Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Little Tour of Washington, D.C......

(my daughter on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial "holding" the Washington Monument in her hands)


Last week my daughter, Mother and I went to Washington! My daughter was attending the Jr. National Young Leaders Conference. After a 4 a.m. ride to the airport and two hectic flights, I left my daughter at the airport with a few chaperone's & about 25 other kids who were patiently waiting for all attendees to arrive. Then my Mother and I headed out to our hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. I wouldn't see my daughter until 6 days later at the airport for our return flight home.


With daily text messages & phone calls to my daughter, I knew she was doing well so it was time for my Mom & I to do our own sight seeing. We had a little rental car equipped with a GPS. our saving grace! we put almost 500 miles on it! The traffic is horrific, the freeways confusing and that wasn't even the commute hour! It would take us 60 minutes to go 12 miles! But we were footloose & fancy free, no schedules - so we went where we wanted to go.

Washington Monument in the distance....

555 ft. tall...

On to the Lincoln Memorial....

Walking up the huge steps...look at how tiny the people are! It's massive!







If you read my last post as I talked about my "unsuitable California wardrobe"...well, I packed all my sweaters, turtlenecks & wool coat only to be hit with temps in the 70's! haaa! Locals kept telling us how lucky we were to have the nice weather when the previous week there had been snow. I just wish I had known beforehand - our typical California wear would have been way more appropriate! Instead I was doomed to carry around my wool jacket expecting freezing weather at any moment!


Oops! ..how did that get in here?


We took a tour of how the money is made but they wouldn't allow us to take pictures of the process...
Show me the Money!!!!


A side view of the Jefferson Memorial....



And the front steps....(can you see him standing in the background waiting?...)




You mean that's not a "monument"?....


But it certainly was a sight to see..a full warehouse of antiques!



Oh, looky here! The White House door bell.. "Ding Dong! We're here!" (ha! yeah right!)





Vietnam War Memorial...






Women's Memorial ...





Korean War Memorial....




The Capitol Building...




Oh? did you think I wouldn't go antiquing??


(In Fredericksburg, a whole block of antique shops and yes, we had tea & a slice of pie in the "Tea Room"!!)




Arlington Cemetery.....

Something like 27 funerals a day...


Kennedy's Eternal Flame....


The Changing of the Guard at the unclaimed soldiers graves...



The Amphitheater at the cemetery......





We saw 4 of the 19 Smithsonian Museums...(they say you can't see everything in all 19 museums in your lifetime!)


But this Lincoln exhibit was really memorable....




Creepy head masks from their hangings....


It really was an amazing trip. We walked our feet off. As for my daughter's experience. She would be taken on field trips during the day and classes at night, not getting back to her dorm room until 10:30 pm and would have to be up by 6:00 am ready to go the next morning - all with a 3 hour (plus one hour daylight savings) time change! I kept asking "did you take a shower yet?" because I couldn't figure when they would have time!


(my daughter in front of the Supreme Court...)



She really enjoyed the experience, seeing the sights, making new friends and learning about the ups & downs, good & bad choices of past leaders. Needless to say she slept the entire first flight home!

(The goodies I had to carry back on the plane!)
(Cups & Tray purchased separately)


(A little needlepoint pillow...)


My mother and I really enjoyed the trip as well. These are only a few of the 300+ pictures I had taken. Though I wouldn't consider it a "vacation" (i.e. no beach chairs & cocktails were involved on this trip!) it was very educational and awe-inspiring, I just wished I had paid better attention in history class when I was younger! ;) As for the boys left at home, they survived...but my house didn't! (my husband was so eager to point out that he did the laundry but he can't multitask so everything else - i.e. putting AWAY the laundry or the dishes, vacuuming didn't get done and I don't know what happened but I have the most mismatched sheets on my bed!?)... sigh... :)

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad you enjoyed visiting my "home" town ( I am about 20 minutes outside of the city)... I have never been antiquing in Fredericksburg but it looks as though you bought some really nice silver pieces. Have a great evening!

Tiffany

Laurie - Decorating Fanatic said...

Hi Tiffany! Yes, we had a wonderful time. I loved the style of homes out there. It's similar to what we have now but we are considered "rare" amongst all the stucco homes in CA. My mother kept saying that I am living on the wrong coast! We found many signs for antiques and I wish we could have visited them all! You should go visit that little town. Thanks for commenting. :) ~ Laurie

Unknown said...

Great trip. i loved you popping the Antique signs in there. LOL. mishelle

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Laurie...

Wow...what a trip and what an experience!!! I think that it's just awesome that your daughter was able to attend a Jr. Leadership Conference...you must be very proud of her! I'm sure that she will carry these memories through her entire lifetime!!!

It sounds like you and Mom had a wonderful time too! I have never been to Washington D.C. except to spend an hour on a flight layover. I would love to see some of the sights that you did...places that I've only seen in photos. I was especially interested in the Korean Memorial and Arlington's Ampitheatre because I don't ever recall ever seeing photos of those places...so interesting! Also, I didn't realize that there were 19 different Smithsonian Museums...WOW!!! I learn something new everyday! Thank you so much for sharing your trip and photos!!!

Hehe...loved how you squeezed in a few antique shops...and I love the treasure finds that you brought home with you...soooo beautiful!

Warmest wishes,
Chari

Suzann said...

This looks like a wonderful trip. Sorry about your house though.
I always say I wish I would have paid more attention in History Class.

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Wow, you really captured the heart of the city. My husband took me to DC 2 years ago (in March) and it is magnificent. You have done a fabulous job with your pics. Linda

Stacey said...

Looks like a great trip! The Korean War Memorial is eery looking. I've never been to Washington DC..I would love to!

Anonymous said...

Great post Laurie I feel like I was there with you...

We took our kids to Colonial Williamsburg and I know what you mean about paying closer attention in History class...

We've been to Washington DC but did more of a drive around, I have always wanted to get there for Cherry Blossom time....they say it's beautiful...

Glad you're home I bet...sounds like you all had a WONDERFUL time...

All the best,
Kathy :)

Brenda said...

Thank you for the awesome tour! It lookw like you had a great time! How fun! That is so neat you were able to do that with your daughter! I love it all, I would love to go there someday!
Cheers to Leadership!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

GM Ms. Gilroy...what a fun trip you had through our nation history...O h and the antiques shops...Girl I would of had a blst there..loved the Kennedy flame...and how sad to see Arlinton cemetery...and the Viet nam memorial wall..I am so glad your daughter had a great trip also it will be something she'll never forget.
Now about the house thingy is that not the truth your vacation ended the moment you walked into that house...vacation can be alot of work girl...glad you are safe and back home...have a great weekend dear friend...hugs and smiles your Uncle's neighbor...Gloria

Salmagundi said...

Your pictures are wonderful, as I'm sure the trip was also!! Glad you did a little antiquing - very nice silver. It will look wonderful in your house. Glad you are back. Sally

Donna Lynn said...

How exciting! It looks like you had a blast, what a blessing!
Happy Spring to you,
Donna Lynn

Susan @ The Good Life! said...

I love what you brought home! One of these days we'll get to DC! When the kids are older and understand better, I think! Hope you had a great trip and welcome back!

Melissa Miller said...

How awesome!

I can't believe all of the gorgeous pictures you took.
They are stunning! You are a wonderful photographer.

Thanks for your kind words tonight.
I really appreciate it.

Happy Spring!
~Melissa :)

nikkicrumpet said...

wow you guys sure packed a lot of stuff into your day. Washington is a really amazing place to visit. The Korean war memorial always gets my heart going...and the Vietnam memorial breaks my heart. It's a beautiful city with so much to see and do. I'm glad you all had such a wonderful time! And you brought back some gorgeous stuff!

Bo said...

Welcome back Laurie! Your photos & commentary were excellent and it looks like you & your mom covered a lot of territory during your time there. Your daughter is beautiful by the way! Your cups & tray are magnificent & they'll look right at home in your house!
This was a wonderful post! ;-) Bo

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Laurie, this just looks like a wonderful trip. Your pictures are so great! Your daughter is a doll. I'm so glad her big trip without mom was such a good experience for her! You brought back some wonderful treasures. Glad you're home safe, and I hope your home is back in order now. (Men!) laurie

niartist said...

What a great little tour of DC Laurie! Loved it, and I'm sure you loved being there too! What a great place, huh? Thanks for stopping by the blog today - I think Im going to go with the poster in the middle, and yes - hopefully soon I'll be able to work on that patio area in the back. I'm taking the day off tomorrow, and Scott will be home from work, so I might just head out there in the morning and see how far I can get til' noon. I had promised my brother I'd take him over to Canada to see Niagara Falls from that point of view, and to see Clifton Hill. I'll be so glad when things start getting done! LOL!

kari and kijsa said...

What an amazing trip!! And so fun to share with your mom and daughter!
blessings,
kari & kijsa

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi,Laurie, thank you for stopping by! I remember seeing your house on RMS with all the other now bloggers. It is just beautiful, so I can see how you would love toile too. I would like to use it again in a bathroom, maybe one of these days.

Lisa said...

What an awesome experience for you and your daughter! A trip neither one of you is soon to forget.

Cynthia said...

What an awesome trip! Thanks for sharing all the photos. I hope your daughter loved her experience.

My sister is the District Director for a US Congressman. If I can ever find a way to get back to DC while she's there, I'll be able to get a VIP tour of the Capitol building. I HOPE I get that chance!

Rue said...

Hi Laurie :)

I love visiting DC. Isn't it just wonderful?! I loved all the pictures, especially of the Lincoln museum, because I haven't had a chance to go there.

It sounds like you had a great time :)

rue

Linda Q said...

Just back tracking a bit to catch up on some favorite folks blogs.
Wow, what an amazing trip, so interesting. Thanks for sharing some of the photos, I would really like to see DC one day. Real memory for your daughter I bet. She is a cutie!
I enjoyed your trip and glad to see you are a girl after my own heart and got the antiquing in, lol!!
Linda

Stacey said...

Laurie, I've been missing your blog posts! Hope you and you family are doing well.

Glenda said...

Laurie.........

When are you going to POST again ??????

Ciao

Anonymous said...

Miss you hope everthing is okay ??

I also hope you and your lovely family had a nice Easter....

All the best,
Kathy :)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Laurie, just stopping by to tell you that I miss you, and I hope everything is ok with you and your family. the other laurie

Sydney jobs said...

Ooops! I think I saw some of these pictures in a movie.. If I am not mistaken it's "Night of the Museum".

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Good morning Ms. Gilroy...Girl I hope you and your family is doing great this year...I have missed seeing you out and about...Many Blessings to you my Dear friend...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

kanishk said...

it looks as though you bought some really nice silver pieces. Have a great evening!

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prashant said...

We found many signs for antiques and I wish we could have visited them all! You should go visit that little town.
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Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Hello! I just came across your blog and I just absolutely love it! All of your pictures are so lovely. The photos of your home are so warm and inviting. I am a newbie to the blogging world and your newest follower. I hope you will follow back. Many blessings to you!!!

Unknown said...

memorable trip...
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