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Our Havana Sojourn – Day 3

January 21st, 2013 · Art, Cuba, eating, family, Museums, Musings, travel

Well, we’re still not in Cuba, but Florida is quite lovely too.  Although overbuilt, crowded, with more stores than I thought possible in one area.  Maybe that is just the sign that I’ve lived in a rural area for over a dozen years now!

The day started with a lovely breakfast of coffee and cereal with our Aunt.  She had been given a box of cookie cereal by her community center and we all tried a handful of it – too sweet, too sweet.  Our aunt didn’t seem up for a long day of museum hunting with us, so after breakfast, off we went to Palm Beach to the Flagler Museum.

The outside of the Flagler Museum

The ride there was pretty exciting.  We were on 95 when a furious rainstorm passed over.  We were fine with it, although the way it bounced off the road was weird – all we could figure is that the oil buildup on the road caused it?  We’d love to know.

The mansion was large, and we enjoyed a lovely tea time after our tour in their cafe.

Inside of the building that houses the cafe and Flagler’s original train car

We spent a couple of hours there, and sent some goodies home as souvenirs.

In the front hall of the Flagler, sitting on a bench that I couldn’t figure out how to get home with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the museum, we wandered about in the car and spotted the Society of the Four Arts.  For $5. each, we enjoyed a lovely exhibit at an fascinating “club,” :  Painting the Beautiful: The Pennsylvania Impressionist Tradition.”  Some lovely pieces in several rooms.  Just outside behind the building and around the corner was their lovely sculpture garden.

For dinner, we took our Aunt to the China Garden near her home, more lovely evening chatting, and bedtime!

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Our Havana Sojourn – Post 2

January 20th, 2013 · family, travel

Well, where to begin?  They always say at the beginning, but it’s actually not as easy as that – mostly because upon our arrival home we find we are constantly reflecting upon what we saw, heard, experienced, and how does that seem to sit alongside of what we learned as US citizens about Cuba?  So fascinating.

But, I will begin at the beginning, if nothing else because I’ll keep you coming back!

On 1/7/2013, our favorite service picked us up at 9 and off we went to Hartford Airport.  Our flight was nonstop to Fort Lauderdale and went without a hitch.  We went from 13 degrees in Massachusetts to 75 in Florida – how lovely!  We picked up our rental car, and decided to do our days ahead in south Florida the old fashioned way – without a GPS and with the airport free-bee map!

Florida's seaside

Florida’s seaside

We figured our way to the 1A1 and then to Del Ray Beach where we were to stay two nights with hubby’s aunt (his father’s last surviving sister doing marvelously at 88!).  She lives in a lovely gated community that we had gotten a tour of in 2009 when we had taken hubby’s father down to visit her.

Drawbridge over the Intercoastal Waterway – boats have right of way!

We chatted for a bit and took her to a restaurant of her choice called Snappers – quite excellent.  And, of course, she claimed the tab and wouldn’t give in!  Back to her house for more chatting, bed set up and a lovely evening’s rest.   A great start to another travel adventure!

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Our Havana Sojourn – Post 1!

January 19th, 2013 · Cuba, photo of the week, travel

We arrived home to Massachusetts late yesterday afternoon, and have much to tell you about the Cuban experience we had for 8 days.  Stay tuned!  And to entice you to visit frequently over the next few weeks, here’s a few photos!

 

Children at play in school yard

Children at play in school yard

Institute of Superior Arts (English translation)The 50s cars are everywhere....

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Mr. Rogers and being human

December 17th, 2012 · Children, Education, family, Important People, Mr. Rogers, Musings, Play

Mister Rogers and Newtown: Quote and image goes viral :

              It’s a way of leading you out of the bad towards the good.”

 

I’ve looked to Mr. Rogers for almost 40 years.  First, as a young mother who wanted quality experiences for my child, then as an early childhood educator looking for quality experiences and activities for the children I cared for, and then as a teacher educator knowing that what Mr. Rogers said, did, recommended, suggested and created was quality for all ages.

Mostly, and always, I’ve looked to Mr. Rogers to speak the truth about being human.  This week in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, he is right again.  Look for the helpers.

 

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September in Nana’s Garden

September 24th, 2012 · family, Garden, Grandparents, Musings, Nana, photo of the week, Site Seeing, travel

Yesterday I celebrated my husband’s birthday with him.  He wouldn’t want me to say his age, but let’s say it’s the 40th time I’ve shared his day!  We spent i enjoying an hour’s drive to Mt. Snow where Vermont Life was putting on a wine tasting and outdoor event.  There were wines, ciders, cheeses, and crafts.  I was surprised there weren’t any ice creams, and I did suggest that they invite coffee roasters do join them next year.  And to put those coffee roasters at the end on the way out!

It was a lovely Vermont day.  And, it tickled us to be at Mt. Snow.  One of our very first trips in the winter of 1972-73 was to this ski area.  We had a newly outfitted van and were trying it out.  We parked in the lot – something I bet not possible today – and slept in the van so that we could be first on the lifts.  It rained a bit in the night inside the van – yes, inside the van – as our new propane heater did its thing keeping us warm, but causing condensation as well!  But, we were first in line that morning.   And, the fun yesterday was entering one of the buildings and noticing that actually it was the main lodge and really had not changed much at all!  Deja vue….lovely.

Nana wasn’t thrilled about her son’s actions in those days –  actually, she was rarely thrilled ever – at least that’s how I interpreted it.  Our relationship was new, brand new, that winter, and his parents felt he was too young to choose a life mate.  And, my Irish Catholic working class background didn’t help.  There were rough years ahead for us in our relationships with his parents.  But, I’m proud it never got antagonistic.  It was always a quiet stand-off, sometimes I think we surprised her and his father with our common sense and certainly they approved of our gorgeous children.

Nana’s garden honors her, and now her husband.  This year it’s had a good year – given there was drought, and now heavy downpours.  I grew dahlias, her favorite flowers, along with lavendar and rubarb and a few other perennials in her garden.  Three colors of dahlias — I think next year I’ll try for more.  The yellow dinnerplate dahlias are spectacular.

There’s only one blooming today, but I did have to cut several for the Franklin County Agricultural Fair last weekend.  Where, I pretty sure I’d surprise my mother-in-law by the fact that I won a 3rd place ribbon in cut flowers!

 

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