Sunday, December 11, 2011

Autumn at the Birdwell Household

Here it was September and John and I were on our own since the guys weren't with us.  Ian, away at school and Arrick at work, we headed down to the beach to see some sandcastles!

                                                      I thought this was pretty cool. 
 Kids taking in some beach activities while the weather holds out.  It was a cool day, perfect for a romp on the beach
some of the professional sculpters.

 We saw a Zombie mobile!

John and made a trip up to Northern Virginia to see Ian. He would be away on parents weekend so we went up the next weekend.  Here is his room. It's pretty organized for three boys living in it.
 Ian will be moving to another dorm at the end of the semester. They are renovating this one!  He's looking forward to the change in scenery!
 We went into DC with all of the Occupy Protestors, to hit up the Museum of Art.  Ian has an Art History paper due so we thought we'd help with research!
 We ran into this guy and cool wheels! I wanted a ride but I don't think he would have given me one!
 We saw the Stainless steel tree!!!  This was just too cool! 
 Yes, the Captial building is still there.....
 The Washington Monument was still there too.  It was still closed to the earthquake damage.
 We were in DC a few weeks before they offically dedicated the MLK Jr. memorial.  John captured some photos of the memorial.  We were disappointed with it actually.  He looks mean in the statue.. 
 John Paul Jones!! 
 The National Museum of Art!!
 Love this place!  Even when people are here taking in the art, it's so peaceful and beautiful, I just love it! 
 Love this piece!
 Tranquil!
                            A relief of the art on the Commons outside of the state  house in Boston! 
 LOL I came home from work one day and found these in the floor in the kitchen. It was evident where Arrick had dressed for work! lol Of course, I left them there for him to pick up when he came home from work! ;)
Arrick, cleaning his room.  This folks is rare so I had to take a picture!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Henricus Historical Park...Publick Days 2011

Today, John and I spent our "date day" in Henrico County at Publick Days 2011, Henricus Historical park. Commemorating 400 years.
Many living historians shared with the community how our forefathers lived, hunted, traded, farmed, healed and traveled during the first settling of  the New World.  Settled on the Dutch Gap, where the canal meets the James River, this event not only had living historians for the colonial era, but also from other wars as well. 


 This gentleman was telling how Pocahontas was traded for a copper pot and ultimately the King of England wanted her to marry a person from the Royal family instead of Rolfe. 
 These soldiers were from WWI.
 Displayed were many tools used on the high seas.  Though there was a volunteer explaining how these tools worked ...I had my own expert. I brought along my own navigation officer.  He really uses sexton and quadrant too!! 
 This colonist was showing all of the musical instruments that were available to the colonists.
 The doctor!  I took this without the flash...it was rather dark in there..the same light he would have worked in performing surgery...scary!!
 Two ladies enjoying the fire.  It was a cool day with a bit of mist...I wouldn't think the fire would be necessary but it added to the day!!
 Traders! John's shipmate, Miles, on the right, enjoys reenacting in many eras, this being one of them! These traders  were trading beads, knives and kettles with the Indians for furs...beaver furs. Russia had hunted beaver to almost extinction so thus the need and a great deal of money for beaver furs from the colonists!
 A young powhatan indian hanging out with the traders.
                           John and Miles negotiate a good trade...gun for mead???  Mead for gun??? 
 Exploration of this area revealed that many civil war soldiers were buried here.  Personal items were forwarded to loved ones, useable items, shoes, uniforms, etc were taken for use.  The body was then wrapped in an army blanket and buried, and marked to retrieve later.  There were no bodies buried there as they were moved to a veterans cemetary.
 Photographers such as this guy were frequently seen during the civil war era.  Thus bringing the war into homes and newspapers.
 old guys talking about big guns and stuff....
 Over looking the Dutch Gap, a canal dug to provide ample travel further into Virginia.
 A shiny gun! 
                        A reenactor firing his rifle...


                                                 No, that guy isn't dead...he's taking a nap!!


 powhatan indians painted themselves much like women today use make up.  In nature, most males of species are the most colorful.  The indians were no different.
 This powhatan woman was pushing  crushed pecans into cooked butternut squash for her village.  We're going to try that as well.  Powhatan indian women only used small decorative marks on their face and some red clay coloring near their  hairline. 
 Powhatan dude...chillin...smokin his pipe.  If you look closely, he has green spikes leaves coming out of his ears.  lol  like earrings.
 The inside of one of the colonists homes...
 this was cool....how much damage a colonists bullet can cause...IF  it hit the armor!
 One of the reenactors...he takes his job very seriously folks!
 This quiver was made of tree bark.  There were several baskets made from treebark as well...laced together. I thought they were cool.
Now isnt' this the cutest face ever????  He was just so cute!!  Of course, I didn't reach down to pet him like the silly lady after I moved away...he nearly took off her hand.  He did love to have his picture taken though. He was wagging that little ole tail of his!  I asked John if he wasn't the cutest pig ever!! John just replied, oh yes, he's a delicious ham, bacon and pork chop!! lol  Figures....always thinking about his stomach!

It was a great day!! 

Monday, September 5, 2011

PEARS!!!

 We have a lovely pear tree in our yard.  Over the years, it began to produce more and more pears!  This year, John was deployed and couldn't enjoy his pears!  So, Arrick and I picked pears....

and filled baskets and baskets!!  

Ian, thankfully, peeled baskets and baskets of pears....and I did as well...


I made some sugar free pear butter and regular pearbutter!
                             More baskets of pears!!  This tree really produced quite a few pears!!


                             I canned some pears in water...so John could enjoy them!!