The series continues. This “window” collage is from the Montreal Botanical Gardens, a really magical place, and is my interpretation of a view from inside a little pagoda-type structure in the Japanese Garden, I think. I highly recommend spending a half-day or more here – it’s vista after vista of differently themed gardens, and our visit in early July was particularly well timed this year – beautiful weather and beautiful blooms.
It’s hard to believe a year ago I didn’t own a car, hadn’t owned one for five years, and now we have over 20,000 miles on our little Accord. July was another cross-country month, starting with a quick lunch with the family in suburban Detroit, then across the Port Huron bridge for a ride through Ontario and Quebec. Our ultimate destination was Bar Harbor, Maine, but we took a winding route. Just outside London, Ontario, our first night’s stop, we took a break at a little butterfly sanctuary – mostly little kids and us – just perfect.
I already wrote a bit about Montreal, and leaving there took us in to Vermont (I know, there was a more direct route to Maine, but long story, we were going to Boston first). Anyway, Vermont scenery was spectacular even without the leaves changing color. Downtown Burlington was full of people and music and charm – I can only imagine how much move lively (crowded?) it would be if school were in session.
After a catch-up visit with our grown-up niece in Boston, we overnighted in Portsmouth, NH – another charming downtown with people and music – Irish this time, my favorite.
After a combination of scenic routes and interstate travel, and a great grilled cheese and chowder lunch harborside in Portland, we landed in Bar Harbor. Supposed to be there for two days in the last availble room at the Bar Harbor Inn, but plans changed and we would up staying four. Great seafood, but my favorite meal was Italian – La Vita Bella. Of course we went to Acadia. I know I’m not a big hiker. I don’t really completely understand when a walk turns in to a hike. But I’m pretty sure that climbing over boulders for a half hour, even if they aren’t vertical, crosses the line, so I felt pretty accomplished.
Amazing how in every town you can find that place with the great row of outdoor restaurant options – Italian again in Albany.
Next stop was a bucket list one for the boyfriend/husband – the National Comedy Center in Jamestown New York. Driving across the state was beautiful, and the stop was perfectly timed. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but well worth it – both the subject matter and they way they have designed the museum are impressive and engaging. And, with my economic development hat on, you have to be impressed at how they have worked with the legacy of being Lucille Ball’s hometown to hustle up some economic activity.
I love road trips, but I love Chicago summers too; I think it’s time to be a homebody in August.
More on our road trip later, but July included a stop in Montreal and yes, there are museums and churches, etc. but my favorite things aren’t necessarily the most typical. Well, maybe this first one – the Botanical Gardens were spectacular. Without any planning on our part, we had fantastic weather and it seemed like absolutely everything was in bloom all at the same time. What a treasure so close to the center city.
On our way out of town, though, I had my favorite experience. I had heard of St. Armands paper, and I thought I was somewhere nearby. Their website is kind of basic, and tells you right off they are primarily a factory, but invites you to stop by. My boyfriend/husband is always game for a trip to an industrial park in a potentially sketchy neighborhood, though this one has a great looking walking/running/biking path right across the street. The dooway is a little hidden, but the neighbors kindly sent us in the right direction. It is a fantastic, below ground space with presses and vats and luscious paper everywhere. The husband and wife team that run the place have their hands full, and confided that it’s tought to find help (isn’t that the story everywhere) so it’s hard to keep up with demand and they have to turn down some expansion. (If you’re reading this, and know someone passionate and dedicated, send them along, because we can’t afford to lose artisan knowledge like this). I could have been easily overwhelmed so I just made selections quickly, including mostly handmade sheets and pads, but also some machine made sheets from repurposed firemen’s uniforms – love that!
Summer finally came, in kind of a bi-polar way. Some glorious days, some sweltering days, but all were welcome.
We started to take advantage of the Morton Arboretum in suburban Chicago last year, and continue to visit it for beautiful morning walks through hundreds of acres. What is the difference between a walk and a hike, anyway?
It’s become our custom to follow those trips with a garden lunch at Piccolo Sogno, which I highly recommend as the closest thing out slow Italian afternoons on the Amalfi Coast.
June also included a trip down to Atlanta and a reunion with Chery Baird, my amazing art teacher, for a three day collage workshop. Even better, I was joined by my bestie Deb Lehman. I’d been stocking up collage fodder to start a new series called All My Dream Flew Out the Window – in the best possible way. Each piece is based on a beautiful view out of windows around the world and across time –
– the collage posted here is the view from a bathroom window – yes, a bathroom window- at a restaurant called Torre Normanna in Maiori on the Amalfi Coast, a spectacular place.
My first post-pandemic flight was back to Miraval Resort in Tucson, Arizona, I have and will write about the experience in other places, but for this time I wanted to share this magical photo. My friend Janet Miller had just taken a course there is optimizing iPhone photography, and that evening we had this amazing scene on our way back from dinner, so thanks to her for the image – I may have done a little art direction. I love my almost-vintage iPhone, but I have to say this set me up with a little new phone craving.