Mashantucket Connecticut to Stratton Vermont

We woke to fog this morning. The Two Trees Inn was a nice place to stay.

After breakfast we loaded the bus and departed at 8 am still driving through fog for about an hour until we turned north after reaching Hartford. It was a chilly 45 degrees when we started this morning but after the fog burned off, it was a sunny and beautiful day. We crossed into Massachusetts and headed west from Springfield to Stockbridge. The Normal Rockwell Museum was a very interesting and enjoyable stop.

 We arrived in time for a talk at 11 o'clock by a guide who shared very interesting information about Norman Rockwell, his artwork and his life.

On display were the 323 Saturday Evening Post covers Rockwell illustrated.

 This was the painting of the first cover.

 Freedom to Worship painting

 The painting called "The Discovery" from 1956 where the little boy discovers the Santa suit in his the bottom drawer of his Dad's dresser. I love the look on the boy's face.

 Another one of my favorites.

Rockwell's studio was on the museum grounds.

The furnishings were just as Rockwell had left them when he stopped painting.

 Even his pipe was on the table next to his chair.

My sister, Jan, was in my thoughts a lot today. She passed away 2 years ago and LOVED Norman Rockwell. She had many plates with his artwork as well as puzzles and other prints. I'm not sure if she ever came to this museum, but I hope so. The God-given gifts Norman Rockwell had blessed all those who have enjoyed his artwork. His amazing talent of capturing small town life and expressions in the faces of those experiencing daily life was unforgettable. We really enjoyed our time at this special museum.

 The museum was just outside of Stockbridge, Massachusetts and our group went into town for lunch. Russ & I ate at a cute little deli, The Elm Street Market.

We wandered through the quaint little town. In front of the Red Lion Inn were some REALLY big pumpkins!

 We visited some of the shops,

 and enjoyed the changing colors of the leaves.

 We were soon back on the road toward Vermont. We saw this building in some town we passed through. In the upper story windows were interesting sale ads.

Regret, Fear and Apathy were some of the items listed.

We drove by a beautiful lake and the colors were beautiful. 

Our next stop was the Bennington Battlefield monument in Bennington, Vermont.

Our guide told us it was the tallest structure in Vermont.

 We rode an elevator up to the observation deck where the vertical lines are on the obelisk.

The views were spectacular to the north

 East

 South

 and West.

With such a clear, beautiful day we could see to New York, Massachusetts as well as Vermont.

They had interesting sculptures and art.

 The drive to the Stratton, Vermont was beautiful. We were captivated by the stunning colors. 

God was really showing off today with all the beauty.

 We crossed a pretty little stream.

 We arrived at the Stratton Mountain resort, we have fabulous condominium rooms.

We had a fun get together with all the other tour participants, then had a delicious lobster dinner.

It was another great  and blessed day!

Massachusetts to Rhode Island to Connecticut

Once again we woke to a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and the sky almost clear with the temperature in the upper 50's. After breakfast we were on the road toward Rhode Island by 8:15, we arrived in Newport in a little more than an hour. We drove through the town which brought back many memories of our visit to Newport the week of Thanksgiving in 2010. We recognized many places we walked throughout the city. Sight-seeing began at The Breakers, a summer estate of the Vanderbilt family from the gilded age. It's huge and very beautiful with a nice audio tour throughout the house. We toured it the last time we were here but it was fun going through the house and grounds again.

 The house is very fancy.

  There are 70 rooms in the house.

 The grounds are beautiful too.

From there we drove to an area we hadn't seen on our previous visit, Ocean Avenue.

The street wound along the coast with large, beautiful homes overlooking the ocean.

It was breathtaking! Since we were in the bus on the opposite side, this was the best I could do for a photo. It still helps us remember the gorgeous drive.

 Then our driver took us to the wharf area. We remembered a place we'd eaten on our last visit that had delicious lobster at a good price so we headed off to where we remembered it to be and there it was, Benjamin's! Our lunch dreams came true!

 Lobster and clam chowder, it was AWESOME!

 After lunch we headed back to the bus and we were off toward Connecticut.

We crossed a couple of bridges and the view was amazing!

Shortly after crossing over into Connecticut, we came to Mystic Seaport,

a VERY interesting museum.

 There were several acres of buildings recreating a 19th century seafaring village.

 Many of the buildings had people giving talks and demonstrations.

 We toured the ship Joseph Conrad

 The rope walk building was very interesting. I think the building was 200 feet long and the original building was 10 times that long to combine and twist strands to make rope.

 There were so many interesting exhibits.

 

 They have the historic ship Charles W. Morgan dry docked for restoration.

 It looked huge out of the water and we also got to climb the stairs to board it as well.

The quarters weren't quite like the cruise ships we've been in, I can't imagine sailing in one like this across the ocean!

 As we were getting ready to leave, a group of high school boys had just finished with their rowing practice, now the girls team was heading out to row.  

Not far from the museum was our hotel, Two Trees Hotel, a part of the Foxwood Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. We found our room, then walked a few blocks over to the GIGANTIC casino, shopping and restaurant complex. It was so enormous, the long hallway wings looked more like an airport terminal with signs to find all the places to see. We just ate in a restaurant there and headed back to our hotel, it was another great day!

Tonight I reflected about the vast differences we saw today. The extreme opulence of mansions, many used only for a short time each year - a "summer estate"- that was ENORMOUS, far more than anything anyone really needs. In vast contrast, we crouched through the belly of a ship where sailors bunked in quarters that would make me horribly claustrophobic with conditions that were FAR from opulent!  Realizations such as these remind me to be thankful, grateful and appreciative for all that God blesses us with. Also, to look for the good in all things and the hope God gives us for our future.

We may not have a huge mansion here on earth, but I feel so blessed with all that we do have, the family and relationships we are blessed with, and the adventures in life God leads us through.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

John 14:1-1 (NKJV)