Scattered Thoughts . . .

O ur living room wall clock has been an intermittent problem for months and it finally bit the dust about a month ago.  So, we were on an internet search for a better clock.   There was a beautiful clock at Monticello that is sold as a reproduction that both Sheila and I really liked.  I've mentioned this before in this blog but I should mention it again here in this blog entry that I have always been fascinated by Thomas Jefferson and his Monticello homestead.  I even studied this historic home design while in college as an engineering student.  I like Monticello's fusion of old European, French Provincial and Early American styles.  One could also argue that Monticello has many Craftsman features and details as well.  These are all styles I am fusing together in our own home.   So, finding a wall clock at the Monticello gift shop was a plus and we both really liked this clock.  The problem was that I had never spent more than about $40 for a clock in my life and this clock co

While we were visiting Adam and Joi, we went to Old Sacramento to visit the California State Railroad Museum.  We had already been in this area of town when we arrived by train and rented a car and I found it was like any other city...  unimpressive, congested, run down, and I already knew about the crime rates for various areas of town.  However, when we pulled onto the road where the museum was located, we found an incredible, impressive and historic downtown city area.  Actually, it is registered as a National Historic Landmark District.  I don't think any of us were expecting to see what we found.  This section of the city is preserved in its circa-1850 Gold Rush days! I believe only one road through this area is still dirt and gravel.  Some roads are blacktopped to cut down on dirt and dust in the dry climate.  Other roads are cobblestone.  The sidewalks aren't actually sidewalks but wood porch type decking, all attached from one building to the next as you would typi