Beach Day

A day at the Jersey Shore -- with sand in my shoes.

Hey Mama, come dig with me.

He shared his toys with me!

Get sandy hands; rinse; repeat.

Surprise Package

A big box from the right hand coast came today, and inside was kitchen food and gear!  Hooray!

Bread, cheese, apples

(And thou?)

Purple plates

Chocolate ice cream cone

There's lots of other food, but Miss C prefers the ice cream.

  

And a basket to hold everything.

Thanks, K & A & K

Miss C is very happy.

KITCHEN

It's just what every girl needs, a kitchen!  Daddy made it for Miss C from parts from Ikea.  It has already experienced upgrades, but this is the basic look.  We'll add a curtain to hide the utensils.

Miss C at her kitchen in the kitchen.

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