Sarah Palin and Miss Liberty

All politics aside, here...

Is it just me, or is there a smidge of resemblence between these two? Somewhere around the nose and jawline, maybe?

(If we could just tickle Miss Liberty under the arm there to make her smile, we might be able to get a better comparison...)

Forget McCain...

I'm voting for Sarah!

To celebrate the opening season of School Year '08-'09, Laura over at Catholic Teacher Musings has invited us to share our remembrances of our favorite teachers today. This is such a wonderful idea! What a pleasure to reminisce about all the teachers I've known, but, boy, it's hard to narrow down the list. I've had so many favorite teachers, some my own, some who have been my children's...

Can you bear with me while I go through the short list?

First ~ through the mists of time, way back to 1974...

Our family was stationed in Charleston, SC and we had to ride the bus 45 minutes to get from the NWS base to Divine Redeemer School. I was in fifth grade, so I got to be in Mrs. Charlotte Whamond's class. Everyone wanted to be in the fifth grade at DRS ~ partly because that classroom was housed all by itself on top of the hill in the old convent in the trees ~ but mostly, it was because everyone wanted to be in Mrs. Whamond's class.

Mrs. Whamond was famous. She was young and pretty, with big brown eyes and short, dark, curly hair and she always dressed 1970s hip, but modest. We ten year old girls appreciated and learned from that! Most days, instead of playing, our class sat on the steps of the convent during recess to laugh and talk with Mrs. W ~ and pull her grey hairs out for her. Imagine! I can't help but smile at that picture of us. But she would joke with us and tease us and teach us as much by sitting on those porch steps as she did in the classroom.

Mrs. Whamond made everything fun. If she could teach using a game, she'd find a way. We had quizzes and plays, experiments and competitions. She gave us afternoons off and called them "nature study," sometimes just because the weather was nice, sometimes because it was really nature study. But we learned. How we learned! And how we loved her! We made sure we knew all the facts she wanted us to learn, just to please her.

You see, we understood that she loved us. We weren't just students to her. She treated us like people, confided in us when she had troubles, apologized to us when she made a mistake, and made a point to know each of us personally. I'm sure that every one of us who had the fortune to be in Mrs. Whamond's class remembers her today. I hope she knows how much she meant to us. If anyone knows where Charlotte Whamond is today, please tell her!

Now, hang on tight for just another minute, please. I have to zoom forward at light speed through the classrooms of the teaching Sisters I've had the blessing to know. I wrote about them at length a few months ago, but didn't mention any by name, and I feel like I should, so here they are:

+ Sr. Agnese, my first grade teacher at Divine Redeemer ~ who praised me for my smooth reading (Isn't it funny how you remember those things? That was more than 35 years ago!). Sister had the softest grey eyes and sweet smile, and floated around the room, liting over our desks like a dark blue angel... She was my first experience with a nun, and it was a very good start!

+ The library Sister at Holy Trinity, whose name I am ashamed to say I have forgotten because she always remembered my name, and my taste in books. She directed me to Frances Parkinson Keyes when I was in the fourth grade.

+ Sr. Alice at Our Lady of Victory when I was in 10 grade, who taught Catechism through real life stories, made the world's best banana pancakes and who trusted me to glaze the raised doughnuts.

+ Sr. Rita Lawrence at Our Lady of Victory, the smartest, most talented, most interesting woman I think I've ever met; the teacher who taught me how to teach. (God bless her soul; we recently learned that she has passed away.)

+ Sr. Kazamiera, who taught our children at Holy Guardian Angels, whose enthusiasm for teaching, for the Faith and for life in general is wonderfully contagious ~ Sister has a joke for every occasion, and a good bit of wisdom, too. Her influence on our children will be lifelong, and I hope our friendship is lifelong, too.

+ Sr. Alice Marie, our dear friend from Holy Guardian Angels, the true friend of the Little Flower, who taught us all more with her little jokes, her smiling eyes and her simple sweetness than she will ever know.

+ Sr. Mary Agnes, another dear teacher (the former principal) from Holy Guardian Angels, who has touched our lives forever, imprinting on us through her example a tender love for Our Lord ~ and a special appreciation and affection for herself.


Looking back I can see that the key ingredient shared by all these wonderful teachers was love for their students ~ and love for their mission in teaching. Being blessed to have grown up in Catholic schools, I also know that this love was rooted in love for God. None of these teachers showed up to school just to collect a paycheck. I hope that they know how much their hard work and dedication through the years has paid off in souls. God bless every one of them! Our prayers today are for all of our teachers.

Correction: My sister pointed out that I made a mistake up there! Thanks, Nina! She's right; I didn't have Sr. Agnese in Divine Redeemer. We went to St. Pius X between my 1st and 3rd grade years. Oops. Nobody but one of my sibs would know, but I have to set the record straight. There ya go, sis! &;o)

What ya doin', boys?

" Nothing, Mommy."

(And Mommy believes this one.)
"Nothin', Mommy."

(But Mommy's not so sure about this one...)

~ VS ~

If you need a place to refer confused friends and associates for a clear answer to the above question, see Marie at View From the Pews.

Wordless Wednesday

L - R: Theresa (5th grade), Catherine (2nd grade), Anna (Kindergarten), Michelle (9th grade)

Simple Woman Monday, August 25th

Peggy at The Simple Woman hosts this lovely excuse for visiting kindred spirits. Run over there to catch up on a cornucopia of Monday morning thoughts!

Outside my Window.... The weeds are mowed over the whole 5 acres or so around our house ~ except for the north yard, which is what I see right outside the window next to me. I don't know what that's all about, but we're just going to have to see to it!

I am thinking... I hate weed seeds! (sniff, sniff.. Ah-CHOO!)



From the Learning Rooms... Setting up our weeks around the saints' feastdays. I've downloaded lots of starting links for two great saints of this week right here.

From the kitchen... Bagels and cream cheese for a quick breakfast this morning, leftover meatball subs for lunch, chef salad for dinner, with lemon-pepper chicken, I'm thinking...

I am creating... the finishing touches on our school plan for the year. (Our first day is tomorrow.)

I am going... to the dentist with Gabriel (4) this morning.

I am wearing... a long patterned prairie skirt, white tee and sandals, short-sleeve, light cotton denim jacket.

I am reading... Not much of anything right at the moment ~ too busy with school plans.


I am hoping... Short term : that Gabe gets a thumbs up at the dentist! Long term: that we have a successful, fun school year, packed with learning.

I am hearing... The Littles watching Curious George, Michelle swatting flies.

Around the house... Our furnace guy, Joseph, is coming back this week to work on heating zone number two in the central heating installation adventure.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Two chiropractor appointments, and nothing else (I hope!) but settling into a good school routine.



One of my favorite things... is the first hint of fall in the air, that bit of crisp morning air we're starting to get now.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...

Looking forward to Fall!!

Celebrating the Feast Days

This school year I'm getting ready for our weekday fun activities by spending more time on Saturday and Sunday making plans and rounding up props for the Feastdays of the week.

Since I'm pulling up all this information anyway, I thought someone out there might be interested in using some of our preparation resources, too. When I can, I'll post what we find well ahead of time.

If you try any of the activities or recipes, we'd LOVE to hear from you!

And we'll post on what we end up doing, as well!

Monday, Feast day of St. Louis

King, Confessor, Defender of the Faith

For tons of information on this saintly French king of the crusades and the father of eleven children (with his devout wife, Marguerite), I went here and here. And then I found this wonderful pictorial review of King St. Louis posted by Hallowedground last year.

Make sure and read the last instructions given by St. Louis on his deathbed to his eldest son, Philip ~ all still good advice today.

For feastday arts and crafts,
we found the following resources to make:

Easy crowns

Fancy crowns

Play swords ~ Kimberlee at Pondered in My Heart posted these awesome instructions for making safe play swords a while back.

Shields ~ Everything you need to know about knights and heraldry, and for making shields you can find and download at Owl and Mouse.

And, what's a celebration without goodies?

Here are recipes and instructions for:

a Fancy crown cake

a Simpler crown cake

Celebrating the Feast Days

Remote preparation for:

Friday, August 29th

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist Paintings by Michaelangelo Caravaggio

I am finding more to study and discuss than to actually do in celebration of this feast. The facts surrounding St. John's death are difficult to explain to young children... though they can be carefully summarized. There is much in the life of St. John, however, to explore as a background to his holy death: his role as precursor of the Son of God, the fact that he was the nephew of Mary, the son of St. Elizabeth, the cousin of Jesus, his life of simplicity and sacrifice, all climaxing with the ceremony of Christ's baptism at his cousin's hands.

Here are some resources for the day:

Information about St. John the Baptist, in general

Biblical reference to John's condemnation of Herod and Herodias' unlawful marriage: Luke 3:19, Matthew 14: 3-5.

Biblical reference to Salome's demanding of St. John's head: Matthew 14: 6-8

The conception and birth of St. John the Baptist are recounted from the Douay-Rheims here.


Here is a list of all the places and things St. John is called upon as patron.

Here are amazing photos of the head and hand of St. John the Baptist, first class relics both apparently held by the Muslims in Istanbul, Turkey.



On the plaque by the relics found at the Treasury of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul - Turkey - can be read:
Skull
"The skull of St. John the Baptist was originally in the possession of the Byzantine and fell into Ottoman hands after the conquest. This relic was presented by Mehmed II (1451-81) to Mara Despena, daughter of the Serbean King.
Subsequently it became the property of Cezayioli Hasan Pasa and after his death brought to the palace around 1790."
Arm
"The (right) arm of St. John the Baptist and its case belonged to the Byzantine prior to the conquest. In 1484, Bayezed II (1481-1512) sent it as a gift to the knights of Rhodes. It was later discovered in Lefkose Castle in Cyprus and brought back to Istanbul in 1585"

A piece of St. John's skull is also reportedly venerated in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amien, France.

A good discussion on the understanding of relics in the Church can be found here (New Advent)
and here (exerpts from Canon Law on the subject).

Well, now...

Here's a little food for thought:



No comment necessary.

For the Wordies out there...

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sweet Heart of Mary, Be Our Salvation!

H/T for the beautiful image of Our Lady and her Divine Son at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild!

Tagged!

for the 6 Quirks Meme, by Laura at Catholic Teacher Musings.

Here they, are, unspectacular, but peculiarly my own:

1 ~ I can exactly match a color from memory.

2 ~ I was born in Spain, but haven't stepped a foot off the mainland US since we returned from my Dad's Navy duty station when I was a toddler.

3 ~ I have to hold my husband's left hand when we walk together, or the feng shui is just all wrong.

4 ~ I can't stand milk on cereal, but will eat it dry (especially frosted mini wheats).

5 ~ I can make soup, any time, anywhere, out of anything ~ and have never made the same soup twice.

6 ~ I am totally sick of my hair, and can't afford a salon at the moment, so I'm taking the scissors to it myself today. Of course, I always have to explain the wacky cuts to beauticians later on when I do this, and they look at me like I'm just nuts... Alas.... Vanity, vanity, all is vanity... (Or is it, if I'm willing to butcher my hair by cutting it myself??)

* Correction: I said above that I have to hold my husband's left hand because I hang around pre-schoolers too much and apparently don't know right from left. Let me amend ~ I have to hold HIS right hand in MY left hand. (This stuff's important, you know! I had to catch that before he did!) Now, back to our previously scheduled meme...

Here are the official rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

And I tag.....

Suzy at Sailing by Starlight
Ouiz at Chez Ouiz
T at T With Honey
Nutmeg at Life in a Nutshell
Joann at Ten Kids and a Dog

((HUGS))

Michelle's first day of school is tomorrow (doing her once-a-week cooperative) and the rest of us start on Monday, so as a last hurrah, we went on an end-of-summer field trip. And guess what we went and did?

Just guess.

You'll never guess.

We helped break a Guinness World Record today! And it was doing something we're really good at ~ Hugging!

We made the drive into Denver where we actually figured out the parking meter machine at a downtown parking lot (which may have been the hardest thing we did all day) and loaded up the stroller:

• Water? -- Check.
• Juice boxes? -- Check.
• Diaper bag? -- Check.
• Sunscreen? -- Check.
• Pretzels and raisins? -- Check.
• Yuyum's blankie? -- Check.
• Yuyum? -- Checkedy check.

Then everyone grabbed their "buddy's" hand (a Big or Big-ish sibling with each Little)...

... and joined the throngs at the hug-fest! Two DJs from one of our local stations hugged one thousand ~ and seven people in one hour today. And we were those seven! Michelle, Theresa, Cathy, Anna, Gabe, William and me.

It was the first time the Littles had ever been to downtown anywhere and the whole thing was quite the experience for all of us, start to finish. It was novel, it was adventurous, it was... EXHAUSTING! Let me tell ya, shepherding six kids, five under 9 y.o., one in a stroller, through a crowded lunchtime outdoor mall is no small job in itself. But, I got a mental workout today, too. There were so many questions to be answered, so many concepts to be discussed, I'm pretty sure I have a sprained brain. (How do you explain to a five year old what a Democrat is???)

But it was tons of fun, too. I am sooo bummed I forgot my camera in the car (Note that was not checked off), because there were so many perfect photo ops!

The little boys were in awe over some of Denver's finest on their very shiny and impressive bikes. But they were most impressed when the nice policemen gave them all coupons for free Slurpees at 7/11. Gabey shook two cops' hands and talked to them for a bit. (I'm still waiting to come up with a shy child in this bunch...) We also got to shake hands with a ventriloquist's dummy. We looked through all the store windows, marveling at all the business people hurrying by us. Finding a Barnes and Noble on the way, we dipped in to cool off and read some children's books. Good, calming comfort-zone time, that! Then, with our "hug stickers" to vouch for us, we went back to get free hamburgers and Fuse drinks from the radio station sponsors.

It was a wonderful experience for the children to participate in this kind of event, most especially because it included a fund raiser for Denver's Children's Hospital. Anyone who hugged the DJs was expected to donate at least $1 to the cause for sick kids. We took our cow can full of coins, equalling over $25 (Most of which I gleaned from the laundry over the summer, which means our absent teenagers took part in this more than they realize!) and the girls got to dump it into the donation basket.

It was a good thing. And a very good day, all around.

The Countdown Begins

You're looking at our last half roll of paper towels ~ maybe a half day's worth. Tomorrow morning I'm hunting through the bins in the barn to find the old towels I wrapped my teacups in when we moved. I'll cut them up and add them to our dishrag supply. As suggested, I'm going to hunt down a small hamper to leave in the kitchen for dirty rags. By lunchtime, we should be all set and ready to go paper towel-less.

Seriously, folks, we go through a roll a day sometimes, and need to break this addiction. We might be feeling a little testy around here in paper towel rehab, so be patient with us, please.

They tell me cold-turkey is the only way. It's going to be rough, but I think we're up to it.

Too bad there's not a patch or something to help with the withdrawal, though...

Simple Woman Monday, August 18th

Peggy at The Simple Woman hosts this lovely excuse for visiting kindred spirits. Run over there to catch up on a cornucopia of Monday morning thoughts!

Outside my Window.... we finally have a clear, sunny day and after several days of steady rain, the weeds are knee high in the north yard!

I am thinking... we will hear the melodic hum of the lawn mower today...

From the kitchen... I'm steeling myself to break the papertowel habit. The dang things are such an expensive habit, when I know dishrags will do the job just as well! Has anyone else tackled this objective? I may need help with coping techiques while we go through withdrawal...

I am creating... lesson plans and coordinating rides to fall classes for the girls.

I am going... to the open house at the homeschool cooperative program run through the city public schools tonight. They have a program where homeschool children take classes on Fridays with some of the best public school teachers (imagine them loving to teach our homeschoolers!) and complete a week's worth of assigments in their courses during the rest of the week. Michelle (13) will be taking geometry, literature and journalism through this source with several of our Catholic homeschool buddies. This is the first time we've ever tried anything like this, so Michelle is the practice pancake. We'll let you know how we like it...

I am wearing... blue jeans, brown and turquoise tee, brown sandals, my favorite gold earings with the moon and stars on them.

I am reading... Still plugging away at books already started (Ida and my Fr. Brown anthology), but mainly writing my own notebooks full of lists right now.

I am hoping... I can find everything the boys left behind when they left for school Saturday and send it with the traveling priests to Omaha next weekend ~ so I can have it over in one fell swoop and not have to mail things bit by bit as the boys remember things they forgot and text me their requests.

I am hearing... very little since the children are all miraculously still in bed ~ just the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard and the faint sound of the Olympics drifting out from my bedroom. (That has been the background music of our days this past week!)

Around the house... Our old homestead gets real, honest-ta-goodness central heat this week! Welcome to the 21st century little old homestead!

One (or, well, two or three...) of my favorite things... Cocoa and vanilla nondairy in my coffee, evaporated milk and sugar in my English Breakfast tea.

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Compiling school supplies and rounding up books. Setting up Michelle in her new school routine. Calling the piano and French teacher to make sure I have the right days and times for classes. Working on our perennial beds. Watching the plumber install our boiler and radiators.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...




Children playing with the camera on the way home from Mass:









See this little man with his tie?


We hadn't added a tie to Gabe's traditional buttoned-down Sunday attire for a while, until this stripy blue one resurfaced last week. And, though Gabey is always a good boy during Mass, I wish I'd gotten him a tie sooner, because wearing it had the sweetest effect. It turned him into a walking, talking miniature Daddy.


He copied his Dad, gesture for gesture, all during Mass yesterday, striking his breast at the mea culpa, tracing the cross on his forehead, lips, and chest at the Gospel, kneeling in deep contemplation after Holy Communion with his eyes closed and his missal on his forehead... Just like Daddy.


After four long years of going to Mass, Gabe was surely and truly in the groove. It was natural. It was right and proper. He could follow Mass like the big boys. Because, well, ya know. He was sitting next to his Daddy. And yesterday ~ they matched.

Eine Kleine Haus Musik

Today is Jon and Dominic's last day at home before heading back to boarding school in Omaha. Our friend, Alena, is visiting and it's raining cats and dogs outside, so everyone is stuck in the house, which is not typical, but everyone is making do. I asked Jon to play some music for me to share and he chose this song, "Mirkwood," which was written by a very talented friend of the boys' (I have to give this young man credit! Bravo, Christoper Goering!). It's my new theme song. Since he didn't have the music, Jon just played the beginning and the end, the parts that he remembered. I panned around a little to show you some typical silliness. Doesn't rattle Jon a bit. He's been so inoculated to distraction, Jon could play the piano during an earthquake and not skip a beat!

=sigh= I'll miss my Jon tinkering away on the piano. I'll miss Dominic's silly faces. Knowing that they're in a healthy place for their bodies, minds and souls is good consolation, but the days can't pass quickly enough until Thanksgiving vacation.

But we're all always close in heart and prayer ~ now, when we're temporarily separated, later, when the children will venture off to build their own lives, and finally, when we'll inevitably be in different camps of the Communion of Saints. It's one of the greatest comforts of our Faith to know we're never really far away from each other when Christ links us.




And here is our church choir singing Jesu Rex Admirabilis. Dominic, Jon, and Kevin were singing bass this day, and Michelle was in the soprano section.

Feast of the Assumption

Mary's Assumption

There was silence in heaven, as if for half an hour-
Isaiah's coals of wonder sealed the lips Of Seraph, Principality and Power,
Of all the nine angelic fellowships.

The archangels, those sheer intelligences,
Were silent, with their eyes on heaven's door.
So must our fancy dower them with senses,
Make them incarnate in a metaphor.

There was silence in heaven as Mary entered in,
For even Gabriel had not foreseen
The glory of a soul immune from sin
Throned in the body of the angels' Queen.

Blessed be God and Mary in whose womb
Was woven God's incredible disguise.
She gave Our Lord His Body.
In the tomb He gave her hers again and bade her rise.

Bright from death's slumber she arose,
the flush Of a chaste joy illumining her cheeks;
Among the motherless in heaven there was a hush
To hear the way a mother laughs and speaks.

Eye had not seen, nor ear of angel heard,
Nor heart conceived - until Our Lady's death -
What God for those that love Him had prepared
When heaven's synonym was Nazareth!

Her beauty opened slowly like a flower,
Beauty to them eternally bequeathed.
There was silence in heaven; as if for half an hour
No angel breathed.

Alfred Barrett (1906-1985) Lentfoehr, Therese, editor. I Sing of a Maiden. New York: Macmillan Company, 1947.

The Assumption of Mary

Fly, my soul, with Mary fly,

Soar beyond the golden sky,

Mount to Mary's throne on high.

Bright the queenly crown she won,

Sweet the reign she has begun,

As she stands beside her Son.

Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.

How endure this long delay?

Living here how can I stay

From such beauty far away?

Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.

Sad my lot is here below;
Who can hope or life bestow?
Who will help or pity show?
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


But though far away from me,
Still our sovereign Queen will be
Full of love and clemency.
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


With a mother's loving care
She will lift those hands so fair,
And will save us by her prayer.
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


Mother's heart can ne'er forget
That we are her children yet,
By such dangers fierce beset.
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


Gently, still, she bends her eyes
On the soul that longs and sighs
For her love, the heavenly prize.
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


Blest the soul who, like the dove
Borne upon the wings of love,
Follows her to heaven above.
Fly, my soul, with Mary fly.


St. Alphonsus de Liguori

The Glories of Mary. New York: Redemptoris Fathers, 1931.

Photo Friday

Fasten your seatbelts! (snicker, snicker) Here comes our vacation slideshow, folks.

Actually, just a few sights from last weekend's trip to D.C. Since our main purpose was to be in Quantico for Paul's graduation from OCS, and because we spent a good amount of time ferrying people to and from the airport, we only had a couple of hours snuck in here and there to go sight-seeing, but we did get to see a few of the more iconic tourist destinations.

We picked Paul up in Quantico Friday morning, and before his 6:30 p.m. curfew, we had some time to doodle around. We drove through old town Alexandria, on up to D.C., and stopped at the mall in the heart of our nation's capital. Here's one proof of our visit ~ the Washington Monument:
And here it is coming out of the top of Paul's head:

(Oh, that must be his mom there next to him... &:o)

And here's my sis, Donna, with Paul. Can you tell he's just a little doted on?

We were so surprised by the haunting Korean War Memorial. You never hear about this one! But, it was a strangely touching and personal tribute to the men and women of that war.

We were thrilled to get to stop at the Lincoln Memorial for about five minutes:

And here's the famous (and, boy, is it huge!) statue of Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln became my favorite president when I was about nine years old and read a book about his wit. Then, I read more and learned more, and he's still my favorite. To know him is to love him. I wish we'd had more time to spend here at the museum.

Here, below, is a monument particular to our family ~ the dorms at Quantico USMC base, where Paul spent ten weeks at OCS.

We dropped him off here Friday at about 6:30, after sitting in traffic for an hour to go two miles to the Quantico off ramp. Argh!
Then, after Paul's graduation ceremony Saturday morning, we drove back toward Alexandria and had lunch...

Here are Paul and Nicole at Red Robin. (I'm a shameless mom and take every photo op... They're good sports, though!)

Then we dropped Paul, Nicole, and Donna at the airport, and drove around DC a little more. We couldn't find parking, so just took pictures from the car window.

This was cool: A carriage preparing to meet a newlywed couple outside a courthouse on one of the Washington DC streets. You don't see this every day! (Well, at least not in our neck of the woods...)

And here' are the very impressive spires of the National Cathedral against the very impressive Virginia blue skies... We wanted to find Immaculate Conception, but didn't have time, and we did drive by St. Patrick's but the traffic hurried us by so fast, I couldn't get a picture.
We'd saved most of our time to visit Arlington National Cemetery and were not disappointed in the least. The solemn beauty of this place...
The soldier at the Grave of the Unknown soldier ~ there are not words to describe the touching ceremony of this lone sentry. Then, Sunday, after Mass in Vienna, Virginia, we had lunch at a Chinese seafood buffet, where I got a taste of a crawdad. Better shot of my chin than the crawdad, but you get the picture. We make a point of trying new and unusual menu items when we go on trips together. Last trip, we tried squid. Don't ask me which we preferred. They actually were equally unremarkable!

And, then we had about two and a half hours to spend at Mt. Vernon, before we had to leave for the airport and home.

But, I'm so glad we took the time to visit this site! What a perfectly preserved historic home, and a wonderful museum. Let me tell you, if I didn't already feel the utmost honor and regard for George Washington, I do now. His home and grounds are the most lovely example of efficiency and beauty I can imagine. Mind you, not that his military and political achievements for our country aren't really, really important, but, seriously, as a homemaker, I can appreciate his taste, organization, and care through his home. God is in the details. What an amazing man!

Two and half hours were not nearly enough to visit here. I would live here if I could! Here are a few sights, sounds, and smells of Mt. Vernon: