Tag: Design

LADY PEPPERELL’S CORNER

~ Jnana Hodson ~ Leave a comment
Classic symmetry.
Classic symmetry.
The mansion has four chimneys, rather than one, plus a porch looking toward the river.
The mansion has four chimneys, rather than one, plus a porch looking toward the river.

This “dower house,” a Georgian gem built in 1760 by the newly-widowed Lady Mary Hirst Pepperell, sits at a sharp turn in the road a mile from Pepperell Cove in Kittery, Maine. Through her Bostonian roots and marriage, she was one of the richest, most powerful women in New England.

The mansion faces a Congregational church built in 1732, the oldest house of worship still in use in Maine.

Across the road.
Across the road.

 

 

OLD PEPPERELL AND BRAY

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 1 Comment
A Palladian window stands over the doorway.
A Palladian window stands over the doorway.
And to think, the Pepperell mansion was once larger.
And to think, the Pepperell mansion was once larger.
Imposing, especially for its era.
Imposing, especially for its era.

With its shelter on the tidal Piscataqua River and proximity to the Atlantic, Pepperell Cove in Kittery, Maine, is a scenic marina these days, for both working fishermen and leisure-time sailors. It was originally a hive of shipbuilding as well.

The docks are reached by the lane beside Sir William Pepperell’s 1733 gambrel mansion.

It’s adjacent to 1662 John Bray house, considered the oldest surviving residence in Maine.

The oldest part of the Bray house is the two-story left section.
The oldest part of the Bray house is the two-story left section.

INSIDE THE MILLWORKS

~ Jnana Hodson ~ Leave a comment
I can imagine living in one of the towers, as one central character does in one of my yet unpublished novels.
I can imagine living in one of the towers, as a central character does in one of my yet unpublished novels.
One to another.
One tower viewed from another.
You could go climbing the walls.
You could go climbing the walls.
Or head for the street.
Or head for the street.
The old floors are fascinating, reflecting years of use. Often, they're embedded with the impressions of grommets or other materials that fell in the course of labor.
The old floors are fascinating, reflecting years of use. Often, they’re embedded with the impressions of grommets or other materials that fell in the course of labor.
The pulleys and other details overhead can be just as intriguing.
The pulleys and other details overhead can be just as intriguing.
Summer relief, however inefficient.
Summer relief, however inefficient.

GINGERBREAD LIGHTHOUSE

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 1 Comment
A small electric candle hangs upside down to illuminate the caramelized window panes of the lamp room. A candy kiss provides an improvised cone to top the lighthouse.
A small electric candle hangs upside down to illuminate the caramelized window panes of the lamp room. A candy kiss provides an improvised cone to top the lighthouse.
The rugged appearance is part of the fun, especially when surrounded by lobsters and sharks. Not that we have sharks in real life ... I prefer to see them as porpoises.
The rugged appearance is part of the fun, especially when surrounded by lobsters and sharks. Not that we have sharks in real life … I prefer to see them as porpoises.

While I’ve never gotten wrapped up in my wife’s fascination with gingerbread houses, my contrarian nature has embraced the idea of making an annual gingerbread LIGHT house, and here’s one result .

For the recipe and the templates, especially if you want to go for fancier results, check out this story, recipe, and assembly directions. (It’s not the only gingerbread lighthouse at Coastal Living, by the way, in case you’re really adventurous.)

The model was based on the Whaleback Light just downriver from us, so I feel it’s an extra special touch. And the gummy lobsters and gummy sharks, along with the candy rocks for the lighthouse wall, were purchased from Yummies just beyond the Kittery Outlet stores. That can be a destination for Maine visitors all in its own.

Inserting the candy rocks into the frosting "mortar" was fun, but let me suggest doing it with the sheets flat, before you erect the walls into place.
Inserting the candy rocks into the frosting “mortar” was fun, but let me suggest doing it with the sheets flat, before you erect the walls into place.
What would Maine be without lobsters?
What would Maine be without lobsters?

PREPARING FOR THE TREE

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 3 Comments

Although we don’t bring the Yule tree indoors until Christmas Eve, baking and decorating the gingerbread cookies that will adorn its branches can be done days ahead.

An acorn on a pine tree? Why not, when it's among these?
An acorn on a pine tree? Why not, when it’s among these?
Large gingerbread snowflakes just might be suspended in our windows instead of the tree. Unlike those three oranges, just waiting to be peeled and eaten.
Large gingerbread snowflakes just might be suspended in our windows instead of the tree. Unlike those three oranges, just waiting to be peeled and eaten.

WHAT A SHOW!

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 2 Comments

As much as I keep the outdoors Christmas lighting around our place to a minimum — usually strands around the bay window and entryway — we also keep ours going through most of January, as does a much more elaborate neighbor two doors down the street.

But that doesn’t keep us from appreciating those who go all out on this front, especially folks with an artistic flair.

This year, though, we’ve learned of a teenager who’s been doing something remarkable at his home for the past five years — something so remarkable he’s also done City Hall this year, which we’re anticipating viewing this week as soon as the glitches are ironed out and it’s back running. The bit I saw Thursday night was jaw-dropping.

But we did drive on to see what he’s up to. Trust me, there’s no way to describe what this kid does with a computer and 8,000 LED lights. He’s set it all to music and a seemingly infinite number of variations on motion, coloring, and timing. It’s quite mesmerizing, although I think I’m getting a headache from the afterglow in my head. Still, to get a faint idea of what he’s up to, you’ll just have to click here.

You just might find it worth a trip to Dover.