Salem, Mass.

While in Boston last week, we went to Salem for the afternoon.
Apparently, this is the place to be for Halloween---over 100,000 will be there Halloween weekend.
And, the locals dress up---even the red hat society ladies (this is from a brochure, but we did see three of them walking on the street)
We opted for the trolley ride around town. We were however hampered with the plastic sheeting. I soon figured out how to loosen it around the edges to take photos.
There are plenty of Witch Sites to see---the Witch museum I remembered from years ago is being tuck-pointed so I didn't get any photos of it.
The tour took us out of town giving us the history of this area besides the Witch Trial part.
Although this cove is not the Bay of Fundy, the tides are pretty dramatic here.
There were many beautiful homes befitting a major shipping and whaling port in 18th and 19th century New England.
Although we didn't see as many costumed characters as on weekends, we did have a few eerie sightings. . .

Is this a real witch, or one of the costumed characters? Is there a fog swirling around her, or did I shoot into the sun? Is that an aura emanating from her, or a finger print on my lens? You decide. Bwa-ha-ha.

Happy Birthday Jane!

As a tribute to my sister, I'm featuring some of the wonderful Halloween cards she has made the past few years.
I think she's particularly fond of Halloween because it falls so close to her birthday.
(But you don't see me sending out Veteran's Day cards)
But, making these cards is one of the ways Jane expresses her love to family and friends. . .
I guess writing blogs is my way :-) We love you, Sis, sorry your cute 3-D bat was a little blurry. . . .

The Custom House

The Custom House in Boston is a Marriott hotel----the rooms are all in the tower (above) 4-5 suites per floor. On Mondays, the concierge and general manager give a tour of the historic building.
The tower was added in the early 1900's around the dome which can be seen from the lobby.
The GM brought old photos which show the Custom House before the tower was added.


Karen, the concierge, shows us the original front doors (which are no longer used). They were last opened on Marriott's opening day. Later when Mr. Marriott came to visit, he tried to get in through this door, but had to be told he had to walk around to use the new main entrance.
Each of these windows has a glass door; the holes are functional for a gun barrel to fit through.

In addition to the observation deck seen here. There's a game room (video games and pool table) which shows the inner workings of the clock that is seen outside on each of the four sides. We were lucky enough to meet the clock repairman who gave us our own private tour. The four rods above his head operate the hands on each of the four faces.

The numbers are glass coated with 24 caret gold. He is gradually replacing the original glass with a lucite on the outside which is safer and more tolerant of weather and, yet, will protect the gold plated glass.The "Counting Room" shows a balcony which held armed guards in the mid-1800's.
But, today it is the site of nightly entertainment.
We saw "Rum and Revolution" a musical, funny, educational duet accompanied by rum punch.
Thanks to Tom and Donna (pictured above on the right) for introducing us to the Custom House.


The Custom House is conveniently located near the Long Wharf area, the Aquarium and Quincy Market.

Welcome to Boston

When we flew into Boston, we had high hopes that the color in the photo above meant we'd see a lot of color WITH sunny skies.
In addition to New England Fall color, we were visiting Boston for the first time in years and visiting with Dave's brother and wife.
Donna, in typical Donna-style, was a thoughtful hostess with our own FREE bottles of water as opposed to the water offered by the hotel.

Our room had a beautiful view inside and outside.
It was a suite with bedroom, living room-dining room and a foyer!
Tom and Donna had a corner room with views from two sides. Above is the Long Wharf Marriott (red building) and the airport across the bay and the aquarium (at 3 o'clock)
There was an observation deck from which someone offered to take our photo.
We stayed at the Custom House, the tower of which is pictured in the glass building to the west.

St. Louis Zoo

St. Louis Zoo is incredibly beautiful, diverse and free! We have visited zoos all over the country and several in Europe---none compare. I went frequently as a child and this gorilla habitat is much better than Phil the Gorilla who was caged and loved throwing his water out on the visitors. . .or at least I was told it was water.
Dave and I went a few weeks ago---we enjoyed the animals, but we also. . .
Enjoyed the beautiful landscaping.
Many of the exhibits are very natural looking like the flamigos above. . .
But, other animals have habitat needs like the puffin and penguin exhibit.
Parts of it are inside where it is cooled, but some is outside.
We also enjoyed riding the train around the perimeter of the zoo.
With the weather a little cooler, all of the animals were out-and-about.
We only saw about a quarter of the zoo, but vow to go back again soon to see more of it.

Big River Part II

Jane Long, Ron Long, Jaclyn Long

My cousin, Barbara's memories of the Big River Clubhouse:
I have very fond memories of the club house (better than a tent!). I loved sleeping in the upstairs in the club house where grandma and grandpa stayed and waking up in the morning smelling breakfast cooking on the stove (I think it was a wood burning stove). I know the club house was heated by a wood stove. I remember having to walk up the hill to well and pumping it until the water cleared for consumption. I had no problems with the outhouse since I was a girl scout and we camped all the time!!

Bill Wassmund

I remember my dad, grandpa and any other male around putting trout lines out to catch cat fish. If we (girls) were lucky we could go out in the john boat with the man folk to check the lines. When I went it was always grandpa who pulled up the lines; unfortunately if a snapping turtle got on the line grandpa would take his knife out and decapitate the turtle. Sometimes he would keep the turtle but most the time the body of the turtle just fell into the river because they didn't have time to make turtle soup.

Me and Jane

As a small child I thought the Big River was huge until we returned to the club houses many years later and it wasn't more than a small creek that you could walk from one side to the other and the water really didn't go past your waist if you were lucky. We (Wassmund's) continued to go down the club house long after everyone else quit going. It was so sad to see the property in such disarray and the quite empty club houses. The river was so quiet since it was only the five of us on the river.

Big River Part I

Alice Quiel, Norma Adams, Lena Long with Steve Adams and a dog, early 1950's

Big River should NEVER be confused with a big river or the Musical Big River. It's a tributary of the Meramec River which is a tributary of the Mississippi (THE Big River). My family has lived along the Big River since the early 1800's---years before Missouri was even a state.

(Mary Long and Alice Quiel, Lena's daughter)

To most of us Long cousins, Big River means "Uncle Lawrence's Club House". Talking with my cousins this summer, I was surprised they had such warm memories. My memories are of outhouses, muddy river banks, poker games at night, mosquitoes, having to swim in tennis shoes because of the rocks and mud, and Grandpa telling me, "Frog legs taste just like chicken."

L-R: Louise Long, Jane, Michael, Me, Bob, Steve, Norma (standing) and Grandma Lena

I do remember floating in inner tubes with my cousins and our step-grandmother Lena! Lena was a large woman, but she loved to swim---she was never self conscious about how she looked in a swim suit!