Tagged With: American history
Basket of deplorables
Voltaire is credited with saying “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” From what I know of our Founding Fathers, many of them could have been and probably were influenced by Voltaire and certainly were influenced by other gentlemen of noble ideas. The rebel … Continue reading
The Ferris-Haggarty Mine
Last Sunday, I got to go to one of my favorite places in the world – the ghost town of Dillon and the Ferris-Haggarty Mine. If you’ve looked at the pictures in my gallery on this website, or if you’ve read Mountain Time and/or Peaks and Valleys (which I hope you have!), then you know … Continue reading
Friendship
Friendship is an odd phenomenon. My friend Terrie Ann and I have been friends since we were in first grade together. In the years since we graduated from high school, we hardly ever talk and rarely see each other. We keep contact enough, though, through the years so that I still consider her dear. I … Continue reading
Imaginary Friends
When I was very little, I had two imaginary friends. Their names were Georgie and Boo-Boo, and according to the stories my two older sisters tell, my two friends and I were the source of a great deal of aggravation and embarrassment. It seems I insisted on talking to them, holding doors and waiting for … Continue reading
Home again.
I arrived back on my island home from Mount Vernon on Monday – more about that in a minute. I loved being at Mount Vernon, and I have some great ideas of lesson plans I want to do with my kids this year. I don’t think we spend enough time (I know I never have!) … Continue reading
Mount Vernon Day Four
When I first began this journey towards being a history geek four years ago, I knew very little about George Washington. In the first book I read about him and his role in the French and Indian War, I was not impressed. At first glance, he seemed arrogant and aloof, and I didn’t get what … Continue reading
Mount Vernon Day 3
First off, If you’ve read my Day 1 post, I need to correct a mistake – those were not hawks, they were river hawks, also knows as ospreys. They are actually really interesting birds – they are the only bird of prey to live solely on fish! If you ever come to Mount Vernon, you … Continue reading
Mount Vernon Day Two
This has been a long, wonderful day. I got up at 5 am so that I could watch the sunrise over the Potomac from the piazza of the mansion. It wasn’t a spectacular sunrise, but it was enough. This afternoon we took a tour of the farming part of the estate. Washington was an innovator … Continue reading
Mount Vernon, Virginia – Day One
As you know, during the last three summers I spent time studying American History on trips with a group of teachers involved with the Teaching American History grant. I didn’t think that I was going to succumb to my inner geek this summer when we decided that we were going to St. Croix, but then … Continue reading
Day Ten – one last thing before we go home
Our last day – we fly out this afternoon. We couldn’t waste the morning, though, so we trekked off to explore and discover Ford’s Theater and the Peterson House and Museum across the street. Since Lincoln has always been a hero to me, it was a super morning, though sad and speculative. I wonder how … Continue reading
