Shall we have another outing?

[caption id="attachment_1934" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flying the friendly skies to California once again[/caption]I'm in the mood for a little culture.  How about you?  Let's go to Pasadena, California and visit the Huntington.  The Huntington is a wonderful private non-profit collection-based research and educational institution founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington. Huntington was an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.

The Huntington is a huge place composed of a library containing rare books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American history and literature.

It is also an art gallery composed of two separate buildings.  The Huntington Gallery, completed in 1911, originally was the Huntington's residence.  You would love walking through its rooms of elegant furnishings.

Just look at this gorgeous dining room.  While the Huntingtons were not known to have entertained regularly, the dining room was nevertheless suitable for important functions.  One such occasion was a dinner for the crown prince and princess of Sweden, who visited the Huntington mansion in the early 1920s.

Every room is exquisite.

I'm sure you would be most impressed with the building itself, never mind the extensive art collection it contains.  When planning the residence Henry Huntington first envisioned a more modest retreat, but his uncle's widow, Arabella Huntington, whom he would marry in 1913, was looking for home on a grander scale.  Looking at one of the staircases in their home I think you would agree Arabella achieved her grand vision.

The floor to ceiling windows are wonderful.  I had such windows in my last 1829 house.  I miss them.

The rooms are painted whites and off whites with gold accents.  The look is very elegant and peaceful.  I might copy Huntington's color palate should an addition ever materialize on my own home.

The 2,900-square-foot hall was added in 1934 for displaying the Huntingtons' Grand Manner portraits.  Now called the Thornton Portrait Gallery, the addition followed a trend begun with the Wallace Collection in London and the Frick Collection in New York, where grand homes were converted into museums.  (That's my son Patrick standing in the gallery).

The loggia on the east side of the house represents a concession by the architect.  Archival documents show that Myron Hunt preferred a modest terrace on the east side; Henry Huntington envisioned a bolder, more spacious "outdoor living room."  Huntington ultimately prevailed.

I think Huntington had the right idea, for a grand home like his truly needed a bold and spacious loggia rather than a small modest one.  Don't you agree?

Of course such a wonderful residence has wonderful vistas too.  It must have been fabulous to live in such a grand home, but all along Henry Huntington intended his home to function as a public gallery, which is why less remarkable spaces such as bathrooms and the kitchen were not saved.  It opened to the public in 1928, a year after Henry's death.

[caption id="attachment_2144" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sculpture of George Washington by Pierre-Jean David[/caption]

The Huntington 's art collections occupy two separate buildings on the grounds.  A third structure, The MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, hosts changing exhibitions.

If you visit the Huntington you will find the finest collections of European art in the nation and  The Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art bring together American art from the colonial period through the middle of the 20th century.

Besides all this the Huntington contains  an incredible Botanical Garden.  There is too much to see at one in-person visit or one post visit.  People are truly blessed who live in or near Pasadena, California for they can and should return over and over again.

I hope you have enjoyed popping over to the Huntington with me today and I hope you manage to get there one day in person.  Join me again and we'll return to the Huntington one of these days.  Till then look for the beauty that's all around you.

 The beauty we focus on becomes us.

Spa Day

Hello from another Country Inn Day.  Today is  Spa Day at the Inn and I'm happy to share highlights of this day with you.  Why?  You know.  It's because sharing doubles the joy.

We humans are a mixture of  the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual  ---and  each of these aspects of life  needs careful attention in order to function at its best making  life as rich as possible.  On Spa Days the focus is on the physical.

It's not just about how we look,  though I'm guessing most women feel a lot better if they look in the mirror and are pleased with what they see.  But it's also about how we feel. How we feel  is quite the physical thing.   On Spa Day I can complete a  treatment and look exactly as I looked before that treatment, but I will be feeling ever so much better.  A little pampering goes a long way, and if you believe as I do, that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within us, then hey, we need to keep that temple up.

Spa treatments can be enjoyed right at the Inn (my magical Inn, also called Home) or they can take me "off site"  to a variety of establishments offering additional   pleasures.  This Inn Day I begin with a trip to the Off Main Street Salon  as you can see from their sign.  They promise rejuvenation and that's what my physical being is after today.

I approach the salon with delicious anticipation.

And upon entering who do I see but Pat, one of the owners, who is waiting and ready to pamper me.

"Hi Pat", I say.  "I'm ready for some physical rejuvenation.  Where shall we start?"  Pat suggests the pedicure area.  Well, ok.   And away we go!

One of Pat's helpers steps up.  After all, Pat can't do everything herself.

 I'm sorry, but I forgot to get this nice gal's name, but she sure was friendly and sweet.  Working with nice people on spa days helps the social aspect of life get a boost too.

From the pedicure area I was off for a  shampoo and a few other  hair treatments.  Doesn't it feel great to have someone else shampoo your hair now and then?  Answer:  YES!

Pat has a nice establishment, but after a few delicious hours it was time to say goodbye  till my next visit.  "Bye Pat, Keep up the good work!"  I had  a lovely morning and I did feel somewhat  rejuvenated,  but my Spa Day was not over.  No, not by a long shot.  Treatments would continue back at the Inn.

And here I am, back at my Inn  entering  the boudoir to prepare for my next luscious treat, a relaxing bubble bath.  I have a little pink rubber duckie to keep me company

Nothing like a fragrant bath.   Today the bath water  is laced with Bronnely's Pink Bouquet,  a fragrance that I first discovered on a trip to Bermuda.  Bronnely is an English company and I love their products.

I love all sorts of pretty girlie products like these tall bottles filled with  Mediterranean bath foam infused with various scents - Geranium, Camomile, Moss, and Jasmine.  The balls of bath salts  and large  fragrant bars of moisturizing soap will be enjoyed some other Spa Day.

I could stay in my personal spa hideaway for hours, and the "do not disturb" sign on the door keeps me safe from intruders.  We don't have to go far away to get away from it all.  If you're like me, all you need is a little peace and quiet - some alone time,  and  an atmosphere that is peaceful and pretty.

No, this isn't my ballerina dress.  It's a bit small for me, but to look at lovely things like this while I soak in the tub makes me feel happy.  Just to gaze at things of beauty offers its own refreshment.

But there are all sorts of nice treatments and things that offer refreshment.  To have a book like this one, simply called spa , written by Leslie Wolski, you'll get lots of spa ideas you can enjoy right at home. Here's one spa  idea, and all you need to make it happen is a sink,

a little water,  warm or cold, and a small towel.  Simply place the warm or cold compress across your eyes, lie back and dream dreams while you relax.  What an inexpensive treat.  The Inn Spa offers many of such rejuvenating experiences.

Spa Days can't promise the look of eternal youth.  Nothing really can.  Even this Fountain of Youth potion I purchased in Florida at Ponce de Leon's actual Fountain of Youth didn't make me look a day younger.    But it's not just about how young we look or how good we look.  It's also about how we feel. If we treat ourselves well, pamper ourselves,  just as we'd pamper a precious work of art (and we all are a precious work of art)  then we'll  feel great no matter how we look.

It's not just the physical, though the physical is important.  Our lives are a combination of physical, social, intellectual and spiritual experiences.  We must be attentive to all four aspects of ours lives maintaining each.  We are, after all,

GOD's WONDERFUL WORK OF ART

That's YOU and ME

This reminds me of a song that happens to be called

WONDROUS WORK OF ART.

The song is written by Carey Landry.

My children's choir sings this song.

Here are the lyrics:

Each and every one of us

Is a wondrous work of art

Signed by the hand of God

Some of us are masterpieces painted long ago

On some of us the paint is still wet

So many different colors, so many works of art

Yet each is the handiwork of God

Like clay in the hands of a potter

None of us is finished quite yet

Though each of us is deeply loved exactly as we are

There is always more we can become

Each of us is on a journey started long ago

A journey full of promise, a journey full of hope

We seek the way of truth and life that Jesus came to bring

Guided by the loving hand of God

Yes, Each and everyone of us

Is a wondrous work of Art

Signed by the hand of God.

WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THIS WONDROUS WORK OF ART !

So have yourself a Spa Day

You deserve it!