Weir Farm

If you ever get the chance to go to the Weir Farm National Park, go, it is so amazing. Julian Alden Weir was an important influence on American impressionism. He bought the farm in 1882, and spent his summers here, and his winters in New York City. His daughter inherited the farm, and she married a sculpter (Mahonri Young). After that another artist owned it, and after that a not-for-profit with an artist in residence program so it has been visited and painted by artists for a long time.
After a lovely drive up into the hills around New Haven, you arrive at a little farm, basically. The farm house is still there, and the garden has been kept/restored. You are free to pick the apples and wander around, look in the two studios, take the tour of the house, take a walk to the pond and back, and do some water painting with materials provided by the National Parks!
We went planning to spend about 1.5 hours, and ended up spending three, and it was so peaceful and restoring.
It meant we didn't set out for home until 12.30pm, but thankfully the traffic flowed and we got in around 5.30pm.

New Haven - Yale, and a "Beach"

We went down town today to have a look around Yale University. We were curious to see what the campus looked like. The architecture does not disappoint. Yale was started in 1701, so the buildings seem to cover the full range from the 1767 visitor centre to the mid 1990's. We expected a bit more delineation between the town and the University - there are public roads through the middle of campus, and although this is obvious, I was surprised at finding students who were the normal universal 19-20 year olds, instead of finding some secret colony of studious, conservatively dressed scholarly looking scholars.
The kids tired of walking around buildings with no apparent purpose, which is a good lesson to learn.
So, after lunch and quiet time in our room (and sleep for me), we went and found a beach. We took about half an hour and a couple of false starts to find one that had the appropriate ratio of sand and water, but then we spent the afternoon watching the boys busily digging and building. We also watched the seagulls pick the hermit crabs out of their shells at low tide and eat them.
The beach happened to be across the road from the local fish and chips shop, which had a pirate theme, helped along by a large amount Pirates of the Caribbean memorabilia, so we even managed fish and chips for dinner..

Springfield, MA to New Haven, CT

We went to the National Armory in Springfield, and then had lunch in the Dr Seuss sculpture garden a bit down the road. Both were enjoyable, the Armory to better understand the cultural history of the USA, and the Dr Seuss sculpture garden, because it was an excellent place to have lunch, and the sculptures were special, and interesting for all of us.
In Hartford, Connecticut, we went to the Trash Museum, a centre attached to a recycling depot, more suited to school excursions, but definitely a favourite with the boys, because we got to watch the recycling trucks dropping off loads, and play in the toy room with the little mini recycling conveyor belt. Another reminder that the boys really only need the simpler things in life, and time to enjoy them.

The Mohawlk Trail to Springfield, MA

Bridge of Flowers

This started out a bit average, and then after Whitcomb Summit, which wasn't announced really at all, the road swooped down some of the most impressive and imposing and completely beautiful sort of mountain pass that I had the pleasure of looking out the window at. It wasn't huge, it was just full of trees on the cusp of changing in the Fall, with various ridge lines curving down, and a blue sky and with that deep peace of a quiet road.
We stopped at the "Hail to the Sunrise" statue, in Charlemont, MA, which we didn't really get, and then at Shelbourne, MA, we spent some time walking across the Bridge of Flowers, and through the town. The Bridge of Flowers is an old trolley bridge built that duplicated the neighbouring iron car bridge, to haul freight. By 1928 the trolley service had finished, and the bridge was too expensive to demolish. Antoinette Burnham, with the support of the local Women's Club, had the vision to turn it into a Bridge of Flowers - so each year since then, an army of volunteers plants and tends flowers along its length. We also enjoyed the local diner, for a cheap, unpretentious lunch, and I took 10 mins on my own to check out a local arty sort of store (shopmormor.com), which was very relaxing.

Mt Greylock, MA

We thought we would survive two nights in a single Lodge 'family' room - double bed up one end, and bunk bed down the other. The truth is, it was a lovely room, in a facility completely unsuited to our family. Think 'continental breakfast' of muffins and tea, served at 8am, and a fixed price, fixed menu dinner served at 7pm. Also think wooden structure, with no soundproofing and creaking floors. However, we went for two bush walks, both to view points of the lovely (90% green) forest. We also saw a two beautiful sunrises, and a sunset that will remain forever in everyone's memory, because the baby chose that moment to need to use a potty.
The tower is a war memorial, with a light, sort of like a lighthouse, unfortunately shut until 2017 for repairs. Otherwise, the sunrises and sunsets could have been very dramatic, 30 ft up the top of the tower.
It was lovely to have such huge horizons, and the kids have been remarkably cheerful about all the walking. Thanks to the internet we had two interesting meals out and off the mountain, and I think if we trusted our kids more in art galleries, North Adams, which looks like a failed industrial town on first glance would have been a good place to stop more in, as it also seemed to have a huge art scene.

Great Barrington MA, to Mt Greylock, MA

Another short drive (30 miles), that took us all day.
We tried for a river walk in Great Barrington, that turned out to be a 10 min gravel pathway. We walked around Benedict Pond in Beartown State Forest, which was beautiful and serene, and probably a longer walk than expected, as it took us until lunch. We ate bagels overlooking the lake.
We tried to visit a butterfly house, but they had shut early September.
So we went to Hilltop Orchards to pick our own apples and try their cider. This was really quite fun, although a bit different to berry picking, as you can't really give a bag to a kid and let them at it, or you would end up with 20lbs of apples very easily. Beautiful huge orchard on side of gently sloping hill, with old apple trees, burdened with huge amounts of apples. They sell cross country skiing tickets here in the winter.
They sell apple cider, which is cloudy apple juice, cold pressed from the whole apple (I think). It is less sweet than apple juice. They also mature their cider into a 'hard cider' and a french style 'cidre', the french style is less sweet, more fermented, aged in barrels. It is all very tasty. I'll post pictures on all that later.
Possible highlight was sitting in Adirondack chairs overlooking a bit of the orchard, with a glass of wine (because they get wine from California to relabel as their wine - you can't actually grow grapes here) with what were labelled "Old fashioned doughnuts" - that is, doughnuts with just sugar and cinnamon on them (no cream, no jam, no sprinkles, no icing). Who would have thought!!
We finished the day by driving up Mt Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts, to stay in the lodge at the top of the mountain. Beautiful sunset, slightly marred by Williamstown College Cross Country finishing a run up the mountain, and our kids gently disintegrating after a big day.

Kent CT through to Great Barrington, Massachusetts (MA)

My favourite sculpture at Denis Curtiss's place

Kent Falls

Golden Rasberries

We took 4 hours to drive 47 miles today, because we stopped to admire a sculpture garden - Denis Curtiss - who generously invited us in to wander his garden, but had to leave somewhere. We walked up beside Kent Falls in Kent Falls State Park, which is very unimpressive at the bottom, but gets prettier by degrees as you walk up towards the top. We also stopped to look at the Housotonic River - which reminded us very much of the Susquahenna River - wide, and shallow and running. After five minutes sitting on the riverbank, I can appreciate why people use running water as a sleep aid. 

We looked at a couple of covered bridges, one in West Cornwall, Ct, and one in Sheffield MA. We drove through plenty of pretty little towns with various interesting shops (mostly closed on Monday. It felt like the whole county was shut on Monday) Sheffield looked like it was completely inhabited by antique stores (I found a guide that put the number at 40). Finally, we followed signs to Howden Farm, hoping that we could pick something, and found Raspberries!! So the whole family got to pick raspberries, including Golden Raspberries which are, surprisingly, a sort of yellow colour.
Our final destination Great Barrington has a huge main street, full of independent and slightly artistic shops - clothing, toys, homewares, basketry, linen, expensive groceries, etc. Out of all the places I've seen so far, including Annapolis, I think this one is the one I'd be most happy spending $100 in.
Our hotel is a bit of a dive, contact us before staying at the Travelodge in Great Barrington MA, but for one night we think we'll survive.

Kent, Connecticut (CT)

The house where we stayed (not in the entire house, just some rooms converted into a suite)

I wanted to take this tree home.

We are on a big trip to New England to see the Fall, Only problem is, we're a bit early. So we're on a holiday anyway.
Kent, Connecticut - a little boutique town with a boutique private school out on the edge of town. Lots of money around here, but not many apparent local jobs. Then we worked out it is about 90 mins from NYC, so maybe people have second homes here?
Beautiful mature trees that have just been left to grow all over the place. Extremely expensive dining (except for local pizza place), lots of coffee shops, and quite a few really well kept Victorian (?) houses, generally with artsy sorts of shops. People come for drives to hang out. On Sunday it was bustling. We have decided we need a big backyard to plant an oak tree in. I have decided I would love to buy a Victorian house and pour money into it and renovate...
Back in the real world -
We stayed in a little 'suite' in a yellow Victorian house, not one of the best kept, which was lovely, but by the end, the pokey antique furniture (not particularly good) and the stress of keeping the kids quiet every morning, not knowing how sound was travelling or where the other bedrooms were was sending me bonkers. The steep set of stairs accessing it, and about four sets of doors didn't help either.
Walked up Cobble Mt in Macedonia State National Park - bit of a scramble with the kids, and we took all morning to do about 2 miles, but beautiful view. Then we wandered around Kent, admiring houses and trees, and stopping for tea at one place and feeling completely like my parents...Because, there is something so completely restorative about a quiet cup of tea, even one where the kids are whingeing because they didn't get anything (with the ice cream still staining their mouths from the earlier ice cream).

Presidential preliminaries - explanation

At the moment, we are in the Preliminary/Primary phase of voting. everyone from the Democrats or the Republicans who wants to run for president puts their hat in the ring, and then they travel the country raising money (lots required) and holding rallies, and trying to impress. There are about 15 Republican candidates, I'm not sure on the democrats. You can only vote in the Primary round of voting if you are a registered member of one of the two main parties. Then, the two winners of that round go up against each other, as well as any independent candidates that may have declared, and everyone votes again.
This is roughly how I understand it works.
Australian way - the party (or party membership and the party, if you're labour) deciding who is the leader of the party, and then people voting for their party, and the party with the most seats winning government, and the leader of that party being the Prime Minister/leader of the country.
American way - way for party members across the US to vote for who is going to be the best (or who has spent the most money, and therefore looks like the best) person of the two main parties to progress through to to the final round of presidential vote. The presidential vote is separate to the voting for representation in the congress. The president does not have to win a seat in congress. They are one of the three branches of federal government, the other two being the people in congress and the judiciary.

Pick-ur-own - Raspberries!!

Went on an adventure, intending to pick apples with friends. We arrived at the farm to find the apples were picked over, and there weren't apples to pick just yet (we're in the lull between summer apples and fall apples). But joy of joy, there were raspberries! I have never seen raspberry bushes. They are a bit tricky to pick, the baby soon realised that it was easier to 'share' the punnet with mum, and towards the end his eating accelerated to about 2 for every 5-6 I put in, so I felt under pressure to find those berries so I could get some home! Wasn't sure of the price but was willing to pay whatever... turned out to be $4.99 per lb.
Big exhausting day, but worth it completely for the time out of the house, and the raspberries on the cereal this morning.

Brownie cookie marshmallow cake

This was a special (mum made) birthday cake shared by the recipient at work recently. Bottom four layers - alternating brownies and crumbled biscuits plus choc chips, top layer marshmallows and chocolate decoration. Layers held together by melted marshmallow. It is the most extravagant cake I have ever seen, including the chocolate and peanut butter cream cake. I cut myself a piece about half the size of a normal slice of cake, missing two of the bottom layers, and still got a sugar headache from about three mouthfuls.

Whitehall Plantation

The original party rooms.

Because when you're at an historic home, you have to investigate the spiders...

A privately owned old house was open for viewing this summer, through Historic Annapolis. We managed not to find babysitting (not for lack of trying!) and took the boys, figuring that hubby could hang out in the grounds with the boys while I saw the inside of the house. But the volunteers were so lovely and encouraging, and gave us a ticket to a later tour so we could both see inside the house! We ended up wishing we had got there earlier to enjoy the large garden more fully.

Whitehall was built by Governor Horatio Sharpe, sent from England to be governor. It was simply a party house - three rooms (plus presumably kitchen somewhere) in which people could have gatherings, away from Annapolis. The front of the house faces the bay, where people came by boat. When he was done out of his Governor job by the brother-in-law of Lord Baltimore (who started Maryland), he opted to live there rather than return to England. It was a full working farm of 1000 acres.
When the American Revolution finished, he sold his property instead of swearing allegience to America. It was bought by his ex-secretary John Ridout. It was in the Ridout family until 1896, but then had checkered fortunes until in 1947 Charles Scarlett bought it and made it his life's work to restore it, including tearing down a second story added by the Ridouts.

Baseball - Orioles vs Kansas City Royals

We knew it was going to be wet, but we were also keen to get some time with Mr 6, and at the end of the day, it would all be an adventure...
We had really good seats! But it rained! Baseball is like tennis or cricket, they cover the pitch while it is raining and nothing happened. After two hours they announced they would try to start at 4pm (game officially started at 1pm) and we made the official decision to head for home, because if they did start at 4, it would require hanging around the stadium for another hour, then probably leaving after an hour to get home in time for the babysitter.
Kansas went on to beat the Orioles 14-6, so it would have been an interesting game to watch (in that, there was a score bigger than 3)
Had it been just us two, with no kids, I think we would have hung around... our seats were really good... but maybe next time.

N, S, E, W - remembering the points of the compass

Never Eat Soggy Weetbix, right? But what does everyone else do, when they don't eat Weetbix?!
Mr 6 has learnt it in class like this:
Never Eat Squishy Worms!
Amazing.

Making apple Apple Pie

Newest activity for our little preschool co-op - making Apple Pies - in apples!!
Surprising development at the end of this was that Mr 3.5 ate all bar 1/4 of his apple pie (and all the pastry, which wasn't so surprising). Because I enjoy these things, I took a section shot showing how it worked.
Note to people who are taking notes and thinking of trying this:
Apples need to be in about an inch of water, and not touching the side of the dish. Middle was tinned apple, which can be bought here.
I think they were cooked for about 30-45 mins at 350F.

Its Starting!!

Excited here, because although we're still getting hot weather, it is definitely cooling down, and the leaves have started changing. At first I put it down to a few storms that had gone through, I assumed the trees were just shaking off some old leaves that had stuck around from last fall. But no, I looked up today, and you can clearly see the touches of yellow.
The thing that really makes sweltering in 90% humidity worthwhile, is the joy and beauty of fall, and the hope of a few good snow falls in winter (I'll just settle for even one good storm, but my dream is getting snowed in for a couple of days).
The down side of winter is arguing with kids who don't want to put their gloves and beanies on because they're warm inside a fully heated house.

And this is the Belt Filter Press...

This is what you do after a sight visit when dinner is slow and painful... show your kids the photos. They really enjoyed seeing "Dad's work". In fact, the baby worked himself into tears over the possibility that he might not get to go see dads work (and all the diggers, and interesting equipment).

School photos in a consumer society

Someone at the bus stop this morning asked why we got school photos, and I had to stop and wonder. Just why do we get school photos in a digital age where I take 2-3 photos most days? Why do I need the slightly awkward smiling at a stranger studio photo?
Here, you can buy a school photo printed on a pillow case, or a 40 page journal notebook (with the photo in colour on the front and in black and white as a background on every page!), just to name a few options.

Navy Football (with kids)

We succumbed and took the kids to a football game. I was nervous about the use of the canon for noise during the match (when Navy scored, when Navy kicked off etc), and also the length of the game.
It was a clear, sunny, increasingly hot and sweaty day. aided by hot dogs and cups of ice, we got to the third quarter, but then had to go, as the kids were sick of trying to see where the ball was, or make sense of the game. And the key to explaining the canon? It was a noise making canon...silly us. the issue today was the possibility of bullets/shrapnel, not the noise.
I didn't find I got to enjoy the game as much as last time, partly because of the sun, heat, and lack of sunglasses (yes, we put on sunscreen, but forgot to take the bottle for reapplication...) and also because in addition to my questions about the game, I was fielding all the other questions, so it was difficult to keep track of play.
The other thing was, the noise was inescapable. There was no silence. It felt like a continuous stream of (loud) music or advertisements was coming out. It all just was a little too loud and thumping. Might have been where our seats were? The game is televised, so watching the game live, there are all these random stops where the players are literally standing around, while we wait for the TV man to signal the start. Just seems a bit crazy really. So the game doesn't flow much anyway.

More activities with big boxes

This box has been a late summer bonus. As you can see, we bought a lawnmower. The box is a 'cage' (indoor kennel) for the 'dogs' (and 'cats') that live here (we thought we were out of the dog and cat phase, but obviously not. In the same way that bath has become unfashionable because the older one doesn't feel like it, being a dog or a cat (or both, we're not fussy with details) is fashionable because the younger one is obsessed.).
Also playing pop goes the weasel, or the obscure favourite, hiding in it (both of them) giggling furiously when mum and dad come home from work.

And then the train got pulled up out of retirement from the basement, and isn't it convenient that the cage clicks right on mum?! And ahh, the joys of a loungeroom full of boxes.

Summer

I saw the still of late summer this last week. It was 88-90F most days, leading to the most humid still, hazy day on Wednesday. Happened to be the day I was walking down the highway to an appointment with the kids... Lots of sweat involved. This is the view on the way into town.
The earth is tired, the trees are finished growing, and some leaves are starting to turn. The cicadas are nearly done, the grass is browning off.