Mount Vernon, Virginia - Part 1

On Thursday my Physics professor decided to cancel class which meant that Spring Break began early.  So, I asked my sister if she wanted to do a day trip with me.  We had a few choices but ended up picking Mount Vernon, home of President George Washington.  We had a great day!  Besides being a little cold, we picked a great day.  It was not crowded and except during the Mansion tour I never felt rushed.   We want to go back when the weather gets warmer and the flowers have bloomed so that we can see the gardens and also take the river cruise which we passed on this time because of the cold.

 

Mount Vernon is George Washington's home which started out as a small farm house but then was expanded into what we see now, in 1757.  

My Sister and the house

Me ... it was a little Windy

We started out just taking pictures in front of the house while waiting for our tour time.  Then we got in line and waited to go in.  We were not able to take pictures inside but it was definitely interesting to see!

The Potomac

View from the back porch where we entered.

The kitchen is detached from the rest of the house so I was able to get pictures of that.

 

The kitchen is detached from the house as is the servants quarters.  These two wings were built in 1775.  The two walkways that connect the wings to the house were added in 1778.

After the tour of the house we toured the rest of the grounds on our own.  I am not a big fan of guided tours because I feel like I am being rushed.  I felt like I was being herded  through the Mansion so we took our time through the grounds.

The Clerks Office and Quarters

Inside

Wash House

Inside the Wash House

Horse Barn

Haha, Riding Chair!  Funniest looking thing!

GW's main mode of transportation

They were too cute!!

This is where GW and his wife and family were first buried.  They were moved to a new tomb in 1831, in accordance with his will.

The new tomb

Slave Memorial

We decided not to go on this little river cruise because it was so cold.  We plan to come back in the spring when the flowers have bloomed and take the cruise.

 

 

16 Sided barn

View of the Pioneer Farm from the 16 sided barn.

This is what me and my sister accomplished before lunch! Tomorrow I will post pictures from the places we saw after lunch, just so that this post doesn't go on forever!  Also, tomorrow is Travel Tuesday, so it's perfect!!!

Book Club Friday: Entwined

Entwined

By: Heather Dixon
Pages: 472
Date Read: July 16, 2012

"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late"
{GoodReads} 

To be honest, the only reason I bought this book was because I loved the cover.  The description also sounded interesting but the cover was the real reason.  Never judge a book by its cover is definitely true, the cover is soooo much better than the book.  At the beginning this book seemed like it was going to be good, then it just got weird.  Not the good kind of weird, but the "what kind of drug were you on when you wrote t this" kind of weird.  I really just couldn't enjoy it and I was happy when it was over.  Luckily, despite how long it it, it was a very quick read and the language was easy.

I gave this a 2/5 on GoodReads 

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Wednesday Love

Today I am LOVING:

1. There is only one class standing in the way of me and Spring Break!!! YAY for physics being cancelled Thursday!!!

2.  Since I have that lovely extra day and the weather is supposed to be nice, my sister and I are going to take a drive down to Mount Vernon!  It is so close (1.5hr drive) and we have never been.  Also, it is on my day zero list to go to Mount Vernon, so that is a plus!

3. Josh and I booked everything for vacation!  The only thing we still need to buy are tickets for Luray Caverns and Busch Gardens.

4. Goodreads. I love being able to keep track of the books I have read and when I read them.  It may be my favorite website of all times.  According to goodreads I have read 262 books (that I remember), I love that it keeps track!

5.  These Pins:

6. This movie comes out on Sunday!!!!!

7. My supportive Fiance

Niagara Falls, Canada

I was going to try to do my travel posts in order but I completely forgot to post about my first ever "big trip". (Also, with midterms happening I don't have a lot of time to do a full recap of a vacation).  We visited my Grandfather in Bradford, PA and took a few little mini trips during that vacation.  One of those was an overnight trip to Niagara Falls, Canada.  This was in 1998, so I don't remember the details of the trip but I do have some pretty fantastic (ahem) pictures from the trip. 

Book Club Friday: Magic Hour

Well, it is official, I can not finish Life of Pi, which is bad because I rarely give up on books but if I read another sentence about him being scared of Richard Parker or catching fish I might have thrown the book across the room. So, I'll be starting something new tomorrow.

  Lets talk about another book I have read in the recent past.

Magic Hour
By: Kristin Hannah
Pages: 451
Read: 08/03/2012

"Until recently, Dr. Julia Cates was one of the preeminent child psychiatrists in the country, but a scandal shattered her confidence, ruined her career, and made her a media target. When she gets a desperate call from her estranged sister, Ellie, a police chief in their small western Washington hometown, she jumps at the chance to escape.
In Rain Valley, nothing much ever happens—until a girl emerges from the deep woods and walks into town. She is a victim unlike any Julia has ever seen: a child locked in a world of unimaginable fear and isolation.

When word spreads of the “wild child” and the infamous doctor who is treating her, the media descend on Julia and once again her competence is challenged. State and federal authorities want to lock the girl away in an institution until an identification can be made.

But to Julia, who has come to doubt her own ability, nothing is more important than saving the girl she now calls Alice. To heal this child, Julia will have to understand that she cannot work alone and must look to others—the people in the town she left long ago, the sister she barely knows, and Dr. Max Cerrasin, a handsome, private man with secrets of his own.

Then a shocking revelation forces Julia to risk everything to discover the truth about Alice. The ordeal that follows will test the limits of Julia’s faith, forgiveness, and love, as she struggles to ascertain where Alice ultimately belongs."

{GoodReads}

All I have to say about this one is, WOW!  If you have read the book ROOM, which I reviewed last week, and enjoyed it, you will love this book!!  If you like books which involve conflict and which are different from your everyday story, this is definitely a book worth reading!  I had never heard of Feral Children before I read this book.  It drove me to learn more about children who really grew up in a similar way to the little girl in the book.  The psychology is incredible and the way the author builds the story keeps the reader interested.

This is another 5/5 on GoodReads!!!

Liebster Award!!

 Rules: 

1. Link back to the person who nominated you

2. Write 11 facts about yourself once nominated

3. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you

4. Come up with 11 questions for the 11 people you nominate 

Of course, thanks to Amie at Eat.Pray.Love.Run for nominating me for my first blogger award!! I am so excited :)

11 Facts About Me

1.  I am a Forensic Science student.  School makes me want to pull my hair out but I tell myself it will be worth it! 

2.  I LOVE to read!  I will pretty much read anything that is recommended to me!  I also don't like getting books from the library; I like to own my books (Josh is not a fan of this).

3. I am lactose intolerant but I love ice cream and mac&cheese.  It's a problem. 

4. I could watch NCIS and Bones over and over.  I have watched all seasons of both shows at least twice.  It's sad.  I also love Gilmore Girls.

5. I am engaged!  We are getting married on May 14, 2014.  We decided on a long engagement to decrease the stress and to give us more time to pay for it.  Also, I will be done my degree by that time (hopefully).

6. I love love love love love to travel.  I traveled all the time up until about a year ago.  Then I realized I need to settle down and finish college .... then get a good job to pay for more traveling! haha.

7.  I have thought about joining the Army in the past.  It still crosses my mind once in a while and I still might decide to join after I'm done school.  The only reason I did not join right out of high school was because of my hearing ....

8.  I am deaf.  100% but enough to need hearing aids and annoy the crap out of people with subtitles because I can never hear the t.v.  I always get to classes early the first few days in order to secure a front row seat so that I can  hear the professor. 

9.  I am a die hard Baltimore Ravens fan and I am taking the trades of Boldin and Pollard very hard.  Worst week ever. 

10.  I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that math is important and I will, in fact use it in everyday life!  So pay attention!

11.  I love Washington D.C.  I live about 1.5 hours from DC and go every chance I get. My favorite is the Natural History Museum and the World War 2 Memorial.

To Answer Amie's Questions:  

1. Favorite Easter Candy:  Easy! Log Cabin Jelly Beans!!  Log cabin is a local candy maker and their Jelly Beans are the best! 

2. Best Thing You Are Looking Forward to About Summer:  Only having one class (a hybrid Bio class!) and of course, vacation!

3. Are You A Baker or A Cook:  Neither!  I really hate cooking in general.  I mean I guess I would rather bake ....  but really, I'd rather go to the store and buy the cupcakes that I would be baking.  I mean, they'd probably taste a lot better!
4. What's the Best Vacation You Have Been On?:  Easy, the Bahamas this past summer, Josh proposed on a beach in the Bahamas so nothing can really top that one for me!

5. Favorite Restaurant:  Either Cracker Barrel or Texas Roadhouse.

6. Early Bird or Night Owl:  You know, honestly it changes.  During the school year, early bird.  During the summer, night owl.  But I am more early bird most of the year. 

7. Favorite Movie:  I hate this question! there are just soooo many to choose!  I guess my top are Harry Potter, Top Gun, Officer and A Gentleman, She's the Man, Sound of Music, Les Mis, Steel Magnolias, Footloose and Fried Green Tomatoes ....... this list could go on forever but ain't nobody got time for that!

8. Best Thing About Blogging: Getting to hear so many different life stories and perspectives.  I find it very interesting to see that different ways that people live their lives. 

9. Iphone or Android:  I have an android but honestly I don't care as long as it works.

10. Pepsi or Coke Products: ... Water 

11. What is a Goal You Have For This Year: Complete 10 to 15 items on my DayZero/ 101 in 1001 list.  So far, I am doing fairly well. 

Questions For You!

1. What is something on your bucket list?

2. What is your favorite book?

3. How long have you been blogging and what made you decide to start?

4. What was your college major?

5. What is your favorite vacation spot and why?

6. Favorite Author?

7.  Favorite Genre/Style (whatever) of Music?

8. Dream Job?

9.  Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

10. What is the Longest car ride you have ever been on (length and from where to where)?

11.  Favorite City? 

I Nominate: 

 Casey @ True Colours

Ashley @ Horseshoes and Pearls

Jordon @ Love Always, Nancy J

Andrea @ Andrea's Adventures

Nicole @ Pearls and Prosecco

Nicole @ Life's A Beach 

Happy Thursday!!

p.s. I have no clue why my font is all messed up...

Wednesday Love

This Wednesday I am Loving: 

1. That Josh got to go see his brother before he leaves for boot camp later this week.  He joined the Army National Guard and we could not be more proud of him.  I am sad that I had to work and could not make the trip to VA

2.  That we FINALLY have vacation all figured out.  I can't wait to visit NYC and Williamsburg/Busch Gardens and of course my college home, the Shenandoah Valley.

3.  It is almost Spring Break!  Three exams and 5 school days stand between me and 5 whole days off!  My sister and I are hopefully taking a day trip to either Harpers Ferry or Mount Vernon during that week!

4. Country Roads

5. These loverly pins:

6. Over spring break, my sister and I will be getting this tattoo!!  Alice in Wonderland is a favorite of ours, so we picked this as our sister tattoo

7. Being nominated for my first blog award!!! Post coming tomorrow! :)

8.  My loving fiance