Anniversary Day

"They have this arrangement. He earns the money and she takes care of the house."


The New Yorker had this cartoon in one of its magazines in the Spring of 1977.  (See the
bellbottomed trousers of the two ladies!) We thought that was very humorous.

At the same time, this was our plan when we decided on a life together 36 years ago.

36 years together - how appropriate that 36 is both a rational number and a composite number.

Composite from  Latin 'componere' which means 'put together'......

Rainbow colors

Remember the Seventies?  Of course you do because it was not so long time ago....... Surprised to see the exhibition of the Textile department in the MFA? (http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/hippie-chic?gclid=CJb78crI7rkCFYSd4AodDkUAfw)

Three personal surprises:  1) to see young visitors amazed discovering this fashion;  2) to see the flower arrangement in the Information Center with hippie roses and

 3) the music box to choose songs from the Seventies seemed to be the most popular 

feature of the show.

Would you know the order of the colors in a rainbow? Just remember the following mnemonic:

ROY G. BIV   (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)

Second in New England

We in Boston tend to forget the second largest city in New England - Worcester.  An easy drive 65 km to the West and there is the city with WAM - Worcester Art Museum.  That again is the second largest Art Museum in New England.
From archeological sites in Antioch (Turkey) beautiful mosaics were brought to this museum which impress immediately at the main entrance hall.  For example this 'Vine Scroll Floor Mosaic' with peacock and rooster which is just a small part.  It was made in the 6th century and still a pleasure to discover the intricate details and colors.

This museum was founded 1898 and has now beautiful objects from antiquity to modern art. For museum and art lovers a great place to visit more often.  More info if you click on:
http://www.worcesterart.org/Information/information.html

Another side of Worcester one could experience is at the 10th ROCK AND SHOCK festival which happens between October 18 - 20 at the Palladium and DCU Center. Tickets are still available!

Metaphor (Yale Art Gallery 2)

In today's German election chancellor Angela Merkel won a landslide personal victory while in France president Francois Hollande hit an all time low in approval ratings.  Here in Washington, the US Congress faces the possibility of a government shutdown. ...  Enough to wonder about politics.

In my thoughts lingers the sculpture by Paul Forte:  

'Headstone (Laying NO to rest)'  made in 2005 then his reaction to the politics at that time.

http://pauljforte.com/

A Teaching Museum

After a 14 year renovation, the Yale University Art Gallery reopened last year and excited everyone who had the possibility to visit it.  We went there yesterday. Three hours drive in sunny weather, to spend four hours in New Haven before returning to Boston.  It gave us just enough time to grasp the richness of their collection and to admire the history of the different architectural styles.

The museum's oldest building is from 1866, then the first addition from 1928 and the third by the famous architect Louis I. Kahn opened 1953.  His tetrahedral ceilings favor the acoustics and is at the same time decorative.  While we took a pause in the sculpture garden the quiet slow movements of Rickey's  'Two Planes Vertical-Horizontal' sculpture played with the sun rays in a pleasant  way. 

This museum has free entrance not only to the students but all visitors and is a true proof of the generosity of thousands of donors during the 280 years it existed. 

http://www.yale.edu/museums/

Birds and words

This photo can not do justice to the beauty of Audubon's bird pictures.   But an enjoyable exhibition in the MFA does (until May 11, 2014).  http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/audubons-birds-audubons-words

Jean-Jaques Audubon (1785-1851), with French as his first language, wrote precise and poetic texts to describe his pictures when they were printed in book form. 

Many of the birds are now extinct, like these Carolina Parrots.   With their yellow heads and general size, they differ from the Rose-ringed parakeets infesting European parks and woods!

Somewhat astonished we hear John James Audubon (as he is known in the US) explaining to us the way he achieved the beautiful bird pictures:

Oops!  Yes, thanks to him we can still admire the beauty of birds now extinct and yes, we have to do better in regard to our ecology in the next 100 years. 

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

Just a hamburger?

America has one speciality which in its simplicity can be delicious.  After being abroad it is something to long for, to have a freshly grilled hamburger with a slice of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes.

Of course there is McDonald, which we avoid even in France. There they have now discovered a well made hamburger and it is served in many bistros. 

The 'haute de gamme' hamburger chain 'Shake Shack' will soon open in Paris.

http://www.shakeshack.com/location/chestnut-hill/

Before Paris they opened in the neighborhood in Chestnut Hill and with both hunger and curiosity we went and stood in line.  There is a visual difference to McDo with all the fresh plants in the restaurant.

And the marketing, as you can see in the link, is cleverly geared to a young crowd.

How did it taste? The meat was juicy but Buff's in Newton Corner is still the favorite.