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Visiting the deCordova Museum

The snow is falling outside as a type, and it’s hard to believe that last Wednesday was so beautiful and unseasonably warm! The combination of school break and fantastic weather had Townies 1, 2, and 3 and I heading to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, MA. It had been a few years since our last visit so they were excited to check out the outdoor sculpture park.

The deCordova Museum has a rich and interesting history. The museum has been open since 1950, and is situated on the former estate of Julian deCordova. The sculpture park has 30 acres of woodlands and grassy lawns, as well as a short sculpture trail, and is the largest park of its kind in New England. There are over 60 works located throughout the outdoor park area, and many are on loan.  The museum building itself focuses on modern and contemporary art, with an emphasis on supporting local New England artists. I always enjoy seeing what’s on display at the deCordova, because my subconscious preconceptions of what defines Art are always challenged when I visit.

Don’t let the current snowstorm turn you off from the idea of a visit! The deCordova is a wonderful place to see any time of year. They offer a wide variety of programs and workshops, including snowshoe tours of the sculpture park.  In fact, there is a snowshoe tour coming up this Saturday, March 10th, that should be very successful with all this newly falling snow!

For more information on the deCordova including admission prices, directions, and current exhbitions, visit their website at: https://decordova.org/

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#myreadsmonday An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: This book is devastating…but in a good way. You barely have a chance to meet newlyweds Roy and Celestine before their life is thrown into chaos and disarray. Sentenced to a 12 year prison term for a crime he didn’t commit, the novel unfolds partially in an epistolary form before transitioning back to a first person narrative that switches between Roy, Celestine, and their friend, Andre.

Reading those first hope-filled letters between Roy and Celestine will make your heart ache; you feel the depths of the injustice they are forced to endure. The tone of their letters change as the years go by. You see these characters growing, shifting, and learning more about their lives both as separate people and as a husband and wife.

How do you reconcile the past while moving towards the future? Sometimes this isn’t a smooth process. Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back. Roy and Celestine’s journey is heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s real, ugly, passionate, and compelling. There is no fairy tale ending here, just three people struggling with what it means to be alive, in love, and committed to that love in the present day. Do they reach the tipping point where their bonds of love no longer connect them? You’ll have to read it and judge for yourself.

 

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Boston Flower Show 2018

March can be a tough month; we’ve started to taste some milder weather, but in reality Winter still has us in its grasp. This is the perfect time to be dreaming of sunny warm days and green growing things. What better way to fulfill the desire for dreams of springtime warmth than by visiting the Boston Flower Show! It’s been a few years since I’ve been myself and I’m looking forward to attending again (the photos I shared here are from 2015).

The Boston Flower Show takes place every year in the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, MA. This year’s show is happening from Wednesday, March 14th through Sunday, March 18th. The hours of operation are as follows:

Wednesday, March 14: 10:00AM-8:00PM
Thursday, March 15: 10:00AM-8:00PM
Friday, March 16: 10:00AM-9:00PM
Saturday, March 17: 10:00AM-9:00PM
Sunday, March 18: 10:00AM-6:00PM

The Box Office closes one hour prior to the end of the Show each day. The best hours to attend the Show for ease of parking and smaller crowds is in the late afternoon and early evening. (And in fact, you can get $5 off your admission if you attend after 5:00 pm on any day of the show!- see the tickets page for more info.)

If you aren’t interested or able to attend after 5:00 pm, you can still get a $2 discount on admission by using the promo code FLOWER18. This discount code is only valid through 3/13.

There’s a little something for everyone at the Flower Show. You can get inspiration for your garden plantings, landscape design,  and edible gardens; as well as experiencing some fabulous examples of floral arrangements. There are numerous vendors on site selling everything from Adirondack chairs to felted floral hats and everything in between. There are concession stands with food available for purchase, but you are also allowed to bring your own drinks and snacks, if desired.

For more information about the show including directions, parking, and to purchase tickets, visit the Boston Flower Show website at: http://bostonflowershow.com/