Many of you like to walk your dog...or your dog likes to walk you. At our house..Sammy likes to walk with us. Sometimes a little too close as when I'm not walking fast enough to suit him...he nudges me with his head...MOVE IT!!! I move it.
This morning Wayne was trying to enter a new number in his cell phone and Sammy was just being a pest, so Wayne turned his back on him. Sammy proceeded to give him three back nudges. Wayne says he's just a big over-friendly dog. Very big.
Trooper almost got up and walked with me...but it looked like too much effort and he decided to"Guard" the porch. We know it's spring...as he has taken up the night watch. After dark he lays out in the middle of the yard under the yard light...facing north. Faithfully. That's probably why he looks so tired during the day.
Jolyn
One day we toured Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg. It was a cold drizzly day, but still better than being too warm! This was a model of the first settlement of the immigrants to this country. What amazed me was that one of the first things that was built was a church. The freedom to worship God has always been an important part of our country.
Wayne is giving Pocahontas a hug. She was rather cold towards him.
We didn't get out of the bus at Yorktown, but took pictures from the windows. I was really amazed that the ditches and embankments that they dug for the battles that took place here are still here. And there were lots of them. In one place you could see how there were places sunken in along the tops where they had had the cannons.
Whoops- I always manage to get into trouble. This was in Williamsburg. The main street of the town is about a mile long. Any house that had a flag in front you could go in. It was like stepping back in time. I didn't find any ladies quilting, but we did visit a cobbler, a wig maker..altho they weren't my style, and even found two horses pastured right in town!
This was at the one end--more shopping areas rather than houses. The buildings were all so quaint and there were no cars on this whole mile. We ate at the "Cheese" store. Also was told to be sure and visit the "Peanut" shop...which I think most people did...and bought. Lots of samples to taste!
This day was probably our most "free" day as we had hours to walk around. There was a wonderful museum in a former hospital for the insane. Because we ate our noon meal around 3, we ate our supper meal in our motel room...peanut butter sandwich. Don't laugh...when you been eating out for 4 days, a peanut butter sandwich tastes awfully good!!!
Jolyn
Washington Cathedral is immense! A pretty awesome building. There are a number of people buried here...Helen Keller being one.
I'm sure we didn't see even half of the inside, but what we did see was quite amazing. The stained glass windows alone could have taken us all day to look at. We had a guide and that really helped to appreciate the architecture.
World War II Memorial. We walked through this ourselves. The guide (bless him) was speaking in slow motion and we just decided to look on our own. Note the jackets--it was chilly.
It was chilly and drizzly most of the time we were out there. But that's better than Hot!!
It is always touching to see that our veterans are still being honored.
This is one of the many murals depicting the lives during WWII. it really is hard to capture it all on camera. Besides we were trying to "see" everything we could as quickly as we could. We covered a lot of ground in the 4 days we were out there.
Jolyn
After leaving Gettysburg, we traveled to DC and stopped at the World War II Memorial. The Washington Monument seemed to be in the background no matter where you went. It was huge and no we did not go up it. I prefer being at the bottom looking up rather than the top looking down.
In the center of the Memorial was a pool. The part you can see in the background is the European action and there was an identical one on this side of the pool for the Pacific battles. Each pillar honored the soldiers from that state.
On the end facing the Washington Monument, were two rows of murals. Each depicted a scene reminiscent of that era.
And yes, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I guess I expected them to be in a central confined area, but they were every where. So pretty.
And of course, where there is water...
The mama came up and nibbled Wayne's finger. She was quite put out that he didn't have any food.
On the homefront...a sure sign of spring. A new batch of kittens. They are so cute...when they're little. Too bad they can't stay this way, but as many pregnant momma cats that we have...we will have plenty of cuties. Anyone in need? No charge.
Jolyn
If you guessed Washington D.C. ... you are right. Our first stop was Gettysburg. We had watched a couple of DVD's on the way out on the battles there so we were refreshed on our history. Our first night we had supper at a tavern (pub...saloon) whatever they called them in those days. Wonderful food...sorry I forgot to take pictures--just ate it! When we were done, this gentleman came and talked to us on what had happened there and told what the soldiers from Minnesota did.
One of the things that surprised me was how big the battlefields were Pictures can't begin to capture the vastness.
Here we're overlooking the battle field from Little Round Top. The south came across the field from those trees up to where the statue is--mostly open field.
Markers for some of the Minnesota boys who died.
Having these firing at you when going across the fields must have been terrifying. Actually the whole fighting had to be terrifying.
This also overlooks part of a battlefield. It was a moving experience to stand in these places and realize the awful battles that happened and over 50,000 soldiers were killed. Some instantly and many in the days to come because of the poor medical conditions. When you think of it, all of these, north and south, were our boys. Their average height was 5'4", weight 143# and age 23. It was pretty sobering to stand in these places where so much history took place. My hope it to go back there some day and spend more time.
Jolyn
No, we didn't go out west or to the Rockies. Here are some more clues. (and I promise that next blog I will tell where we were.)
There are a few million dollars put into this little building.
I do believe this is fairly new.
The clue here is that the center is lighter than the outer edges.
Another fairly new building. See you next blog.
Jolyn
In case you didn't notice--we've been gone. Lights off, bed made, house clean, suitcases full of more than needed clothes and please notice the hat on the table...it didn't come home with us. Please note that the suitcase is neatly organized! (That didn't last long.)
See if you can guess where we went. This was our mode of transportation. Home sweet home! Over 2900 miles until we saw our own bed again.
Where ever we went there were NEVER enough of these that were marked "Women". Always a line! Always. I don't mind lines if I'm first--but hate them when I'm at the last. (Course I have a feeling everyone else with us felt the same.)
This is one place we went--along with at least a million teenagers. To say it was a tad bit noisey is to put it mildly. My brain was pretty dull by that point.
This should give you a good clue. Yes, that is blinding, slushy, icky, thick white snow...on a mountain.. It was called fervent praying.
Now can you guess where we were?
Jolyn
