Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Pigsylvania Turnpike


Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of
The Western Pennsylvania  Conservancy


We had a blast in Pennsylvania despite the weird turnpike thing that charges you the equivalent of a car payment just for using it. But if some of that money goes towards maintenance of those beautiful state parks, it was worth it.

After months of planning and weeks of gestating, we finally took out 2 and 1/2 year old sow Sophie out to her new home in Pennsylvania. Back in November we had been contacted by the University of Pennsylvania who was looking for a Red Wattle Hog for  their research project on Heritage Hogs. They needed a pregnant sow and offered to pay us for her and our travel expenses if we chose to bring her out East ourselves.

A paid vacation? Hell yes ! Oops, I meant "Of course we'd love to be part of your well thought out research program, is it too much to ask to book us in 5 star hotels?"

So in December we arranged a date for Sophie and Mad Max (but not telling her about the fact that she had to get pregnant, as we didn't want to pile on the pressure)  In January we trucked her 10 miles down the road for an ultrasound and some lab tests. All looked great. In February we repeated the labs. On March 7 we left for the land of Blue Mountain.

Sophie tolerated the trip very well in the lovely condo Keith built for her that fit perfectly in the back of the truck bed. She basically slept the whole way. Oh every once in awhile the truck would suddenly swerve one way or the other as she turned her husky 500 pound self side to side but other than that...We checked on her at every stop, talking to a big plywood box at the gas station, and the restaurant and the turnpike ticket station.



The first night we stayed at Holiday Inn Express in St Clairsville, Ohio and wrestled with the centuries old question, "do we tell the motel maid we are traveling with a big fat pig or not?" We chose to keep Sophie in the truck incognito, even though the tub was plenty big enough for a trough and kept eye on her by parking the truck alongside the other semi's.

I can only imagine what the other truckers thought as they walked past our truck and heard those bear like grunts only a pig (or bear) can make. But then again, I'll bet they've heard worse in a hotel parking lot.

We arrived March 8 and took Sophie to a nice  little farm where  she was greeted by one of the research assistants who would care for her until the university decided it was time to deliver her babies. Saying  goodbye was weird. All the way home I had this feeling I left one of my kids at the sitters and forgot to pick them up.



The highlight of the trip was our stop at Fallingwater House in Mill Run, Pa. One of the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright we were blown away by it's one of a kind construction.


Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of The
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Erected in the midst of thick woods, OVER a waterfall with multiple balconies and levels, and supported by  a huge boulder in the middle of the home, it was an unbelievable creation. Sadly we were not allowed to take any indoor pics but for a home that was designed in 1936 it was fairly modern with tiny, narrow, dark hallways opening up into rooms filled with light from multiple windows and skylights. We did have their permission to post pics on my blog.


Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of
The Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy

The tour lasted two hours but we could have easily stayed all day . Gave us many ideas for our next home. Have you been to this awesome house? What was your favorite room?

21 comments:

  1. FLW was a truly inspirational architect. Only seen pictures unfortunately.

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  2. I'm afraid if I lived there I'd feel like I had to pee all the time.

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  3. Sounds like an interesting road trip. Falling Water looks great in your photos and I'd love to see it sometime, but I have to think that it would be a little uncomfortbale to live in!

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  4. I've always been fascinated by FLW's architecture and would love to have seen this house. Is the house actually still lived in, or is it a museum? I read somewhere a while ago that some of his buildings are falling into disrepair because no one is living in them.

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  5. The Falling Waters House is beautiful, glad you got a chance to visit.

    Sophie looks like she is going to fit right in at her new home. Will the university send you the results of their research?

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  6. Cro, when you cme to visit our farm I'll take you to see the FLW houses near us in the Chicago area. You and the MRs need to pack your bags!

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  7. Murr. the home had several bathrooms as I bet the owners felt the same way

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  8. As the Crowe...actually the house rooms were very open with lots of windows. Seemed to me like a wonderful place to live. I tried to hide out under the waterfalls but hubbie caught me

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  9. Broad. The Kaufman family owned the home, then left it to their son who left it to the state of Pennsylvania Conservancy Group who now runs it as a museum. Very well kept up but yes some of his homes across the US have fallen into disrepair but not many

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  10. Martha
    Yes the U Penn folk are going to keep us informed of the research results which may take years as they will stidy several generations. They are hoping to reteach confinement breeds how to live and thrive out of doors. Now if we can just get Big pork producers to see the value of that as well.

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  11. What an adventure! I wondered what you would do with Sophie when you stopped for the night.

    Loved the FLW photos. He was pure genius.

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  12. I'm so glad you guys could help out with a pig. I don't know if I would've slept at all with her in the parking lot! This pig is fancy, she's an interstate pig.

    I have always wanted to see Falling Water. I bet it was amazing...!

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  13. Susan, we did stop at Bob Evans on the way out. Kinda of tacky huh?

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  14. FLW was such an amazing architect. I'm jealous you've seen a number of his buildings! I've only admired them from art history books.

    Glad to hear it Sophie made the trip safely ^.^

    ~Robin
    Kinky Witch Soap

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  15. Robin, I even squeezed in two visits to other soap shops. Love trying other peoples soap! Hmmm, maybe I could get the FLW gift shop to carry my soap. Would go well with the whole water fall theme don't you think?

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  16. What an amazing trip and that's even if you didn't have the sow! :)

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  17. Sounds like a great trip.

    I bet there is a you tube out there somewhere: People name truck Sophie and talk to her in parking lots.

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  18. Glad the trip went so well!

    And yes, the small fortune it takes to ride the PA turnpike. I kinda forget how it can feel like a punch in the gut. I must be ennured.

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  19. We lived in a house like Falling Water once. It was an 1890 Victorian, and we had a waterfall right inside on more than one occasion! Eventually the old pipes got changed and the attic got insulated, and we didn't have Falling Water any more! :)

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  20. Susan, that sounds like one of our old houses, Fallingplaster.

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