Technical Difficulties

Sorry to inform you all, but we are experiencing minor technical difficulties :-(. It appears we have over used our picture posting ability on our blog site, so we are working feverishly to try to remedy this unfortunate situation. I do think it will be resolved within the next day or two and I apologize for this delay. We are currently parked in Womatuck State Park, about 25ish miles outside of Boston, in a quaint little town called Hingham. We have a glorious campsite, tucked up in a thick forest where the trees are just beginning to turn. I promise to send pictures as soon as I can, but know that all is well with the lion clan!! My emergency chiropractic needs have been so graciously meet by the wonderful folks at Truex Chiropractic Center in Plymouth. In the weird event that you might need a chiropractor in the Plymouth, Ma area...I HIGHLY recommend them!!!! My neck is feeling 100% better but I will go back once or twice more just before we leave to make sure that everything is holding in it's proper place! We did go into Boston today, via the subway system, and walked the "Freedom Trail" which passes by many of the original buildings, homes and grave sites where our Founding Fathers lived, worked, debated over and fought for our freedom from England over 250 years ago. I have to say, that of all the big cities we've visited in the US thus far...San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York City...I think Boston is my favorite! I promise that the soon-to-be-coming pictures will be wonderful...especially to all of those RGES people that have studied this for the last several years. Speaking of RGES...now is a great time to say thank you to all of the teachers, Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Hershberger and Mrs. Allen, and especially the founders, Mr. and Mrs. Kinzer for the AMAZING foundation in American history that my children have had!! It really is unbelievable how much my children have studied and learned about the very same people and places that we have been seeing as we have traveled. I just can't say "thank you" enough!! What a blessing it is to have them by my side as we homeschool, especially in this area where I am the weakest! Ok...with that said, we are hunkering down for a big storm tomorrow, possibly 2 inches of rain and lots of wind, we have been told so we will stay here in the camper doing school and working on our "technical difficulties"...By the way, that is code language for..."John...please help me!!!". We love you all and hope you all are well. Blessings, Lioness

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The Island of Martha's Vineyard

In the park of Oak Bluffs near the dock where we caught the ferry back home.

Yesterday we enjoyed the perfect weather in Massachusetts as we strolled along the streets of Martha's Vineyard. There were soooooo many cute cottages, it is hard for me to choose which ones to show you...so I won't pick, I'll just show you most all of them :-))

Bigger view of the park

Looking out toward the water...an absolutely picturesque day!!

Here is the entrance to the Methodist camp meeting area where all of the cute cottages are...prepare to enjoy!!

Start things off right with blue!!

Love the flowers all around this one!

Gotta love green :-))

Love the lines and curves of this one!!

Oh my goodness...talk about fancy!!

The one on the left...the white with cranberry red one is Lila's favorite!

Again, love the flowers and curvyness of the roofline.

This one would be Miss Madeline's cottage!! If you look closely, you can even see two angels on the corners of the porch which look almost exactly like here stained glass angel that Grammy made for her :-))

Pure Pink!!

I think this is the one for me!! Love it!!

The church in the middle of the Methodist area...how cute is this?!

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Plimoth Plantation

Picture of the Pilgrims village on the Plimoth Plantation. As you can see, it was a beautiful day and a really lovely site for a village to be created!

This afternoon we went to the Plimoth Plantation, the reenactment on the 1627 Pilgrim village which has authentic homes of both the Pilgrims and the Womanog Native American people of the time. This was a most wonderful place to learn of the customs, house designs, food and lifestyles of both the Pilgrims and the Indians!! We had lots of fun!! We even got to enjoy the Thursday farmer's market on the grounds and brought home some yummy fruit, veggies and bread. Tomorrow we hope to venture to the famous island, Martha's Vineyard. Should have some great pictures to share tomorrow. Also, I need to tell you of our neighbor at the Scusset Beach campground. It will be a treasured tale for sure! Sorry, it can't be tonight, but I needed an emergency chiropractic adjustment this afternoon, and I'm feeling a bit trashed and quite sore. I promise I will share more soon. Sweet dreams and blessings to you all, Lioness

A Wompanog home...roof and siding was made from the bark of trees of the area.

 

A Wompanog who shared with us lots of information about his people. This was on the inside of the hut.

 

Indies of a Pilgrim's home.

 

Some of the finer furniture pieces, all made there on site, that wealthier Pilgrims might have in their homes.

 

More Pilgrim "players" inside a more modest home

 

Rest Time!

 

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Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Mayflower II

This afternoon, after we had a very successful, tear-free morning of school, we went to see the Mayflower II. This boat is a precise replica of the original Mayflower vessel that carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620. There were even curators dressed in period outfits, speaking the Old English dialect and giving neat facts about the ship, the passengers and crew, and the voyage itself. This was a really wonderful experience and the kiddos had a blast walking throughout the ship and talking (even singing) with the curators!! Once we got off of the Mayflower, we walked a short bit to see Plymouth Rock...said to be the very rock where the Pilgrims might have anchored their small skiff as they came onto shore to check out their surroundings before unloading everyone off of the Mayflower. From there we walked through the lovely Plymouth Garden and up the very first "street" of America...Leyden Street, where the Pilgrims set up their township up on the hillside. It is really quite remarkable and admirable the fortitude, strength, determination, courage and faith that these men and women had back then!! Lila was really quite excited and amazed to be walking the "same paths" that the Pilgrims walked!! It was a truly glorious day :-)). Tomorrow we will set out to see the Plimoth Plantation...the reenactment of the township in Plymouth and go to their Thursday farmers market on the central grounds of the plantation. We hope you all are well and we miss y'all very much!! Not a day goes by that something doesn't reminds us of one of our friends or family back home...big hugs and kisses to you all from the Lions!!

Captain's quarters on the Mayflower II

 

"Kitchen" on the ship

 

A curator telling his tales!!

 

Plymouth Rock...kinda hard to see...the sun was in a difficult spot for pictures :-((

 

William Bradford...beloved pastor and governor of Plymouth. He is the one who said one of my favorite quotes..."All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties and must be enterprises and overcome with answerable courages."

Pictures in the Gardens

 

 

 

Leyden Street...the first street in America (before it was even America!!)

 

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9/11 Memorial Site

New Trade Center building under construction near the site of the Twin Towers.

Today we went to see the 9/11 Memorial site and the new Trade Building at One World Trade Center that will be replacing the Twin Towers that fell eleven years ago. This was an incredibly moving memorial that recognized all of the victims who died that day...those on the four airplanes, those in the Twin Towers, those in the Pentagon and the brave men and women from the fire and police departments who gave the ultimate sacrifice to try to rescue and help those in need. All of the debris from Ground Zero has been cleared and new beginnings have begun with the new highrise in the skyline and the beautiful memorial site for us to enjoy so that "we never will forget"!!! It was a very powerful day and a special end to a wonderful NYC vacation :-))

 

An overview of what the Memorial Site looks like...two reflecting waterfalls where the two towers stood.

 

The South Pool (the largest one)

 

 

Here you can see the tablets that have the names of everyone engraved upon it. Very sobering!!

 

A close up of the deep hole in the center of each reflecting pool. Perhaps it symbolizes the hole that the country feels at the horrific tragedy and loss that we suffered that day?!

 

The church across from 9/11 site that became a haven for those working in the aftermath of the tragedy. The church has kept a small "museum" like collection of memorabilia from that time. from that

 

 

This sculpture made from material from the Twin Tower debris. Very moving!!

 

Nana and Grandpa at the 9/11 Memorial...LOVE this one!!

 

Our family :-))

 

My favorite picture from the entire trip...Nana and Grandpa with the grand kids :-))

 

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