Wednesday, April 13, 2016

FLANEUR FOREVER

After being in all winter, I felt as though for a flaneur, I cleaned up quite nice. Last weekend my friend J and his boyfriend,  and the Lad were in town, and it seems the social wheel is about to start turning again. But I still have no problem being a flaneur I say. We had a standing reservation at The Golden Peasant Inn, in New Hope along the canal followed by a walking tour of the hamlet. Nothing like a get away in your own back yard. Yours truly was hired as guide again.  
While it seems spring may never fully arrive, the daffodils at my place are in full swing....
Golden Pheasant Inn is a magical country bed and breakfast inn and restaurant nestled between the Delaware River and the Pennsylvania canal in Bucks County. The Inn, built in 1857, is home to the longest continuously operating restaurant/hotel along the Delaware Canal, and is recognized on the National Registry of Historic Places. The tavern and former mule barn area of the Golden Pheasant Inn served as early commercial buildings constructed along the Delaware River and the Delaware Canal to serve mercantile traffic. An important gathering place, the tavern was the social hub for farmers, travelers, and later, canal men and vacationers. Today, the property retains its architectural integrity and continues to be used as a lodging facility—as it has for its entire history.
Our room was very well appointed but narrow, but it was still very comfy. Who am I too complain if the bed takes up the whole room!
Our one points of interest everyone seemed to want to see was not far from the Casa du Borghese...Fonthill Castle.
 Fonthill was the home of the American archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Built between 1908 and 1912, it is an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. The interior was originally painted in pastel colors, but age and sunlight have all but eradicated any hint of the former hues. It contains much built-in furniture and is embellished with decorative tiles that Mercer made at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement.
 
The home was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972,and was later included in a National Historic Landmark District along with the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works and the Mercer Museum. These three structures are the only poured-in-place concrete structures built by Mercer. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is located on the same property as Fontill, and is the location of where the beautiful tiles Mercer made,  and the Mercer Museum is located approximately one mile away. Water and pollution have caused damage to all of the structures, none more so than at Fonthill, where replacement of damaged windowsills is almost an annual event.
Some of the beautiful tiles Mercer is known for. These can be seen all around the area here.
The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works
Some of the dainty wild violets blooming....
After a long day of walking and going pub to pub we all slept rather well that night. And lets not discuss the mouthwatering brunch the next day.......
That required another work off.

34 comments:

  1. yes, we see your daffodil in full swing.

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    1. It just pops up to cheer up the masses at this time of year. Or any time of year. Jx

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    2. A very long stem by looks of the thing.

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    3. You'd thought the Easter parade would have taken a toll.

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  2. I remember being in Doylestown and seeing Fonthill. It was amazing to see a castle appear out of no where. That architecture was so cool to see. And we didn't have a tour guide, with his own compass needle. You look great.

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  3. I definitely like what I see wink wink

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  4. Lovely spring post. Fonthill is quite amazing. Nothing like that remotely around these parts. But id been hard pressed to leave that bed and breakfast. That French toast alone........

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  5. "Yours truly was hired as guide again" - and I see you're pointing southwest! ;-)

    I'll take that french toast please!

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    1. It comes in handy at a nude beach.....like a sun dial.

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  6. Fonthill Castle. Love to see that; it reminds me of the Biltmore in Asheville.

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  7. Beautiful post!. The castle is so stunning it made me research Henry Chapman Mercer. The mansion really enables you to see inside the mind of a totally freaking insane, obsessive compulsive, artistic and eccentric genis. I too would love to see the sometime. Looks like you had a great weekend.

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    1. That he was. He had the mansion done in four years with only ten, well paid workers , one looney and himself of course. The whole place from what I understand is literally untouched, right down to the book we was reading, since Mercer passed away. Everything remains untouched.

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  8. Mistress, you sure do know how to entice. Fonthill has always been a Doylestown favorite of ours. Its Arts and Crafts at its slightly weird best. I also like the Mercer tiles. I have a few and use them in my garden as stepping stones, although we don't walk on them. And the Golden Pheasant......one of the best bruches around.

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  9. This post made me want to get off my ass and sight see and eat nothing but French toast and eggs benedict. Look how handsome you look too. Mouth watering.......

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  10. I need to go sightseening, but if I do that in my 'hood it would probably be called a mockumentary. You looked great, and now I want French Toast for breakfast.

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  11. That place is fantastic! I think I would love living in your area. Its so picturesque and quaint.

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  12. Looks wonderful. I wonder why, when we vacationed there to visit my wife's family (Quakerstown), we were not treated to a visit to this?
    As wonderful as the food at the inn looks, I think I may be more enticed to go after that lovely package in those first two photos. Warm hugs!

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    1. I've seen that package loose. Its a beauty.

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  13. I been out to see this and it is really pretty cool to see especially if your into architecture. I would swear who look good in everything. You should have been modeling

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  14. I'm sure the castle is amazing. I can't help but going back to the first two pictures somehow. There's something quite eye catching about them. I'm trying to put my finger on it.

    Mark
    The Male Casting Couch

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    1. I encourage people to feel the merchandise.

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  15. What a lovely weekend! And that brunch looks almost to good to eat.
    Fonthill Castle is certainly... unique!

    P.S. I've finally posted my Music & Words post - Thank you, Mistress!

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    1. I have the feeling you'd love Bucks County. Now once I get settled I pop over on you. I mean, I'll pop on over.

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  16. I don't know which I like best...the food, the castle or your body!

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  17. All the photos are mouthwateringly delicious - - in one way or another.....

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  18. Now that is damn cool. How many can say they live so close to a castle? I need to take a vacation there some time. Now...is it wrong I may want to rip your clothes off?

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  19. I definably want to see this when I visit! Of course I may need a month......

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  20. You live in one of the most interesting places. I'd love to sometime see a whole week of post from your neck of the woods. Fonthill reminds me a bit a a Frankenstein movie set! They should film a movie there sometime. And look how sexy the tour guide looks.

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  21. I would love to take some photographs at Fonthill sometime. It looks incredible.

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  22. Great post! I need to get out of the city more and explore. So much to see around here. I'd like to see all of the Mercer attractions. I love that outfit on you. You always look great. Those pants fit like a glove.

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  23. Mercer was quite a Fellow!!!

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  24. I can see I have to add your area to my bucket list. This is right up my type of interests. Totally breathtaking.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!