Today, July 4th I was told was going to be a boat working day despite our holiday…We have to move the boat for a pump out, that is a good thing for multiple reasons!!! :-) Dad & mom will be changing the oil & filters and replacing the water flow sensor on the port engine along with an overall cleaning…I overheard mom mention the Lily BATH word too…She told me that she has a vet appointment for me tomorrow for an overall checkup on all these skin tags, my ears and so on… I could live without all that attention, but she never asks me! M & D were excitedly talking about catching up with our NY judge friend, Courtney Hall on Thursday in Waterford and hopefully, Diane and Mike, our FL neighbors sometime this week too! We are really looking forward to traveling further up the Hudson to the Catskills and Albany as well!!!
After M & D got through their to do list including my checkup by Dr. Zeitz, in Ossing, NY. & mom’s “out of body” experience pedicure/manicure by Emma from Ecuador. (She was floating when she returned!!! )They took off for their Top Cottage, (FDR’s day retreat) tour which was offsite from the FDR park. They came back so thrilled about that tour and their fantastic dinner at the CIA’s Caterina de Medici’s restaurant!!!
Mom and dad talked about how unusual the tour was because you could touch or sit on anything…even have your photo taken sitting at FDR’s desk. Our National Park Service tour guide, Kevin Oldenberg grew up in this area, so his stories of FDR’s visits to this cottage were incredible! He especially impressed on M & D how much FDR loved driving his car himself. Bringing his grandkids or British King George & The Queen Mum up here for the now famous hotdog dinner…FDR designed the cottage so he could do somethings for himself including serving tea and toast (that he made and buttered) for his guests or fixing his awful martinis (that were heavy on the vermouth). Kevin also told M & D that FDR would escape from his bodyguards and go driving around local towns to see his neighbors, (Kevin’s grandparents for one) just to see what was going on for himself. His relationship with some of the other women in his life is still the great mystery…Daisy, who spent so much time with him up at Top Cottage being just of one of them… M & D managed to see the half hour movie at the FDR Wallace Center which was really good too!
Today we are off to Kingston, NY before we leave the Hudson River for this trip…Talking about relaxing…the only navigational worries they have are to keep an eye out for debris and the occasional boater & barge…It’s definitely hazy and hot, but as long as we are moving it’s just fine! I’m the queen of fan hogging or sitting where there is a direct breeze.
FDR's desk in the living room
Livingroom fireplace and sitting area where you could sit and remember what took place here...
Notice all the low window sills and no floor edges that FDR couldn't get his wheelchair over himself
I couldn't resist getting Mike's photo here at FDR's desk
The porch where he entertained family, friends and dignitaries...including the famous Hot Dog Dinner
The large yard on the back and side of the Dutch Colonial cottage
Technically, the front of the cottage with the bedrooms in the foreground
The majestic CIA Roth Hall, the main building with many of the restaurants and production kitchens
The flower arrangements combined eatable flowers and vegetables...really beautifully done!
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| This building & site were once a Jesuit monastery with other more modern buildings added later |
I loved the James Beard and Julia Childs cutouts in the windows
One of the newer buildings that the graduating students either cook in or serve toward the end of their schooling
Caterina brought silverware to the French court when she found them eating with their fingers
The interior of Caterina De Medici's
Buffalo mozzarella over baby zucchini's and fritters...delicious!
Rigatoni, eggplant and the most delicate tomato gravy
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| Beef tenderloin, with spinach, parmesan and red wine potatoes...divine...it melted in your mouth!!! |
Leg of lamb, with beans, carrots, onions and a sauce to die for!!!
Peach amaretto crostina...ambrosia!!!
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