SUCCULENT SURPRISE

  I received a couple of succulents as a wedding "favor" this past April (thank you Heather!)

In tiny little plastic pots they were as cute as can be - but I have to admit I had no idea what to do with them. Ever the optimist, I kept them in a sunny window and hoped they would survive. Summer hit us here in southeastern New England with scorching heat and high humidity, and then stayed and then stayed some more.  By the end of June I knew it was time to send these little guys outdoors.  They certainly weren't making any progress inside. There was no new growth that I could detect,  if anything, they seemed to be drying up, looking pale, and getting smaller.
I found a small, relatively shallow window box buried among the varied items in the garage where I keep gardening supplies and using an old African Violet soil mix I had (that perhaps was 4 or 5 years old) I gave them a new home on the back porch. Facing northeast, this spot gets about 8 hours of sun daily and is protected from any strong winds, although there was little if any of that happening during this heat wave we've been having. Then I literally forgot about them - the box sat on the outside overhang of the porch floor in an area not normally noticed.  My gardening time was mostly spent tending potted herbs, growing vegetables and weeding perennial beds.

Fast forward 4 weeks and wow, was I surprised!

One day I noticed how their colors appeared so very vibrant and the individual pieces (are they called leaves??) looked full, healthy and so much larger than before. One was even putting out baby plants on runners....little clones!  I had planted them about 5 inches apart and now they had completely filled in those empty spaces!

So I do some research and discover that my "neglect" was exactly what they needed.

The poor soil and non-watering through hot spells provided the perfect environment for these little gems.  Whether kismet or just plain luck who knows, but I love when it happens.  Nature is a wondrous thing and continues to overwhelm me with her wide range of beauty.

I'm not letting go of these little treasures, so now I must find a way to transition them back indoors when the season ends.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Adams National Historic Park

We recently enjoyed a visit to the birth place of John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams our 2nd and 6th Presidents.  The two houses are still on their original foundations just steps from one another in Quincy, MA about 7 miles south of Boston (Quincy was originally part of the city of Braintree). The dwellings and surrounding land are part of our National Park System.  Admission is $10 for those aged 17 and up and includes all buildings, grounds, and transportation.  They do recognize National Park passes which is what we used.  (note that groups of 8 or more need to call ahead to make reservations).

The tour starts from the Visitor Center located in The Galleria at President's Place, 1250 Hancock St, Quincy. Convenient parking is available in a garage behind but connected to this building.  They graciously validate your parking stub at the same desk you purchase tickets.





We viewed the informational history film (approx 15 minutes, looped so always playing) then browsed their book/souvenir store before boarding the trolley that would transport us directly to the site, just minutes away.

John Adams' father, "Deacon John", was a farmer and part time shoemaker. The oldest part of his house, the 2nd President's birthplace, was built about 1681 with additions done in the early 1700's.  A park guide escorted our small group through these rooms giving forewarning of low door frames and slanted floorboards while pointing out its many interesting architectural features. He proved both knowledgeable and entertaining when discussing societal nuances of the time and sharing biographical information of the colonial inhabitants and time period.  This was especially true of the next door home of John and Abigail Adams.

We have access to both personal accounts of their everyday colonial life and informative descriptions of Revolutionary era events by reading the more than 1000 letters they wrote to each other.  The many biographies written about this extraordinary couple are fascinating reads but it is the collections of their letters that will amaze and enchant the reader.  I encourage you to google quotes from Abigail's letters...you'll be searching out more from this intuitive forward thinking woman of centuries ago.

Outside across the lawn we watched a group of schoolchildren being instructed on how to carry muskets then doing marching drills under the tutelage of a colonial "redcoat" officer as part of their field trip to this historical site.

A trolley then took us to our next stop on the tour - Peace Field - the working farm/country estate John and Abigail owned after the war, (named "in commemoration of the peace which I assisted in making in 1783..." per John Adams).  It is located just 1 mile from their original farm house and encompassed a total of 75 acres when originally purchased in 1787.

this is the only pic I took, all others were found on the internet

The gardens and plantings around the house are incredibly beautiful and still include some of the original specimens  (lush rose bushes, scented lilacs, majestic trees, and low privet hedges are still thriving, most brought over from Europe during his time as ambassador). There is a monumental wisteria vine seen here growing up the chimney whose gnarled and twisted stem is thicker than a man's arm. Tradition tells us that Abigail planted it before her death in 1818.  It still blooms yearly, as do the White York roses Abigail planted in 1788.

The inside is amazing, so genteel and elegant, but warm and inviting for all its age.  The furniture is original to the house, most used by 4 generations of Adams'.

So many great paintings and family portraits adorn the walls (most are copies as the originals are in museums).  Abigail's Waterford crystal, silver services, and dinnerware she purchased from various countries are some of the incredible collections also on display.






We especially enjoyed being inside the spectacular stone library, built in 1870 beside the house. It houses over 14,000 thousand books, personal papers of the 2 presidents and John Adams' copy of George Washington's farewell address.

 Here is where they also display the Mendi Bible, which was given by the Mendi captives in thanks for their freedom to John Quincy Adams after he had successfully defended them before the United States Supreme Court in 1841 (this story is told in the movie Armistad, directed by Stephen Spielberg).

I hope you can make the visit if you're in the Boston area.  Visit their web site for special events (the National Park Service site).  I also highly recommend the John Adams miniseries (2008) based on the excellent David McCullough book.  I believe it is available through YouTube, Amazon, and probably other streaming venues.

loving history,

especially of the American Colonial times,
and when it's in my own backyard.

this 1770 Matthew Pratt (colonial era painter) rendering of Lucy Randolph Burwell

shows a tiara of colonial times

Adams National Historic Park

We recently enjoyed a visit to the birth place of John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams our 2nd and 6th Presidents.  The two houses are still on their original foundations just steps from one another in Quincy, MA about 7 miles south of Boston (Quincy was originally part of the city of Braintree). The dwellings and surrounding land are part of our National Park System.  Admission is $10 for those aged 17 and up and includes all buildings, grounds, and transportation.  They do recognize National Park passes which is what we used.  (note that groups of 8 or more need to call ahead to make reservations).

The tour starts from the Visitor Center located in The Galleria at President's Place, 1250 Hancock St, Quincy. Convenient parking is available in a garage behind but connected to this building.  They graciously validate your parking stub at the same desk you purchase tickets.





We viewed the informational history film (approx 15 minutes, looped so always playing) then browsed their book/souvenir store before boarding the trolley that would transport us directly to the site, just minutes away.

John Adams' father, "Deacon John", was a farmer and part time shoemaker. The oldest part of his house, the 2nd President's birthplace, was built about 1681 with additions done in the early 1700's.  A park guide escorted our small group through these rooms giving forewarning of low door frames and slanted floorboards while pointing out its many interesting architectural features. He proved both knowledgeable and entertaining when discussing societal nuances of the time and sharing biographical information of the colonial inhabitants and time period.  This was especially true of the next door home of John and Abigail Adams.

We have access to both personal accounts of their everyday colonial life and informative descriptions of Revolutionary era events by reading the more than 1000 letters they wrote to each other.  The many biographies written about this extraordinary couple are fascinating reads but it is the collections of their letters that will amaze and enchant the reader.  I encourage you to google quotes from Abigail's letters...you'll be searching out more from this intuitive forward thinking woman of centuries ago.

Outside across the lawn we watched a group of schoolchildren being instructed on how to carry muskets then doing marching drills under the tutelage of a colonial "redcoat" officer as part of their field trip to this historical site.

A trolley then took us to our next stop on the tour - Peace Field - the working farm/country estate John and Abigail owned after the war, (named "in commemoration of the peace which I assisted in making in 1783..." per John Adams).  It is located just 1 mile from their original farm house and encompassed a total of 75 acres when originally purchased in 1787.

this is the only pic I took, all others were found on the internet

The gardens and plantings around the house are incredibly beautiful and still include some of the original specimens  (lush rose bushes, scented lilacs, majestic trees, and low privet hedges are still thriving, most brought over from Europe during his time as ambassador). There is a monumental wisteria vine seen here growing up the chimney whose gnarled and twisted stem is thicker than a man's arm. Tradition tells us that Abigail planted it before her death in 1818.  It still blooms yearly, as do the White York roses Abigail planted in 1788.

The inside is amazing, so genteel and elegant, but warm and inviting for all its age.  The furniture is original to the house, most used by 4 generations of Adams'.

So many great paintings and family portraits adorn the walls (most are copies as the originals are in museums).  Abigail's Waterford crystal, silver services, and dinnerware she purchased from various countries are some of the incredible collections also on display.






We especially enjoyed being inside the spectacular stone library, built in 1870 beside the house. It houses over 14,000 thousand books, personal papers of the 2 presidents and John Adams' copy of George Washington's farewell address.

 Here is where they also display the Mendi Bible, which was given by the Mendi captives in thanks for their freedom to John Quincy Adams after he had successfully defended them before the United States Supreme Court in 1841 (this story is told in the movie Armistad, directed by Stephen Spielberg).

I hope you can make the visit if you're in the Boston area.  Visit their web site for special events (the National Park Service site).  I also highly recommend the John Adams miniseries (2008) based on the excellent David McCullough book.  I believe it is available through YouTube, Amazon, and probably other streaming venues.

loving history,

especially of the American Colonial times,
and when it's in my own backyard.

this 1770 Matthew Pratt (colonial era painter) rendering of Lucy Randolph Burwell

shows a tiara 

Patron bottles repurposed

These bottles are made to be sturdy.

  Just pick one up - it's heft is readily felt.  Definitely not fragile or easily tipped.  Its glass is thick, reminding me of the thick, bubble glass of old-fashioned tile blocks used to build designer half walls.  The thick cork on top makes a super secure stopper plus adds to the whole design.

Classy enough that lots of people have been reluctant

to just toss it in the trash or recycle bin when empty.

 A few years ago the company even sponsored a contest - with a $10,000 prize going to the best re-purposed design of their empties.

And if you don't imbibe, no problem, E-bay and Etsy have many sellers of different sized Patron bottles.  

Or, maybe you know someone who could send one or two your way.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

a pretty vase 

swirl some craft paint around inside
 to create an artistic design

embellished

store some colorful beans or rice and
 place on open kitchen shelf or counter

to hold bath salts
 or homemade body scrubs

with artsy decoration

add indelible scrip to the outside

for oil with herbs, like rosemary and garlic

transfer mouthwash for display

a bright display of fairy lights

salt and pepper?

a candle holder,
 stable and centerpiece worthy

a homemade citronella candle/tiki torch
for summer nights

the smaller ones
to serve up fruity drinks
ENJOY&
HAVE FUN !

a bank to save
 for that special occasion