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Chilling at Berkshires

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    24 Ogos 2024

    Our Home for a week

    24 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    We are at Holiday Inn Oak n' Spruce Resort in Lee MASS
    The Resort is a series of buildings with towhhouse-type units
    Ours is #220
    Took us 4 hours to get here with relatively no traffic

  • Dinner an exploring downtown Lee

    24–26 Ogo 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    As per habit, we eat out our first night, so we took a short drive to downtown Lee and stopped at Locker Room Sports Bar.
    Laurie had French Dip aptly washed down with Yengling and I hit Flatbread Special, which was Flank Steak with corn and beans salsa and chimichurry sauce & opted for a local Cider.
    We then took a walk through historic downtown Lee.
    Lee (pop.of all 5,788 people) occupies land that was originally territory of Mahican Indians. The first non-native settlement in the area was known as Dodgetown as early as 1760. Lee was incorporated in 1777 and is named after Revolutionary War General Charles Lee, not ( much to my dismay) Marse Rob't.
    Afterward, we made a run to a local supermarket for some supplies and returned to the resort to unwind from the travel day.
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  • Keystone Arches Bridges Trail

    25 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    We had a nice restful night, and after a simple breakfast, we started planning the week.
    Unfortunately, we discovered that I forgot to pack my swimming trunks, but also more importantly, Laurie forgot her hiking boots. 🥲
    That put a big damper on things as we were really looking forward to hit a couple of first-rate trails in the area.
    We still decided to do some hiking. However, we are limited now to simple trails.
    We started off with Keystone Arches Bridges Trail in Chester MASS.
    it's a 5 mile R/T trail that not only takes one to the first series of stone arch railroad bridges built in America but tracks the first National Wild & Scenic River and the longest stretch of free-flowing river in MA,
    We were able to see and spend some time at the 1st (Double Arch) bridge but slightly over 1/2-way and before we got to other Arches the trail became more rugged and started climbing up so we reluctantly had to turn around.
    Of course, even a little hike is better than no hike at all 😊
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  • Park Knox Acres Trails

    25 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    We then went to the nearby Park Kox Acres trails, which were described as easy and family friendly.
    The problem here was that they wound up being "too easy." We were on 2 trails and off of them in a blink of an eye
    While it was a nice quiet and pleasant stint in the woods it didn't warrant any additional photos save for initial trailhead
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  • Pittsfield MASS

    25 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    We needed some encouraging pick-us-up so we drove to Pittsfield.
    Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Berkshire County.
    Lots of cool info can be seen on Wiki at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsfield,_Mas…
    Driving into town we passed Arrowhead - Herman Melville's house.
    And we found our pick us up at Antimony Brewery and I daresay that it picked us up all right!🤣😇
    Laurie opted for Catalyst, and I went for Electron
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  • Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

    25 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Fortified thus we made our way to Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
    Yes, i was humming the song most of the time 😊
    Set amidst more than 1,000 lush acres in the Berkshires, Pleasant Valley’s varied trails wind through forests, meadows, wetlands, and along the slopes of Lenox Mountain, making this site an excellent location for easy-to-strenuous hiking. While exploring, there’s a good chance to see evidence of the sanctuary’s most visible wildlife resident, the beaver, via dams, dens, or lodges, but we only saw frogs, chipmunks and a wild turkeyBaca lagi

  • Chocolate Café

    25 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We rewarded ourselves for all our Deeds Du Jour by going to Chocolate Cafe and as hard as it was we only bought 2 Cookies. Chocolate chip for me and Dark Chocolate-dipped Ginger and Molasses for Laurie
    We then retired to our humble lodgings for some nice homemade din din
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  • National Shrine of The Divine Mercy

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    The day started with another beautiful morning during which we had to figure out Plan B since, as mentioned previously, all serious hiking was out.
    Completely out of the blue, I stumbled upon the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, which looked appealing, and we decided to take a drive. Boy, were we not disappointed!
    The place is magnificent, the grounds are stunning, the Sanctuary beautiful.
    We learned about the Marians and were surprised to see lots of references and connections to St.Faustina (although in retrospect it should not be so since she is Polish)
    For more of the history of the place, check out
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Shrine_of_The_Divine_Mercy_(Stockbridge,_Massachusetts)
    and
    https://www.shrineofdivinemercy.org/

    I hope everyone forgives me going slightly ape on this; we spent slightly over 2 hours here all together and of course try ad we may pictures sometimes don't do justice to a natural beauty of places...
    ..and so it is here and we can marvel at the Creation of Our Lord ang Glorfy Him
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  • St. Faustina Chapel

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Maria Faustyna Kowalska, OLM (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August 1905 – 5 October 1938, also known as Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, was a Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic. Faustyna, popularly spelled "Faustina," had apparitions of Jesus 6 inspired the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy, therefore, she is sometimes called the "secretary" of Divine Mercy.
    Her Shrine (and place of rest) us in Krakow.
    This little Chapel contains a reliqiary of her toe... sorry, I couldn't see it ...just hope it is in that silver vessel
    The little statue of Jesus with St. Faustina is amazing piece of art!
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  • The Life-sized Stations of the Cross

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    These are beyond stunning!!!
    You can reference this page, which also contains videos of making the statues and interview with the sculptor
    https://www.shrineofdivinemercy.org/stations

    Stations I - IV
    I wash my hands...
    Take up your cross
    Falling down 1st time
    Meeting Mother
    Don't come any closer
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  • Stations of the Cross XIII - XIV

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Who knew that they ho beyond 12? I most certainly didn't!!!
    Taking down from the cross
    Wonderful Pieta
    Missing the Sudarium, though ...

  • The grounds of Eden Hill

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    On St. Peregrine's Knoll
    (Peregrine Laziosi (Pellegrino Latiosi; c. 1260 – 1 May 1345) is an Italian saint of the Servite Order (Friar Order Servants of Mary). He is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses.)
    More Vista
    A giant beaver (not me) took a chunk of the tree
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  • Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine.

    Built in the 1950's, The Marians created this beautiful replica of the Grotto in Lourdes, down a secluded path on Eden Hill. It sits directly across from the Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine.
    My favorite Sainte: Bernadette Subaru

    Built in the mid 1990's, the Immaculate Conception Candle Shrine is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
    The mosaic images in the alcoves illustrate the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, especially the need to pray for our deceased loved ones.
    The two end mosaics depict St. Stanislaus Papczynski’s and St. Faustina’s experiences in Purgatory and the center mosaic depicts Christ drawing souls into the heavenly glory of the Most Holy Trinity.
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  • Shrine of the Holy Innocents

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    The centerpiece of the Shrine of the Holy Innocents is a life-size statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas and the Unborn.

    This sacred space honors the memory of the souls of all deceased children, and it provides a reverent place of prayer and healing for parents and others who have experienced the death of a child.

    The Shrine of the Holy Innocents is located in the lower level or “womb” of the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine. Thirteen-foot bronze cherubim angels guard the entrance to the shrine where these children are remembered. As you enter, you hear heavenly music and the sound of water falling gently down mosaic walls. A life-size bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, stands at the center of the shrine. The names of deceased children are etched upon tiles decorating this shrine. Interspersed among the tiles are beautiful images and Scripture passages as reminders of God’s promise of eternal life.

    This is quite sad. We both were chocked up with emotions and had to fight back the tears.
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  • Holy Family Shrine

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    The Holy Family Shrine is a favorite spot for pilgrims to prayerfully seek the guidance and protection of the Holy Family or simply thank God for the gift of family.

    I tried to "superimpose" the statue of Joseph with Baby Jesus and part if the statue if the whole Holy Family behind it

    The Visitation - Mary, Elisabeth, (Jesus and John)
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  • Stockbridge MASS

    26 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Stockbridge (pop. 2,018) is considered to be an all year round resort. It was settled by British missionaries in 1734, who established it as a praying town for the Stockbridge Indians, an indigenous Mohican tribe. The township was set aside for the tribe by Massachusetts colonists as a reward for their assistance against the French in the French and Indian Wars.
    Although the Massachusetts General Court had assured the Stockbridge Indians that their land would never be sold, the agreement was rescinded. Despite the aid by the Tribe to the American Patriots during the Revolutionary War, the village was taken over by European American settlers.
    With the arrival of the railroad in 1850, Stockbridge developed as a summer resort for the wealthy of Boston and other major cities.

    It's a cute little town with charming 2 Blick Main street. Lots of cafés and restaurants not to mention wine & cheese stores and of course more chocolate...we behaved 😊

    Unfortunately the skies began to get darker and the threat of erlier promised possible thunderstorms became more real.
    We decided to abandon the idea of checking out another nearly little town and beat a hasty retreat back to the resort. Good decision as within 30 perhaps 45 minutes the skies did open up.
    We'll just call it a day and stay put and eat our dinner later on ( today is the home dinner anyway; we follow our 3 dinners out 4 dinners in routine ever since we got our 1st time share)
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  • Norman Rockwell Museum

    27 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Again this is turning out to be way too relaxed vacation. Today's morning was very foggy but fof burned out by about 9:00 am and we ventured out soon after to go to Norman Rockwell Museum I Stockbridge.
    Of course, Norman Rockwell needs no introduction
    Here is a collection of original Saturday Evening Post covers from 1920s into 1960s
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  • Original Oils for SEP covers

    27 Ogos 2024, Amerika Syarikat ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Some familiar images (they rotate their stock)
    Main Street in Stockbridge, incl. The Red Lion Inn on the right and Rockwell's house at the time is on the left. It's pretty much still looks the same nowBaca lagi