Our first full day in the Berkshires dawned a little foggy.
And we saw the ever present windmills towering above the resort.
Along the main road, they almost seemed to rise from the clouds.
A huge blueberry Belgian waffle started my morning off right and we were soon on our way to Chesterwood.
Note – if you’re not interested in history, Abraham Lincoln, sculpture, period homes and gardens… feel free to leave now. I’m about to get my geek on.
Daniel Chester French was the man who designed the Lincoln Memorial, and this was his summer home and studio in the Berkshires.
You enter the estate through the converted 1800’s barn….
Which serves as a visitor center and gallery for French’s work.
You might recognize the Minuteman.
It was rather fascinating seeing the progression of Lincoln’s immortal image come to life.
And rather haunting as well.
Lincoln dominates your thoughts and sight…
But French was a prolific sculpture before and after his most famous work.
Still awake?
Just checking.
We opted to take the guided studio and house tour even though our docent was a bit of a dolt.
The studio was Italianate in design.
As were the gardens…
Although past their prime this time of year.
The studio was full..
But I won’t drone on about all that.
The railroad track at the back door that was used to move the enormous pieces of art was interesting though.
Hey..
If you’re still with me, bravo!
And thanks for the blogging loyalty. I’m a bit of a history nerd and find all of this quite wonderful, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
After the studio we strolled around the gardens….
And wandered a serene path through the woods.
French drew inspiration from the natural world and walked the estate daily.
Benches are scattered here and there…
As are sculptured memorials.
Next up… the house.
Try to contain your enthusiasm.
River's world..... 
Foggy mornings, blueberries, statues, and endless paths through nature– what’s not to love? Your vacay looks delightful.
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So far so good …eh?
😉
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Did you see me trailing behind you? My kind of vaca…..I wandered Scone Palace for HOURS. It was wonderful………..
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We love this kind of thing. And did as much as we could this time!
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Yeah, probably not my cuppa. But then I mistrust artists and song writers. Very devious people. Got to admit that the stone demon about to pounce on the nekkid lady caught my eye, however.
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The model was a local 19 year old girl who lied to her parents about what she was doing all day. Apparently she died at a ripe old age in a local nursing home and was quite lovely into her 90’s.
😊
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LOL! Yeah … I used to sit around listening to the painters in Taos and their machinations to get winsome models to pose for them. They had to disguise their paintings with temporary washes because of the strong reactions from the girls family … it could get you killed! 🙂
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Before I scrolled past the Nerd Alert, I was trying to figure out what Abraham Lincoln had to do with anywhere in New England, since I live firmly in the Land of Lincoln where three states like to fight each other over the claim to his legacy. I’m sure the Lincoln Memorial is nice (as is the home of the person who designed it), but it will never be as neat as the statue of him in Springfield where it is tradition to rub Abe’s shiny nose…
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Agreed! But this is as close as I can get…
😉
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ONE FOOD PICTURE?!?!?!? Well at least it was the third one and not the 100th! :O)
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We do other things than eat you know…!
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Why? 😛
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Because I have to schedule time for drinking. Geesh!
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I know!! We need more sustenance!
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Imagine how I felt. History makes you hungry!
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Wow! Great photos! I happen to love nerdy stuff so all that Lincoln info was right up my alley!
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I’m glad…. most people roll their eyes when I tell them what we do on vacation!
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Enjoyed the visit. Never stopped to think about who created the impressive Lincoln Memorial. Know I know.
That life cast of Lincoln looks nothing like him ~> no beard, no eyes!
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Oops ~> Now I know.
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They had to shave the beard to make the cast, no one wants to wash plaster out of facial hair. And they eyeless part was a little creepy….
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I love that you are sharing your history nerdiness with us. I love stuff like this, too, and in case I never get to certain places, I can depend on blogger frands to share their own experiences and I can vicariously visit these places!
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If you liked this, stay tuned…. you’ll love the rest of our nerdy trip!
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I only stayed for the raccoon pics, and the blueberry pancake pics, and Italian sunken gardens, and hoping for lunch pics. I’m not shallow
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I try to spice up the ‘so boring only I love them’ blogs as best I can. Food and raccoons usually help.
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I like kittens and all cats actually. I’ll read anything with cat pics
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Noted.
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so is this still the morning? No drinking or lobsters at all. .. I like history too. and your post,despite not wanting to 🙂
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Still morning. And not a lobster in sight….
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