Thanksgiving at home

What a wonderful Thanksgiving!  On Thursday we went to Carol and Rigo's and then they came, along with Scott, Cheryl, Alex and Carter to Oak Point for dinner Friday. 
A few neat pictures.

Willard Clock Museum

What a great find!  Mary Cool told me about this museum and so Susan and I took Saturday to drive out and investigate.   I was mostly interested in seeing the farm, but the clocks were really fascinating.  With a great tour hosted by Sarah Mullen, we learned a huge amount about early clock making in America. Grandfather clocks, 30-hour clocks, Lighthouse clocks, chronometers, tower clocks,  all were present, mostly from late 1700's until the mid 1800's.  If you are a clock lover, this is a wonderful place.  And the occasional lovely antique furnishing and rug doesn't hurt.
The museum is located at 11 Willard Street, North Grafton, Ma. which is just west of the juncture of Rt. 495 and Rt. 9.
The farm was built in 1718, by the Willards.  Benjamin was the first Willard clockmaker, and his Son Simon, and his son Simon, were all clock makers. 
Here is the tour.

The farm is a beauty

The house is full of period furnishings, tools, etc.

As you do the tour, each successive room has more clocks.  This one is by Benjamin.

The flintlock over the kitchen fireplace.

These are called "Banjo" clocks, invented by Simon.  They were the first commercially successful

wall clock. It was the first eight-day clock.

This is Benjamin.

Nice collection of antique firearms in the very dim hallway.

An example of a "Lighthouse" clock, which was the first alarm clock. One of these is in the White House library

made to commemorate the visit of Lafayette to America in 1824.

Beautiful Chest-on-chest

Detail of above

Dining room display

Detail of above

Detail of a very strange rifle in the collection

Here is Sarah Mullin, our expert and gracious guide,
and David Gow, conservator.

Some exquisite rugs, too!

This was a tower clock, for a church steeple.  This one had been in a church in Marshfield, MA. that

was destroyed by fire.  

Detail of above

This is a gallery clock, so named because it would hang from the gallery of a church, or auditorium.

Susan may have seen enough clocks by now.  Actually, she loved the whole place.

This is the one Willard clock the museum owns that chimes a melody.

Detail of above

Another tower clock in progress in the workshop.

The workshop

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This machine creates accurate brass gears.

Truly worth a visit.  Thank you, Sarah!

Golf, Westerly and Watch Hill, etc.

Great final week of golf (probably) it is getting really cold.  I played Crosswinds on a spectacularly beautiful day on Wednesday, played again on Friday at Squirrel Run (shooting the best 9 holes ever), then travelled to Westerly, RI, to perform Vaughan-Williams' :"Hodie" with that remarkable chorus under the direction of Andrew Howells. 
I visited with my camera some of my favorite architectural splendors of the area, of which there are many.
Here is a round-up of photos. 

One of the lovely holes at Crosswinds GC, perhaps my favorite course.

Even in a poor fall year, when the oaks change, it makes for a beautiful setting.

The back nine at Squirrel Run (the front nine shall remain my secret).

The first time I ever parred a course.

My over-all favorite restaurant in Westerly, RI

(They had St. Urbans-hof  Riesling by the glass!)

And my other favorite.

I drove down to Watch Hill, and it was bitter and windy.

Some wonderful money-is-no-object houses here.

The great, restored "Ocean House" Inn

The famous Watch Hill Chapel, site of many Summer weddings.

Huge all-stone property overlooking the ocean. 

Probably couldn't find a lot big enough in Newport.

Mary Cool's charming house, and my hostess in Westerly when I stay overnight.

The Westerly Train Station

and the library.

I am not sure what this building is, but it looks like something

out of an Italian hill town.  All brick.

The manse for the Episcopal Church, and home for many years of

Maryann and Bob Anthony, who were my hosts for many years.

The George Kent Performance Hall, named for the great conductor who founded the

Westerly Chorus. 

In the hall, getting ready for "Hodie"

Susan Thomas, Harp, and Gary Buttery, Tuba

The usual suspects: Brian Sturm, Mark Weaver, and myself, trombone section.

Early AM, waiting for the bus

Carter, passenger, Alex, driver

And this evening's sunset.