Monday, February 13, 2017

Down by the River





Do you get antsy in the winter?  I tend to stay in our home for days working on projects and then I feel I must get out. Most days we walk our neighborhood, so it's not like I don't go outside.   It doesn't matter where we go, I just need a change of scenery.




  
We have our main meal in the middle of the day since Grayden retired.  We call the largest meal of the day dinner.  It's convenient for us and our grandson, Samuel.  He has morning classes and works in the evenings.  So this arrangement has worked well for us.  

Since it has been staying lighter longer, we have been enjoying our supper down by the river.  It's very close to our home.  Recently I made us ham and cheese sandwiches and fruit salad. Grayden enjoyed the cappuccino he made and I took along my mug of Earl Grey.  Some days we buy a sandwich at the local eatery and take it along to enjoy by the river.  Just these little trips with my husband sure help to beat the winter blues.




Water has always been an important part of my life.  We always see interesting sights on our little outings.  The weather was nice and we just sat and talked and observed nature.  Geese fly by.  We have seen bald eagles. Folks with their lines in the water hoping for the big one to bite. The train racing along the railroad trestle.  Simple pleasures.  Simple times.

If you look up on the hill the building of George Washington's boyhood home is being reconstructed. The myth about the cherry tree began at this site.  At the bottom of the hill you can see where young George was said to have thrown a silver dollar across the river.  It is quite narrow here and I imagine he possibly could have.  It is considered a myth about him throwing money away, but it is thought he probably threw a rock across the river.  At the time the river at this point was 300 feet wide. It isn't a myth that George Washington lived here from age 6 to around age 22.  This is where he learned to survey, joined the Masons, read his first book on the military, copied the rules of Civility and petitioned the colony's British governor for his first military office. It's pretty exciting that the excavations by archaeologists found the foundation of the Washingtons!  The home is being built on the original foundation.  I hope to report updates as the building continues. If you wish to read more about Ferry Farm you can go HERE 





We in Virginia and particularly our area, are quite proud to stand where Washington stood and try to understand how this young man became our first president. February 22nd is his birthday so I thought I'd share a little history of him that may not be familiar to you.  We were friends of a local writer when we first moved to Fredericksburg.  In fact she helped us buy our first home and always talked about the history of George Washington's boyhood home.  It was her dream that this property be saved and restored to its time when the Washingtons lived here.  I often think of her and wished she could see the progress that is now being made at Ferry Farm.  She wrote Ferry Farm and gifted a copy to us.  











Gilchrist Waring also wrote historical books about Williamsburg.  You may have seen some of her books there.  Her books are geared to children, but I find them wonderfully informative.





Upon leaving the river after our little picnic we were treated to the most amazing sunset.





Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day you may want to have some sweet Valentine tags or make a banner like I did.  You can go to Nora Murphy's blog and download these little tags  HERE  I just printed mine out on card stock and used kitchen twine and little clothespins to attach to my kitchen window.





February can be a cold and dreary month for some of us.  As winter seems to go on and on, I hope there will be times of joy for you, my friends. ♥




















32 comments:

  1. Yes, February could be so hard to get through, it was easily my least favorite month until I moved to Florida. Now I love it. Your heart string is adorable!

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    1. Thank you Jeannie Marie for stopping by and saying hello. The little heart banner was easy to make and brightens my window. Have a lovely afternoon. ♥

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  2. What fun to go on a picnic in winter! Wrap up warm and with a hot drink you hardly notice the cold ~ and how lovely and warm the house feels when you come back home too! I suffer from cabin fever mostly due to the strong winds that make walking sometimes more than a little difficult! I hope to get out with my camera tomorrow afternoon and look forward to some time behind the lens.
    I meant to say before how much I like your new header, especially seeing your Emma Bridgewater mugs.
    ~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo

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    1. Thank you Deb, I failed to say that we enjoyed our picnic in our car! It's so windy today that it was not feasible to take our walk outside, so we walked at the mall. Walking outdoors is so much better though, when the winds aren't blowing. I hope you enjoy getting out with your camera tomorrow. xoxo ♥

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  3. Love your picnics!
    Hope you have a cozy evening, my friend. : )

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  4. Love your little Valentine's decorations...

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  5. I have a granddaughter that is fascinated by the presidents. She knows all the 'facts' about Washington -his birthdate, death, wife, family...etc. When she was in 2nd grade she got up and told her class about him and the teacher said she knew more than the teacher did. lol
    What an interesting thing that rebuilding is there.
    I, too, am drawn to the water- it soothes my soul like nothing else can do.
    Hope you have a great night- xo Diana

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    1. It's a beautiful thing when a child is interested in history! You must bring her to VA so she can enjoy going to Washington's birthplace, his boyhood home and then to Mt Vernon.
      We are kindred spirits, Diana. Water is a great calmer of the spirit. Have a wonderful evening. xo ♥

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  6. I like the sweet banner you made with the hearts. I had planned to sew a new banner but it's fun to print things off and change it up. I love that neat book and learning more about history. And it's nice to get outside some every day. Of course winter months are when it's better weather here in Florida so we are out more now. In the summer....not so much! heehee! Hugs!

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    1. Diane, I have a cousin that lives in FL and he says the same thing. I really shouldn't complain as our weather has not been that bad. Have a nice evening.♥

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  7. What a sweet banner across your kitchen window! Myth of the cherry tree...ahem! 🙂 I am one who firmly believes in the account. How interesting to watch the building go up at Ferry Farm... Any time George Washington is recognized is excellent. I sometimes get to the place you describe...having to have a change of scenery...very rare, though. I am a true homebody. I do love the way you describe your picnics and outings with Grayden.

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    1. Vee, George Washington is so revered. I do believe he was a man of great honor. I remember our discussion about this story by Parson Weems.
      I'm a homebody as well, but I really need to change the scenery now and then. Have a nice evening. ♥

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  8. So good to see, we visited the area a few years ago and now need to go back since it is not that far from us. I want to take the grand girls next time. Here in Virginia is so much history to see and share with others.
    The banner is adorable and thank you for the site to share.
    Happy St. Valentines Day
    betsy

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    1. Virginia is full of history is right, Betsy. I do hope you are able to come again to our area again, especially when Ferry Farm is up to speed. It's wonderful to have a grandmother that is willing to share historical sites! Happy Valentine's day to you as well. ♥

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  9. Thank you so much for sharing the story of Ferry Farm, Martha Ellen! Every February, I always enjoyed sharing stories about George Washington with my young students. You live in such a fascinating place!! History is all around you in Virginia. I really must make plans to explore Virginia!

    Your winter picnic dates with your sweetheart sound just delightful! So many of our early dates were walks along water ~ rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, and the Pacific Ocean. It was the perfect way to get to know one another while enjoying nature. It's still one of our favorite weekend dates! Last year, we walked along a beautiful bog for the first time. Our next weekend walk will be along the Fox River, in search of Bald Eagles.

    Martha Ellen, your photography is stunning! I just love your reflections on the water and the peeks at Ferry Farm in the distance. Wishing you and Grayden the sweetest of Valentine's Days! Sending warm hugs! ♡

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    1. Dawn, I think you would really enjoy the history of our area! There is so much to see and do here. I hope you will one day visit us!
      I love how you describe your times by the water with your sweetheart. I feel the same way. When I remember all the walks we've enjoyed on the shores of the ocean it fills my heart with joy. I do hope you will share your Fox river walk and hopefully you will view bald eagles! They are the most exciting bird for me to see.
      Thank you for your kind words as always, my friend. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! ♥

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  10. What an interesting post about George Washington, Martha Ellen. Wouldn't that be something to stand at the very same site that he lived with the cherry tree? The book, Ferry Farm, sounds delightful. How nice that your friend gave you a copy of it.

    Happy Valentine's Day to a very special, wonderful woman.

    ~Sheri

    ps that cardinal pic is fantastic!

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    1. Thank you, dear Sheri! We like to think that GW walked on the land where our home sits. It was part of Ferry Farm when he lived there.
      Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, my friend. ♥

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  11. I think having a picture picnic is Winter is a great idea! The weather here has been all over the place lol. One day it's really cold, and a few days later it feels hot outside! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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    1. We had a wonderful Valentine's Day, Pilar. Our weather has been similar to yours. One day it's in the 60's and the next it's in the 30's! Have a great day. ♥

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  12. That is such a darling little banner! I hope you and your sweetie had a lovely Valentine's day together! Love how you and Grayden enjoy your supper by the river. How romantic! XOXO

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    1. Thank you Rosinda! We had a lovely day and really enjoyed going out to dinner. We just finished leftovers from that meal, so I didn't have to cook today. I hope you and your sweetheart enjoyed your surprise! Have a wonderful afternoon. XOXO ♥

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  13. I love how you made a banner out of the V-day cards - I used them for To/From tags - they are adorable! Interesting facts about GW - were learned a lot about him in elementary school, but lots of the facts have been forgotten!

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    1. Thank you Patti. We live in the land of Washington. His birthplace is not far from us as well and neither is Mt Vernon. He was a fascinating man to say the least. Have a great afternoon. ♥

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  14. Your sweet Valentine banner is wonderful! And what a lovely book. I'm always attracted to books like that. As for dinner being in the middle of the day, we always called the biggest meal 'dinner,' whether it was eaten at noon or in the evening. If our larger meal was at noon, then our evening light meal was called 'supper.' If our larger meal was in the evening, then our light noon meal was called 'lunch.' I think that came from my French Canadian/English grandmother. Anyway, it works for me and that's how I've always explained it to the grandkids who seem to think it's very confusing. LOL

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    1. It's not confusing to me, Judy. I was taught the same thing. My Mama always taught us the same. I've never explained this to my grandchildren. They just come to the table when breakfast, lunch, dinner or supper is on the table! Lol Have a great evening. ♥

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  15. That sunset photograph is wonderful, the colours within are amazing, it reminds me of just how special nature is.
    To be able to spend time by the river is so pleasant. I love to be by water a lake, the sea or canal ... simple pleasures can be so rewarding.

    I like your Valentines banner ...

    Enjoy the rest of the week

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. It's the simple things that make life so nice. In the winter it is especially nice to focus on the beauty that surrounds us. Have a lovely week. ♥

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  16. Martha Ellen, if I ever learned anything about Washington's childhood home it was so long ago I've completely forgotten it. How wonderful that the foundation was uncovered and is being rebuilt.

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    1. Jean, even though I am a long time Virginian, I didn't learn about GW's boyhood home until we moved here. It's quite exciting for us. ♥

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