Hootie Blog

Last day in DC

Okay, I've got some catching up to do. We've been to the National Archive, seen the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Etc.  Incredible.  The archives has alot of other really cool exhibits. 

We had lunch at the air and space museum, where I left Ian and Harold, and I   walked across the mall to the National Art Gallery.  Who made the better choice of museums?  Depends on taste.

I saw the only DaVinci painting in America, my favorite impressionist, Monet.  I saw Degas, Renoir, Mary Casset.  There were 16th century classics from Titian and Boticelli.  Wow.  And these are the real thing.  Okay, so the Spirit of St.Louis was cool too, but I liked my museum way better.

Washington DC

Friday morning we drove the Jeep out near Dulles Airport to the new Air and Space Museum Steven Udvar-Hazy Center.  This is a new Smithsonian facility, a huge hanger, where they are displaying a large portion of their aircraft collection   It was very cool, especially for Ian and Harold.  All the aircraft are the actual thing.  They had an SR-71(?) Blackbird, the space shuttle Enterprise (this one was used as a test craft for landings and other testing and never went into outer space), an Air France Concorde, a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft, and lots more.  What I thought most interesting was the B-29, Enola Gay.  We were able to look through the cockpit into the cargo area that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.  Wow.

Friday evening we scheduled a bus tour of Washington DC at night.  This is a great tour, because they show you alot of the monuments and important stuff, lit up.  The outskirts of DC isn't a really great place to get lost in after dark, so this is a good way to do it.  Ian was the photographer for most of the evening, so check out his great pictures.  (he was also the primary photographer at the air and space museum)

I'm not sure what we are doing today (Saturday), but I'd better finish posting these pictures (it takes forever) and wake up the guys.

Monticello

On Wednesday, we left Hartsville and drove north through North Carolina and into Virginia.  We camped at a beautiful KOA in Charlottesville.  The woods were too thick for the satellite to work, but watching the fireflies kept, even Harold, entertained. 

Thursday morning we left to go to Monticello, the beautiful home of Thomas Jefferson.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, so I can't share that with you, but it was very interesting.  Jefferson was not only a politician, but his primary interest was science.  His home is filled with his unique inventions.

Thursday afternoon found us moving down the highway into Washington DC and Marylandi  We set up at our campground, Cherry Hill, and I finally caught up on the accumulating laundry.

Hartsville

While in Hartsville, we went to visit Dad's friends Bob and Marcie.  Ian had stayed with them before and I'm not sure who he was happier to see, the Parnells or their golf cart, Killer, we had a great visit.  Bob and Marcie were really nice and very funny.

We also went to Charlotte, to visit BSR.  We saw Butch, Wes and a bunch of others. 

The countryside is so pretty.  We shopped at a peach farm, toured town and of course, ate grits.

South Carolina Hospitality

We're here!  Arrived in Hartville, South Carolina on Sunday at about 5:00.  It is very beautiful here.   Lots of woods and Ian  is on the lookout for Big Foot.   He tells us he is a "believer".

Dad and Linda's house is gorgeous.  Lots of beautiful columns and crown moulding.  Decorated to the hilt, it looks like a magazine spread.  We met some of the neighbors and everyone you pass waves.  Well, almost everyone waves.

Today we are going to Charlotte  and tomorrows plans include Myrtle Beach. 

Diaper Cake

This is a diaper cake I made for Harolds great neice, baby Lily.

Recently Heidi sent me an email about diaper cakes, saying someone is going to make alot of money on these, it should have been you.  Concidentally, the next day, I received a sale flyer from one of my suppliers on the cutest baby things.  Needless to say, I was meant to make diaper cakes.  About $350 dollars worth of (wholesale) baby things later, you can call Embroidery In Motion, for all your baby gift needs.  Our cakes (gifts) are personalized and very cute. 

Note - picture is sideways.  sorry.

Download OnTheRoad.jpg Overnight in Oklahoma

On the road again ...

Greetings from Sallisaw Oklahoma!  After two days of highways, countless dead armadillos and 1600 miles, we are still somewhere in America.

Thursday was uneventful until we were about to Winslow Arizona, that's when we heard our neighborhood was on fire.  Knowing Melissa, Liz and Andres were on fire duty, we travelled on.  Fortunately the fire is out and Buster, our house, and neighborhood is safe.  We did see our neighbors on the news.