Embroideries from Colonial Boston

These are the bed curtains and valances from ca 1750 made in colonial New England. They were essential to provide warmth and privacy but the decorative aspect was not neglected.

Historical societies and libraries are full of books and papers written by politicians, scientist, doctors, lawyers etc. The names of women and young girls often are only found in registers of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths. ....

But we have the embroideries in the collection of the MFA which are now exhibited. The respect for the masterly needle work of these Colonial women rises the closer we look and try to figure out HOW they could create these embroideries.


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Healthy teeth are important

The white high rise is Tufts University's Dental School which is right in Boston's Chinatown.
To visit the dentist is therefore combined with food shopping or - depending on the treatment of the dentist - with food eating.

Living in Europe and in the US is wonderful and enriching. If the admiration is getting too much, may we remind you of the problem with having two dentists....

In the professionalism of Tufts Dental School we have confidence and they have an understanding for 'movable' patients. Another bonus is the wonderful view from the waiting room on downtown Boston.


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"Making History"

On December 5, 2007, the Society of Antiquaries in London celebrated their 300 year anniversary. This was the occasion that they exhibited ca 100 of their objects for the public to see. After many visitors had the pleasure there, the show came for the Fall semester to Boston College and then during the Spring semester will reside in Yale.

Today I gave my first tour for the public and they all admired the beautiful installation of these objects.

The portrait of Humfrey Wanley (1672-1726 and one of the three founding members) in the entrance of McMullen gave us an impression of his place in Burlington House in London, the home of the Society:


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Arranged flowers in the Museum of Fine Arts

Early in the morning, before the Museum opens at 10 AM, Museum Associates are busy to get the flower arrangements in the entrance halls ready to be then admired all day.

Today is the beginning of Autumn and therefore the bouquet at the information desk mirrors the colors of the foliage which soon will appear on the trees outside. This composition is made of roses, different kind of orchids, asters, feathers, hydrangeas and much more - you may go and find out for yourself. The twigs are sprayed with gold color, in case you wonder where golden bushes grow.

Go Green - take action

Now when it is still sunny I 'let nature do the work' drying the laundry. Love the smell of sun dried towels!

Turning off the lights, choose to walk, ride a bike, adjust the thermostat, fix water leaks, reuse bags, use efficient light bulbs, recycle more and use public transportation - already a habit for us.
To plant trees and share rides - that is a little more difficult.

All this advise is given on the stamps printed by the United States Postal Service - nice, but let's figure out what the footprint is of an e-mail and of a 'snail mail'........

Scandinavian Library

A meeting place for all Scandinavian book lovers in the Boston area, is this library which is housed in the Scandinavian Living Center and were we find books and friends to chat in non-English. The best day is to visit on Saturdays.
Heidi and Astrid are the founders and continue to be the 'heart and soul' to this place. Thank you both for your time and dedication!


And the books I chose? "August Strindberg" and "Fraan Helvetet till paradiset" both written by
Olof Lagercrantz. Astrid recommended 'PURGE' by Sofi Oksanen, a Finnish writer, which I just started to read in English. Wrenching.

The West Wing is now the Linde Family Wing

Last year in the Fall the MFA opened on its East side the AMERICAN WING - this Fall it is the West Wing which opened with seven renovated galleries the LINDE FAMILY WING.

For us who worked there for over 20 years (!) the first recognizable change is that instead of the escalators there is now a staircase. As a 'Happening' a young women in a red organza evening dress climbed dignified in slow motion the steps.

She forced us to go around her, slow down and try to read her facial expression - seemingly blank. When we passed her we had to look back and wondered what that was all about.
Like all the objects of art offered - it surprises, makes us wonder and think and forget ourselves for a while.


When the opening ceremonies are over next week, we will have more time to look again at the installation of - for us - new and old objects.
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All time favorite - Russo's

This is one of the things which I enjoy when coming back to Boston: buying fresh corn at Russo's

One can pick and remove the husk while there.
How to cook them? Leave some of the thin husk leaves on the cob. Put them in the micro covered with parchment paper and push 'potatoes' button and the amount of cobs. Takes ca 11 minutes. Easy! Butter and salt not necessary but wait some minutes not to burn your mouth.


At least two different ways to eat them: horizontal or circular - does not matter as long as you eat slowly!
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Beacon Hill, the heart of Boston

Sometimes we visit Beacon Hill which is, like Gamla Stan for Stockholm, the old town of Boston.

Living in the suburbs is different and we can forget how attractive this part of Boston is. We stroll around, eat perhaps in a restaurant, window shop and then drive the 15 minutes on the Express way home again.

As long as we have Boston College Law School in walking distance, it makes no sense for us to live downtown.



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9/11, 2011

Today was the same sunny day as it was 10 years ago when terrorists flew in the Twin Towers in New York. The sky was not as crystal clear as it was then - small clouds lingered behind the flag on half mast on the Sear's tower in Boston.



It was a memorial day, filled with hope for a future with peace and compassion. In the public worship today in the Harvard Memorial Church, the preacher was Professor David Gergen from the Harvard Kennedy School. Among other, he pointed out, that we can not change the past but we can have a positive impact on our future.

Boston College campus life

Last Monday was Labour Day and that is a sign that summer school vacation is over and classes of the Fall semester started at most universities. Many extra curricular activities are offered from students associations and to introduce them to the new combers, tables were set up today in the main entrance on the Campus. I like to stroll around and see what is new and am always surprised about the plethora of activities offered to get engaged in.
This one I applaud:


"Sustainability" is the word we should remember and act on! Remember that we talked about this in the seventies??? Wait - the class of 2015 was born 1992 - how could they know!


They certainly know about computers and blogging and when the photos go black what to do....... now I learned it too: the "privacy setting" I have to remember not to touch!

Tower Hill Botanic Garden

Driving ca one hour to the West and we arrived at Tower Hill which is beautiful located near the Wachusett reservoir and north of Worcester. We have to visit again later in the Fall because yesterday was hot and humid and the view from the Hill was hazy.

The flower beds are composed with unusual colors and specimens and the walk through the large area is educational if one takes the time to read all the posters placed at the walk way.
The unusual Hibiscus above is called "5th dimension" and how can one describe the colors - yellow and grey?

The garden belongs to the Worcester County Horticultural Society and counts on many volunteers and private donations. Garden people are very passionate!

September and a new semester

Hello all my readers - if you comment or send me an e-mail I will know who you are. In the meantime I continue for the 5th month posting my photos and comments and give you web links. Depending on your interest and time you may enjoy to surf on them.

All the glitches which still happen will eventually be less. With the help of friendly young Apple instructors I will learn the magic possibilities of my MacBook...........



Yesterday I visited the MFA and met feverish builder crews in the former West Wing repairing and fixing and hammering and installing to get ready for the opening of the 'Linde Wing' (same wing) on September 17th. Hard to walk around on the West side of the museum, I went to the American Wing to the East which had last November its big opening. - Many large changes are happening in the MFA this last years.

In the high glassed in courtyard there are now two sculptures installed in which forms I could recognize the two different attitudes visitors have to all the new changes happening:

Dale Chihuly's "Lime Green icicle Tower" (blown glass on steel armature)


and then Zhan Wang's "Artificial Rock # 85" (stainless steel)


How do YOU feel about the New MFA?