Last Posting for 2011

We were so fortunate to be able to spend Christmas down South with both daughters. How nice not to have those work commitments anymore, when one of us was having to work. Our first stop was in Greenville to visit Kevin and Julia and the triplets. Although we'd be missing their lovely trio at church on Christmas Eve, we were able to participate in their dress rehearsal. In the past, Anna Kate would decide to have nothing to do with performing in front of people, and simply return to her Mommy in the congregation. Despite persistent coughs, they performed beautifully in their practice session and on Christmas Eve. I've always said, if you can stand up and sing in front of a congregation at church, you can do any kind of public speaking. I think they are off to a grand start. They look so tiny up on that altar. You can catch the video on Julia's Facebook page.



Family photo at one of Greenville's dazzling home light displays.



Not sure you can see it, but they have moved the family piano out on the sidewalk, and are playing carols.
For a very minimum charge, they provide hot chocolate and freshly popped old fashioned popcorn as you walk around.

This is the view of where the backyards come together.

On to Atlanta for Christmas Eve and morning. The Dalrymple boys answer Christmas relateed questions
in order to advance down the stairs to unwrap their presents.

Hunter is stepping up to the plate in the kitchen, makes his own omelettes,
and is helping Chris with the macroni and cheese for Christmas Day. That's Mini to the right.

Grant and Henry (pictured) amaze us with their Lego skills.
Not only can they interpret and apply these diagrams, they stay focused and get it done.

What a lovely end to the year here at Camp Colegate.
Photo taken after storm Friday afternoon. I told Bruce to look outside, as the air looked right for a rainbow.
The Cincinnati Enquirer posted the same rainbow over the stadium on the front page of this morning's paper.
Happy New Year to all of our family and friends.

Our Annual Christmas Dinner on the Town

Foregoing presents for entertainment, Bruce and I have enjoyed the best Christmas this year, beginning in early December with a sixty degree stroll around the Cincinnati Zoo as the Christmas lights were just coming on. Unfortunately, no camera. This seems to be a common lament this year, so now the camera comes with us. Last night we drove downtown for a lovely dinner at the Netherland Hilton in the Carew Tower. Art Deco heaven. Tonight we'll join in on a sing-along Messiah with the Cincinnati Symphony.

We arrived a bit on the early side, and walked around taking in the sights.
No, we didn't arrive in a horse drawn carriage, but we couldn't resist snapping a photo.



The tower was built in 1929 in less than a year, costing $7 million dollars.
This construction during the Great Depresseion eased the financial burden for Cincinnati.
Back then guests did arrive by horse and carriage. Imagine, walking through these gorgeous doors into the lobby.



My little digital camera barely captures the grandeur of the spaces.
These sculptures grace the ascent into the grand lobby.

Remember the old arcade going over to Pogues? The huge gingerbread city is center back.

More art deco showcasing the gingerbread city.

  


Look closely, as you can easily identify Cincinnati landmarks.




Now the Orchids Restaurant at the Palm Court, this used to be the lobby.



I'm sitting in our corner dining banquette, watching the whole dining room scene.
The pianist in the bar behind us is playing 'Night and Day' and Christmas carols. This is all too glamorous.

Here comes our meal! The kloches are removed with a flouirish and simultaneously.
We attempted to stay and watch the table next to us. The routine is to present the entrees with kloche removal, no matter how many staff it takes. We ordered dessert & coffee, but the larger group was still enjoying the the first course.

Intricately engraved and detailed elevators on the lower parking lot.
End of the evening for us, leaving behind a breathtaking building celebrating a unique page in history.

Back to reality. Christmas on Second Street in Clarksville.

Thanksgiving in Cambridge

Unfortunately, Bruce and I missed our Cambridge Thanksgiving last year. Lowe's grants only two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Period. And everyone MUST work on Black Friday. Hence you may recall last year's 'Camp Colegate Thanksgiving for Two' blog. So much more fun to be with friends and family for the holidays. And I can never resist taking my camera and cathching those moments of anticipation and beauty.

Bruce opening the gates of the compound.
We marvel at the old trees, such as the hemlock on the left.
That afternoon, as we made trips between the main house and the cottage,
the air was filled with aromatic cedar from an older specimen that grows near the driveway.

Bruce and I were offered the bedroom in the cottage.
The greenhouse is accessed from rgus room, and here is the view from that room into the greenhouse.

The hanging baskets are extraordinary.

We weren't spending time on the wrap-around porches this visit, but there is something
about those outdoor rooms that just beckon you to sit down and enjoy the peace and serenity.

The view from the cottage great room and porch.
Words cannot even begin to do this beauty justice.

It's all about anticipation, isn't it?

I could not capture every one of the fifteen at this table.
 Our hosts Andrew at the end of the table, Brad in the very lower right corner.



The day afternoon Thanksgiving we visited Marietta, Ohio, only 45 minutes away.
A bright and comfortable day, like that year we went to Falling Water. Here the Muskingum meets the Ohio.




The Lockmaster's House along the rivers.



One of the early churches





One of many fabulous downtown buildings.
We also drove around the lovely homes above Marietta College.
This is definitely a destination to which we must return and explore on our own.

  






Fall's Final Farewell

I may be a little premature here, but as we marvel at the last fading colors of fall and bask in this lovely sunshine and balmy temperatures, we remark that we are truly blessed. Camp Colegate has never looked lovelier, and no surprise, we have been crossing off maintenance projects like little robots. So much of what we've done will make the spring chore list much shorter, maybe some time for fun in the spring. But let me share some of the beauty of fall at Camp Colegate.

Dawn at Camp Colegate.
Grace lies between the bench and the meadow. She would sit on the bench in the evening, watching the sun set.



Burning Bush that came from Glen Colegate's yard years ago.



The Mike Proud tree, gift from our neighbor.
Reminds us of all the Sweet Gums that line I-85 between Chrsi and Julia's.

Trees on fire in the northeast as the sun sets in the southwest.

We have enjoyed our time outdoors, reserving maybe one day a week for exploring.. Yesterday we drove to Clifton, lunched at a truly Italian owned and managed bistro and caught a Woody Allen movie at the Esquire Theater,  Then we drove around Clifton with my Historical Cincinnati Neighborhoods guide, marveliing at all the incredible architecture. Next time I'm going to have to take my camera. The trees impeded our viewing, similar to our experience the week before in Wyoming. These tours are going to have to be repeated in the winter or early spring. There is so much beautiful and historical architecture to take in. We are never lost.

Zany Zelda

We knew we could never replace Grace. As everyone whoever interacted with her knew, she was a most unusual kitty, incredibly patient of children, scoffing and disappearing when the dogs appeared, and always ready for a hike or a kitty massage. We went to the Clinton County Humane Society with the plan to look, reenforce that there are always kitties there for adoption, and return in the spring for a very young female kitty. Those of you who know Bruce, know that would not happen. We could not replace Grace, but we could fill a very empty hole in our hearts. Grace was easy to photograph, Zelda has been a challenge. It is eerie how much she looks like Grace, yet so different. Her underside is much more buff colored, her ears and tail longer. She runs to us, always, loves being petted, but resists being held. I walked Grace all over Camp Colegate as a kitten. We keep reminding ourselves not to make comparisons. We'll love her unconditionally, as she is slowly mending that deep wound.

Tribute to Grace

Words can't express our love of our dear kitty.

Please take time to visit and enjoy our memories of Grace throughout the years at Camp Colegate.

This is our view from the kitchen and porch.
In the summer Grace spent the last minutes of the day here, watching the sun set.
We chose this area as Grace's final resting place.  I had labeled this photo 'Grace's Throne.'

Indiana Getaway

Years ago, maybe 20+ years ago, I was returning from a visit with Marcheta in California, and struck up a conversation with the gentleman in the plane seat next to me. He was an engineer with Cummins Diesel in Columbus, Indiana, and asked if I had ever visited there. Obviously that answer was no, but as he explained the architectural inspiration and treasures of this community, I made a mental note to visit there . . . sometime. Years turned to decades, family expanded, but retirement provided the desire and time to travel. Of course, travelling is much more fun with our favorite adventure companions, Brad and Andrew.

Thank goodness they have such a busy schedule that we had to make our reservations well in advance, for we had no idea how quickly the guided tours of this architectural mecca filled. As soon as I had their dates and approval, the reservations were made. Good plan, as participants in our morning tour of the public buildings, shared that they were unable to book the smaller and more intimate afternoon tour of the Miller Home and Gardens, now owned by the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

We enjoyed a leisurely two hour drive to Columbus, marvelling at the last of the fall color. We could not believe the Irwin Inn where we had booked our overnight reservations. Although we saw all the gorgeous rooms and gardens on the website, to be an overnight guest in this treasure was such a delight. This was the home of the extremely wealthy banker/venture capitalist in town. His chauffeur, Chessie Cummins, tinkered in the garage and developed the first Cummins Diesel engine. We toured the gardens with the owner of the inn before our daylight dwindled, then checked into our rooms. Although our rooms were pricey, we were constantly surprised by the graciousness of our host. We shared wine and appetizers (combination of the hosts and our own contribution), then walked a few blocks in the light rain to one of the three fine dining experiences. Our trip could have ended with the experience of the inn. Our trip could have ended with the experience of observing a vital city center in a small downtown. On our way back to the inn we chose our lunch destination, a restored Greek ice cream shop (huge) with a $3 million renovation.

The side view of the Irwin Inn and Gardens.
We stepped back in time an entire century. Just an incredible experience.

How would you like this for your butler's pantry?
The woodwork at the Irwin House was such a treasure.
Of course, I now wish I had taken many more photos.

The next day we freshened up for breakfast in our very old fashioned bathrooms, all in suite. Brad and Andrew stayed in the bachelors' room on the 3rd floor, and we stayed in the original owners' room on the 2nd floor. Might I add that 95% of the furnishings are original, and we were somewhat reminded of the Biltmore in Asheville, NC, with all the panelling and service fixtures. Then we checked out and moved on to the incredible Visitors' Center (VC) for our tours. The public building tour was two hours, and we walked to the first two venues which were adjacent to the VC and the Irwin House. Then we boarded the bus and motored around town, jaws dropping as we passed by the most innovative public buildings ever. We had a nice lunch and ice cream, again, a few blocks from the VC, then on to a smaller bus for the tour of the Irwin's grandson's home, an extremely contemporary offering of architecture, design, and gardens. I only took a few photos, as I so much more enjoyed the tour experience and the great company.

One of many sanctuaries that we visited.
Even a wide-angled lens would not have done this justice.

The Miller House and Gardens.
We were asked not to take photos, but I sneaked this in.

The Irwin Gardens pergola and wisteria.
Pond is covered in preparation for winter.

Irwin Garden detail. The bronze elephant was purchased following the St. Louis World Fair and Exposition.
Can't imagine what these gardens must look like at high season.

So many interesting views and private mini gardens at the Irwin Inn.