« Who Am I? | Main | What Ernesto Left Behind »
August 28, 2006
Picnic on the Potomac
I drug everyone off with me Saturday to Mount Vernon in Fairfax Co., Va. About a 45 minute to an hour drive from our house.
I packed a picnic supper for us to have later in the day. I packed a cooler of drinks. I packed the diaper bag for the baby. There was nothing anyone had to do at any time in the day. It was for once a truely 'free' day.
I loved seeing everything there was to see. The house, the outbuildings, the gardens, the farm, the wharf, the washington's tombs, the view of the river. Everything was just as I expected and wanted it to be. Except -
To my huge disappointment everything was "General Washington this" and "General Washington that" so much so that only at one point was Patsy Washington mentioned and she wasn't mentioned in a nice way. The historic interpretors only mentioned her contribution to the plantation as the decorations in their personal bedroom suite -and not in a nice way. (FYI - The Washington's bedroom is the most lovely in the house. Cool white walls, pale blue trims, beautiful flowing white bed curtains and linens, the seats of chairs covered and the furniture polished.)
I found it offensive that no one thought to mention that George had little personal wealth. It is because Martha married him that he came into the money (her money) to restore and build Mount Vernon into what it was in his life.
Martha had great wealth and no need to marry again. She chose to marry him and in his personal writings he is always concerned with her choices and wishes when things were selected for their home.
Now for the times, I am sure Martha would have never wanted the spotlight on herself. She would have stood back and let George shine -as she did all the time. In interpreting history there is a responsibility to tell a story as truthfully and completely as possible. At Mount Vernon no one seemed interested in telling the part of the story that was Martha (Patsy).
I had a long discussion with Steve as we walked the grounds. We discussed many facets of her life and what it must have been like to live at Mount Vernon. The day grew late and Steven woke from his nap. He needed to nurse. I headed to a bench far from the foot traffic, tucked inot the wall near the upper gardens. Down at the entrance to the garden sat a woman in period dress. No one approached her. Steve struck up a conversation. Finally someone wanted to talk about Patsy Washington. The living history interpretor did a beautiful job in character and it was the highlight of our visit.
We chose a spot along the Potomac River north of Mount Vernon, south of Alexandria and had a wonderful picnic supper. The wind blew off the river and smelled of salt and the sea. Gracie loved it and stood with the force of the wind on her face and inhaled deeply trying to save the scent for some memory to be tucked away. Steven laughed and squealed. Colby was smiling and happy. Steve was relaxed.
We supped on cold fried chicken, cheeses, fruits, breads, sweets and many drinks.
I had a wonderful Saturday with my husband and children.
How was your weekend?
Posted by Angie at August 28, 2006 07:37 AM
Comments
Yours sounds more relaxing than mine! I painted and taped. Or taped and painted rather. And we're almost done.
Posted by: InterstellarLass at August 28, 2006 03:05 PM
I love the pictures in the last post and I'm disappointed too that Mt. Vernon doesn't talk more about Martha.
Posted by: liz at August 28, 2006 03:45 PM
Yours sounded wonderful, and one I would like to sopy some day. Now that my baby is back in No. VA, that is possible. To know what I did on the weekend, read my last 4 posts! I worked, and worked very hard.
Posted by: kenju at August 28, 2006 06:56 PM
Yours sounded wonderful, and one I would like to copy some day. Now that my baby is back in No. VA, that is possible. To know what I did on the weekend, read my last 4 posts! I worked, and worked very hard.
Posted by: kenju at August 28, 2006 06:57 PM
I do havev a cookbook called something like (it's up in the library and I'm down here) Martha Washington's Book of Cookery.
It's fabulous.
She was famous in the world of culinary historians for a cake that she made.
Let me know if you should like the recipe.
Posted by: jo at August 28, 2006 07:38 PM
Beautiful! What a perfect day. Perhaps I should try to pack one of these in before it gets too cold.
Thanks for the inspiration, Angie.
Posted by: halloweenlover at August 28, 2006 07:54 PM
It sounds like a perfect day-
I guess back then, us woman just didn't count for much- what kinda crap is that-huh! She was remarkable.
Your childern are beautiful, by the way:)
Posted by: momslo at August 29, 2006 07:54 PM
Sounds wonderful!
Posted by: Jennifer at August 31, 2006 09:50 PM
Angie,
What a wonderful family you have.We took my baby niece to Cabin John Park and had a picnic and it was a lot of fun. I love how Colby seems to enjoy the little ones. Gracie seems wise beyond her years. I think it is vital to have days where you do not do much of anything but enjoy the weather and each other.
Posted by: the bee at September 3, 2006 12:42 AM
Sounds like a perfect day. I'm going to have to get my rear out there and see these wonders while I can still drag the children with me. :-)
Have a good week!
Posted by: LadyBug Crossing at September 4, 2006 09:57 AM