Russel Wright was an American industrial designer who, among many other things, created the most widely sold American ceramic dinnerware in history. He was also born in Lebanon, OH and his dinnerware was made in Steubenville. We visited his home today, in Garrison, NY. It was built on land that was decimated by logging and then quarrying. He built his home and studio there, rejuvenated acres of landscape with native plants, and used the quarry as a swimming pool. It was every bit as interesting as visiting Fallingwater, if not more so. He made a human creation that was truly one with nature. Amazing! The few pictures I took did not begin to do it justice, so take a look at this instead www.visitmanitoga.org.

After Manitoga, we visited Storm King Art Center one of the world's leading sculpture parks. It is on 500 acres of gorgeous rolling hills, meadows, and woods. Combining art with nature always works for me. There are over 100 sculptures there and room for many more. Here's a taste.

Frank Cabot, who started the Garden Conservancy, and his wife Anne built their own gardens around their home near Cold Spring, NY.  The house is at an elevation of 1.100 feet surrounded by sixty hilltop acres. They bought the property in 1958 and opened the gardens to the public in 1992. 

Their original interest was in alpine plants, but there are now 15 acres of woodland, alpine, perennial, tropical, and succulent specimens and a 2,000 square-foot conservatory. Visitors are greeted with a plant list of over 500 specimens on view. Many may find that overwhelming, but I was delighted!

This first pic is for Sharon--a close-up of a fairy garden in a stone trough. See the gardener behind the stone wall and the gazebo made of sticks?

In Hyde Park, we visited Springwood, Franklin Roosevelt's lifelong home and Val-Kill where his wife Eleanor lived when she got tired of living with Franklin and his mom. Guess which is which.

When visiting the Hudson Valley, it seemed we should actually see the Hudson River. Here it is from the Mills Mansion grounds in Staatsburg, NY. I haven't been able to determine who's house that is in the middle of the river. Anyone?

If you are interested in the history of aviation, particularly pre-WWII, or even if you're not (that would be me), a trip to the Aerodome is well worth your time. In Rhinebeck, NY, a gentleman named Cole Palen was passionate about flying and created the first American flying museum of antique aircraft and replicas. oldrhinebeck.org has continued what he started and has well over 60 aircraft to see, plus models, antique cars, and other memorabilia. They also have air shows on the weekends and offer bi-plane rides. Their final show of the year is the October Pumpkin Bombing display. Watch the red bi-plane landing in front of the trees from left to right. 

Leaving the Cape and now on our way west, we made a quick stop at Plimouth Plantation where we saw replicas and re-enactments of those who came first:

And those who followed. All in all, we found the village somewhat 'thickly settled' with kids on Friday field trips :-)

Update for Thomas Howland Richards, John Howland's house is under reconstruction. And Katie, the loom pic is for you!                

Katherine Lee Bates, born in Falmouth, MA wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful. This bike path is named in her honor. We walked a couple of sections of it today. Lots to see: a small herd of deer; a bike rack, or bike gazebo; a gate totally appropriate for a bike path; ponds; salt marshes; berries in colors I've never seen together before; rock fences; a dog and his feline friend who never seem to move an inch, regardless of what passes by; and the shining sea.

In the somewhat terse vernacular of Cape residents, I find that road signs, rather than alerting the driver to what's to come, can lend one's mind to wander . . . 
For example: CHILDREN or THICKLY SETTLED.

Nevertheless, we arrived safely at our campsite and indulged in a first-rate campfire and s'mores. Perfect for a crisp fall evening. 

We drove to Woods Hole to take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard--and back. Took the transit bus to get around the island.

With clear weather like today's,  from Scargo Tower you can see Provincetown 20 miles away as the crow flies.

Provincetown after lunch at the Canteen.

And views from Craigville Beach in Barnstable