On Halloween Day we took a drive through the beautiful countryside of Virginia to visit a few historic places. The old ruins of a home designed by Thomas Jefferson for his friend Governor James Barbour, and a place called The Exchange, the only Civil War Hospital in Virginia that was made into a museum. We thought it would be fun to see something sort of haunting on Halloween :). It wasn't as scary as I thought (much to my relief), but it was educational and interesting, and the countryside was just so beautiful. I am trying to soak all of it in this last year we are here. I am going to miss fall time in Virginia - the color, the trees, the rolling hills, and the crisp clean air.
It is moments like these that I make my boys listen to me recite a poem my Mom once taught me. Forgive me for writing it down here:
God's World by Edna St Vincent Millay:
(Nate just informed that he is related to Edna St Vincent Millay. Grandma Freeman can you confirm this, or is he just making it up :)? If so, how does he get all of the cool relatives :). Just kidding Mom, I know we have some cool ones too! What can I say, Grandma Freeman THANK YOU for marrying Grandpa John!!!)
O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! Thy winds, thy wide grey skies! Thy mists, that roll and rise! Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag And all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff! World, World, I cannot get thee close enough! Long have I known a glory in it all, But never knew I this; Here such a passion is As stretcheth me apart,—Lord, I do fear Thou’st made the world too beautiful this year; My soul is all but out of me,—let fall No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.
Call me a hopeless sentimentalist, but its a title I wear proudly. I love this world that God has created, and sometimes this poem is the only thing that matches my sentiment. That and some music by Elgar or something like that.
Also this week we had a lovely picnic at Carter Mountain with a few friends, and experienced Guy Fawkes Day (a British Holiday celebrating the failure of a massive attempt at destroying the Parliament Building and King James along with it). "Remember Remember the Fifth of November" they like to say. They celebrate by feasting and drinking (apple cider for us, thanks :), and a big bonfire at the end of the day with a large doll like figure of Guy Fawkes (or any other political leader they are unhappy with at the time). Quite frankly it made me grateful to live in a time when people are not burned in public for grievances committed. Also grateful that I live in a place and time where religious freedom is also alive. Guy Fawkes and his fellow Catholics were fighting in anger against their grievances they experienced under the reign of a Protestant King and Parliament.
It was celebrated at Bacon Castle which was used during the Bacon Rebellion of 1676 an exact 100 years before the Revolutionary War. A group of farmers who were angry at the Governor of Virginia for not protecting their rights. It was the first time a Frontier rebellion took place here in America against an English appointed Governor. Certainly a predecessor to the Revolutionary War.
We also met Robin hood (from Yorkshire England where Robin hood is from) who is the only person to re-enact him there. He is just as I imagined Robin hood would be.
So how do these events connect you might ask? Well here it is - people fighting causes against tyranny across the globe.
see what I mean?
sometimes you just have to sit down and take it all in
this boy likes his music too
when your sweet boy runs up and gives you a flower. Mason speaks my love language
what I love about Virginia, is driving and seeing these historic markers everywhere - yes - here Zachary Taylor was born
Freedman Bureau School house - a school house for former slaves
Mason would make a good teacher like his Daddy
the hospital part of the Exchange - acting like they are sick
the weapons of the Civil War
painting pumpkins with Miss Olivia
dinner in a pumpkins - i just threw some stew in there to make it look festive :)
Mason's recent fascination about skeletons turned into learning the names of the bones in our body
fun craft
loves these people in this picture
apple cider donuts are some of the best out there - perfect for a fall day in Virginia
a healthy appetite for water
that's love
throwing rocks
Mason wanted me to take this close up picture of this beautiful rock he found :). I love their natural curiosity at this age. I just read a quote that says - to children there are no seven wonders of the world, there are seven hundred.
after our picnic, my boys wanted to stick around and just be in nature for a couple of hours. I didn't mind at all. soaking up a few rays before winter.
"Mom take a picture of us on this rock!"
"see Mom, what I found?"
Colonials playing a good game of cricket
Bacon's Castle
a tour inside
listening to Robin Hood
Tales of Robin Hood :)
He liked Mason so much that he gave him this Minks Fur right out of his cap. This little guy was pretty excited. Robin Hood, you have your newest fan.
teaching Mason about cotton as we discovered it in a neighboring field
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