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WOW! What a great time we have had in and near our nation's capitol. We arrived at the Wendelin's on Thursday evening. After staying up way too late to visit, we grabbed a few hours of sleep and the went for it! Friday, we took a tour of Gunston Hall. George Mason was the original owner. It sits on the shores overlooking the Potomac; quite a view! It has been restored and refurnished with period furniture. The bright colors of the walls was striking. We learned how if a room was not being used, it was "put away". All decorations would be closeted and furniture pushed to the walls. They also kept mirrors and portraits covered with netting to keep the flies from laying eggs and eating the guilding on the frames! We also learned (from GRETCHEN) that the reason the upstairs halls were so wide was because the "house slaves" would sleep on pallets in the hall to be ready to protect and/or serve their masters. On saturday, we headed to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. Julia and Faith acted as our "semi-official" tour guides as they have made this visit so many times. A neighboring plantation to Gunston Hall, Mount Vernon also sits on the banks above the Potomac. The waterways were a major means of transportation in the day and the plantations could easily ship and recieve goods from their own docks. We toured the house and were quite taken by the place! Again, the colors of the rooms was striking. There were beautiful paintings displayed and much of the original furniture was intact.The grounds were equally beautiful, but too huge to cover in the few hours we had that day. We went on to the new museum/education center. Very nice displays. The kids had a great there. Saturday evening we took the girls to the base Octoberfest. They had a great time on the rides and with the junk food! We oldsters enjoyed the fantastic ompahpah band. Well, truth be told, it was closer to being am ompahpah orchestra! A few bratwursts later, we all went home and crashed. Sunday was a down day and we just hung out at the Wendelin's aptly named "Traveler's Rest" home. The Burtons did find an LDS church in the area and were able to go and listen to general conference. Monday took us into DC where we visited the National Portrait Gallery (incredible art) and the National Archives (Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution). We also went by Ford Theatre (closed for renovations) and toured the home across the street where Lincoln was taken after being shot and later died. Tuesday we went back to DC and took one of the riding tours of the "hot spots". A real highlight for me was the VietNam Memorial where I was able to look up the soldier on my POW bracelet (that I wore all through high school) and make a rubbing of his name. I plan to roll and hang that rubbing on our Christmas tree, along with the POW bracelet that has been decorating our tree for the last few years. But now, our time here haas come to an end. We can't thank Gretchen (and Steven, who was off on the ship our whole visit) and the kids for being such gracious hosts and caretakers during our time together. Stay tuned for our further adventures! |
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Yes, it has been a really long time, but here we are with a good connection in Alexandria, VA and I will try to catch you up on the trip. After leaving South Dakota, we headed for Iowa. It was a long drive across the state, but we made it! We visited the Amana Colonies. The Amana Colonies started as a religious colony living communally. It was very interesting to see the old places and how the colony has since changed. And, just incase you were wondering, it is where Amana refrigerators come from. Next stop was the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum. It was interesting to learn about Hoovers life before running for public office and what happened during his presidency. A quick stop to Nauvoo, Illinois, gave us a tour of the temple and some of the old and beautiful buildings. It was a dark and stormy night as we drove through Quincy, Illinois. We were trying to find a street name or a highway number...anything to help us, when two of Quincy's finest men in blue pulled me over. No, I wasn't speeding, but I am on record in Quincy for being in need of a lightbulb for the rear licence plate! After writing up the "warning", the very kind and young officer pointed us in the direction of a Super8 Motel. After beating it out of Quincy without repairing the light, we headed to Lancaster, Ohio, where we spent three wonderful days with the Burton's friend (and now ours too), Ellen Ford. Ellen lives in a darling little cottage that used to be part of a church revival camp. I fell in love with the area and am hoping I can talk Jeff in to a "summer cottage" there. Not too likely, but a girl can dream! Ellen introduced us to many of her friends, took us for a great hike to Old MAn's Cave in Hocking Hill State Park and even had a weenie roast in a beautiful field where we watched the Harvest Moon rise. Moving on to PA, we stayed at a fun KOA in Madison, just about halfway between Pittsburgh and our destination city of Ligonier. We all had fun visiting Fort Ligonier and seeing the artifacts they have in the museum. We also went to a street fair and visited my cousin Regis and his family in Mnt. Pleasant, visited the main drag in Latrobe (where my grandparents used to live), stopped by Saint Vincent's Grist mill and visited my (maternal) grandparents' graves. Just to see if you can or can't go home again, we drove past my old house in Greensburg. The answer is I couldn't go home again. Home is where my heart and family are and that's Julian. On our way to Gettysburg, we stopped at the Flight 93 National Memorial. I would have never guessed how emotionally powerful that visit would be. TO see that memorial in the morning and the Gettysburg cemetery in the afternoon really made me realize the sacrifices made by just regular people so that we can be who we are and enjoy the gifts tht we have been given. Today took us to the Amish Country of Lancaster, PA. It was quite cool to see horse-driven buggys rolling down the highways next to big rigs! We did manage to eat a few goodies and buy a few souviners. After the Amish, we headed to Fort Belvoir, near Alexandria, VA. to stay with our friends, the Wendelins. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Washington DC??? Mount Vernon??? Finish the laundry??? We'll let you know! Highlights: Playing the fun dice game with Ellen and Miss Dot the basket maker in Ohio. The supper of chicken and noodles on top of mashed potatoes! Seeing my cousin after 40 years. The big bouncing pillow at the KOA in PA. Later, Sharon and Amanda |
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Try two. I wrote this once and I guess it got lost in cyberspace... We are in Midland, SD. We've been to Manti, Utah (Hi Pipes family and HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUMMER!!!), Salt Lake City, Utah(day 2), Lyman , WY and Fort Laramie, WY(day 3). The cowboy drivers and crazy truckers of Wyoming are behind us now! Our next stop(day 4) was to visit the Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer, SD. You'd think they'd have chosen another town! Anyway, the monumnet is a work in progress and will eventually be the tallest monument in the WORLD! This morning (day 5) we had a great breakfast at the "Baker's Cafe" (YUM!) and then headed up to Mount Rushmore. Another beautiful monument! Happy to say that we all became "official" Junior Rangers adn have the badges to prove it! The rest of the day was drive, drive, drive. We did manage a stop at Wall Drug Store, famous for bumper stickers and free water. Go figure. Tomorrow we may stop at a Pow Wow at the StJOseph Indian school in Chamberlain, the on to the Corn Palace (post card to Hannah). After that we will drive on to Onowa, Iowa (say that ten times) where we will have a two-day layover and laundry-a-thon. Maybe they will have internet connection and we'll write from there! Things we have learned: We love the Pipes family. There are lots of antelope and crazy drivers in Wyoming...not a good mix. The snow fence has to be the state tree of Wyoming. South Dakota's Black Hills are one of the most beautiful places we've seen; the rest of South Dakota isn't. You've got to laugh every day, as often as possible. That's it for now. Love you and miss you. More later, Sharon and Amanda |
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In just seven days, we will be leaving on "the trip". We are all very excited. Packing has started. School books are being boxed to go. Friends have been contacted for visiting times and floor-space availability. There is even a grand attempt to remove the dust Yetis (too big to be bunnies) and maybe even get some apples and salsa canned before we leave. Who needs sleep?! |
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Leaving mid-September, Amanda and I will be traveling with our friends, Marianne and Erika Burton on the trip of a lifetime... schooling on the road... seeing where history happened... discovering our country upclose and personal! We will be updating this blog as often as possible as we go. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your road maps are properly folded as you join us on the journey...and please, no flash photography! |