Headed up to Hyde Park early Sunday morning with friend Bill to enjoy the day at Natl Park Svc units in Hyde Park. First to Vanderbilt Mansion with limited access due to construction; nonetheless impressive. I could easily have been content to live in the carriage house which is now the visitors ctr. Mounted heads of elks, bison, and sheep are impressive. Ranger-led tour was very well done, with fun and pertinent facts. For example, the last couple to live there had no children and when the wife died, the husband cut the staff count in half, to 30, promising each of them $1,000 on his death. At that time, $1,000 would be sufficient to purchase a house! Extravagant dwelling, but not to the extent found in Newport, RI. On departure, we stopped for a lovely view of the Catskills and at a local diner for coffee and a snack-I opted for Mississippi Mud Pie -delicious! Then to FDR’s home for video, tour and museum. The Ranger leading our tour is writing a book on the Roosevelts, so she shared some interesting, little known facts on the family. Could it really be their fortune started with opium trade? FDR is buried on site as are pets. He had quite a collection of model ships, an old Ford, and more archived storage than I’ve seen in one place before. There were many ribbons displayed in stable, so they must have been horse people. There were flowers in the greenhouse, too. Quite a sadness through the country when he died. I only got to see a little bit of Eleanor’s Valkill which was peaceful and lovely. Then out to dinner. A lovely day- thanks Bill!
Spring is on its way to the Hudson Valley-enjoy!
Now Is Heaven 
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