First of 3 Days off!

Weir Farm NHS

June 18 -  Time for 3 days off!  Not that our work is hard or long hours but everyone looks forward to doing some site seeing.  We were on the road at 9:15 and it was about 2 hours getting to Weir Farm National Historic Site.  It’s the only site dedicated to the arts.  Julian Weir acquired 153 acres in 1882 and it became his summer house.  He made many changes to the place and added a studio since he was an artist with a love of fishing and outdoor sports.  The property passed to his daughter, also an artist, and was later bought by an artist who encouraged other artists to come there to work, and so it evolved.  Unfortunately for us, we were allowed on the grounds but the buildings are not open to the public but Thursday – Sunday.  Oh well!

This was the far most point west we planned to go so on the way back we made as many stops as possible.  We spotted a Whole Foods store and I thought ahead and put ice in our cooler so we picked up a few things there and had lunch at the Panera next door.  We were told of a Trader Joes’ nearby as I was using one of my many Trader Joe bags.  We stopped there for a few things but I was disappointed they did not have any white cheddar with chocolate.  Guess that was for the best!

Just a few of the clocks on display

Right off the interstate was the Timexpo in Waterbury, CT.  It’s the Timex watch museum.  Timex was originally the Waterbury Clock Company and the museum covered the history of Waterbury Clock through it’s

Easter Island statue
out front

migration to Timex.  There was a huge assortment of watches, clocks, grandfather clocks dating back to 1857.  Some were gorgeous and others were downright gaudy.  It was very interesting.  Their gift shop sells watches!  Surprise, surprise!  If you could not find a watch you liked there then you weren’t trying very hard.  Everything was 50% off retail and there was a clearance group of 80% off.  Bill was surprised that I didn’t buy a watch as I am a watch person, but they all have leather or adjustable straps and I love my clip on bands that I don’t need to adjust.  For some reason there was also an exhibit on the Easter Islands.  We weren’t sure about the connection other than the family in charge of Timex at the time were close friends of the man doing this particular study of the Easter Islands.  There were replicas of statues of those from the islands and boats built and tested to explain how people could have arrived at the islands. 

The new coffee table

Other than a quick stop for gas we headed home.  I was hoping to get back before the office closed at 5:30 as our new coffee table was due to be delivered today and I didn’t want it locked up in the Rec Hall.  It had not come but later Steve brought it out to us as it came late.  We took our walk around the park and came back and set up the new table.  It’s perfect and we think we know exactly where to put it folded up for travel.

I made a batch of beef jerky and dinner and we watched some TV and I did some email while I got a signal.