Will end the month with yet another video on this which would have been my father’s 101 birthday 🎁.

Guess my daughter had better keep her pom in or always within eye 👁️ sight.

While driving back from Olana discovered the pathway of state walking trails on the grounds of Bard College. Another fun thing to do solo or with family.

And just to see the beauty of Bard College, another site! Sadly, the phone died so you’ll have to take my word for it.

In the meantime a video of the flowers of the cabin.

The Final Stop on the 36 hour tour.

Always loved Olana, and mainly because I knew of it before it’s now glory. I visited when Governor Nelson Rockefeller was only beginning to enlist his support in the renovation. At that time it was sadly in disrepair, and now it has been transformed to that which it was meant to be. A dream come true. A true jewel.

Gardens at the base of the castle

There are many walking trails on the grounds and one or families can spend the day picnicking or simply taking in the beauty of the area.

Frederick Church is probably the greatest American landscape artist of all time. He has not received the acclaim he is due. Currently there is a book being written on his life so perhaps this will elevate his celebrity.

Besides his art work he also had a hand in the development of Central Park and is considered the Father of the American Park System. The first park he developed was the State Park at Niagara Falls.

Quite a man.

Olana is another must see.

Another surprise. Hadn’t been here in over 40 years, pre-Jeanie. It has changed much and to my delight upgraded, and even more amazing.

Front View.

Had a great tour with an insightful guide. There were only two of us. After the tour, my fellow tour mate and I cruised the grounds, and had a wonderful chat about life and Clermont.

What an exquisite day on all counts.

The interior

This was the home of wealthy landowners, the Livingston’s, who rented their lands to farmers in the late 17th century.

The home was 🔥 burnt to the ground in 1777 by the British but much saved by the mistress of the home. She buried items on the grounds and placed much in a wagon to hide away.

After the fire she pursued the then Governor for support, and he wearied of her requests and sent men to rebuild the home.

There is a good movie 🎥 in the visitor center to preview your tour. However, there is another exhibit speaking to the black slaves who worked the property. Apparently, Philip, the landowner, would rape and impregnate the slaves then sell off the children.

Beyond repulsive, little more to say.

Due to the expense of upkeep the last tenants of the home lived in cottages on the property. The last 2 female children- one married and one was a single female stockbroker in NYC relinquished the property upon their death.

One of the cottages

The other.

There are lovely, simple gardens associated with the home. Many events such as weddings occur on the property.

Daffodil Bed

Natural Gazebo

In development

Packasander

Gardening shed

And then there is the mighty Hudson River at Clermont’s front door. I often wonder what Henry Hudson thought as he traveled up this River the first time.

What a surprise. Saugerties is alive and kicking, what a delightful town!

First Stop: Breakfast

Here I had the most delicious breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had. And while they got the order wrong, and the acerbic waitress ignored me when I mentioned it, it was meant to be.

Guess I shouldn’t have asked if Jimmy Fallon comes to town much. Like when I was in Rhode Island, and I asked if Gina Ramundo ate at the place. I’m learning.

More pictures..

Time for a stroll through town..

Asked her where she was from, and tears welled up in her eyes. She said San Francisco and she is here as her grandma needed her. Told her I knew the feeling as each time I leave SF I cry. It’s wonderful there but need to get a high tech beau to afford it and that would never work.

More

What a cute town. Checked out the real estate window, and they had the perfect house for me. Two bedrooms with a garage and swimming pool! But the biggest bonus —- city water. All for $219,000.

What a steal!

You never know what you’ll find when you travel.🧳

Stayed in a clean and well maintained hotel off the Thruway Saugerties exit. What would we do without those Indian hotel owners and immigrant cleaners?

So sad what is happening now.

The place also had a pool 🏊‍♂️ and for $100 a nite with Expedia it was a deal.

And while it was a school vacation week the kids were quiet and respectful with their swimming pool cannonballs.

Did much writing ✍️ here and handled the barrage of requests for the tanks. Facebook Marketplace is a wonderful way to sell items.

Was nice to get away if only for 36 hours.

Note 🎵 to self: Must do more of these.

On to explore breakfast in Saugerties and wondering what this town, the birthplace of Jimmy Fallon, has in store.

Been here several times so decided to forego the tour and explore the grounds.

The Gardens

So pure..

A bit of yellow..

Someone is having fun..

And then there are the fragrances..

Au revior.,,

First stop – Hyde Park. Great little town on the Hudson. Before I stopped to see Franklin visited one of my favorite Dollar Tree stores in the strip mall before Franklin’s place. Then I picked up some tasty Chinese takeout for a picnic on Springwood’s grounds.

After lunch walked the grounds, and enjoyed the lovely spring trees in bloom. Have been here several times so didn’t visit the home. However, if you haven’t, do stop, and also try to visit the other off site homes. Eleanor has a cottage, and Franklin also has a retreat nearby.

Plan ahead to see all. It will take a full day but a remarkable visit back to this incredibly difficult time of the world. 🌍.

Thankfully, we had incredible leadership in Franklin and Eleanor.

The Grounds..

Franklin has always been my favorite president as when I was ill, and didn’t know where my next 💸 would come from, Social Security came through for me.

Thanks, FDR.

With all that is happening in my life decided to get away for an overnight. Told all that were buying the twins to put the 💵 on the porch under the lamp, and I locked the inner front door, and got on my way.

🚪🚪🚪🚪🚪🚪

If they steal the furnishing on the front porch it’s only a $300 Temu loss. And if they take the tanks without paying, at this point I don’t care. After 10 days looking at those albatrosses it’s a gift 🎁 to have a different view.

🚜🚜🚜🚜

If you read or follow me you’ll recall I had to look at excavating equipment for several months outside my bedroom windows.

Ugh!!!

🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟🪟

Next Friday am meeting with an Assistant DA to talk about criminal charges against my contractor.

Wish me well. 🎵 the metaphor -well..

While I know this will be another challenge I gave the guy 44 grand. Last week was awarded 3 grand in Small Claims Court as that’s all NYS allows. In other states it’s 9.

Note 🎵 to self: Email Kathy Hochul.

🧑‍⚖️👨‍⚖️👩‍⚖️👨‍⚖️👩‍⚖️👨‍⚖️

It was there I introduced myself to the DA through the SCC* process, and we’ll see where this leads. To fix that which was not done or done erroneously, I’m up to close to 30 grand, if not more. And then there’s the Roth loss from the rapist’s tariffs, so the Roth is truly sagging.

💰💰💰💰💰

Think I can retire at 85.

🍹🍹🍹🍹🍹🍹🍹

So despite all these sagas knew I had to get away. On top of everything else work has begun to rev up. Am working with a new nurse, and this has been an adjustment.

I’ve already expressed my views on nurses so no need to repeat.

Hard job, no actually impossible one.

Maybe Tom Cruise could do movies 🎥 on this one.?

Visiting the Hudson Valley for 24 hours, so enjoy the next few blogs.

🐣

*Small Claims Court

Thank you divine intervention!

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Had these two girls on Craigslist for over two weeks with no takers. Mentioned this to my coworker, and he put them on Facebook Marketplace for me. I had used that before to no avail. In fact, I got a man who was inappropriate in asking about what I was selling, so was not interested in trying it again.

🪠🪠🪠🪠🪠🪠🪠

Well, after putting these on Facebook Marketplace at 2 AM one was gone by 12, with the other going today.

I had over 40 folks asking for them.

Maybe the Florida condo should be the next item to put on Marketplace?