BENNINGTON

Less than 2 weeks ago we took a little getaway to Southern Vermont.  Even though I was born in Vermont and have spent half my  life there I usually just "run" ( I use the term very, very loosely here) back and forth to Burlington to catch up with my parents.   Bob has never spent much time in Vermont, being a Native Bay Stater ( is that what you call people born and raised in Massachusetts??) so we are having fun exploring parts of the state that he has never seen.  It gives him a chance to find covered bridges, diners and train stations to photograph.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous and Mother Nature was kind enough to keep a lot of golden leaves on the maples.  The day in Bennington was a day to remember weatherwise, scenerywise and of course companywise.  Just a great day.   Most are Bob's photos and I am sure you can tell the difference between his stunning photos and my "click while passing" shots.  Enjoy some autumn in Vermont...it is the BEST!

 

$750K, seems a steal to me...and I love a Greek Revival style home...c.1830...bay window on left side...*sigh*...

All houses were in Old Bennington, a neighborhood surrounding the monument.  All have very large lots that overlook Bennington or surrounding farmland.

A day to remember...thank you Bob :)

Later,
Janet

SANDWICH MA 4/30/10

Tell me...which one is your favorite?  Why?

Remember...there are NO wrong answers!  Your favorite is the one you like the best for why ever you like it!

Later,

Janet

CAMBRIDGE PART II

Look at the size of these leaves I picked up. They are huge and will look wonderful on the Thanksgiving Table. I love to pick up leaves and press them, oftentimes forgetting them in a book...do you pick up and save leaves or am I just strange??

This Second Empire Victorian looks absolutely modest compared to some of the huge Georgian and Federal Colonials.

Yellow seems to be a popular color on Brattle Street

Perfect symmetry...Georgian Colonial

This home dates from the late 1600s...can you imagine?

Now you know why these are known as "Burning Bushes"

Do you like to shuffle through leaves like this? I just can't resist, no matter my age.

That's the end of the tour; it was a really fun day despite the large blister.

Later,
Janet

HAH VUD

View of Boston from the Cambridge side of the Charles River

Wednesday I went to Cambridge, home of MIT and Harvard ( get it??) ,with my hubbie. While he worked in the morning I wandered across the Harvard Bridge to the Back Bay of Boston and browsed (really I didn't buy a thing) a few shops on Newbury Street. Very nice shopping, but way too posh for my current budget for sure. Then I walked back across the Charles River("Love That Dirty Water"...remember that song?) to Cambridge and off we went to Harvard Square. We had lunch and then we walked and walked and I know that we walked at least 6 miles and that doesn't even include my little side trip to the Back Bay in the morning. The first pictures here are a few I took as I ambled about in the Back Bay. The rest are of either some buildings from Radcliffe College ( now a part of Harvard) or of Brattle Street. There will be limited commentary so that you can enjoy the very impressive buildings and private homes. I believe the late Julia Childs lived on Brattle Street. Many of these homes date from the late 17oos and some from as late as the early 1900s. The prices are astronomical and there is a lot of "old money" and a tremendous amount of American History on this street. I can't imagine the maintenance required in homes of this age or size to say nothing of the property taxes. Several are being extensively worked on...new roofs, new paint, new landscaping...in *this* economy. Okay, sit back and enjoy.

Even city folks decorate for fall!

The Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House built 1759
Home to George and Martha Washington during the British seige of Boston
Later Home to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was here that he and his wife, Fanny Appleton raised their five children and he wrote such poems as "The Song of Hiawatha" and "Paul Revere's Ride". The home is open to the public seasonally, but apparently not this season. Beautiful grounds with formal gardens in the back. Next year I hope to go and tour the house and gardens, I amagine they are lovely in the summer.

A former Carriage House that was next to the rear grounds of the Longfellow House. Hard to see, but it was so beautiful hidden behind the golden leaves on a cloudy day. The epitome of cozy.

I am going to end here for today so that I can get some cleaning/laundry/errands done. More on Saturday or Sunday.

Janet

Edited to add: Julia didn't live on Brattle Street, but on a street closer to Harvard Yard. Whoops!