I hope your able to tell what that is. Can you make out the cannon ball?
This is the walk way from the home to the gardens and the lake where the family would entertain. It was to early in the spring to see what the gardens must look like but I'm sure they would have been beautiful. They used their English traditions in their homes and gardens.
They would make mazes in their gardens.
Hayden, Papa, and Jaron sitting in the crotch of an old tree that looked like it had Elephantiasis.Get a load of Hayden's pant legs...the boys were throwing rocks and stick in the lake...what little boy can get that close to water and not go in:-)
From there we go to Colonial Williamsburg. What a beautiful historical place. It's like stepping back in time and expecting to see John Adams, George Washington, any of those founding fathers walking down the road.
We did see Benedict Arnold, the handsome young man on the far left riding up to warn the people about the conditions of the government. (Maybe things weren't so different back then). They enact scenes from the past in the streets all the time and you can tell the people you meet there love the history of our country and their state. They love depicting what took place all those many years ago. Look at the homes along the street, many are rented by people who actually live there, but, their homes have to appear as though no one were there. I asked Jeramy and Rebecca, "why would you want to live in a home where it had to appear as if no one were there?" They said, "it's people who love history and living in the past." Rebecca and some of her friends run through the square when they go running on week ends because there is little to no traffic and it's just a peaceful beautiful place to run.
The people's attire for their day.
The Governor's Palace.
This give you a feel for the colors they used back then, decorative wall papers and floor coverings.
Quite busy don't you think? But we have to remember they didn't have any electricity only candles and oil lamps and they had to do something to brighten their surroundings.
And this is the mode of travel back then. It took them days if not months to get from place to place and I complain that it took us a day to get from Salt Lake to Virginia!! I take so very much for granted!!
Rebecca's friend told us we had to go and see Patrick Henry. She said if you don't you'll regret it. She actually has a crush on the man who plays Patrick Henry. He was amazing, he could answer any question someone threw at him. And you could tell he knew Patrick Henry almost as well as Henry himself. Patrick Henry was the most famous orator of the Revolution. He delivered dramatic speeches which kindled the spark of liberty in colonial Virginians and was, according to Thomas Jefferson, "far above all in maintaining the spirit of the Revolution." As a member of the Virginia patriotic convention, he helped draft the State's constitution and bill of rights. He became Virginia's first Governor, but, he was best know for his most famous speech of the Revolution, "Gentlemen may cry peace, peace - but there is not peace. The war is actually begun...Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" For any of you who get the chance to visit Virginia and Colonial Williamsburg visiting Patrick Henry is a must!!!
this is inside the Capitol. The walls were covered with guns and rifles. You see the British seal.
Les and I being punished for being bad in the stockade. I would have really been in trouble because I wasn't tall enough to kneel down. There is so much more to Colonial Williamsburg that I can't even begin to do it justice. The foundations mission is : To help the future learn from the past by preserving and restoring the 18th-century Williamsburg, and by engaging, informing, and inspiring people as they learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse people who helped shape our new nation. It is amazing!!!The next day Rebecca, Hayden, Jaron, Les and I went to Jamestown. Back to the time of Indian Villiages and Soldiers of this area.
These are the type of dewelling the Indians had back then. Hayden and Jaron didn't really like the smell inside the huts....Hmmmm. Hayden sitting on one of the beds covered with skins.
Jaron demonstrating how the Indians ground their corn. Papa and Hayden working on a deer skin.
The mighty Soldiers...and warriors!
One of the modes of transportation for the Solders.
We ended our tour in Charlottesville Virginia at the beautiful home of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States. It was a cold rainy day but it didn't dampen our spirits and we enjoyed it very much. Thomas Jefferson once wrote, " All my wishes end where I hope my days will end, at Monticello." and in touring this beautiful edifice we can understand why. Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's home for the remaining fifty six years of his life. He spent forty years designing it, building it, tearing it apart, redesigning it, and putting it back together again. He loved the house and it's property, and knew the name of every tree planted on its grounds. And if one of his trees died he knew it. He used his own kilns to bake the more then half-million bricks he used in the various stages of construction. While serving as Minister to France, he filled almost a hundred crates with furniture and various works of art for the many rooms at Monticello. While in France he would collect fruit trees and bring them with him on his long boat trips home. When Mr. Jefferson was President of the United States, he would long for his home at Monticello and whenever possible would make that long four day trip there from Washington. Life was uncomfortable and difficult in the early years of construction especially for his wife Martha, who had to live in the house that in her lifetime was never finished. She had to tolerate unfinished walls and roof, being subjected to severe cold winds, brick and plaster dust, all while bearing six children in ten years, having lost four of them, until her death in 1782 at the age of thirty three. When you visit Monticello you see that Jefferson was way beyond his time in his ability to draft the plans and construct this beautiful home. I could go on and on but you just have to see it first hand and experience it yourselves to appreciate it. Thomas Jefferson passed away at the age of 83, July the 4th 1826 was was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of Independence. It was also a coincidence that Jefferson died on the same day as his friend John Adams. Both died of causes attributed to old age.
Brynlee and I trying to keep dry as we walked about the gardens and property at Monticello. She is growing up so much and turning into such as sweet and beautiful young women.We walked down to the place where Jefferson and his family were buried. Thomas Jefferson had made a note of what he wanted on his Headstone. He wrote that he had been President of the United states but wished simply to be most remembered for founding the University of Virginia, for writing the Declaration of Independence, and Virginia's Act of Religious Freedom, and last of all the date of his death. There are many relatives and friends buried there. I found it interesting, if you can read the first name in the inscriptions in the photo. Anne Cary Bankhead (Grand daughter). We have Bankheads in our Genealogy. My Great, Grandmother was a Bankhead. I will have to see if Anne Cary might be related.
Here's Isaac beside the sculpture of Thomas Jefferson. Bryn and Isaac were in school most of the time we were there but Mom and Dad let them stay home from school and go with us to Monticello. We were so glad to be able to spend some one on one time with them while the little boys had play day with their friends. We played games in the car all the way to Monticello and sang songs on the way back. It was great!
And heres our missionary in training! Doesn't he look handsome in his new suit! He was so excited to wear his new suit especially because it had a secret inside pocket in the jacket:-) Even at his young age he is a great little missionary. They have many neighbors who are not LDS and they love Jeramy, Rebecca and their family which is mutual on their part. Isaac invited all their neighborhood friends to his baptism. There were three non member families there to witness Isaac's special day with him.
Isaac was so excited to have his Dad baptise him. 
A proud Mom and Dad, and a proud Nana and Papa.
Papa and I are so thankful that we had the opportunity to make this trip. It was so fun visit all the wonderful historic place that are there, but most of all, it was great to spend time with Jeramy and Rebecca, and create some memories with our grand babies. Hopefully they will carry these memories with them throughout their life. Knowing they have a Nana and a Papa that love them very much. We have wonderful memories of bike rides, paying games, singing songs and just plan having fun together. We look forward to more of those time in the near future. Let me tell you there were many tears shed as we said our good-byes. And it was so hard to load up our car and drive away. That's the worst part! Les kept telling me not to dwell on the good-bye, but to feel happy for the time we were able to spend with them. And that's true. We had a wonderful time!!! Thanks Jer and Bec for being such great host and hostess to us, fixing us wonderful meals, packing us lunches and being wonderful tour guides!
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