life and puppies

Awhile back, AO’s mom gave us two estate tour passes to Ten Chimneys. She also gave us a generous gift certificate to The Union House, a nearby watering hole. Well, because the gift certificate to the restaurant expired at the end of August, we decided in mid-August that we better getting going in making our plans to take on Genesee Depot. Due to the restaurant’s generous flexibility, yesterday was our day out. AO’s mom sweetly watched Bear so we could tour-it-up without the little one (kids under 12 aren’t allowed in the place anyway). We had the best day! Sure, the Lunts may not have had the best taste (no pictures are allowed to be taken inside the homes, otherwise I would have loved to show you the pretty cheesy murals all over the place) and Alfred may have been a bit of a miser (the gold leaf Alfred applied to the walls of the honeymoon cottage was actually gold Scotch tape). But holy cow was it fun to see a grand home in small-town Wisconsin that housed the Lunts and their estimable  friends, like Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier (Larry) and Katharine Hepburn.

I’d seen this sign from the freeway for years and been quite curious.

Getting excited!

This outside does not reveal the amazingness of this visitors’ center.

The sitting room before the women’s bathroom in the visitors’ center.

In case you need a vanity before or after your tour, the Ten Chimney’s visitors’ center has your back.

Pretty wallpaper.

They’re such a cute couple!

Ok, that’s enough of the visitors’ center. Let’s move on to the big stuff. It’s what you came here for, right?

Aaron on stage.

Ok, I lied. Just a few more inside the visitors’ center. It was just so cool! And, yes, I know: we don’t get out much. But seriously, I love things like this!

Great exhibit of plays.

Aaron.

Kate.

Aaron wearing a replica of Alfred’s rooster hat.

At last, the estate house!

A plaque. I love plaques.

The gate has some sort of traditional Finnish greeting pattern. Or something like that.

Two of the 11 (gasp) chimneys.

More chimneys.

Another view.

From the back.

I apologize for the poor quality of photos. I just used my phone. The place is truly impressive and I’m sure there are tons of other better pics out there.

The greenhouse.

Did I mention the whole place was a working farm?

Gardens. I believe our guide said they are now tended by master gardeners at the UW-Extension.

Yet another building. A cool space they used to rehearse plays. There is even a balcony for all of those plays that have balcony scenes.

A pool and poolhouse!

For some reason, I didn’t get a pic of the “honeymoon cottage,” which was the spot Alfred and Lynn lived in when they first moved there (Alfred’s mom and half-siblings lived in the bigger building for a time). After our tour (which lasted more than two hours), we headed for an early dinner and some nice refreshments.

A refreshing Sapphire martini.

It was such a fun day. Thanks CJ and Bear, for making it possible. And thanks AO for liking to do stuff like this. Or at least convincing me you do.