King Arthur Bakery, Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, Billings Farm and Museum - Sept 29, 2019

First stop is King Arthur's Bakery - Lou is enjoying being "king for a day"

(or a few moments!)

We enjoyed coffee and pastries after shopping for cooking things that we probably won't use!

 The King Arthur Flour Company was founded in 1790 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Henry Wood. Wood was primarily an importer and distributor, originally of English-milled flour. The business grew quickly, and now enjoys a fine reputation of quality goods and cooking schools, and wonderful pastries.

Next stop--

a State Historical Site

We enjoyed learning about this president and the village that is here.

The stone work and the old wood work in this area is so pretty.

We had just been in Deadwood South Dakota and never learned about this.

 A very early hearse

And the mail truck-

pretty vehicles!

When Grover Cleveland died Calvin Coolidge was notified at 2:30 AM

and sworn in by his father in this room of the family house.

This is the bed that Calvin Coolidge was born in.

The entire village was a 'museum' full of history and insights.

How about a 'penny a gallon'??

(but 300% tax??)

Pretty little '3D' bench as we waited for our lunch at the brewery.

This is a working dairy farm plus a museum.

It was a a good museum showing lots of the history of how they had to work in the 1800's

A horse on a treadmill did the threshing and farming.

A one horse power thrashing machine!

A smaller version of the treadmill would be powered by a dog or sheep or goat for churning the butter!

One of our group members has one of these in his attic.  His grandparents used this in 'the Dakota Territory'

The pretty house is part of the farm and there is a sunflower garden

(that is almost gone!)

The bees have a few good flowers.

These cows spend the whole day in this barn and get milked 2 or 3 times a day, and then get turned out to pasture at night.

The Guernseys provide the high quality milk and Vermont is a chief producer of fine cheeses from this milk.

Lou noticed the rake suspended from the ceiling, and found out that they 'tickle' the cow in order to get her to pee in the trough instead of the floor that they stand on.

So many interesting things to learn!!

She is so expressive!

He would like to come into his neighbors pen.

And this youngster is either hungry or bored or both!

Quechee, Vermont - Sept 28, 2019

We relocated campgrounds from Ashland, NH to Quechee, VT.

The afternoon was pleasant, starting with a lunch at an old mill on the river, near a covered bridge. 

The old mill has been turned into a restaurant and glass blowing factory, with extremely high quality blown glass objects.

 The restaurant has a good view of the water and the covered bridge.

Glass Blowing -  Start with a blob and turn

 This is the blowing part

 Insert the blown blob into the furnace

 Out comes the start of a glass vase

 Work with the tools

The finished vase  is ready to put into the cooler.

This mile long gorge was cut into the granite at the end of the last ice age

since it was the only outlet for the large glacial lake.

 View from the top

 Half way down

 view at the bottom- the gorge is 165 ft deep.

Enjoying watching the bees, before hiking back to the top.

Last stop - a craft shop in Woodstock (in Vermont)

Love this display - before and after the felting process!

Shaker Village tour - Canterbury New Hampshire - Sept 27, 2019

Today's tour of the Shaker Village was so interesting.
The Shakers were an outgrowth of the Quakers.  They were so charismatic that they became known as "The Shaking Quakers".  They started living in communes, created self sufficient villages, and became entrepreneurs, had many inventions and patents, and have embraced technology.  Their beliefs were radical and after a period of time their numbers decreased,  since many were not able to maintain the strict doctrines. 

They have become known as excellent craftsmen in furniture and textiles.

The meeting house for worship - plain, simple, and had no center posts so that they could dance as part of their worship.  (They had 'toned down' the "holy roller" aspect of their worship and they invited people 'of the world' to come to their Sunday worship services)

The entire community was separated into "brothers and sisters"  (no more 'husbands and wives').

When they signed the Covenant, it included celibacy.  

(and the Shakers have almost died out ??)

The community is now a National Historic Landmark-open to tours .

Notice the visiting school children, and the way the leaders keep track of them!!

The building used for sewing and textiles

She is hooking rugs and she let me try a couple of hooks.

It is harder than it looks!

The Shakers are famous for the "Dorothy Robes"

They used the best wool, lined with fine silk and sold them to New York celebrities for huge amounts of money (even though they only wore the plain and simple garments)

The Laundry House- Hot water tank 

Fun to see the huge cylindrical washing machines, and large mangle.

The hoist system to get the soaking wet laundry to the second floor where they had elaborate systems to dry all the laundry.

These apples  really looked good- Surprise!!!

I guess the trees produced better tasting apples in the 1800's