Friday, June 26, 2009

San Diego

My last port of call in the USA, prior to flying out to OZ, and home near Cairns, via Sydney, where I made a quick stop-over to visit my daughter, was San Diego. Here I had the privilege and joy of spending a few days with James and Jera, whom I had met on my previous visit. They lived in a semi-rural area, about an hours drive from the city on the family estate.

Before we travelled to their home we spent an hour or so on the beach- front, having a picnic lunch in a very natural way sitting on the rocks. It was a most pleasant experience, to say the least, and one which could not have been better chosen.

I must, once again, have had a slack attack with my photography, as their organic vegetable garden missed out on being photographed for me to be able to share it with you.





Nevertheless I did photograph the large pond, or dam, which is on the property, and from which the water is drawnto water their garden and trees. Preferring to not walk along the roads which did not have foot-paths, each day I made it my business to enjoy the dam and its environs by briskly walking around it several times. I am not sure of the distance covered, but found that I could circumnavigate it at least 16 times in an hour.


We visited several pot-lucks as we toured the local district informing those who attended of my up and coming lecture.
















All of them were held in delightful garden settings, and although the sun was shining, the weather was still quite cool.




On my last day, James, Jera, and I hiked up a nearby hill to their home which provided an extensive panoramic view of the surrounding country-side. From memory, I believe it took us just over an hour to reach the top-most point.





As can be seen, the country, without water, is quite dry with low lying bushy cover. When water is supplied it blooms, growing a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including some sub-tropical ones.


I for one, am eternally grateful to James and Jera for inviting into their home and giving me the opportunity of sharing their thoughts, feelings and dreams, with me.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Houston, Texas


After attending the church service, followed by the pot-luck luncheon in Hot Springs, Janis, Her sister Sheila, and I set off to travel to Houston, to eventually arrive at our host Anna's and her husband Eric's. Their home is in what I would term as an exquisite setting for an urban home, called most appropriately Woodlands.




The generosity of Anna and Eric in hosting our annual gatherings, with the amount of time and energy involved, is indeed most generous. And all who are involved are truly thankful for their kindness in enabling it to ocur. Thank you Anna and Eric.





As with most of my lectures, those in Houston were no exception, with most commencing with a pot-luck meal.






A wide range of fruits and vegetables were available to us through farmers markets with much of the produce coming from Mexico. The range, and quality available, in my opinion, was far greater, and better than in the local super markets.





This is the venue for one of the lectures at a public library in the city of Houston. It was very well set up with overhead projector, and other facilities, etc.






Not all was work. One of the days we took the opportunity of enjoying the sunshine and having a walk and a picnic lunch on the river bank. The river is an artificial one running through the city centre, and has been very tastefully landscaped with the surounding area being a most pleasant and attractive environment.



Even though it was an artificial environment, the tortoises had made their homes there, and fish were also evident.






Mamiko is an old friend of many years standing who is an author and translator living in Houston, and travelling frequently to Japan to give lectures on Natural Hygiene, and promote her books. She is also host to the local Natural Hygiene Society, which it is my privilege to address each year.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

On our way back to Wilmington to catch the Amtrak train back to New York, and stay overnight, prior to flying out to Hot Springs, the next piece of drama occurred. We had left Chestertown with adequate time, as we had thought, given the usual traffic conditions during the late morning, to arrival in a comfortable time. When, lo and behold, we experienced a major traffic hold up on the freeway, with bumper to bumper traffic crawling along, at a stop-start pace. Needless to say the time for the departure of the train began to creep up very quickly, and it almost seemed at one stage that we just might not make it. As with all cliff hanging adventures in the films, we just made it, with minutes to spare.

The hotel which I was booked into in Manhattan, New York, was so new that even the taxi driver commented on the fact that it was the first time that he had been there and had not known of it previously. I found it on the internet. It would appear that many others had too, as it seemed to be extremely busy with guests coming and going. The staff also appeared to be still learning how it all functioned.

Previously I have stayed at a small boutique hotel near Chinatown, which was well situated for my purposes, except that there was no lift. And dragging one's luggage up and down steep flights of stairs was a bit of a problem, given that mine always tends to be in the overweight category. So this new venue with its lift, was more than acceptable.

The flight to Arkansas was un-eventful, with my host Janis' husband awaiting me to transport me to their delightful home in a most beautiful semi-rural setting, where I was most graciously received for the one night I was to spend there, deliver a lecture, and then drive eight hours or so to Houston in Texas.





Here are some of the enthusiastic group that attended my lecture in Hot Springs.






The building on the left is the new church and the one on the right the 100+ year, old one. And it was in the old one that we attended a service on the Sunday morning prior to to driving to Houston. This was a most delightful experience with all singing being acapella. It was followed by a pot-luck luncheon which was a wonderful way, so I felt, to round out a most pleasant and happy experience. I sincerely thank Janis, her husband, and family for giving me the opportunity of sharing this experience and time with them.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Chestertown, Maryland


By taking an early morning flight to NY, it enabled me to then catch the Amtrak train to Wilmington where my friend and host Wayne was awaiting my arrival to transport me the hour and a half or so's drive to Chestertown.

This photo shows Wayne(tallest) with his partner(no not the dog), and some of the others whom I met and attended my lecture during my last visit, and who kindly came again this time.

Wayne stayed on the farm some 30 odd years ago, and we have remained friends ever since. He is the Inn keeper of the White Swan Tavern, an historical landmark in Chestertown.










I lifted the following description from their website:

History of the Inn

The White Swan Tavern has been a familiar landmark in Chestertown since pre-Revolutionary War days. Not far from the great Eastern cities, it is an unexpectedly quiet, elegant place nestled in the history of Maryland's Eastern Shore. The White Swan is for those who treasure serene streets, birdsong mornings, impeccable service, and the grace of New World Tradition.
White Swan photo
The restoration of the White Swan Tavern began in 1978 with an archeological dig. Evidence uncovered indicated that the site was used prior to 1733 as a tannery, operated by the shoemaker of Chestertown, John Lovegrove. His one-room dwelling, now converted into one of our six period guest rooms as the Lovegrove Kitchen, was the first building constructed on the lot.

Joseph Nicholson purchased the property from Lovegrove in 1733, and built his home on the location which comprises the front portion of the present structure. As a member of the Committee of Correspondence, Nicholson had a very real role in the revolution and emergence of the young Republic. He was influential in the founding of Chestertown's Washington College in 1782, the tenth oldest liberal arts college in the nation.

In 1793, the property passed to John Bordley, who enlarged the residence to accommodate the demands of tavern use. The charm of the present structure is due largely to Bordley's efforts.

Between 1803 and 1853, the property was operated as a tavern by various owners and innkeepers, the most notable of whom was the Reverend William H. Wilmer, then pastor of St. Paul's church, Alexandria, Virginia. The Reverend Wilmer was also the rector of Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia and president of the College of William & Mary.

"...[T]he best tavern in town" was up for sale in 1853, and purchased by Thomas W. Eliason, a merchant in everything from clothing to lumber.

In 1978, the property was impeccably restored to its 1793 appearance in Bordley's time, with one room devoted to the display of many artifacts found on the site. During the entire Artifacts photo process of restoration, the owners acquired pieces of furniture, both antique and reproduction, which they thought appropriate to the building. The two front rooms were furnished using the two known historic inventories as guides. The remainder of the building was furnished with the ideals of simplicity and comfort in mind.

Through painstaking analysis, the original paint color was reproduced for the wall paneling and trim. Even the contemporary stoneware dishes were modeled on a set of early chargers recovered from the tavern site. The rooms are named after the various owners of this historic building.

In March of 1981, after three years and five months preparation, The White Swan Tavern opened its doors to the public again. Today the tavern operates as a bed and breakfast, offering accommodations and afternoon tea, as well as amenities for small conferences, weddings, and receptions. Just as it was described in the 18th century, the White Swan remains "a comfortable... Public House... with every attention given to render comfort and pleasure to such as favor it with their patronage."

Contact the White Swan for more information.

Chestertown was founded in 1706 as a trading town and is situated on the banks of the Chester River. It has remained little changed for the last two hundred years.


Most of the traffic passing through Chestertown these days is by road, and even this is quite limited, it not being situated on any of the main highways. And the river traffic as almost non-existent, with most being of a holiday or private nature.




Around the older part of the town, there are to be seen many older and elegant homes of a time long past






These are a couple of old claboard houses which have been boarded up awaiting restoration.







This large old building which was originally a corn milll is being restored as a modern office complex. Quite a challenge and very innovatively done


This old barn has been fully restored, and with the old carriages as a part of it, is now the museum.












Washington College, established in 1782 on a very beautiful campus is on the outskirts of the old town, and walking past it is just like taking a gigantic step in time, from the 18th century, into the 21st century. Quite a contrast, as I am sure you are well aware, and, if not, almost a shock to the psyche. The first is quiet and gentle, full of fragrance, and what I would describe as old world friendliness.

The latter is brash and harsh, filled with noise and disruption and lack of harmony

Cleveland


From Toledo I continued on my westward journey to Cleveland and the friendly presence and home of Helen and John who were my most gracious hosts. They lived in a very beautiful rural setting of small acreage holdings in the midst of large corn growing farms. I could not have chosen amore harmonious environment if I had tried.



Their lovingly tended organic garden was a delight to see, and one which I would have been truly proud to have in my back-yard.





Whenever possible advantage was taken of the sunny days to eat outside sitting on the ground to do so. Thus at the same time gaining the benefit of the terrestial radiations, and the solar radiations to enhance those of the (mostly), home, and organically grown food being consumed.




Still in use are some of the old barns and silos for the storing of the corn harvested on the surrounding farms.





During my time with Helen and John we were fortunate to be able to find the time in between my lectures to attend a concert by the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and Choir.






Upon our arrival we thought there would only be a few attending, not realising that we in fact were quite early and were observing a pre-presentation rehearsal. By the time that the actual concert commenced, there was not a spare seat in the auditorium.

Thank you Helen and John.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Toledo

And thence to Toledo. As I much prefer to travel overland than by air, and finding that I could do so by train without it taking up too much time, as well as being at an acceptable time, travelled from Chicago to Toledo by Amtrak. I left Chicago in the early evening around 7pm and arrived in Toledo at 11.30pm local time. In fact I had not allowed for the time change and it was actually 10.30pm Chicago time, which resulted in my thinking we had another hour to travel, when in actuality we had arrived. And my friend Bob, was there to meet me as promised.

Although Bob lived within the local urban area, it almost was semi-rural, being surounded by large treed and grassed areas, adjacent to the local University. It enabled him also to have an area for the growing of his own vegetables which, with the winter having just passed, was still in its very early stages, and not yet fully producing.


On each of the days that I was with Bob, he had most graciously arranged a lecture for me in the surrounding towns. And of course there always are a few glitches that occur with such an undertaking, especially when the lectures include PowerPoint presentations, which mine did. On one occasion we found that the only method available was through a DVD player and TV. With the assitance of Bob's expertise in these matters were able to do this after he had spent a number of hours transferring my lecture to a compatable DVD.

Most if not all, the lectures commenced with a pot-luck, which, for those not in the know, consists of each person bringing a plate of their favourite raw food dish which every-one then savours. A really great idea for spreading different methods, and thoughts on food preparation, as well as not costing an arm and a leg for any-one.




The usual request was that I pose with the proferred food to prove that at least I had been there.






And so it continued through the in the seven or so presentations that I made in the surrounding townships of Toledo.









By now you must be heartily tired of viewing pot-lucks.








Eventually the time came when I must again move on, and for those who can recall the delightful technicolour travelogues of Fitzpatrick which always ended with the ship sailing into the sunset and the spoken words" Once again we say farewell to the fine city of (name of city)." Which in this instance would be Toledo. And to wish me a fond farewell and safe journey, was Bob and his parents.

I heartily enjoyed the very brief time I was able to spend with Bob's parents, and feel greatly blessed for having the opportunity of meeting with them. And I do sincerely thank you Bob for all the great effort you put into making such a success of my visit to Toledo.