thursday aug 6

Graycliff

On Thursday morning we had reservations to tour Graycliff....the summer home in Derby that Darwin D. Martin had Frank Lloyd Wright build for Isabelle. I have blogged about this home in the past so won't bore you more here. We had a nice tour and afterward we headed to East Aurora past the stadium where the Bills play in Orchard Park. We were on our way to have lunch at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora. The Roycroft is an artist colony founded in 1905 by Elbert Hubbard, brother-in-law to Mr. Larkin, founder of the Larkin Soap Company. Elbert was born in Bloomington, IL and grew up in Hudson, IL. He came to Buffalo to work for the Larkin Soap Company. The Roycroft was a gathering place for artists of all kinds to live and produce their works. The Arts and Crafts movement started here.


The Roycroft Inn


my pink lemonade vodka cocktail

I was the only one to have a cocktail. Mary Jo and Donna had pomegranate tea. It was beautiful on the patio and we relaxed and took in the scenery.


quiche of the day


lunch is served on the porch


inside the inn

After lunch a little viewing inside the inn and some shopping in the stores of the colony.


and more inside


still more inside

Still more shopping on the main drag...no one should leave East Aurora without a trip to Vidler's five and dime and Fowler's Chocolates.


the girl with the pearl earring

At Vidler's I found this necklace painted by a Chicago artist. Her work is done on dominoes and scrabble tiles. There were some beautiful pieces and I settled on this one.


on a domino



Barb was able to join us for dinner. B was the lucky guy who got to escort four lovely ladies to dinner at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. Salavatore's is a Buffalo icon. A restaurant so gaudy with chandeliers, statues, vintage autos, etc, etc, etc. You would have to see it to believe it but the food is good and it is a fun place to see. On Friday morning Donna,Mary Jo and I took a walk and then sat around my kitchen table chatting until it was time to drive them to the airport. Their visit will be cherished in my memory. I hope it will be in their memories also.