What, may you ask, do I do in between research trips? Well, I've been staying at my brother's home in northwest New Jersey, and spending most of my days (and some nights) at my friend's cottage on Swartzwood Lake, which is very conducive to quiet study and reflection. (My brother and his wife are currently experiencing the trials and tribulations of bathroom remodeling.)
While primarily I read, study and take notes on various background readings, I do get in an occasional bike ride, some kayaking, and plenty of photography. When I find a spare moment, I try to keep up with my journal and blog. And, although I haven't done a lot of serious writing for my project yet (due to the unfinished nature of my research), I have written some poetry!
I've become a casual observer and fan of swan behavior. There is a flock who make the cove right outside the cottage their home. I've seen more black bear and wild turkey in this area than I've ever seen in Montana - and I saw a bald eagle right before my trip to Boston.
When my son Colin was here, I took him to some of my favorite old haunts near the Delaware Water Gap. He was feverishly snapping digital pictures. I asked him why. He said, "Nobody in Montana will believe that there's a dirt road in New Jersey."
Who would've thought - in Joisey?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Harvard Research
On Monday, October 8th (Columbus Day) I drove to Newton, MA, where I stayed with Emily's folks (John and Sheila) to begin my research at Cambridge. I hopped the "T" every morning at rush hour to begin my day at the Houghton Reading Room precisely at the 9:00 a.m. opening hour (very civilized). Upon my arrival Tuesday morning, the curator greeted me with a book truck full of resources specific to my subject. (We had been in touch via e-mail leading up to my arrival on the Harvard campus.) For the next three days, I discovered little treasures among the resources in the Theodore Roosevelt collection, among them the Anna Cowles letters and the notes of biographers Carleton Putnam and Hermann Hagedorn.
One evening I stayed in Boston to meet a friend and take in just a few of the sights - most notably the North End, where I've never tasted better canolis. If I had one regret about my time there, it would be that I didn't take full advantage of the sightseeing opportunities - but it's a mere four hour drive from north Jersey, so perhaps I'll return.
On my way back I took the long, scenic route, driving through places like Walden Pond, and Robert Frost and Norman Rockwell country. I stayed overnight in Bennington Vermont, took plenty of photos of covered bridges, and bought up the state's surplus of maple syrup. As the east coast has been having some unseasonably warm weather this fall, the leaves have not yet attained their peak color; however, the deciduous countryside is still beautiful and I'm continually amazed by the quaintness of the small towns of the New England and mid-Atlantic states.
One evening I stayed in Boston to meet a friend and take in just a few of the sights - most notably the North End, where I've never tasted better canolis. If I had one regret about my time there, it would be that I didn't take full advantage of the sightseeing opportunities - but it's a mere four hour drive from north Jersey, so perhaps I'll return.
On my way back I took the long, scenic route, driving through places like Walden Pond, and Robert Frost and Norman Rockwell country. I stayed overnight in Bennington Vermont, took plenty of photos of covered bridges, and bought up the state's surplus of maple syrup. As the east coast has been having some unseasonably warm weather this fall, the leaves have not yet attained their peak color; however, the deciduous countryside is still beautiful and I'm continually amazed by the quaintness of the small towns of the New England and mid-Atlantic states.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Summer in September
A little birdie told me it was time to update my blog, and indeed, it's been over a month since I posted any news - so here is the first installment...
When I returned from Europe, I spent the month of September at my home on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. I have never been able to enjoy it outside of the high tourist season before, and I found it a wonderful way to collect my thoughts about the research I collected overseas and do some serious reading, note-taking, and a little writing.
Since my "summer" spent in Europe was on the chilly side, the sunny days and warm temperatures (high 70's, low 80's) were welcome. The days intertwined into one another so seamlessly that I really lost track of time down there. The first week (immediately following Labor Day), there was plenty of extended family around, which made for pleasant company. The second two weeks of the month, I had the house to myself (with the exception of a very fun mid-week visit from a dear childhood friend). The last week, my son Colin came to visit and we spent most of our time there, the exception being a brief trip to Sussex County to visit family and some of my old stomping grounds near my hometown.
This trip to the shore made for some pleasant memories. I was able to enter the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge at the southern end of the island for the first time, since it's usually closed for the nesting birds (piping plovers and black terns) during the summer. I walked the length of the 3 1/2 mile beach (during low tide) to the tip where the ocean meets the bay. (One gets a distant view of Atlantic City from there.) I bought another used (ocean-going) kayak, and learned to use it, which is a whole different experience than kayaking on rivers and lakes! (That's all I'm saying in case my orthopedic surgeon is reading this...) I missed seeing the brown pelicans, but saw my first dolphins one morning at sunrise, at first mistaking their dorsal fins for sand sharks, where I had just been kayaking the day before. I also volunteered as "road crew" for the inaugural "Endless Summer Triathlon," which was a sprint race. (I'm not sure they knew what they were doing when they sent me to a street corner on the bicycle route with a reflective vest, flag AND STOP sign!)
Then, of course, I saw innumerable sunrises and sunsets, rode my bicycle almost everywhere I needed to go (I took my car out only twice during the month), as well as feasted on almost every kind of seafood known to humankind (culminating the last weekend in September with "Chowderfest"). I also tried to get back into some semblance of physical shape, since I had way too many full Irish breakfasts and not enough exercise in Europe (save for the walking in Edinburgh, which my hip flexor didn't enjoy as much as I did.)
When I returned from Europe, I spent the month of September at my home on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. I have never been able to enjoy it outside of the high tourist season before, and I found it a wonderful way to collect my thoughts about the research I collected overseas and do some serious reading, note-taking, and a little writing.
Since my "summer" spent in Europe was on the chilly side, the sunny days and warm temperatures (high 70's, low 80's) were welcome. The days intertwined into one another so seamlessly that I really lost track of time down there. The first week (immediately following Labor Day), there was plenty of extended family around, which made for pleasant company. The second two weeks of the month, I had the house to myself (with the exception of a very fun mid-week visit from a dear childhood friend). The last week, my son Colin came to visit and we spent most of our time there, the exception being a brief trip to Sussex County to visit family and some of my old stomping grounds near my hometown.
This trip to the shore made for some pleasant memories. I was able to enter the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge at the southern end of the island for the first time, since it's usually closed for the nesting birds (piping plovers and black terns) during the summer. I walked the length of the 3 1/2 mile beach (during low tide) to the tip where the ocean meets the bay. (One gets a distant view of Atlantic City from there.) I bought another used (ocean-going) kayak, and learned to use it, which is a whole different experience than kayaking on rivers and lakes! (That's all I'm saying in case my orthopedic surgeon is reading this...) I missed seeing the brown pelicans, but saw my first dolphins one morning at sunrise, at first mistaking their dorsal fins for sand sharks, where I had just been kayaking the day before. I also volunteered as "road crew" for the inaugural "Endless Summer Triathlon," which was a sprint race. (I'm not sure they knew what they were doing when they sent me to a street corner on the bicycle route with a reflective vest, flag AND STOP sign!)
Then, of course, I saw innumerable sunrises and sunsets, rode my bicycle almost everywhere I needed to go (I took my car out only twice during the month), as well as feasted on almost every kind of seafood known to humankind (culminating the last weekend in September with "Chowderfest"). I also tried to get back into some semblance of physical shape, since I had way too many full Irish breakfasts and not enough exercise in Europe (save for the walking in Edinburgh, which my hip flexor didn't enjoy as much as I did.)
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