risd museum

Sunday afternoon my little sister and I walked over to the Rhode Island School of Design museum, just down the street from my sister's house.  It was hot outside but luckily the short distance and air conditioning made it alright.  The museum has quite a variety of things, mostly typical of big museums along with a few unique items.  One thing that is short-term is the Dandy exhibit which follows the rise of the "dandy" as a persona and figure throughout history from its conception and base.  It was interesting and it was neat mostly to see the original clothes and feel swatches of the material used.  

Cameos feature in this mirror design (Pendleton House)

Another unique feature of the museum is Pendleton House which is a fully restored 20th Century home which has been preserved (and restored) to what it would have looked like in 1905.  It was beautiful and you can just imagine what it would have been like to live in such a home.  In the main part of the museum, there is also a "grand ballroom" which is covered wall to wall and ceiling to floor in large paintings.  Its purpose is to emulate the grand salons that occurred throughout Europe during the 19th century.  It is fun to sit and admire all the paintings and pick out your favorites.  Two other things I liked I've posted pictures of.  Hopefully you can pick out your favorite items the next time you visit Providence!

clamming

A few days ago my sisters and I went clamming in Narragansett on a little stretch of muddy land at low tide.  We had so much fun that we did it again the next day and even got some more tools to make it a little easier.  We steamed the clams and ate them dipped in butter each night and they were so tasty. If you ever go clamming, look for the harder packed sand - the softer sand doesn't usually have any clams.  Secondly, look for small holes in the sand.  The larger ones are usually duds, but the smaller ones are promising.  The areas including mounds of sand are also good indicators.

Some of our clams

After we went clamming our second time, we got clam cakes - pieces of fried dough with small pieces of clam inside.  They were delicious!

brimfield

Well, the last few weeks were pretty routine.  I did finish up my paperwork for my mission and they were officially submitted a few days ago! So hopefully I will have the when and where of my service in a few weeks.  A few days ago my family and I came up to Providence, Rhode Island to visit our sister and her family.  My parents went to England for my brother's Masters degree graduation and so we are vacationing with Rebecca.  

Yesterday we did the first of many fun excursions, up to Brimfield Massachusetts for the Brimfield Antique fair that is held three times a year.  The fair is about a mile long stretch along Route 20 with hundreds of vendors selling anything and everything you could possibly want.  I found some great items that I would have loved to purchase were I furnishing an apartment or home.  My sister walked away with quite a few items and I helped find some wooden type for another sister.  Other than the ridiculous heat, the fair was a fun time and I can't wait to go back!

I very nearly bought this

Lots of wooden and metal type

The first push chair sold to the public. Now going for $1500!

old rolling pins

I also wanted this sofa

See you next time, Brimfield!