Before I get into our recent outings, I wanted to share a photo of Cleo and Bella that I took yesterday. Bella (the white one) is the alpha of the two and also the friendliest with humans. I took this mid-cleaning session with the 2 of them.
Cleo and Bella
Yesterday and today, Bob and I have walked on the Westchester River Walk along the Hudson River. Yesterday, we were down there to check out a rec center that Bob is thinking of joining and then we headed into downtown for a community block party that was held yesterday afternoon. Today, we continued on along the Hudson into the village of Sleepy Hollow.
A rail line, one that could take us south into NYC or north to other communities along the Hudson, lies between the house and the Hudson River, so there are only a couple of places where we can cross the railroad tracks to get close to the river. One goes through a small train station.
The crossing over the railroad tracks at the train stationLooking back at the train station as we crossed the tracksA map and sign providing information about the path
The sign also provides some historical information on Tarrytown. What is now Tarrytown was first settled by the Weckquaesgeek American Indians. Dutch settlers arrived in the early 1600s, and the village was incorporated in 1670. On September 23, 1780, during the Revolutionary War, British Major John Andre was captured at what is now Patriots Park in Tarrytown (site of their weekly farmers market that we hope to get to). Andre, acting as Benedict Arnold’s co-conspirator was caught carrying plans of American defenses at West Point.
A memorial plaque along the waterfront The closest shot of the Mario Cuomo bridge from a viewing platform along the River WalkA view of the River Walk as we walk north towards Sleepy HollowOne of many new residential buildings along the River WalkDowntown Tarrytown yesterday at the small community block party.
Today, we continued along the River Walk.
A memorial in a small waterfront park for John Horan, a resident of Tarrytown, who at 23, was the youngest resident to be killed at Pearl Harbor.A statue of Margaret Horan, John’s mother, as a tribute to all Gold Star MothersMore new residential buildings along a portion of the River Walk in Sleepy Hollow named for Chick Galella, a lifelong Sleepy Hollow resident and Pearl Harbor survivor A gazebo on the River WalkA small plaza and sitting areaLooking across the Hudson River to Nyack, NYThe Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse, which was once 1/2 mile off shore and warned boats of the dangerous shoals along the east side of the Hudson.Part of a long, painted Wishing Wall along the River Walk in Sleepy Hollow. The famed headless horseman is holding the flags representing the nationalities of the town’s residents as of the 2000 census.Philipsburg Manor a few blocks from the downtown area. This was closed today but is a restored 18th century living history museum that was a colonial era trading and milling center.A fire station with a stained glass window of the headless horseman A colorful mural along the main downtown street in Sleepy Hollow
Bob and I have had a chill couple of days settling into the new house. The house is situated right off of Broadway, one of the main streets through town and very close to the small downtown, rail station, and with views of the Hudson River and the Mario Cuomo Bridge, which is lit up at night.
Daytime view of the bridge through the trees from the top floor (balcony off main bedroom) of the houseLooking away from the bridge and towards the downtownLast night’s view of the bridgeAn amazing sunset!Bella being even more chill than us yesterday
Today we explored the downtown area a bit more, basically Main Street off of Broadway before stopping into a local market to pick up a few items.
What do we know about Tarrytown, New York? Very little at this point, although I’m about to do some quick online research, but one thing you can’t fail to pick up on when you’re in the area is the connection to Washington Irving. Tarrytown lies just south of the community of Sleepy Hollow, and our house is only a couple of blocks from Washington Irving School. Our homeowners tell us that the area is pretty rabid about Halloween. You are definitely expected to decorate.
Wikipedia tells me that Irving was born in 1783 in Manhattan and died in 1859 here in Tarrytown. He is fittingly buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. In addition to writing short stories such as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which is how I’m familiar with him, he also wrote a number of biographies (including one of George Washington) and served as Ambassador to Spain in the 1840s. Hopefully, we will continue to learn more about the area during our stay.
A map of all of the places to explore in Sleepy Hollow CountryWashington Irving School, the top of which we can see from the houseChrist Church, built in 1837, where Irving served as a vestryman and wardenWestchester County BankTarrytown Music Hall, the pride of Main Street
This music hall was built in 1885, which makes it the oldest operating theater in Westchester County. It has 843 seats and hosts stand-up comedy, musical acts, and films. The night we arrived, Patton Oswald was playing. We are hoping to get tickets to something while we’re here.
More buildings on Main Street. The middle building houses Mint, a Michelin recognized restaurant where we ate with the homeowners on Thursday night.Two more restaurants on Main StreetBasque, a Spanish restaurant we have our eyes on for one of our birthday celebrations that we’ll have while we’re hereA hardware store in a nice looking older building A Tarrytown mural on a downtown business Cute retail on MainThe Second Reformed Church, erected in 1837 as the South Church of Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. It became a separate congregation in 1851.The local post office A mural on the downtown marketThe Tapp keeping the Halloween theme going year round
As a quick update on my foot injury. The swelling has gone down quite a bit, and it was feeling much better yesterday after trying to stay off of it and icing it on and off, elevating it, etc. This morning it was pretty painful again during our walk, so we headed to an urgent care center just to have it assessed. No fracture or broken bones, so just have to keep icing, blah, blah, blah. I have ordered a walking boot to help keep me mobile through the recovery.
Yesterday was one of the very few times that Bob and I ended one housesit and began another on the same day, and based on my behavior, maybe it’s not something we should do often.
We left Newtown, Pennsylvania at 11:00 am, and prior to departure, as per usual, we were doing our last bits of cleaning, taking out trash, etc. While I was vacuuming the floor on the main level yesterday, I managed to hit my right food hard against the corner of a wall and then again against the vacuum. It now looks like this.
It was very tough to walk on it yesterday, but today it feels much better but looks worse. I’m trying to take it easy today and then see how it feels tomorrow to see whether I need to get it x-rayed or not.
The 2.5 hour drive got us into Tarrytown, New York, at about 1:30, but we weren’t due at the homeowners until 4:30, so we checked out a couple of local gyms, had a picnic lunch in a park, and visited the local library before heading to the new house.
Being welcomed into New Jersey shortly after leaving the Pennsylvania housesitCrossing the Hudson River into Tarrytown over the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Our homeowners have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and fish. However, they are taking the dogs with them on their 2 month cross-country driving vacation. We will be caring for their adorable cats — Bella and Cleo (short for Cleopatra) and a few small fish in their aquarium.
The curious Cleo with soft squeaky noises and a soft purrBella in a window cat seat in front of a seductive sculpture.
After a thorough walk through of the pet responsibilities, home, and small yard, they treated us to dinner at a local restaurant downtown, about a 10 minute walk from the house. They also showed us a great walking/running path on the way back. They left about 6 this morning.
We are looking forward to exploring Tarrytown and the surrounding area — hopefully both of us on 2 good feet!
Our current housesit is in an area of the country that is rich with places that have great significance in the formation of this country. We visited one of those sites today — Washington Crossing Historic Park. This park was founded in 1917 to preserve the site of George Washington and his troops’ crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776. The park has historical buildings, walking paths, picnic pavilions, and hosts special events and reenactments. It is free to visit.
The entrance of the park, with the side flags representing the states that were in existence at the time of the war as well as Betsy Ross’ flag.A statue of George Washington with a bronze plate of the depiction of his crossing of the Delaware.The Visitors CenterA plaque immediately inside the entrance to the Visitors CenterThe auditorium where we watched a short film about the crossing— after 3 men (one in Revolutionary War garb) worked on a computer to get the film to play.
The short version of the crossing and its importance is that we (those supporting independence) were losing the war. We were outnumbered, outgunned, and Washington’s campaign in New York had not gone well. By early December 1776, he and his troops had retreated across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. With critical foresight, he ordered all boats moored along the Delaware moved to the Pennsylvania side of the River so the enemy couldn’t cross.
Desperate for a victory, he decided to attempt crossing the Delaware River once again to attack Hessian (mercenary troops from Germany supporting the British) troops at Trenton. He led the troops in an overnight crossing, which took 11 hours for the boats to get all 2,400 troops and their equipment across in the icy conditions. They then had another 8 hour march to Trenton through snow and sleet. They were expecting to be supported by 2 additional brigades, but those were unable to cross the river. Even so, Washington’s troops achieved a resounding victory as well as 2 more within 10 days time, helping to turn the tide and recruit and retain more troops for the long fight.
In addition to the film, there was an exhibit that provided a good overview of the battle as well as the hardships endured by the soldiers, who were actually much more likely to die from disease, infection, or lack of adequate medical attention than from a gunshot.
The start of the exhibit—what I just said above, but more succinctly and with an illustration
After going through the exhibit, we walked outside to view the various historical buildings in the park.
The back of the Visitor Center and the monument to the crossing A view of the Delaware RiverMcConkey’s Ferry Inn. The inn served as a guard post for the Continental Army’s encampment in Bucks County in December 1776. It is the only original structure in the park (though additions were made later) that was on site at the time of the crossing.Taylorsville General Store, dated from 1828, it also served as a post office.Mahlon Taylor House, built around 1817, it was the home of Mahlon Taylor, one of the founders of Taylorsville and the owner of the general store above.Frye House, built circa 1828-1830 by the Taylor family for a blacksmith A bridge across the Delaware River near the parkA drawing of the crossing and subsequent battle A 20th century boat barn, where they maintain the replicas of the Durham boats that were used in the crossing for their size and sturdiness. Hibbs House, built between 1828 and 1830 in Taylorsville and leased out as a tenant house for craftsmen
Today is our last full day at this housesit. Tomorrow we leave about midday and head immediately to our next housesit in New York.
Before our homeowners left, they provided us with a list of places to visit, restaurants to eat at, etc. Today, Bob and I visited two of the places they recommended. Both were areas with lots of stores, hotels/inns, and restaurants in scenic settings, and we were happy to have visited both when the crowds were minimal.
The first stop was Peddler’s Village, about a 25 minute drive from the house. it is located in Lahaina, Pennsylvania, in Buck’s County (like Newtown). It consists of a number of blocks of 18th century style shops surrounded by brick pathways, pretty landscaping, and offering family entertainment and special events. While we were there, we got to enjoy their American Road Trip themed sand sculptures as well as Bucks Fever Art and Sculpture competition.
A sign at one of the many parking lots for Peddler’s Village
We started our visit in the Visitors Center where they were displaying the results of the art competition.
A winning sculpture, “Show Day” by Holly Layman out of recycled cardboard. It can be yours for $20,000.One of the paintings, “Derby Street,” by Jennifer Troulis, much more affordable at a little under $2,000.
Below are some of the pics I took of the shops and grounds. We enjoyed poking through a few stores, and even made a purchase for our next homeowners, but we enjoyed the sand art most of all.
This was a colorful pond and backyard store.I liked the name of this shop, though we didn’t go in.Some of the nice landscaping A cute entrance to a pub More nice landscaping
Because the theme of the sand art exhibit was American Road Trip, there were sculptures representing the different regions of the country, although I think Hawaii was neglected.
Ready for a road tripAmerican Northeast — This side and the other side below showcase the region of the country where the USA story began and highlight places and events that depict liberty, revolution, and reinvention.The American Southwest depicts the part of the country that’s a land of cowboys, roadside legends, oil booms, and desert blooms.The Midwest Region (above and below) depicts America’s heartland and gateway to the west, where golden fields feed the world.The Northwest captures Hollywood’s dream factories, Silicon Valley’s innovative hubs, misty coastlines, and volcanic summits.The American Southeast (above and below) captures the home of American jazz and rock and roll as well as marshy environments and Georgia peaches.
After our perusal of Peddler’s Village, we drove about 10 minutes to another small Bucks County town — New Hope— to check out their shopping area that lies between the Delaware River and an old canal and tow path. New Hope lies on the very edge of Pennsylvania, so we walked out onto the bridge across the Delaware River to straddle the state line between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The building which served as the Town Hall of New Hope from 1839 – 1973. It also housed the police department and jail.Looking across Aquetong Creek to a theater and restaurant The Georgian style Parry Mansion constructed of Bucks County Fieldstone. It was built in the 1700s for Benjamin and Jane Paxton Parry, the first of five generations of Parrys to live here.Art in a park along the Delaware River — “More Jelly Fish” by John Mathew’sThe bridge across the Delaware River connecting New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New JerseyA foot in each stateDittoInside the pretty Ferry Market. The original name of the town was Cornell’s Ferry.This steel weathervane was created in the 1820s for the nearby Logan Inn. It was created in honor of Lenin-Lenape Chief Wingohocking. According to folklore, the Chief exchanged names with James Logan, thus Indian Logan.Looking down on the canal and canal tow path that runs through part of New Hope.
Bob and I are currently in Newtown, Pennsylvania, caring for the elderly and anxious but adorable Brooklyn. We will be here until about mid-day Thursday when we head to New York to start a 2 month sit. Brooklyn is a pacer. She gets her steps in circling the house, going up and down stairs and out and in the dog door until she feels comfortable with everything or wears herself out. We felt bad for her yesterday because she was asleep when her humans left and except for when we walked her or she was eating, she seemed to be constantly looking for the homeowners.
However, she slept pretty well last night and has even showed a bit of playfulness today when we came back from our short excursion, so hopefully she isn’t too stressed.
Brooklyn keeping close to Bob
The current housesit is in Newtown, Pennsylvania, for which there is both a borough and a township. Not sure which one the house is in. They both are part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area and are located in Bucks County. The heritage districts of each abut each other, and we walked a portion of each this morning.
The land for Newtown was purchased by William Penn in 1682. He named the area New Towne, which has become Newtown, and Newtown was the county seat of Bucks County until 1813. The borough incorporated as a borough in 1838, separating from the township.
It was just a 5 minute drive into the heritage area from the house but across some busy streets. We found the self-guided map online, chose our route, and read the historical markers as we found them. While we were walking through the historical district, it was filled with lots of retail, markets, cafes, banks, etc. It is definitely a vibrant area.
We started our walk in Newtown Borough.
The first intersection we walked up to. Liked the old clock with the newer store across the street.The Half-Moon Inn, also known as the Court Inn. The oldest part of the building was built in 1733. The inn was popular during court sessions when Newtown was the county seat.This is just a house that we liked the look of along the route.Paxton Hall, which opened in 1900 as an adult care home for Quakers.Directly across the street from Paxton Hall was the 3rd location of the Newtown Library Company, which was formed in 1760 and is the 3rd oldest private library in Pennsylvania.The home of Edward Hicks (1780-1849), a Quaker minister, sign painter, and artist, most famous for over 60 versions of his “Peaceable Kingdom” paintings.The sign here noted that each of the buildings on the four corners of this intersection represent four centuries of architecture. The building at the back of this structure was a house built in 1797 by Henry Campbell.The Enterprise Building housed the publishing of the Newtown Enterprise newspaper. The first issue published here was on December 12, 1874. The newspaper began in 1868 and was published through the end of October 1970.The First National Bank and Trust Company of Newtown was first organized in 1864. This is the third building for it, which was built in 1928. It was built around a former building on the same site to ensure uninterrupted service.This building was finished in 1858 to accommodate the council chambers and lock-up for the borough of Newtown, which received approval to separate from Newtown Township in 1838.Newtown Theatre, dating back to 1831, is the oldest movie theater in the US, with the first movie being shown in 1906. Prior to showing movies, it provided live entertainment. The building was reconstructed in 1838 to provide larger facilities better designed for stage performances.
Bob and I moved into Newtown Township once we crossed Newtown Creek.
Not part of the heritage walk, La Stalia is a great Italian Market that we enjoyed perusing.In 1918, John Goodnoe purchased 78 acres including this parcel for his farm. In 1920, he established the Goodnoe Farm Dairy, from which he delivered fresh milk, eggs, butter, etc. through the 1960s.A look at portion of the main downtown street in the historic area of Newtown Township.
We saw two more historic buildings in the borough after we crossed back over Newtown Creek.
The current site of Carriage House Collection in the restored former home of the William Brooks family who purchased the lot in 1824.The Brick Hotel, which was built in 1763 as a 2-story brick residence by Amos Strickland. He hosted George Washington’s staff and captive Hessian soldiers in December 1776. The building was converted to a tavern in 1779 that became know as the Brick Hotel.
Yesterday Bob and I drove 3.5 hours from Canton, Ohio, to State College, Pennsylvania, otherwise known as “Happy Valley,” home to Penn State University. It was a beautiful day for a drive and an outing once we got there.
Leaving Canton under a bridge proclaiming it as the Home of the Football Hall of Fame
In both Canton and State College, we stayed at Hyatt Place Hotels, a new hotel membership that Bob has gotten us to go along with the Marriott and Wyndham memberships. The Hyatt Place Hotel in State College has residences on top of the hotel, a good workout facility, great breakfast, and retail options on the ground level including Target, Planet Fitness Gym, and a restaurant. It is also very close to the Penn State campus, so we highly recommend it.
Being greeted at the entrance level. The lobby and check-in is one floor up.Our room was on the 8th floor. This is the view of the Penn State football stadium from our room.A view of the downtown area from our room.
State College is one of 962 boroughs in Pennsylvania. Boroughs are smaller than cities, counties, and townships (they have both 1st class and 2nd class). State College is in Centre (how British!) County and has a population of a little over 40,000, making it the largest borough in Pennsylvania.
The Penn State mascot is the fictional Nittany Lion, named after a nearby mountain and originally coined in 1907 to seem fiercer than any other mascot at the time. Penn State competes in the Big 10 Conference, that currently has 18 schools, including Iowa and Wisconsin. So while we are unlikely to root for their sports teams, we were very impressed with their campus and the downtown area near campus.
Old Main building This obelisk on campus contains 281 stones arranged in natural geologic order. That makes my anal heart very happy.Originally cast in 1871, this bell hung in the Old Main building until 1930 when chimes were installed to ring the hours on campus. The restoration and this plaza were funded by a gift from the class of 2009.Schwab Auditorium, the first building on campus to be funded by a private donation. Bethlehem Steel Founder and Penn State Trustee Charles Schwab donated $150,000 for the building.A Carnegie Building, now used as a College for Communications. It was completed in 1904 with a gift from Dale Carnegie, a Penn State Trustee.Pattee and Paterno Library The College of Liberal Arts, with the names of philosophers and authors etched around the middle level of the buildingA sculpture of the Nittany Lion
Side note: We drove 3.25 hours today to Newtown, PA, to begin our new housesit, and the first thing we saw when we walked in was a framed photo of our homeowners with this statue. The husband is a Penn State alum.
A water tower on campusA clock placed in memoriam of the 9/11 attacks
One of our favorite parts of the campus was The Arboretum at Penn State. Opened in 2009, it is now a hub for community events and a popular garden destination. It includes 10 acres of botanic gardens and 340 acres of fields and woodlands for hiking, biking, and observing wildlife. It also is the location for one of the university’s art museums, the Palmer Museum of Art. The art museum was closed yesterday for Juneteenth, but we loved walking around some of the grounds.
Entering the arboretum from Park Avenue, across the street from the main university campus The Marsh Meadow Boardwalk Looking north across the marsh meadow to a pretty building off campus Margaret Enes Smith’s “Soaring Waters”Oasis Garden Lotus PoolFlowers in the Oasis GardenAnother garden alcoveThe Event LawnThe Palmer Museum of ArtThe view from the Overlook Pavilion “Santa Barbara Wedge, 1980-81,” Beverly Pepper. One of the sculptures along the sculpture walk by the art museum.
Since Penn State is a big university, there is a Graduate Hotel. We had to check it out even though we were staying elsewhere.
The pretty low-key entrance One of the very few nods to Penn State in the lobby. It was definitely one of our least favorite Graduate hotels that we’ve visited.
We had a great walk through with the homeowners today before they left with their adult daughter to head to the JFK airport for their flight to Italy. More on this housesit to come.
Bob and I left the very sweet Poppet and Broad Ripple, Indiana, this morning to head to Canton, Ohio, towards our next housesit in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Poppet was definitely the cat with the sweetest disposition that we have sat for and also the frailest. We had to give her medicated lotion twice a day in her ears, which she tolerated as it was always followed by a favorite treat. While deaf, she made some really cute noises to let you know she appreciated the ear scratches.
Poppet looking to see what’s upShe loves a good ear rub.Entering the state of Ohio on Interstate 70As a former 4-Her, I found this interesting. We continued on to Canton, however.
Canton, Ohio, is currently known (if it’s known at all) as the home of the National Football League Hall of Fame. That was not our destination today. Bob has been. The current cost is $50/person, and I can guarantee you that I would not have gotten that much enjoyment out of it.
Instead, Bob and I added to our count of presidential libraries (now 12) by going to the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum. President McKinley was the nation’s 25th president and was born in a small town north of Canton but lived and worked in Canton following college. He was assassinated in 1901 during his second term in office.
While we did learn some information about the president and his wife Ida, his memorial tomb and garden is impressive, it was the worst museum in terms of content and management that we have been to. It is run by the Stark County Historical Society, and the building that houses the museum (one room and a small alcove with chairs that shows a film on loop) shares space with Stark County history exhibits (multiple rooms), a planetarium, and some kind of dinosaur exhibit. We spent much less time there than we had imagined.
The sign outside the multi-use building The bust of President McKinley outside of the museum The one room gallery in the building for the former president. Across from this display were placards with information about him and his time in office.The animatronic former president and First Lady
Some fun facts about William McKinley. He was born in Niles, Ohio, in 1843 and was the 7th of 9 children. He served 4 years in the Civil War. He moved to Canton, Ohio, following law school, where he met Ida Saxton. They were married in 1871. They had 2 daughters who both died in infancy and who are entombed with their parents in the memorial near the museum.
William McKinley, a Republican, served as County Prosecutor, Congressman, and Governor of Ohio, before beating William Jennings Bryant twice for President. The explosion of the USS Maine happened during his presidency as did the Boxer Rebellion and Spanish-American War. His first Vice President died during his first term in office. His second Vice President was Theodore Roosevelt who was sworn in as President following McKinley’s death from infection related to a bullet wound. He was shot at the 1901 World’s Fair in New York by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, at point blank range.
The McKinley home from which McKinley campaigned for president A photograph of the crowds that would come to hear his campaign speeches from his front porchThe impressive McKinley Memorial next to the library and museum There are quite a few stairs to climb up to the memorial The view from the top of the steps. The green lawn in the center was originally designed and installed as a series of small waterfalls, but the city was unable to maintain the pipe work and filled it in.The double sarcophagus which holds the remains of William and Ida McKinley and their two infant daughters.The dome and stained glass skylight, which has 45 stars to represent the 45 states that were in the Union at the time of the President’s death.A plaque detailing a chronological outline of McKinley’s life
We didn’t go through the Stark County historical exhibits, but we checked out the gift store, and Bob found a big head in the dinosaur exhibition.
Yesterday Bob and I went to Newfields, which was just a short drive from the house, to explore this place for nature and the arts. It was a bit steep (for us) $25 a piece,but we definitely loved it. It was both great art and beautiful nature.
Newfields USA is a 152-acre cultural campus featuring the Indianapolis Museum of Art, gardens, two historic homes, performance spaces, a nature preserve, and a (in development) sculpture park.
The map of the entire campus. We spent most of our time in the area in the lower right-hand side as you look at the map, but did get to the nature preserve as well.“Five Brushstrokes” art installation by Roy Lichtenstein as we walked up to the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA).The entrance to the IMA. The 250, we assume, is for the 250th anniversary of the US, but it is taken from the “Numbers 1-0” work by Robert Indiana on one of the building’s terraces.
Since I have just mentioned Robert Indiana, let me do a bit of a sidebar on him, as his most famous work is the entrance to the many exhibition halls within the museum. Robert Indiana was born Robert Clark in 1928 in New Castle, Indiana. He was recognized at a young age for his artistic talent and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to New York. It was during his time in New York that he adopted Indiana as his surname to distinguish his identity in the New York art scene,
His most famous work is his LOVE sculpture, the original of which resides at IMA. See below.
Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture, 1970, in front of “Wall Drawing No. 652” by Sol LeWitt, 1990. It made for an impressive start to the museum.
The IMA has an impressive range of collections from African art to Asian art to Impressionism, Pointillism, Pop Art, glasswork, and even a design studio and fashion exhibit. I took too many pictures, but have mostly included my pictures of works that have some connection to Indiana.
First things first though, Bob did find a couple of big heads, both in the African art section. I have included the one where we remembered to get the information about it.
“Nappy Head Blues” by Alison Saar and Bob“Rainy Night, Etaples,” 1912, by William Edouard Scott, an Indianapolis native who later moved to France“Monday Morning” by Edmund Brucker, 1945. Brucker was a faculty member of the John Herron Art Institute, the predecessor of the IMA.“The Canal — Morning Effect,” Richard Buckner Gruelle, 1894. Gruelle was one of five Impressionist artists, active in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, known as The Hoosier Group for their work in Indiana.“Stephen Sprouse (Double Portrait” by Andy Warhol, 1984. Stephen Sprouse was a fashion designer from Indiana.“Floor” by Do Ho Suh, 1997-2000. This was a commissioned work for the IMA. It is 32 glass panels with hundreds of PVC figures with their arms outstretched as if holding the weight of the glass.“Numbers 1-0,” by Robert Indiana, 1980-83. It is located on one of the terraces of the building. Note that the 2, 5, and 0 have been removed to sit out front.“Gulf Miller Rear Engine,” designed by Harry Miller and manufactured by Miller & Tucker, Inc, 1938. Harry Miller was one of the most celebrated creators of racing cars and engines. Between 1923-28, Miller’s designs accounted for 83% of the cars in the Indianapolis 500.“Evening Ensemble” by Halston, 1980-81. Halston spent part of his youth in Evansville, IN, and briefly studied at Indiana University Bloomington.Walking out of the IMA building into the gardens More of the gardensThe Beer Garden Cafe at the Garden TerraceMore colorful plants along the walkA fountain behind the Garden TerraceThe Lilly House, built in 1907 by the Landon family, who eventually donated their home and land to the Art Association of Indianapolis to build an art museum.
In order to get to the nature preserve and sculpture garden, we had to get back in the car and drive about 5 minutes up the road. Sadly, while the Virginia B. Fairbanks Nature Park is lovely, the sculpture park is still a work in progress. There were a couple of sculptures on site.
“Oracle of Intimation,” by Heather Hart, 2024.The lake in the nature preserve “Team Building (Align)” by the artist duo Type A, 2010
In happy family news, we learned today (06/16/26) that we have a new great niece. Jane Margaret Rohrbeck was born earlier today, and baby and parents are apparently doing well in Iowa.
For our outing today, Bob found us a lovely route to Butler University on a different, longer section of the Central Canal Towpath that we were on yesterday.
Not sure what this marker means, but it was on the bridge that we used to cross the canal and start our walk.A pretty home across the canalSharing the towpath with some geese. Most were chill with humans, but we did get hissed at a couple of times.Another great house across the street from the canalEach bridge across the canal looks a little different.Notice all the turtles on the base of the bridge.
Butler University is a private university known for its liberal arts foundation, strong programs in business, pharmacy, and health, and NCAA Division I athletics (Bulldogs). Their men’s basketball often makes the March Madness competition, which is how most people outside of Indiana may know of the university. Their men’s basketball university was founded in 1855 and offers 85+ undergraduate and graduate degrees.
It is located on a 295 acre campus in a residential area about 5 miles from downtown Indianapolis. We approached the university from the canal towpath, so we first saw its baseball fields and track across from Holcomb Gardens before getting onto the main area of campus.
Looking across the running track towards the Butler baseball fields Across the street from the track is Holcomb Gardens, free and open to the public with trails, gardens, a bell tower, and koi pondLooking across the koi pond to the Holcomb Memorial Carillon Tower Lots of friendly squirrels on campus, as if they are used to being fed. This one was making do with an acorn.Butler Bulldog banners along the main drive onto campusWalking towards a health building on campus The Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
Note: The Holcomb name is for James Holcomb, who was a Trustee of Butler University and who co-designed the gardens that bear his name.
The Union building. We went in, but didn’t get to see anything as it is undergoing major renovations.The Irwin Library One of several apothecary gardens on campus
Peckish Travels 