It has certainly been the summer of family and friends! Dave's parents made the cross country trip out to Virginia from southern California to spend several days with us. It has been a while since they visited and it was wonderful to see them again. Unfortunately, Dave was not very good at remembering to take the camera along on their outings....and when he did....he was not very good at remembering to take pictures. So...I don't have many to share but believe me...their trip not only touched upon ALL things Virginian but was lots of fun.
Since I had to work, Dave played host the whole time and took them on the grand tour of Virginia. On Thursday, they went on a tour of Richmond. Dave drove them past the Edgar Allen Poe house, took them into the Capitol and had them stand where Robert E. Lee vowed his allegiance to Virginia and the Confederacy, stopped at the Tredegar Musuem and walked them across to Belle Island.
On Friday, the trio toured the Civil War Battlefield sites in and around Richmond. He took them to Cold Harbor and then on to the Petersburg Battlefield where they spent most of the day. Fortunately, both of these are driving tours as it was awfully hot while they were here. We love visitors and will take them whenever we can get them but July is just asking for punishment! Fortunately however, they came a week before it REALLY got hot. The very next weekend we had regular temps of 109 and heat index of 116. And here I thought I had left Phoenix!! :-)
Saturday finally allowed me to join in on the grand tour of central and northern Virginia! Dave and I decided to take his parents to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. It is one of our favorite places and is something that every American should visit and tour at some point. It was a beautiful and HUMID day out on the banks of the Potomac but it was a great day! We toured the house sat out on the porch, paid homage at his crypt, and meandered through his amazing garden!
Here are his parents in front of the house.
And here is the picture that most people are familiar with. It really is a beautiful house on a beautiful plot of land!
On Sunday, we all went to church and then, while Dave was doing the second Mass, his parents and I went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Again....very hot and humid....but those FLOWERS just loved it!!!! The garden is Dave's favorite place in the city and even on an uncomfortable day...it is easy to see why!
After Dave came home, we went to Agecroft Hall and took the tour of the house and grounds. And for those who have missed previous posts...this house was standing IN England at the time of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I. In the early 20th century, it was in such disrepair that it was about to be torn down when a very wealthy man from Richmond bought it and brought it over piece by piece and rebuilt 1/3 of it here on the banks of the James River. I LOVE this house!
On Monday, Dave and his parents drove down the peninsula and walked around Williamsburg and drove through Yorktown. The breadth of history in one weekend is almost breathtaking. Pre-Elizabethan history to Colonial America to French and Indian War to Revolutionary War to the beginning of the Confederacy to the Civil War to Modern Day Richmond. All in one state! It is no Europe...but it will do! :-)
On top of the great activities and good company, a visit to the Pedersens is not complete without good food which we had in abundance. And NO trip to Richmond is complete without a stop at Bottom's Up Pizza! :-) Sadly...it was just too darn hot to sit outside so we had to suffice with hearing the trains go right over our heads instead of seeing them and being right next to them.
It was a wonderful visit from his parents and we are so happy that they came. We wish we could have ordered cooler weather but...it was July so there's not much we can do about that. Maybe next time.
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