Girls and Their Toys

We visited the miniature show in Nashua. Linda collects doll house and miniature. She was looking for a music box for her collection. This was my first foray into the miniature world. There was a wide range of prices and often I could not discern/appreciate why one was $10 and other a $900 - $1500.

Bill Studebaker showing Linda his music box. 

Bill used a 60 year old Swiss music box because
"they are bullet proof"

Bill's turnings

Authentic cast fire place accessories using the
lost wax process

For your authentic hunting cabin

Timberrrr!

This very old, 200 years plus, dead maple has begun dropping limbs and needs to come down before someone gets hurt.   John Foster may have planted this maple when he built his home here in 1780. He was granted several hundred acres of frontier land as payment for his service in the Continental Army.

It was a drippy overcast day when the tree guy arrived. 

Taking off manageable sections
one at a time.

On the trunk he would cut horizontally so the round would sit on top, then he would push it off.

When the trunk was short enough he dropped it. 

Kaboom

Slicing up the trunk

A lot of winter Wood

The next day Gary started splitting the huge slices into pieces that he could move with the tractor.

Valley Forge

General Washington picked this industrial mill and iron forge site because it was close enough to Philadelphia to keep an eye on the British, but the 20 mile gap prevented a surprise attack.

Upon arriving in Dec of 1777, General Washington's first priority was shelter for his 12,000 men. Each 12 man squad was tasked with constructing their own shelter. To encourage speed and quality Washington offer a $12 prize for the first durable cabin built in each brigade. By February 2000 cabins were completed.

Cabins of Washington's personal guard.

12 men to a hut....

but rank has its privilege.

Washington leased the Isaac Potts house for 6 months to use as his Valley Forge headquarters.

The house and interior is 85% true to the time Washington lived here

General Washington's office

George Washington's hand also grasped this banister.

This four poster bed appeared only when Martha visited. At all other times Washington slept on a cot.

Aids room (left)

Aids room (right)

Original lock boxes, over 200 years old