Sunday Drive – Walking in the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.

After all the rain we’ve this past week, Sally and I needed to get out and stretch our legs. Recently, I attended Northshore Magazine’s launch party for their new publication, Northshore Home, at Willowdale, located in Bradley Palmer State Park, which reminded me that next door was the Mass Audubon Society’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. (A kitchen we designed for an Ipswich client was included in the inaugural issue.) So, on Sunday afternoon we took the opportunity to visit to the Sanctuary. Knowing that the Topsfield Fair was in full swing, we took to the back roads to get there.

The Sanctuary visitor center is located in the Samuel Bradford House, built in 1763. Georgian/Federal influence is clearly evident in it’s exterior details. We were both impressed by the size of the central chimney. Our guess is there are a minimum of 6, possibly 8 fireplaces in the house.

It’s lovely front portico. I was interested in seeing how the window casing around the upper windows was integrated into the decorative trim under the eves, as I had been asked to help solve this very problem about two months ago. Based on what I saw here, I got it right! Whew!!!

A first – a the bullnose window sill. File this away under Federal Window Details. You never know… Love the simple watertable detail and locally quarried rubble foundation below the window.

The real purpose of our visit wasn’t the architecture, but to inhale the fresh fall air and savor the fall foliage and changing of the seasons. The vista from the front of the house did not disappoint, with an added bonus of about 50 bluebirds flitting about the field.

Sally played peek-a-boo with me the entire afternoon…

Organic tree forms abounded.

The Rockery delighted.

The Sycamore impressed.

The view of Rockery Pond reminded us of the Monet Water Lilies show we saw in the d’Orsay Museum in Paris last fall.

As did the stone bridge of our visit to Vaux le Vicomte.

These views trigger memories and we make connections to ideas, colors, patterns, textures and forms we were unaware of before.

As do the little things at our feet.

Tigger’s favorite food, Haycorns…

The contrast between vista and up close and personal was constant, reminding us of how much our spirit and soul need both to be complete.

As we returned to our car, the path took us between two old overgrown stone walls. Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming her land… I find this reminder of her constancy comforting.

Thanks for joining Sally and me on our walk. Until next Sunday…

Cheers,

John

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