Serenity

“September 18th, 1911. It was clear and cold this morning but not the frost I’m hoping for. There are hundreds of chestnut trees around the cottages and in the forests and I long for a chance at them. After breakfast we enjoyed some games in the casino, loafed a little and then went to the lake where Alfred took a very cold swim while I enjoyed a boat ride. This afternoon we took a long drive over a beautiful mountain to road to Stemple’s and returned at sunset when the haze was think and beautiful over the distant mountains. This part of West Virginia was piled down here in great confusion and the masses of wooded mountains sides in there autumn tints are wonderful. This evening we are ending one more happy day alone in our little sitting room.”

“September 19th, 1911. Wakened this morning to find the valley in a dense cloud so our trip to the Knob was postponed. After breakfast we went to the Dairy to see the churning and the ensilage cutter at work. The farm here is a real farm. We then tried for the Knob but by some misfortune we wandered around up in the forest for an hour or so and came down without having reached anything more exciting than a field of golden rod. After a row and a swim by 9 we lunched. Then read during the storm and I slept. After dinner we had music for an hour before returning to the cottage.”