Our Last Week in Virginia - Connecting With Friends, Capitol Visit, George Washington Birthplace

On on way back from the Show Hope weekend, we stopped for the night in Lexington, VA and had a wonderful visit the next day with a dear family friend, Marje, who we had not seen in many years.   It was a beautiful day, so we met up at a park and she made us a lovely picnic lunch!  It was great to connect after so many years!

While we were in Lexington, we stopped by a few historic sites that Marje recommended to us. First, we visited Stonewall Jackson's gravesite.

Then we noticed something very strange...there were several lemons thrown on the ground by his monument.  We found out that people honor his memory by leaving lemons.  Jackson often ate lemons, supposedly because it helped with digestive issues he had.  Interesting!

Next, we stopped by Washington & Lee University to see Robert E. Lee's burial site.  We also found the gravesite of Traveller, Lee's horse!

After we left Lexington, we drove to Williamsburg to pick up our RV from storage.  Then we headed up north towards Richmond, for another capitol visit!  Virginia's first capital was Jamestown from 1619 until 1699, and then it relocated to Williamsburg.  After the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson suggested the capitol be moved to Richmond.

Thomas Jefferson, along with a French architect, designed this capitol building and modeled it after an ancient Roman temple.  He wanted the outside columns and the building to be constructed in marble, but apparently the planner tried to save some time and money, so instead of marble, they used red brick.  Jefferson was overseas during construction of the capitol and when he returned to find a red brick building, he was not happy!!! So- he told them to cover it in stucco and paint everything white.  From a distance, you would never know it is not marble!

During our last week in Virginia, we also stopped by George Washington's birthplace.  He was born at Popes Creek in 1732 and lived here with his family until they moved to another farm near Fredricksburg when he was 3 years old.  Based on archeological findings, they have discovered the locations of many of the original buildings on the Washington farm.

The boys walked the path outlining the foundation of Washington's boyhood home...

We also observed a demonstration of how they would yoke oxen on the farm many years ago...

It looks like the ox is saying hello:)

There is a smaller version of the Washington Monument located at this park as well...

We also had the opportunity to meet up with some dear friends from Texas, The Inmans!! (We missed you Steve!)  We have known the Inmans for many years...Charlene and Steve were in our wedding almost 15 years ago.  They were visiting family just a few hours away from where we were staying, so we just had to meet up!!

The kids had a great time playing, laughing, eating ice cream and climbing trees at a nearby park after lunch.  Charlene and I enjoyed some girl time too! The visit was too short, but we were so happy to have had the chance to see them!

After Virginia, we drove to Delaware, to spend a week with family!

Blessings to you and yours,

Jill and the boys:)