ON THIS DAY.... JANUARY 28th!

Being an "overachiever" and NOW a "procrastinator" I tend to avoid posting pictures on my blog if they aren't new or what I consider "blog-worthy"... I've been spending a chunk of time each day editing my photo library. It's gotten unmanage-able (over 42,500 photos)... and many of them need to be trashed. Of course, that prevents me from wanting to add more photos until I take care of this problem.

So... to SIMPLIFY life... I dug back into my archives for some notable happenings on this day... specifically, 2013 and 2011... Here's what I found. Also, I borrowed photos I hadn't posted to illustrate this post.

January 28, 2013

We took visitors to see the ELEPHANT SEALS on 1/28/13. An easy drive... it's always exciting being outside in the brisk, winter breezes along the coast of California. AND, who wouldn't like seeing the elephant seals... 

Actually, I enjoy seeing the expressions on people's faces while they watch the nuances of ELEPHANT SEAL life. This photo happens to be from February 2014, but I love the look on Matthew's face.

January 28, 2011

Then there was this LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE IN 2011. 

I had broken a bone in my left foot. I had written about the emotions that I was feeling as the result of being on crutches. Little did I know that I would use crutches until mid-July. AND, then have physical therapy for several months to regain my balance. 

JPE & I had already booked flights to see SLE & MB in Washington DC. So, off we went... You can see "da boot" that was "oh so glamorous!" We are laughing at MB, who was taking our picture! He's taken some of the best pictures --- and he's blind. Of course, we had all sorts of comments to help him snap this photo. 

Well... hope you enjoyed "On THIS DAY" (in 2013 & 2011)... perhaps I'll have to make this a regular feature here!

See you soon! 

LEAVE THE LIGHT ON!!

Guest bedroom looking into the ATRIUM!

THANK YOU 

SLE, MB & SEA-BASS!!!

We loved our visit to Washington DC 

& staying at your place in Arlington!

I'll miss my cozy corner in your guest room --- it was great for blogging, watching the weather

and sipping a cuppa tea!

GEORGE'S RICHES...

Mount Vernon ~ all pics taken 4.23.11

Rain showers were predicted for Saturday... gathering our rain gear (umbrellas & coats), JPE drove the four of us + Sea-Bass (MB's guide dog) to visit Mount Vernon ~ the 200 acre estate of the first president, George Washington.

Upper Garden w/Fleur-de-lis-design

Taking a pleasant walk up the hill to the main building (for  the 4:15 entry to the Mansion), we were showered ~ not with the wet stuff, but with petals blowing from the trees along the graveled paths!

  

lovely tulips

The Upper Garden was still wet, with puddles of water pooling around some of the flowers & the newly sprouting lettuce. 

Luckily, we missed the rain showers... having only to dodge the mud puddles and low areas of the pathways.

While SLE, MB, & JPE explored the Slave Quarters, the Blacksmith Shop, the Spinning House & the Gardeners House, I wandered the gardens (actually, I was trying to give JPE a break from pushing the wheelchair & MOI!!!)...

Looking across the Bowling Green, you see the Kitchen! On large estates, the kitchens were detached from the main living quarters to keep the smells of the food away from areas where people congregated to chat.

the "NECESSARY"

Washington was ahead of his time!! although these buildings don't appear on the map of the estate, we noticed several of them just off the path leading to the Mansion! the sign called them the "Necessary" or "Privy"... Washington had all human waste collected, which was then recycled as fertilizer for the gardens. In addition to having a convenient way to centralize the waste, Washington understood the importance of sanitation....  JPE jokingly stated, "...these were the original porta-potties!!"

Timmy + George

Of course, Timmy was part of the adventure (see him sitting on George's hand??). We took a moment to "record" him meeting our first president, George Washington, for ACE's kindergarten class. If you missed the first episode of Timmy's Washington DC Adventure, please click HERE. 

delicate, lilac colored flowers

Our trip to Mount Vernon started a bit late (due to impending rains), so we missed walking over to Washington's Tomb (YES, he's buried at Mount Vernon, along with his wife Martha, and some other family members), the Whiskey Distillery, and the Potomac River Wharf. 

George Washington wanted to create an estate that could be visited, and that displayed an aristocratic view of life in the 1800's.

A visit to Mount Vernon could be a full-day event... kids activities are available in the Hands-on-History Room (Education Center) - and they can solve the PUZZLE by completing an Adventure Maps (best for 8 year olds & older)... CLICK HERE for more information about Mount Vernon...

BAD, BAD OMO!!!

Timmy LOVES Virgin America...

CONFESSION!!!

I'm a bad, bad OMO (mom)!!

Timmy jumped in my suitcase for a 

Washington DC Adventure!

(do you believe me?)

Timmy is a small Cabbage Patch doll - that belongs to ACE!

(she's had him since she was 3 years old)

STRONG Timmy!! he's holding up the Washington Monument!!

... AND checking out Amelia Earhart's airplane!!

JPE shared his fries with Timmy!

Look who's hiding in the Smithsonian flower beds??

Watch for MORE Timmy Adventures!

Does LOLA miss me, ACE??

SAD, SAD LOLA...