Eight States in Nine Days - Part 2

The second part of my vacation involved driving three hours to Washington D.C. 

Ford's Theatre/Petersen House
Parking is at a premium in Washington D.C.  Thankfully, there is a parking garage under Ford's Theatre.  Ford's Theatre is where Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, was shot by John Wilkes Booth.  It is still a working theatre.

From looking at the outside, one would not think it's filled with so much history.  Before entering the actual theatre, you enter a museum that details politics during Lincoln's era, the timeline of the day he was shot (both Lincoln's and Booth's).  I am from Illinois as was Lincoln so it's fascinating history for me. 

The theatre itself is very ornate and is a step back in time.

The box where President Lincoln was shot.

Across the street from Ford's Theatre is Petersen House where Lincoln died from his gunshot wound.

Only the downstairs is accessible to the public.  It contains: Front Parlor where Mary Todd Lincoln sat while the President was dying.  Back Parlor where politicians stayed in the aftermath. The room where Lincoln died.  Even though there is a bed in the room, the actual bed Lincoln was on is in Chicago History Museum.

Next to Petersen House is an education center with history and artifacts of the assassination and funeral of Lincoln.

At the end of the Petersen House/Ford's Theatre Education Center tour, there is a 34ft tall a Tower of Books... all about Lincoln.

National Mall
The plan was to park at Union Station and take the DC Circulator to the National Mall.  As they say, best laid plans...  After going around and around and around and around (I'm not kidding) the street in front of Union Station, we realized the parking garage was closed.  I scrambled to find a parking garage (Thank goodness for smartphones!) that was a 20 minute walk from Union Station.  Luckily, the weather was nice.  It did curtail how late site seeing at the Mall was going to be.  For the months of March and April, the DC Circulator bus was free to ride.  Normally, it's just $1 to ride.  Just hop on and hop off at whatever spot you wanted to see.  All of the monuments and museums have free admission!  It definitely takes more than one day to see everything.

National Museum of American History
The only reason I wanted to go here was to see the First Lady dresses. It was so awesome!  I did think of Vickie at Reading and Stitching... she loves 'fancy lady' dresses.

Caroline Harrison 1889-1892

Frances Cleveland 1893-1897

Lucy Hayes 1877-1881

Mary Todd Lincoln

Mamie Eisenhower 1953-1961

Michelle Obama 2009

There were many, many more as well as several sets of White House china used during different presidencies.

Also in this museum were the ruby red slippers from the movie, Wizard of Oz.  One of my favorite movies after Gone With The Wind.

There is lots more in the museum, but since there was a time crunch I set out to see the things that really interested me.

While in Washington, D.C., I had to see the presidential memorials. 

The Washington Monument was closed due to renovations so I didn't get to go inside.  My two favorite photos:

Washington Monument and Infinity Sculpture
located in front of Museum of American History

View from the top of Lincoln Memorial

Both the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial are very awe inspiring.  When standing at the foot of the stairs, these monuments are so massive!  Of course, I climbed the stairs of each one.

Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson's words are etched in marble
on the inside walls of the memorial

Also in the interior is a 19ft bronze statue of
Thomas Jefferson

Lincoln Memorial.  It was spring break so there were lots of kids everywhere!

Inside the memorial is also 19ft tall. With the pedestal, it weights 175 tons!

Walking to the bus stop, I noticed that all the state names are carved into the stone around the top perimeter of the memorial.  I found Illinois... how cool is that?

Also while in D.C., I saw the Capitol Building and the U.S. Court House.

As dusk set in, it was time to head to Tennessee.  If you can't tell, traffic is horrendous in Washington D.C., daylight or dusk.

See that car directly in front?  Not sure what the problem was, but it stopped right in the middle of the interstate and put it's flashers on.  Because it was bumper to bumper and side to side traffic, it was quite the trick trying to get out from behind it in order to go around.  Ugh.

Until next time...

Eight States in Nine Days - Part 1

As I alluded in my previous post, I'm recently back from vacation.  Had a wonderful nine days away from work!  In those nine days, I traveled from Illinois to Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington DC (technically not a state), and Tennessee before working the interstate roads back to Illinois.  Despite rain to the southeastern part of the states and on the way back, it was still a beautiful drive -- Appalachian mountains and rolling hills.

Passing through West Virginia, the clouds were touching the top of the mountains.  It was so cool!

Sixteen hours later, I was in Virginia.  I was so happy to see my second Mom, Sue.  After greetings and hugs, luggage was unloaded, and to bed we went.

While in Virginia, I saw Yorktown Beach (again).  Weather was beautiful and people were actually swimming in the York River.  Not in this section, though.

The schooner Alliance is one of the Yorktown Saling Charts guests can book a ride.

 

This is a reconstruction of the Yorktown Windmill built in 1711 and was a guidepost on the York River for almost 200 years. The fully functional reconstructed mill sits less than 100 yds from where the original mill was built.

It was fun walking along the boardwalk.

 

In one of the used bookstores on the boardwalk, there was a cross stitched map of the U.S.  It was about 3 1/2 feet wide.  I was so tempted to ask "How much?"

 

The Coleman bridge is a double swing bridge that spans the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point.

Had the fish lunch at one of the many restaurants on the boardwalk.  The outside seating overlooked the river with the bridge to the left and docked Alliance on the right. Largest piece of fish I've ever been served!  Seeing as it was lunch time, I expected a plate about 1/3 the size.  It was so good, though.  Yummo!

On another day, a trip to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News was made. There is an excellent 3D movie... the museum and movie was only $7!  Well worth a trip if you're in the area.

 

Near the Mariner's Museum is a 5 mile walking path with a bridge that spans a river. At least a dozen turtles made a beeline toward the bridge.



Easter Sunday was spent at my Mama Bear's house. We had turkey, stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Her friend, Ben, made a homemade apple tart which was very good. 

The Easter bunny left something on Mama Bear's front step.  I wonder what it could be?

 Oh, look... It's a mug and mug rug!

**If you look at the ribbon embellishments on the Easter bag, you may notice I used fabrics from the mug rug.  Cute, eh?!

The Easter bunny found me in Virginia and left me this lovely chart.

Stay tuned for the next installment of my vacation adventure.

Until next time...

Stitching and Stashing on Vacation

Hello friends and readers!

I'm back from a week's vacation on the east coast. Went through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee in nine days, plus Washington DC, too!  More on that in another post.

While I was on vacation, I stitched and stashed.  What and where?

I stitched on Swallows, which I am finishing up for a stitching friend, Debby in VA (no blog).  The section I'm working on has been challenging because there are blossoms and leaves randomly placed in the middle of nowhere of the white fabric.  Lots of stops and starts so that that dark thread doesn't show from the back.  I don't know why I hadn't thought of gridding this area sooner, but it sure did make stitching much easier.

Overall look of the piece so far.  I'm hoping it'll go much faster now that the leaves and blossoms are done.
 

While in Virginia, I did some stashing at Dyeing to Stitch.  If you're ever in the area, it's worth the visit.  The store clerks were very friendly and helpful.  Must be that southern charm :)  The charts are well organized.  An entire wall is covered in lovely specialty fibers.  Lots and lots of model stitching!  Their website really does not do the store justice.  I did some major damage to my credit card!

On the drive from Virginia to Tennessee, I stitched on the Land of Liberty by Shepherds Bush kit I bought at Dyeing to Stitch.  I finished it crossing the border to Tennessee.

In the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TN area is another needlework store, Dixie Darlin.  The store is adorable!
 

It also is filled with lots of models.  I noticed they had a lot of Mill Hill kits as well as Dimensions.  Just like Dyeing to Stitch, their website really doesn't do the store justice.

They didn't have two items I was looking for, but offered to order them and mail to me:

Harvest Home by Mill Hill

American Sampler by Plum Street Samplers

I came home with the button packs for Scatter Freedom and Liberty Notes, a frame and mat for Harvest Home, sleds for ornaments, and more specialty threads (not pictured).

Until next time...