Why CHANGE OF SCENERY III ? – well I decided not to title this post CHANGE OF SCENERY REDUX, but this was my third relaxing stay at Rudyard Kipling’s Carriage House in Dummerston, Vermont, following:
CHANGE OF SCENERY – 13-16 JANUARY 2021; and,
CHANGE OF SCENERY – 26 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH 2022

Remember “I write to remember,” but also enjoy sharing new experiences. Well, this post is basically for Ray to remember since it was a sedentary “in place” experience without new explorations to share and tempt you. BUT, you may realize that a sedentary escape is also refreshing, and productive, and often needed. My dear Cathy and I always were refreshed from a “day off” out of the shop, or even better “an over-night.” I desire you have two “take aways” from my memories here:
1-treat yourself to a “Change of Scenery” to refresh and refocus and complete some tasks: and,
2-the perfect “Change of Scenery” is one of Landmark Trust USA’s properties – close-by, yet a century away.

I arrived just prior to check in time, again with snow on the ground as with past stays here. Gary and Ilana arrived not long after.

part of the beauty and serenity is looking east back to New Hampshire. Yes, a tad overcast.

I have shared interior views here before, but not the second floor bedrooms. There is something comforting returning to a place that remains the same at a time back in history, and is also impeccably restored, outfitted and maintained. Yes (other than all my collections and businesses) I could easily find myself living at any of Landmark Trust USA’s properties. Touring you below are: the living area, kitchen and dining area, and the bedrooms. Remember you may click these images for larger sizes.

This is the point in my posts where I usually share area explorations to tempt you to experience something new as well. Well, unlike the short drives Gary and I took during the last two stays here, we did not go out but relaxed, read, and “worked.” I had a list of things to “accomplish” that included four cartons of papers to work with, and four books to read (I read half of one).

What was in those cartons that I planned to work with? Well, I will briefly tell you, and maybe that will be another way to share for you to plan a similar “change of scenery.”

1-material to begin research on my next “Did You Know That…” history article
2-all my railroad museum and route information to vicariously travel, but also try to plan the next trip(s)
3-catch up on posts of previous trips I have not yet completed, including: a) getting you to Lake George and cruising Lake George in 2021 (I got this one done); b) complete my Lake – Lock – Long River cruise from Chicago to NYC in 2019. I need to finish the trip down the Hudson River. While organizing those images I got side-tracked (surprised?) in planning new explorations along the Hudson River; and, 3) I did not get to all my paperwork to complete my 2019 cross-country Amtrak train trip – well, excuse (not needed) for another retreat.
4-organize a number of resale items catalogued in my computers to again make available to the world.
5-and, yes, one box had a collection of DVDs (in case) and the projector and DVD player. Portable screen has its own carrying case.

Did it all get done? Of course not. And, I have no idea where the time went, but the two full days were full. During the day we all sort of “did our own things.” Evening meals prolonged with conversation and laughs included: Sunday, lentil loaf Ilana brought; Monday, Indian from down the road (you are isolated here, but close to the other world); and, Tuesday night Gary made chili. From my selection of DVDs Sunday was the all time best ITS A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD from 1963. A favorite of mine and Gary, but Ilana had never seen it – she now knows what is great and contributes to how Gary and I “tick.” Monday night’s movie that they found on Prime impressed me so much that I cannot remember the title, but I was there with them, and Tuesday we got back to Hogan’s Heroes from our last visit.

Time too fast, but wonderful, and let the planning begin for the next adventure. I have now written about eight stays at Landmark properties – have had nine stays, but one stay for some reason I did not write about (too busy with friends at Naulakha December 2021), but my pretty good records and posts now document eight of nine, and you may wish to revisit as well. I had driven past Naulakha in Blue Belle first in 2015, went to the Rhododendron open house in 2019 – and that was the beginning.

Thus – RAY RECOMMENDS, you attend an upcoming Landmark open house, and you have two to choose from to get you hooked as well. – Catch you soon, and maybe I will see you at one of the open house events – luv, RAY

 The Sugarhouse Open House will be held April 1. And the perennially popular Naulakha Estate & Rhododendron Tour  will be June 4-5. 

You should visit the LandmarkTrustUSA website and sign up for notifications of their events, and those at Scott Farm.