Hingham Ferry, Harvard Art Museum with Louis

 A visit with practically the oldest friend I have on the planet, Louis Stewart, composer, conductor, pianist, teacher, raconteur, curmudgeon, Berklee College faculty, and collaborator on many concerts and recitals for over 50 years. He had not been to the Harvard Art Museum, so I insisted we go, and we had a wonderful afternoon together.  

The trip in from Hingham to Long Wharf was especially beautiful. 

First glimpse from Hingham harbor.

Closer, closer

Magnificent!

I rarely ride the ferry in the morning when the light is on the buildings. 
What a great sight. 

The great Customs House

This tall ship has been in the harbor for quite a number of years.
I understand it is for sale.

The carousel on the Greenway.  
What a wonderful collection of animals to ride. 

Louis at the Harvard Art Museum 

Marie-Gabrielle Capet   1761-1818
Self-Portrait

Louis-Jean Desprez   1743-1804
Mr. Desprez's Chimerai

Rene Lhemitte
Plan, Profile, and Layout of the Slave "Ship Le Marie-Seraphique"

Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1725-1805
The Father's Curse, or The Ungrateful Son

Filippo Morghen
A Pumpkin Used as a Fishing Boat
from
Suite of the Most Notable Things Seen by Cav. Wild Scull, and Sig. de la Hire
on Their Famous Voyage from the Earth to the Moon

Louis-Francois Cassas   1756-1827
View of Messina Harbor, 1783

Vase found at the Alhambra
(and will be viewed by myself in person next week!)

Sarcophagus Sections with Men Fighting Amazon
Roman, Late 2nd. to early 3rd. Cent. CE

Canaletto

detail

Bierstadt  (detail)

The return trip to Hingham

My birthday trip into Boston

 On my birthday morning, I arrived at the breakfast table, and discovered a Trader Joe's bag, filled with chocolate-covered coffee beans, peanut butter-filled pretzels, chocolate peanut butter cups, and trail mix, all food I crave and am not allowed.  Susan also included a card, which said, "These are all rewards for when you reach 200 lbs.!  They will be hidden away."  I told her to keep the bag in plain sight as a reminder of my goal.  Today I am at 207, getting (drool, drool) closer. 

Then in the afternoon we took the Hingham Ferry into Boston, docking at Long Wharf, and walking up into the North End, to one of my favorite restaurants, "L'Osteria" where we had an exceptional dinner, over to the "Cafe Paradiso" for lattes and gelato, and then back to Hingham on a glorious evening cruise.  How much better could it be?

Someday, someday

At L'Osteria

The Custom House, where we celebrated Susan's 60th in 2003. 

Always a very romantic trip.

 Taken on our 55th. wedding anniversary trip in Fredericton, NB

 The Oliver House, Middleboro, MA

Wonderful house, full of history.  The Oliver Mill site is a very cool little park with remnants (rock walls) of the mill which was so important to early Middleboro.  We visited the house with our friends the Gilgans, who are experts on early Colonial architecture, and are on the board for the beautiful Daniel Webster house in Marshfield.  

Peter Oliver was a loyalist, and a bitter enemy of the revolution.  He presided over the Boston Masacre trial, and left Boston for Nova Scotia before being arrested.  His mill in Middleboro made iron strips which were sold to local farmers for fashioning into many uses.  The house was famous in the Colonies as being one of the most elegant houses in New England.  

A few photos from our visit. 

R-Lene and Bob Gilgan, Susan, and docent. 

Wonderful gardens

The grounds have been decorated with many "Fairy" houses, and when we came out 
of the house, we discovered this Cooper's Hawk sitting on top of a stump with abode.