The Demise of the Mini Bar

Have been traveling off and on for a month in various portions of the U.S. Staying in nice hotels, various Hiltons, Marriotts, Starwood places and even some which are on the list of "best small luxury hotels" in the world. NONE of them have mini bars anymore. when did the mini bars disappear??? I always loved looking in there to see the tiny bottles, different juices and soft drinks, candies and nuts. Sometimes I even bought something when I was desperate, even at the inflated prices. So it's been sad to see the passing of another era in the U.S. You can still find them in many hotels in other countries but will they slowly disappear also? Going the way of the clacking train schedules in cavernous railroad halls.

On Carousels, Paddle Steamships & Teddy Bears & Choppers

Visited Burlington, Vermont yesterday. It has enough interesting things to keep one busy for awhile. Started at the Shelbourne Museum which is a large complex of buildings and gardens. One building built rather like a horseshoe has an extensive collection of a minature circus parade which stretches for over 500' or the equivalency of 2 miles. What a wonderful thing to walk along this and see all the stuff that used to be in circuses long before I ever attended one. Made me a tiny bit envious to see all the exotic animals and wagons and bands and "scenes". Wagons were American or European or Asian and had scenes on them to represent that area. I never saw a circus like this parade and it just looked so exciting. Would have been the best thing to come to a small city in those days. The museum also had a small carousel beside the circus horseshoe. A nice lady was running it and called for us to come ride. We both hoped onto a horse and she ran the carousel for us only. days gone by for sure. Haven't been on a carousel horse in many years.
The U.S.S. Ticonderoga is also at the museum. Poor boat is sitting on dry land now but her glory days of being a paddle steamship on Lake Champlain will be remember from the photos and the restoration of the ship. She is a very nice boat. We got a sneak glimpse of the hidden whistle when we were in the forward lounge and they guy came to tout it. quite loud but quite melodeous as well.
An exhibit by Louis Comfort Tiffany was also in the Webb Gallery and such beautiful work. As I am also a stained glass builder, I love looking at his work. If I had the money and the assistants like he did, perhaps I could also churn out such glorious pieces. no matter.
And finally, at the museum, was an exhibition of motorcycles. The entry barn had some old motorcycles on the top level then some choppers on the next level. These choppers are also incredible works of art. I cannot imagine ever riding something so beautiful and odd. cannot believe that any of them would be comfortable to ride for any length of time. I'll stick with my faithful little cruiser who doesn't leave me exhausted after a couple of miles.
After leaving the museum, we headed down the road to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. this company started because Teddy Bears, named after Teddy Roosevelt, were no longer being made in the United States. The founder has made a thriving business out of the bears and now they are well loved and quite expensive. But it was fun to see how they are made, hear the patter, and get one. Yes, I bit the bullet and bought a bear but it's quite lovely.
When we left there, it was pouring rain so that stopped any outdoor activities but a lovely day.

Someone Else's Mom

my mom died on Sunday, early in the a.m., at a nursing home, by herself. I feel sad that she died, relieved that she finally died, and the only upset that is visiting me is that other people knew a different lady than I did. I left the "ole family homestead" close to 40 years ago because it wasn't a happy childhood, I was miserable, hated being there, etc. etc. Always thought that it was my dad that made me so unhappy and insecure but after he died some time ago, I realized that my mother had just as much to do with making my life "something to escape from". tried over the years to maintain a relationship but I just gave up about 3 years ago. It was then that I realized the effort was all on my part and pretty much had always been my effort and none from her to keep close to her daughter. Now reading what people have written on Facebook about her dying, it seems my neices had a much closer relationship with her and even seemed to genuinely like her and respect and admire her. Why wasn't I given the same treatment and love and caring? who knows and we'll never find out either. ah well. It has taught me to be totally different with my daughter and I worry constantly that someday we'll drift apart and not have a good relationship ship so for that, I do thank my mom that she showed me what NOT to do in a family relationship. This will probably be the end of any relationship with my family because it seems my sister is taking over in her footsteps and I'm sure her daughters will be the same. it is too much work and energy to always be the one reaching out. I will continue to do that through emails and facebook but this family's era has ended. R.I.P.

early Shaker cult

Spent some time touring the Great Stone Dwelling today, a house built by Shakers way back when in Enfield, New Hampshire. What I learned today is that the Shakers really fit the definition of a cult per Webster: a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader. The members of such a religion or sect.

Who knew. I really thought they were a religious group that made great furniture and boxes and didn't know much else. I know a lot more now but they still required a contract where the recruits gave up their worldly goods and agreed to celibacy and living separate from members of the opposit sect. Families joined were torn apart with adults and children being sent to separate houses and husbands and wives being split. People weren't always able to stay in the order and left sometimes to get married or whatever. Now there are only 3 actual Shaker members left, 2 elderly women in their 70's or 80's and a slightly younger man. wowzer. end of an age and era.

antiques and tidal change

Staying in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. our bed and breakfast is on the back bay. They say that there is water here but tidal change last night was in the dark. So far we have only seen the mud flats but it must be lovely when there is water there.
Plenty of antique stores all along the coast. In fact, stopping and shopping could take up weeks. so far, we have managed to avoid stopping but only due to disagreement on what we should see. ah well. seems like most antiques these days are things I grew up with and discarded when I had the money to buy better stuff.

canadian summer

Canadians really love their summer which seems to be about 4 weeks long, maybe! We've only had on the air conditioner once and a few days I've felt like we needed to turn on the heater! Every yard though is ablaze with color. they plant flowers like crazy so for a few weeks, it's just gorgeous walking down the street. don't even recognize half these flowers.

Two deer, goose, goslings but missing the groundhog

it's always amazing to see urban wildlife but I guess we get used to the squirrels and birds and such. Walking in the park, I saw a doe on Sunday and then another one today! That really surprised me because the park "forest area" isn't that large. So the deer are living in a tiny enclave by the river and who knows what they do in the winter around here.
Shopping at Costco this week, as I was leaving the parking lot, I had to wait for a goose and her 7 half grown goslings parade past on their way to a mud hole. I parked the car to watch them and then swung around the parking lot to see them safely under the fence and on their way to the water. Canadians don't seem to like their Canadian geese very much as several people just sped by them without a glance.
My daughter sees groundhogs at school all the time. In fact, they apparently wait for her to come out of the building and sit in the middle of the sidewalk to watch her. Of course, she gives up whatever vegetable she has with her. I go to pick her up and all groundhogs have retired for the evening. I have yet to see any. Maybe it's a myth because she knows it drives me crazy that she sees them and I don't.

Mangosteens!

Oh Heaven! My grocery store actually had mangosteens today. I could not believe it! How rare to find them outside of Southeast Asia and who could even have through they'd end up in Canada. They also had rambutans. but my favorite, mangosteens - almost bought them all but figured I'd better eat one and make sure the long transit had not damaged them in any way. Nope, pure lusciouness in the mouth! wonderful!
Of course the check out clerk had no idea what they were. I kept telling her mangosteens and she kept asking all the other clerks until one finally agreed that they were mango something. Doesn't matter. I made it home with my precious cargo and I'm not sharing!

the friendly Puff

my hubby's cat, Puff, is probably the biggest scardy cat around. He could sit on anything and subdue it into submission at 18+ pounds but the slighest noise and he's off like a rocket to hide. poor baby. Now his "daddy" is gone so he comes to me for his "noggies". see if you can type with an 18 pound cat on your lap.

Two photos of Puff.

Because he is such a scardy cat, he loves to cram his body into tight places, a box is one of his favorite. usually we're lucky he waits for us to empty it.

Puff is hiding behind the wall. even though he's such a scardy cat, you can see that he's having a hard time staying awake.

whole house vacuum

i suppose I like it, if one can ever like housework, which I don't, but my whole house vacuum came to an inglorious end today, meaning I have to clean out the bin and the filter. I gave it a halfhearted attempt and decided that was best left to another day when I am already dusty and dirty and in a bad mood.

My New Shoes

I am liking them a lot. I bought a pair of the MBT rocker shoes. Felt a bit like being on a balance board but they are supposed to be really good for your core and your body. hope so since they were expensive.

link to Honduras

see my other blog on Honduras
http://onleavinghonduras.blogspot.com/

funeral flowers

walking home from the park yesterday, a funeral passed me winding it's way through the neighborhood. A bit odd I thought. then they stopped. The two funeral directors hoped out of the lead car and walked two massive funeral wreaths up to the front porch of a house. this was a new one on me as I'd never seen this done before. Every funeral I've ever been associated with, the flowers were usually given to the church or some such thing or put on the grave. interesting.