Grounds for a Wonderful Day

A week or so ago, long time friends Joe and Linda met us at a place we'd been longing to visit...Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ.  Click here 
The plan was to eat at Rats Restaurant on the grounds and then tour the sculpture gardens.
I don't know how to describe the beauty awaiting us as we were kindly led to our table for lunch. 
We were stepping into Claude Monet's beloved town of Giverny.... I actually felt as if it hurt my senses to be trying to absorb such loveliness.

 Rat's Restaurant, named for the gregarious character in sculptor and creator Seward Johnson's favorite childhood story book, the Wind in the Willows.  It's a magical place before you even step inside.
These are the views we enjoyed as we dined.

And, as we dined, the rain began to fall, putting an end to our plans to stroll the gardens.
Not to be defeated, however, we made plans to try again this week.
Yesterday the weather more than made up for the previous time and we enjoyed, nay, relished the weather and the wonders that are Grounds for Sculpture.

He's painting the actual, real café just beyond.

Koi in the pond.

Larry and Joe strolling through a lane of trees

A "gentleman" taking a pause to relieve himself!

She is sitting near a pond in which, apparently, she has bathed.

Another view of Rats from the gardens

Rats from another point of view

Reminds me of my dad.

Bamboo reflections

The sign says, "Employee Showers"!!

Standing in line for food/a job during the Depression.

Linda and I found this recreation of a Boating Party...a favorite painting and book of mine.  It was fun to approach, hearing laughter as if the party were, indeed in progress.  If you look closely you may see some 21st Century folk!

Every detail...even his cell phone, dropped carelessly.

 Couldn't have asked for better companions for this day...we are of such similar minds, making it all the more enjoyable.  To top it off, the day before was Linda's birthday.

 There was such poignancy in this one...her face brought tears to my eyes.

Step into a painting!

 Another of my favorites...painting and book.  So well done!

 I guess, since Larry and I couldn't get very near the real one in the Louvre, he decided to really get up close and personal with this one!  So cute, isn't he?

 Behind the scenes.

In memory.
And thus ended what, for me, was a spectacular day, with good folks and lots of fresh air.