Music at Library Time

Library time took a break, and we missed it.  We're glad to be back with Miss Beth and all the kids.  Miss C likes to watch and loves the egg shakers:

Good Bye

Brother D and I said good bye yesterday at the 30th Street Station; he's headed back west on AmTrak.  It was wonderful having him here; he made a big impression on Miss C.

I heard from him this morning early that heavy rain had washed out the track someplace between Pittsburgh and Chicago, so he had been on a bus overnight, and hadn't slept since leaving here.  (He had expected to be in his sleeper dozing peacefully!)  Ouch.  Later, he called from Chicago that the bus had arrived in time for his connection to the Empire Builder that will take him to Spokane.  I hope he catches up on the shut-eye. 

There seems to be crazy weather everywhere. . . . dry in the Pacific Northwest; way too much rain here; tornados and thunderstorms in between.

Touring Historic Philadelphia and Environs

Henry Mercer built this home for himself, Fonthill, in Doylestown.  

Reinforced concrete was a new material at the time, and with just a few unskilled laborers.

He was a renaissance man -- archeologist, businessman, world traveler.

He brought tiles from around the world that he built into his home.  Walls, ceilings, floors are richly decorated in the tiles he created and collected.

Grassy spaces, perfect for Miss C

Waiting for our tour to begin.

A close up of one of the windows.  The design is quite fanciful.

Next day: Center City Philadelphia:

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

George Washington, Independence Hall

The United States began here with the signing of the Declaration of Independence 

and later the ratification of the Constitution.

Franklin Court and the first US Post Office.  

Benjamin Franklin's home was just beyond the gate.

Further Travels in WA DC

The Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian was a must-see.  

Space

Emelia Earhart's plane

Boeing 747 and it's maker!

Viet Nam Memorial

Two children of the 60's reflected in the wall.

D having a lean on the monument.

This makes me feel old.  The bicycle of my childhood is in the American History Museum!

Ruby Slippers

Looking across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial

Good Night, WA DC

Miss C

I haven't posted a photo of the lovely Miss C for a while, so here she is

at the "Please Touch" Museum last week.

WA DC with Brother D

A rainy day to visit our nation's capitol.   D got capitol tour tickets from his congresswoman, so we are on our way.

The tour takes you inside the rotunda.  We lunched at the Capitol visitor's center.  

Then we walked to the American Museum of Natural History to see the Hope Diamond, among other wonders.  Did you know that Smithson, an English scientist who founded the Smithsonian, never set foot in the USA?  He bequueathed his estate to establish an institution in Washington, DC for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." 

The Hope Diamond is huge.  I liked the diamond chain that surrounds it. . . .

Stuffed mammals of every description.  I didn't expect to enjoy the taxidermy, 

but being really close to the animals was very satisfying.  

Brother D was sure I had him on a "forced march," so the next day we did a tour via trolly.

The Washington Monument from across the Tidal Basin.

Brother D's Visit

We took Uncle D to the Please Touch Museum.  . . . in one of the beautiful halls from the 1876 Centennial Exposition.  Miss C loves the "neigh-neighs" in the front of the museum.

Gma La La and Miss C rode the carousel, and Uncle D got our photo.  Thanks, Uncle D.

Here he is at the far right hand coast . . . at the Atlantic Ocean at Atlantic City, NJ.  He came all the way on the train.  

Now we are off to see the nation's capitol.