Don't Just Read the Story, Become the Story !

The month of July took us, and our guests, all over Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York—the first three photographs below are from the Norman Rockwell Museum—the Mad Magazine exhibition was fascinating! Our annual tour of the Hacker Craft Boat facility allowed us to see how multi-year restoration projects have progressed— our favorite was a Fully-Restored 1996 31’ Custom Sportabout with a Triple Cockpit—absolutely magnificent—asking price $309,000 (see this for yourself, and six additional captivating photographs). Then there was the Stave Puzzle facility tour—these torturous puzzles include ones in 3D! Walking the Dartmouth campus is always fun, and perhaps more so in the fall. And, our stumble-upon moments or discoveries are just as good as those activities we plan!

All our best – Kay & Glenn

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Norman Rockwell Triple Self-Portrait…

…this self-portrait (oil on canvas) was the cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February, 1960. Humor and humility were essential aspects of Rockwell’s character, so when asked to do a self-portrait, the result was light-hearted and self-deprecating. Rockwell was a stickler for order and neatness; however, details in his painting was cause for wonder—scattered matchsticks, paint tubes, and brushes litter the studio floor. The glass of Coca-Cola looks about to tip over. And, he has traded his usual Windsor chair for a stool. Notice the four self-portraits on his canvas—Durer, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Van Gogh. The 30-minute studio tour with anecdotal insights into Rockwell’s life is well worth the $10.00 investment.

Norman Rockwell Museum

Alfred E. Neuman Triple Self-Portrait...

… this self-portrait (oil on canvas) was the cover illustration for MAD Art: A Visual Celebration of the Art of Mad Magazine and the Idiots Who Create it, Watson Guptill, 2002. An admirer of Norman Rockwell and the chief appropriator of his work for MAD, Richard Williams puts a twist on Rockwell’s Triple Self-Portrait. Alfred E. Neuman takes Rockwell’s seat at the easel to paint the back of his own head on a canvas featuring drawings by other MAD greats. Notice some obvious substitutions—a MAD dirigible replaces Rockwell’s French helmet at the top of the easel, and a mirror topped with a chicken rather than an eagle. Ask the studio tour docent about the amusing story behind the French helmet.

Art & Humor of MAD Magazine

Foiled by Google... insights into the Mad Magazine Exhibition

Emily Flake, ink and watercolor illustration on paper...

Emily’s work is known for her humorous drawings of everyday life that appear regularly in The New Yorker, Emily began contributing to MAD in 2006 with cartoon art that was often featured on the Fundalini Pages, the magazine’s most eclectic section.

This exhibition explores the unforgettable art and satire of MAD, from its beginnings in 1952 as a popular humor comic book to its emergence as a beloved magazine that spoke truth to power and attracted generations of devoted readers through the decades. MAD’s influence and cultural impact will be explored in this landmark installation, which features iconic original illustrations and cartoons created by the magazine’s Usual Gang of Idiots—the many artists and writers who have been the publication’s mainstays for decades.

Emily Flake & The New Yorker

Where Do You Get Your Garlic?

In the Garlic Fields... with the last load of Georgian Fire!

Dr. Robert Rinaldi proclaims, “The Rinaldi Garlic Harvest is done!” The Rinaldi family has grown garlic in small batches for over 15 years, and make no mistake, his garlic is the best you’ll ever taste. “All 10,000+ garlic plants have been pulled from the ground and they are hanging in the barn. It was a HOT one this year. In fact, the first few weeks of July were some of the hottest on record. It will be another 3-5 weeks before the garlic is fully dried, cured and ready for cleaning, organizing and order fulfillment.” With eight different varieties, it’s difficult to decide… don’t worry, “Rob” provides wonderful guidance.

Please join us this fall—we often make this annual trek to East Corinth, Vermont—just over two hours north, and a few miles shy of The Northeast Kingdom. It’s a beautiful day-trip that takes us through river valleys, quaint villages and views of magnificent mountain forests. We make a day of it…

Rinaldi Garlic

Things to Consider...

Baker Library—Dartmouth...

Hanover, New Hampshire makes for a lovely afternoon. Before lunch in town, we toured Stave Puzzle; these complex puzzles were fascinating to understand. The whimsical Dr. Seuss Room was a must visit— Theodor Seuss Geisel, class of 1925. Make sure to first visit the Rauner Special Collections Library—magnificent! Cocktails in Woodstock at Au Comptoir was a nice resting spot… Just another great day!

Our Day Trip Itinerary

Interesting & Funny Signs...

Outdoor signs date back to Roman and Greek times—merchants after the 12th century had their own signs with symbols that distinguished them from one another. By the 18th century, signs became larger and heavier. The Shelburne Museum's Stagecoach Inn has an amazing folk-art collection that includes a rare collection of decorative trade signs. See our photo collection of fun signs in Vermont and nearby!

Amusing Signs

Mancherster Garden Tour...

We toured the majestic beauty of Manchester, Dorset, and East Dorset, Vermont last week… the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Mountain Range to the west. Beautiful perennial gardens, a grandchildren’s playhouse, pear trees and lilacs— billowy flowers, garden sculptures, with weathered granite everywhere… this was Vermont at its best. See Our photo collage below…

Our Favorite Photos