Category Archives: USA

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Belfast Summer Evenings – June

Another of those perfect summer evenings spent doing things we love in our home town, and where everyone and everything is bathed in the magical golden light of summer.

Starting out with ” lobstah” at Young’s – a traditional Maine lobster pound….

 

Followed by the weekly Summer Nights music at Steamboat Landing….

An evening stroll on the Harbor Walk and footbridge….

… back home…

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Progress …

We’ve made great progress in the last 10 days. Kat and I stained the kitchen cabinets and painted the kitchen, while Ian and Dennis finished installing tongue and groove, sheetrock, and built a wall for the shower. Since then I’ve painted the eating area and back middle section, Dennis finished off the loft area and burned all the rubbish! We’re on a roll!

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Playing in dirt …

My sister tagged me on Facebook with this very appropriate quote ….

to earth

Spring checklist:

Manure and compost spread √

Gardens edged √

Weeded and new perennials planted√

Patio pots planted √

Patio furniture out√

Veg garden laid out and straw paths in place√

Onions, potatoes, brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, swiss chard, egg plant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peas, beets, lettuce planted or seeded√

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just sit back and watch it grow (without weeds!) for the summer!!!!

 

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I dream of Africa – valleys and mountain passes

The morning drive was very easy, and as usual, free of other traffic. We had the choice of making a 300 km loop down to the ocean and back up to Oudtshoorn or visiting Prince Albert and crossing the Swartberg Pass – we decided on the latter!

Initially the drive was on a pencil straight road through the Karoo bushland with goats, sheep (different breeds) and cattle grazing – very similar to northern Arizona – and corner chimneyed karoo style houses dotting the landscape. We drove closer and closer to the mountains until we took a turn that took us through a gorge with the most amazing rock formations- diagonally slanted sandstone blocks. The little town of Prince Albert was on the other side and we made a well-deserved stop to peruse the main street and enjoy delicious lemonade and apple pie on the porch of the Lazy Lizard. We also got caught in a sea of Merino sheep being herded out of the field and down the road!

Leaving Prince Albert we took the dirt road that goes over the Swartberg Pass. Whoo! what a ride – switchback turns with virtually no guard and we could see the trail winding its way up the mountain and then once reaching the summit, down the other side and hour and half later!

On the other side of Oudtshoorn we arrived at our destination: Rietfontein Ostrich Palace – an ostrich farm. We had ferocious winds that turned to a rain storm (much needed) during our dinner. The farm has been in family ownership since 1846 and was first ostrich farm in the valley. The buildings date from 1906 and our little “Emma’s Cottage” was luxury personified. The lounge and restaurant are in the former stables/barn converted into very comfortable and appealing settings.

Dinner was comparable with any first class restaurant anywhere in the world and comprised:

Ostrich liver pate with fresh-baked bread and candied figs

Mushroom stuffed with baked brie and cranberry

Black Forest Ham wrapped around fresh fig

Ostrich fillet with new potatoes, julienned carrots and beans

Apple tartine with whipped cream.

Protea
Protea

 

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Bryant Stove & Music Museum

These photos do not do justice to the scope of the collection and the cacophony of tooting horns, carnival music and much more that meet you at Bryant’s Stove and Music Museum in Thorndike.   The stacks of piano rolls are nothing compared to the  implements varying from  tiny hand crank models to elaborate calliopes. We were lucky enough to have the master mind and mechanical genius, Joe Bryant, give us a tour and share his stories of this unique collection.

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Glorious glass

We visited Winter Park, FL specifically to see the Tiffany exhibits at The Morse Museum which houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), including the artist’s  jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows.  Especially magnificent is the chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After his Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall, burned many of the salvageable pieces and architectural objects were transported to Winter Park thanks to the initiative of his daughter who wrote to Jeannette Genius McKean, who had long appreciated Tiffany’s art. Her husband Hugh McKean, had been an art student at Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall estate in 1930.

 

 

 

 

 

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A few days on the west coast (FL)

East coast or west coast? I am fascinated by trying to determine how people figure out which they prefer. Both have pros and cons, of course.

So we drove from Fort Pierce to Port Charlotte by way of Rte 70 via Okeechobe and Arcadia. It is absolutely unnecessary to turn the steering wheel a degree, and one could possibly believe that you’d been transported to Texas or Oklahoma! It has a very strong western feel with lots of cattle and horses grazing in pastures,  and cowboy hats, jeans and boots are the common attire.

I immediately fell in love with our Airbnb rented loft in Port Charlotte where we stayed for three nights.

We made a little trip up to Osprey to meet up with friends for lunch at Casey Key Fish House which was lovely – sitting outside on the deck at the water’s edge.

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Viewing the sunset at Port Charlotte Beach Park.

A long walk on Punta Gorda’s Harbor Walk.

A couple of hours at the beach on the Gulf.

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Another good day in the Sunshine State

This morning was fresh and clear after yesterday evenings rains and the perfect day to get out on the trails. Before that, though, we made a stop at the Navy SEAL Museum which gives a very good insight into the successes and mission of the SEALS from World War II to present and how their equipment has evolved over the decades.

The coastal hammock trail in Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.

Lunch in the most beautiful of settings on such a gorgeous day – overlooking the marina – at Harbor Cove Bar & Grill.

Lucy was parked in the shade during lunch and wondered what we brought her!!

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The day wrapped up with a long walk on a mostly empty beach – heavenly sand between the toes, washed away by lapping surf.