2018 04 22-25 Shawnee State Park, 04 26-29 Shady Grove Campground

Shawnee State Park - Bedford, Pennsylvania, 22 April 2018

Finally, a nice enough day that we could sit outside without winter coats, scarves and gloves. We really enjoyed this State Park. It was beautiful, well maintained and had lots of walking space around several lakes. 

Some treacherous walking conditions due to the downed trees and limbs just barely hanging over the trail. 

23 April 2018

Omni Bedford Springs Resort has about seven different springs on its properties. We made one effort, foolishly, on Saturday to visit the springs. Duh. Ever hear of banquet venues? Well, this is a big one. Maybe that is what retirement does to your brain. You just completely forget that weekends are dedicated to weddings, anniversaries and other gatherings. We could barely get our giant truck through the "Valet Only" driveway to get turned around.

But we returned during the week to a more accessible area. The Bridal Spring is used frequently for small, outdoor weddings. All seven of the springs are about 50 degrees mineral springs.  

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - 26 April 2018

We returned to the lake at French Creek State Park where we had stayed last month during that nor'easter. We met Kristen and Dave with their new German Shepherd puppy, Kilo. Dakota had never learned to swim so we thought this would be a great opportunity for her to see another dog that absolutely loves to play in the water. She stood ankle deep for quite awhile watching Kilo until Kristen scooped her up and took her out into the lake lowering her until she started paddling. Bob waded out and she went with him. 

Soaked but happy to play in the water. 

Dinner was at a local steak house the Black Angus which had been recommended by a couple we had met in South Dakota who use to live in Pennsylvania. Really tender, juicy, flavorful filet mignon. 

The restaurant also has a brewing company which Bob sampled. Behind the restaurant is the creamery where multiple kinds of cheeses are made for a sample plate on the appetizer menu. 

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 29 April 2018

On our way into the ballpark for a contest between the Phillies and Atlanta Braves. The Phillies did not have an especially good day, losing 10-1. The weather was mostly cloudy when we arrived but had completely driven the sun away by the time we left.

Of all the games we have attended in our lives we have never been to one where the batters were introduced as they came up to bat and no other commentary, play-by-play, color or otherwise, was made. There was no audience games, organ blaring out ditties or shouts for clapping your hands. It was GLORIOUS. The visitors were not shouting their conversations, trying to be heard over the "official" game entertainment. The game was the entertainment. We really enjoyed the quiet. 

2018 04 16 - 04 21 Shawnee State Park - National Museum of the American Coverlet

Shawnee State Park, Schellsburg Pennsylvania - 16 April 2018

Part of our Welcoming Committee.

The three in the foreground are males but only that one fluffed himself.
The fourth one in the back is one of the two hens we saw. 

Bob played a turkey call through the outside speakers and 3 of them came over behind our RV. At one point they were very close and all were gobbling at the same time answering.

Walking to the Beach - 20 April 2018

We are hoping this bluebird is a true harbinger of spring though we have seen them in several of our prior locations only to be disappointed.

We found the "beach" which is large grain sand dumped at the edge of a lake. Tori immediately waded in while Dakota (who has no experience swimming) stayed just barely getting her toes wet. This flock of about 20 Canada geese swam over looking for handouts and got her attention. One must have done the wing flap thing because she suddenly bolted out into the lake off the concrete ramp and just as suddenly stopped when she discovered she was not standing on solid ground. She wasn't very far out but the water is still only in the mid-40s. She was quite surprised.

Several connected lakes and it is plenty breezy walking over the bridges. Hold onto your hats!

The National Museum of the American Coverlet - 21 April 2018

Downtown Bedford for a tour of the Coverlet museum. And what is a coverlet, you may ask? A coverlet is a woven, single layer bed cover or rug worked on a loom with the pattern woven in as part of the process. In comparison to quilts, which are bed covers made from various pieces of existing material sewn together with batting and backing. The coverlet is made from scratch generally from threads of cotton or wool. 

Coverlets are made from patterns which dictate how the loom will be set up for a particular design. Many of the older home looms were not large enough to create a piece which covers the bed so they are made of two woven panels joined in the center seam. Women mostly made coverlets for their families use. Men were also weavers but usually for clients. 

This is a larger loom with several pedals to raise and lower the heddles which move the warp threads. Julie, we have a new found admiration for your talents as a weaver. You go, girl.

Our guide explains the smaller spinning wheel is for flax linen while the larger one is for cotton thread.

The oldest piece (under glass so no photo) was estimated to have been created in 1771. Older pieces tended to be blue and white or blue and cream.

Most of the coverlets in the museum were from the early to mid 1800's.

This addition to the loom used a series of punch cards similar to punch cards for early computers (on the right).

The six steps in the flax processing.

Coverlets are mostly double sided. Right and left examples show one side has a light background with red design while the opposite side has a red background with white design.

While trees, flowers and birds are very typical, this example has many different buildings including churches and pagodas. 

This was a really interesting piece and has no middle seam, meaning it was woven as a single coverlet.

This design was unique with the multi-point stars that reminded me of snowflakes. 

One of the books of coverlet designs - Lions and Tigers - No Bears - Oh My! Clearly there are many more options, including bears. 

The Golden Eagle Inn Pub was our destination for a late lunch. That would be the door to the right of the sign. The fancy dining room is upstairs for the hotel patrons. 

The horse head post has a flower pot holder over its head. All along the street are old buildings on the National Registry and Historical Markers.  

Had to stop in the local Candy Shop, establish 1929, for some hand-dipped treats. Most of the store is packaged jelly beans and popcorn but we made our way towards the back where they keep the good stuff. I was disappointed the dipping equipment is kept behind a closed door but we managed to find several selections that tempted us. 

Not the fanciest horse head but we enjoyed seeing them randomly distributed around town. Alas, no hanging metal rings for reins. These guys are purely decorative, not functional. 

2018 04 14 Nationals Ballpark, Washington DC

Nationals Park, Washington, DC - April 14, 2018

Our first ballgame as we pursue attending a game at each ball field during our travels. We had an easy ride on the Metro so no parking hassles downtown. Getting through security was a different matter. Slow, long lines. While the TSA has figured out nail clippers and small pocket knives these folks on the gates were not under those same directives. I had to surrender my 1.5 inch knife and was not happy about it. We hadn't gone twenty feet into the park when another security guard came up behind me and returned it to me. HUH? What was that all about? Glad to have it back though. 

Nationals win a comeback after the Colorado Rockies took a two run lead in the first. We thought with that beginning the Nats were in a heap of trouble. Ended up being a good game for the home team fans. 

A happy crowd leaving. We used to wait after the Cardinals games for the groundskeepers put on the tarp. Oh, no, that will never do now. All the seats have to be cleared as soon as possible and the ushers were not too shy about telling us to leave. Yikes. What is this world coming to when we aren't allowed to sit quietly after the game and wait for the crowds to clear out a little. 

2018 04 10 to 04-13 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Cherry Blossoms and Mount Vernon

Last Sunset at Delaware Seashore State Park - April 10, 2018

Indian River Inlet to the estuary

Washington, DC and Maryland - April 11, 2018

We returned to the Prince William Forest RV Park outside of Washington, DC.

Timing is everything and our timing was good for full blown Cherry Tree Blooming. Beautiful weather of 70 degrees and sunshine. 

Bob surrounded by aged trees and new saplings. Stunningly beautiful to see thousands of trees in bloom.

The United State Holocaust Museum. 

A reproduction cattle car and hand cart. There was so much information -pictures, personal stories, artifacts, documentation and online research access. There was even a survivor available in the main lobby telling stories to some of the school children visiting the museum. 

After several hours in the museum, we had lunch and returned outside to enjoy the weather and blooms. We walked completely around the Tidal Basin to enjoy the spectacle. This view is toward to Jefferson Memorial.

This view is on the north side of the basin. 

Near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. 

 

Yes Carol was there.  Cross this off our bucket list. Doesn't she look beautiful framed in cherry blossoms with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. 

Close-up

Just so you know that Bob is actually with me since I seem to appear in most photos.

Mount Vernon, Virginia - April 13, 2018

The Bowling Green in front of the main house. George Washington inherited a much smaller house in 1754 from his half-brother, Lawrence. The small one and one-half story house was originally built in 1735 by his father, Augustine. George spent 45 years slowly enlarging the dwelling in the current 21-room residence. He personally oversaw each renovation in design, construction and decoration. It was Lawrence who renamed the Little Hunting Creek plantation as Mount Vernon, in honor of his commanding officer in the Virginia Foot Regiments, Admiral Edward Vernon.

Ending our tour with a look in the basement. The entrance on the left of the window casement is only 5 feet, 4 inches tall so all those any taller need to watch their heads. There is no railing and the steps are steep with narrow treads. OSHA would have a field day. 

Excavations have uncovered the drainage system complete with a working sump pump to control the excess water which seeps into the basement. The food stored during the "hunger months" (Dec-Mar) were susceptible to mold and rats. The drainage system dealt with the former while the family "ratter" terriers were let loose to handle the latter. 

A spectacular view from the back porch. 

A chair carriage. The sign says it is a better mode of transportation than the standard enclosed carriage over the less than ideal back roads of Virginia.

The building on the left is the kitchen, staffed every day by two full time cooks. There is also a smokehouse, wash house for laundry, clerk's house, stables, carriage house and ice house on this side of the main house. 

And wildlife. This critter(Common 5-line Skink) was catching some sun on the threshold of the old tomb where Washington and many family members had been interred. But Washington directed in his will that a new tomb was to be constructed so this site is unoccupied. 

Many of the fruit trees are grown as espaliers against the retaining walls surrounding the tiered gardens for vegetables and herbs.

A fruit tree that is grown freestanding as fencing around gardens is called a cordon.

A blacksmith using a bellows to heat charcoal.

And hammering an iron peg into shape.

I thought this was rather amusing in the Gift Shop.

Waiting for lunch in the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant. The wallpaper was interesting. It must have been designed specifically for this room as it shows the front and back scenes of the mansion plus a few specimen trees around the grounds. The picture over the fireplace is Washington and his troops during a winter encampment.