Seafood, Books, and Baseballs in Boston

     As I stepped off the airplane, my olfactory senses were immediately slammed with that fresh seafood smell.  My location: Boston.  City of the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Marathon.....and Boston seafood.  To most people, that scent would instantly cause their stomachs to scream with desire, but for me, I plugged my nose and (for lack of a better phrase) got the hell out of there.  Awe, the struggles of a seafood hater.
     On our first day in one of the oldest city's in America, we ate seafood at the Atlantic Fish Co.  Yes, I had clam chowder (most all of it...I picked around the clams) and a Caesar salad.  We then walked to the Boston Public Library, which was established in 1848.  After perusing the many facets of this library, we headed for the Swan Pond to relax, people watch, and take pictures of the swans (ugly duckling-style), and swan boats (swan, swan, swan). To end our evening, we attended a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.  No worries, fellow Cardinal's fans, the Toronto Blue Jays slaughtered them 14-1.

The Boston Public Library, the second largest library in the U.S. (behind the Library of Congress).

Do you spy a PDub?

Marble walls, glowing chandeliers, and stone lions (better stone than real).

Sturdy pillars, ornate artwork, and arched walkways.  If you are wondering, there were also books.....it's a library, duh.

Swan Pond, where you can sit, listen to street musicians, and take in the beauty of downtown Boston.

It's called Swan Pond for a reason.  Two swans live in the area and love to paddle around in this pond.

People like to paddle around in those boats too.

A revolutionary George Washington and a grateful American.

Not so sure about this seafood stuff.

Proof of eating clam chowder.

PDub's meal: an oyster po-boy.  The lemon was covered with mesh to prevent seeds from falling into your food, very clever.  With Harvard nearby, I am surprised we didn't see more amazing technology.

Drum roll please: FENWAY PARK!!!  Built in 1912, it is the oldest ballpark in the MLB league.

Imagine Babe Ruth up to bat in 1926, the year he hit 104 home runs.  Goosebumps?  For any baseball fan.

Our seats (very small seats from when people were tiny) were behind the visiting pitcher's bullpen and in front of many, many Canadians.  Fun fact: the Blue Jays are from Canada.

A thirty-seven foot, two-inch high wall in left field.  Better known as the Green Monster.  One of the Blue Jays ripped one clear over it.

I think my favorite part about the whole evening was listening to the vendors yelling in their thick Boston accents.

Ice Cole Be-ah He-ah!

Getchya cacka jacks!

Cah-ton candy!

Living a no R lifestyle.

Hillwood Estate

     First Question: Have you ever heard of Grape-Nuts?  If you haven't, open your eyes next time you are in the cereal aisle at the grocery store.  It has been on the shelves since 1895 so no excuses.  Contrary to its title, Grape-Nuts does not actually contain grapes or nuts, but it is a name that has been selling for nearly 120 years.  The businessman, Charles William Post, who launched this cereal also started the Post dynasty, a consumer packaged goods company.  Do you like Fruity Pebbles or Honey Bunches of Oats?  Those are also produced by Post.  Upon his death (and her mother's) in the 1910's, their daughter, Marjorie Merriweather Post, took over the company.

     Second Question (which I now notice is actually the third): Have you ever wondered what happens to the fortunes made from such a company?  For Post, obviously some of it went back into the company, or it wouldn't exist today; however, another portion of it went to funding Marjorie's love for artwork.  She began purchasing 18th and 19th century French artwork as well as items from the House of Romanov in Russia.  In 1955, Marjorie purchased an estate, named Hillwood, where her great collection could reside.

     Today, Hillwood has become a hidden gem to the D.C. area.  The mansion and its beautiful grounds are now open to the public.  Its location is just north of D.C. near Rock Creek Park, and in the distance, one can see the Washington Monument.  Seeing that I love studying the Romanov dynasty (ever since our trip to St. Petersburg.....yes, I have read biographies of some of the rulers), I was very excited to visit this off-the-beaten-path tourist destination.  It is definitely a must-see attraction if you ever visit D.C.

The front of the mansion, where guests would arrive for her lavish garden parties.  Eros stands in the center of the circle.

Why can't I find a couch with an extendable end table such as this?  Practicalities just don't exist these days.

Some of the beautiful artwork and ornate vases.  I am currently working on a re-creation of this; it'll be done in 20 years.

Loved the ceiling and lighting in this entertainment room.

The library, my favorite place in any mansion.

The beautiful dining room.

A breakfast nook where the indoor plants made the garden outside seem to come right into the room.  Very cool!

A portrait in a portrait gallery.....and the universe implodes.

Catherine the Great's portrait is the larger image....She is one of the most intriguing people to me; born in Prussia, married into the Romanov family, and ended up ruling Russia.

I'm pretty sure everyone from henceforth should incorporate a piano in their bedroom.  Play me some lullabies.

My nerdy husband.  We go together so well.

The grounds were separated into different gardens.  This area was called the French Parterre.

This was the rose garden and Marjorie's gravesite.

And the putting green.

Yes, this happened.

A fierce lion stands guard off the back porch.  You can also see the Washington Monument from here.

Roar!  Who's cowardly now?

Stepping stones in the Japanese Garden.

More stepping stones.

No worries, I have found my chi.

I shall call you Lily, and you shall rest on pads.

A beautiful flower garden where fresh flowers were and still are picked everyday to decorate Marjorie's many rooms.

Bees and sunflowers.  Epipen prepared.

More of this magnificent garden.

The greenhouse holds one of the country's greatest orchid collections.

ORCHIDS!

Ideas for my future lawn.

Monticello, It's a Thomas Jefferson Thing

     I am thinking that my future will not include owning a 5,000 acre plot of land where slaves farm tobacco and mixed crops, beginning a country's revolution, and serving as president.  No, that's most likely not in my cards.  However, for my good old (very old) friend Thomas Jefferson, it was inevitably going to happen, and everyday we can thank him for declaring our independence from England.  Who knows where we would be today?.....having tea and crumpets instead of Starbucks and McNuggets, I suppose.
     During our stay in Charlottesville, TJ (we're on a nickname basis) invited PDub and I (and Maya) to visit his plantation called Monticello, or small mountain.  (I'm thinking my estate will be called Megacello).  While there, we stepped inside the rooms he spent most of his time in, took in the mountainous views that he would've awoken to each morning, and strolled amongst the gardens where he would find his source of food.  Thanks, TJ, for having us over!

TJ's place.  The weathervane on the rooftop was linked to a wind plate on the ceiling below to indicate the wind direction.

PDub hanging out at TJ's place.

 The angles and windows were placed to make the house appear smaller than it actually was.

And the other side.

I and one of my best bronzed friends.  I suppose that would be a BBF.

The veggie garden overlooking the mountains.

Why, hello.

This lovely couple were engaged the day before....Congrats you two!

Words of Wisdom by Thomas Jefferson:

1.  Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
2.  Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3.  Never spend your money before you have it.
4.  Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5.  Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6.  We never repent of having eaten too little.
7.  Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8.  How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9.  Take things always by their smooth handle.
10.  When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.