Vermont day 3

Last day in Vermont - more rain, more leaves! Too bad the weather didn't co-operate a bit better as the leaves really sing when the sun catches them. We had one little window that we could see in the clouds and the camera battery was almost dead - it was a race to see whether the battery would wake up before the sun went away again! The result is the leaf picture here - all those different colours! We went to the Shelburne Museum on our last day here. I had no idea it was such an enormous collection of "stuff" collected by a somewhat eccentric (and rich) American woman called Electra Havemeyer Webb. I think, deep down, I've always wanted to be called Electra! It sounds like a James Bond woman (or an eccentric rich American one!) Anyway, she collected everything that could be collected and when we were there, there were special exhibits of motor bikes, quilts and Tiffany lamps (so something for both of us!) Each exhibit had its own building, set in gorgeous gardens. Besides the special collections, there was a whole building devoted to circus "stuff", amongst other things. I was all set to pass it by, but we went in anyway and it was quite amazing - beautiful old carousel horses and two amazing circus miniatures - both hand made - one of an entire circus parade which stretched the entire length of the building and the other carved by a man for his children - a 3 ring circus comlete with enormous audience. There were over 3,500 pieces in all - imagine the patience it would have taken. We also took in the old carriages, an old paddle-wheel steamship, dolls, silver and on and on and on. It was like a glorified Western Development Museum. One couple we met on our way round were just starting month 3 of a 5 month trip around the US and the wife had had enough already - gulp! We are holding up well so far on day 4! Off to Scotland next .....