Hill-Stead House, Farmington, CT

Yesterday we drove with some friends to the Hill-Stead House museum in Farmington, CT, and it was a day of fine food, friendship, and some of the best art in the best settings. We had lunch at a small, comfortable Italian café in Farmington, attended by a waiter who took care of us with poise and decorum. The food was delicious, and the conversation was light-hearted and spirited. The Hill-Stead Museum is an old family estate which has been a home for great heart since it was built in 1901. We were led through the well-designed rooms by a knowledgeable tour-guide, who showed us one original Impressionist painting after another, each one hanging in a perfect place in the house. I especially loved the Monet haystacks paintings hanging above the snug arm chairs and rows of bookshelves in one of the house’s libraries.