This
is the central square within the Chautauqua Institute. At the far
end is the Library, and in the middle is a fountain with images representing
four areas on academia. Don't ask me what they are. I can remember
"Religion" and "Law", but I haven't the foggiest idea what the other two
are. Maybe I'm wrong about those two?!? Oh, I don't know!
Just trust me - there are four images there!
This
is Daddy and Parker, standing in front of the Mary-Willis House on Wiley
Road. We stayed with 17 other people in this house. It didn't
feel too cramped - we shared meals together and had a large livingroom
and porch to sit and talk. Besides, Parker had a lot of people giving
him a lot of attention during the week. However, when we came home
he was quite grumpy for two days, because he missed everyone and wouldn't
settle for "boring" Mom and Dad.
Here's some history on the house,
if you want to read it: the house was owned by a woman who married and
had two children, named Mary and Willis. Much to her chagrin, they
both died of influenza at a very young age. She was so bitter about
these tragedies that she swore never to have any children in her house
again. The house of the left was rented out to librarians and others,
folk who didn't have any children. This "rule" stood for many years.
Finally, the woman died and gave the home to the Presbyterian Church.
They could continue to rent the house to others with one important stipulation:
that the families have children! After her death, the home's main
use was for children to come and stay and enjoy their time in Chautauqua.
Fascinating, isn't that?!?! Gotta be a sermon illustration in there
somewhere!
This
is the Presbyterian House which houses ministers and missionaries during
the Summer. It is the first brick home on the Institute's property,
and it is much larger than the Mary-Willis house. For you who know
her, Becky Marquette stayed here much of the Summer of 1998, and she took
care of Parker once in a while, while the parents went gallivanting across
the grounds. This house may be the first brick building, but it is
also one of the best places to sit and watch concerts in the Amphitheater
(which is on the opposite side of the House, or behind you if you were
taking this picture).
Here
is Master Parker on the lower porch of the Presbyterian House. Yes,
he can crawl now and, as you can see, he does it with great determination
and enthusiasm. Tamara and I are enthusiastic about Parker's crawling,
too; but we are not overjoyed with where we may find him sometimes and
with what he may be fiddling with once he is there! Are there Mr.
Yuck stickers for bookshelves and electrical cords?
Now,
we are enjoying some time under the trees in Palestine Park next to the
Tower Clock in Chautauqua. Parker likes to sit and crawl on the blanket,
but he much rather be on the grass and EATING IT! I think he is half
bovine. Anyway, in this picture I think I was telling him to smile
for the camera or to sit up nice and straight, or maybe I was telling him
a secret about showing all the pictures we take of him to his finance,
when he's ready to marry.