Did you ever have one of those weekends where you did alot, but it still felt relaxing? This was one of those. My group of cackling hens got together for brunch on Sunday. It's always nice to gossip about who's not present, just another reason to go. Iif they stop talking, then you should be worried I say. It was a weekend for a sensory over load I'll say that. My good friend Pixie Stick and I got together finally. We used to work together and it had been almost a year since we saw each other. Before heading out,and the drawn out process of getting ready, I tried my new fragrance choice, Hermes d'Orange Verte. Now mind ya, I only wear three fragrances usually. I wear the same three for years now, and everybody always knows when I've been there. They are,
Terre d'Hermes, Hermes d'Orange Verte, Chole eau de fleur Capucine, and Chanel's Egoiste. I always get comments when wearing these scents, and the d'Orange Verte from Hermes is the newest to the regimen, and did not disappoint. And did it smell yummy! But the highlight of the weekend was the time spent in Doylestown with Pixie visiting the stunning locale of Fonthill.
Fonthill is a modern castle made entirely of concrete and rebar, by the founder of Moravian Tile Works, that we also visited. This castle is not only unique, but bizarre. Mercer used all of the tiles in his home that his tile works created! Fonthill was the home of Henry Chapman Mercer. Archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian, Mercer built Fonthill both as his home and as a showplace for his collection of tiles and prints. The first of three Mercer buildings in Doylestown, Fonthill served as a showplace for Mercer's famed Moravian tiles that were produced during the American Arts & Crafts Movement. Designed by Mercer, the building is an eclectic mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles, and is significant as an early example of poured reinforced concrete. Pixie and I entered the house in a very dark entry way. Outside we had noticed that the windows were all different sizes and inside there were openings in the house through walls also of all different sizes. Windows and openings were just placed wherever Mr. Mercer thought one should be. The guide described it as "an architect's nightmare" because nothing was square. Regardless, we were both totally fascinated with the building. It took about 1 hour to go through on an abbreviated tour.
The upstairs floors were too cold to tour in the winter to stay up there long, because there was no heating of course! It's really hard to describe this "house." It really felt more like a castle, but the tiles all over every wall, ceiling and floor in each room were bizarre.
I didn't sense a ghost in the house, just a residual energy of sadness, particularly in the large "library" area. We learned that Mr. Mercer was never married, didn't care for the company of women, was very artistic, loved to travel and collect, everything, and loved his dogs. It doesn't take much guesswork to figure out that he was probably gay, does it? In the house, there are Rollo's pawprints in various concrete stairways, and one is actually labeled Rollo's Stairway. Up next was the Moravian Tile Works.
We also took a tour of the tile works and the entire process of making the tiles was explained as we walked through it. Of course, it was 43F, so it was cold in there- but there was some warmth from the ovens that were going as tiles were being produced. We learned that all of the clay used to make the tiles are from local sources. The tile company became famous when the Pennsylvania State House commissioned Mr. Mercer to completely tile that building. Mercer also tiled many other landmark buildings.
Like Mercer's house Fonthill, the building of the tile works was built entirely out of concrete, and was designed in "Mission Style" like buildings in the American Southwest. Combined with Fonthill, the tile works makes for a great trip! After all that touring and getting chilled it was off to Honey to warm up....and of course, some nibbles. Which were very good and enjoyed, but the four cock-a-tails I had really warmed up the Mistress.
A honey Expresso martini, several!!!!!! They did the trick, but kept me up most of the night! It was nice to get out and about, God know how long this mild, warm winter will hold up. The Mistress usually doesn't go out and about much in the winter and tends to get reclusive in the cold temps. So I'll enjoy it while I can take it. Now.....to muster the energy to greet Monday. Tootles!
