Before visiting Fallingwater, my parents took me to the Christian W. Klay Winery located in the Laurel Highlands.  It was a very nice way to picnic.  We had a wine tasting and then bought four varieties of white and sparkling wines to drink out on the patio.

It was also my grandmother’s birthday . . . She’s so cute!

Fallingwater is the most amazing house I’ve ever been in.  Walking around inside, I could hear the sound of the waterfall underneath and, at times, I even experienced feelings of vertigo.  So many elements of the house contributed to these sensations because Frank Lloyd Wright designed the structure to be in complete harmony with its natural surroundings.

Wright used indigenous sandstone for the entire structure.  Above is one of several rooftop patios incorporated into the three-story structure.  The sandstone walls and floors continue into the house.

In the dining room, built-in shelves adorn the sandstone walls.  The sideboard and table are also built-ins designed by Wright.

Above is a built-in office space that is incorporated into the main living/dining area.  The windows here are quite striking, as are all of the other ones throughout the house.

The windows above are from the kitchen.  They seem to connect seamlessly with the sandstone wall.

These windows are interesting because each panel can be opened into or out of the house.  They extend from floor to ceiling.

Adjacent to these windows is a built-in desk with a cutout that allows the floor to ceiling windows to be fully functional.

Beside the desk are more built-in shelves, however these are made from sandstone.  There are also plenty of thoughtful details on the exterior of the building.

The above picture shows how the multi-level house blends artfully into the surrounding foliage.

Even the structural supports are unobtrusively embedded into the landscape.  In fact, Wright designed Fallingwater using a topographical map and the house is built on a rocky plateau cantilevered over a waterfall.

This support beam is designed to leave trees intact and illustrates the importance of nature in Wright’s considerations.

Wright’s belief in a partnership with the environment is also reflected in the waterlanding.  The staircase above connects the living room directly to the waterfall below.

Because of the importance that nature plays in the design of Fallingwater, the lighting is uniquely impacted.  In the bedroom above, there is some natural light that comes in and the artificial lighting is indirect and pointed toward the wall.  This lighting strategy is repeated throughout the house and I’ve included examples below.

Visiting Fallingwater was a really great experience and I wish I had better images to illustrate how special it is.  But all I can do is post one last picture of the space that I find really inspirational.  If only I could make my living room look like this . . . 

This picture was taken on the property of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s usonian homes.  In the background are the rollings hills of Pennsylvania . . . My parents are so cute.

happy hour 4: green apple martini at Gordon Biersch Brewery

happy hour 4.5: blue moon at Amada Amante

happy hour 5: a really good stout whose name I can’t remember at Growlers

happy hour 5.5: does a warm glazed doughnut (or two) from Krispy Kreme count?

I have an awesome big brother because he didn’t hesitate to pull over when I semi-drunkenly yelled out, “Doughnuts!” from the passenger seat.  Now, if he would only take my advice about chicken and waffles.  I hope he visits me in Boston soon. . .

Lunch with my grandmother at one of her favorite Chinese restaurants, Mama Wok–She loves the hot and sour soup there and I have to agree . . .

watermelon martinis at Amada Amante

Christian Pong is the newest addition to my sister’s family.  He is quite fat and adorable.  He also has a mohawk, but it’s not styled in this pic . . .

happy hour at Red Rock. . . I drank “Flirtinis.”

I’m pretty sure Boston has some weird laws about discounting liquour, so while I’m visiting my family, I’m going to be taking advantage of happy hour here.

My brother and I enjoying the happy hour at Rio Grande–I’m consuming some crazy beverage called the Squirrel.  It has like frozen margarita and sangria and a plastic flamingo wearing high heels.

I’m visiting my family right now and enjoying a much needed break.  The clouds going into D.C. were pretty, but that was about the only enjoyable aspect of my flight . . .

There was absolutely no leg room!  I’m a petite girl, so I wondered how the taller passengers must have been feeling.  Also, I flew on American and they charge for checked bags now–$15 for the first bag and $25 for a second.  I decided not to check anything in, but because I only bought a one way ticket, I was chosen for additional screening and a security agent had to check everything in my bags.  I managed to fit a lot of stuff in them and after a while, the security agent exclaimed, “Another pair of shoes?!”  Oh, she has no idea.