I finished reading Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson. Written in 1883, the book is Robert Louis Stevenson's travel memoir of his two-month honeymoon trip to Napa Valley, California, in 1880.
I picked up the book after Sharon and I visited the Schramsberg Winery [California Historical Marker #561). As noted on the historical marker at the site, Stevenson devoted a chapter of Silverado Squatters to Schramsberg and its wines.
The book also details Stevenson's visit to a local Petrified Forest [California Historical #915]. I stopped there briefly, but need to go back and spent more time at the site.
Stevenson spent the unconventional honeymoon in an abandoned three-story bunkhouse at a derelict mining camp called "Silverado" on the shoulder of Mount Saint Helena. Sharon, Jack and I visited this site in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park [California Historical Marker #710].
While the book offers some interesting views of California during the late 19th century, I don't recommend it. The most interesting part of the story for me was Stevenson's description of watching the fog roll into the Napa Valley.
Thursday, June 02, 2016
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Nevada Historical Landmark #78
On my way home from this year's Petersen Shootout, I stopped at six Nevada State Historical Markers, including Bliss Mansion [#70], Methodist Church of Carson City [#71], Orion Clemens' Home [#78], Stewart-Nye Residence [#175], Rinckel Mansion [#252] and The Governor's Mansion [#259].
Orion Clemens' Home
Nevada Historical Marker #78
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This marker is located at 512 North Division Street, Carson City, Nevada. There are 25 other historical markers in Carson City County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 39° 09.997 W 119° 46.175.
You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.
Orion Clemens, secretary to Territorial Governor James W. Nye, lived in this house with his wife, "Mollie," from 1864 to 1866. His brother, Samuel, a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise, who later became famous as "Mark Twain," stayed here periodically in 1864.
Nevada Historical Marker #78
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This marker is located at 512 North Division Street, Carson City, Nevada. There are 25 other historical markers in Carson City County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 39° 09.997 W 119° 46.175.
You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.
Orion Clemens, secretary to Territorial Governor James W. Nye, lived in this house with his wife, "Mollie," from 1864 to 1866. His brother, Samuel, a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise, who later became famous as "Mark Twain," stayed here periodically in 1864.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Birthday Party plus Dinner with Morgan and Drew
Sharon and I spent most of Memorial Day getting organized to throw a graduation party for Jack.
Late Monday afternoon, Sharon and I went to a 60th birthday party for one of our neighbors (*Dan and Deborah).
While Jack was attending a couple of graduation parties, Sharon and I finished the day having dinner with Drew and Morgan. We barbecued hamburgers and ate dinner on the deck. It has been very nice to have a chance to see Drew and Morgan this weekend.
Late Monday afternoon, Sharon and I went to a 60th birthday party for one of our neighbors (*Dan and Deborah).
While Jack was attending a couple of graduation parties, Sharon and I finished the day having dinner with Drew and Morgan. We barbecued hamburgers and ate dinner on the deck. It has been very nice to have a chance to see Drew and Morgan this weekend.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
In Burges
Up at 4:30 am, I picked Jack up at the Jesuit Grad Night at K1 Speed at 5 am.
Sunday night, Sharon, Tiber and I went to dinner at Janie's house. Janie made a nice dinner of steaks, baked potatoes and salad.
After dinner, we watched In Burges. In Bruges is a 2008 British-American neo-noir black comedy crime drama film. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two Irish hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their boss. The film takes place and was filmed in the Belgian city of Bruges.
Janie recommended the movie because we are visiting Bruges this year. Janie had seen the movie before she went to Burges. The movie does have some great views of the city.
I don't recommend it unless you are really interested in views of the city... While the beginning is interesting, the ending is very dark.
Sunday night, Sharon, Tiber and I went to dinner at Janie's house. Janie made a nice dinner of steaks, baked potatoes and salad.
After dinner, we watched In Burges. In Bruges is a 2008 British-American neo-noir black comedy crime drama film. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two Irish hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their boss. The film takes place and was filmed in the Belgian city of Bruges.
Janie recommended the movie because we are visiting Bruges this year. Janie had seen the movie before she went to Burges. The movie does have some great views of the city.
I don't recommend it unless you are really interested in views of the city... While the beginning is interesting, the ending is very dark.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Jack's High School Graduation
A long, satisfying day! Sharon, Jack, Drew, Morgan and I left the house at 8 am to head to the Memorial Auditorium for Jack's high school graduation. We queued up outside the auditorium about 8:30 am; there were quite a few people already there. The doors were opened a little after 9 am and everyone raced to get seats. Sharon was disappointed in the seats that we got. She was hoping to be lower.
It was nice graduation ceremony. Jack got one of the twelve awards that they gave out at the commencement. He received The Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. Award. Named after the Jesuit patron saint of students, it is given to those Seniors who, in the spirit of the magis, have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in Jesuit's academic program.
We spent quite a while milling around outside the auditorium after the ceremony visiting and taking pictures. I ended up taking more than 110 pictures! The best pictures are organized in a photo album here.
Eventually, we rounded up a group and headed down the block to Mikunis. The group included: Sharon, Jack, Drew, Morgan, Kiki, Tom, Eric and I. We had a couple of platters. We headed home after lunch for a nap.
In the first of many graduation parties scheduled for the next couple of weeks, we dropped Jack at Travis Bell's house in the late afternoon. Sharon and I joined the last hour of the party. Most of the dad's were cramped in the family room watching the Warriors win game 6 of the Western Conference NBA finals.
After the party, we took Jack, Gabe and Jason to K1 Speed. Jesuit High School is holding the class grad night there. The boys will be there from 9:00 pm Saturday night until 5:00 am Sunday morning.
Pictures from Drew's high school graduation are here.
Pictures from Morgan's high school graduation are here.
It was nice graduation ceremony. Jack got one of the twelve awards that they gave out at the commencement. He received The Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. Award. Named after the Jesuit patron saint of students, it is given to those Seniors who, in the spirit of the magis, have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in Jesuit's academic program.
We spent quite a while milling around outside the auditorium after the ceremony visiting and taking pictures. I ended up taking more than 110 pictures! The best pictures are organized in a photo album here.
Eventually, we rounded up a group and headed down the block to Mikunis. The group included: Sharon, Jack, Drew, Morgan, Kiki, Tom, Eric and I. We had a couple of platters. We headed home after lunch for a nap.
In the first of many graduation parties scheduled for the next couple of weeks, we dropped Jack at Travis Bell's house in the late afternoon. Sharon and I joined the last hour of the party. Most of the dad's were cramped in the family room watching the Warriors win game 6 of the Western Conference NBA finals.
After the party, we took Jack, Gabe and Jason to K1 Speed. Jesuit High School is holding the class grad night there. The boys will be there from 9:00 pm Saturday night until 5:00 am Sunday morning.
Pictures from Drew's high school graduation are here.
Pictures from Morgan's high school graduation are here.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Pre-graduation Dinner
With Drew in town for Jack's graduation on Saturday, Sharon, Jack and I had Kiki, Morgan and Drew over for dinner. We had a nice dinner of barbecued salmon, squash and salad. We ate dinner on the deck.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
2016 Jesuit High School Baccalaureate Mass
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
ESPN 30 for 30 Shorts: We Are
ESPN Films has released the fifty-fourth film in their 30 for 30 documentary short series.
You can find We Are on the ESPN web site at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15695869.
30 for 30 Shorts: We Are
"We Are" chronicles Penn State's path from the 2011 scandal that resulted in the removal of a statue of legendary coach Joe Paterno to the design of its community-encompassing replacement.
You can find We Are on the ESPN web site at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15695869.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Sisters
Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Sisters as an HD rental on the AppleTV.
The film stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler with a supporting cast that includes a number of current and past Saturday Night Live performers plus John Cena and James Brolin.
Afterwards, Sharon commented on how much she enjoyed the movie!?!
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Rudolf Steiner College Graduation
On Thursday, May 19, Morgan graduated from the Rudolf Steiner College residential teacher training program. She still has two weeks left taking some summer classes.
In almost exactly a month, Morgan is starting work at Sophias Hearth Family Center, all the way on the other side of the country in Keene, New Hampshire.
In almost exactly a month, Morgan is starting work at Sophias Hearth Family Center, all the way on the other side of the country in Keene, New Hampshire.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
2016 San Jose Sharks versus St. Louis Blues
Jack and Jason went to game three of National Hockey League Western Conference finals between the Sharks and the Blues. The Sharks won the game by the score of 3 to 0.
This is the third time that Jack has been to hockey game in San Jose. Sharon, Jack and I went to games during Christmas vacation in 2010 and 2011.
In one of those random twists of fate, I had been paired up with Jason during the first day of the Freshman Overnight in September of 2012. Subsequently, Jack and Jason become friends.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Nevada Historical Marker #252
On my way home from this year's Petersen Shootout, I stopped at six Nevada State Historical Markers, including Bliss Mansion [#70], Methodist Church of Carson City [#71], Orion Clemens' Home [#78], Stewart-Nye Residence [#175], Rinckel Mansion [#252] and The Governor's Mansion [#259].
Rinckel Mansion
Nevada Historical Marker #252
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This marker is located at 112 North Curry Street, Carson City, Nevada. There are 25 other historical markers in Carson City County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 39° 09.845 W 119° 46.079.
You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.
Completed in 1876, this palatial residence is an excellent example of High Victorian Italianate architecture in Carson City. Charles H. Jones, a French-schooled designer, constructed the residence for Mathias Rinckel using European craftsmen. The mansion is constructed of pressed brick resting upon a sandstone ashlar foundation. The sandstone originated from the Nevada State Prison quarry. The brick came from Carson Valley and knot-free lumber was obtained from the pine forests of Lake Tahoe.
Rinckel, a German immigrant and pioneer Carson City merchant, accumulated a degree of wealth in the gold fields in the Feather River District of California from 1849 to 1859. He increased his fortune in mining at Virginia City during that city’s infancy. In 1863, Rinckel settled in Carson City, where he engaged in raising livestock and butchering. As a successful merchant, he supplied the mining and timber districts surrounding Eagle Valley with meat.
Nevada Historical Marker #252
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This marker is located at 112 North Curry Street, Carson City, Nevada. There are 25 other historical markers in Carson City County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 39° 09.845 W 119° 46.079.
You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.
Completed in 1876, this palatial residence is an excellent example of High Victorian Italianate architecture in Carson City. Charles H. Jones, a French-schooled designer, constructed the residence for Mathias Rinckel using European craftsmen. The mansion is constructed of pressed brick resting upon a sandstone ashlar foundation. The sandstone originated from the Nevada State Prison quarry. The brick came from Carson Valley and knot-free lumber was obtained from the pine forests of Lake Tahoe.
Rinckel, a German immigrant and pioneer Carson City merchant, accumulated a degree of wealth in the gold fields in the Feather River District of California from 1849 to 1859. He increased his fortune in mining at Virginia City during that city’s infancy. In 1863, Rinckel settled in Carson City, where he engaged in raising livestock and butchering. As a successful merchant, he supplied the mining and timber districts surrounding Eagle Valley with meat.
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