January 8, 2016

Yesterday and today we have been in Boston for a short getaway.  After a brief visit to the Apple store with directions to do a factory restore so that diagnostics can be done on the ipad, we get there and were told that they can't do diagnostics because all the software is not on it.  To make matters worse, an error message comes when I try to restore it back to Tuesday.  Grr.

Anyway on to Boston.  Our plans were to visit the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the State House Building...the 29th.  We checked in to the Constitution Inn and then walked through the Charlestown Navy Yard and across the bridge to the North Station.  Time to acclimate to subway transportation again.  Our first ride was to the Charlie store to get our Senior Charlie cards.  Half price is always good.  About the only better deal is Christmas wrapping paper after Christmas...at 90% off.  We headed up to the street and walked to the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Alice remembered a place where we had "dined" before.  We used to take students to Boston for a class trip.  You don't suppose they thought we were.....

Today we walked again to North Station area and followed the double brick line.

We jumped on the green line and were headed to the State House. The dome has already been recovered in Gold leaf.

 The Rotunda was really amazing.  The center is adorned with the state seals of the original 13 colonies with MA in the center.

 This part of the building is not original.  The Great Hall was added in 1990.  Because it tended to echo a 

lot they added the adopted flags of the 351 cities and towns (some haven't yet) to make it more quiet.

In the center, hanging from above is a piece of artwork representing some of the most famous icons in Mass history.

 Governor Butler, who was elected for a one year term was not re-elected.  He was governor of Massachusetts in 1883 and 1884. Butler, who fought for the North in the Civil War, was apparently disturbed not to find a Bible in the governor's office when he arrived, so when he departed, he left behind a copy, which he inscribed as a "needed transmittendum to my successor in office to be read by him and his successor each in turn.''  The bible has continued to be passed on to each successor.

The senate chamber has seats for the 40 members.  It appears that the seats are numerically assigned by district number.  The seats are either raised or lowered so that each member can see each other eye to eye.

 On the desk were copies of current legislative proposals with related ones bound with red ribbon.  Could this have been the beginnings of the term red tape?

 The Senate chamber had busts of former Presidents however, General LaFayette was a French General during the American Revolution.  He wanted to be buried in American Soil.  see story. LaFayette

Onward to the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.  When we arrived at the Library, the area had gone through much growth since Tom's last visit to the area. Among new growth is added UMass buildings and the Edward M Kennedy Institute.  Kennedy Institute

 Once inside the Presidential Library, we were greeted by someone who looked youthful enough to be an intern. Actually she was a former student who now is employed by the Library (National Archives).  We were treated to a behind the scenes tour featuring items not seen by the general public.

One item was a mural that once was displayed in the White House Pool. The pool is now the Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House.  A link to the Pool story and Mural follows. Mural 
The Mural now is housed in the Library.

 A Sailfish caught by John Kennedy in 1953.  The sailfish pictured below was a gift from Jackie to JFK to commemorate the one he caught on his honeymoon.

 Articles from Ernest Hemingway's home in Cuba that are now  located in Boston in the Ernest Hemingway Research Room.

Grammie in front of a print of the original youthful Hemingway.

Ever hear of the "Hotline?  The next 2 pics are components of the Red Phone that you might have imagined.

After our special tour, we said goodbye to Laurie and continued with 2 freshly printed tickets to the rest of the Museum. Thanks Laurie, a great treat. 

A big piece of the Berlin Wall.  Through the efforts of Jean Kennedy Smith, this piece of the wall was acquired from the German government in 1990 and was installed in the Library in 1993.

A subway back to Downtown Crossing, a walk to Faneuil Hall and across the street to Quincy Market food...and a dessert.
And tomorrow...a trip to the New England Quilt Museum...and Tom left his golf clubs home.  Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.

October 28, 2015

Good morning everyone.
We finally made it back to our own bed on Monday evening the 26th after seeing children and grandchildren.
Yesterday we collected the mail, weeded out the fire starters, started the wood burner, cleaned out the suitcases, and returned back to Maine life, the way it should be.
Now to take a few moments to recap the trip  with a few last photos.
Visiting Danvers MA, visiting a Maine native living in exile, we took a stroll around the neighborhood looking at Halloween displays.

 A sign in the Brothers Restaurant in Danvers.

Finally got to purchase cheap gasoline but had to come back to New England to find it.

...and yes we did get back in time to see some wonderful fall foliage.

We were gone 55 days, passing through 17 other states, even if only briefly, resting our heads, the most in Colorado (14 nights), New Mexico (8), and Wyoming (7).  We stayed with family for 12 nights, military installations for 16, friends for 4, on the economy for 15, and a weeks down time in Pagosa Springs.
We visited friends, three whom we hadn't seen for over 45 years, 2 military retirees, several people in the hadn't seen in the 3-5 year category, and several others seen more frequently.  Family included, a sibling, children, an aunt, cousins, relatives, and extended family.

Our goals for the trip were accomplished, visiting Springfield, IL to see more about President Lincoln, visiting 2 state Capitols, Springfield and Santa Fe (# 27 and 28), seeing the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque NM, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, driving up Mt Evans CO, seeing Doug and Robin, and playing a couple of special golf courses.  Adding up the slips from fabric shops was well over the amount spent at golf courses.  LOL.

Total miles, 8113...number of Maine cars seen west of the Mississippi-2.  Nights being high (over 5000 feet) 32.
Best part of the trip...seeing Doug and Robin; Balloon Fiesta, John Denver Sanctuary, watching Grammie squirm while Tom was driving the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado)...taking lots of pictures... and getting back home to see friends again.
Best unplanned find..Hannibal MO., looking for Mark Twain on the Mississippi River.  A very beautiful Gondola Chair lift ride up over the from Mountain Village to Telluride...but no tickets for the Brewfest   Breweries represented at Telluride...all sold out. Next time better planning. Free lift and, as a bonus, free parking for the day!  Also Maroon Bells just outside Aspen CO.  We got up early to see the sunrise shining off the mountains.  Se more images.  Maroon Bells
This wasn't the photo that we took but an example of how pretty it can be.

And after all that, getting back in Maine breathing in the air, the taste of a carrot fresh from the garden, the taste of fresh apple cider, leaves on the lawn waiting to be raked up.
...and still being connected to everyone while gone, by seeing the same moon at night.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.

October 23, 2015

This morning we awoke in the home of one of Grammie's high school classmates that she hasn't seen in over 49 years.  Linda is a great host that lets us clean the dishes and do chores around the house.  A small price to pay for stealing her bed.  Sharing stories of "What we can remember"  is always fun.  Roller skating in Augusta anyone?

We started out with breakfast in town, our second breakfast at a restaurant since we left home. Across the street was another pretty picture.  Ahhh... New England in the Fall.

On the way back to Linda's we stopped at the New England Air Museum. No pictures of Grammie flying a jet.

A Fokker Tri-plane.

McDonnell Douglas FD-4 Phantom

The  Goodyear control car of an airship from 1942, being restored.

B-29's.  The most advanced plane of the WWII era.

Sikorsky Flying boats

P-47 Thunderbolt.  The largest single engine plane used during WWII.

Tom's picture of the day.  The colors were better if you were there.

Even if you didn't see Grammie today, she was well entertained reminiscing about goings on and people from years ago.  We will surely be back to see Linda on our way through Connecticut.

October 22, 2015

The next morning before we headed down the road, we went out for breakfast and got some more pictures of nature's beautiful offerings.   Dan and Tom

 The birds were out for breakfast too.

The Whistle Stop Cafe breakfast was great!

Just around the corner from the cafe.

Alice, Carol and Tom out for a morning walk...enjoying the colors.

Not all of the town is residential.

Deep River Landing was the site of shipbuilding starting in the 1790's and extending until 1867. One of the largest boats, a 400 ton brig, was named MUSIC because the town was the nations leading manufacturers of Ivory piano keys made from imported Ivory. Upwards of 12,000 pounds of Ivory were imported a  month with finished keyboards shipped out daily by steamboat.  Many sea Captains set sail here.

 Across the river from Deep River Landing.

 For the tourists in town, there are also 2 other means of transportation.

Going frontwards in a backwards locomotive.

Thanks for keeping an eye on Grammie.The end!

October 21, 2015

Hi everyone. We took a break from the blog and are now doing a little catching up.

Monday and Tuesday evening we stayed in Tobyhanna PA and took a short rest.  Tom played golf at Jack Frost National golf course.  A fun and demanding day.  While Tom was gone, Alice had a couple of visitors.  They didn't run away but stood there kind of inquisitively.

On Wednesday we traveled to Deep River to visit Dan and Carol Kus.  We stayed the evening at their home!!!, Endless Summer,  located in Deep River CT, and had a wonderful visit.

After doing some catching up from the last time we saw them (3 years)  we went for a ride.

We went up the Connecticut River for a bit to get a closer look at the Gillette Castle.  It was built for William Gillette, an actor and since has been included on the national historic register and is part of a state park.  Gillette Castle

On the turn around, we had a new Pilot???  Caught Grammie in the Captain's chair.  Looks like she is enjoying it a little too much.

Good thing we had to go slow.  5 mph...no wake speed

The colors still aren't at the peak yet but getting close.

We finally arrived in Essex...a nice small town some would call the Best Small Town in America
Essex  Essex (Pettipaug) was the site of a British Raid in 1814.
Connecticut River Museum below.

After the raid, 24 houses were left intact and remain today, including the Griswold Inn (aka The Gris).

Enjoying the late afternoon walk through town.  What do you suppose the trick or treater's get in this town...the whole bag of candy??

We enjoyed an evening meal at the Gris before heading back to the slip after dark.  No, Grammie wasn't steering for this part.

Sleeping on board was great, no one was rocking the boat.