Had to get away from the tree 🌳 removal debacle. Headed north after the end of my 12 hour shift and what a find.

Born in 1826 to a wealthy Hartford, Connecticut family, Frederick Church, was expected to follow his family fortunes in the now Aetna insurance industry. However, much to his families dismay, he took a different path…

After much discussion, his family succumbed, and allowed Frederick to study with Thomas Cole in his Hudson River School of Painting. With Cole’s guidance he continued his work learning all from this landscape master then moving beyond. While noted as a “school,” there were only 2 students with Church the prominent one.

Some of Church’s works..

In his first New York City showing his painting of the falls of Niagara was displayed. Patrons lined the streets for blocks to view this work which now hangs in the Met. It is spectacular.

In his early 30’s at this time he was world renowned. In the viewing line he noted a lively young woman from Ohio who had taken the train to NYC to view Niagara. After much arrangements, as this was the Victorian era, the couple were formally introduced and within a year wed.

A land purchase was made near the Cole’s and their first home on the Olana property was constructed.

Here 2 children were born who sadly died within 8 days of each other. The couple escaped their grief traveling to Jamaica where Frederick painted while visiting friends. Frederick traveled the world painting, often in unsafe areas.

I had been to Olana some 30 plus years ago when it was a bit of a wreck with massive plans for improvements. It was wonderful to return to see the beauty of this amazing spot recreated with the plans completed.

This was due to the works of many inclusive of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Nelson Rockefeller.

The home and grounds are magnificent and a must see. Spend the day, walk the trails, bring your dogs, then journey across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, a 1935 icon, to Tom Cole’s Home.

I’ve said enough. After 30 hours without sleep will let the pictures say all of Olana as sometimes pictures better define than words.

Today after returning from my 12 hour shift on the psych unit waited for the tree man’s crew to arrive. However, they didn’t.

With big storms on the horizon decided to do a video hello to the guy..

Thought my readers would be interested in seeing the property I so often speak of.

Let’s hope I get some action..

Off to Saratoga for the ballet 🩰 and hope to return to a job well done!!

🌲🎄🌴🎄🌲🌴🎄🌲🌴🌳

🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

I said I wouldn’t mention this again, but I lied, as I have to.

After hearing President Biden on Morning Joe yesterday I am more confused than ever.

🤫🤫🤫🤫

Joe was phenomenal on his call in chat with Mika and Joe.

Check it out on utube.

Which leads me to wonder – did the rapist president put something in the debate water to make Joe feel off?

💦💧💦💦

I’m not much for conspiracy theories, but this one makes sense..

So, I wrote Joe told not to drink the debate water next time.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I love you Joe ❤️❤️❤️

FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!

I finally completed the corner bathroom cabinet. And with that the bathroom renovation is complete.

How proud I am of my ingenuity!

Assembly instructions are not easy.

🎄🌲🌴🌳🎋🎄🌲🌴🌳🎋🎄🌲🌴🌳🎋🌳

On Tuesday I will be having over 40 diseased trees 🌳 removed. Each time I hear heavy rain, the crackle of thunder, and/or a bolt of lightning, I cringe. It would be the end of the cabin should one of these 175 foot giants fall on the roof.

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

So to reward myself I took a bit of a breather reveling in my accomplishments. I visited our community pool’s free day.

💧💧💧💧💧

While the pool is lovely am unsure if I will be able to break into the crowd.

I tire of the game I fondly call,

“Hello, my name is…”

Perhaps next year I will take the plunge?.

🏊🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️🏊🏊‍♀️🏊‍♂️

Pardon my pun.

🤞🤞🤞

Next on the agenda was this spot.

The Center was having a community day, and it was a perfect.

Visited the temple, received a tour, and participated in a meditation session.

The inside of the temple.

They also have classes, and retreats of which I am going to explore.

And did I mention the food available? Yum..

After these tasty items walked the several trails on the site.

Know this spot deserves another visit.

Saw the interview with George Stef today and Joe is back to himself. Listening to how he became ill with his transatlantic journeys I can fully understand as I am still recovering from my journeys to Italy in January. I acquired lung conditions that doctors had no answer for.

🍕🍝🇮🇹🍕🍝🇮🇹🍕🍝🇮🇹

Glad to see he is perkier post debate.

We need him.

There is no alternative.

😈😈😈😈😈😈

He’s done a phenomenal job.

How I wish he received credit for all he’s done and the ideas he has for the future.

This issue is closed in my book.

📙📘📗📕📙📘📗📕

It’s time to move on.

😷😷😷😷

And he did the same thing during the Hillary email debacle. he stood back, said nothing and let the s-it hit the fan.

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And his # increased, then he won.

So, I wrote to Joe, and here’s what I said;

• Get Joe out there interviews, on the road. Visibility……
• Write daily Executive Orders which will benefit the American people, and promote them through the media.
• Get all of Joe’s cabinet, governors, house of rep, senate, and family out there on airways, internet, and every media available.
• Have these media avenues filled with young people, Latinos, blacks, and put these messages out in Spanish. Get on the Spanish radio waves.
• Promote this with comedy. Get prominent comedians out there for Joe.
• Have comedians do a web site filled with the rapists lies pointing out through humor the reality of the rapists lies. How it will impact all of us.

As I write this the overreaching idea is why are these folks doing all these tasks to ruin our lives and theirs.??.

It makes no sense.

These people overthrowing our democracy will be the first to cry foul, and point fingers at others though they created this chaos.

👉👈👉👈👉👈👉👈👉👈👉👈

When you point there are 4 fingers pointing back at yourself.

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However, I wish to keep my fingers crossed,

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Putting my hope on Joe and Kamala.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Britain woke up, maybe we are next.

After all that’s our mother country.

👵👵👵👵👵👵

As I aways say you never know what you will find when you travel. Well, today was one of those days…

Came across this festive spot.

Went in and inquired of their wine sampler. A discussion with the bartender ensued, and I was told to join the party as wine was outside. Apparently he didn’t get that I wasn’t a guest?

So I took the bartenders advice, went among the wedding party guests and poured myself a couple glasses of 🍷 . I also availed myself to cheese, crackers, nuts, and grapes from the appetizer table.

🍷🍶🍷🍶🍷

Had a delightful time drinking and munching away knowing I saved $15.??

So, Sue and Jim I wish you well!

Congratulations 🎈🎉🍾🎊 and many happy years together are wished for the both of you!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

And by the way, the wine was pretty good.

For decades I have been visiting the Stockbridge area and always wanted to visit Mission House on Main Street, Stockbridge.

Well, today was the day! I learned at Naumkeag Miss Mildred Choate paid for the restoration of this site. It has a medicinal herbal garden surrounding it.

The minister family who lived in the home worked with the Mohican Indians who lived in Stockbridge. Eventually the Mohicans were forced out and resettled in Wisconsin.

She mentioned a book to read on this sad tale of America. What awful things we did to the first inhabitants of our country..

The Unredeemed Captive by John Devos

This was the summer home of the Choate family. Mr. Choate was a corporate lawyer for the Vanderbilt’s, Rockefeller’s, and rail road robber barons. He had world wide notoriety, and when he died at 85 half a million New Yorkers attended his funereal.

He cofounded the Met and was also an ambassador to Great Britain.

His wife came from average means and they met at a NYC art show. An avid artist she eventually succumbed to Mr. Choate pursuits of her and they produced 5 children.

Two died in early adulthood, and one suffered a mental breakdown from a college hazing incident and was institutionalized his entire life. As for the remaining 2 children one followed in his father’s footsteps as a prominent lawyer with his sister never married. She cared for the summer estate, traveled the world, and was a social/political advocate.

Her mother was an involved suffragette and co founded Barnard and City College in New York City. She was an avid political and social advocate of which her daughter followed in her footsteps.

While the home was lovely with impeccable views, the gardens were outstanding. While Mrs. Choate began them, her daughter upgraded them with the 30 year assistance of Fletcher Steele, a landscape artist. While their relationship challenging Miss Choate gave him reign as he created a masterpiece.

Some pictures

This is the original with a replica at the Met.

And a Moon Gate. The docent on this tour was phenomenal. Learned much from him and the other attendees. As you walk into a Chinese Garden you make an angle and this is thought to keep the bad spirits from entering. Then leaving through the Moon Gate assures good luck.🍀

And some pics of the home