be completed in 2015.  The groundbreaking took place in September. 

We set off for Harrisburg, the state Capital to visit the State House.  It is by far the most ornate of all that we have seen.  Many areas of the interior are covered with gold leaf.

The Senate Chambers.  Fifty members still vote the old fashioned way.

 The Supreme Court room which is not used in that capacity any more.

Two hundred three House members occupy this room during sessions.  The Members of the Senate and House are full time positions.

Just 4 of the many ceiling panels, again in gold leaf.

The main staircase above the Rotundra.

A sign in one of the politicians office door. Gotta love it.

The offices of the Legislators.  New digs for all.

A view out over the soldiers grove in front of the Capitol building.

This pic includes the main portion and one of the huge wings.

A wonderful day for travel.  It reached 67 degrees today.  

Have a great day all.

October 29, 2013

We headed for Columbus Ohio where the agenda included a tour of the Ohio Capitol and the Jack Nicklaus Museum on the Ohio State Campus.

Because the floor had to be redone, an outline of the state, with counties identified, made a unique map.

When the building was being built, it was done about as cheaply as possible.  The ground under the area included a lot of clay.  Surprisingly, one of the things built before the Capitol was the state prison.  The clay was free, the labor was real cheap and the interior design was quite plain...and the land was donated.

 Instead of war memorials, there are walls that include letters from friends of soldiers.

 The offices of the legislators are in a close by building that includes the Governor's office on the top floor.

 Like the Rotunda?

A short drive to the Ohio State University campus to the Jack Nicklaus Museum.  It was very well done and had a lot of pictures and golf memorabilia from a great career.

 Some of Jack's Masters memorabilia.  Six times a winner.

 A winning Ryder Cup Captain.

 A replica of the "Family Room" in Florida. Grammie enjoying the video.

 What talent.  Arnie, Ray, Tom and Jack.

 The Master at work.

The van turned over 10,000 miles today.  Our grand daughters birthday was today and we got started late and didn't get a chance to call Ivy today and wish her a happy birthday, so,  Tom called up school, got Ivy on the phone and we sang Happy Birthday to her.  Happy 7th Ivy.  Thanks Lori.

Pittsburgh tonight.  Should I be taking orders for Yeungling?

Have a great day all.

October 28, 2013

On the way out of town from Louisville, KY to Cincinnati, we visited the Kentucky State Capitol building in Frankfort, KY.  The building has been selected as the 3rd best beautiful Capitol building. 

 The dome in the rotunda changes colors each 5-5 seconds.

 We were surprised to see a copy of the Ten Commandments in the rotunda.

 The building was well lit, spaceous and built under budget.

 In one hallway there were pictures of Kentucky's famous women...not necessarily all politicians.

 A representation of the counties in the state with a needlepoint panel of a unique feature or industry in that county.

Before we left town...a quick stop at the Rebecca-Ruth Bourbon Candy store.  A pic of an old fashioned candy extruder. Much of the work done in the factory is still done by hand.

We finally made it to Cincinnati where we spent the evening with a neighborhood friend who just happened to be a former student.  The meal was delicious as Jane is a wonderful cook.  The Apple pie made us miss home.