June 20, 2016

Happy First Day of Summer

We arrived back home, too late last night to spend time on the blog. Yesterday we spent time at the Norman Rockwell Museum with a little side trip in between.
In Great Barrington, MA there is a church, better known as the Old Trinity Church, but more commonly known to the locals as the Guthrie Center. It features summertime concerts for the local friends, a weekly free meal as well as educational tutoring.

Could it have been that long ago?

Grammie hiding? in the shadows.

Just another 5 minutes away, the days main stop was at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Norman Rockwell Museum

This is our 2nd visit to the Museum but it doesn't get old as they frequently change the paintings and sometimes include other artists.  (Jamie Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth)

Rockwell was a visual storyteller and he very frequently used local people for his art.  The one below features "Willie Gillis", also featured in several paintings centered around fundraising for the war effort.

This work by another artist is sure to bring a "smile" to your face.

One of Rockwell's better known works, "The Gossip", features local people including his wife Mary as well as himself.
As an example of the detail that he painted, go to the next website and enlarge the picture.

Enlarge The Gossip

Mary is in the third row, the 2nd and 3rd person while Rockwell is in the last row, the 4th and 5th person.  Look at the painting as a story being told.

New kids in the neighborhood. Notice the pets in each group.

 A tiled replica is in the United Nations Building.

This panographic picture is the view outside Rockwell's Studio.

Enjoy your day Today, June 20th

Our trip was great.  Eight days that included the main event ( US Open) as well as side trips to Hershey PA, the Amish country (Lancaster), The Guthrie Center, the site of the Woodstock Music Festival and Museum, and the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Again, thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie, she got a lot of knitting done.

June 18, 2016

Yesterday we got to the Open by 7:30 but they didn't open the gates until 8 because they were working on the spectator areas...cleaning up water and putting down wood chips on the spectator paths. We started by watching several groups finishing up on the 18th and also saw some groups teeing off on 10 and the 12 holes...all from the same seats.  Also got to see and chatted with my favorite pro. 
Because of the increased crowd near where Phil was playing, it got harder to move around.
We got to see the green setup after the 1st round was complete for the beginning of the 2nd round.  The greens were double cut and double rolled, the green was measured with a stimpmeter and finally the cup placement was made.  It took a crew of 7 to do the green and 3 more to locate the cup.

It was obvious that the next round was going to be delayed for about 1 1/2 hours and it was getting close to 4 so instead of cooking in the hot sun, we said good bye and headed for Carlisle.. a ride of 3 hours.

Today (18th) we left early enough to allow for a stop in Hershey, PA.  We took a tour of the Hershey Story Museum. It was easy to find, just follow the street lights.

The Hershey Kiss wrapping machine.

Couldn't lose Grammie if I tried.

We continiued up the road to the Bethel Center for the Arts, better known as Woodstock.  We had already been there twice but thought it would be a good place to take friends.  We met them at the Bus stop.

 With a little bit of planning, we could have seen a concert this evening and even slept in the field just down from the Museum.

Found Grammie down by the Woodstock 1969 Monument.  It is hard to see in the field but there is a big Peace Symbol mowed into the grass.

Tomorrow we wind down our week long trip with a stop at the Rockwell Museum and the Guthrie Center nearby.

Thanks for watching out for Grammie.

June 16, 2016 US Open

Today's events looked like this.
Awake at 6:15
Breakfast at 7:15
Depart about 7:50 for ride to Oakmont.
About 8:20 notice sign that read slow down.  Accident ahead
We finally arrived at the mall location for the bus ride to the golf Course arount 9:50.
We were next to board.  Round suspended. All buses stop loading.
After a team discussion, we hop back into the car and head to the main street of Oakmont and just happened to find a convenient parking space in front of the Oakmont Bakery.  Texted the Pro at Oakmont to see if he wanted any donuts.
About 11:30 we found a parking space near the course. (good thing I had a friend to share the cost.)
By the time we went through security the 2nd suspension started.
Headed to the bleachers behind the 3rd green and saw 2 groups come through.  Round suspended again.
Back to the bleachers just when Jordan Speith was about to hit into the 3rd.  Round suspended.
About 4:34 found out the rest of the day had been called.
Saw about 6 groups come through.

However in the USGA tent while trying to stay dry, Grammie shows up again.

It was really a more relaxing day than yesterday with a lot less walking and no hot sun.

Try again tomorrow although we haven't seen Phil yet.

Meanwhile back at the course, the grounds crew will be working through the night reworking the sand that had shifted due to the downpours.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie

June 15, 2016 - US Open

Hi everyone.  Today's activities took us to the US Open at Oakmont.  Today was a practice round so it was a good day to look over the whole course to see how really difficult it can be.  The fairways are mowed short and if need be, one could putt very easily from off the green like around the 3rd or 8th holes.  There was a crew out mowing the grass around the sand traps on the course, followed by others with compacters that were packing down the grass around the traps so the golf balls would roll in easier.

But before we get to more about the day, Grammie was found trying to blend into the crowd. 

She and Alice Marie were enjoying the company.

A view of the 9th fairway and clubhouse.

The 3rd hole is difficult because the player is not able to see the playing surface from the fairway.

A view of the 3rd green from the back side shows an undulating green that falls off severely on the backside as shown by the darker green grass, but it is still short enough to putt on.

The 288 yard par 3, was not a problem.  Chalk up a birdie.

From the stands, looking back at the 18th fairway.

...and looking at the 18th green from a long way back.

The 9th green is huge.  So large that it serves as the practice green and the green for the 9th.  Supposedly there is a thin blue line that separates part of the course from the practice area.
An older story in the link but it does explain.  Blue line

After finishing his practice round, Matt Kuchar not only signed autographs but went up to the Merchandise tent and continued his good will for a couple more hours.

Tomorrow cameras will not be allowed on the course so enjoy these.
Possibility of rain tomorrow afternoon so some players may not finish round 1 until Friday morning.
A good day, thanks for keeping an eye open for Grammie.

June 14, 2016

Hi everyone.  Happy Flag Day.
Today we visited the Flight 93 Memorial located in Stoystown, PA.
Since our last visit, the Visitor's Center has been completed and opened on September 10, 2015.
It is located on a higher elevation above the Memorial itself and features a location along the flight line of the last few seconds on Flight 93.

 This location is at the Visitor's Center and looks back on the direction that the plane came.

  Looking from the Memorial site back up to the Visitors Center

 From the Visitor's Center in the previous picture down the flight path to the rock that marked the final spot of the crashed plane.

Inside the Visitor's Center there are several panels that focus on the events before and during the day as well as after the crash. Below, location points of the plane during it's flight.

 The immediate aftermath of the crash.

 For many days after, the area all around was dug up and filtered to gather any evidence of human remains.

Information used in the ensuing trial.

 Artifacts left at the Memorial wall.

A panoramic view of the wall with the names of those on the plane.

June 13, 2016

Good morning all.
We are currently on our way to the US Open in Oakmont.  We left yesterday morning (6/12) and traveled over 500 miles and had enough time to have dinner in Bethlehem, PA and call it a good day.
We have 2 stowaways in the back seat that are here for the ride.  Ed and Alice Marie are really good traveling companions.
 Bethlehem PA is a former steel manufacturing town that has managed to survive the industrial loss and has a neat main street where we shared a meal.
Today we headed down to Lancaster to see a little bit of the Amish/Mennonite country but before arriving we stopped to see the Ephrata Cloister.  It is one of Americas earliest religious communities founded by the Germans.  Ephrata Cloister
We traveled the Amish countryside, and stopped at a Mennonite store to see the huge display of quilts.  A wonderful display of colors and a great price.
We also stopped at the National Christmas Center which is really a museum of toys and presents centering around Christmas.  There was even a display of toys from years ago in a mock-up of a F.W. Woolworth store.

 A roomful of toys that would make any grandchild happy.  Alice even saw a dollhouse that looked like one she had as a child.

At least one of my our children would recognize these characters

 Christmas ornaments abound all through the museum.

 One of Alice's favorites for the day.

  Dolls everywhere.

...and many is multiple quantities.

We closed out the wonderful day with dinner at Miller's Smorgasboard. We tried to finish off their supply of blueberry cheesecake but it didn't happen.
We are spending our evening in Carlisle, PA

Tomorrow, off to the Flight 93 Memorial.
Thanks for keeping track of Grammie!