We're not in Kansas any more...

And neither are these ruby red slippers!   Miss A is admiring them at the National Museum of American History.  Haley and I took Ansley there last Wednesday, leaving the slugs behind.  They had had their fill of museums by then...couldn't face ONE more.  And they totally missed out on the bestest one.  This museum offers something for everyone, and can't possibly be done in one day.  We picked out the spots we wanted to visit, and made tracks, seeing first the ever-changing display of first-ladies' dresses.  Some of them were really OLD...and getting very fragile, which is why the displays are changed often.

Here is the real, dismantled and rebuilt kitchen of Julia Child, America's favorite chef.  When Julia Child moved back to her home state of California in 2001, she donated the kitchen from her Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to the Museum. The exhibition features the actual kitchen, including the cabinets, appliances, cookbooks, kitchen table, and hundreds of utensils and gadgets. The exhibition gives visitors a peek into the working kitchen of one of the world’s best-known cooks, and explores how her influence as an author and host of several television series changed the way America cooks. 

All three of us gals could have spent an hour admiring all the details in this little number:

Representing the home of a large, affluent American family of about 1910, this dollhouse was built by Faith Bradford, who spent more than a half century accumulating and constructing the miniature furnishings for its intricately detailed rooms.  She donated it to the museum in 1951.

With all the collections displayed, exhibits, hands-on spots, art, cars, boats, planes, trains, buggies, engines...whew, the list is endless...there is something there for everyone to enjoy...and to learn about our American history.

Haley and I were especially happy that we did not live in this particular wash tub and lye soap laundry era, although I did reside in the clothesline era:

And we are both glad that we have progressed technologically beyond this contraption:

Hmm, this reminds me that I still don't have a new laptop.  Mr. Dell is out of parts on the particular model I am interested in, so I hurry up and wait...and research some more.  Rats!

Birthday boy!

Oops...Doodlebug thinks no one will notice this little piece of frosting missing on his birthday cake, but Grammie busted him!  Not intentionally, of course, so that spot became his very own corner of cake.  He had his local cousins, uncles, auntie, and friends, as well as all three grandparents to help him celebrate.

Lucky boy.  Plus, he got lots of fun loot.  And pizza.

Life doesn't get much better than that, when you turn four and are well loved.

Home, sweet home!

It is sooo good to be back home.  Missy had to go smell every corner of the house and make sure everything was just as she had left it a week ago.  Boy have our leaves changed in a week's time!  The rain has knocked quite a few down on the ground, but the colors are popping out nicely on the leaves that are still hanging on.  I think next weekend might just be peak time.

We've left the moho parked in the yard so that we can get the mattress out (never did like it) and replace it with a new one (we hope we'll like!).  Maybe we'd better sleep out there for a few nights, just to make sure this one is to our liking.  And if it isn't?  Plan B???

So I hope to download lots of photos of our wonderful trip and do some sorting and editing, but I do need to unload the moho and get laundry going...all those mundane tasks after a trip that just need doing.  Dinner is at Amy's house tonight.  Woohoo!!!

Have a super Sunday, y'all!



Heading to Paradise

The Griswolds, parked on Kim's cul-de-sac, then enjoyed fab company and fab food. The kids all had a wonderful time together...and hated saying goodbye this morning. Promises of future visits eased the parting, especially with the reminder of a lake, jet skis, and boats in Mayberry. Next summer, here they come! And Kim loved her pearl bracelet.

So now we are rolling south, enjoying the fall beauty along the way. God has a mighty paintbrush! We are blessed! Make some good memories today y'all.
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National Cathedral

We had a date with the head verger to take us down to the crypts to pay our respects to two family members, where we discovered that Helen Keller is interred nearby in the same vault area! The girls were impressed with that, the official tour that followed, and the gift shop. This cathedral is a must-see for everyone. We stayed for evensong, but the girls were not impressed with the lack of singing for the congregation. Nothing like the brutal honesty of children.

All of us are now rolling south, heading for another treat--overnight @ my niece's house for cousins to get acquainted. Sweet!

Life is good. Make today special, y'all! We sure are.

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My little Indians

The Griswolds send greetings from the Natl Mus of the AM Indian. These two have Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw blood in them, so they are excited about learning some history here. And it is raining, so today is a good day for a museum visit.

Stay tuned...
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American History Museum

Dick, Logan and Macey are gonna be sorry they stayed home! What a neat place. We could spend all day here...there is sooo much to see!

WYWH, y'all!
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