Willard Chapel

At the end of April we headed north to see family with a stop over in Auburn, NY.  One of the reasons for stopping there was the Willard Memorial Chapel, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  It's the only remaining chapel totally designed by Tiffany that remains intact.

It was originally part of a seminary which long since moved from the town.  After several owners it was purchased to preserve it though funds are sorely needed to bring it back to its original splendor.

Tiffany, known for his stained glass work, was also responsible in this chapel for all the finishes: woodwork, colors, tile floor, and all decor. Or I should say his staff was.  He never visited this chapel.

I did not get an outside photo but took this one from the video.  It's the building on the left.

The lighting was very dim.  It was not a sunny day outside plus the chandeliers produced little light.

The chapel is available to rent for events like weddings or memorial services.  You'd have to hope for a sunny day otherwise it would be a dismal affair there.

By the way a great book to read about Tiffany is "Clara and Mr. Tiffany" by Susan Vreeland.  

Postscript to Yesterday's Post

Postscript: Monday afternoon.  Went to the library to pick up the only book available of all that I put on hold.  Started reading it, ["In This Grave Hour" by Jacqueline Winspear] and thought this is too familiar.  Went back to my book list and found it last year.  I can't read it again because I know how it comes out.  That jumped out at me right away.

Thanks for the suggestions.  Cynthia's suggestion has a long waiting list.  I'm #95!  Kitty's suggestion is available but hadn't arrived from the branch where there was a copy available when I went to my branch this afternoon.

I'm going to read a magazine and drink my tea out on the balcony in the sun.

This is a Post About Books

Reading is an important part of my daily life and I usually have a book to read.  For those interested in knowing I keep a running list on this blog of the books I've read.  

The last book I read was "The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning".  Strange title I know but its about getting rid of your "stuff" so your children or heirs don't have to.  We did much of this already before we moved to this retirement apartment.  So it was nice to know why we did what we did.  I plan to do more culling with my cookbooks by photocopying the recipes I liked from the books and giving the books away.  That is on my to do list for one day in the future.

But the main purpose of this posting is to lament the lack of successful reads since the Death Cleaning book.  Has this ever happened to you?  You start a book you think you're going to like but can't get into it.  Here's a list of books I've started and stopped reading:

"The Girls in the Picture" by Melanie Benjamin.  I selected this one because I read "The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb" which she wrote.  That was great, this one not so.

"No Man's Land" by Simon Tolkien.  Again selected because of three other mysteries of his that I read.  This one was terrible.

"The Weight of Water" by Anita Shreve.  I read "The Stars Are Fire" not too long ago and it was a good read.  This one, blah!

"The Lying Game" by Ruth Ware.  I couldn't get beyond the first chapter and now "All the Beautiful Lies" by Peter Swanson, I can't get beyond the summary on the flap.

I think I have been spoiled by some excellent writing.  "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles was superb. Have you read it?

I went to the library website last night and searched for some books to place on hold.  I hope I'm successful in finding something to read soon.  

Maybe I'll need to go back and re-read an old favorite like "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" or one from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

I'm open to suggestions for books to read!

Retirement Living

There are lots of advantages to living in a retirement home one of which is the friends you make with a wide range of ages 60-100+.  One of the disadvantages then is the death of these friends.

We lost a dear friend last week.  Dunbar was 92.  He and his wife were some of the first friends we made here.  Dunbar gave my husband Dan an airplane model to fly from our 11th floor.  Dan assembled it and had Dunbar make the first flight.  We still have that plane.

Dunbar was a gentleman and he will be sorely missed.