It's still April so you know what that means.
It means if you are here looking for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge questions you must first read the A-Z blog challenge letter of the day entry.
You'll find the hodgepodge questions at the end.
You aren't planning to skip the letter of the day portion of this post, are you?
I thought not.
V is for Virginia
More specifically Williamsburg but I have something else in mind for the letter W. I ran across some photos from a trip we took to Williamsburg way back when and they were too cute not to include here somewhere. I've just spent a weekend with my girls and they are not so different today from the sweet things in these photos. Plus, my blog brain is a little bit tired after all the weekend sugar fun and since I have a few more letters to get through and the Hodgepodge to complete I figure cute will have to do.
We write what we know and sometimes we assume everyone reading has a reference point from which to picture our words. That isn't always the case. If you live west of the Mississippi or outside the US then you may never get to see Williamsburg Virginia or have any idea what would make it a trip worthy destination. I've written alot about how much history is tucked into every village in the UK but America is not without its own amazing story and Virigina is a big part of that tale.
In 1607 the Jamestown Settlement was established by some English colonists on the Virginia peninsula.The very first meeting of a representative government group in the colonies was held at the Jamestown Settlement. I know my husband is smiling as he reads this because daughter1 and a friend had an assignment in grade 5 to create a model of the Jamestown Settlement and let's just say that when the final grade came home hubs wanted to know if he'd gotten an A. It is possible the two dads may have gotten just a teensy bit too involved with this particular school assignment. ahem.
Moving on...more settlements popped up along the James River and eventually a spot known as Middle Plantation was established on higher ground between the James and York Rivers. Jamestown kept burning so eventually the capital was moved to Middle Plantation. Okay so I may have omitted some details but that's my own Cliffs notes version of Virginia history. The college of William and Mary was established beside Middle Plantation and did you know Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall are both graduates of this school? Middle Plantation was eventually renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III and it wasn't until sometime during the Revolutionary war that the capital was moved to Richmond.
We lived in Richmond for a few years. That's another town packed with charm and history and worth a visit if you're interested in taking a colonial trail tour.
You do stop here for travel tips don't you?
Anyway, back to Colonial Williamsburg...the town is considered an interpretation of a colonial city with some buildings being original and others being reconstructed copies. Interpreters work, dress, and talk as they did in colonial times. My girls were a bit obsessed with costumes and the 'olden days' when they were young and they absolutely loved our visit to Colonial Williamsburg.
Pretty sure whenever you see stocks you have to put yourself inside and take a photo.
We bought the girls hats and rented dresses for the day.
Be still my heart.
That's a colonial expression isn't it?
It's still useful.
It must have been 105 degrees in the shade so they definitely got a feel for the pre-ac days of the 1600's...
When I see something like this I'm so grateful I live in the 21st century.
I'm not sure I was cut out to be a colonist.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was on a tour with a group of American Women in the UK and our guide referred to Americans as 'the colonists'?
I think he was kidding.
People working in the town who are in costume spoke to the girls as if they were actually living there in colonial times and they loved that. If your girls are into the American Girl Dolls there is a Felicity tour around Williamsburg that might be fun. And because kids sometimes need to mix the educational stuff with the just plain fun stuff Water Country USA is just down the road and its awesome.
Several commenters have asked how we get so many family photos of all of us together when we travel and btw that is not hubs and I in costume in that last picture. I think hubs will want me to make that point clear. Anyway, a few people want to know who takes all the pictures. It helps a lot that hubs is not shy and has never met a stranger. We usually try to swap picture taking duties with other travelers...you know, I'll take your picture if you'll take ours.
This works well most of the time but I can't say it works all of the time. We asked a young man to take our picture in front of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.
Here is the photo-
I know the palace is around there somewhere.
And now, back to present day and the questions for this week's Hodgepodge.
See you back here tomorrow (Wednesday) to link our answers-
1. What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly?
2. What is one of your best childhood memories?
3. Do you plan to watch the Royal Wedding and when was the last time you wore a hat?
4. Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Do you think this has influenced your personality?
5. Where do you think you spend most of your money?
6. When you need to confront someone would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by email or by letter? Why?
7. Dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope? You have to pick one.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
