Spent most of the night mesmerized by the DNC Convention. The lead up to Joe was a cast of my favorite characters. What an accomplished man Joe is, and he certainly deserves a place on Mount Rushmore!
Warnock
Loved the Warnock comment on how the rapist should read the Bible. Ainโt that the truth? And the refresher on the time line of his winning election. January 5th he was elected as the first black senator from Georgia, and then there was January 6th.
Next up, my favorite gal, Hillary..
What a powerful speech!
She has certainly come full circle and ๐ funny. Glad sheโs learned to laugh about it.
Didnโt realize she was the first one called when Harris got the message. How appropriate.
On to our ๐
A surprise appearance
Good to see someone so happy about her new role. And so welcoming to others.
Sadly, this home was closed due to a ceiling collapse and will not be open till 2025. However, they have beautiful gardens so letโs check it out..
Side View The Main Garden
Hudson River Views
An apple ๐ orchard The Herb GardenA Link From The Hudson River chain which blocked the British
Outside Gallery of historical notables..
Thomas Cole
George Inness – on the back of these sculptures is a bio of the artist
๐๐๐
Letโs end with a return trip to the orchard
Nice to know.
Boscobel was the home of loyalists during the Revolutionary War. They fled to England, and never returned. It is one of the most beautiful homes of this era I have ever seen. Will definitely have to return in 2025!
Image from Garrison, New York, across the Hudson River
Hadnโt been here since I was a kid, so since I was in the area stopped by.
There was a 2 hour wait for clearance so elected to take the 75 minute bus tour for $22. To obtain follow the tour signs in the Visitor Center.
Had 45 minutes before the tour giving me ample time to check out the Visitor Center Museum which focused on cadet life.
Cadet Dorm Room Cadets have a hectic schedule from 0530 to 2330 5 days a week. Everything is scheduled.
There is also another museum outside the Visitors Center. This focuses more on the history of war.
It currently is under renovation General Wesmorelandโs uniform – what a little waist!Astronauts who were West Point gradsBob Hope bathrobe the cadets gave him 1816 Cadet Uniform Current Dress Uniform HatRed Cross uniforms Where my father served – odd he never spoke of it, and only learned where he served after he died.Napoleon garb – there are also weapon displays in this building if interested Picture of the dining hall – resembles Hogwarts donโt you think? There are 4400 cadets on campus with over 500 instructors/ professors.This one for fun- a primitive warrior
Next on to the bus tour..
The football stadium- big navy/army rivalry and this plays out even in the town of Highland Falls where WP is located.Later caught this when leaving the area but back to the tour..Protestant Chapel It has the largest church pipe organ in the ๐ Here it is!The Altar Cadets must be single through their stay and many weddings occur upon graduation. Cadets must serve 8 years in the military upon graduation. There are 24% female cadets.The Generalโs Home who oversees WPMarching Field Grant StatuteCivil War Memorial
While the tour limits what you can see the guide was lively and filled with much information. A few fun factsโฆ.
The alumni organization is generous and their donations pick up the tab for the cost of cadet education when the government doesnโt cover.
Graduating classes donate everything from trees to buildings
Cadets eat 3500 calories daily!
Everyone in the town of Highpoint NY is associated with the military
The requirement for religious attendance is no longer. At least someplace honors the division of church and state!
Ballroom dancing at one point was a cadet requirement.
West Point is a mile from the point, therefore the name West Point
In President Eisenhowerโs class 40% went on to become Generals. The largest class to have this honor.
West Point began in 1778 and the location was key as Washington knew to win the war he had to stop a knowledgeable British Navy. Therefore blockage of the Hudson River was done with chains across its waters.
The stained glass windows in the Protestant Chapel took 60 years to complete and when the last one was installed the glass company honored their contract and only charged $300 for the last window.
Whenever a WP score occurs in the army navy game a cannon is shot.
Demerits are given to cadets for many things – room arrangement not according to code, military uniform in disarray, etcโฆ. Sometimes cadets must walk the line for up to 100 hours for these demerits. This even happened to Eisenhower as he was known to be a prankster.
On the tour was a woman from Ohio whose granddaughter was starting as a cadet. Quite a decision for someone at 17.
Russell Wright was born in Ohio, and studied set design at Princeton, however, never graduated. Mary Eisenstein, his wife, and yes a relative of Albert, was a Cornell graduate.
So, how did they meet?
Working at a festival in Woodstock, NewYork. They were so smitten with each other they married within 6 months and Russell sent his mom a telegram attesting to that fact!
Mary was brilliant in design as well as business and marketing. She encouraged Russell to work in 3D and this created the modern line of dinnerware – affordable with clean lines.
Some of his work..
Between 1939 and 1959, 250 million pieces of dinnerware was sold
The Wrightโs were always drawn to the Upstate NewYork area, and when an abandoned quarry of 250 acres came for sale they purchased it. Always entertaining, the home became a haven for those in the arts.
The home was constructed between 1942-1961 and in the meantime the Wrights lived in the home on the property as well as at their 5th Avenue apartment.
Sadly, Mary died at 48 of breast cancer, and never saw the completed home.
Only 2 years before her death they adopted Ann, who lived in the home for 20 years after her fatherโs death with her son.
Ann remains in the area working as a caterer.
Upon Maryโs death Russell was devastated, and now was single parent. He acquired a governess for Ann, and continued to work between the two residences. However, without Maryโs acute business sense, and the market changes, Russell had challenges.
Pond where Mary liked to swim.
He lived till 1976 when he died of lung cancer. In the will Anne was told to select either the 5th Avenue home or Dragon Rock, and she selected the later.
Dragon Rock
Russell was strongly influenced by Asian and Japanese culture.
Much of this is seen in Dragon Rock. And unlike Mary though his last name was Wright he was no relation to Frank Lloyd. That said, he knew the man, and Frank did review the Dragon Rock drawings.
The home..
Can you find Dragon Rock in this picture? Much like Frank Lloyd, Russell used nature to define his work.The living areaCedar Log holding up the ceiling with cement assist.Another view of the log His famous cowboy chair designAnother design side table with magazine rack on other side. Today it would be a remote.๐The kitchen- very functional
More outside shots
Once again, Maryโs PondThe StudioRussellโs bed in the studio. The studio is an open space.Bob – our amazing guideSmall bedroom in the studioBob again – artwork on display for purchase Danish chair and a favorite of RussellโsThe Bath – what a view as you soak
What an amazing visit, and a must see, but book ahead.
Manitoga also has cultural events on the property- check out their website,
Am here at Manitoga on this pristine Friday. The weather couldnโt be better, cool, and sunny. Looking forward to how this architectural landscaper transformed a quarry into a work of art. Hope to get some ideas for the cabin from this.
Arrived an hour before the tour so I had 45 minutes to explore one of the beautiful trails.
The following photos I share will entice you!
๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฒ
Visiting this spot had many instructions, water, sunglasses, bug spray, sunscreen, no bags, and adequate foot gear were just some of the items needed for the tour. Since I forgot bug spray, they sell bug wipes for $2 and I recommend purchasing them..
A bio on the creator of this masterpiece of nature along with his wife.
The trail I took..
All stairs are stone
The rocks in this preserve are enormous and used for stairs on the trail. Watch every step you make. I always travel alone, and light, however, donโt recommend this place unless you come in twoโs..
Natural fencing Wooden Bridge Fern StepsTrails were well marked.Another view from the bridgeDeers are everywhere Log BridgeMe sitting on Log Bridge.
Attended this play at the Forestburgh Playhouse. Think Iโve blogged on this venue before. The flowers ๐ธ on the grounds are spectacular, dead headed some for the seeds.
Before the play they have a delicious smorgasbord for $30 at their tavern.
The Fare
And after the smorgasbord the actors performed the songs of Billy Joel.
You never know what youโll find when you travel.๐งณ
Tonight after a long day fighting ๐คบ with contractors who didnโt show, or do what they said theyโd do, I was ready to pack in this event. Gratefully, I didnโt, as it was sublime. And though ideas of septic systems,cabin windows, and doors, as well as tree removal danced through my head I was able to enjoy this performance.
๐ถ๐ผ๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ต
This was my initial visit to this festival. The drive was beautiful and pristine through the Catskill counties. Stopped for an ice cream at ๐ฆa local shop, and while I donโt like to spend $5 for a cone, bourbon carmel pecan called to me. The hell with my reflux.
๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ
Arrived at the festival campus with the walk to the theater spectacular featuring waterfalls and statues.
Rehearsal Cabin?They also have a sculpture garden on the premises, later..What a lovely walk to the venue.
The theater
The Combrio Quartet performed with its members from the Ukraine, Pakistan, and Mexico ๐ฒ๐ฝ. The music was dazzling, and so glad I didnโt forgo this event.
At intermission discovered the following..
Then at the end of the show there were refreshments.
Sheโs being dogged by the news media for a press conference and to go โoff script.โ The media is also starting to nag her about immigration and Gaza..
๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ
But you know what.. I think sheโs going to make out ๐ fine and look forward to seeing her style with the media.
Remember him? The senator from Nebraska who left the senate to become the president of university of florida? Well, the students never wanted him but he was a ron de stupid pick, and boy were the students right.
๐๐๐๐๐
After 17 months as university prez he tripled his office’s spending from $5.6 million to 17.3 million with programs that no one seems to know what they were, and all spearheaded by his republican friends working remotely.
๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ
ron de stupid sure blows fl revenues and all look the other way.
Young Retiree Needs a Life 