Mount Vernon, Virginia
I love the gardens at Mount Vernon and I love butterflies, so it was a perfect day of both!
Category: STATES Thru My Eyes
Sunflowers
Mount Vernon, Virginia
Harvest time is close with these Sunflowers full of sunflower seeds. I love the color and look of sunflowers! Did you know that Sunflowers follow the sun? Their petals are designed to absorb as much sun as possible and they swivel to reach the best sunlight. In Italy they are called Girasole which literally means turn the sun, meaning they turn and follow the sun. FUN!!
Potomac River
Mount Vernon, VirginiaWashington Estate
Tomb of Washington
Mount Vernon, VirginiaGeorge & Martha Washington
Home of George & Martha
Mount Vernon, Virginia
Mount Vernon was the home of George & Martha Washington. President Washington lived there until his death in 1799. During his days as General, Martha would spend time with her husband during the winters, the months when there was no fighting because of the harsh winters and then she would return to Mount Vernon. She lived at Mount Vernon until her death in 1802.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Virginia
George Washington inherited Mount Vernon in 1754 and it became a refuge for him during the wars he battled and throughout his Presidency. I find a beautiful spirit of peace whenever I walk thru the estate so, once again I walked his walk ways, gardens and fields, feeling the past so near yet so far away.
Mountain?
Baltimore, Maryland
We were driving along the freeway as the sun was setting over Baltimore. I grabbed my camera and took this photo with the setting sun behind a mountain, or is it? I showed it to our son, Benjamin and he knew right away what it was, because he knows there are no mountains in Baltimore. What is it? Well, it is a type of mountain, a mountain of salt ready for the winter.
Cheesesteak Sandwich My Style
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A cheesesteak sandwich is made from thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll. The cheesesteak is one of the favorite foods of Philadelphia. It can be found in most parts of the United States and is called a “Philadelphia” or “Philly Cheesesteak”. Now, when you are a vegetarian or vegan, this sandwich doesn’t work…however, I was delighted to find veggie cheesesteak sandwiches around Philadelphia and they were delicious! On this one they added mushrooms to the spinach, onions, green peppers & marinara sauce. The other day I had one with portobello mushrooms on it. Just take off the cheese and it’s vegan, yummy!
Tomb of Benjamin Franklin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Across the top of Benjamin Franklin’s tomb people drop penny’s for good luck and in remembrance of his sage advice; ‘A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED’. His tomb is very simple, just as he requested, with his wife buried next to him. Near by on a wall are some words that the young Benjamin Franklin wrote, never intending them to be used;
The Body of B. Franklin, Printer, ~ Like the Cover of an old Book, ~ Its contents torn out, ~ And stript of its Lettering & Guilding, ~ Lies here, Food for Worms. ~ But the Work shall not be lost, ~ For it will, as he believed ~ appear once more ~ In a new & more perfect Edition ~ Corrected and improved ~ By the Author.
Independence Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One of the nice things about Philadelphia is that all or most of the historical things are within walking distance, so after a great walk & seeing some really cool places, it was time for a sit, so I put my feet out and RELAXED! As I did this I thought of freedom and my gratitude to all those who went before and gave so much!! In 1776 Benjamin Franklin said, when referring to being unanimous in signing The Declaration of Independence, ‘we must hang together, or we will be pretty sure to hang separately.’
Liberty Bell
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I always enjoy going to the Liberty Bell when we are in Philadelphia, is symbolizes America’s Independence. It was made in 1752 and was originally placed in the steeple of what we now know as Independence Hall which you can see in the background, and was cast with the lettering “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”. It first cracked when rung after its arrival in Philadelphia and the crack grew over the years. In the 1830s, the bell was adopted as a symbol by abolitionists, who called it the “Liberty Bell.”
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Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIndependence Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We went on a tour of Independence Hall with a very enthusiastic tour guide. I learned some new facts and was reminded of some old ones, namely, that Independence Hall is where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted, so in other words, it is where the United States of America was born. It was completed in 1753 and was the Capital of the United States off and on from 1776 – 1800. It is now a part of Independence National Historical Park and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Bumble Bee & Flowers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
While visiting the Benjamin Franklin Museum, we went outside where they have a structure that shows where Benjamin’s house once stood. There in the area that would have been the courtyard are some beautiful flowers. As I was taking photos of them, a Bumble Bee came by and enjoyed the different and very colorful flowers.
Remembering Benjamin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
These structures were put up to help us see where Benjamin Franklin’s house once stood as well as his printing shop. Below where I am sitting is the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
I had to sit and RELAX for a while, to take it all in, as I realized what a giant of a man he was!
Benjamin Franklin’s Neighborhood
Philadelpiha, PennsylvaniaBenjamin Franklin’s Neighborhood
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I found the prefect place to put my feet up and RELAX in the neighborhood where Benjamin Franklin once lived. I asked my son; if Benjamin Franklin was alive today would he be a printer, an inventor, a developer, a statesman, a politician, what would he be? It’s a good question, because he was all of the above in the 1700’s and more.
Cabins at Valley Forge
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
From December 19, 1777 – June 18, 1778, General George Washington and his troops stayed at Valley Forge, which today, is a large national park preserved for our enjoyment. Reconstructed structures such as theses cabins and other buildings as well as statues remind us of that devastation winter that created the soldiers General George Washington needed to defeat the British.
