We've Been Away

If it seems I've been a bit absent from the blog in the last week, you would be correct. DH and I took a very quick road trip into Pennsylvania and New York to see if we could see some pretty fall color. 

We had tickets (bought way back in May) to see Fallingwater, the famous home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's so famous in fact that it has the distinction of being listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. I have wanted to see Fallingwater for years, and when we  tried last year, we learned that tickets were needed. You couldn't just show up and expect to tour around. The website stressed that booking early for fall tours was essential, as that was peak season for them.

Understandable.

Since we had no idea how busy we would be in "leaf-peeper" season, I just had to guess at a date I thought we could work around. And that turned out just fine.  I made the appointment for 2pm, so we hit the road at about 8am Monday morning and drove straight there. With a breakfast stop, a fuel stop and a patch of slow traffic, we still had plenty of time. 

Our very knowledgeable guide led us up the path to the entrance of the house, and as we approached, various elements of the iconic house came into view. The patio seen on the left of the photo above is the one that extends over the falls.

Once inside, I didn't take many pictures, and in some parts of the house, picture-taking was prohibited. This shot, above, is taken from that patio you saw previously. The peaceful sound of the waterfall soothes and relaxes even the briefest visitor, so imagine how lovely it would be to reside here!

Here's the money shot - the view that adorns many a postcard. We took a very easy walk down below the falls and stood on a well-marked terrace to turn around and capture this view. I was fortunate to have the sunlight cooperating, so the trees look pretty spectacular, too.

After we left Fallingwater, we zipped up the road to the Flight 93 National Memorial, roughly 40 miles north on the Lincoln Highway. Our preferred travel routes always involve the roads less traveled, consequently we might have had closer access, but we rather like taking the back roads.

The terrorist attacks of 9-11 forced the downing of Flight 93 in this remote Pennsylvania farm field. The National Park Service has done a beautiful job of preserving this spot as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made that fateful morning. The 40 passengers and crew who died on this spot are forever memorialized in the most moving and emotional display I have ever encountered. I cannot recommend this national park enough - GO SEE IT! 

The visitors' center is almost chapel-like in its reverence to these fallen heroes. It displays several objects recovered from the debris field, and with various audio and video features, takes the visitor through a second-by-second, minute-by-minute account of that beautiful-turned-terrible morning.

Again, go see this memorial! Admission is free, and you will find yourself wanting to read every placard, walk every trail and soak in the tranquility that surrounds this important memorial.

The Tower of Voices is the newest feature of the memorial, located near the entrance. It contains 40 chimes - one for each victim - and is activated by the wind. We were there on a very calm day, so we had to be satisfied with listening to the chimes online. The tower is in the middle of a field with little more than a parking area and a walkway around it, but it, too, exudes the same level of reverence as the visitor center displays.

The slogan inscribed at the end of the outdoor overlook speaks volumes: "A common field one day. A field of honor forever."

From central PA, we turned our vehicle north to head up into New York, specifically in the direction of the Finger Lakes region. We have motored around these lakes before never having any definite destination in mind. We stop when we see something that interests us, or if we need a convenience break (food, gas, facilities). We generally do find something of note, and this trip did not disappoint.

As we were leaving Seneca Falls, NY, DH remarked that there must have been "some famous woman from that town." I did a quick online search and discovered that Seneca Falls was the birthplace of the suffragettes. We turned right around to do a bit of deeper investigating and found yet another National Historic Park. What an interesting stop! I had no idea that the women's rights movement basically began here with the efforts these women put forth in attempting to gain not just the right to vote, but equality in every aspect of life. Since this was 1848, they were very closely aligned with the abolitionist movement, seeking the same goals for blacks, most of whom were enslaved.

The statues above are just beyond the main desk of the building and depict life-size images of the notable attendees of the first women's rights convention which was held in the church next door. Due to time constraints we only scratched the surface of the material and exhibits encased both in this location and at several others around Seneca Falls. We needed to keep moving if we were to see other towns on our mini-getaway.

Here are a few snapshots I took of the types of things that capture my fancy from the passenger seat in the car. I enjoy seeing dignified, regal old houses, quaint churches, beautiful farms with equally beautiful barns, and lush countryside. These few pics represent all those things. One photo even captures a glimpse of one of the finger lakes in the background.

Three nights and four days. That's how long we were gone. DH drove about 1300 miles - which he loves doing. I enjoyed the freedom to gaze out my window and ponder over all the history of the places we pass; all our forefathers and mothers who toiled so hard to make a life out of the frontier. What sturdy, determined people they were! 

As we left Ithaca, NY, early Thursday morning, we saw this hot air balloon; we have no idea what it's purpose was, but it was a cool thing to see, and now we will remember it.

No quilting to share today, but I have a few things going around here, so do come back to visit tomorrow!

Happy Quilting, Friends!