more of boston

we saw our fair share of cemeteries - this one included benjamin franklin's parents, john hancock, paul revere and 'mother' goose. stones were found piled on top of several markers replicating the idea of stone cairns. the artistry of the old markers is breath taking but i admit i have a limit to how many i want to visit
this statue marks the entrance to a 'green' which abuts old north church.







it's spire is visible behind the outstretched hand but didn't photograph well..

our tour route took us to paul revere's home,(his workshop was in another location) (this was their courtyard garden) wound through pub street, little italy, (several blocks of aromatic restaurants), faneuil hall/market where we lunched in a basement sea food dive. delish!
this is the organ from old north church. we enjoyed seeing the family boxes which in their time were available for a price. several were quite well padded. our family's practice has always been to come early and take the last row - a privilege we may have had to pay dearly for to outbid the latecommers.
i appreciated the graceful blend of history and contemporary life evidenced by this bridge. of course, the other extreme exists too, including a ruth's chris steakhouse in what had been the old city hall, graced by a statue of benjamin franklin, the first statue cast in 'common' clothes (as oppossed to classical robes).
i'll finish tomorrow with the harbor, and a few leftovers. i do regret the many wonderful photos i didn't take......

boston

tim, jacob and kate at the boston commons.
speaks for itself, wouldn't you say?
wandering around beacon hill.
we had a fine day to stroll through the streets of boston - a day where one could entertain the idea of global warming. we followed the freedom trail, enjoying the sense of locals going about their business enmeshed with names and places from our grade school lessons. a self-paced tour we were able to browse through an interesting bookstore, stop for a pretzel, dawdle as we pleased. we watched as services ended at king's chapel, established in 1689. paul revere recast its bell in 1816 and it is still rung every sunday to announce services.

where to start?!

they always say to begin at the begining....to be kind i should skip this first installment but it is just too good a story. we're on the plane - well into our flight - when tim goes to retrieve something from his computer bag. no computer. my mind flashes back to the announcement i heard as i sat down after exiting the security checkpoint. "would the passenger who left a laptop...." and my immediate reaction of "what kind of idiot walks off...." so we're laughing. he didn't hear them say they were removing the laptop.....
he made a couple phone calls when we landed and it should be waiting in the lost and found when we return to omaha.

the flights were unremarkable. i think, though, that the mysteries of flight are challenged by the delicacy with which the pilots manuever their crafts on the ground.

the descent, and subsequent take-off, at newark was wonderful. glimmering serpentine waterways. fields of velvet and corduroy. countless baseball diamonds - countless!! the empire state building, brooklyn bridge and statue of liberty!!
i saw central park. i saw an incredible array of shipping containers at the docks. i saw ferries and tugs and laden barges making their way through the sound.
i watched sky and water compete in mimicry as the wakes left by various vessels mirrored the skiff of clouds hanging on a low horizon. other clouds sat like whitecaps against the surface of the water that reflected blue in the morning sun.

my family can attest that i'm not one to crane my head and gawk so i am thankful to have had the window seat both times and took full advantage of the privilege.

jacob and kate are well. they've done an excellent job with plans and preparations. we ate a delicous saag paneer cooked by jacob that first night. delicious omelets to get us on our way for boston the next morning,and that will be the next post - with pictures.

conundrum

i was about to pack my computer and decided to post - a reallyeallyreally quick post.
tomorrow at this time we plan to be in connecticut. we always look forward to these few days with jacob and kate. boston has been pencilled in for sunday, which i find delightful. we'll accommodate work schedules for the next couple days finding plenty to do around the area.
it sounds like the weather will be perfect so i am packing accordingly. let's hope their right!! packing can be a challenge as is, add in unknowns for weather and activities.... let's just say i rearranged these piles several times.yes, let's just say that.

do you think he knows there's something up??

old things new

several years ago my sister-in-law, leslie, passed along some of grandma helen's glassware. i've enjoyed having and using it. these particular pieces held makeup brushes and compacts.
manufacturers being what they are, one of my standard products changed in shape and size recently and i had to reconfigure my storage/display system. (i like things accessible but neatly 'away')(i like having a reason to use these things)


they have a new home, again, courtesy of leslie.
we visited in early october and after discussing several possible uses for it she sent me on my way with this charmer.

everything tucked neatly away. thanks, leslie!!