A visit with Oliver and Plum Island

While Ken and Erin and Jackson were away looking at colleges, Oliver, my 15-year-old grandchild in Newburyport invited me up and promised to cook for me.  He did an Asian Black Bean, Garlic and Turkey stir-fry (I was stunned when he called me up the day before and asked if I would bring a dry white wine he could cook with!).  It was delicious, and then we watched the second installment of "The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug".  The next morning I got up at 6:00 AM and drove out to Plum Island, and had some of the best light for bird photography I have had in a long time (pictures included below).  Then Oliver and I went to the Peabody-Essex Museum, my first visit to a museum since February, and we almost had the entire museum to ourselves. 
It was a great excursion, the only problem being driving home, and being almost sideswiped by two guys racing on Rt. 24 at an excess of 100 MPH.  Truly. 
So here are some photos, a bit more than most blogs, perhaps.  Don't forget to try and click on the images to enlarge them. 

Oliver the accomplished chef.

So delicious, and with a Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc

On arriving at Plum Island the sky was filled with Tree Swallows, thousands of them. 

Always there, always showing off, the Killdeer. 

And another

Greater Yellowlegs

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Kingbird.  

Semipalmated Plover

Least Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Common Tern

Semipalmated Plover

S.S.

S.S.

At the Peabody-Essex; Museum

Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons
"Unit 1" from the series
"Alchemy of the Soul, Elixir for the Spirits", 2015

Entrance into the Asian Exports exhibit, one of the world's best. 

Mouth organ (sho)
Edo Period, 19th centu

Paintings from the Jacob Lawrence exhibition, with his interpretations of great, and not-so-great
events in the United States history.
Panel 5, 1955
"Men in Chains"

Panel 10, 1954
Inscription: No 8 "The River"
{Washington Crossing the Delaware)

Panel 15
Inscription: "Creation"
(Signing of the Constitution)

Panel 19, 1958
"Tension on the High Seas-June 22-1807
American Sailors of "the Chesapeake" Captured by the British

And into the new wing, and the great maritime exhibit.
Valerie Hegarty
"Shiwrecked Armoire with Barnacles" 2012
(She created this with foamcore, papter, glue, acrylic paint,
sand, and fabric (!)

Sir Anthony Deane
"The Royal James, 1st Rate Ship of the Line"
One of the many incredible ship models.  This one has over 110 cast bronze canon, about one inch long.

Oliver, and one of my favorite models, a tanker beached and being salvaged. 
The detail has to be seen to be believed.
Oliver gazing in wonder (I think).
Thank you, Oliver, you were a superb host, and great fun to be with.
What a meal!