A Day in D.C. at Air & Space and American Indian Museums (Road Trip 2014)

Road Trip 2014

Day 5: Washington D.C.

National Air & Space Museum

National Museum of the American Indian

My dad and I took my three youngest kids, my niece, and her boyfriend down to D.C. on the Metro for the day.  I'll let the pictures tell the story, though it is only a small sampling of everything we saw!  Great day!

Click the museum titles to explore more.

Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum

I had sort of a hard time connecting with the exhibits here.  I am not a technological person.  The ones I liked most were pieces I could relate to more familiar people from American history, like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh.

Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis
- first non-stop flight from New York to Paris

Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega -
first solo transatlantic flight by a woman
and first non-stop flight across USA by a woman 

German war plane

Apollo 2 command module Columbia -
first manned lunar landing mission

Apollo Lunar Module #2

Skylab
First USA space station
1973-1979

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

I definitely fit in better here than at Air & Space.  I love people, history, and art.  I would have enjoyed more time here all by myself.  I also would have loved an extended solo trip to the National Gallery of Art.  Maybe next time...

Buffalo Dance II statue
by George Rivera

Part of a another sculpture -
I wish I'd gotten the title and artist!

More detail

Fur coat

Blanket

Aymara Totora-Reed boat
from Bolivia or Peru

Greater Nicoya vessel from Costa Rica
AD 400-1350

  

Ulua River Tripod vessel
from Honduras
850-959 AD

Playing the huge drum
in the activity center

Beautiful pillow in the gift shop,
but I'm not spending $80!

Instead, I bought
matching bead bracelets
for my youngest daughter
and I

View of the Capitol from the window

Other posts in my Road Trip 2014 series:

• A Raleigh Good Time
• Santee State Park
• My Maryland Home Away from Home

Other posts featuring museums in Washington, D.C.

• Diary of a Mom's Day in D.C.: Holocaust Museum and Asian Art
• The Fourth of July and Smithsonian in D.C.

Having a blast!

Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

My Maryland Home Away from Home (Road Trip 2014)

Road Trip 2014

Day 4

Maryland!

We arrived at my dad's house in Maryland on Sunday evening, much later than we had planned due to horrible traffic between Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

I love talking to my dad about history. 

His knowledge about American military history and the migrations of ethnic groups from one country to another is absolutely astounding!  I'm glad he's going down to D.C. tomorrow with us to visit the Smithsonian American History museum.

My sister Barb arranged for me to join her at a counseling appointment on Monday since both of us are still grieving the death of our mother last summer, and we know that going to her family's reunion will bring up all sorts of memories.

Before the appointment, we stopped at the French Twist Cafe for Canadienne crepes (made fresh with eggs, bacon, and cheese while we watched!), a latte for her, and hot chocolate for me. Everything is so quaint in historic Sykesville, Maryland!

 

Sister time!

We had originally planned to do lunch at Sweet Simplici-Tea, but like most shops in this vintage town, it is closed on Mondays.  Instead, we peered through the window.

Barb also arranged for me to have a massage when she had hers. What a treat after a three day van drive!  

When we got home, I looked for the kids in the backyard, but they had walked over to a park with their cousins. The yard and garden are a bit overgrown since Mom isn't there to tend them.  Just another reminder of our loss...  

The garden gate

Former flower patches

Still blooming!

Aunt Fay and I
at 2012 Reunion

I'm not the only one who is experiencing loss. I just found out this evening that a much loved aunt who has Alzheimer's has been admitted to a nursing home since my uncle can no longer care for her at home.  I will miss seeing her.  She and my cousin shared Jesus with me at the Hess reunion in 1976, and she's always been close to my heart. My uncle loves her so much, and I respect him for all he has done for her.  We have quite a family, full of love, and I'm grateful for all of them.

Blessings,
Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

P.S. This is the third post in my Road Trip 2014 series.  The other two so far are: 

• A Raleigh Good Time
• Santee State Park

Other related posts (including two of my mom's garden from last year)

• Family Reunion 2012
• In the Garden
• Let There Be Peace on Earth

A Raleigh Good Time (Road Trip 2014)

Road Trip 2014

Day 2 & 3

Raleigh, North Carolina

We arrived in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon. My second cousin Jean welcomed us to her beautiful apartment and suggested that we walk over to Lake Johnson (shouting distance away) and rent some pedal boats. Her daughter came over with her roommate, so they joined us for part of the time out on the lake.

  

We picked up pizzas for dinner, and then Jean and Melody baked up some ready made cookie dough.  

In the morning, we took a long walk at the lake, first on the paved trail, and then down through the woods. It's rather strenuous, but well worth it.

  

  

Look inside the web!
(Photo by Micah Knowles)

Before we left on Sunday afternoon, Jean showed me some vintage recipes from her grandmother, Amelia Davis, who was my great aunt. The oldest of the seven children of my great grandparents, Charles and Mary Hess, Amelia was the beloved matriarch of the family for decades. I think baking some of her cookies for this weekend's Hess reunion will bring back delicious memories for many of the older relatives. I copied the recipes for soft molasses cookies, crunchy jumble cookies, and blueberry pudding into my notebook. (I'll share them in another post later on.)

Jean and I have both gone through a lot of challenging life transitions in the eight years since we reconnected at a previous Hess reunion. We talk often on the phone, and I always appreciate her love, encouragement, and prayers. I thank God for her.

Virginia and Jean

You can find other posts with Jean in them here:

• Weekend Gratitude In Every Situation
• Sarah P. Duke Gardens in North Carolina
• Before the Throne of God Above (Strength in Hymn)  

Santee State Park (Road Trip 2014)

Road Trip 2014 has begun!   We're on our way to see my second cousin in North Carolina, my dad and my sister's family in Maryland, and then on to a family reunion in Pennsylvania.

My four youngest kids and I hit the road this morning with in our bright red mini-van. After a very pleasant several hour drive (with a little help from electronics, reward quarters, and a full snack bag), we arrived in Santee, South Carolina a little after 5 PM.  After checking into our hotel, we headed over to Santee State Park on Lake Marion.  I love that little Bait & Tackle shop. There's a lovely indoor dining area in the back that's right over the water.  That's where we enjoyed our picnic dinner before our hike.

It's late tonight, so I'll keep this post short.  Stay tuned for more of Road Trip 2014!

Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com