Bwoston, Mark Twain, and the rest....

Sam didn't want us to go :(

I have returned from our lovey and wonderous trip to Connecticut, MA, and Vermont! We, after much discussion, decided unanimously to take a long needed vacation! My first flight on a plane since I was too small to remember began on Thursday, October 2nd. Nervous and somewhat terrified I stepped bravely onto the plane and dragged my carry-on mercilessly through the isle to my lonely seat. As the plane took off, things I never anticipated were waiting welcomingly ahead! We arrived, after 3 hrs of a rather fun flight and a dreadful landing at the airport. I will spare you the details of the finding of a rental car, and the such. There are much too many other fun things to cover, and I would not in any way like to waste my time on mentioning the boring tedious details!

Friday:
So, now onto the fun stuff! Our first place to visit was the gigantic home of Mark Twain, near Hartford Connecticut and the small but quaint and lovely home of Harriet Beecher Stowe which was right next door. Mark Twain whose real name was Samuel Clemens lived in this gorgeous , 22 room home! The inside is filled with many of his original furnishings and the walls are stenciled with a beautiful pattern he himself designed! Many of you many recognize the name Tiffany as a glass designer, but when Tiffany was just beginning his career, he decorated Clemens home! Unfortunately, as you will see any many things to come, they refused to allow me to take pictures inside the house. Even non-flash! haha! I really do completely understand, although I would of liked to of been able to show you what it looked like! Also, if you have never read his 'Joan of Arc', I recommend it! He did a splendid job with it!

The home of Mark Twain:

Mom and I:The home of Harriet Stowe was, as I stated before, small compared to others, but truly lovely! This home (pictured below) was her...what you might say....retirement home. She was a wonderful painter, and they have many of her original paintings! I had no idea how profound and popular her book 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was! The only book that at that time stores sold more of was the Bible!Some flowers from the garden of Harriet Beecher Stowe:

We later found the Dr. Seuss sculpture garden! We took advantage of the fun!

We met a husband and wife that are clowns with the Barnibum (spl?) and Bailey circus!:

Saturday:

I met my 2nd cousins on my grandmother's side for the fisrt time, and I think we all got along quite well! :) We had a swell time:

Let me see, on the top row from left to right is Collin and Derek

and on the bottom row is me, Camille, Rachael, Danielle, and Hannah! oops! This is the one where Hannah's not smiling :D haha! oh well!

Sunday:

We woke up early and headed straight for Boston with the cousins! On the way we say the old tavern where the minute-men stopped before the battle, the Concord bridge, and that was dreadfully depressing really. We also saw the home where Ralph Waldo Emerson's grandfather lived which is right within view from the bridge. His grandfather who had daughters and a wife witnessed the battle on the bridge....I can't imagine the horror. We toured the lovely home of Lousia May Alcott and saw Emerson's home as well! Later when we actually got to Boston, we went on the Duck Tour which is basically just a bus tour throug the city except the bus can go not only on land but also in the water!

The tavern:

Emerson's grandfather's home:

The Concord bridge. The reason for the lack of the entire bridge is the fact that hoards of people were constantly coming through! I actually really like this one though!:

We also saw many graves that day. Below are some graves dated back to the early 1600's!:

The grave of Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Louisa May Alcott:

Henry David Thorea:

Nathanial Hawthorne:
The home of Lousia:

The home of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Where Paul Revere began his ride:

Monday:

Clara Barton was a hero of mine as a child as well as an inspiration, and truly she still is! Her childhood home I found was very near where we were staying so of course I just had to see it! We arrived in the afternoon in Salem. I must admit, I was creeped out by that town. It was disgusting the way that people laugh and commercialize a tragic time in history! All throughout the town were stores with witchcraft related things, museums to see plays of a witch trial, and more satanic things. They are preparing at this time for a large convention for satanic worshipers to come on halloween. It was spooky and I was disgusted. After we finally got passed the middle of the town, we found, much to my delight, Nathaniel Hawthorne's home and the Seven Gable home from his book!! ^_^

Clara's home:

Nathaniel Hawthorne's home from when he was born until his father died at sea when he was 4:

The house of Seven Gables. It was such a fun one to tour! There were many hidden doors and even a hidden staircase in the chimney!! ^_^

The Custom House where Hawthorne worked and found the story for the Scarlet Letter:

A ship from the 1700's or 1800's:

The only standing building where they know for sure a woman lived and was hung for witchcraft. They call it the Witch House:


Tuesday:

This day was much more relaxed and less stressful than the others! We first went to see Herman Melville's home and to tour the mansion of Edith Wharton! We then traveled up to Vermont and enjoyed the creation that the Lord has painted and designed! There are few things more lovely than viewing and admiring the creation of God! We also stopped by Robert Frost's home!

Herman Melville's home:

The stables on the property where Edith Wharton lived:
Her home:
Her library!:
The view from the window on the second floor:

The garden: The front of a store in Vermont :D haha!:

The home of Robert Frost:

Wednesday:

Our last day we went to the Norman Rockwell museum! I love how real and alive his painting are! We also stopped by the charming home of Emily Dickinson on our way to the airport!

A HYDRANGEA TREE!!!! they were everywhere!!!:

Norman Rockwell's studio:

An adorably fuzzy caterpillar! I have no idea what kind it is, so if any of you know, please tell!:

The gorgeous view from Rockwell's studio!:
Emily Dickinson's home:

Hannah and I being tree huggers ^_^ hahaha!:

So here you have a glimpse of the almost 800 pictures that just I took! Hannah took I don't know how many! :D I have many lovely flower pics, but will post them later! Yes, this beats all! It is I believe by far the longest post of mine! hahaha!

until next time....