Oliver and the Currier Gallery of Art

My grandson, Oliver, has shown a keen interest in birds and art, so I planned an adventure with him:
I went up to Groveland, stayed overnight, and got him up at 7, went out to Plum Island, and several great things happened:  a Yellowthroat flew up beside the car, perhaps three feet away from the window, and sang and sang, and Oliver was dumfounded.  And then later we saw a Wilson's Snipe, Oliver's first. 
Then we drove to the Currier Gallery of Art in Manchester, NH, to visit the Audubon exhibition on his last trip to America to document Mammals. 
One of the funniest satires I have ever heard was put on by the Chicago Art Museum, advertising a book for sale, the "Greatest 100 square inches in Art" (you know, Mona Lisa's smile, Michaelangelo's David's ....well, you know, and so I did the same this trip, focusing on details.
So here is the collection.  I challenge you to go to the Currier and find the whole picture!

It seems that Audubon was particularly fond of the violence he found in nature,
and so many of his animals are in fierce or cornered mode.  Here is a good selection!

Here is one of the  17 complete bird folios known to exist. 

And so, here is some of those lovely "square inches"

This painting is barely 6 square inches

Martin Heade's signature

Oliver was a great companion, I truly enjoyed him.

Brevard, Atlanta, and Sally's wedding

A complex blog, with a visit to NC, the Blue Ridge, and Atlanta for Sally's wedding.
Susan and I flew to Atlanta, rented a car, met sister Barbara and husband Bill, and drove to Brevard, NC, and stayed at my twin Don's magnificent house in the DuPont Forest.  After three days, we left for Atlanta, and enjoyed all the wonderful events of Sally (cousin, honorary Wauchope) marrying Neal and the reception where Don and I played a duet I wrote for the newlyweds, and the remainder of the day was music provided mostly by Neal and Matt, Don's talented blues keyboard sons. 
The next day was more of the same at two venues, one to hear Matt at his gig, and Neal at the Georgia Shrimp Co.
Here is the record.  (the photos are in reverse order, with Atlanta and then NC

Sally and Neal's rehearsal dinner, a high-end Southern Buffet
in a spectacular restaurant overlooking Atlanta

All Saint's Church, Atlanta, the wedding.

A magnificent organ case, with an unheard organ, electrical failure.
That is a Tiffany window.



Here is Neal and the organist doing the Widor "Toccata"

Now to NC, Don's house in DuPont Forest,
These are Indian Pipe

A magnificent spotted Beetle

We took a walk to Hooker Falls and this Carolina Wren serenaded us.

This Parula  entertained us sitting on Don's deck.
That evening, Tim and Sylvia Bryson came over and we
played trios accompanying her enchanting voice.  

6:00 AM Blue Ridge Parkway, Pounding Mill Overlook
I met Tom English for breakfast at Pisgah Inn
and we did a partial walk up the Pisgah Mountain trail.

Don's  mountain Azalea

Some late Rhodies



This was the view leaving Boston, flying over Castle Island

I wish the airlines would keep you posted about what you are flying over.

Back to the Parkway

Looking Glass Rock
This is a spectacular climb
One day, again.....

Myself, Susan, Barbara and Bill at Slick Rock Falls

And, we chose to go back to Atlanta by way of White Water Falls,
the tallest falls east of the Rockies.