Storm King

Cheryl got a reservation at Storm King in the Hudson Valley in New York.  Storm King started as an art museum in the 60s then evolved to a 500 acre park.  This is the most amazing sculpture GARDEN we have ever seen.  They claim to have the largest collection of outdoor sculpture in the world.  We won’t argue with that.  Artists include Calder, DiSuvero, Lichtenstein, and Henry Moore.  

We took the tram around.  You could also rent a bike (that is history for us) or walk, walk, walk.

Fifth Season by Sarah Sze is a special exhibit in one of the halls.   To view this art is to be immersed in color, in perceived motion and in deep emotion.  This art is proof that photographs do not always capture what is seen.

 

We learned that this garden must be visited many times to get the feel of all the beauty. 

Hiking

Cheryl has a great ability for finding lovely trails for her to hike and us to stroll.  We did two in one day.  The first was Pond Loop.

These purple mushrooms dotted the landscape.

 

While we did not do the whole loop, we did feel immersed in the peaceful beauty.

The second trail, Becket Quarry, ended at an abandoned quarry.  It seems the workers just up and left their vehicles.  Nature is slowly claiming them.

Around the corner, the water falls into a pool and foolish, brave, young adults were jumping from the ledges deep down into the cool water.  These crazy kids were primarily from the nearby college.  Hopefully, Bennett didn’t get any ideas to try it.

Dave joined us in the evening.  The next day Hurricane Ida edged the area keeping us homebound to play games and read. 

Hancock Shaker Village

While the Shakers started in England, they flourished in the United States under the leadership of Ann Lee in the 1780s.  Their beliefs had an appeal to those who believed in labor for all, celibacy and rights for both men and women.  They felt that their commune would be paradise on earth and would reflect life in the next world.  

Today in the Village twenty historic buildings are open for visitors.  We had toured a similar village in Kentucky and found this one also of unique interest

 

1826 Round Stone Barn where some of the timbers date back to the 1700s.

The Shakers did not have a religious leader.  If, during a service, someone was motivated to speak, sing or dance, they simply got up and did what they felt.  A docent taught us a Shaker melody that is simple in words but highly spiritual.  

The dormitory, where men dwell on one side and women on the other, dates to 1830. 

 

 The general membership dined in silence in the main dining hall.  

The Elders had their own private dining room.  Some people are more equal than others.  

    

The Meetinghouse was moved here from Shirley, MA.

A local woodcrafter demonstrates turning  techniques on a 19th century water powered lathe.

The last remaining Shakers are two elderly women and one young man still living in another Shaker village in Maine.

Beauty, Natural and Man-made

First, Happy Anniversary to Cheryl and Dave

Last Sunday we enjoyed the beauty of this tree filled area.  Driving the twisty roads through this lush area is so different from the dry (and sadly smoky and burning) area where we live.  We started our day with a lovely walk through Parsons Marsh.

 

After our picnic lunch, we went to Turn Park.  Originally a quarry, it is now a fabulous sculpture garden.  We had wonderful time wandering and interacting with this area of great imagination.

 

 

 Bennett enjoyed one of the installed artwork.