An Architect's Pilgrimage?

A week ago we took a weekend excursion to the Woodlawn Mansion, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House. It was commissioned in 1939 to be an affordable house for the "average" American family. It was 1200 sq ft, and housed a husband, wife, and two young kids. It was striking how much the American lifestyle has changed since then. The house was really awesome, and a neat experience for our kids. It made me feel really excited to have Jer try to design our own home, and to have him try to tackle some of the design problems facing our generation. "The house of moderate cost is not only America’s major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects." -Frank Lloyd Wright, 1936

Jer seems amused by the stories of Wright's difficult personality. He thinks maybe he should start to insist upon being referred to by his full name too.

As we were leaving a couple pulled up to check out the house. Jer looked them over. "They're architects. I can just tell from their sour expressions, and general vibe of displeasure with the world."

Next we have a house with a very different aim in mind.

This is the Woodlawn manor. It was a gift from George Washington to his granddaughter. The house and grounds were very lovely, and Luca was very excited by thinking that George Washington himself probably walked many times up and down the same steps that he was climbing.

Then Sunday we went to Gettysburg. One of my best friends performed in a faculty recital at Gettysburg College. It was amazing to me that anyone who wanted could go and listen to a beautiful soprano who had trained for decades, includinng a PhD from Eastman, and the whole fabulous experience was free. Jer and I joked about how people will pay sixty bucks to listen to some celebrity who is probably lip singing or so auto tuned that isn't even their own voice anymore. Then there is someone like Susan, with this refined lovely talent willing to share her gift with the rest of us for nothing more than our quiet attention and appluase. I loved hearing her. I'm so grateful that her beautiful voice has been there throughout my life providing an amazing soundtrack as we went along.

Oh yeah, and we stopped by the battlefield. Because I can't go to Gettysburg without going there for at least a brief stop. My dad came along to watch a couple of the kiddos during the show. James insisted on going with us to the recital.

That was an extremely adventerous weekend for our family of home-bodies!