Still a Bit Under the Weather

I'm glad I took a few photos at Mount Vernon that I can slap up here to give you a little photo album, my style.

This is where I took a photo of the arches and got a warning that photos are not allowed inside the main house. Bingo! My reputation for causing trouble everywhere I go remains intact, and I won't even tell you about how much fun the TSA officials have (not) with my neti pot salt. I really don't know why -- it's only 7 or 8 ounces of crystalline substance inside a plastic baggie, after all. 

That's Lynn in silhouette there on the right, trying to pretend she didn't know me.

The Father of our Country had a pretty decent view with his morning coffee on the piazza. 

Totally random fun fact I learned (but probably should have known before then) while at Mount Vernon:  General Washington was 6'4", and Martha was 4'11". 

For the spinners:

 For the organic gardeners:

A wicked awesome compost bin

For the Foodies:

We dined at the Inn At Mount Vernon, and it was fabulous. A bit late, I was reminded by Cheryl that A Good Blogger would be taking a photo of the amazing peanut-chestnut soup I was oohing and ahhing about, instead of just scarfing it down. It's their signature soup, and it was crazy-delicious. Sorry for those allergic to peanuts. It probably makes you itch and wheeze just by having me mention it. 

Cheryl did a little writeup about our day and has a photo posted of me....I don't know...holding court, I guess. Go see.

For the bakers, or just anyone who can appreciate the talent, artistry, and hard work that went into making this:

Sadly, my photos don't begin to do it justice. But it was a purely WOW piece of gingerbread genius created by the former White House Executive Pastry Chef.

  

Comments

[Kristen]

I remember considering the, uh, physics of the height difference when I learned it in high school.

I'm glad you are healing.

[Lisa H.]

I always wondered whether Washington's height was the reason he was such a successful general. Maybe George & Martha's height difference was the reason they never had kids together? Hmmm... I love that Mt. Vernon gingerbread house. So cool!

[(no longer blogging at) a simple yarn]

Okay, so you know you're a Mount Vernon interpreter when, in spite of so many lovely photos, you feel the inescapable need to correct one teensy, weensy, minor fact...George Washington was 6' 2-1/2" at the end of his life, rather than 6'4".

Right...I can't help it...it's a sickness...amateur history geek...that's me...and I didn't even major in history...ack!

[Hilary]

Hope you had your fill of fun. You deserve it!

My sickness is correcting English-language mistakes. Did y'all notice the error on the "Spinning Room" sign?

[Carole]

Looks like a great place to visit and we've never been. That gingerbread house is amazing!

[gayle]

So, was the Spinning Room not in the main house, or were you being naughty?
That gingerbread house is nothing short of miraculous!

[margene]

Love the pictures! Hope you're feeling better today.

[Kym]

Hope the steaming and tea are helping! :-)

[Geri]

Amazing gingerbread house! Historic homes can be such fun at this time of year. The soup sounds delicious. Be sure to have some of the chicken noodle variety to heal yourself!

[Miriam]

There was an article in the latest issue of Wild Fibers about George Washington and the breed of sheep that he basically smuggled in so that he could progress the textile industry in the colonies/states! It also covered the re-creating of a flock of those sheep for Colonial Williamsburg. It was awesome.

[Mary Fran]

WOW - I have something in common with them. My husband is 6'4" (well, he's shrinking to 6'3" but he was 6'4" when I married him. I round my height up to 5', but alas, I am also shrinking. For your previous posters who were wondering...we have three kids.

[marianne]

WoW!!! and yes, the compost bin stopped me dead in my tracks :^)
About that last photo of the gingerbread creation (which is fucking aMAzing) what the heck is that grayish,whitish 'thing' just inside the doorway, upper left corner area, kind of swirly but looking creepily like a giant frog? which makes absolutely no sense at all. therefore my brain is threatening to shut down.
Feel better soon xox

[Elizabeth D]

This editor is horrified by the misused apostrophe in the Spinning Room sign. . . unless we now call George "the Washington"?

[Martha]

Am googling recipe for peanut chestnut soup RIGHT. NOW.

[--Deb]

Great pictures, Norma--feel better!

[Melissa G]

I tend to forget that Washington was as much a Renaissance man as Franklin and Jefferson.

[Renee]

Great pictures!
Keep getting better. :)

[Jean E.]

Great pictures. Feel better soon.

[Seanna Lea]

That is an amazing gingerbread house. I want to try my hand at a gingerbread house this year, but my husband keeps saying I should buy a kit. :P

[elizabeth a airhart]

bravo you do not deserve a cold

[Cookie]

I hope you're feeling better today.

[Renee]

I have always wanted a Dung Repository.