Falling down the rabbit hole is something I do quite well so I was pleased to catch the Alice in Wonderland summer flower show at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. It closes on September 27 so if this sounds at all appealing to you, now is the time to find your way to Pittsburgh.
The Phipps is probably the best Conservatory I have seen and is nice to visit in any season. They are known for putting on some special flower shows but this one was truly unique.
They use flowers and other materials to bring to life scenes from the book. The White Rabbit greets you at the entrance.
Then there’s the Red Queen and her castle. This scene is stunning.
And the Cheshire Cat grinning down at you from a tree.
I loved the tea party.
Plus, the place is just gorgeous.
They did a great job bringing to life a classic children’s story for all ages to enjoy and get lost in. We saw a few people who came dressed for the occasion.
When I left Ohio two Saturdays ago, my jaw was clenched tight and my white knuckles held the steering wheel like I was the only thing preventing it from falling off the car. It had been too long since I got in a quiet car and headed out for a longer adventure.
My attention span had been short and my fuse perhaps a little shorter for a while. I live in a world governed by emails, agendas and a buzzing phone. I hate the sound of my phone and the word agenda is one of the most obnoxious in the English language.
To be on the road and out adventuring without a real plan is one of the best parts of traveling.
It took three days for my jaw and fists to relax and another day to spot the wild haired, bright eyed Brandi that thoroughly enjoys the world.
And then I woke up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts where the mountains feel almost like a cradle for anyone needing nurturing and calm.
Let me tell you something, friends. It took some coaxing to get ne to leave.
There’s a sensibility about that area that appeals to me. There’s a combination of wealthy transplants, tourists, and generational blue collar residents who keep everything working. People seemed mostly fit and happy, enjoying active lifestyle hobbies like walking, hiking, bird watching and kayaking. There’s also a rural sensibility that appealed to my own ways and made me wish for more time. I was there with my eastern travel pal and we agreed that we needed more time because there was so much we wished to to do.
Where I live, even country folk have big yards that are mown right up to the road like small golf courses. In that area, you see a lot of country houses where there’s a break in the trees for a driveway to a house that’s reasonably close to the road but disguised by a tree row or a thicket of wild looking shrubbery. There’s no need for a giant lawn that invites attention from the road when privacy is clearly valued so much here. Yet, short driveways make sense in a place that averages six feet of annual snowfall.
Norman Rockwell made his home here for the last several years of his life. He came because his wife was sent to Stockbridge for medical treatment. He stayed because he found most of his inspiration here.
And I can see why.
The town streets are tree lined. People are just naturally welcoming and seem to genuinely want you to enjoy wherever you are and what you’re doing. They are not overtly friendly, in that fake nice way that you get in a lot of places. They seem genuinely glad to know you traveled a long way to visit their community.
Everywhere you look in Stockbridge, there’s a pocket park or a set of chairs inviting you to stay a while.
Being there past Labor Day meant that we missed the high season so it was quieter than a summer tourist might experience but it was also cheaper. While it was still busy enough, it was quiet.
It felt a little fall like for most of our visit and we even had a nice gloomy day that ended with rain showers one evening. Consequently, there were places we could spot patches of yellow and red leaves, hinting at the beauty that is just around the corner in New England.
We did lots of things in the Stockbridge area. We also rustled up some fun going to and from. After all, it’s a long trip by car from my friend’s Pittsburgh home and we both tend to believe the journey is the destination.
In other words, driving a straight line isn’t really our thing and we’ve never met a situation that didn’t call for a trip around the block to see what’s what. Sometimes she just rolls forward a foot or so at a traffic light so we can get a better look at pretty buildings like this house in Altoona.
Something tells me that this trip’s stories will be bubbling up for a while. I already feel the calm and the embrace of the Berkshires dissipating from my consciousness like an early morning fog. Luckily there are pictures and memories to help me revisit those moments from time to time. Plus, I have stories to share with you, friends.
I recently found myself in the passenger seat of a car behind this classic El Camino. This isn’t a vehicle you see often but I have randomly seen four or five in the last month.
Can you read the bumper sticker? Here’s a closer look.
“God Bless John Wayne” and “I’d rather be driving my Packard.”
Perfection! I thought the car and the statements were both pretty fantastic. And, as I often say here, you never know what you’ll see in the world if you just pay attention.
Have a great day, friends! Go look for the strange and interesting around you!
Today is Friday. We have made it to the finishing line before the long holiday weekend. At least, I hope it’s a long weekend for you. Wherever you are, I hope you will celebrate the completion of this week even if it’s just a little bit.
Buy yourself some grocery store flowers like the sunflowers I bought for myself a few weeks ago. Take a long walk in the woods after work. Stop by your favorite local bookstore and buy some fabulous book to kick your feet up with. Take a long, hot bath. Grab your favorite sandwich at the local deli. Pack a bag and take an impromptu road trip. Close the curtains to keep out the heat and have a Harry Potter movie marathon.
Do something that will bring you joy or peace or relaxation or excitement or whatever it is you need to help you say “it was a long week but I managed the stress and I am still standing.”
While wandering through Rebellion Books in Bedford, Pennsylvania I spotted this fantastic print called Fairytale Wood. All the little animals enjoying themselves and living peacefully won my heart. There’s even a black cat.
The colors and details make this image seem simultaneously realistic and magical.
It didn’t seem to be for sale. Sigh. It feels like everything I actually want to buy these days is not for sale.
Turns out, Mary Brett (1902-1990) was an English artist whose illustrations have been known to generations of children. She had little formal training but completed a correspondence course before she began a career illustrating and writing children’s books.
Everyone talks about how short the summer has been and how they can’t believe August is already over. As a person whose summer has dragged and feels like August was nine weeks long, I am so excited to write these words:
Welcome September!
I tolerate summer. I don’t enjoy it no matter how hard I try. It’s an annoying season and, at times, oppressive. It’s too humid and hot to actually enjoy the outdoors. People I know who say they love summer don’t spend nearly enough time out in it to justify actually liking it.
The humidity makes my straight hair curl and frizz in ways that I don’t approve the minute I walk outside . Summer clothes are ugly. Plus, because the days are longer we are expected to keep pace with the sun and be active longer so as not to waste day light.
What’s worst though is that I do suffer from Summer SAD. It’s the same as the kind of seasonal depression others experience in the winter only mine is because there is too much light. I can feel this loosening its grip a little more every day and I look forward to the more balanced days of September and October.
In southern Ohio, September is still very much summer but it’s usually less intense than August.
So, bring on September with its cooler mornings and somewhat more moderate days. Hello to the month that gives us fresh apples, pumpkin spice and an excuse to indulge in all things maple. Let’s all breathe a little better with humidity levels starting to recede. Let’s stand in the woods and drink in the smells and sights as leaves begin to turn and as the start of Fall approaches.
It comes but once a year and I will rejoice!
The photo above is from last year at this time on Presque Isle in Lake Erie. That place is a little slice of paradise if you ever get to visit.
