Black Histry Field Trip

February was Black History Month, and to celebrate we took a field trip to The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, in Richmond. This was an extra special field trip because it was planned and organized by my dear hubby. And he took off work and drove us! Here are some pictures of our outing.

The front of the museum...



One of the first things I noticed when walking into the museum was this quilt. It was donated by the Sisters of the Yam Quilters Guild and was to be raffled off. I could see this breath taking quilt hanging in my living room, too bad I didn't win.

We walked in the museum just behind another home school family and was able to take the guided tour together. Here is our tour guide talking to the group. The museum features history from the Jackson Ward community of Richmond, which was a "city within a city".

They have a portion of the Woolworth's counter where black students staged a sit-in until they were served.

The sewing machine and iron displayed reminded me of my Grandmother's.

Here is Nicole paying attention to the tour guide...

This was painted by someone who had traced his family history.

Gene reading about Rev. John Jasper and the churches in Jackson Ward...

There was a quilt that represents the slaves on board a slave ship, you will have to click on the picture to get a closer look.

We forgot to ask what these hanging things are, I think it is tobacco, but not sure. I did like the little log cabin. That would be a nice project for Gene and Nicole to make one.

This was cool, the wall hanging was made out of wood.

They have the shoe shine kit and a tuxedo of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, I took a picture of the display, but it didn't come out well.

The gift shop had beautiful handmade beaded jewelry, the kids saw them and called me over. I saw a purse I wanted, but it was way to small for me - I need a bucket kind of purse.

After we left the museum we headed to The Croaker's Spot restaurant for lunch. The wait was LONG, but the food was good, we were all ready for a nice long nap after lunch!

Wedding Crashers and Other Stuff

Last Saturday the family and I headed down to Yorktown for a wedding, my in-laws received their invitation, but somehow ours and niece Lindsay's didn't come in the mail, an oversight we just know, so we crashed the wedding. We do know the bride, and Eric told her that this was one wedding he was not going to miss, invitation or not - you see the bride is 49, and this is her first marriage. The wedding was beautiful. The soloist sounded like a professional singer, I didn't see her at first and thought it was music from a CD. The ring bearer and flower girl were adorable, the flower girl was a bit reluctant to walk down the isle, and was defiantly not tossing any flowers that day. The bride was radiant, congratulations Mabel and Keith!

Here is a picture of the wedding program. Just goes to show you that anything can be turned into a lapbook!

Field Trip

Yesterday the kids and I went on a field trip to the USMC Museum with our homeschool group. We had a guided tour which is always the best way, our guide, a retired Marine was suburb! I had been to the museum just back in July, but saw many new things this time, and learned so much more with the guide. I had my camera but didn't take the first picture, so here is one from my first visit.

The Other Stuff

I finally got around to switching out the summer clothes for the winter clothes for the kids this week, and quickly realized that Gene was in dire need for winter clothes, just about everything he had was too short. So today, we headed for the store, our first stop was Target and they had Hanes boys sweat pants and shirts for $3.33. I went to the regular Target not the Super Target, but they may have the same deal.

Nicole's birthday is tomorrow, we went to Mary's Cakery & Candy Kitchen for her birthday cake. While we waited, they gave us yummy fudge samples, and they lady who helped me gave Nicole some free candies for her birthday, how sweet is that. They make a German Chocolate cake, (which is my all time favorite cake) that is almost as good as my mom's.

The cake is so pretty, can you guess her favorite color is purple!

James Madison's Montpelier

Thursday, the kids and I went on a field trip to James Madison's Montpelier in Orange, Virginia. It was a cold and rainy day, but we had fun and learned much.

Before our guided tour started we had a chance to take in the exhibit of personal items of the Madison family, they have Dolley's engagement ring and a pair of earrings (you know I was all eyes for those!). We had an opportunity to tour the house, and learn its history, then headed outside to learn about the slaves and indentured servants that were at Montpelier. Next came our ecological exploration in the James Madison National Landmark Forest.

They have an archaeology dig in progress on the grounds.

I thought this was interesting - the wholes in the leaves are due to a recent hail storm.


This looked like a huge growth on the tree - but just where the tree is "healing" itself.

This big old tree will not be standing for much longer.

Our tour guide

After our tour was over, we walked quickly through the gardens because the rain was really starting to come down. All I needed was a nice comfy chair, a good book and oh yeah - no rain!

Caledon Natural Area

Today we had a family field trip to Caledon Natural Area. It was such a beautiful day, I don't think we could have picked a better day to go. There are five hiking trails we walked three which was about three miles.

HISTORY:
Caledon Natural Area is located on what was the early colonial seat of the Alexander family. John and Philip Alexander founded the city of Alexandria and established Caledon Plantation in 1659. William A. Smoot inherited the property from the Alexander family in the mid 1800s. In 1974, Caledon was donated to the Commonwealth by Mrs. Ann Hopewell Smoot in memory of her late husband, Lewis E. Smoot, who passed away in 1962.

Caledon and the surrounding areas are the summer home for one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast. As many as 60 eagles have been spotted on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River.