Antique shopping in Chipping Norton

Chipping Norton is located in the Cotswolds and has two really large multi-dealer antique shops. In our quest for the ultimate buying experience, we visit them both every time we are in the area. Station Mills is one of our all-time favorites. This is a large shop with over 6,000 square feet of display area. There are several rooms on two floors. Considering that Chipping Norton is just over the Oxfordshire Border in the Cotswolds, it has very reasonable prices. You can find everything in the shop from ancient coins and medieval rings, to Chinese import china and lovely majolica.



What I particularly like here is the way everything is displayed. There are some glass cases but everything else is out where you can look and touch it. Be as wary as you would be at home and try to handle any item you plan to buy. It is always buyer beware. There are plenty of vintage clothing and lots of 50s kitsch. I picked up a nice pair of Wedgewood candlesticks for about $30 and a Mason porcelain egg cup with a small undertray. I couldn't resist a book about the English aristocracy for £5.

Station Mills has become somewhat more gentrified in the last few years after a fire. There are still a lot of interesting dealers, but some of our old favorites that we would visit almost every year are no longer here. As with any shop, the stock is constantly changing so you never know what you will find but they are certainly always worth a look in. Allow at least an hour to look everything over.

The second antique market is The Quiet Woman Antique Center on the Oxford Road. As we walked in my husband spotted a watercolor of Warwick Castle that he thought was very attractive. Little did he know that our friend was hoping to find just such a watercolor. It was, however, priced out of his range. He examined it for quite a while and as it happened the dealer was in the shop. He came over to talk to me and ask me if I was the one who was interested and I said no and pointed out our friend. To make a long story short, he cut the price from £425 to £295 and our friend now owns a beautiful watercolor to add to his collection. Always ask what the best price they can do is, you might be surprised at how much you can save.

Both of these shops have a tea room and after a morning or afternoon of shopping, it is wonderful to relax with a pot of tea and a sandwich followed by some wonderful homemade cake. The prices are reasonable, both shops have ample free parking and knowledgeable staff to help you find just the perfect collectible or antique. Both shops have long hours and are open seven days a week. They take credit cards as well but for the best negotiation, cash is preferred.

The shops are within an easy drive of Blenheim, The Rollright Stones and much more. The Old School House bed and breakfast in Little Compton is a great place to stay while you go about antiquing in the area. We certainly enjoyed our stay there. 

These are just our two favorite shops, there are many others in the area. 

John Deere Pavilion Moline, Ill.

One of the premier destinations in Moline, Ill. is the John Deere Pavilion. John Deere has been a major employer for more than 100 years. While the number of employees has declined over the years, the influence on the economy of the city has not. The iconic green and yellow equipment has been part of many families across the country for generations.

John Deere was a real person not just an invention of some advertising agency. He was born in Vermont and move out to the mid-west looking for new opportunities for his blacksmithing business. The soil in Illinois is rich but it also has unique characteristics that made it difficult to till. John developed a plow that addressed the main issue, soil sticking to the plow. He never patented his invention and shared it with other blacksmiths. He came to Moline in 1848 and his company Deere & Co. was born. The headquarters of John Deere is still located in Moline.

A visit to the pavilion is free. There is parking in the rear of the building which is also free. The city bus stops there if you want to skip using your car. The pavilion is open 7 days a week and is only closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Easter.

There is no right way to visit the Pavilion. You could start with the history walls but if you come with children, chances are they are going to want to go to the Discovery Zone or to climb onto some of the equipment. As a matter of fact, teens and adults will want to climb on the equipment as well and pretend to operate these behemoths. If you are looking for more of a challenge, the machine simulators are the place to head. This may just be easier for kids who are used to video games but adults will want to try to use the big dozer to move soil. It is a lot harder to do than it appears at first glance and you will have to try to pull yourself away so that you can continue to tour.

While part of the John Deere Pavilion is about the past, there is also a lot of information about the future. John Deere is committed to helping to make the world a better place through innovation. You can watch the population of the world as it grows second by second on their display. There are videos that you can watch to help you to understand the pieces of equipment and a favorite with visitors is the “Linked to the Land” video.

The newest equipment is computer operated. The pieces are synced to each other and can connect to move the grain from one to the other. It allows large farms to be able to get the work done. For farmers who can’t afford this large equipment, there are teams that travel around and bring the equipment to them without the cost of ownership.

Next door to the pavilion there is a gift store where the lover of all things John Deere can find the perfect items to remind them of their visit. There are tractors of all sizes from just a few inches to ones that can be ridden and of course tons of tee shirts.

Review: Fairfield Inn Harrisonburg, Va.

The Fairfield Inn in Harrisonburg, Va. It has a great location. It is off of exit 147A on I-81 and is less than a mile from the highway. It is surrounded by stores, restaurants, and other businesses. It is, however, far enough away from anything to be quiet.

We had a king studio room on the 4^th floor close enough to the elevator to be very convenient. I love the studio room set up, it has a hallway when you enter with the bathroom, which by the way was very spacious. There is a bar in the hallway that has a fridge, microwave and coffee pot. The room you enter is the living area with the sofa, which is a sofa bed, the desk, and a TV.

The bedroom is not closed off so it isn’t a suite but it does have a second TV so when Al and I disagree about what to watch, we both get to watch something different. The king bed had a very comfortable mattress and the typical white bedding.

The room was very clean however, we did have an issue. When I went to use the coffee pot, the tray that holds the pod was missing and when I picked up one of the paper cups it was unwrapped and dirty. That is just gross!! I called the front desk and got more coffee, new cup,s and a replacement tray. I did tell the manager in the morning when she asked me how my stay was and she gave me 1,000 reward points for the bad experience. I was very pleased with that response.

We used the pool and the hot tub both of which are on the first floor. We were the only ones in there so we had the place to ourselves. The hand rail into the pool was very wobbly and needs to be fixed. The timer on the hot tub also didn’t work correctly. There is a small gym with two treadmills and an elliptical as well as a weight bench.

At breakfast, they were out of cream cheese and only offered two kinds of cereal. Are you beginning to see a pattern here? I am not sure that even with its great location, this is a hotel I will use again. I think they need to do some upgrades and to make sure that there are tighter housekeeping standards. 

As I said, the room was clean and so was the bathroom. But I paid a very high price in comparison to the other Fairfield Inns on this trip and honestly for that price, I expect things to be in better order.

The Internet is free and fast and easy to access but the TV had only 40 channels and it seemed like 15 of them were sports!!! That is so disappointing, is it really necessary to have that many sports channel but not have HGTV? 

Getting a U.S. Passport Card

For destinations outside the United States, in North America,  you must have a U.S. passport card, also called the pass card or border card, to travel from the United States to and from other countries. This card will take you to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and countries of the Caribbean. You can use this card whether you travel on land or sea. It cannot be used for air travel. If you are flying, you need a traditional passport.

If you are planning a cruise to the Caribbean or Bermuda or driving to Canada or Mexico, it is cheaper and easier to get a U.S. Passport Card than it is to get a U.S. Passport. The turnover time is shorter as well. If you don't anticipate traveling overseas then this is the perfect card for you.

If you have previously had a U.S. Passport, you can choose to get a passport card as your renewal. When doing this, you will fill out the regular passport document. DS-82.

You may be able to renew by mail if:

• The passport is undamaged
• Was issued when you were 16 years or older
• Is no more than 15 years old
• Has your current name on it or you can document the name change

If any of these is not correct you must apply in person.

To renew in person you must go to a Passport Acceptance Facility or a Passport Agency. The United States government has links to all the places where you can apply. You can also apply at certain  United States Post Offices and in our area, Probate Courts.  See their website to find the one nearest you.

To apply for a U.S. passport card for the first time you will need to fill out form DS-11. You are required to prove that you are a United States citizen.

Documents that are accepted are:

• A certified birth certificate
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Naturalization certificate
• Certificate of citizenship

You also need to prove who you are.

Documents accepted are:

• A valid driver’s license
• A current military ID
• A current government ID
• Naturalization certificate

With either a renewal or a first-time application you will need to submit two passport photos. They must be identical, in color and 2 inches by 2 inches. You cannot be wearing a uniform and you should be facing the camera. No hats or dark glasses allowed.

The cost for a U.S. passport card is $55 for adults, $40 for minors. If it is a renewal it is $30.

It can take anywhere from a month to six weeks to receive your passport card. Don't wait until the last minute to apply. If you require it quicker you will need to make an appointment and pay an expedited fee at a designated passport agency. Some of the offices will require that you show proof of travel. Your passport card will be mailed to you, first class or in special cases when travel is within 14 days, you may be allowed to pick it up.

A passport card is a great option to save a little money if your plans do not require a passport.

Review: Fairfield Inn by Marriott Hazelton, Pa.

Fairfield Inns are a moderately priced member of the Marriott chain. They are family friendly and include a buffet breakfast in the rate. Beyond that, they offer a pool, hot tub, exercise room and business center.  I was impressed to see cold apple cinnamon water and cucumber water available for guests, a very classy touch.

This particular Fairfield Inn has a light, bright and spacious lobby. We were warmly welcomed when we entered and our room was waiting for us. I also appreciated being recognized as a Silver Tier reward member. They even had a little plaque on the desk welcoming all the Platinum, Gold and Silver members who were booked in for this night. Nice touch!!

Since the hotel was fully booked we didn’t get an upgrade but our king room was spacious and nicely decorated. I was disappointed that we had no microwave, I guess I usually get a suite!! The bathroom, however, was the most spacious one we have had so far on this trip and the coffee pot was located in the room not in the bathroom which I appreciate. The amenities include lemon and sage body lotion which I adore. Plenty of towels are included and the tub has an overhead shower with good pressure.

The room has the king bed with lots of pillows and a cushy mattress, a club chair, and stool, desk with chair and dresser with flat screen TV.  The number of available channels is excellent at this hotel, at least 70.

Our room was located on the third floor and was quiet. It was the top floor for no-one walking above us. I sat at the desk and used the free high-speed Internet. No password is needed to use it.

While Fairfield Inns don’t serve any meal except breakfast, this one in Hazleton has a Damon’s Grill right across the parking lot where you can get a 10 percent discount by showing your room key. Silly us, we ate there before we checked in.

Breakfast is served from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. which allows you to sleep in or leave early. The room is spacious and the food was replenished as needed.

Parking is free and plentiful. I was very pleased with this Fairfield Inn and would not hesitate to stay here again.

Update: 2020

The hotel has had some very nice renovations, the rooms have a huge TV which offers Internet options so Netflix and YouTube etc and the tub is gone replaced by a walk-in shower. Well done Fairfield Inn. 

Austria: The fascinating Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Vienna

The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum is the Museum of Military History and is located in the center of the Arsenal. The style of the building is very unique; it is Moorish with byzantine influences. It was built between 1850 and 1856 which makes it the oldest museum in Vienna.

The museum is divided into 5 main sections from the 16th century to the end of World War II. This is the history of the Hapsburg family who ruled the Austria, Spain and large sections of Europe for centuries. The first room is the Thirty Years War during the reign of Maria Theresa and Prince Eugene of Savoy who was a great military leader of that time period. There is a set of his armor, which shows what a very small man he was in stature even though he was a great military man. There is an Ottoman tent that was capture during the war with the Turks, loads of amazing guns, early rifles, pikes etc. It is the sort of museum that will appeal to the entire family.

The conflicts with France were an off and on affair over several centuries but the museum is focused for the most part on the Napoleonic era.

For me the most amazing exhibits were the ones leading up to World War I. The car that Franz Ferdinand was riding in when he was assassinated is in the museum, also the uniform that he was wearing and couch that he died on. There is a whole room on Austrian naval history including a replica of the ship that carried home the body of the executed emperor of Mexico, Maximilian, who was Franz Josef's brother.

We had a headphone set to carry around and give us additional information on some of the exhibits. There are also sheets in every room in English that give more information. We spent over 2 hours here and the men especially were fascinated. There is a lot to see and much to enjoy. If you would like to have a guided tour, they will make an effort to provide it for you, you just let them know what your interests are.

The museum is open seven days week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a good option for a Monday when some of the other museums may be closed. In addition to the permanent exhibits there are usually some special exhibits. You can check the museum website to find out what is being shown at any given time. The entire museum offers free Wi-Fi.

To get to this museum we took the UI to Sudtirolerplatz station and then took the 13A bus for 2 stops. It is a little off the beaten track but worth the effort. The museum is free on the first Sunday of the month. Every other day the entrance is  € 6 Euro with an additional €2 for the audio tour. 

The museum has a very interesting shop and a cafe if you need to eat. This is a very interesting museum to visit and I highly recommend it.

Austria: Amazing works of art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

Vienna is known for its wonderful pastries and for the Viennese Waltz. Many people may not be aware of the depth and quality of the works of art that are available to see and appreciate. 

Vienna is a city filled with magnificent buildings and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Art History Museum is no exception. The building will impress you, the collection that it contains will leave you breathless. The collection spans the ancient to the 18th century. The core of the collection was developed from pieces owned by the Hapsburg family. Who better to own one of the finest collections of the old masters? 

The works of art at Vienna Museum of Fine Arts are world class.

Everyone has their own personal favorites when it comes to art. Mine is northern European and the collection at the Kunsthistorisches in no way disappointed, as a matter of fact, it is quite heavy in the work of the Dutch and Flemish artists.

Albrecht Durer, The Leonardo of the North, is well represented here.
Virgin and Child with Half a Pear. 1512

This is not the only Virgin and Child that Durer did, he has another one that also has the pear but this one is only half a pair that the baby is holding. Mary is dressed in the blue but this is not a pastel blue but rather a vibrant blue. Mary is looking down at the child who appears to be almost squirming in her arms and holding the half pear. A very beautiful and interesting piece done in oil on panel and Durer's visits to Italy are evident in the style and composition of this work.

There are several other Durer's in the collection at the Vienna Art Museum. There is a portrait of Maximillian I, A Venetian girl and an altarpiece.

Vermeer, The Art of Painting

This painting has a very interesting history. For several hundred years the attribution to Vermeer was lost and it was believed to be the work of one of his contemporaries Pieter De Hooch, a false signature even appeared on the painting. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that it was recognized as the work of the master. During World War II it was sold to Adolph Hitler and finally ended up in the collection of the Vienna Art Museum. With so few of Vermeer's works having survived, any museum which has one in its collection is very blessed indeed.

Hans Holbein, Jane Seymour

Hans Holbein is well known for his portraits of the Royal family of England. Among the most famous are his portraits of some of the wives of Henry VIII. 

Jane, of course, is wife number three and the one who produced a son who survived into young adulthood. This picture was done shortly after she married Henry in 1536. She shows all the seriousness one would expect of the future mother of the king. 

The collection of works of art Vienna Museum of Fine Arts  is very deep. It has several Rubens and Van Dykes and many, many others. These are just a few of the Northern European works you can only imagine what they have from Italy, France, Spain and England.