The Elephant House
or what I did on my summer vacation. We went to Cape Cod, MA this year for vacation on relative short notice, and then drove up to Boston. I always try to incorporate at least one art related activity anywhere I go. My research told my that Edward Gorey's house was on Cape Cod, so I put it on my wish list and crossed my fingers and. It turned out the Yarmouth was not to far from the whale watching boat tour we took on a somewhat rainy day.

Initially, only my ten year old son went in with me even though he didn't quite understand the word "macabre". Only to leave after joining an already in progress tour when he realized he would have to be quiet and was not allowed to touch anything.

I first became aware of Edward Gorey while helping construct a set for the the play "Gorey Stories" when I lived in Erie, PA during the 90's. His work is all black and white done with old fashioned dip well pens including simply drawn characters in front of elaborate Edwardian backdrops that seemed to have more thought and effort directed into drawing wall paper patterns and furniture. muc of the rest of my summer reading has been about Edward Gorey, and as always, I am interested to see how the lives of artists that I admire, mirror my own. The emphasis being placed on a deep need for solitude as part of the creative process with an bit of humor mixed in.

Speaking of solitude, I went to visit Walden Pond on this trip. I had heard tales of development surrounding the pond and expected to see Condominiums lining the shore. Massachusetts does an excellent job of making you think that there is nothing other than trees in the state. Likewise, Walden had somewhat pristine shores minus the shallow swimming designated area buoys. I could have spent a great deal of time there in quiet contemplation...but I have a family. Some of whom are bent on throwing rocks in any body of water bigger than a swimming pool. Also, Walden was not made for strollers or conversation or explaining