Emily and Tina's Excellent Adventure

Since Emily isn't here yet, I'll have a chat with you.

Last night, Cyndi, Cathy, Phyllis and I went to see "To Catch a Theif" with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.  It was made in 1955 (yeah, I know, Sharon: you weren't born yet) and what a difference in movies!

Apparently, we have been so bombarded with sex and sexual references that when the "passionate" kiss came and the camera moved to ever more exploding firecrackers, it was corny and laughable.  And ... Cary Grant was 51 years old, looking older in my opinion -- for some reason, he had a very dark tan -- and Grace was only 24 years old.  So while it was probably shocking in those days to see a young girl acting so forward(ly) toward a man by impulsively kissing him, it was really hard for me to see why she would "love" him in a matter of minutes.

It's also hard for me to figure out why I used to have a crush on Cary Grant.  I guess it was before I and my mind was liberated. The only redeeming value I could see in the character of Robie (The Cat Burgler), was that he had a nice villa on the Riviera and apparently some money from his former thievery.

All that criticism aside, it was a lovely evening preceded by pizza which Cathy thoughtfully picked up for Cyndi and me because we worked later than she.

Thank you, Jones Library (and Janet Ryan) for the summer movie!!
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So it's Wednesday and I'm all packed. My hosts may fear that I'm moving in for decades.  Not really. I just like choices in what I wear and in what shoes I wear.  :)

We will drive to Silver Spring, MD tonight and stay at a hotel.  (Yes, I figured out which one I had reserved!)  Then tomorrow, we motor to Cape Charles, Virginia.  Yay!

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I am so distressed to hear that the 8th black church has burned in a span of two weeks. They still don't know if it was lightning, but this is a very horrible pattern.  What is wrong with people, meaning arsonists?  First of all, if it is an arsonist, it's pretty cowardly to slink off in the night after doing this damage.  I'm so happy that nobody was hurt or killed, but it's still disgraceful. Secondly, nobody should be in fear for their life because of the color of their skin. Or because of their sexual orientation.  Who are these murders and thugs? I think we need a big influx of Canadians to set us straight.

And on the opposite side of the coin, Misti Copeland is now the first black prima ballerina for the American Ballet Company.  It really has been too long.  Excellence should be rewarded. Maria Tallchief would be proud.

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I am going to leave you now, waiting patiently for Emily.  It has been a torrential downpour with thunder and lightning, but it has let up now.  Hopefully, we will be driving away from the storms.  It's already 75 F., which is big change from the 55 F. at the same hour a couple of days ago.  I may melt in Virginia!

Saturday Mini Adventures

I can't believe it -- I slept until 10:15 a.m.! Obviously, I was tired.  But I was only a little late to see the Victorian Dancers on the grounds of the Strong House (Amherst Historical Society). 

If you go there to visit the house, don't do what I did.  I brushed up against the lamp post and noticed something was buzzing me while I was getting my camera out.  A helpful woman told me to move because there was a wasp's nest in the lamp and they were really swarming around.  You betcha!

Here's Larry, who writes Only in the Republic of Amherst blog.  He gets lots of good shots with his drone too, but this was not drone appropriate.

That field stone is the side of the Jones Library.

After watching the dancing for a while, Lisa and I went to the Farmers' Market. I bought some tomato starter plants and some lettuce to eat. Then I bought some spring rolls for lunch.

After she worked, Cyndi bought some haddock and I gave a little cooking lesson. I had suggested shrimp for an appetizer, but she got mussels -- another favorite of mine!

First you cut the haddock, then bread it with panko crumbs. Put it in the oven to bake with a little lemon and butter..

 Meanwhile cook the asparagus in the microwave.

Make a nice plate.

And !voila! yummy food.

And a happy Cyndi who thought she couldn't cook but who has just made a whole dinner from appetizers to finish.  (She didn't make the chocolate gelato, but she did well to choose it!)

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I'll let you know how tomorrow goes. We're going to look at open houses because Cyndi is thinking of buying a house.  Fun, fun, fun!

Animals, Animals, Animals

So after the drum factory, we went down the road a bit to an ice cream shop with animals. Personally, I couldn't stand the barnyard smell, so I went inside.  Cyndi took these pictures.

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And My Heart Beats Like a Drum

Yup, they have been in business since 1854, making drums for the Civil War (Northern side).

We entered their office entrance.

Checking in, Cyndi had reserved and paid in advance.

A peek at the factory floor; toy drums in progress stacked in the middle

Noble Cooley was one of the first Disney licensees. This is upstairs where the talk and exhibits were.

Various items from private collections were on display upstairs.

Drums and barrels of he past

Part of the Dane collection

Fraggle Rock was a favorite of my girls.

Muppet Babies

Picking up a piece of razor thin metal

Embossing machine

Feed the notched, painted metal into the embossing machine to get raised pattern in the ovals.

Bring it over to the bending machine

His mother could make 30 dozen drums in a day.

Squishing machine rolls down the razor sharp edges so nobody bleeds out!

Puttin' on the struts.

Done drum! These drums are destined for Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.  Mostly, however, the factory makes high end musicians' drums.  They begin by cutting the wood on their land, making veneer and taking it from there.

From their web site:  The Noble & Cooley SS Maple Classic

 Snare Drum is an industry legend. It is the stage and 

studio standard, and few professional drummers don't

 own at least one of these remarkable instruments. 

The SS Maple Classic was Noble & Cooley's initial 

offering in the professional drum arena, and served to 

establish our reputation as a manufacturer of "The 

World's Best Drums."

As we left, Cathy on the left and Cyndi on the right, we decided we needed a picture with Old Glory outside of the factory (to the right of the Office door).