USA 2017 - Laura at Niagara Falls and Rochester

On the Monday after the Band Organ Rally, Laura and her family were on the road again.  It was another glorious sunny day as we drove to Niagara Falls, not far from the Carousel museum at North Tonawanda which we had visited on Friday and Saturday.

Approaching the Niagara falls, in the distance the water smoke rose in the air

Laura and her girl approached the Niagara Falls in a semi shady park on the USA side

Laura was already wearing her blue raincoat when her girl picked up a poncho on the approach to the boat

The Maid of the Mist boat was filling up

Laura looked back at the observation tower on the USA side of the river as the Maid of the Mist drew away from the shore

The straighter falls threw white mist into the air

Laura was amazed by the amount of water tumbling over the edge and the noise of the falls

There is a rocky island between the straight (USA) falls and the curved Canadian falls

The Niagara falls island and cliff

The Maid of the Mist boat went as near as possible to the Niagara Falls and it was obvious why everyone needed rain ponchos as there was so much spray and mist, the camera lens was covered with water!  It was very exciting and Laura was glad to be sheltered under her girl's poncho.

As the boat turned away from the Niagara Falls, Laura stood in front of them (firmly held by her girl)

When she returned to dry land, Laura looked up at the Rainbow bridge 

She could see the international border between Canada and the USA in the middle of the bridge

Laura and her girl climbed up the steps alongside the straight, USA falls to get a closer look

There was so much mist in the air above the falls and Laura was glad she had kept her raincoat on

Laura could see that the plants alongside the falls were very green - it was hot and they got a lot of watering!

She enjoyed the view of the boat pulling away with another group of passengers as she want back to the observation tower

She had a wonderful view of the falls from the observation tower

Laura could see the path just below her where she had just been walking to get closer to the falls

Even the view after leaving the observation tower was exhilarating as the water thundered over the edge

The river just above the falls was very wide and rapid

Laura was glad to be standing firmly on dry land as she stood with the falls behind her

Laura bought a postcard of the Niagara falls for her friend Henry, who had visited them the previous year.  After leaving the Niagara Falls, Laura travelled to visit a music box and band organ collector and restorer in Rochester, New York. 

There was an intriguing automata which was a lot of fluffy pussy cats seated around a table moving their heads from side to side and meowing to be served.

Laura liked this miniature music box which looked like a barrel organ but actually contained a music box paper roll player, like one she had at home. 

The box acts as an amplifier for the music box mechanism (the tuned comb plucked by pins which are activated by holes in the music card).

Laura and her girl had fun playing with the cat at the music box collector's house too - it was chasing a laser light all around the room which was very funny. 

It had been a lovely day of contrasting things to see and do. Laura was looking forward to the next day.  She had a very special person and doll collection to visit.

Exploring Blenheim

Laura decided to take her little brother to Blenheim Palace on the Sunday after Easter.  

In the long library they found the coronation robes which the family had used when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.

Laura and Edmund with the Blenheim Palace Coronation robes

The information board about the Coronation clothes

In the long Library is a historic Willis pipe organ - it was being played for the Sunday afternoon recital by an organist called Jonathan Kingston

Laura and Edmund were impressed with the sound of the Blenheim Palace Willis organ, even though it needs restoration it still sounded good because the organist was so good at avoiding the bits which didn't work.

Outside Edmund found a milestone path about Churchill

Laura and Edmund looked up at the bust of Winston Churchill in the milestone path, which was surrounded by daffodils

Next they visited the Blenheim cascade

Edmund and Laura stood on the bridge below the cascade and looked up at the falling water

Then they walked up to the viewpoint beside the cascade to get another look - it was very noisy

The information board about the Blenheim Palace cascade

On the walk along the lake back towards the house Laura and Edmund found the boat house

Edmund REALLY wanted to have a ride in a boat

Near the house were the water terraces, Edmund wanted to run on the grass to the water and Laura had to restrain him as she didn't think walking on that grass was allowed.

Edmund was a bit disappointed about not being allowed on the grass

However Edmund soon cheered up when he saw there were Easter egg cupcakes and hot chocolate at the Water terrace restaurant

Laura and Edmund found the entrance to the house overlooking the south lawn, which was vast

They stood on the steps in front of the big entrance door to look out at the south lawn

Edmund and Laura found the entrance to the Secret Garden at Blenheim Palace

The Secret Garden had been restored and was just waking up after the winter

Beyond the secret garden was a fountain called the Roundel - Laura and Edmund sat down to rest and watch the water jets spurting out of the centre

Soon it was time to go home - Laura and Edmund had one last look at Blenheim Palace

This happened at the beginning of April, however I've had so little time for blogging because of work and the volunteer project that it is only now, the last day of the month that I was finally able to find a moment to sort my photos of this fun trip.  Last year on Easter day we took Laura to Blenheim Palace however I never edited those photos and they didn't find their way into a blog post.