In addition to bagels supreme and other pastries, Gloria graced us with stories going all the way back to Germany, tracing the family’s moves to Staten Island, the photo business and beyond. Fascinating stories.

 

Later, Gloria took us to the Oldwick Library where she and Joe volunteer and have done so much to make it a vital part of the community.

 

We had an early lunch at the Tewksbury Inn in Oldwick - a great old restaurant in rural (horse country) New Jersey. Yum.

Peekskill

Meredith and Richard really know what turns my crank and my love of the beautifully-made, unusual, mechanical, repurposed, outrageous and old-time junk and toys. With knowing smiles they opened the door to Early Electrics, a store/museum of oddities right up my alley upon our return to Peekskill.

My jaw stayed permanently dropped, The artistry of juxtaposition and display put me into perma-smile mode. My camera was wagging its tail so vigorously that I feared out-of-focus images.

Where else have you seen leather, canvas, wool and rubber protective and decorative masks displayed together?

How about a life-sized, fully-articulated, papier-mâché horse with cutaways showing all the organs, blood vessels, muscle groups and MUCH more.

Staggering combinations with connections on SO MANY levels. My brain gets re-stretched just looking at the photos again. AND they are not there just to admire - everything is for sale (albeit for hefty prices!).

Mechanical hands - some prosthetic, some artist’s models, some industrially useful, others merely decorative. It’s a good thing these were behind glass. I wanted to climb in and play! Check out the slide show at http://earlyelectrics.com/

Knowing I would STILL be in this hallowed place until rigor mortis set in, the family played the devious nutrition card - donuts - and only a block away! http://www.homestyledessertsbakery.com/

 

It was a low-down move, but it worked. The only hard part was choosing among the too-many choices!

Next was the Lincoln Depot Museum (http://lincolndepotmuseum.org) a small but very interesting museum about Abraham’s stop in Peekskill in 1861.

The final destination of this mighty fine day was Peter Pratt’s Inn, about 30 minutes from M&R’s home.  Here is the short version: “PETER PRATT'S INN, a Revolutionary War-era colonial home, is located in the oldest section of Yorktown and is situated at the battle site of the demise of General George Washington's Northern Continental Command Post to the British Tories in 1781. Across the street is one of the oldest structures in Westchester, the Davenport House, which served as General Washington's command post throughout the Revolutionary War.

 

The restaurant area was originally the foundation of a barn built in 1780. The dining room remains authentic in its colonial design and construction. Overhead, thick, petrified chestnut beams rest on granite boulders, the foundation for 75% of the building.” from https://www.peterprattsinn.com/

 

OK, so it’s old and famous, but what about the food? OMG…  Pan-Seared Rohan Duck Breast — Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Wild Mushrooms, Parsnip Puree was to die for, but Cathy chose the winning entry:  Skillet Roasted Green Circle Chicken  — 

Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable, Roasted Chicken Glace, Frizzled Leeks.  ALL of us agreed that it was the BEST chicken we’d ever tasted!

 

I think I mentioned we ATE our way across New York and New Jersey!