Saturday, April 28, 1984

1984 Boston, MA (4/27/1984)

Friday, April 27, 1984
Stopped at Kent’s to pick up a cookbook and the article Jan & Kirby sent about chocolate molds for Kathy. We headed to Boston on another beautiful day The cranberry bogs are now full of dark bushes. Followed I-93 and despite construction, we arrived fairly quickly via the express lanes. Parked in the garage at the aquarium by 9:15 and walked over to Quincy Market. We perused the stalls and bought a half dozen assortment of brownies, but could only manage one and a half each. We went to Faneuil Hall to start following the red line of the Freedom Trail, following the painted footprints. Went past Haymarket, the open farmer’ market, and over the crosswalk with bronze objects laid in the concrete.
Haymarket
Bronze impressions
We walked through the Italian North End neighborhood to Paul Revere’s House. 
Paul Revere's House
We paid $1.50 each to see the oldest house in Boston. Some info about Paul Revere was posted on the walls of the courtyard, and there was a bell cast by him. Inside the small house, we got a chronological history of Paul Revere, and saw a few furnishings and objects from his time. A small but well-laid out museum on two floors.
Paul Revere House herb garden (6./21/1985)
We continued to the square with an equestrian statue of Revere, and saw a man pulling an absolutely ugly, but apparently priceless dog, velvety brown with big skinfolds all over (Chinese Shar-Pei).
Statue of Paul Revere and the Old North Church
We went into the Old North Church, the oldest church in Boston, where the steeple was replaced after the hurricane in 1954, but the original window was saved. This was where the lanterns were lit that led to Paul Revere’s ride. There were wooden medieval figures on the posts of the balcony which was taken from a ship. We entered the museum gift shop to see interesting items, like one of the so-called vinegar Bibles, where a typo turned ‘vineyard’ into ‘vinegar.’ Also replicas of the lanterns used to signal Paul Revere.
We continued up to Copp’s Hill Burial Ground,
Copp's Burial Ground
Tombstone of the man who hung the
signal lanterns in the old North Church
Elaborate tombstone
then returned to Faneuil Hall, the “cradle of victory” given to the city by Peter Faneuil. The first story is still a market, and the second story was a meeting hall, scene of revolutionary gatherings. We noted the grasshopper weathervane on top.
Grasshopper weathervane
We wandered through Quincy Market, and both the North and South Markets restored to look like a 19th century market place. Not inside!
Crossing in Quincy Market (12/17/1983)
Inside Faneuil Hall (12/17/1983)
Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, North Market (12/17/1983)
Inside Quincy Market (12/17/1983)
We bought a long loaf of Italian bread and a couple cheeses to have for lunch as we sat by the waterfront near the aquarium. After some people watching, we entered the New England Aquarium even though the Big Tank was still closed. We got a coupon for two for the price of one ticket for a return visit when the Tank opens. We paid $5 each and had our hands stamped with blue fish. We passed the whale exhibit to look in the central shallow pool with sharks and turtles, and other large fish roaming around. We couldn’t believe they were in such shallow water, but later learned these were the inhabitants of the Big Tank, and usually penguins are in the shallow pool. The aquarium was well-organized with displays of a large variety of fishes in an educational manner. There was also an Edge of the Sea display where you could reach in and handle tidal pool inhabitants of starfish, crabs, sea anemones, etc. We worked our way up and around, and then spiraled down in time for the “animal interview” with a penguin. Then it was time for the dolphin and sea lion show at the “Discovery” ship at anchor on the wharf. We went in to get seats, and soon an excellent show started, including a movie on dolphins. Afterwards we went behind the aquarium to look across the water at Logan Airport. We saw an area of cloudy water, well demarcated from the clearer water (?). We got in the car and Kathy paid the $8 parking fee. We drove back to RI, and went to Kent’s place to prepare dinner of pork chops stuffed with rice, with peas, and fed Kent, Kyle and Erich.

Saturday, April 28, 1984
Kathy and I left at 9:00, stopping in Pawtucket to see and hear the unusual pedestrian mall.
Pawtucket Plaza
Pawtucket Plaza shops
We drove into Providence, and parked near the Unitarian Church to walk down Benefit Street.
First Unitarian Church steeple with
largest bell cast by Paul Revere Company
Benefit Street (12/19/1983)
We peeked in the windows to check out the types of curtains. We walked downtown to see the Arcade, then drove to Davol Sqaure.
The Arcade (12/19/1983)
The Arcade (12/19/1983)
We returned to my place, and Kathy left about 11:15 to return home.

Thursday, April 26, 1984

1984 Newport, RI (4/26/1984)

Wednesday, April 25, 1984
Ran errands, did shopping and my laundry. Wanted to be home by 16:00 since I knew Kathy C was leaving her house then, and I wanted to be there if she called. While I was ironing, she did call, but she was already in Rhode Island, down at the Star Market shopping center. So she arrived at 17:00 and brought some fantastic housewarming gifts; a neat woven basket by Kathy S, some coasters, and a small woven cup-like basket. Plus the Worcestershire sauce I asked her to pick up at the Star Market!
After dinner we went to the Rustic Drive-in movie theater that Kathy saw on Rte 146. We were late for the first feature, but there were three movies, all X-rated!
Rustic Drive-in ticket
We stayed to get out $5 worth. Others sporadically came and went. The sound system came in at 1600 on the AM radio. I kept turning on the engine to recharge the battery, but I guess you can just keep your engine turned on?

Thursday, April 26, 1984
We left at 9:00 to drive to Newport, RI. It was a beautiful day. We saw blossoming forsythias and redbuds. The magnolia trees have huge buds. We parked at the waterfront, and did some shopping at the Brick Market.
Newport Brick Market
Kathy bought X-rated fortune cookies and Flippo, a crazy toy that reacts to sound (like clapping), by popping out its hair, bugging its eyes, and making ratchet sounds.
We drove around the area of mansions and ended up at Hammersmith Farm. Using AAA, we got a dollar off the $4.50 tickets, since the property was not part of the Preservation Society.
Hammersmith Farm ticket
We had to wait out on the terrace for the next tour. The terrace was covered, and there was a small garden with a sundial. Behind was a fenced area for horses and helicopter landings as that is how President Kennedy arrived to this “Summer White House” from 1961-1963. Down by the water there was a tall boathouse that is still used by the Auchincloss family. The bay was beyond the pasture and a small rocky island had a house perched on it.
View of Narragansett Bay
To one side of the Hammersmith house were gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Sunken Garden
Finally a group formed and we began the tour of the 28-room mansion built by John W Auchincloss on one of the oldest farms in Newport, first established by the Brentons in 1640. The house was first built in 1887 and was more of a summer residence, and was the site of the wedding reception for Jacqueline Bouvier and John F Kennedy in 1953. Jackie’s mother married Hugh Auchincloss, so Jackie lived here with her mom and step-father, and had several step-siblings. We were shown the presidential flag, and presidential china table settings. The front floor-to-ceiling window in the dining room alcove could disappear into the floor at the touch of a button. There was a large pantry and kitchen. Upstairs were several bedrooms, including those of Caroline and John Kennedy, Jr. as children and of the Auchincloss boys, and Jackie’s bedroom. Then the bedrooms of Mr & Mrs Auchincloss and the study where JFK signed many bills. All but one of the bedrooms had its own bathroom; large spacious rooms! Almost every bedroom had a lounge divan for naps, because you weren’t allowed to mess up the bed once it was made.  There was a simple elevator, and elk’s antlers that Hugh just happened to find when out West. An old grandfather clock from Holland. Back downstairs to the reception parlor and living room with a pelican and pheasant hanging around, a wet bar, game (chess and checkers) tables, and several living room sets, a grand piano, and a tiled fireplace.
Hammersmith Farm mansion
We left to go to the gift shop which was once the children’s playhouse, and then out to see the miniature horses, one of which was definitely a burro.
Kathy pets the burro with the miniature horse
We drove around Ocean Avenue and it was truly a beautiful day! (Did I say that already?!)
We stopped to walk down to the rocks and check out tidal pools full of snails and mussels, some seaweed and crabs’ legs.
Tidal pool
Looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean
Tidal pool
We admired and critiqued the house along the way, and then began passing the mansions. We picked two to tour, and went to park at the Breakers near Salve Regina College. We each bought a combination ticket for two mansions for $6.
Newport Mansions ticket
We had 15 minutes before the tour began, so walked around the grounds to admire the proportions of the mansion, a tiled loggia, and noted the missing stone urns on the back patio.
The Breakers
View from the Breakers backyard
We went to the elaborate children’s playhouse, now a gift shop. We had to hurry back to join the tour of the largest of the Newport mansions. We passed through huge well-set doors (can be pushed with a mere finger), and entered the men’s reception room with news articles about the Vanderbilts displayed, and pictures of the mansion being built in 1895-1897. It was another “summer cottage” designed by Richard Morris Hunt for Cornelius Vanderbilt, with 72 rooms, including 33 for the servants, 18 bedrooms, and 16 bathrooms. The architecture is said to be like European High Renaissance with many of the furnishings and details inspired by the French and Italian villas of that time. Many of the rooms were brought piece by piece from France. We were taken to the very impressive great hall that was a replica of the inner court of an Italian palazzo, so a simulated sky was painted on the ceiling. The acorn is a symbol of the Vanderbilt family. We went upstairs to several of the bedrooms, all huge rooms with unbelievably high ceilings. The youngest daughter's bedroom was redone in silk; she later became Countess Gladys Széchenyi when she married the Hungarian Count László Széchenyi. Every room had a telephone, and of course, call buttons for the maid, the pantry, etc. Even the guest room was fully furnished with a desk supplied with stationery. Here also, the bathrooms were huge and there were four taps on the bathtub; for hot and cold water, and hot and cold saltwater. The saltwater came through silver pipes, as it would corrode iron pipes. We walked through the upper loggia with a great view of the ocean, with a simple tile mosaic floor where they kept carpets and furniture outdoors. Went to several more bedrooms, including those of Mr and Mrs Vanderbilt. The Mrs had a French marble bathtub they had to fill three times to keep the water warm enough. Back downstairs we went through the library with alcove, music room which was built in France and transported in pieces, living room (so to speak), and great hall with a huge fireplace to the billiards room, past the fountain under the stairs and into the immense and ornate dining room that could seat 34 people. Typical of the architecture was the symmetry with false doors to balance real ones, and mirrors placed to reflect endless rows of chandeliers. The pantry was two stories of storage space with a walk-in safe for the silver, meal warmer oven, and a wine cooler (the wine cellar being below). The large echoing kitchen (as big as a two-story house!) was full of copper pots, where a minimum of 120 meals per day were made, just for family and service staff. The basement had refrigerator and ice rooms. Finally to the women’s reception room, an 18th-century room brought from France, which was a gift from Marie Antoinette to her god-daughter.
View of the Breakers through its gate
We left and found my car stank from rotting crab claws! We threw away the offenders, but the car still smelled! We continued to The Elms and drove up the circular driveway to the parking lot. This mansion was equally impressive, designed by Horace Trumbauer for Edward J Berwind, a coal magnate. It was a copy of the 18th century Château d’Asnières near Paris. The house is called a museum of antique furniture and art objects. There were cabinets of porcelain and old fans, including one from Marie Antoinette, and Wedgewood. Chinese vases stood on tables in the front hall. There were tapestries, including copies of portraits (such as by Van Dyke), done by Russians. We climbed the grand staircase (here also 40 steps) to see an inlaid stone table, and several bedrooms and sitting rooms. The bathrooms had huge screwheads in the floors (the drain coverings). In the mistress’ bathroom was a time clock to see how long it took the maid/butler to respond to the call button. Back downstairs we went through the library, arboretum, a parlor with reflecting mirrors, ballroom, and the Chinese dining room.
It was about 16:15, so we went back to my place to prepare a typical American meal (as we had done in Italy!), this time for Kent. So we had tuna noodle casserole with salad, and a dessert of chocolate pudding with ladies fingers and whipped cream. We did the Nichols School (Buffalo, NY) general knowledge quiz, together scoring a 69 (the highest score at the school was 61).

Tuesday, April 24, 1984

1984 Florida 3 (4/22-24/1984)

Sunday, April 22, 1984
Happy Easter!
The Easter Bunny left me a basket of goodies! Went to church at the St John the Baptist Church in Crescent City. Stopped at the Miller supermarket on the way home. Miller is the local millionaire. We then drove to Daytona Beach to Valle’s Seafood/Steakhouse for a late lunch. Passed several orange orchards with dead brown trees. Grandma and Aunt Sophie had the petit filet mignon with a baked potato and Grandma had salad while Aunt Sophie had green beans. I had the special that came with tomato juice and a salad, then London broil with a mushroom sauce, rice pilaf, and green beans. We all had dessert of crème de menthe parfaits. Aunt Sophie took care of the $36 bill. We took a short ride along the Atlantic coast, including a short distance right on Daytona Beach to see cars parked among the sunbathers. Continued north along barren sandy beaches and pelicans in groups of 8-10 flying along the coast with us. It was really a beautiful day, and I can see why so many people come to Florida for vacation. Past Ormond Beach we headed inland to Palatka and were home by 18:00. Called Kent and he made my day!

Monday, April 23, 1984
It’s funny that I have awakened at 5:45 every day in Florida, no matter the time zone! Walked with Grandma to the Lake Como post office and around town. Saw the “mud puddle” of Lake Como. Passed the community hall and Methodist Church. Saw live oaks with Spanish moss and magnolia trees. The Sheriff’s patrol was patrolling. Back at Aunt Sophie’s, I laid out in the sun until it started raining at 11:00. Drove Grandma to the grocery store. After lunch we worked on a jigsaw puzzle. I have been eating so much, and passed on dessert tonight!

Tuesday, April 24, 1984
This morning I laid out in the sun and actually got some color. After lunch, I left to drive to Jacksonville, filling the rental car with gas before dropping it off for $132. I only had $2 in my pocket! I checked in for the 17:00 flight, but it didn’t leave until 17:15, arriving in Atlanta at 18:00. The 18:55 flight to Providence didn’t leave until 19:25, arriving at 21:25. It was foggy, drizzly, and cold in RI.
An article form the local Lake Como newspaper

Saturday, April 21, 1984

1984 Florida 2 (4/19-21/1984)

Thursday, April 19, 1984
I took Mikayla, Angela, and Deronda for a walk to the mailbox, then we played on the swings. After breakfast we drove to the Gulfarium on the other side of Fort Walton Beach. Arrived about 10:10 and so missed 10 minutes of the porpoise show. Paid $6 per adult and $3 for Mikayla and went to see the show which was actually dolphins and not porpoises!
Gulfarium Dolphin Show
We went down to the Living Sea, a tank with a variety of fish into which a scuba diver came to show his equipment, maneuverability, and to point out various fish like red snapper, grouper, green moray eel, alligator gar, sand shark, stingrays, etc. Also Robert E Lee, a sea turtle believed to have been born before the Civil War. The diver fed some of the fish, then showed us emergency procedures should he lose his air supply. Next was the sea lion show to see balancing acts, basketball and ring catching, etc. The shows were over at 11:00, so we went to see the alligators, turtles, harbor seals, more sea lions, bird including peacocks where the male opened his fan for us, otters, and more dolphins in a pool who played with the spectators by tossing a ball. Spontaneous tricks.
American Alligators
Peacock
There were also tropical penguins, more sharks and turtles. We left at 11:30 and stopped at a park to let the girls run, but they were tired.
Trees with Spanish moss
Home for lunch and the girls went for a nap. Kathy and I made scones and had tea time, and were joined by Mikayla and Deronda. We had dinner after rod came home, and after the girls went to bed, we played Monopoly until midnight!

Friday, April 20, 1984
It has gotten hot and humid. Today we left about 10:45 to go to the beach at Post Point within the AFB limits. I put on my iodine and baby oil, and Kathy put on her sunscreen. We didn’t really get to lay in the sun for long, being up and down. I had to go to the car for first aid to clean a cut on Mikayla’s foot. We had sandwiches and snacks for lunch. It was generally cloudy and a bit breezy. We ended up at the playground for a while before leaving at 15:45.
Mikayla
Angela
Danielle
Back at home, the girls had supper and went to bed early.

Saturday, April 21, 1984
Got up in time to say goodbye to Rod. Took the girls to Valparaiso for breakfast at the Americano Pancake House. Took Kathy to do some shopping at the Exchange, and then dropped them off at their house. I left at 11:00 and dropped off my passes at the gate. I decided to drive straight through to Lake Como, FL and remembered there was a time difference, and it was really 12:00. Bought gas twice at $12 and $11 for about 9.5 gallons each time. Unleaded gas. The gas cap is attached to the car with a piece of plastic, so that it is never lost!
Saw some deep pink flowers along the road, then paler pink and purple ones. (Crape myrtles.) A few hawks, lots of butterflies, and a couple dead armadillos. Also some cows grazing in pastures with palm trees and bayous! Everything is so green! Also magnolia trees with a few white blossoms left. Found Aunt Sophie’s place in Lake Como with no problem, following Grandma’s directions. Arrived about 16:00. A relaxing time with my grandmother and great-aunt.

Wednesday, April 18, 1984

1984 Florida 1 (4/17-18/1984)

Tuesday, April 17, 1984
Kent dropped me off at TF Green Airport in Warwick, nice basic facility. I checked in for the 9:40 Eastern Airlines flight to Atlanta. Left late at 10:00 and stopped in Hartford, CT. Arrived in Atlanta on time at 12:55. It was promised that Providence was to be sunny and 60 degrees. Here it was overcast and in the 40s! Checked in for the 13:54 flight to Pensacola, but it was delayed by a hydraulic leak. Left at 14:30, and arrived after a nauseating bumpy ride at 14:30, local time! Waited in line at Avis and rented a blue Dodge Omni automatic, the cheapest thing available. Drove off towards Eglin AFB. Everything looked flat and spacious, and neat and clean, and green! The sky was blue with cumulus clouds, and the temperature was pleasant. Drove over a blue Pensacola Bay. Stopped at a mall to try to call Kathy J, but the phone was busy. So kept driving. Drove into the airfield by mistake, and had to turn around to go much farther. Got a visitor’s pass at the gate, and tried to find the J’s residence. Drove clear through to the other side, but on my way back I found Ash Drive and #115-A. Cinder block building, but very nice inside. Saw Mikayla at the upstairs window. Kathy has a cute haircut, and Mikayla and Angela are growing up. Danielle is still such a baby! Got to read to Mikayla and Angela before they went to bed. Rod didn’t get home until 22:30 after his class.

Wednesday, April 18, 1984
Saw to the crying Danielle as Deronda, the girl for whom Kathy provides day care, arrived.
Kathy, Rod, Danielle
Mikayla, Deronda, Angela
After breakfast, we took the girls and I drove to Pensacola. We found the historic Seville District with its usually one-story homes around a large square with a gazebo and gas lamps.
Seville Historic District square
We began going through the many shops, all specialty shops including a Mole Hole. Kathy bought a Christian book for Rod.
Seville Histrical District Map
We also passed little trendy restaurants and checked out the lunch specials. We wandered to the Dorr House to be shown around by an interesting older woman with red-streaked graying hair, but who was a bit inarticulate and not totally knowledgeable. But interesting… 
Dorr House
The house had jib windows that opened to the floor onto the porches. A chandelier could be lowered to refill the oil lamps. A wringer in the kitchen was for the towel to cover the biscuit dough when rising. Unusual that the kitchen was attached to the house in a time when fires were a problem. We each left a dollar donation.
House in the Seville Historic District
Another house in the Seville Historic District
We tried to have lunch at a deli, but it wasn’t to open until Friday! Found Mr. P’s Wine and Sandwich for soup and salad that came with slices of bread and butter, for only $3.36 each, plus we left a 50 cent tip.
We also went to the Pensacola Historical Museum located in the old Christ Church, one of the oldest Florida churches on its original foundation. It has also served as a barracks, prison hospital, and chapel during the Civil War. The museum displayed local artifacts including clothing (bathing suits form the 1930s!), silver, bottles, Indian artifacts, glass, photos, antiques, maps and manuscripts. We left about 16:00 and drove back to Kathy’s place. After dinner we drove to Valparaiso to a big discount store, TG&Y, then to Piggly Wiggly for groceries.

I had done a couple algebra problems for Rod. Then up to “my” room for bed. I am sleeping in Danielle’s room on Angela’s bed.

Monday, April 9, 1984

1984 Pennsylvania Dutch Country 2 (4/8-9/1984)

Sunday, April 8, 1984
Bacon-cheese waffles this morning! Left at 8:45 to drive to the Amish Homestead on SR 462 off US 30 in Lancaster, PA. We paid our $3 and started the tour.
Amish Homestead brochure
It was sunny but still cool today. Saw a waterwheel that pumped water to be stored in a 3rd floor tank to provide running water for the house.
Water wheel
Water pump
The house was a typical grossdadi/adjoining houses with additions for each generation.
Amish Homestead
We passed some geese, horses, and pigs, and saw some new piglets. Also lambs and a barn with more horses. AS said before, Pennsylvania law requires a milking machine and refrigeration if they want to sell their milk. So the bishops got together and okayed the use of diesel generators, since they have no physical connection with the outside world, as interpreted by the Amish. We looked out over the fields and the vegetable gardens, the latter are the responsibility of the women. The barn had a lightning rod, because the actual owner was not Amish. We went to the tobacco shed and were shown the basic tools. The garage had several buggies, including the open buggy each boy gets when he turns 16, and the closed buggy they get when they get married. There was also a market wagon. Again, Pennsylvania law requires them to have a slow-moving vehicle fluorescent orange triangle, and battery-run flashers and turn signals.
The oldest part of the house did have electricity heat and air-conditioning because Pennsylvania state law requires those things in public places. We went first in the kitchen with its wood stove with a flat iron on it, and a gas iron on the gas stove. A propane gas refrigerator was in the pantry, but many Amish rent freeze lockers! There were canned goods. There was nothing decorative, everything must have a purpose. No human/graven images on anything like the calendar. The sink had three faucets, the third for rain water. A treadle sewing machine. Dark green window shades.
We went into the parlor set up as if it was this house’s turn to host the every second Sunday church service lasting four hours. Could have up to 200 people. The ministers and bishops are picked by lot and serve for life. Everyone in the “parish” is invited to the weddings. Wedding gifts are given after the honeymoon when the couple goes around visiting those who came to the wedding. The hymnals have no music, which is handed down by ear. We went to an upstairs bedroom to see clothes hanging on pegs on the wall. They want clothes without ornamentation, to be totally unlike German uniforms, of those who persecuted them. A minimum of buttons, no lapels, no pockets. The women use straight pins to hold their dresses together. Absolutely no buttons for the women. Only married men wear beards, but no mustaches, since the German soldiers wore them. We learned a lot of interesting facts today!
Next we drove to Paradise and saw a half-marathon being set up. In Paradise, we went to Basketville, a basket and wicker outlet. I bought a tall cylinder basket and a picnic basket. We stopped at a group of shops in hopes of getting chicken corn soup or something for lunch, but only found a bakery open. Went across the street to see nicely displayed antiques.
We headed back to Lancaster to Lancaster Central Park along the Conestoga River to visit Rock Ford Plantation.
Rock Ford Plantation ticket
We first climbed the hill to read a stone memorial about the Irishman Edward Hand, a surgeon who immigrated to the U.S. and joined the American forces, became Army Adjutant General, and was friends with George Washington. We were directed first to the barn, an original had burned down leaving only the foundation and stonework. A barn from a similar era was moved and built on top. 
Rock Ford Plantation barn
The lady there told us about a discount we had heard about at Ephrata Cloister. She took our Ephrata tickets and gave us Rock Ford tickets that she said we could use for further discounts. We found it hard to believe her logic, thinking that the special tickets we got at Ephrata were the actual discount tickets, but we went along. There were some cases of artifacts found when digging in the area, including remains of Indians from 2-3000 BC. Upstairs in the barn were displays of pewterware, porcelain, kitchen items, baskets, quilts, and furniture left by a Zoe and Henry Kaufman, from that era.
Our discount tickets cost $2 each and we headed in to the 1792 Georgian home.
Rock Ford Plantation home
A girl in period dress took us through the four rooms of the first floor, with two young men who apparently were studying furniture or antiques or something. If they weren’t told, they asked what style each piece of furniture was; Mary & William, Pembroke, with lattice struts, ladderback chairs, Windsor chairs, Chippendale tables, Sheridan tent beds, Hepplewhite chests, etc.! The memorized spiel of these girls (one on each floor) included naming all the furniture! We saw adjustable candle stands, carpenters’ models, General Hand’s study with a specially made chair for him with long legs, sugar cones, liquor bottle boxes, reflecting candle stands, a rare Gilbert & Sullivan on glass painting. Ha, ha! I mean a Gilbert Stuart copy reverse painted on glass. Two-piece mirrors due to a glass tax, a 10-plate stove, etc. In the gift shop in the basement was a poster of Lancaster doors. There was also a frog mug, with a ceramic frog inside the mug for over-imbibers. We returned to the barn to get back two of our Ephrata tickets since the lady informed us we had given her four of them…
We went to the Garden of Five Senses, which was also in the park.
Garden of Five Senses
They hadn’t spring cleaned yet, so the sight hadn’t grown yet, the touch had disappeared, the smell had dried up, and there was no taste. Hearing was easy, just sit on a bench and listen! We did hear band music and taps being played on a nearby hilltop in a cemetery.
Amish horse and buggy
We left and drove through Lancaster to Wheatland, the home of President James Buchanan, which was a 19th century Victorian/Federal mansion with guides in hoopskirts!
Wheatland brochure
Wheatland     
We saw parts of the Presidential china in a pantry, plus a set of ugly blue Wedgewood. We were told that James Buchanan was the only Pennsylvanian to become President, and he was the only bachelor president. He was a lawyer and the Congressman. Because he was a bachelor, his niece Harriet Lane acted as First Lady and hostess at the White House. She was orphaned and brought up by her uncle. The dining room was elegant, the parlor was Rococo, and the study was masculine. Upstairs was Harriet’s bedroom and a few more stairs led to a hallway with one of the largest porcelain pieces in the world, a large blue and white bowl whose twin is at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. We saw the President’s bedroom where if the bed seemed short, it was because they felt the heart would stop if they laid completely flat. So they slept propped up on pillows. There was also a bathroom with the President’s footbath. The other fixtures were put in later. Next the death room. There were examples of so-called “stump art” with yarn flowers made three-dimensional with bark or leather underneath. The kitchen was the gift shop. We went out to check the President’s privy with varying size holes. The carriage house had a lovely restored carriage.
We drove up SR 72 looking for covered bridges that were indicated on a map, but never found them. Did see a tiny facsimile used over a waterwheel.
We got back to Sue’s place and I helped make dinner. We went through Sue’s attic where she found that her problem mouse had been eating the wheat paste. She gave me a pot, food grinder, and a cable spool, as well as an acrylic recipe file box where she had cross-stitched flowers to decorate the front. She also gave me a jade plant and lots of cuttings.

Monday, April 9, 1984
I left at 7:45 and made my way to I-81 to I-80, getting to I-95 and was home (in Pawtucket, RI!) by 14:30.