Metropolitan Museum of Art

We spent a couple hours a the Metropolitan Art Museum at my request. Everyone begrudgingly went, it was one of the first absolutely gorgeous days that we'd had. I enjoyed the time there, although was disappointed. It doesn't quite compare to the Louvre or Smithsonian. They have a little bit of everything but nothing is really extensive. I think my biggest disappointment was that they had just opened a new section featuring Barcelona artists and they emphasized that they were highlighting Dali. They featured a number of nice Spanish artists, quite a few Picasso's and three Dali's, three. Not sure how you can market him as one of the feature artists when there are a minimum number of his works. And they didn't allow cameras in that wing of the museum.

Knights

Calvary Armour for the Horse

Bone Saddle

The Death of Socrates -- Jacques-Louis David

Tiffany Glass

Perseus with the Head of Medusa --Antonio Canova

Dessage King & Queen

Take the time to watch this, it's spectacular.

Nor'easter

We got hit Sunday night and Monday by a late season snowstorm. Official reports in the newspaper today are saying we got 18 inches! We both went to work Monday morning, but it was pretty hairy as none of the plows had been out. My theory is they had already serviced them and put them away for the winter and that since the schools were on spring break they weren't in a hurry to get moving in the morning. They finally plowed between 3-5 so that the people that DID go to work could make it home. But the roads had turned bad again by 7:30-8:00pm. Lots of people lost power and/or got flooded, luckily we're dry and have electricity, the worst that happened was the internet went down last night.
It's been raining and snowing off and on today and has been just above freezing, so everything is turning into a slushy, muddy mess.

Today (04/17/07)

Tulips that had been trying to come up

3 Days Ago (04/14/07)

Shadow on the prowl

Whitethorn Woods

I just finished reading Maeve Binchy's latest book, Whitethorn Woods. It explores random peoples lives and how they are all connected to Whitethorn Woods, in Rossmore,Ireland and St. Ann's Well that is found there. A new bypass is to be put through Rossmore, straight through the woods and the well. Some think it's a good idea, shows Ireland is progressive, modern, and will get rid of the superstitious well and statue where people go to pray for husbands, babies, and cures. Others feel that it has been part of their village and religion, it is a sacred place, that has given them husbands, babies and cures and must be cherished and protected. The book explores these different characters that come from all over Ireland, England and even the United States to have a look at St.Ann's Well.

The local priest, Father Flynn, is on the fence as to what he thinks should be done, he is frustrated by the idolatrous nature of peoples faith in the well, but she is Jesus's grandmother, but most likely never came to Ireland. Here's his description of the statue by the well:

It had been painted and refurbished over the years, making the apple cheeks even pinker, the brown cloak richer, the wisps of hair under the cream-colored veil even blonder.
If St. Ann existed she would have been a small dark woman, from the land of Palestine and Israel. She would not have have looked like an Irish advertisement for some kind of cheese spread.

The book is filled with happy stories, sad stories, and ones that make you sit and ponder. But there are quotes sprinkled through out, such as the one above, that will make you laugh out loud.

Brad Paisley's New Song

I just heard this song driving home one night from work this week. I turned on the radio right as the chorus was starting, the lyrics were so sweet, and then the last line of the chorus hit, I was mortified and laughed so hard. So I thought I would share:

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks

Thanks Brad, but maybe you should work a bit harder on your pick-up lines :)
(The song is called "Ticks")

Passion Play

Never was there a pond

I've learned that maps from 1875 to early 1900's were not always drawn to scale. We really liked the name vanishing pond but wanted to do a bit more research to make sure that it never had a name. Our research turned up that it does have a name (yes, present tense)and still exists about 1/2 mile, the way the crow flies, from the edge of our property. It took some comparisons of the old maps, a few new maps and Google Earth and looking at landmarks and bends in the river etc, but we've confirmed that what earlier had appeared to be on our property, was not. It's called Slayton Pond, after the people that original owned the land it is on.

We're kicking around ideas, thanks for all of you that have submitted ideas, they're all really good, we'll make the announcement as soon as we decide. We keep thinking that will come up with the perfect name and just KNOW that it is the right one, but I think we're coming to the point that we just have to pick.