Back Home Again in Indiana

Note: Sunshine at And the Pursuit of Happiness is having a contest for a free fabulous garment from Sunshine's Designs. To enter the contest, you need to leave her a comment on her June 29th entry by Monday, July 2nd. Hurry over to read the entry and to enter the contest.

Daddy D and I have arrived home after a quick trip to the east coast. Before our trip began, we had three goals in mind, to visit Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, to go to the Mariner's Museum to learn more about the Monitor and the Merrimack, and to see the place where the Wright Brothers successfully invented and flew the first airplane.

After seeing these three historic sites, Daddy D commented that we had experienced three different eras of history. Monticello was built during revolutionary times and in the early days of United States history. The Monitor and Merrimack, were ironclad ships of the Civil War. The Wright Brothers flew made their historic flight at the beginning of the twentieth century.

You might wonder why we chose to visit those specific sites with so many other places to choose. In addition to being of important historical significance, each of those sites are of scientific importance. Thomas Jefferson , in addition to being a prominent statesman, was a scientist. According to the Monticello tour guide, Jefferson was the nation's first meteorologist, with a keen interest in weather. Furthermore, he owned a number of interesting gadgets including a polygraph, a machine that made copies as he wrote letters and other documents. These pictures show a wind vane at Jefferson's home. He had a traditional wind vane on the roof with the directional compass attached to the wind vane on the ceiling beneath the vane.

We loved this history and science oriented vacation, but we like trips to state and national parks as well. One summer we were fortunate to stay at all of the state parks with lodges in the state of Indiana. On these trips, we hiked, and I photographed wildflowers.

What is your favorite kind of vacation? Do you enjoy visiting monuments? Do you prefer an action-packed vacation of whitewater rafting or skiing? Would you rather lay out at the beach and soak in some rays while listening to the gentle swish-swishing of the waves? Or would you rather head to New York, London, or Sydney for days of shopping and nights of theater and fine dining?

Picture Postcard - Currituck Lighthouse

Hi,

Tonight may be our last night away from home. After much discussion about which route to travel, Daddy D and I have started our trip home. We finally decided to travel through Virginia instead of North Carolina. Currently, we are in Beckley, West Virginia deciding whether to return home through Kentucky, or to go through Ohio to Indiana. Either way, we will be home by the end of the week.

Looking back on these few days, we have had grand although quick vacation. One on our stops on the Outer Banks was the Currituck Lighthouse. This brick lighthouse stands majestically on the northern part of the Outer Banks.

Take care,

MJD

Picture Postcard - Wright Brothers National Museum

Hello Dear Friends,

Arriving in North Carolina yesterday was somewhat tedious as the traffic from Virginia was horrendous. However, after a good night's rest, Daddy D and I were refreshed for our visit to the Outer Banks. We began the events of the day with a visit to The Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the two brothers made their historic flight.

We have had a fine time on our trip; however, tomorrow, we need to begin the journey back to Indiana.

Take care,

MJD

Picture Postcard - The Mariner's Museum

Hello,

After visiting the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia today, we traveled to our motel in Plymouth, North Carolina. One of the highlights at the Mariner's Museum is the replica of the Monitor and the actual raised turret of the ironclad ship. Tomorrow, we are off to visit Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright Brothers experienced their first successful flight.

We are having wonderful time and wish you were here to join in the fun.

Take care,

MJD

Picture Postcard - Monticello

Hi,

Daddy D and I are having a wonderful time on our vacation. Yesterday, we visited Monticello, home to Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was quite a fascinating fellow. Viriginia is a beautiful state. Today, we are off to see the Monitor in Newport News.

I wish you were here.

Take care,

MJD

Fun Monday - Oh, No, I am naked...

For this Fun Monday challenge, and I do mean challenge, Swampwitch of Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes has asked to see bookshelves and where we put things out-of-sight when company comes.

For me this Fun Monday exercise is the most intimidating because Swampy has asked to see what we normally hide. So with great fear and trepidation, I will show some of our bookcases and my hide-stuff-from-the-guests places. I have decided on an abbreviated version of this Fun Monday for a few reasons. The main reason is that we are currently on vacation in Virginia. Second, if you have seen one of our bookcases, you have seen them all. Third, the same is true of our messes. If you have seen one mess, you have seen them all .

This is our living room bookcase. The furniture is Ethan Allen that belonged to my parents.

The door in the left of the picture opens to a closet where I store bedding for our fold-out couch, and the top shelf has cleaners and poisons hidden from guests and small children.
There is another closet in the living room that holds coats, games, a vacuum cleaner, photos, and old vinyl records.
Moving on to our basement, which is partially finished, meaning that there is wood paneling on the walls, and the concrete floor is uncovered. Our basement houses a variety of things including the washer and dryer. When our sons were young, we used part of the basement as a family room. As they grew to adulthood and moved out of the house, we turned one bedroom into a family room, and the other bedroom is our computer room. The basement became a room for storing stuff. You undoubtedly notice the cheerful Christmas stockings decorating this bookcase. You may be thinking, "Oh, this picture was taken at Christmas." Nope, the picture was taken last week in preparation for Fun Monday.

Do NOT be frightened for what you are about to see.

If you turn 90 degrees to the right, you will see this horrific mess. Before you think that I am a horrible slob, which is probably true, there are reasons (excuses) that the basement is so messy. One is that the basement leaks or seeps water when we have torrential downpours, which happens about once a year. Thus, things are quickly moved off the floor during storms. Another reason is that the basement is storing a few things for other family members. The third reason is that some of the mess comes from stacks of clothing and coats that are waiting to washed for two giveaways at our church. So there is a glimpse into my methods of storing stuff. As you can see, I am more like Ambrose Monk than his brother Adrian Monk. Ambrose stores all kinds of valuables or most would call it crap. Visit Swampwitch to see how other people display what they want people to see...and what they do with the other junk.

On Vacation

Daddy D and I will be leaving soon for a vacation in Virginia. This is a vacation that we have been postponing for a few years. You maybe asking yourself, "Why in the world would these folks postpone vacations for years?" Or maybe, you might say, "Why in Sam Hill would these guys put-off vacations at all?" Or maybe, You might say... Oops sorry, I am getting carried away with another train of thought.

Daddy D and I do go on day trips and weekend excursions as well occasional educational conferences, but sometimes the big trip alludes us. In fact one vacation , we actually postponed for 30 some years. In 1970, we vacationed in the Upper Penisula of Michigan. That year, at Whitefish Point, which is on the shores of the deep blue Lake Superior, we vowed to return within in a few years. The few years ended up being 35 years later. Do not be sad for us. When we did return, we had a wonderful time and stayed in Bed and Breakfast Lighthouse Quarters right on Whitefish Point. Here are a few pictures of the trip to the UP, then I need to pack. We are going to Virginia, and then on to the Outer Banks Swampwitch of Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes is hosting the next Fun Monday for June 25th. Here is her challenge : Post pictures of your BOOK shelves (other shelves are welcome too: toy shelves, collection shelves, any shelves) AND post pictures of the inside of your garage or any place where you lock the door when company comes so they can't see the clutter. Rule: Don't clean it up first. If this intrigues you, visit Swampy, and sign-up for the next Fun Monday.