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As seen at a local ice cream shop.
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If it’s not fried?
How can it be fried…
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These days I’m not sure booze free bliss is possible, but kudos to them for trying,
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Remember I said I’d keep checking on the price increase of my new car? It started at $39,000, rose to $41,000 and now I’m seeing $43,000. So glad we bought it before the tariffs saved America.
🥴
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Sh*t just got real people.
Save the planet! For the beer if nothing else…
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I so need that duck!
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Still having some daylight left on our fifth day in Newport, Rhode Island we visited the number one tourist attraction in the area.
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The Cliff Walk. A local favorite and an absolute must do for visitors.
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Parking is a challenge and we had to hike a while past the beach just to reach the entrance to the famous walk.
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But finally, we were there.
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This is a 3 1/2 mile walk along the shore and takes you right past the backyards of all those fabulous Bellevue Avenue mansions we’d been touring.
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It was gorgeous.
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Wild beach roses filled the air with heady perfume…
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And randomly placed plaques were filled with information.
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The beginning of the walk is easy going, with mostly flat paths.
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At some spots, you’re right over the cliff face…
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Others have high retaining walls.
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I should have taken more videos, but I didn’t.
Just this one.
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As beautiful a spot as this is, I can’t say I’d be thrilled to have crowds walking past my backyard every day.
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Even if there are fences and gates.
To be continued…
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Baby chuckers are now partaking of the backyard buffet on a daily basis.
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They stick close to momma….
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And take pointers on the best way to consume whatever vegetables are on offer.
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So stinking cute.
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💕
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Finished with the interior tour of Doris Duke’s Rough Point estate, we headed outside.
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Where the clouds made a dramatic backdrop.
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Doris loved it here…
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And I have to say…
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I understand why.
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The location is perfect.
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The views of the Atlantic Ocean divine.
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It’s an impressive place to be sure.
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Strolling around the side, we found a gated garden.
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With a warning sign.
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Does everyone have bunnies but me?
😫
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At the front of the estate…
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Wired topiaries of Doris’s pet camels.
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They’re filled with succulents that hadn’t quite greened up yet.
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And over there?
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The formal garden that I had to explore.
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Bit disappointing, that.
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Not formal and nothing blooming in its one small bed.
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The hedge was the best part.
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No matter, it’s still a lovely place to stroll.
And as we were pulling out of the driveway? We passed a time appropriate vehicle.
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😊
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9 weeks after we ordered it and were told it would be delivered in two weeks, it arrived.
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Our beautiful new, oh so expensive mattress.
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Is it wonderful?
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Boy howdy is it ever.
Firm, but luxuriously soft… I’ve never slept better.
But what it also is….
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Is heavy. Can’t say I’m looking forward to sheet change day.
It’s also tall.
So tall it swamps the headboard and makes arranging the comforter a challenge.
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If I pull it down far enough to meet the bed skirt at the foot…
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There’s a gap at the head.
I’m a short person y’all.
And even though we bought the super short accompanying box spring, the frame of our old bed raises it so high I literally half to climb in or fling myself on it from a running start at night.
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Now I know why people buy new beds when they purchase new mattresses these days. No box spring ( or ladder) required.
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Climbing the servant’s stairs to the second floor of Rough Point…
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We were surprised to find a mini museum.
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Of furniture.
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But learned a good bit about trade and the history of Newport.
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The oldest piece on display?
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A woven chair from 1680.
And as we moved on to view Doris Duke’s (in)famous bedroom?
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The husband found someone to talk to, so I toured her (in)famous bedroom alone.
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My first reaction was… wow.
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Yellow and purple. Not the most subtle color combination.
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And I can’t say it does much for the Renoir hanging on the mirror.
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They say this room was redecorated in the 1970’s and I have no trouble believing that.
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The furniture? Mother of pearl throughout, which makes for lots of sparkles.
This was said to be her favorite room in the house.
Yikes.
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The bathroom.
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Busy, busy, busy.
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With a fish faucet.
The husband?
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Still talking…
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Doris, as a child.
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Upstairs sitting room where Doris played piano and recorded.
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Hallway bench.
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With interesting sign.
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Down the front stairs, with family crests and coats of arms in stained glass.
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Intricately carved banisters and railings…
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And our tour of the Rough Point interior was complete.
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It’s weigela time.
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A deciduous shrub that has definitely enjoyed the over abundance of wet weather we’ve had this year.
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It always blooms…
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But rarely this much.
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And the hummingbirds are loving it as much as we are.
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Elsewhere in the gardens…
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Snow in summer.
I’m not sure of its real name, but that’s what we always call it.
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An early bloomer that tends to shrivel up and die in the dry heat of July and August, it’s putting on a lovely show now…
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Unlike its poor yarrow neighbor that the woodchucks have nibbled down to a nub.
🥴
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Continuing our tour of Doris Duke’s Rough Point estate… the morning room.
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Because when you’re rich, every time of the day has its own room.
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Family crest stained glass windows.
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The dining room was odd as it was a huge, mostly empty space.
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Doris preferred her table, without extensions, in front of the window
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And this was her absolutely favorite piece.
She loved it so much, she took it with her when traveling.
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Apparently a house is not a home without a giant silver swan.
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I thought this was a nice touch.
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Doris’s record collection only contained vintage albums.
Husband chose Louis Armstrong as he was a frequent guest. You can’t go wrong with Satchmo.
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Multiple kitchens.
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With old, but still working appliances.
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The kitchen was 3 separate rooms.
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All with nice views.
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It’s a very workable space.
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Though I could have done without the plastic veggies…
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And pots full of plastic boiling potatoes.
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I get it.
It’s a kitchen. There was food.
😉
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It’s Iris season.
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And at our house that means purple Japanese Iris.
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I prefer the smaller Japanese variety to the tall stalky bearded iris.
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More bang for your buck…
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And they spread evenly.
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Such a beautiful burst of violet.
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Shame they don’t last all season..
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😊
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Fourth morning in Newport, Rhode Island…. fourth balcony selfie.
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I’m nothing if not consistent.
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First stop of the day? Rough Point… heiress and famous philanthropist Doris Duke’s residence.
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Built by a Vanderbilt in 1887 and purchased by Doris’s father, James Buchanan Duke (of Duke energy and Duke University fame) in 1922… this plaque recognizes the original owners.
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Ironically, considering they were pushed off the land along with all the other Eastern tribes.
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Doris Duke’s father died when she was 12 and she was the sole inheritor of his fortune. She grew up here, spent summers for many years, and then lived here year round, off and on until her death in 1993.
Doris was quite a character. Deemed the richest little girl in the world, her life was full of privilege but laced with sadness.
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Entering the home, some history.
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Doris inherited $80 million dollars in 1925.
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A shrewd business woman, she gave away over $400 million in her lifetime.
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A news correspondent, a jazz pianist and the first non Hawaiian woman to take up competitive surfing…Doris lived a full life.
Her “cottage” is a bit different from others we’ve visited.
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Yes, it’s huge.
And grand.
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But it’s also a veritable museum.
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Oh, there’s a Van Dyck.
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There’s a Gainsborough…
And sure, there’s a Renoir in the bedroom.
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But Doris lived here until the early 1990’s, so there’s also a microwave in the kitchen and a record player in the dining room.
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The solarium?
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Had some stellar views.
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And…
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Yes, Doris had two pet camels.
As one does.
Doris loved music, and entertaining.
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The Yellow Room…
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And the Music Room hosted impromptu performances by friends Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.
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Doris knew how to throw a party.
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River's world..... 