26. Life

Week 26. 1/22/16

They say life is an adventure. Lots of life this week.

25. Road Trip. Part 2

Week 25 1/10/16

There are three separate museums on the Ringling Museum Complex, plus a rose garden, a secret garden, art library, learning center, labeled collection of local trees, and beautiful grounds for viewing the bay. There is also a rep theater adjacent to the property. Our favorite museum on the campus, which we visit every time we are in Sarasota, is the Ringling Museum of Art, consisting mostly of European art but also now some Asian and contemporary American art. Usually the weather is fine and we spend some time in the open courtyard among the sculpture. The museum building surrounds the courtyard on three sides and is ringed on the roof perimeter with dozens of large statues - all different.

We visit the Circus Museum occasionally. This is lots of fun, with old posters, costumes, circus equipment, scale models of circuses, and John Ringling's restored circus railroad car.

Sometimes we visit when there are many roses in bloom in the formal rose garden. I really like the whimsical sculptures - there are dozens.

Of course there are many banyan trees.

These two beast/humans surround the entrance to Ca'd'Zan, John and Mabel Ringling'a mansion. I don't remember noticing the before. We've taken the tour of the house a few times. It's worth a trip. I hear there are special house tours that take visitors to parts of the house not on the standard tour.

This is the back (bay side) of Ca'd'Zan. It's a nice place to sit or walk along the water. I think the public can visit the grounds, including this courtyard, without paying admission.

This is a shot of a new addition - a 1952 replica of the Walker Guest House, designed by Paul Rudolph. The large shutters are managed by weights. With the shutters open, the screen walls are revealed. The original is on Sanibel Island.

24. Road Trip. Part 1

Week 24 1/5/16

Our annual (approx.) visit to Sarasota was long overdue when we set out. In recent years we've flown but this year decided to drive because we wanted to stop en route at two locations.

It had been a long time since our last visit to Ben's house in Baltimore, because he came north several times late last year. We stopped there overnight and had a nice dinner with Ben and a friend. Next day, he went to work and we took off for South Carolina.

In Columbia, we visited Paul's boss from the Army, Col. (and Rev.) Gantt and his wife, Martha. Steve was the chaplain in Paul's Army unit in Ansbach, Germany. Paul's job was the chaplain's assistant. Paul reconnected with Steve and Martha only last year and wanted me to meet them. We were welcomed to stay overnight and enjoyed lots of conversation and food together. Many memories and thought-provoking issues were discussed. Apparently these two guys were THE best athletes of the unit and carried the softball team, especially.

In Sarasota we were greeted by Becky's cousin Susy. We always look forward to, and thoroughly enjoy visits with her. After many years, we have a routine. Some activities we do every visit such as a show or play, mini-golf, Ringling Museum (see next week). Paul played golf a couple of times. Susy and Becky have a celebratory latte and stroll through Selby Gardens. Paul and Becky go off on our own, too. Here we are at Rye Preserve, a new area for us. The preserve has several hiking trails through different types of terrain. The Manatee River is available for canoeing and kayaking. 

I'm always drawn to the look of these seed pods with rows of red seeds/berries, but I don't know what they are called. 

We thought this pink color was paint at first, but it is some sort of lichen.

Another mystery plant that I like. Unless someone posts a comment with its name, I'll look it up and update the blog.

Stay tuned for part two. 

23. Traditions old and new. Part 2.

Week 23 12/28/15

Blackstone Valley National Historic Park

This is our nation's newest national park (the 402nd) commemorating the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. It was a national corridor previously. The park has several sites from Worcester to Pawtucket along the river and canal. We began in Woonsocket at the Museum of Work and Culture, but it was closed. The national park website shows the museum as being open on Mondays, but that is an error. So we headed for Pawtucket to the Slater Mill site which houses the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. We had been there years ago for a river celebration. Paul has also canoed in the area with Boy Scouts. In the building was a nice little museum and a very detailed watercolor pictoral map of the many towns and villages in the area. I'll add a photo of the watercolor to this blog entry when a get a copy from Julia.

The weather was nice, and we hiked along the canal toward the north for a while.

12/31/15

Another newish tradition for us is the Holliston Rail Trail's annual New Year's Eve lantern walk. We saw a total of 3 lanterns including the replica candle lantern we carried and a battery operated lantern. But many people had light sticks, holiday lights and flashlights. There was a surprising number of people who walked in darkness. Strollers and dogs were allowed but we were glad there were no bicycles as it was very crowded - thousands of people. Along the way were groups of people who made fires in open fireplaces and cooked food, played music and chatted with the walkers. Several town groups sold or handed out drinks and snacks or took donations. Here's a blurry photo of the arch lit with lanterns. Inside people were sipping hot drinks and having a good time.