Tag Archives: history

Resort hopping Part 2. The Mountain View Grand.

 

Hidden away in tiny Whitefield, New Hampshire is a gem.

 

IMG_8254

 

A sprawling hotel…

 

IMG_8255

 

Packed with old world charm.

Sadly they were renovating the front entrance when we visited so we had to sneak in the side.

 

IMG_8267

 

Look at those doors!

 

IMG_8258

 

Chess anyone?

 

IMG_8260

 

I’m a sucker for a good porch.

 

IMG_8265

 

And this one did not disappoint.

 

IMG_8259

 

I could happily plop here with a good book….

 

IMG_8263

 

A pitcher of margaritas…

 

IMG_8262

 

And never leave.

 

IMG_8269

 

Back inside, I checked out the wall of history…

 

IMG_8268

 

And some great old photographs…

 

IMG_8266

 

IMG_8273

 

While the husband continued his “I shall pee everywhere I can in Western Maine and New Hampshire” challenge with an upscale rest room this time.

And speaking of rest rooms…

 

IMG_8270

 

Even I had to check out the pink marble in theirs.

But ooh la la…

 

IMG_8272

 

There were private sinks inside the ladies room stalls.

Is that some chic shit or what?

 

IMG_8285

 

Moving on through the lounge…

 

IMG_8275

 

We found a dining room… and the place where we would spend the next two hours.

 

IMG_8284

 

The bar.

 

 

Don’t look surprised, you knew it was coming.

 

IMG_8279

 

One Lemonflower Martini…

 

IMG_8276

 

One Cranberry Orange Margarita…

 

IMG_8281

 

And one Melon Margarita later…

 

IMG_8283

 

(Don’t judge me.

They had a 6 page cocktail list and tequila soaked cranberries…. I had to.)

 

IMG_8280

 

There were some crab cakes.

Some smiley face crab cakes… and yes, that was on purpose.

 

IMG_8282

 

Crab cakes weren’t supposed to be served that time of day, or at all in the tavern for that matter….. but when you make friends with the bartender?

Anything is possible.

 

IMG_8286

 

An afternoon well spent, we poured ourselves out the door.

 

IMG_8288

 

And lamented the fact we wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

 

IMG_8290

 

Even mid facelift..

She’s an elegant old broad.

White Mountains trip Day 5… Diana’s Baths

 

IMG_7774

 

Doing our good deed and making a donation, we entered .

 

IMG_7779

 

Took a leisurely stroll…

 

IMG_7780

 

Down into the woods…

 

IMG_7783

 

Past some type of fairy installation….

 

 

And a tree who clearly loves his rock….

 

IMG_7785

 

Across a bridge…

 

IMG_7786

 

Alongside a stream…

 

IMG_7790

 

And found the bottom of the Baths.

 

IMG_7793

 

Not usually the best part of a bath but…

 

IMG_7794

 

These are a different type of bath entirely.

 

IMG_7795

 

Not much is left of the old sawmill.

 

IMG_7797

 

But if you look carefully…

 

IMG_7801

 

You can find it.

 

 

 

We happily spent the whole afternoon exploring this place.

 

IMG_7820

 

Hiking the trails and climbing the rocks …

 

IMG_7824

 

And there were plenty of rocks to climb.

 

 

 

The water levels in the autumn are quite low…

 

IMG_7836

 

And it gently cascades down a section here…

 

IMG_7838

 

And there.

 

 

 

But in the spring it’s dangerously high from the snow melt.

 

IMG_7842

 

(Required selfie)

 

IMG_7839

 

In the summer the pools fill, and it’s a favorite spot to beat the heat.

Can I get an oohrah?

 

As most of you know, my husband is a Marine. (And as I learned many moons ago, once a Marine always a Marine…. hence the is, even though he retired from the Corps years ago)

Being a Marine means being inundated with Marine Corps stuff. Newsletters, fliers, reunion notices, junk mail and catalogs… like this:

 

IMG_6058

 

Sgt. Grit appears in our mailbox on a regular basis because I made the mistake of ordering something for the husband from them online. I usually chuck it, but was bored the other day and started flipping through it.

 

IMG_6059

 

OOHRAH!!

The beloved Marine Corps grunt that I’ve never managed to perform to my husband’s satisfaction. This may have something to do with the fact that I sound more like Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman than Chesty Puller…..

 

https://youtu.be/7oXtISrMwVc

 

And that’s Army. A big no no in this house.

(A little history below for those who care…. though my husband would tell you he’s not doing it correctly either)

 

 

The catalog has all the usual USMC geegaws and gifts…

 

IMG_6062

 

As well as those oh so subtle tee shirts young men love to wear….

 

IMG_6061

 

IMG_6060

 

Thankfully my husband hates those.

He lived it, and doesn’t feel the need to advertise.

There are knives…

 

IMG_6063

 

And Ka Bar sporks.

 

IMG_6064

 

For those days at Kentucky Fried Chicken when plastic just won’t do.

 

4jgp8tjkv2nz

 

And now you can, for a mere $12.99

You’re welcome.

There are items for children…

 

IMG_6067

 

And good God, there are even Marine Corps gnomes.

 

IMG_6065

 

But it was the ladies section that made me choke.

Because even when I had the figure (way back when) to wear these?

No.

Just no…

 

IMG_6066

 

 

 

 

I’m related to a snowball.

 

This probably doesn’t surprise most of you..

 

snowball-of-cuteness-W630

 

But perhaps I should explain.

A few years ago my girlfriend infected me with the genealogy bug, and let me tell you…. once you catch it? There is no cure.

Before I knew it I was wandering dusty old libraries and searching moth eaten town halls.

 

archives-are-closed-today

 

Yes, I’ve even stalked a few cemetery custodians.

They’re a font of valuable information.

 

162pl7

 

It’s fair to say I was obsessed for a while and spent hours, days, weeks, months way too much time climbing the old family tree.

Some lines are frustrating and dead end right away.

Other lines like my paternal grandmother’s, I traced back to the year 1134. It helps when you have someone famous… most of the work has been done for you.

One of my semi famous relatives?

 

Jabez B. Snowball

 

The Hon. Jabez B. Snowball.

Yes, dear old 2nd great Uncle Jabez.

Wikipedia page

Lumber baron and Lt. Governor of New Brunswick, Canada.

I actually found this among my father’s papers…

 

Jabez Bunting Snowball0001

 

Although I have no earthly idea who wrote it.

Genealogy is fun.

And fascinating.

And rewarding.

As well as incredibly frustrating.

 

asdfg

 

It’s also surprising.

Like when I started on my mother’s side of Austrian relatives…

And found Franz.

 

kovacs_franz_4__large

 

Damn. That’s disturbing…

Good thing he was only the father in law of my 1rst cousin twice removed.

Genealogy.

Ya never know who will fall out when you shake the family tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chesterwood….

 

Our first full day in the Berkshires dawned a little foggy.

 

IMG_9536

 

And we saw the ever present windmills towering above the resort.

 

IMG_9541

 

Along the main road, they almost seemed to rise from the clouds.

 

IMG_9543

 

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.

 

 

 

IMG_9641

 

Daniel Chester French was the man who designed the Lincoln Memorial, and this was his summer home and studio in the Berkshires.

 

IMG_9634

 

You enter the estate through the converted 1800’s barn….

 

IMG_9544

 

Which serves as a visitor center and gallery for French’s work.

 

IMG_9545

 

You might recognize the Minuteman.

 

IMG_9558

 

It was rather fascinating seeing the progression of Lincoln’s immortal image come to life.

 

IMG_9549

 

And rather haunting as well.

 

IMG_9547

 

Lincoln dominates your thoughts and sight…

 

IMG_9632

 

But French was a prolific sculpture before and after his most famous work.

 

IMG_9635

 

Still awake?

 

 

Just checking.

We opted to take the guided studio and house tour even though our docent was a bit of a dolt.

 

IMG_9606

 

The studio was Italianate in design.

 

IMG_9551

 

As were the gardens…

 

IMG_9610

 

Although past their prime this time of year.

 

IMG_9612

 

The studio was full..

 

IMG_9556

 

But I won’t drone on about all that.

 

IMG_9557

 

The railroad track at the back door that was used to move the enormous pieces of art was interesting though.

 

IMG_9569

 

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.

 

IMG_9616

 

After the studio we strolled around the gardens….

 

IMG_9617

 

And wandered a serene path through the woods.

 

IMG_9622

 

French drew inspiration from the natural world and walked the estate daily.

 

IMG_9623

 

Benches are scattered here and there…

 

IMG_9626

 

As are sculptured memorials.

Next up… the house.

Try to contain your enthusiasm.