May 13, 2017

After leaving Amherst, we went to Hollis, where Linda lived during the early years. Not quite as quaint as Amherst, but was an agricultural community that has turned into an upscale bedroom community.  There are a few large apple orchards there, but not unlike many areas, the land is too valuable to leave it as a farm.  Consequently, there are becoming subdivisions.

The first two pictures are of the Woodmont orchards and the others of some of the buildings in the town center; a home, a church, a cemetery dated 1743, The library, an old fire station dated 1859. the town hall, and the common.  And yes... the sky was that blue.

May 12, 2017

After eating lunch at the Lilac Blossom Restaurant, which is our favorite Chinese restaurant, Linda and I took a drive through Amherst and Hollis New Hampshire, two neighboring towns to where we previously lived.

Amherst is particularly a quaint New England town.  The following pictures are of the town common and the sights adjacent to it.  Church, school, white picket fences, old homes from the 17-1800s, and blossoming trees.

May 8, 2017

Linda said to me the other day, "I would like to go to Gibbs Gardens.  I have not been there for some time."  What do you think I said?  "Let me think about it?"  No... "I'll be in the car waiting..."

There are a number of different types of sculptures there and I have it as a project to take pictures of them.  I started with 'the children,' which are on the way to the Japanese Gardens.

It will be best to click on a picture to enlarge them.

May 6, 2017

I was going over pictures of our trip to Ireland and this outcropping, which is below the Cliffs of Moher, brought back memories.  Not all good... We were on a boat and I was doing fine until it stopped.  The sea churned...my stomach churned...and, as they say, 'The rest is history.'

The pictures are from different perspectives as the boat moved around the outcropping.  The first picture has the outcropping in the bottom right of the photo and has the cliffs in the background with the rebuilt O'Brien's Tower atop of Hag's Head.

The next two pictures are different views of the outcropping.

This last picture is interesting.  There are shelves or ridges that the weather has eroded into the outcropping on which the birds use for nesting.

You have heard, 'Birds of a feather stick together."  Well, here is the proof...  Notice the different birds are on their own shelf.  There was a third bird above these, which I could not get into the picture.

May 2, 2017

The Rhododendrons were my main focus on Sunday afternoon, however, here are some of the other beauty that was present.  The first picture is from the driveway to the parking lot.  I was surprised to see some Dogwoods still in bloom as in the third picture.  And what would a trip to Gibbs Gardens be without a picture of the 'Monet Bridge.'

May 1, 2017

The Rhododendrons are in bloom at Gibbs Garden and the trail leads up to the Manor House.  There are many varieties.  Great way for a two hour walk on a Sunday afternoon.