Recent Trips

Utah
In September I went to Provo, Utah, where my friend Paul works as a screenwriting professor and occasionally invites me to be a guest lecturer.  I stay with Paul's family, and they have an AMAZING garden, with: tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, Yukon gold potatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, LOTS of herbs, three kinds of grapes, an apple tree and raspberries:

They also have two dogs.  Sophie is the border collie in the front.  Behind her is Igor, who I swear is part bear.  He's very old and has arthritis, so he has this very stiff, regal walk.  It's quite intimidating.

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Hudson Valley

There was gorgeous scenery on this trip, thanks to lots of fall foliage.  However, due to the rain (a nor'easter blew through) and my newfound guilt about taking photos, due to a column by Sierra Magazine's Mr. Green, I didn't take any photos, so illustrations will have to come from the websites of the places we went.

These included:

1. The Nelson Rockfeller estate.
2. The Vanderbilt mansion   (what money will buy you)
3. Storm King Art Center: a HUGE and very cool outdoor sculpture garden
4. Dia: Beacon: a modern art museum located in an old Nabisco Factory

I loved Beacon and definitely want to go back.  We had lunch at this great restaurant that had the most amazing vegetarian meatloaf I've ever eaten.

So, until I get a phone that takes pictures and that I can charge on a solar charger, eco-guilt will limit my picture taking.  If anyone knows of a small camera you can charge via a solar charger, let me know...