I had fun in the sun and surf in North Carolina!!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Atlantic!!
I absolutely love the beach and the Atlantic coast is no exception. We visited Kitty Hawk, right along the coast on a string of island in North Carolina. All of us ran up the boardwalk and were hit by gusts of Atlantic air. The tide was coming in and it was very windy, and when you add those two components together you have huge unpredictable waves. Kali ran with me towards the water then saw the wave and raced back to Dad. I stood in the ice cold water and posed for pictures when WHAM!A huge wave crashed into my back. The whole back of my jeans and my pants legs were soaked. On the way back to the car I told Dad I was changing. He laughed so hard when he saw why I was changing.
I had fun in the sun and surf in North Carolina!!
I had fun in the sun and surf in North Carolina!!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Surrender
Today I visited the Appomattox Courthouse and got a good history lesson.
It turns out the surrender papers were actually signed in the McLean family parlor. The Generals wanted to end the war as soon as possible, and because no one was at the Courthouse the documents had to be signed in a home.
The city of Appomattox was actually a stage coach stop with a courthouse. The courthouse burned down in the late 1800's, so a replica was rebuilt.
The McLean house had to be completely rebuilt by only blueprints. The amazing thing is that such a significant document was signed in a simple parlor.
The laying down of arms took over 6 hours. Regiment after regiment stepped forward and piled up their cartridge cases and rifles. The Confederates also shredded their flags and handed them out among the troops. Almost 30,000 paroles were printed in an 26 hour window. After the Confederates laid down their arms they were sent home, often with no money or food for their journey.
I don't know if any of you saw Lincoln, but the recreation of the McLean house was spot on. I literally stood on the porch and saw the movie in front of me.
The tour and facts about the end of the Civil War are so different from what I knew. Who knew a treaty could be signed in a parlor?
It turns out the surrender papers were actually signed in the McLean family parlor. The Generals wanted to end the war as soon as possible, and because no one was at the Courthouse the documents had to be signed in a home.
The city of Appomattox was actually a stage coach stop with a courthouse. The courthouse burned down in the late 1800's, so a replica was rebuilt.
The McLean house had to be completely rebuilt by only blueprints. The amazing thing is that such a significant document was signed in a simple parlor.
The laying down of arms took over 6 hours. Regiment after regiment stepped forward and piled up their cartridge cases and rifles. The Confederates also shredded their flags and handed them out among the troops. Almost 30,000 paroles were printed in an 26 hour window. After the Confederates laid down their arms they were sent home, often with no money or food for their journey.
I don't know if any of you saw Lincoln, but the recreation of the McLean house was spot on. I literally stood on the porch and saw the movie in front of me.
The tour and facts about the end of the Civil War are so different from what I knew. Who knew a treaty could be signed in a parlor?
Gettysburg
The loss of life in such a small place is saddening. Gettysburg was a part of a horrible, yet necessary war. I learned so much about the battle and the people who fought in it.
The first two pictures are for Mr. Jones and any other musicians out there. These instruments were played by bands, and were the pride of their regiments.
Buckles and pins were a major way of telling who and where you were from. Some belt buckles even saved soldiers life's.
The Civil War divided many families, including the presidential one. Mary Todd Lincoln's father was actually a Confederate surgeon. A poor girl actually had a Confederate husband and a Union father. In some cases brothers were actually fighting brothers!
Both the North and South had reasons to start and end the war. Both sides had interesting demands from the other.
The pictures of all the men were only a few lost at Gettysburg. There were so many deaths throughout the war. All the numbers are staggering.
Amazingly only 1 civilian died at the Battle. Her name was Ginnie Wade. Her sister and niece lived in no mans land and she refused to leave them. She made it through a few days of battle, then while making bread was shot in the back.Civilians that lived in Gettysburg took up arms, too. An elderly man came and fought through the whole battle and sustained many wounds, yet kept fighting.
To be able to describe everything about Gettysburg is impossible, and being able to see this history was a once in a lifetime experience.
The first two pictures are for Mr. Jones and any other musicians out there. These instruments were played by bands, and were the pride of their regiments.
Buckles and pins were a major way of telling who and where you were from. Some belt buckles even saved soldiers life's.
The Civil War divided many families, including the presidential one. Mary Todd Lincoln's father was actually a Confederate surgeon. A poor girl actually had a Confederate husband and a Union father. In some cases brothers were actually fighting brothers!
Both the North and South had reasons to start and end the war. Both sides had interesting demands from the other.
The pictures of all the men were only a few lost at Gettysburg. There were so many deaths throughout the war. All the numbers are staggering.
Amazingly only 1 civilian died at the Battle. Her name was Ginnie Wade. Her sister and niece lived in no mans land and she refused to leave them. She made it through a few days of battle, then while making bread was shot in the back.Civilians that lived in Gettysburg took up arms, too. An elderly man came and fought through the whole battle and sustained many wounds, yet kept fighting.
To be able to describe everything about Gettysburg is impossible, and being able to see this history was a once in a lifetime experience.
Hershey Factory!
Wow, is all I can saw about this place. It is literally a chocolate machine. The whole lower floor is covered with chocolates and even some flavors I had never even heard of. Reese's Hershey Kisses, I mean c'mon! We bought plenty of Christmas presents( wink, wink) and we also did a ride through a replica of their factory. Yes, the cow picture was part of the ride- " it's all about the milk!!!". They make 60,000,000 Kisses everyday! Everyday!
I was in the real version of Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, and trust me, I tried many little Kisses.
I was in the real version of Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, and trust me, I tried many little Kisses.
Friends and Football
Last Sunday I got to hang out with some family friends that I haven't seen in about 6 years. It was weird not being able to recognize the kids you played with in a pool when you were 9. I recognized only 1 person out of about 20.
We stayed in Boston and ate tons of burgers and chicken wings. We had about 20 people in a house, and it got pretty tight, but no one cared. We watched the Patriots lose, then said long goodbyes, because who knows when we will next see each other. For example Packy, a boy is is only a year older than me, is now over 6' feet tall. Talk about feeling like a midget.
Any who it was awesome to see everyone and catch up, and yes, to gawk at the differences in our appearances.
We stayed in Boston and ate tons of burgers and chicken wings. We had about 20 people in a house, and it got pretty tight, but no one cared. We watched the Patriots lose, then said long goodbyes, because who knows when we will next see each other. For example Packy, a boy is is only a year older than me, is now over 6' feet tall. Talk about feeling like a midget.
Any who it was awesome to see everyone and catch up, and yes, to gawk at the differences in our appearances.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Acadia National Park
One of my favorite places in all my travels!! Acadia is located on an island off the coast of Maine. The whole park is beautiful. The park has carriage, biking, and hiking trails. Their beaches are pristine and majestic. I absolutely love Thunder Hole! The wind wasn't right so the waves weren't huge, but just sitting and listening was a treat.
The Atlantic stretches on forever. The water is clear, and the waves and currents are stronger than any other I have every seen.You can see the bottom for about five feet then just a cliff into oblivion.
Maine and Acadia are like a home away from home for me. Who knows, I might just live in Ba Haba(New England way of saying Bar Harbor)ine day.
The Atlantic stretches on forever. The water is clear, and the waves and currents are stronger than any other I have every seen.You can see the bottom for about five feet then just a cliff into oblivion.
Maine and Acadia are like a home away from home for me. Who knows, I might just live in Ba Haba(New England way of saying Bar Harbor)ine day.
First Hockey Game
I attended my first hockey game in Augusta, Maine, and gosh was it cold!It was 29 degrees outside, and it was warmer outside than inside. Me being a dummy came in a light jacket and torn up jeans. Even the bleachers were made of metal!It is not a good thing when you can see your breath while indoors.
The game itself was fun. It is kinda like basketball. All if those boys are amazing! They can skate backwards, hit the puck, and take a shove and be able to pop right back up. The game is pretty rough though.
Really fun experience, and just a fun fact, they actually have hockey teams in Florida and Texas.
The game itself was fun. It is kinda like basketball. All if those boys are amazing! They can skate backwards, hit the puck, and take a shove and be able to pop right back up. The game is pretty rough though.
Really fun experience, and just a fun fact, they actually have hockey teams in Florida and Texas.
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