20 Days left

Today was Thursday.
20 days left to Rivendell 

We are half way done on our journey and today was really inspiring and I think will help get us back into our "schedule" now that were back from California. 

We got to go to George and Martha Washington's home, Mt. Vernon, today. This was really amazing. It was absolutely gorgeous. It makes you think of grand and epic things. This man accomplished so many things in his life. The founding father and the birth of our nation, designing Washington DC, farming, general, husband, patriot. You feel very patriotic walking around. He and his wife were so in love she would join him in the camps to nurse soldiers and raise moral of the officers. When George died Martha closed up their bedroom and moved into another part of the house. 

It was so crowded we were surprised! Lots of school groups, grandparents, and history nerds like us.

Today was hot, about 93 but not too humid only about 55%. I have not been to Mt. Vernon since 8th grade and Michael hasn't been since he was a very young boy. It was under construction when I was there last and I didn't get to do much. We got one of those audio tour handsets. It was $6 but we really think it was worth it. We both always want to know more than what they write on all the plaques. We were not disappointed. It was very interesting and well done. I really didn't remember how beautiful it is! I HIGHLY recommend coming to Mt. Vernon. I wish I could go back again! WORTH every penny to get in. 

Welcome!

View of the house form the bowling green

What a beautiful view of the Potomac through this beautiful curved covered walkway.

Riding Chair

This is like the worlds first power wheelchair. It is for narrow country lanes. Its a wooden kitchen chair bolted to a cart that is pulled by a horse. It has arm rests and reminded me of Michaels wheelchair and I made a joke that in the great outdoors Michael would have used it with a horse and he could use a smaller one pulled by a dog inside. His faithful colonial hounds. 

The Washington's final resting place, It was open (a rare occurrence) for a wreath laying ceremony. 

General Washington on the right and Martha on the left.

It was pretty cool being so close to the ACTUAL George Washington. 

In front of the Potomac on the lawns.

Michael posing for me. 

The gardens were amazing. I love the garden! It was lush and the flowers were being tended by several workers today. 

There was more formal boxwood knot hedges.

More wild-ish looking areas with flowers.

Flowers and veggies. 

The greenhouse. Its big!

Beautiful groves of fruit trees. 

Flower Girl!

Then some organized flower beds with boxwood borders. 

Michael said the most romantic thing to me while we were walking through the flowers today. I was saying how much I love flowers and want a garden when we get a house someday. He told me that he  thinks of me and thinks of flowers. He says he thinks that flowers are somehow tied to my soul. It made my heart go pitter pat. 

Leaving the Washington's beautiful home. 

As we were leaving Michael got another email from the Orlando Magic about his interview. Now if you recall, we have bought airline tickets, canceled, rebooked, and now.... 

The email told Michael that in fact, he was not currently being considered for an in-person interview as he was not living locally and it was no longer an acceptable option to come in person, even if we had already purchased out tickets. Apparently Michael did that on his own volition.  Oh and by the way its moved back to Monday. So the interview was scheduled on the 8th in person, moved to the 15th in person, moved to the 18th in person, now back to the 15th over Skype. CRAZY! 

SO we have now downloaded Skype on Mikes laptop and we don't really know what to do about our non-refundable flight to Orlando. We might want to keep them to go see if we can find an apartment. It would be a complete different side of the city as Disney World so we didn't see any of it last scouting trip. 

Since its summer now, handicap accessible vans are going to be a serious struggle. Last time we called (last week) they said they had been booked out for weeks. So IF we do still go, we might have to stay at the hotel at the airport and take handicap accessible cabs OR a regular car and leave McGee at the hotel and take the Quickie and have Mike ride shotgun next to me and hope the cars not too tall for me to lift him in. 

We came home and got the girl. She was so happy to be home with her pack. She jumped into bed and crashed out. She slept from about 6pm-1pm the next day. I keep taking her out and she wants to go back inside and crashes out.