What A Long Strange Trip It Has Been

I Miss John Every Day

I apologize, dear reader, for not posting in several months.  I have the standard excuse: I have been rather busy with my life, having fun and working in the shop.  In fact, they are the same activity.

Every year around this time I make an effort to do something special for Kristen, who has a birthday in April.  Spring is the best time of the year to get out and enjoy the outdoors, so we usually end up at a nice hotel with gardens, ocean, lakes or mountains.  This year I thought I would put them all together.

I made a promise to spend her birthday at the Du Pont Hotel in Wilmington, where they have one of the most famous Sunday brunches on the East Coast.  I started planning the trip last November, and carefully plotted the activities, using maps and the web so that the trip would run like clockwork.

Just before we left I completed and delivered Clock #6 (photos to follow in another post) and an Art Deco cabinet for a special client in Bel Air.  That provided the funds and a good excuse to take a trip. My partner, Patrice, ran the business in our absence and spent his time building a large Renaissance Library Table for another client.

Kristen is a dedicated gardner and I am somewhat of a woodworker.  Here is our home in San Diego with the Craftsman house we built using a 1926 design, and her front garden.  The back garden is much larger and more spectacular.

Home is Where the Heart Is.

 We took a Holland America ship from San Diego.  We like the smaller ships (with no kids!)

Leaving San Diego

Our cruise went South along the Mexican coast, and we stopped in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Canal and Columbia.  The best coffee was in Guatemala.

Back Country Transportation in Mexico

Beautiful Mexican Coast 

Wonderful Town in Mexico 

This stop in Mexico was amazing.  They had a first class museum and an ancient pyramid to visit.  They also recycle 100% of their water!

Jungle in Costa Rica

First Time on Panama Canal

Impressive Doors in Columbia

After we left Columbia, we headed North to Florida with only one more stop.  Holland America has a small private island and they usually end up the cruise with a rest stop.  It is a real chance to completely forget everything else in the world.  One of the best beaches we have ever seen.

Time to Rest

When we arrived in Florida we picked up the rental car and began our land portion of the trip.  The first stop was in Savannah.  Kristen got an ice cream and I got some oysters.  The city is designed around parks which are situated about every other block.  It is a wonderful place to walk.

Ancient Trees in Savannah

Our next stop was with an old friend, Bert Declerck and his family.  Bert is a true genius in many areas, and, in particular, in woodworking.  When he was 19 he taught himself how to build furniture and cut marquetry.  His first project was to copy the Oben desk which is sitting in the library at Musee Nissim de Camondo.  Everyone thought he was crazy, but he proved them wrong.  His copy is absolutely perfect in every respect, and is the only copy ever made of this iconic desk.

Bert's First Woodworking Project

From Bert's home, we traveled to visit Roy Underhill.  Roy and Jane live in a Mill House on a river.  It is a magical place and Roy has imprinted it with his particular personality.  I have said many times that Roy is a National Treasure and has single handedly kept alive the tradition of hand crafts for the past 30 years, with his PBS show, "The Woodwright's Shop."

Tree Grows Through Tractor

I Love This Man!

Roy and I went to his School for a visit and I had to spend some time (and money) in Ed Lebetkin's store above the school.  Ed is a great tool dealer and collector and I always find something "necessary" when I visit.

Must Have Tools!!!

The next top was visiting Andy Rae and Brian Boggs in Asheville.  Andy is coming to San Diego this Fall to speak to our local woodworking group and Brian is actively designing some of the best new furniture in this country.

In Asheville, Kristen and I spent the day visiting Biltmore, the largest residence ever built in this country.

"Just a Modest Summer Home"

Driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway along the mountains, we came to Monticello, where I had a chance to sit and reflect on life.

Sharing The View With Jefferson

They Use Old Brown Glue To Repair Furniture Here

We also stopped at Madison's place down the road, driving to Fredericksburg and ending up in Washington at the Capitol.  We were invited to tour the workshops on the House side of the Capitol.  I must say that after the tour, wandering around the tunnels under the Capitol and observing the creatures who work there, I have a new opinion of the TV series "Veep".  It is not a comedy.  It is a reality show.

My host was Josh English, who has taken some classes at the American School of French Marquetry, and was kind enough to take me on a tour of the cabinet, finishing, upholstery and drapery workshops, as well as other interesting stops on the House side.  It is important to note that there is an invisible line down the center of the Capitol where the House and Senate population never cross.

Josh English, House Cabinetmaker

While we were in Washington, I made a point to stop at Hillwood House, built for Marjorie Merriweather Post, of cereal fame and fortune.  Her collection is certainly one of the best I have ever seen, and in the best condition.  It is a pleasure to visit and the gardens are spectacular as well.

Amazing Tapestry

Italian Pietre Dure Table Leaf

Ms. Post had several homes and is responsible for building Mar a Lago, in Florida.

When she sold Mar a Lago she kept only one piece of furniture, which she had transported to her Hillwood House in Washington.  This was a Dining Table, with leaves, which weighs over 6 tons.  One of the leaves is shown here, and it takes 4 strong men to put it in place.  The table was made for her in Italy and took several years to manufacture.

One of a Thousand Flower Photos I Took On the Trip

Leaving Washington, we went next to Winterthur for a conference organized by the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.  It was extremely well managed and we were able to spend the day visiting the Conservation Lab, Scientific Lab, Research Library and Selected Objects Study room.

For me it was a chance to reflect on the summer of 1978, when I lived for 3 months in a camper on the North edge of the parking lot.  I was attending the Summer Institute, and fondly remember Frank Sommer, who gave me full access to the library and its collection of rare books.

I had a chance to meet and talk with Charlie Hummel during this conference.  He still works there and seems to defy aging.  Remember, he first came as a student to Winterthur in 1952!  His book, "With Hammer in Hand" and the purchase and installation of the Dominy workshop at Winterthur was one of the first inspirations I had to encourage my career in woodworking.

Charles Hummel in the Rotunda

Dominy Workshop at Winterthur

We spent two beautiful days at Winterthur and the gardens were in full bloom.

Not Photo Shopped!

Springtime at Winterthur

Driving all the back roads and avoiding the Interstate meant that we had time to stop in bookstores and shops out of the way.  We found this ancient barn in Bucks county which had 5 floors of books.  I managed to find quite a few that needed to go home with me.

Bring Money Take Books

Finally, it was time to enjoy Kristen's birthday at the Du Pont Hotel in Wilmington.  We had a nice evening, great room and took 4 hours to consume the brunch the next day.  If you are ever in Wilmington on a weekend, take the time to visit.  It is very civilized.

Looking Better Every Year

Leaving Winterthur we next went to Longwood Gardens.  Open 365 days a year, this is clearly the largest and most interesting garden in the country.  The green house is over 4 acres in size!  What a joy it must be to work there.

My Favorite Tree

More Tulips Than You Can Count

One Small Area of Longwood Gardens

On the way to New York City, we had a chance to have lunch with Frank and Edith Klausz.  Frank made us Hungarian Goulash which was one of the most memorable meals on this trip.  He is happy in retirement and we had a wonderful visit with them both.  Frank has always supported me and my work and I owe him a lifetime of gratitude and thanks.

I Love This Man Too!

We were able to stay in New York City for three days, thanks to a good friend, who lives on the upper West Side.  We had a free parking space on the street in front of the apartment, which is amazing, and we were directly across Central Park from the Met.  I spent some quality time with Joe Godla at the Frick and Cynthia Moyer at the Met, both old friends from the Getty Conservation Lab years ago at Malibu.

We first went to the New York Historical Society museum to see Duncan Phyfe's tools.

Very Clean and Sharp

Then we went to the Frick.  Joe said that they don't allow photos in the museum.  They tried it for one week and people were falling all over themselves taking selfies, so they decided just to forbid any photos.  I find it sad that people go to museums and take photos of themselves.  However, when I do it I think it is fine...

Perhaps the Best Museum in America

Three days is not enough to even walk through the Met.  I was able to see most of the objects I like, but every time I turned a corner I was faced with the choice to go ahead or turn one way or another.  No matter what route I took it was wonderful.

The American Wing

American Craftsmanship

The Met has the most precious work of art from the Italian Renaissance in this country, the Studiolo from the Ducal Palace at Gubbio.  It is a room 12' x 16' (ironically, the same size as my workbench room at the shop) and to stand in it is a real thrill.  How many people have had the chance to stand in this space during the past 500 years?

Standing in the 15th Century

The three days we spent in New York City were sunny, warm and clear.  It was San Diego weather.  The day we left they had a record 3" of rain.  The subways were flooded.  We didn't mind; we were driving away from the storm, up the Hudson.  We stopped at Olana and then spent the night at Pittsfield, in the Berkshires.

I have written many times about my relationship with the Shakers and Faith Andrews.  I am always excited to wander around Hancock and experience the energy left behind by the Shakers.  It is a magical place.  I am not crazy, but their ghosts speak to me.  

Hancock Shaker Village

It's A Gift To Be Simple

We drove across upper Mass, avoiding large roads, exploring the mountains, on our way to Salem.  There we spent 4 days, enjoying New England and visiting with Phil Lowe.  I was able to give a lecture to a small group at his school, the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts and have some more oysters.

I did not visit the Salem Witch House, but stuck the camera out the window and took a shot as we drove by...

Tourists Stop Here

We ended up our tour in Boston, and spent the day at the Museum of Fine Arts.  This is another great museum, and they are always changing their displays. 

MFA Boston

Interesting Floor under 18th Century Room Group

We flew back home from Boston and reflected on our journey.  First of all, we live in a great country and it is essential for all of us to take the time to enjoy our riches.  Travel while you are able and spend time off the beaten path.  Take the road less travelled...

And finally, in the immortal words of a young actress, "There's no place like home."

"There's no place like home."

"There's no place like home."