WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?
You may have been wondering where what we have been doing; we have not sent out a newsletter for a couple of months. Essentially we have been engaged in mostly routine activities: eating, sleeping, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. There have been several art events and and a few visits to Columbus, but not much out of the ordinary. And of course we have been watching OSU football. And enjoying our quadrennial game show called Presidential Elections. Between those activities Mrs.T has been busy working outside a bit, limited while her leg healed. But before we depart at Halloween for our winter home, Rebecca thought she would put together a story about a short trip we took.
My broken leg was feeling a whole lot better so Dan and I decided to take a little trip. We went to visit Fallingwater, a house built by Frank Lloyd Wright. (Two websites about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater and http://www.fallingwater.org/ dt) It is located in western Pennsylvania about 3-4 hours from our house. It was an easy drive. We did make one stop in a town along the Allegheny River for lunch. It was not the stop we intended but it had one of those serendipitous bonuses. The town apparently has a lot of eastern Europeans because we found several eastern churches; Catholic, Orthodox, Byzantine; within a few blocks of one and another. Pictures show the typical onion domes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9151458@N07/sets/72157631792786194/
Fallingwater is built over a stream with a waterfall which comes just after the stream exits from under the house. Because Dan and I both still had mobility issues we only went through the first floor. (There are over 100 steps for the complete tour, including the guest house. dt) The house was interesting and the grounds were fabulous. No pictures are permitted inside unfortunately.
The trip through the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania was lovely. We learned that here 'laurel' is another name for rhododendron. The trees which seemed to be a week or so ahead of ours in Ohio were at the peak of fall colors. We drove beside and over several tributaries of the Ohio (They go to the Allegheny first. dt). White water rafting is big here as there are a lot of rapids. I told Dan that we could try it but his answer was a definite "NO!!" (There is a large state park named Ohiopyle on the Youghiogheny River for those and other activities. dt)
We visited colonial era Fort Necessity which is one where George Washington lost to the French and Indians, OOPS! There is a nicely done visitor's center which includes an informative movie about the fort and the major batte. I thought it was interesting that part of the uniform for the colonial soldiers was a tuque. (Hello Canadians. dt) It was very rainy so we did not walk out to the actual fort. The picture is of the children's area.
We also stopped at the Touchstone Center for Crafts where they teach things like ceramics, jewelry, glass, and blacksmithing. (A glass acquaintance - 'The Fig Eater' teaches there. dt) They were between terms when we stopped. Dan thought we might take a course there because it is not too far from our home. That was fine with me but I did notice that their cabins were primitive - read: No hot water. (Actually no water at all. dt) So I explained that if we went to a class we would be staying at the Olde Stone Inn or another bed and breakfast.. You can say all you like about ambiance and a true local experience but I prefer my ambiance with hot water.
After we returned I went to the doctor and was pronounced healed - sort of. I am now allowed to do anything but if I do too much my knee gives a twinge or two. I am happy to be doing my yoga again and working outside, I have been reading zen and came upon an interesting phrase to describe what happens when you are too self centered: "various desires begin to behave mischievously". I told Dan some of my desires were about Moose Tracks ice cream. Dan had no need to elaborate on his! (What could she mean? dt) Both Dan and I thought that this was an interesting way of describing it.
Of course being in Ohio which is believed to be a key state in the presidential election, we have been bombarded by political advertisements. Dan watches "Morning Joe" a Republican (perhaps a bit -dt) show in the morning and "Hardball" a Democrat show (definitely -dt) in the evening and mutters or yells at both of them. He has gotten me really confused. Still he does not vote at all inspite of much harassment from me on this subject. (I am called a Commie. dt) I have already cast my absentee ballot so I think I should not have to listen to this nonsense any more. I do have a few ideas about how to help our country grow and improve but no one has asked me, aside from one lady doing a poll. I did send the White House one email and got a form reply. Sigh! (Her email should have been directed to Obama campaign headquarters; she did actually send it there also. dt).
I have been dividing some of my plants which became confused and started blooming. So it goes. But I am ready to head south.
Adios. The next time you hear from us we should be in the sunshine.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
You may have been wondering where what we have been doing; we have not sent out a newsletter for a couple of months. Essentially we have been engaged in mostly routine activities: eating, sleeping, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. There have been several art events and and a few visits to Columbus, but not much out of the ordinary. And of course we have been watching OSU football. And enjoying our quadrennial game show called Presidential Elections. Between those activities Mrs.T has been busy working outside a bit, limited while her leg healed. But before we depart at Halloween for our winter home, Rebecca thought she would put together a story about a short trip we took.
My broken leg was feeling a whole lot better so Dan and I decided to take a little trip. We went to visit Fallingwater, a house built by Frank Lloyd Wright. (Two websites about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater and http://www.fallingwater.org/ dt) It is located in western Pennsylvania about 3-4 hours from our house. It was an easy drive. We did make one stop in a town along the Allegheny River for lunch. It was not the stop we intended but it had one of those serendipitous bonuses. The town apparently has a lot of eastern Europeans because we found several eastern churches; Catholic, Orthodox, Byzantine; within a few blocks of one and another. Pictures show the typical onion domes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9151458@N07/sets/72157631792786194/
Fallingwater is built over a stream with a waterfall which comes just after the stream exits from under the house. Because Dan and I both still had mobility issues we only went through the first floor. (There are over 100 steps for the complete tour, including the guest house. dt) The house was interesting and the grounds were fabulous. No pictures are permitted inside unfortunately.
The trip through the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania was lovely. We learned that here 'laurel' is another name for rhododendron. The trees which seemed to be a week or so ahead of ours in Ohio were at the peak of fall colors. We drove beside and over several tributaries of the Ohio (They go to the Allegheny first. dt). White water rafting is big here as there are a lot of rapids. I told Dan that we could try it but his answer was a definite "NO!!" (There is a large state park named Ohiopyle on the Youghiogheny River for those and other activities. dt)
We visited colonial era Fort Necessity which is one where George Washington lost to the French and Indians, OOPS! There is a nicely done visitor's center which includes an informative movie about the fort and the major batte. I thought it was interesting that part of the uniform for the colonial soldiers was a tuque. (Hello Canadians. dt) It was very rainy so we did not walk out to the actual fort. The picture is of the children's area.
We also stopped at the Touchstone Center for Crafts where they teach things like ceramics, jewelry, glass, and blacksmithing. (A glass acquaintance - 'The Fig Eater' teaches there. dt) They were between terms when we stopped. Dan thought we might take a course there because it is not too far from our home. That was fine with me but I did notice that their cabins were primitive - read: No hot water. (Actually no water at all. dt) So I explained that if we went to a class we would be staying at the Olde Stone Inn or another bed and breakfast.. You can say all you like about ambiance and a true local experience but I prefer my ambiance with hot water.
After we returned I went to the doctor and was pronounced healed - sort of. I am now allowed to do anything but if I do too much my knee gives a twinge or two. I am happy to be doing my yoga again and working outside, I have been reading zen and came upon an interesting phrase to describe what happens when you are too self centered: "various desires begin to behave mischievously". I told Dan some of my desires were about Moose Tracks ice cream. Dan had no need to elaborate on his! (What could she mean? dt) Both Dan and I thought that this was an interesting way of describing it.
Of course being in Ohio which is believed to be a key state in the presidential election, we have been bombarded by political advertisements. Dan watches "Morning Joe" a Republican (perhaps a bit -dt) show in the morning and "Hardball" a Democrat show (definitely -dt) in the evening and mutters or yells at both of them. He has gotten me really confused. Still he does not vote at all inspite of much harassment from me on this subject. (I am called a Commie. dt) I have already cast my absentee ballot so I think I should not have to listen to this nonsense any more. I do have a few ideas about how to help our country grow and improve but no one has asked me, aside from one lady doing a poll. I did send the White House one email and got a form reply. Sigh! (Her email should have been directed to Obama campaign headquarters; she did actually send it there also. dt).
I have been dividing some of my plants which became confused and started blooming. So it goes. But I am ready to head south.
Adios. The next time you hear from us we should be in the sunshine.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
We have switched to working in 'the cloud'. If for some reason you cannot see the pictures, please let me know.
