Professor Sharon

Hubby and I left yesterday afternoon to take a short road trip on our way to Clinton, NY where Wednesday through Sunday we will be attending a Seminar on the Shakers.

Yesterday morning we enjoyed a beautiful drive across Western Mass down to Stockbridge where we visited Naumkeag. This is one of the famous “cottages” that dot the southern Hudson River valley. The famous staircase that I’ve been looking forward to seeing for several years is actually much smaller than I had imagined! But stunning none the less. The gardens are beautiful; especially the “Chinese” garden; most striking is that the gardens are green — there is not a huge assortment of color from flowers; the gardens are trees, shrubs, evergreens, ferns, hostas and such — quite striking.

Afterwards, we also visited the Mission House – an interesting stop on the Mohawk Native American history tour.

We stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast in Claverack, NY – near Hudson NY – both towns we explored this morning.

Today we started our day with Olana, another so called cottage! By the way, Naumkeag built in the late 1890s cost about $45,000 (in today’s dollars) to build – and Olana built in 1860s cost $75,000. Having just come from exposure to a good deal of Moorish art, etc in Spain and Morocco, we thought the home fascinating but it certainly took a few liberties:)

One of the stencils used around the doorways of one of the rooms looks to be written in Arabic (research shows it says nothing). But the house was beautiful with an amazing view of the river.

We then crossed the Hudson River via the Rip Van Winkle bridge and drove to Cooperstown, where we are staying tonight in a lovely Inn and have just returned from a nice evening in town eating dinner and catching a concert in the park.

Tomorrow we’ll go to the Fenimore Cooper Art Museum, and then drive to Hamilton College to begin our seminar.

Oh — what about the cats and dogs? Public art! Hudson had the dogs, and Catskill had the cats! Here’s a few pictures! (The dog picture is chosen for the grandbaby – who loves beads:)!)