Abby, the day Sharlie left...first picture on her new camera.




The Convent of the New Maiden built by Peter the Great's father after he won the Battle of Smolensk....and then he banished his wife there. Peter was only 10 and served as Tsar with his 1/2 brother with his 1/2 sister as Regent. When he was Tsar alone, he banished her there, too.




For those who know the children's story "Make Way For Ducklings", we found these in the park by the pond where there were ducklings. Barbara Bush had been there and gave money for them. I'm not sure they are exactly the same as the ones on Boston Common, but I was surprised and happy to see them. I wrote her a letter of thanks.




I don't remember in Boston seeing one standing up and looking around like this little guy. Meredith understands and so did my roommate from Mass. The rest of the group thought we were a little nutty. But you already knew that!




XOXO, Mez

They are lovely, Sharlie!

Thanks!!! The little girl is precious.


Jo

Sharlie, comparing your duck pictures to pictures of the Boston Public Garden ones, they are the exact copy. Both statues are by sculpter Nancy Shon, so probably made from the same molds. I do remember Barbara Bush having the statues made for the children of the then Soviet Union as part of the START Treaty (had to look that one up). She presented the statue to Raisa Gorbechev in July, 1991.

Love the picture of Abby!

Sorry, forgot to identify myself!

That was one of my favorite books when I was a little girl.

and then we read it to Chris's girls. They loved the ones in Boston.
I remember taking them on the Swan boat rides before the sculptures were there, and we'd talk about Mr. and Mrs. Mallard while riding around the pond and looking at all the ducks nesting on the islands. The Swan Boats were a favorite memory of my childhood as well. Now they no longer sell peanuts (which you tossed into the water to get the ducks to follow the boat) because they have been inundated with geese. They make such a mess on the grass, peanuts have been banned. No food, no mess...hasn't really worked.

The ducks are so cute and funny!