Staying at a Frank Lloyd Wright House in Riverside, Illinois

Usually I do research when I travel.  Usually I know where I am going and what I want to see.  But this trip was different.  I was going on a roadtrip with Kim, my best friend from high school to stay with our friend Aberdeen.  Our plan was to eat out, watch a movie and catch up.  No advance planning necessary. If I had used my head, I would have read up on Frank Lloyd Wright.

I knew that Aberdeen lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, which sounded really neat, but I had no idea how fascinating it would be to go inside and actually live there.  To respect her privacy, I won't identify the house.  It isn't open to tours and it is up to her to share it as she wishes.

I will simply show you the window I got to look out each morning.  A row of these beautiful "light screens" lined the room and were placed almost at the height you would hang a piece of art. The effect is stunning.  Another plus is that the windows hinge open and on Sunday morning, hymns from a church service waft into the bedroom.  

I have been to many famous residences-turned-museums over the years (Monticello, Mount Vernon, Olana) and in all of them, it is the possessions (paintings, furniture, china, wallpaper) that made the impression on me. I enjoyed thinking of the lives of these famous men and how they lived at the height of their careers.

In this case, I was in a museum of sorts and had the chance to admire the work of a famous architect from within his creation.  Can you relate to what I am saying?  I have not thought about architecture that much and was fascinated with the idea of being inside something that a design icon created.  

You look at Monet's water lilies.  You look at Andy Warhol's Polaroids. You are never inside a piece of art.  That is until I was walking around inside a famous home by Frank Lloyd Wright.  I was able to see the flow of the rooms, the width of the staircase, the natural light from the windows, as well as the illuminated skylights with exactly the effect that Frank Lloyd Wright had wanted.  

Some of the furniture was original too, designed by the architect to work in the space. I loved it all.  It felt silly to gush about it all after the initial look around. I wanted to pretend it was no big deal to eat pizza in a grand dining room or sit outside and talk on a porch with a cantilevered roof.  I can't gush to Frank, so I'm gushing to you. 

Thank you, Aberdeen, for letting me look at architecture and art in a completely different way. 

City Series: Washington, DC: Amelia Earhart

Did you ever think you'd see Amelia Earhart's pilot's license?  I didn't either!  But I found myself looking at it in a display case in an exhibition called "One Life: Amelia Earhart" at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Do you remember when I visited a Chautauqua on the southern shore of Lake Erie a few years ago and had lunch at the historic Lakeside Hotel?  I remember learning that Amelia Earhart had been one of their famous guests.  

While I wandered through the exhibit, I kept thinking about my afternoon at the Lakeside Hotel (it was a beautiful day with bright blue sky) while I looked at the images and keepsakes of Amelia's life.  I wondered at what point in this exhibit could you place a marker that said "visited Lakeside, Ohio."

I was expecting to spend an afternoon with portraits of presidents, but found myself captivated by the Amelia Earhart exhibit.  I love when I have the time to enjoy a museum, and wander.  Would this exhibit bring you delight?

Art of Dining at the Detroit Institute of Arts

I love to bring the world a "Moment of Delight."  You never quite know what topic I will blog about - food, art, travel, crafts.  Hopefully by now you can count on me to show you something that is beautiful and interesting.

Today I am putting the spotlight on an interactive exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts called "The Art of Dining."  It has been over a year since I visited, but I am sure that it is a permanent part of the collection and I look forward to seeing it again when I visit the museum this Winter.

In the gallery of eighteenth-century decorative arts, there is a table and four chairs.  Museum visitors are encourage to take a seat and "participate" in a formal dinner that is projected on the table (that serves as a video projection screen).  Some of the French porcelain serving pieces and silver on display in the cases in the galley, were used to make this formal dinner footage.  Isn't that neat? 

The video is on a loop and begins with empty plates and clean silverware.  As the meal progresses, you see the "arm" of the dinner guest (dressed in period costume) reaching for food and interacting with the table. 

Words appear on the screen periodically to define the type of food served at this formal dinner - you can see (above) "Steamed Stuffed Artichokes in Red Pepper Sauce."  All the while, observers at the table hear the clinking of silver on dishes and the light banter of dinner conversation in French.  I absolutely loved it.

Can you see that now the stuffed artichoke is on the plate?  He was reaching for it in the photo above.

At the end, I slid over to another chair.  I wanted you to see what it looked like to be a woman with a puffy sleeve reaching for miniature cakes.  So pretty!

I found this article online from when "The Art of Dining" interactive installation opened and amazingly, you can click a short video on the link and see this table in action.  I do encourage you to see it.  What you can see clearly in the video is that the silver showpiece in the center, is on display behind glass right next to the table.

French Porcelain is art indeed.

Visiting England: A Museum of Garden History

Now that I am home from London, everyone wants to know if I went to their favorite monument. They ask, "Did you visit Buckingham Palace/The Tower of London/Westminster Abbey?" Ummm...no. I might someday, but this trip was all about delight and I had to stay focused.

While I didn't have time to visit some of the classic British sights, I did make it to this gem, The Museum of Garden History. Housed in a 14th century deconsecrated church (St Mary-at-Lambeth) near the banks of the Thames, this Garden Museum is dedicated to both historical collections and the pursuit of gardening in modern times.

I loved wandering through their permanent collection of garden artifacts. A vintage glass cloche, a Sweet Pea seed counter (dispenser) from the 1900's and this miniature iron garden.

This display is about 2 x 3 feet and is protected in a glass box. I peered into this secret garden for quite a while and decided that my favorite part was the man pushing the vintage lawn roller (in the back right corner).

What do you like best?

Visiting England: Blenheim Palace

"Honey, I'm home!"

Can you imagine? This spectacular residence turned museum is Blenheim Palace, a gorgeous estate, park and museum about 90 minutes from central London. While the history of this spectacular estate dates back to the early 1700's, it is most famous as the birthplace of Winston Churchill. I saw his "onesie" (cotton baby shirt!) preserved under glass as proof - such an unexpected memento from the life of a very important man. The museum is also loaded with fantastic artifacts, letters and paintings (done by Churchill!) - history buffs will be in heaven. And the palace has the prettiest gift shop too. Don't miss it!

It was a hot and quiet afternoon the day I visited and as a result, my photos have no tourists in them. It looks like I own the place! Oh the dishes I would buy if I could entertain here. And soup tureens, gilded chargers, demitasse cups...

Fort McHenry

When we were in Maryland, we had a day to fill before our night flight back to Detroit. A day trip to Fort McHenry seemed like the perfect activity and on a clear day like this, the chance to photograph an historic fort was irresistible.

Fort McHenry is the birthplace of our National Anthem. Francis Scott Key was inspired after witnessing the British attack on Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814. When he saw the American flag still flying over the fort the next morning "in the dawn's early light."

I thought it was neat when I heard that each May, three to four thousand school children re-create a "Living American Flag" at the fort by standing in a particular spot in either red, white or blue shirts. From above, it makes a giant flag of stars and stripes. Cute! (Click this link to see an example!)

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend.

Hillwood: Marjorie Merriweather Post

Last weekend, I arrived at Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood Estate (just outside Washington, D.C.) and immediately started photographing the grounds - azalea beds, statues and naturalized winding paths.

Ms. Post was a collector, philanthropist and in 1914 (at the age of 27) became one of America's wealthiest women, as the sole heiress of the Postum Cereal Company.

In 1955, she purchased this estate and began working with architects and designers to alter the mansion to house her incredible collection of French and Russian art. You can view some of the collection online, including a small navy blue Faberge egg that is displayed in the "Icon Room" on the main floor of the house.
Today I am showing you her French Parterre - a formal garden with intricate boxwood plantings situated below the terrace just outside the French Drawing Room. To the right of this photo (in the shade), there is an ironwork table and chairs. It was quiet, except for the sound of the fountain and I sat there trying to imagine the conversations that would have taken place here. (sigh) If only it were forty years earlier and Ms. Post could have told me all about her vision for a museum called "Hillwood."

I knew I would enjoy the grounds, the greenhouse, the art (and dishes!), but I had no idea how "complete" the experience would be. Marjorie Merriweather Post lived in this house like it was a museum, therefore every object is lit and displayed as she wanted her guests - present and future - to see it. Fascinating.


Now while we are talking about museum homes, I want to give you a vacation photography tip.
When you are planing a visit to a historic building with gardens (Monticello, Mount Vernon, Hillwood) arrive when it first opens in the morning and head directly into the gardens to take your photographs (when the other visitors are still inside getting acclimated). It is the only time of day that you'll have the property to yourself and won't have to Photoshop strollers out of your gorgeous pictures! You can thank me later.

Have you lost your marbles?

I realized what it was like to find my marbles when I saw this incredible selection in a museum store. Sold by the bag (you get to choose the size & color), imagine what fun you could have with these. And I can't think of a child who wouldn't want to plunge their hands into this gorgeous bin? And believe me they did - I could hear the glass balls rolling around together from across the store.

Personally, I would like these strung together into a necklace. It would be fabulous with a red t-shirt and jean jacket, don't you think?

Paris: Quiet Spaces

When I started planning our trip, I came across a book called, Quiet Corners of Paris by Jean-Christophe Napias. My sweet in-laws sent it to me for Christmas and I am so glad they did. It highlights gardens, walkways and quiet spaces that you can visit (usually free of charge) and hear yourself think.

Although this trip was jam-packed, I knew that I could fit in this "quiet space" as it was near our hotel in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. The garden at Musee Eugene-Delacroix is a lovely spot where the crunch of your feet on the gravel is the only sound you hear.

I knew that the hustle-bustle of the Paris was just behind these walls, but the sound was dampened somehow. I sat for a moment in this garden and simply breathed.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Looking for a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Plan a visit to your local art museum.

My husband & I went for the special exhibit "Monet to Dali" (loved it!) at the DIA and really enjoyed our afternoon wandering through all of the collections.

An unexpected moment (and surprisingly my favorite part) was entering the Great Hall. The museum had hung hundreds of mirrored discs from the ceiling on clear thread. As air currents moved in the grand room, the area twinkled. It was breathtaking and I managed to capture a moment on video to show you. Remember, art is everywhere.

Chocolate, The Exhibition

My sister-in-law invited me to the The Henry Ford Museum (check out the deconstructed Model-T above) to check out the traveling exhibit called, Chocolate. We know a good thing when we hear it! We wandered through the exhibit that showcased the harvesting, processing and molding of chocolate through the ages. By the time we reached the chocolate gift shop (having discussed chocolate nibs, vintage molds & buying chocolates in Paris along the way) I needed a little something. Mission accomplished. The gift shop did not disappoint and I came away with an exotic bar by Vosges called "Black Pearl." A complex combination of wasabi, ginger and black sesame seeds encased in dark chocolate - it would be the perfect finish to a Japanese dinner. Thank you, Nicole!

The Gilded Age

I had heard that the Flagler Museum, a winter retreat built in 1902 by Henry Flagler as a wedding gift for his wife, would be a fun place to have lunch with my Mom. It is a mansion situated on the intracoastal in Palm Beach and is a year-round museum with a waterfront cafe. We had lunch in the glass pavilion that also houses Henry's private rail car (see it pictured below) - which is significant in that Flagler spent his life building luxury hotels along the Florida coast and then developed a railroad system (Florida East Coast Railway) to deliver the tourists to them.

Genius. All and all, it was an interesting peek into what Mark Twain dubbed "The Gilded Age."