Rhinebeck, NY

On Saturday Bob and I headed west to the town of Rhinebeck, to visit the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, and to see Bob’s cousin Beth. While there, we stayed at a Interlake RV Campground, a very nice spot we have stayed at in 2012 while visiting the New York Sheep & Wool Festival (otherwise known as “Rhinebeck” in the fiber world.)  We still had our “Eco” travel trailer at that time, and I recall the horror I felt when we returned from the Festival to find our RV covered in ladybugs. Inside and out. Apparently, the insects swarm in September or October. Bob ran to the campground office and was able to borrow a vacuum cleaner, which we used to suck up every insect inside, otherwise we’d have had to drive home that night. I was NOT sleeping in an RV full of bugs!

Fortunately, we had a really nice time at the Festival, which made up for the swarm of bugs. And this time we saw no ladybugs at all. It’s really a very nice campground, with a lovely duck pond on it.

We drove over to the FDR Library on Sunday morning and got in on a ranger-led tour of the house, before going through the museum. When we left, we felt we knew a lot more about Frankln and Eleanor than before.

The Museum and Library

Franklin’s home

Hanging out with the Roosevelts

The library where FDR entertained guests

Statue of Fala, FDR’s beloved dog

On Monday, Bob and I met Bob’s cousin Beth and her SO, Gary, at Terrapin in Rhinebeck. Terrapin is in a converted church and is a very cool building.

I first met Beth on our honeymoon cruise to Mexico, 17 years ago, and we haven’t seen her since. We had a great time catching up but our meeting was all too short! We’ll be sure and see her again soon.

Today we head to West Chazy, New York, up on the Canadian border.

Sturbridge Village

Bob and I have both been to Sturbridge Village before we met each other, but it had been many years since either of us had visited this famous living history museum. And despite the hot and humid weather on Wednesday, with temperatures in the 90s, we had a great time. It’s a great place to go if you want to “time travel,” and for taking pictures, too. Here are some of my favorite photos.

Afterwards I dropped Bob off at the campground and went back to Jeen’s house to pick up this little beauty, a 9 1/2” 8 shaft Leclerc Voyageur.

This photo is not my loom but gives you an idea of what it looks like. Mine is folded up and in its storage bag under the bed, all set to travel. I’m going to have fun with it.

Speaking of new looms, on Tuesday I brought this one home from my visit with Jeen. 

It’s a Spriggs Creations floor inkle and I wasted no time getting a warp on it. I can also use it as a warping board on the road.

Thanks, Jeen!

To top off this most wonderful week, yesterday Bob and I drove up to Northampton to visit Webs Yarn Store and I got the supplies for two baby blankets, a knitted baby sweater, and knitted slippers.

Webs is having it’s annual summer sale so I got some good deals. Does life on the road get much better than this week? I’d say not. My hands will be busy now!

All too soon, it’s time to move on. Next stop is Rhinebeck, NY.

A Friend & I Visit Vävstuga Weaving School

Bob and I have been staying at a very nice campground in Monson, MA, west of Worcester and near Sturbridge, since this past Monday. Apart from the fact that we had no cell service here and only a weak internet signal, we have enjoyed our stay very much. Our campsite is in the woods near a state park and is quiet and peaceful.

On Tuesday I went to my friend Jeen’s house to pick her up for a drive to Vävstuga Weaving School in Shelburne Falls, MA. Jeen and I originally met on Ravelry years ago and have gotten together every year or two since then. It was great to spend time with her, as always!

Despite a rainy forecast, we had a very fun time. Vävstuga (Swedish for “weaving cottage”) is set overlooking the Deerfield River in a lovely little northwestern Massachusetts village. I had called ahead to be sure the items I needed were in stock and to request a visit as the store is open by appointment only. Tanya gave us a tour of the school, showing us the weaving room and the student’s rooms upstairs. Most students stay at Vävstuga during their weaving course.

One day I’d love to take a course or two here.

Tomorrow: Sturbridge Village

Fun in Rhode Island

We spent a few days after Grand Camp getting ready for our big trip and the time just flew by. There’s never enough time with my children and grandchildren, that’s for sure. On Friday morning Bob and I pulled in the slide-outs and waved goodbye. The trip to Rhode Island was uneventful but long, with lots of slow patches. Summer is the time of year for construction on highways in the Northeast, so you have to expect that. As we were ready to drive up to the Jamestown Bridge we could see a dense fog rolling in, obscuring half of the bridge and giving the effect that the road stopped in mid-air. Creepy!

The next morning, bright and early, we were at my sister Wendy’s house, surrounded by family. Wendy and her husband, Bill, have a beautiful home on Aquidneck Island, not far from Newport. The  little ones had a blast on the trampoline and we all enjoyed swimming, eating, and catching up.

On Sunday I drove to my sister Cheryl’s house and we went antiquing. Such fun!

We had hoped to get out to Block Island today on the ferry, but decided to do it another day. Instead, we visited Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, part of the Newport Mansion tours. With our reciprocal membership from Kern County Museum in California we were able to tour the gardens without charge (it ordinarily costs $17.50 pp.) Such a beautiful place. The estate was purchased in 1877 by Thomas E. Brayton and included 7 acres of land, a classic summer house, farm outbuildings, a pasture, and a vegetable garden. Mr. Brayton’s Portuguese gardener created the formal gardens and most of the present topiary. The estate has welcomed many dignitaries and the formal gardens were the setting for Jacqueline Bouvier’s coming out party.

Upstairs in the summer home, a lovely collection of period toys were displayed.

Tomorrow we head for central Massachusetts for a few days.

Final GrandCamp Session

GrandCamp is officially over for 2018, and what a great season it was. Rob, our 15 year old (and eldest grandchild) was here for four fun-filled days and just left this morning.

Rob has developed a love for golf, so he and Bob had a great time playing on local courses.

We also spent a lot of time in the water, and one day Rob and I went out to local thrift and antique shops. I bought Rob a box of Magic Cards for the price of $10, which excited him to no end. I also found a treasure...a glide rocker from the local Habitat For Humanity ReStore.

Bob has already taken it apart and will be making it gorgeous again. It will be brought to our place in Mesa this fall.

Yesterday the three of us visited Historic Cold Spring Village, the largest living history museum in New Jersey. Bob and I visit living history museums whenever we have the chance to do so, and we loved this one. Rob was fascinated with the Gutenberg printing press there, and asked the re-enactor if he could try it out. Maybe in another era he would have become a printer, but dealing with all the tiny letters would have driven me bonkers.

All of the buildings are historical homes or shops that date from the mid-1800s. Here are some scenes from our visit.

Chatting with the teacher in the one-room schoolhouse.

In front of the bookbinder’s shop.

The blacksmith’s shop.

A round tuit. How many times have you lamented that you’d do something if you got a round tuit? It’s a very handy item.

A horse-drawn wagon.

A two shaft loom that changes sheds automatically. We saw one of these in NM years ago but this one is actually being restored.

I must say, we have had perfect weather for the two weeks we were here, with blue skies, comfortable temperatures and fairly low humidity. Today it is raining but Bob and I are just getting ready for our drive back to Cherry Hill so it doesn’t bother us.

GrandCamp Session 3

So, where was I? Ah yes, we had taken the little ones to Storybook Land. The next day Bob and I went to the Cape May Zoo, an amazing place for little kids (or big ones, too.)  Jillian and Eve were excited to see all the animals and had a blast.

After a picnic lunch we let the girls play at the playground. This place has it all.

The next morning it was time to say goodbye to the little ones and welcome Adam and Alex,  the 11 year old cousins. We took them swimming daily, played miniature golf, ate popcorn, and visited the World War II tower in Cape May.

This is such an interesting place. We learned about German spies who landed on US soil during the war, and what life was like during times of blackouts and rationing.

The next day we were off to North Wildwood where we had fun at Ripley’s Mirror Maze, Lazor Maze, and Time Freak.

All too soon, our time with them was at an end. We now have Rob, aged 15, who will be here until Sunday when we return to daughter Kristen’s house.

GrandCamp Session 2

Day 3 of Session 1 with Quinn and Ben involved visiting the Cape May Lightouse. It was a beautiful day to do it and the kids enjoyed counting all the steps (199) as they climbed.

We were ready with binoculars to look for dolphins in the water. Nope, none today, but that didn’t dim the enthusiasm.

After a picnic lunch in the pavilion and a run up the ramp to the deck to look at the waves...

...we headed to a local movie theater to see Incredibles 2.

The next morning Kristen brought Eve and Jillian and took Ben and Quinn home. Session 2 begins!

First up was a swim in the campground swimming pool. Bob and I were too busy with the girls (both 5 years old) to take photos in the pool, but they had a grand time. They enjoyed the after-swim ice cream cone, too!

It’s such fun to watch 5 year olds play. They can make toys out of pretty much anything.  I keep a Bosu ball in the MH for exercise and the girls turned it into a boat on the stormy sea.

On Thursday morning we all piled into the car and went to Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township. The weather couldn’t have been nicer; it was not too hot and not very humid. We all had so much fun

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Tomorrow we will visit the local zoo.