A Survey of Western Art

We spent the entire afternoon in the Denver Art Museum. It happened to be "Free Day", and the place was packed with families. Great to see art appreciation. The contemporary exhibits lend themselves to children's enjoyment, too. They were a delightful sensory experience. Check out the video. And the place is very visitor friendly with many interactive displays and educational spots. AND photography is allowed. The collection is overwhelmingly 3D with vast numbers of American Indian, Aztec, African, Asian pottery, sculpture, fabric. There is also a fair amount of Western American art.
This is our last night in Denver. We went to see Up In the Air with George Clooney (yum) and intend to hit the sack early so we can beat the snow tomorrow on our way to Moab, UT. I would definitely return to Denver and recommend it to all as a great city.

Mile High

We woke to a beautiful, sunny and very balmy Denver day. There is a pedestrian mall about 2 blocks from our hotel, The 16th St. Mall. It is filled with the usual mall assortment of shops, restaurants, and street musicians. Free shuttle buses run up and down it constantly. We had lunch at the Appaloosa Grill and got some musical advise from the owner. (Everyone on this trip has been so friendly and interested in our journey. The owner talked about his day on the road as a musician.) After lunch we took the shuttle to the bottom of the street and walked toward the Millennium Bridge which spans the Platte River. We searched out the music venue, El Chapultepec and then walked back to the hotel. We just loved walking around in the sunny warm weather. Dinner tonight is at Marlowe's on the Mall.

For more pictures visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/minkcove/

"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know." Louis

Yesterday was so busy that we never had time to post. We spent the morning in the Country Club Plaza checking out the architecture and fountains. The architecture is Spanish in style with a lot of tile work and a beautiful baroque tower. It was very quiet on the streets. We walked back to the hotel through the Mill Creek Park. We picked up the car and drove to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. We took a docent tour that highlighted specific pieces in the entire collection. I was surprised that they owned a Caravaggio, St John the Baptist in the Wilderness. From the Museum we drove out to BB Lawnside's Barbeque. We had read it had great BBQ as well as good blues. When we arrived there was some question about the wiseness of our choice. So we went in to see if we could survive a night there. We had a beer and a pull pork sandwich. The sandwich was not good and the band that night was not going to be a blues band. But the place was a hoot. And we would have been completely safe had we decided to return.

Instead of BB's we ate at the Capital Grill and then went to Jardines for some jazz, which was very good.

Today we were on the road for 10 hours stopping only for a quick lunch and gas. Kansas is beautiful from rolling hills to The Great Plains area which was great indeed. We had a bit of rain mixed with snow. But the roads were clear and Stephen King continues to entertain us.

Kansas as far as the eye can see.

For more pictures visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/minkcove/

Oh Captain! My Captain!

We spent the early part of the day in Springfield, IL visiting the Lincoln Library, the Old State House, and the Lincoln Tomb. The Old State House was more interesting to us than the Museum. It is associated with 3 Presidents. From there Lincoln ran his campaign, General Grant recruited men for the Union and Obama launched his campaign. Since the Library is strictly for research and the occasional exhibit, we just stepped inside for a look. The Tomb was a more in depth experience. The interior was expanded c1930 in the art deco style to encompass the original reception rotunda and the crypt. It was filled with replicas of Lincoln statuary, dressed in marble, and held all the family except Robert who is interred at Arlington.


From Springfield we drove toward St. Louis crossing the mighty Mississippi River and the impressive Missouri River. It was a gray day but a bit warmer. We stopped for lunch at Brewski's Beer Garden and an oil change in Warrenton, MO. We arrived in Kansas City about 7pm with our trip odometer reading 1500 miles plus. After a couple of drinks on the hotel house, we headed to the Country Club Plaza for dinner. We had wonderful smoked ribs at Jack's Smoke House. The waitress had some jazz club recommendations for tomorrow night.

Land of Lincoln

We had a most pleasant and uneventful drive from Indiana into Illinois. It was so flat and so devoid of traffic that the driving was a breeze.  The land reminds me of the delta along the Mississippi.  Once again we had a clear day but the temps have risen into the 30's.  

Sometime around 1:30 we pulled into Springfield, IL.  The town is laid out in a grid and is very easy to maneuver.  We toured the Lincoln Museum.  It is organized around a central plaza where replica's of the Lincoln family stand.  

We also took a tour of the Lincoln home where we were the only 2 people on the tour.  (There are advantages to vacationing in Illinois in February).  Much of the building and a lot of the furniture was original.  We both were surprised at the level of Lincoln's wealth at this time.  

Dinner was at a nice little Italian restaurant near the hotel, Saputo's.  We both had homemade ravioli and Chianti.  

Moon over Indiana

We had a pleasant 6 hour drive today through Ohio and into Indiana.  The land became flatter and flatter as we went along.  Acres of fallow corn fields dotted with corn stalk stacks accompanied us.  We had a great lunch at Rudy's Smokehouse Barbeque in Springfield, OH. We drove into Indianapolis to the setting sun.  Tonight there was a huge, beautiful yellow moon on the horizon.  We are sleeping in Indianapolis tonight as a stop over on our way to Springfield, IL where we will pay homage to Old Abe and see his library and homestead.

Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.  Go Saints!!!!!

We've Got Friends in Pennsylvania

Yesterday was a driving day spent watching the country side of New England pass by on our way to Pennsylvania and listening to Stephen King's Under the Dome. It was very cold, single digits and quite windy. But the skies were bright. We arrived in Sharon, PA to the light of a full moon, a great Portuguese dinner of moules and pork, plenty of wine and invigorating conversation until 3am. We solved all of Obama's problems and determined the relative merits of artificially aerated wine vs straight from the bottle wine. At the end of the evening no one gave a damn. I suggest Congress try this approach to bipartisanship.

Today we toured Sharon, PA with our friends. It was very cold, 21F. We took a walk through the beautiful Buhl Mansion and tonight will have dinner at Tara.

Shenango Valley viewed from Ohio.

Bulh Park

John with the Bulls.  He's shy.

Adventure Eve

'Twas the night before our departure and all through the house was excitement and joy.  We've planned, packed and prepared for a 2 month road trip that will take us from the east coast of Massachusetts to the west coast of California on to both coasts of Florida and back again.   We will spend 18 days on the road to California looking for spacious skies, amber waves of grain beneath the snow, and purple mountain majesties above the frozen plain.  Main stops will be in PA to visit friends, IL to take in Lincoln's library and grave, Kansas City for BBQ and jazz, Denver, and the Utah National Parks of Arches, Bryce's Canyon and Zion.  From Zion we will head to Encinitas, CA for 10 days where we will see our sweet Bonnie and her family as well as side trips yet to be determined.

Our return trip will be a 14 day trip that stops in Fort Lauderdale, FL for 2 weeks. We begin the return with a stop at the Petrified Forest in AZ before heading to Taos and Santa Fe, NM for 6 days.  From NM we head to Magnolia, AR to see my lovely mother for a few days.  Then on to Fort Lauderdale, FL for 2 weeks of sunshine and a Red Sox ballgame.  Finally, as we head back north and pray for signs of spring, we will stop in DC to see Adam and his family as well as my aunt and uncle.  So, come along for the trip if you want to read some corny reporting and see some beautiful pictures.

Bon voyage, frozen land.

Prep Work

Believe it or not in addition to all the things one must do to prepare for an extended trip, I had to trap a cat. 'twas a cute cat. But a feral female cat none the less. The last thing I wanted to do was return home to a pride of cats. I don't know how to herd cats. So this morning I set the trap, caught the cute thing with a can of tuna, and took her to the animal rescue people. Six hours later she is in the cellar minus her ovaries, etc. I have to keep the poor thing inside for 3 days. But I feel better now. That big gray tom that has been lurking in the woods will just have to move along.

I just realized this is a strange way to introduce a blog. Perhaps tomorrow I will explain myself.

Bardstown, KY

Arrived around noon.  A quaint little town.  Had lunch and headed for the Maker's Mark distillary.  Nice little tour that ended with a tasting.

Sunday morning we visited the Rowen estate which was the inspiration for Foster's My Old Kentucky Home.  Drove through Throughbred country and headed for Sharon, PA

Magnolia Blossom Festival

Sunday: We bought and planted azaleas.
Monday: Wayne spread mulch.
Tuesday: Wayne put in a ceiling fan.  Took Mom to have her hair done.
Kindergarten graduation.  Wednesday: Dorothy came and brought okra, peas, etc.  We had a nice supper. I toured Columbia Lake with John Ed.
Thursday: left for Kentucky

Helena, AR

The poor town is almost dead.  Ate at Oliver's and then stayed in.  Took a quick tour of the cemetary before we left on Friday.

Walkin' in Memphis

Arrived at Peabody and immediately went to Rendezvous for ribs and beer.

Wed went to the Gibson Factory for a tour and a Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi.

Toured the set ups for the BBQ festival...left early for Helena.

Nashville Cats

Friday arrived around 2 and walked the downtown district.  Had a great BBQ sandwich on a roof.  The sun and weather are terrific.  Went to Ryman Aud and bought tickets for Jon Stewart.  What a hoot.  He was so funny.  Ate at the Merchant's Grill.  Great ravioli.

Saturday went to The Hermitage and did laundry.  That night went to the Opry Land Hotel for a TERRIBLE sandwich and to the Grand Ole Opry. Saw Carrie Underwood, Vince Gil, Mel Tillis among many.

Sunday went to Parthenon and Blue Bird Cafe.  The music at the cafe was by about 8 songwriters...great.

Monday went to Franklin to the Carter and Carnton homes.  That night went downtown for food and music at the Wild Horse Saloon.

Tuesday:  Went to Shiloh on the way to Memphis.

Townsend Richmont Inn

In the morning toured downtown Jonesboro then left for Townsend.  Found the B&B late in the afternoon and drove through Cades Cove. Saw 2 black bear and 2 cubs, turkey, and deer.   Ate at the River BBQ

Tuesday we went  back to Cades Cove and hiked to Abrams Falls.  Whew. That took about 5 hours.  THEN we went up Clingman's Dome and almost killed ourselves hiking up 332 feet in 1/2 hour.  But the sites were glorious, a 360 of 5 states.

Tuesday night ate in Gatlinburg at a BBQ place.

Wed we shopped in Gatlinburg and bought some pottery and wooden bowl.  We ate at the local steak house.

Thursday we took another ride through Cades Cove...came back to the room and read.  Went to the Back Porch to eat and found ourselves entertained by Bill Middleton. He was a great singer.

Jonesboro, TN

Morning: toured Appomattox historical grounds.  Long drive to Jonesborough afternoon.

Sat on B&B porch, read at night.

Appomattox, VA

Met Adam, et al at Georgetown for breakfast.  Drove to Appomattox.

Stayed at Longacre B&B.  The Kentucky Derby was running when we arrived.  We watched for a while with other guests.  Then ate in the room from Subway.

Washington, D.C.

We are staying at the Lombardy Hotel, which is on Pennsylvania Ave and just a block from the White House.  Adam got us tickets to the Kennedy Center to hear the National Symphony play Copland. There were readings about Copland's life and from Lincoln's writings.

During the day went to the American Art Museum and saw a great exhibit on Avant Garde jewelry.

On Friday we saw a Butterfly Exhibit at the Natural History Museum.  Then visited the new Newseum.