May 25, 2017 Croton-On-Hudson, NY

We have been here a week.  In that time we have done everything from catching up on chores to making like tourists.   We're at Half Moon Bay in the village of Croton-On-Hudson, NY.  Our first full day we walked into town to check everything out.  Though we found most of what we were looking for, there was no PetSmart and the grocery store was not really within walking distance.  So we rented a car for the weekend.  First time we drove in the four wheeled variety of transportation since we left home.  Was a bit strange but quickly remembered the freedom and convenience it brought.  We headed out Saturday to the next town north, Lake Mohegan, to visit PetSmart.  Roofus got a new ID tag, her nails trimmed and a puppy carrier.  The puppy carrier was a hit with Roofus, she snuggled in and was happy to be carried everywhere.  Between her age and an injury to her left rear leg, she is about as mobile as I am with my bad knee.  After dropping her off for a nap, we went to Justin Thyme Café for lunch, which was fabulous, then the highlight of my day, got my hair done!  No more grey, YOOHOO!  Our last stop of the day was grocery shopping. 

With chores over we decided to head to Hyde Park the next day and visit Vanderbilt Mansion and FDR Home and Presidential Museum.  Vanderbilt is undergoing extensive repairs but was still impressive.  FDR's Presidential Museum was chocked full of information and extremely interesting.  I was really impressed with his car that had been refitted with all hand controls, including the ability to shift gears, so he could drive himself.  I didn't realize he was 39 years old when he got polio. 

Hyde Park, NY - Vanderbilt Mansion under repair.  Will be reopened this fall.

Hyde Park, NY - FDR Presidential Museum - Me with my good buddies, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt.

FDR's Family home "Springwood" -  Dumbwaiter FDR converted to hand pulled elevator after he got polio.  He never had it electrified as he wanted to keep his upper body strength and manually pulled himself between floors.

Graves of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt

Monday arrived and we had to return the car, so we were back to foot transportation.  We spent the day piddling and resting my knee, in preparation for heading to The Cloisters Museum in Bronx, NYC.  Tuesday dawn clear and cool, and found us on the metro train into the city.  We got more than we bargained for as the train we were on was an express to Grand Central Station, only about 150 blocks south of where we needed to be.  45 minutes and many subway stops later we arrived at The Cloisters.  This is a museum of medieval architecture, sculpture and decorative arts, including the actual reading room in a 9th century monastery in the French Pyrenees which was dismantled and put back together.  Impressive!!  The stained glass windows were my favorite.  The colors are so vibrate.  There were 3 cloisters (enclose gardens) reconstructed and full of beautiful plants and flowers of the period.  It was amazing seeing tapestries over 800 years old and still have such brilliant colors as when first completed.  Though Ken did not share my enthusiasm, he was a good sport and hung with me till I was ready to go.  The trip back to Croton-On-Hudson was very uneventful.  Amazing how that works when you pay attention to what train you are actually getting on.  :)

The Cloisters, Bronx, NYC - "Reading Room" from 9th century monastery.  This is a room where all the monks would meet daily to discuss business and news.

Archway from monastery in France.

Fuentiduena Chapel from Spain with me in the middle.

Cuxa Cloister from the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa in northeast French Pyrenees.

12th century stained glass - Angel

Trie Cloister - It's hard to see but the fountain has streams of water just below to top piece and there are 2 birds to the left drinking water.  Too cool.

Tuesday we rested and enjoyed another beautiful sunset.  We spent Wednesday, cleaning the boat inside and outside in preparation for Sue and Phil, who are arriving Thursday.  We will be together for the Memorial Day weekend and plan to cruise the Hudson up to Waterford, NY by Sunday.  More to come......

Half Moon Bay, NY at sunset.

PS from Roofus

Well, my humans finally figured out I am an old, tired puppy.  I got me a cozy bed with handles and now I don't have to walk if I don't want to, well except to do my business.  What a life!!  YOOHOO!!  Now I have to work on getting treats whenever I want one......