Lumos

I went to a Lumos concert in a small church in Redding, Connecticut.  These concerts have musicians surrounded by yellow candles.

The string trio played Fleetwood Mac songs.  I'm not sure Fleetwood Mac wrote their songs with cello, viola and violin in mind.  An enthusiastic woman in our pew loved it.  She kept time with the music so vigorously that our bench bounced.

Little Zion Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith

This building was built for a South Norwalk Congregational church in 1836.  By the 1970s its attendance had shrunk, so the Congregational folks merged with another one in West Norwalk.  

I have read that this church building is now owned by a Church of Christ denomination, which emphasizes a cappella worship, congregational autonomy, and a focus on New Testament teachings. 

Uriah Seymour House c.1740

This is an old house from about 1740.  It is on Ridgefield's Main Street.

Aren't the geraniums and hydrangeas beautiful?

Delamar

 I visited West Hartford recently to have lunch with some folks with whom I worked.  The lunch was in Artisan, the dining room of Delamar Hotel in Blue Back Square.

Delamar's lobby has some fine art.

Including this interesting metal bench.

And this oversized wrinkled replica of a British 20 pound note.

Delamar has a relationship with the New Britain Museum of American Art.  The hotel often hangs art from the museum's collection in the lounge.  These are all the original paintings for magazine covers.

BOOKS

Natalie opened her one room Cannondale bookstore a few weeks ago.

She has worked for decades in big name brand tech companies.  Natalie still works in tech part time, but she wanted to create her little bookstore as a change of pace.

Penny Ha'Penny

 Two friends started a small shop 40 years ago in the out-of-the-way village of Cannondale.  One -- Penny -- was British.  Eve is an American born to British parents; she is a ha'penny.

Penny Ha'Penny sells mostly British goods like logo cups and dinnerware, glassware, tee shirts, dolls, souvenirs and food.  I bought a bottle of non-alcoholic wassail to put away until the Christmas season. 

Eve's friend Penny is gone so these days Eve runs the store by herself.  She is getting on in years and has wondered what to do with the shop.

Enter longtime customer Roseanna and her teen daughter Josie.  Eve has been discussing passing the store on to Roseanna.  I hope the talks succeed.  The store deserves to continue and Eve deserves to retire with the confidence that what Penny and she built is in good hands.  

Cannondale

 Cannondale is a tiny village where Redding and Wilton meet.  It is named for the train station, like Georgetown and Branchville further north.  Two commuter trains passed through while I was there. 

Cannondale looks like it is from a previous age.  I visited some small shops while I was there.  Photos from those shops are coming in the following days.