This morning, at the Florence Griswold Museum, we took an inspiring class in American Impressionism. The class was part of the Wesleyan University Department of Lifelong Education, and was taught by a very knowledgable professor, who played the role of painter Childe Hassam as he spoke to us. Carefully, and with much detail, he explained the relationship between the opening of Japan to the west in 1852 and the development of completely new approaches to painting in Paris. Cia was familiar with this relationship, but it was something new for me. It was fun to see so clearly (thanks to the excellent slides used by the professor) how the French painters picked up on the Japanese idea that symmetry in a painting was not necessary, nor was the use of shadows and depth. The lecture was a bit long for me (I had a few yawns over the two hours), but it was well worth it -- a perfect way to spend a splendid fall morning.

Childe Hassam, "Celia Thaxter's Garden"

     As I was writing this, I was eating another piece of one of the best lemon pies I can recall. Cia made it using only Meyer lemons (which I had never heard of), and it turned out to be one very special pie. There are pieces of sliced lemons all through the pie, making it extra chewy and tasty. I've had several big pieces already, and another one awaits me tonight accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

A Meyer lemon