Castle in the Clouds

The weather was predicted to be cloudy and with a chance of a shower. Not an ideal beach day. We decided to take a trip North to Moultonborough, New Hampshire to visit Castle in the Clouds, the Lucknow Mansion.

After a harrowing ride up a twisting, turning mountain road because Waze decided we needed a heart attack of a ride. (The road reminded us of "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut". If your school or library hasn't banned or burned Stephen King books, you can find the short story in King's Skeleton Crew) we found ourselves in the relative safety of a parking lot with signage directing us to the Carriage House (gift shop) where we could purchase tickets. After getting tickets and donning a sticker, we were directed to wait

for the trolley which would take us up to the house.

The views of Lake Winnipesauke and the mountains were just spectacular

You can take a self-guided tour of the house which began in a sunroom where we watched a short video about the history of the house and owners. I was charmed by the adorable bunny doorstop.

The house is named Lucknow. "Originally comprised of 6,300 acres, the property featured a 16-room mansion, stable and garage, two gatehouses, a 100 foot greenhouse, farm buildings, an 18-hole golf course, tennis court, a man-mad lake, and 45 miles of carriage and bridle paths."

The architecture belongs to the Arts and Crafts movement. "Though its construction employed modern materials like steel beam and terra cotta blocks, the exterior was veneered with hand-cut stone and adorned with hand-scalloped oak timber framing. - the house was intended to fit naturally and comfortably into the landscape." (from the brochure)

awesome front door

The house was built in 1914 and was the home of Thomas and Olive Plant. Plant's story was rags to riches rising "from factory laborer to proprietor of the Thomas G. Plant Shoe Company by the age of 32. By his retirement in 1910, his shoe factory was the largest in the world." (from the brochure)

State of the art appliances and technologies are seen throughout the house. At first we thought this was a dumb waiter and then realized it was a refrigerator and freezer. Not an icebox! The cooling system for the units was ammonia brine refrigeration system. The house was also equipped with a central vacuuming and intercom system.

At the time the house was built and lived in, the couple was very wealthy. Unlike the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island with their  flamboyant opulence, Lucknow was a tastefully decorated home. However poor budgeting and over spending collecting object d'art plunged the Plants into financial difficulties. A friend of theirs bought the house and allowed them to live in it until Thomas' death in 1941. The house was sold and Olive moved back to Illinois to her family. 

Fountain in the "backyard"

While the furnishings inside the mansion were beautiful to look at, the real jewel was the magnificent views of the lake and mountains. As you can see, the weather dudes lied and the weather cleared to another fine day.

This torture device isn't an Iron Maiden, but something called a needle shower. Showers were for the men only as it was believed women were too delicate to withstand the shower. On the other hand, I don't think I would like sharp jets of water blasting my kidneys.

Overlooking the front drive 

This was my favorite wallpaper in the house

It was used as a maid's room for helping repair madame's frocks

or a sewing room. My mother would have loved this room.

her writing desk

tea service

Another spectacular view

A covered walkway from the house

leads to a pergola

With squirrels carved on it. The squirrels had been lost, but restored last year.

After touring the house we caught the trolley to go back to the Carriage House (gift shop) and parking lot. Doesn't the trolley look like Mr. Roger's Trolley? From the parking lot, Waze graciously found the main exit so we didn't have to go through Mrs. Todd's shortcut again.

When Your Muse Takes A Powder

 

From June 22, 2009

An author friend posed some answers to the question what do you do when your creative well runs dry?

Creating something with my hands is such a rush. Though I sometimes refer to my work as play, it's still work. (Though some don't view it as such). It's hard to be creative every single day. Sometimes the demands of work and family just sap my energy. When I feel that happen, it's best just to step back and leave the drawing board. I find if I'm not in a good mood, not happy, my mood comes through my hands. But there's also the need to get that creative energy back. Some things I do:

1. Being a couch potato and watching movies.

2. Cleaning and organizing the studio. Though this can also be a procrastination technique, touching the art supplies sometimes cause my fingers to itch. Sometimes I just have to get my hands in the paint. Afterall, art is a contact sport.

3. Reading blogs by creative friends and colleagues. Looking at what they are doing can be very energizing.

4. Flipping through my calligraphy books, art books, and color swatch book, makes me want to get back in the saddle.

5. Making ATCs just for me and not a trade. Too many times things made are given away or sold (a blessing). I can try a new technique and have fun without the pressure someone is waiting for a piece to be completed.

What are some of the things you do when your muse takes a powder?

A Happy, Little, Time Waster Tribute: Happy Towel Day!

 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Chapter 3: Towels (narrated by Douglas Adams)

Towel Day celebrated on May 25 is an homage to Douglas Adams, the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Don't panic, but do you know where your towel is? 

Throwback Thursday - THE ONE. The Giant-Size X-Men #1

 

On the wall across from us at Lou Roc's diner were a series of comic book posters. We had just been shown to a table when Himself gasped.

"That's it! That's THE ONE I had."

THE ONE. The Giant-Size X-Men #1 comic book. The first edition. He had it one day and then it was gone (figuratively speaking). 

His mother used to organize  a fair/yard sale for Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. There were games like ring toss with prizes and a White Elephant table where for a quarter or less, we could buy some perfume for our moms, beads, and other trinkets. All going for a good cause.

And that's what happened to the first edition Giant-Size X-Men comic book. Sold for a quarter or less all for a good cause. 

Now he might be mixing memories and another of his comics went for a good cause. See, the Giant-Size X-Men  #1 came out in May 1975. Long after his mother's fairs. Not to say that the comic book didn't find its way to a yard sale, or was given away to a cousin, or younger neighbor.

Himself still mourns the loss. 

Apparently, this particular comic book is worth a chunk of change. According to Quality Comix, "The introduction of the "new" X-MEN was a game changer for team books! Giant-Size X-Men #1 is one of the most in-demand comics on the market, and one of the most valuable books of the 70's! What's Giant-Size X-Men #1 worth in 2023? A NM/MT [ed: that means near mint to mint condition] 9.8 set a record for the book with a recent sell price of $13,300! As an investment collectible that is still a reasonable price for such a top tier book in the current market. FN 6.0 books will bring in the range of $1,500 against about $350 in 2009. Solid GD 2.0 are still well under $1,000 coming in around $600 versus just $100 in 2009. A solid performer with A LOT of upside in the wake of the news that MCU powerhouse Sony has acquired the rights from lackluster performer Fox Entertainment. The next big move in the value of this issue could be sooner than later and frankly that leaves no time to waste for the educated buyer!"

Maybe I should mourn the loss, too.

Happy Towel Day

 

Don't forget to bring your towel wherever you go today.

Book of Marks - Last Two Pages Reveal

The last two pages

The left side with collage and Ascemic writing

The right side. "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." - Anais Nin

If I had waited until the button was sewn to the flap, I could have punched the hole so the button would be centered in the square. Oh, well. It goes with the Ascemic writing on the opposite page.

T Stands for Kittea

 

While browsing through Michael's, I saw the book Kawaii Kitties. If you're not familiar with the term "kawaii", it's Japanese and means cute, über cute. As seen in Japanese Anime. Hello, Kitty is kawaii and so is Pusheen from pop culture.

So I splurged on the book and thought I'd have fun with some of the exercises. So for T Day, I'm serving up some kittea treats.

Drawings done with Micron Pigma pen, Prismacolor Watercolor pencils, Metallic Gelly Roll pen, on Canson Mixed Media paper

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Inktober 2022

10/13 Challenge prompt: kind

Always try to be nice

But never fail to be kind - The Twelfth Doctor 

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers, Gelly Roll pen

10/14 Challenge prompt: empty

Nothing exists except atoms and empty space;

everything else is opinion - Democritus

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers

10/15 Challenge prompt: armadillo

Micron Pigma Pen

10/16 Challenge prompt: fowl

We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it. - Abraham Lincoln

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers, White Gelly Roll pen.

10/17 Challenge prompt: salty

Salty Girl

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers, Clear Gelly Roll pen.

10/18 Challenge prompt: scraped

"I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. - J. R. R. Tolkien

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers, 

10/19 Challenge prompt: ponytail

Chantilly Lace had a pretty face

And a ponytail hanging down

a wiggle in her walk

a giggle in her talk...J. P. Richardson

Winsor Newton Ivory Black gouache, Nikko G nib, Micron Pigma pen, Tombow Dual Brush markers, 

Fun Facts About the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

In 2003, Make Way for Ducklings written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey was made the official children's book. Third graders were responsible for gaining sponsorship for the legislation.

Written in 1941 and a Caldecott winner, the story written in tells the story of a family of ducks, The Mallards, who want to make their home in the Boston Public Gardens by the lagoon and the adventure they had making their way across the city.

The Eldest

The Young One

In the Boston Public Gardens, the sculpture of Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings is a popular attraction. We took the girlies to visit the gardens when  they each turned 4 years old. 

During the Summer, you can plan  your visit when the story is read aloud by members of the Boston Parks Department.

Fun Facts About the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

In 2003, Theodor Geisel, Springfield, Massachusetts native,  better known as Dr. Seuss was name the official state children's author and illustrator.

From Wikipedia: In May 1954, Life published a report on illiteracy among school children which concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring. William Ellsworth Spaulding was the director of the education division at Houghton Mifflin (he later became its chairman), and he compiled a list of 348 words that he felt were important for first-graders to recognize. He asked Geisel to cut the list to 250 words and to write a book using only those words.[53] Spaulding challenged Geisel to "bring back a book children can't put down".[54] Nine months later, Geisel completed The Cat in the Hat, using 236 of the words given to him. It retained the drawing style, verse rhythms, and all the imaginative power of Geisel's earlier works but, because of its simplified vocabulary, it could be read by beginning readers. The Cat in the Hat and subsequent books written for young children achieved significant international success and they remain very popular today. For example, in 2009, Green Eggs and Ham sold 540,000 copies, The Cat in the Hat sold 452,000 copies, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960) sold 409,000 copies—all outselling the majority of newly published children's books.[55]

In 2019 my "cousin" and I visited  Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

The Friday Five Good Things

 

Image from Pexels.com

Five good things that happened this week.

1.  We chatted with Himself's sister.

2. I saw a butterfly flit through the yard

3. Hung out with my friend, Teague

4. Saw a hummingbird checking out the honeysuckle vine

5. While Teague and I were getting ice cream, a young man noticed my 42 tee-shirt and said, "I have the exact same tee-shirt!"

"Happy Towel Day!"

"Is that today?"

"Yes. Don't panic" (a quote from the book) and we had a good laugh

How was your week?

Whatcha Doin?

 

The Doctor and I are celebrating Towel Day. Towel Day is a Geek holiday that celebrates The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author, Douglas Adams.  A towel is significant in the novel as it is used for shelter, warmth, or to lie on while at the beach. Adams’s strongest advice was “Never go anywhere without your towel.”

And as The Tenth Doctor observed, “There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold.” 

Happy Towel Day!

Whatcha doin?

T Stands for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: On Tea

 

Simon Jones, actor who played Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy protagonist, Arthur Dent on the radio in 1978, reads "On Tea"

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Saturday Mornings at the Library

 

When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, White Fang by Jack London. The story follows the journey of White Fang, a wild wolfdog from his life in the wild to becoming domesticated. This is a companion novel to London's better known novel The Call of the Wild. If you haven't read White Fang, you can find it at your public library or read it free at Project Gutenberg.

This is the last book of the series. Next week, some fun facts about Massachusetts

Saturday Mornings at the Library

 When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, Webster's New 20th Century Dictionary of the English Languages. Obsolete and out of print, but still a favorite.

If you haven't read this book, you can find the up to date version online at https://www.merriam-webster.com/ Besides the joy of searching the dictionary, there are Games and Quizzes, Thesaurus, Word of the Day, and more happy, little, time waster fun.

Saturday Mornings at the Library

 When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, Watership Down by Richard Adams. From Goodreads: Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

If you haven't read this book, you can find it at your public library or favorite bookstore.

Saturday Mornings at the Library

 

When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. The four novel series is a fantasy-romance that follows Bella Swan and her romance with vampire, Edward Cullen.

If you haven't read these book, you can find them at your library or favorite bookstore.

Saturday Mornings at the Library

 

When I was 5 years old, I was forced to take dancing lessons while the Brother was forced to take accordion lessons. I hated dancing class. The Knights of Columbus Hall where the classes were given had no heat or it wasn't turned on. I hated wearing the pink beginner tights. I liked clacking around in the tap shoes, but Ma wouldn't let me practice inside the house on the wood floors. I spent most of my time in class being miserable and crying. Eventually, I was taken out of class.

While the Brother still had to endure accordion lessons, Dad took me to the library. He would leave me upstairs in the children's library where I could look at the books and choose to take some books home with my own library card. As I got older, I would go downstairs to the adult library and wander among the stacks enjoying the scent of the books before going to find Dad in the reference area consulting the law books and catching up on his work.

So for the next several weeks, a list of my favorite books, some I have read as a child, others as an adult and some  I have read more than once.

This week, The Thornbirds by Colleen McCollough. Set in the Australian Outback, a story about passion, ambition, secrets, and forbidden love.

If you haven't read this book, you can find it at your library or favorite bookstore.