When I passed along something I discovered by mistake to my cousin Pam, she said it was serendipitous. Serendipitous is something you discover while looking for something else. It is rather like getting a birthday present when it is not your birthday. I just love these little surprises in life!
I have had two serendipitous discoveries of late, interestingly from the same site, and I think you might enjoy them. I will share them with you at different times. They both involve the Bouviers of the Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy clan and I will warn you ahead of time that each will require a bit of time, a cup of coffee or tea, and a little patience as pictures download onto the screen. While they are downloading, pour your cup of tea, put on some music . . .
Both pieces are very interesting and I hope will piqué your interest in any number of ways; history, pop culture, architecture, decorating, social issues, gardening, etc.
Serendipity #1
Grey Gardens. Image from the Cote de Texas website.
Over coffee last Friday, the day I fell onto the couch like a large leather clad space shuttle landing, Bev brought up the documentary she had just watched about Grey Gardens done by the Maysles Brothers in the early 70’s. HBO aired Grey Gardens last winter, which is a little more fun to watch than the documentary. Over coffee, we chatted about both and the sad squalor “big Edie” and “little Edie” lived in. Big Edie was a Bouvier. Her sister was Jackie’s mother. Little Edie was Jackie’s first cousin and they played together as children. Most families have interesting family members and the Bouviers certainly did.
If a very recent conversation on the documentary and movie had not just been on our lips, I doubt that I would have clicked on, but, curious, I did. It was, you see, serendipitous that I found this, and so I spent a little time viewing the pictures and reading the text. It is a fascinating post about the estate, which has been restored by Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, with old pictures of when it was built, its “hey day”, when the Edies first lived there, its sad demise after decades of neglect, and its new life today. Don’t be deterred by some of the pictures of Grey Gardens in its sadder times. Scroll down and see its new life, too. It is a hopeful story more than anything.
cotedetexas.blogspot.com/search/label/Grey%20Gardens
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
This was fasinating! I love the historic photos combined with the movie, documentary, Life Magazine & present day photos. Thanks~
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I’m pleased that you found this interesting, Sandy. I found myself thinking, if these walls could talk. It is good that the home is being opened up for charity events. See you at book group.
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As I told you you the documentary that I saw was disgusting. I can’t believe they let it happen. They had many more problems than just being eccentric. I am glad to see the house restored to it’s original beauty, but how sad that these 2 women chose or had to live in such squalor for so many years.
Thank you for sharing this site.
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I hope you enjoyed seeing the house in its early grandeur and then being restored, Bev. It helps make up for the squalor of the documentary, and, in part, the HBO feature. Wouldn’t you love to see the gardens?
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I was finally able to see the movie “Grey Gardens” on Aer Lingus last time we flew to Ireland. It was an excellent movie and piqued my interest enough to get me to order the documentary from Amazon. I haven’t opened the package yet though, too soon since the movie I guess.
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I thought Grey Gardens was good too. Drew Barrymore’s portrayal of little Edie was very well done and I think she won an Emmy for it. I’ll be interested in the comparison.
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I read somewhere that the only way Drew Barrymore was considered for the part was if she could prove she could play the part without talking out of the side of her mouth!
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That’s funny. I guess Drew proved she could do it. I’m replying here – we have to figure out how to make additional replies to comments, but, until then, I hope this will work.
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