22. Traditions old and new. Part 1

Fatima Shrine 12/25/2015

Because it is about one mile from our house, we usually we make a trip to Fatima Shrine sometime during the Christmas holidays to see the lights . This time we went on Christmas evening with the Jacob family. I like the display much better when the snow is falling but we enjoyed the company and the warm weather. We didn't take pictures.


Douglas State Forest 12/26/2016

Hiking outdoors is a newer holiday tradition for us. Ben, Paul and I went to Douglas State Forest and hiked about 7 miles around the Connecticut and Rhode Island boundaries. It was a beautiful day and several people were enjoying the trails with and without dogs. We did not enjoy the ATVs that were bypassing vehicle blocks to surround the rest of us with noise and fumes. They waved politely - I'll give them that. But it was the only negative part of the trip. The footpaths were varied. The trunk trail was very flat and wide and others were hilly, narrow and very rocky. We explored a few old house foundations and Paul explained some of the clues in the landscape, both man-made and natural, that he used as a land surveyor to figure out the locations of various boundaries in farm property.

I had a great opportunity to use the new hiking sticks Paul gave me. I love them. They don't show up in these photos but will be in many other blog entries in the future, I'm sure.

Here is a selfie taken by Ben (the blurry guy on the left) at the tri-state marker.

21. Migration ... Immigration

Week 21 12/17/15

A day in New Bedford. 

We had both attended concerts in the auditorium of the New Bedford Whaling Museum but I had never seen the collection. Paul remembers going there as a child. Today we learned all about whale species, migration, anatomy and behavior, the worldwide whaling industry, imported goods, art, and the New Bedford area. The museum was much larger than I expected. Go see it. We spent several hours and could have stayed longer but ran out of time.

This 1/2 size replica of the whaling ship, Lagoda, is the largest ship model in the world, they say. This ship was Paul's strongest memory of his earlier visit (probably 55 years ago).

It was fun to see exhibits that reminded us of two of our trips from the past year. There were many artifacts and maps from the Azores which was a large part of the whaling industry connected with New Bedford. There is a large Azorean population in the New Bedford area. We traveled to São Miguel in the Azores with two good friends last year and we'd all like to go back, maybe explore some of the other islands.

Another trip from the past year was to Washington state, including the Olympic peninsula. While there, we hiked to Flattery Point. (See blog entry 4.) In this museum we saw exhibits from the Northwest coast, and references to Flattery Point and the nearby communities of the Makah people who have been whalers. 

My fiber artist friends might appreciate the collection of swifts and spool holders in the ivory room. 

After a walk around town in the rain, a visit to the National Park station, and seafood dinner at The Black Whale, we walked to the Zeiterion Theater for a performance of Christmas Celtic Sojourn. We had heard this broadcast on the radio every year but had never attended. We're glad we went. The host, Brian O'Donovan welcomed his performers from Ireland, Norway, Shetland Islands, Sweden etc., and reminded us about past immigration to the US from many parts of the world, connecting it to the current immigration situation from Syria. He made the point that most of us were descended from immigrants and that we are a nation of immigrants.

20. Christmas Spirit

Week 20 12/6/15

We attended the Christmas Vespers service at Houghton Chapel, Wellesley College. I have not been to this Vespers in quite some time. The chapel was packed, the music was inspirational and complex, and the whole effect of sound and light was dramatic. Faculty, advisors, staff and chaplains read and spoke.




The Back Bay Ringers accompanied with hand bells, the student voices were stunning and my favorite is always a chance to hear the Charles B. Fisk organ. Besides the sound and the special historical features, I'm intrigued by the craftsmanship of the construction which reminds me of pieces that Paul and I saw in Germany. At the very top of the central set of pipes is a carved wooden star called a zimbelstern. Each performance includes a climactic point where the zimbelstern is activated, sounding like a percussive symbol.

This organ is made to play northern German music of the 17th century. Most of the time the sound is produced by a bellows that is filled using some sort of electrical pump, I guess. But this organ also includes an optional mechanical bellows system requiring an assistant dedicated to stepping up and down onto a platform that fills the bellows manually while the organist plays. I once attended a doctoral thesis concert using this system.  Here is a video including the sound of the Fisk organ, but I can't seem to find one showing the organ being played

19. Russian icons

Week 19 12/1/15

I had heard good reviews about this Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA. We had a rainy couple of days so we headed for this indoor spot.

The museum building is an old courthouse, recently renovated as a museum. The displays were well-lit, attractive and informative. A free audio tour explained techniques, symbolism and many stories that are depicted in the icons. We learned about the painting process and watched a restoration in progress by a conservator. For the season there is a special exhibit about St. Nicholas who, although born in Turkey in an area that was then Greece, is the patron Saint of Russia. 

On the lowest of the three floors there are old jail cells made over as viewing rooms. There is also a nice self-serve tea room with a variety of Russian teas. On the tea room wall is a display of samovars and nesting dolls. In the 60's my father and mother brought home a samovar, similar to one of these, from a trip to the U.S.S.R.

The icons in this museum date from as early as 1450. Many had extremely detailed painting and lettering. There are magnifying glasses to borrow which help quite a bit. I thought it was interesting that many had a decorative/protective metal layer, usually silver. Some of the metal is cut to expose whole figures or else just faces, hands and feet. This is an example of one where the holes are so tiny that I couldn't see the little parts they were meant to reveal. This is a typical example where there is a section for each month of the year, with figures representing that month. It's impossible to see in this photograph the minuscule writing in the spaces above the figures.

Lessons were taught around the themes of feast days. Churches used the pictures and stories to explain the gospel. Rural areas in Russia did not have space or money for large icons, so traveling priests used folding icons like these to show the various feasts.

If you visit Clinton, I recommend that you eat in the new Clintons Bar and Grill, which is not a pub as the name might imply, but more of a nice restaurant.

18. Post-Thanksgiving tradition

Week 18 11/27/15

Ben was home for Thanksgiving, and we all decided to revive a family tradition by picking princess pine to make a Christmas wreath. My grandmother Helen Lucy Garratt Hoag, who lived in the house we now call home, led an expedition every year. At that time we used burlap feed sacks to collect this low ground shrub. Nanny, as we called her, made a large wreath that hung in her dining room. Every visit leading up to Christmas we children were allowed to add a decoration to the wreath. Most decorations were old mismatched jewelry, barrettes, beads and other odds and ends that Nanny had collected. Paul and I stopped collecting princess pine many years ago because my father was concerned that it was endangered. We bought a large fake wreath that we have been using in our dining room for the same purpose. However, right now I don't see any references to princess pine being threatened and there are huge quantities in the woods, so we decided to pick some again. I made a smaller wreath for our front door and we are still using the fake wreath in the house for small ornaments. All of our guests, young and older, add ornaments to the wreath.

Here is the princess pine we picked this year, along with some berries that Ben took back to Baltimore. He will make something for his door also.

Here is the finished wreath on our door.

17. Plimoth Plantation

Week 17 11/18/15

We and 1700 third graders with their teachers explored Plimoth Plantation. We knew there would be school groups, but I think we were the only visitors not connected with a school on this day. We had a nice talk with a visitor assistant about the new Rick Burns documentary and with the man who does the building construction. We also talked with a craftsman who makes Wampanoag war headgear. This was our first visit since our children were little. 

16. Very deep and very high

Week 16 11/6/15

Julia took some amazing pictures of the following trips. I hope she sends them to me! Then I'll update this post.

We set off for an overnight to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Here we stopped at a visitor station near the Guanella Pass and saw the first hint of snow. Then we proceeded to drive (John drove the whole way in both directions) through a snow storm as we crossed the pass. Many trailer trucks were stopped to "chain up." This was enforced by police.

The National Park was even more amazing that we imagined. It is well worth a trip. Near the area below, it is 1/4 mile wide and over 2000 feet deep, so very steep sides. This park draws rock climbers, but even experts are urged to take a guide because of the extreme difficulty. The deepest point is 2600 feet. It is called the "Black Canyon" because sun hits the bottom only when the sun is at its peak. Below is how it appeared when we arrived in the late afternoon.

This photo is my attempt at showing the scale of the canyon on our second day. Of course no photo can do that adequately. But we met someone who could come close. A a professional nature photographer was very pleased with the weather and light. He had with him an amazing array of complex lenses and a high-tech drone.

At this spot near the northern end of the canyon we were struck by the depth, and then by the height of the West Elk mountain range which was always on the horizon - such a contrast.

At this spot I believe I might have burst into singing America the Beautiful.

John enjoyed this perch. He was often way ahead of the rest of us, then he would double back to meet us. Or sometimes we'd spot him way up ahead on a high rock -- or doing handstand pushups on a tree trunk -- or we'd walk under a tree branch and find him above our heads. I believe he is a combination of mountain goat/Cheshire cat /Jack LaLanne.

After a day of rest we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park which I'm sure we'll visit often because it is so close to Julia and John's house. We started off on a hike to Alberta Falls. The trail wasn't too hard but very slippery and I was not able to continue, so turned back, but I enjoyed the scenery and caught up on reading about the park. Paul, John and Julia finished the hike.

Next stop was Bear Lake. It was also slippery. We started around, but there was a wedding in progress, so we moved to our next destination. 

The highest mountains accessible by car are in the north of the park, but the road was closed for the season. This was taken at the turn-around point. Next time we'll take Trail Ridge Road all the way to see more spectacular views. Apparently Julia and John circumnavigated the whole park by car on their first visit last spring.

This is a herd of elk near the park. Going through the town of Estes Park we saw about 30 elk crowded into the little yard around the American Legion Hall, but couldn't get a photo there because we were driving and couldn't stop. On the trip we also saw bighorn sheep.

John took us back home to Broomfield by a different route, which must have been beautiful but it was dark. We went over a few high passes up to 11,000 feet plus.

15. Tea and clouds

Week 15 11/5/15

This was our first visit to Julia and John's  new home in Broomfield, Colorado. We spent a week visiting, cooking, hiking, driving through beautiful scenery and looking at art.

The first day we set off for the Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art which has a large collection of paintings and sculpture. Very impressive. We particularly liked the work of this landscape painter, Bill Hughes. This museum owns about 10 of his works, some of which include figures and horses. I guess he also painted some portraits. Besides the paintings at this museum, all of his work is in private hands. Most of the paintings are very large. One was at least 8 feet wide. Of course this photo is just meant to give you a rough idea of the work.

Near the museum is the headquarters of Celestial Seasonings Tea where we had our fill of a variety of any of their teas while waiting for a factory tour.

In the afternoon we visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, part way up the front range. This included a nice visitor center, gorgeous views and extensive hiking trails up the mountains. Bears and mountain lions are resident here.

It seemed appropriate that we should see some interesting clouds after that visit. I don't know if the type below has a name. Earlier, we saw three stacked nenticular couds which I wasn't able to get a picture of from the car. Unfortunately they dissipated by the time we stopped.

The second tea venue was the Dushanbe Tea House in Boulder http://www.boulderteahouse.com/. Besides a menu of hundreds of yummy teas and cocktails made with tea, they have a full breakfast/lunch/dinner menu and, of course, tea daily. The gorgeous building was constructed in Dushanbe Tajikistan as a gift to Boulder

The next week we returned to Dushanbe for lunch with my friend Tessa who lives in Denver. 

On Friday we went to the Denver Zoo. It's quite large and most of the animal displays were well done. I liked this setting for gibbons on a series of islands with the walkway among them. The gibbons can swing overhead. There were also rhino in the water, and one can be seen in the picture just to the left of Julia. Or is that a rhino? -  now I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly.

14. Medway Cemetery Crawl

Week 14 10/26/15

What better way to recognize the week of Halloween and All Saints Day than with a cemetery crawl. As far as we are aware, Medway has three cemeteries. First visit was St. Josephs Cemetery on Oakland Street. The "population" of this cemetery has grown a lot since the time when I pushed Ben's stroller here every day. We saw many stones marking classmates, neighbors, teachers etc. The layout is regulated to a grid with named lanes. 

Next was the Oakland Cemetery which (unlike St. Joseph Cemetery) is not on Oakland Street. Paul had never walked around this one. It is wooded and has markers dating to the 1800's. The layout is circular. 

Here Paul looks at the marker of the final resting place for the mother of our Heather.

Finally we visited the Evergreen Cemetery where my father was recently laid to rest. Mom and I will soon pick out a headstone for the Hoags which will include nearby graves for my grandparents Alden and Helen.

Helen Garratt Hoag 1892 - 1972

Paul cleaning the marker for Alden Bomer Hoag 1897 - 1983

Here is the oldest part of the cemetery. Graves here are very well tended. Many have been restored. The oldest one we found this day was from the 1750's.

Here is the stone for Aaron Wight who build my parent's house in 1800.

On a previous visit I had found the grave for Thaddeus Lovering who built our house in 1780. This time, neither of us could spot it, even though I had a good idea of where it was. It was late in the day and shadows made it hard to read the stones.

The next day, I returned to Evergreen Cemetery and found Thaddeus Lovering right away! Here is is stone.

His wife was Rachel.

13. Atwood heritage day

Week 13 10/16/15

We wanted to get together with Paul's brother Charlie, and what better spot then Erving MA at their childhood summer stomping grounds. We started with breakfast and a planning session at the Rail Yard Diner. Then we left one car at the top of the trail and drove to our starting point at the low elevation end.

A portion of our hike coincided with the Metacomet Monadnock trail - up to a ridge over Millers River.

The weather was nice, cool and breezy with good visibility. Here is a pretty waterfall near the start of our trip. This is also near the point where we took a wrong turn and had to retrace our steps. Even though these guys have been here many times, they claim the trails might be different now. Charlie also says he prefers feeling a bit lost. Uh huh. 

We skipped the turnoff to Hermit Cave. Why are landmarks named after hermits called "hermit" rather than the person's name? Maybe it sounds more romantic.

Here are they guys having lunch at the overlook. Paul and I had a modified Dave Hoag hiking meal (crackers, cheddar, sardines, and apple). No sardines for me though. Dad would have had Triskets and Crackerbarrel cheese instead of stoned wheat thins, an orange rather than an apple and finally a chocolate bar. Always. And part of the entertainment is to peel the orange with only one piece if possible.

Charlie's packed lunch was Chinese takeout!

This spot was a bit precarious over the river, as we looked for somewhere to take a group photo with the timer.

And a group photo including the photographer. We look cold. If anyone finds these red knit gloves, send them to me.

We recovered our car across the street from the Atwood/Wait family house where summer vacations were spent. No photo of the house here, which is now in the hands of strangers. Paul and Charlie remember no electricity or plumbing, but lots of things to do and freedom to explore.

Some of the Wait cousins own the back fields. Here is a house that Charlie says was built by their cousins for when they come to the area. The RV must belong to one of them also. Nobody was around, though. This is on the edge of a beautiful field surrounded by forest.