WOW! These last few weeks have been pure madness! Starting at the end of May it has been a nonstop cycle of running here and there, although I did manage a few shopping trips along the way :-} Who can resist a chance encounter with a bookshop? Or finding a cute little boutique and snagging that to-die-for dress?
Besides the browsing and buying, that went on, I also checked out The Feast of the Flowering moon, a Native America-inspired festival that was held in Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital. I have to say that the festival failed to impress, sad to say I had more interest in the family of swans that were moseying about than the actual festival.
(I am surprised she allowed me close enough to snap these pictures)
(I cannot leave out these cute little ducks that were swimming about)
I will say Ohio’s First Capital does have some rather interesting historical sites to offer. Sadly, I only had time to check out Adena.
Adena Mansion, completed in 1806-1807, was the 2,000-acre estate of Thomas Worthington, Ohio’s sixth governor and one of Ohio’s first United States Senators. Adena is one of only three houses designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe* that is still standing in the country.
Although once comprised of 2,000 acres only 300 remain. On those 300 acres, you will find the original homestead, five outbuildings and a highly impressive formal garden.
Another area of interest is the north lawn of Adena. Looking east from the north lawn, one can see across the Scioto River Valley to the Logan Range. This view was the inspiration for the Great Seal of Ohio
As I was taking in the view from the north lawn, and mentally removing the modern houses that have since been place there, the guide from Adena told the story of how the inspiration for the seal came about.
“Thomas Worthington and a few good friends had wondered onto the north lawn after attending a soiree at Adena. Apparently the small party had partaken in one too many of the spirits that were offered and passed out upon the north lawn. Awakening the next morning as the sun arose, they were drawn to the beauty of what they were witnessing, and thus deemed the scene worthy to be Ohio’s Great Seal.”
Apparently the creation of Ohio’s State Seal can be attributed to a drunken folly.
*Benjamin Henry Latrobe was a British-born American architect whose buildings include, The United States Capital, the east and west colonnades of the White House, St. John’s Church, Christ Church and many other historic buildings.
Unfortunately, the festival and Adena were the only two places of interest that I was able to see. The week that followed consisted of graduations, parties, picnics, and a massive amount of work when I returned home. I had little time to read, only managing to read one book: A Weekend With Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly which was released Sourcebooks this month, so watch for the review to come!
June 4 was filled with a surprise visit from a friend who brought me a lovely cloth map of Scotland as well as an odd proposal to, and I quote, “take a turn in the garden.” I believe he has been watching/reading up on his Jane Austen. Nothing grand happened while ‘taking a turn in the garden’ other than me being chewed alive by a swarm of mosquitoes.
I did manage to start a reread of Northanger Abbey, which happens to be my second favorite Jane Austen novel. Due to the massive pile of paperwork that greeted me when I arrived back at work, I am still reading Northanger Abbey, although I only have two chapters left!
For me it’s a three-day weekend! :-) Which means, I *FINALLY* have a chance to catch-up on my TBR pile, which at this moment is growing at a steady pace. This week I have amassed a grand total of 38 books! Most are review books with release dates spanning from the end of June to August. The others I have purchased.
The books that I have purchased are the following:
The Invasion of Falgannon Isle by Deborah MacGillivray
*A book about an Isle that has 213 single Scotsmen. If there is an Isle like that somewhere, please sign me up for a visit!
Improper English by Katie MacAlister
Erin Song by Diana Groe
The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer
The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley (nonfiction)
Queen Elizabeth I by Susan Doran (nonfiction)
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I am looking forward to spending this weekend with a cuppa tea and a few good books.
I will let you know how many I finish!
Until next time,
Best Wishes & Happy Reading,
Gorgeous pictures!
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