Johnny had made an appointment at 11 am to preview Rago's auction items in Lambertville, New Jersey. It was about a half hour drive from our hotel. He had said last night that we would leave about 9. I stayed up until midnight watching a PBS special on Pope Francis. I forgot to set my alarm and woke up at 8 :15! I figured I had plenty of time then Johnny called and said "no rush but we are heading downstairs!" So I threw everything into my carry on bag and headed down. I didn't want anything from the hotel breakfast because we were going to eat breakfast before the auction preview.
I asked J & V if they had seen the terrible political commercials on TV - Republicans showcasing their guns in their political ads. One guy - Mike McCormick? - even had his mother in his ad saying she was the best shot in the family - vote for her son! I believe in the right to have a gun - but certainly not assault weapons and certainly not numerous guns. I have cousins who hunt - they need guns for that. That's no problem but making political ads showcasing your prowess at shooting and showcasing your assault weapon! That's a problem. I went to a firing range once - my friend was going out with a federal police officer, and he took us to the range down near Greenough Boulevard. I don't know what kind of gun I held, but it was heavy and cold - and I was surprised at the power in it when I fired at the target. I have been afraid of guns ever since. These political ads scared me too.
As we drove out of the hotel, it was raining and windy. We passed a car covered with pink dogwood blossoms - the ground was carpeted in pink blossoms - talk about yellow brick road - this road was pink! I was worrying about my tulips which had just bloomed before we left!
We drove through Titusville - a cute little village with houses sandwiched between the Delaware River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Some of the houses were built back in 1870-1890 - the gilded age. There was so much green - trees, shrubs, grasses - and the flowers were so colorful. We drove along the Delaware River and the canal - there seemed to be miles of walking paths. I was looking at the trees - their branches stretching upwards like arms - some trees were bent - perhaps from the effort of keeping their arms outstretched.
We saw a one lane wooden bridge so of course we had to cross it - it led to a small parking area and the entrance to someone's mansion! We turned around and headed on. We passed through Dilly's Corner then over a bridge to Stockton - another cute village. We drove through New Hope over the river to Lambertville - both have so many enchanting houses, shops, restaurants. There are row houses and single homes. We love this area - especially this time of year. We found the same parking space we had last night!! We walked around the corner to the luncheonette for breakfast - it was still raining and cold. We waited a few minutes for a table - only every other one was being used because of covid but no one wore masks.
After breakfast we drove to Rago's auction house - we were able to go in early to preview the auction items. I know Rago's from PBS' Antique Road Show. I was able to recognize a mirror by Wharton Esherick by its uneven sides - none were the same length - we had just been to his museum yesterday. I saw a couple of pieces by George Nakashima - there were more but I am not familiar enough with him to pick them all out. Suzanne Perrault, who is married to gallery owner David Rago, was there making coffee for a man also there to preview items. She was telling him that they are finally going to Italy next month if all goes well.
We headed down to the other storeroom a few minutes away - it was really raining now. Johnny recognized a lot of the pieces and the artists. I am amazed at how much these pieces are worth - thousands of dollars! And some look like ordinary tables and chairs! As Johnny said you are buying pieces of art.
From Rago's we drove a short distance to George Nakashima's studio. He was a Japanese-American woodworker, architect, and a leader of the Arts and Crafts Movement. He was interned during WWII but was sponsored to move to New Hope, Pennsylvania where he set up his studio. Johnny and Vickie have been interested in his work for years. Johnny tried to book a tour with George Nakashima's daughter Mira who is also a woodworker and who runs his studio - she does tour on the first Saturday of the month. The tour was booked up, but Johnny persisted saying that he had several pieces of both George's and Mira's and that it was his 50th wedding anniversary and he wanted to stop by the shop. George's grandson told Johnny to arrive about 12:15 on Saturday when the gift shop would be open after the tour. Mira was just finishing up with the tour when we arrived. We kind of hung in the background until Mira had signed the tour group's books. Johnny then approached her - she seemed surprised when she learned we had come from Cape Cod - she was also surprised when Johnny was describing the pieces he had bought of hers and her father's. Mira is a small little lady - it is hard to imagine her working with a huge slab of wood! She was very generous with her time - J & V bought a few small pieces - Mira signed one congratulating them on their 50th anniversary. J & V were delighted!
This was the end of our trip except to stop by Judy and John's further north in New Jersey - they own a house in Bourne beside J&V. John and Judy had just bought a new house - it was fabulous - so much light! Judy had fixed a lunch for us which was so kind of her - what hospitality! We had a lovely visit but finally had to hit the road - it was a 5 hour drive home.
The rain had stopped by the time we left - so it was easier driving for Johnny. We were on route 95 when it got dark. There is something about looking out at the lights in the dark that I enjoy. Sometimes in the rural or wooded areas where you can see a couple of lights in the distance - this reminds me of driving in Ireland in the dark - the lights away on the hillsides.
We made it home about 10:15 - I was home in bed shortly thereafter watching the local 11 pm news then Saturday Night Live with Benedict Cumberbatch! Another interesting jaunt completed!!
No comments:
Post a Comment