Happy Halloween! I will be busy teaching on Tuesday and wanted to wish everyone a happy Halloween today. The top image is the scarecrow sculpture in our yard. I made the scarecrow last year from logs in our yard, and we dressed it up for the season. The other image is from our trip to Rail Explorers in Rhode Island.
I last visited Madame Sherri’s castle about three years ago. It is the stone foundation of the former summer home of a New York designer. She used to throw lavish parties. It was built in the 1930s and burned down in the early 1960s. The “castle” is located in a beautiful but remote corner of New Hampshire near the Vermont and Massachusetts border. I am not sure how much longer it will be intact. The arch has degraded considerably since my last visit. Last time, we took turns going to the top. Now, I am not sure it would be safe.
This is the view of Narragansett Bay from Green Animals in Portsmouth, RI.
While in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, we also visited Green Animals Topiary Garden. It is reputed to be the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States. It has a number of sculpted plants and wonderful flowerbeds all set on Narragansett Bay. It is part of a former estate and is now managed by the same group that manages many of the Newport mansions. Note: The rabbit was quite real.
Last week, we went with friends to Rail Explorers in Portsmouth Rhode Island. They give you the opportunity to pedal quadricycles along closed rail tracks. They have locations in three states. Rhode Island is the closest and also offers ocean views along part of the trail. After three miles, you stop and get out for a break. While you do, the staff uses a hydraulic turntable to turn the quadricycles around for your journey back. Of course, the tracks were all decorated for Halloween.
Last weekend, we took advantage of my having four days off from teaching to have a quick vacation to Montreal. It was a fast vacation but we savored it because it was our first time away together in exactly two years. We focused more on time together rather than on making images or seeing any special sights. We know the city well and enjoyed some old favorites as well as exploring a bit of Griffintown. Please excuse the less than sharp quality of some of these images; they were made with my iPhone.
While taking pictures along the Charles River near Harvard University, this tour boat passed by adding a nice element the shot.
This image was made at Harvard University. My friend suggested this angle and it was a great suggestion.
