A Rewarding Morning at Mt Vernon's Archaeology Lab

After a morning of washing prehistoric artifacts, we had a nice collection of preforms and points! (In addition, rocks are to the side...and flakes are to the front).

Candle Making at Pioneer Farm, Mount Vernoin

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a key aspect to good historical interpretation with guests is that I should come away from a day with something new I need to research.  On this particular day, I met a bee keeper who asked whether George Washington imported Italian honeybees because bees were apparently brought over on ships from Europe to America.  While I know that Washington had hives and Martha Washington liked rose-flavored honey (from the book Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation by Tammy Horn), I don't know the full answer yet.  There's always something to learn!

A Beautiful, Grey Day at Pioneer Farm, Mount Vernon

 

Pioneer Farm at Mount Vernon Closes for the Winter

After a day of cooking over the open hearth (chicken and leek soup, ale bread, and bread pudding with apples), we said goodbye to our final group of children at Colonial Days, and started to close up Pioneer Farm at Mount Vernon for the winter.  We won't staff it again until Colonial Days in March and fully for visitors in April.  I will miss being at Pioneer Farm!  It's a beautiful place on its own, and even more so, when you consider the history behind it.  Here are a few photos from earlier this fall:

I am truly blessed to be able to work with the wonderful staff of Historic Trades at Mount Vernon!

The Reality of Living History Interpretation in the Winter Months!

 I work at Mount Vernon tomorrow and I am ever so grateful for hand and toe warmers!  It's not easy to do living history interpretation in full costume during the winter months!

My "Office" View

Over the past 20 years, I've had plenty of offices....from a beautiful wallpapered room furnished with a cherry desk and a window (I also had a secretary in that job!) to a government-issued cubicle of beige carpeted walls and no window.

I've got to say, though, that the view from Mt. Vernon has to be the best.   No matter what else is going on in my life, there's something special about walking down the gravel lane to work at George Washington's Estate. You simply can't beat the view.  And, when you add in all the history, it's a privilege, indeed.      

And, then, I get to chat with folks from all over about subjects I love.  You simply can't beat it.  

Walking with Washington in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia

Recently, we spent a couple of hours studying up on George Washington in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.  With both Jeff and I working at Mount Vernon, we spend a fair amount of time reading up on our colonial history, but this time we decided to take a self-guided walking tour of some of the historic sites related to Washington in Old Town....and there are plenty!

  

 

 We had previously visited Gadsby's Tavern, Christ Church and the fascinating Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum....we knew about Washington's Townhouse (but wanted to see it again).  

This time, however, we wanted to go deeper and check out where Sally Fairfax's house was located....and where the doctor who was a  friend of Washington's and was present at Washington's death lived, and other tidbits from the late 1700s.   To do all this, we followed a wonderful walking tour by Robert Madison.  We had a great time, and it was amazing how seeing the places where these figures lived and walked (and danced!) made the history come alive.

Plus, who doesn't love seeing the cobblestone streets?!

The Postal Service Definitely Knows Jeff is a Blacksmith!

Here's a bit of humor from our week.....the Postal Service (particularly our carrier!) knows that Jeff is a blacksmith.  Sledgehammer, anyone?!  Actually, Jeff has his own sledgehammer and will deliver this one to Mount Vernon. He'll take it the rest of the way, though, and will give the mail carrier a break!

Mount Vernon in the Snow

The other day, Jeff had the privilege of blacksmithing at Mount Vernon after a light snow.  He took these photos.  It was a quiet morning and the view from the porch would have been one George Washington would have recognized since the view has been protected.  That's pretty amazing to think about....

The article linked to above mentions that General/President Washington would pull his furniture from his parlor to the piazza, so he would not have likely had the many chairs that currently line it but would have had other furniture.  Other than that, these photos could speak to another time.