Eisenhower Farm, Gettysburg, PA April 29, 2011

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s fourteen room farm house greeted us with pink blossoms on the crab apple trees lining the driveway. Little inside the house has changed since President Eisenhower and his wife Mamie occupied the home. Since 1979 the home has been administered by the National Park Service. The grounds have a grassy helicopter pad, a golf putting course, and sheet shooting range.

Inside the main Eisenhower House the living room showcases gifts received from heads of states and friends. They include a mother-of-pearl inlaid, black lacquer coffee table from the Republic of Korea and a silk Tabriz rug from the Shah of Iran. The room has the white marble fireplace removed from the White House in 1873 by President Grant. It was an anniversary gift from the Eisenhower White House staff. Ike and Mamie seldom used the living room as it was considered to stuffy with all the formal gifts in display cases. 

They preferred the more comfortable sunnier sitting room porch area. It was simplified and more to Ike's taste. It served as a television room. "I Love Lucy" was such a favorite show that they invited Lucille Ball to visit the farmhouse as a guest.

There are photos evidencing world leaders such as Winston Churchill, Charles De Gaulle of France, Prime Minister Nehru of India , and Nikita Khrushchev had been guests at the farm. Imagine the private talks that were conducted on the porch in the 1950s by these men. 

An Amish Experience in Pennsylvania

JR and I have had an opportunity to see Amish daily life first hand by taking an Amish buggy ride through four miles of Amish farmlands in West Lancaster County. Our driver took us to his dairy farm and toured us through his barn. He was a pleasant, easy going fellow with five kids and 15 grandchildren. They all speak German amongst themselves. One of the youngsters sold us homemade root beer and sugar cookies. We discover there are over 25 different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in West Lancaster County today. The more traditional groups of Amish are called 'Old Order. They wear plain clothing styles, which has earned them the name "Plain People". It is the simple, peaceful lifestyle of these plain people that attracts such a curiosity today. Many wonder how these people can survive in their supposedly backward ways. Well, they're not only surviving - they're thriving.

We’ve learned that the Older Order Amish do not permit electricity or telephones in their homes. By restricting access to television, radio, and telephones, the Amish are better able to keep the modern world and technologies from intruding into their home. Musical instruments are forbidden by the Old 0lder Amish community. Playing an instrument would be "worldly." It is contrary to the spirit of humility, and would stir up the emotions of those who are involved.

The Amish have long preferred farming as a way of life. They feel their lifestyle and their families can best be maintained in a rural environment. While they do not permit the use of tractors in their fields, these old order Amish groups do use modern farm equipment pulled by teams of horses or mules. The old order groups do not own or operate automobiles, believing that cars would provide easier access to the ways of the world. You will often see their horses and buggies along local roads. Yes, however the Amish do use gas. Bottled gas is used to operate water heaters, modern stoves and refrigerators. Gas-pressured lanterns and lamps are used to light homes, barns and shops.They believe large families are a blessing from God. Amish rules allows marrying only between members of Amish Church.

The Amish do not educate their children past the 8th grade, believing that the basic knowledge offered up to that point is sufficient to prepare one for the Amish lifestyle. Almost no Amish go to high school, much less to college. In many communities, the Amish operate their own schools, which are typically one room schoolhouses with teachers (young unmarried women) from the Amish community. Looks like no chance of Christa obtaining a teaching job here folks. JR could probably lend a hand barn raising if he was inclined.

Battle of Fairfield, Pennsylvania April 23, 2011

The little town of Fairfield, PA 8 miles south of Gettysburg celebrated the Anniversary of the Civil War and honored its towns heroes who fought in battle and died during 1861-1865. It was a relaxing day as we walked around the town finding ourselves amidst Union and Confederate soldiers co-mingling in comraderie. Their reenactment was a great prelude to the events about to come in the upcoming weekend when Gettysburg will kick off its 150th celebration events. The Pennsylvania Dutch countryside and farmland is lush and green with orchards of fruit trees blooming.

Confederate General Stonewall Jackson and his wife

General Stonewall Jackson, Senator, General Robert E. Lee and their ladies

Discoveries Along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay April 19-20, 2011

Chesapeake Bay Historic St. Mary’s City, the fourth oldest settlement in Colonial America, provided an exciting mix of colorful living history and fascinating archaeology, all set in a beautiful tidewater landscape. Lord Baltimore's 17th-century capital stood ready to be rediscovered with some costumed interpreters. In 1634 George Calvert came with two hundred British colonists to establish Maryland’s first colony open to religious tolerance. Strolling in the township’s tobacco plantation with an indentured servant girl working off her ship passage gave us an authentic glance at early colonial life. The roadside rest stop known as an ordinary provided any traveler in need a tick (floor mattress) and meal for a night.

     Payment was done with tobacco as the currency. 

Herbs and gardens sustained the early British colonist.

Colonial women often went barefoot and helped farm tobacco plantations in 1684

 It also wasn’t hard not to love the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. The museum sprawls across 18 beautiful acres smack in the middle of the harbor of one of the Eastern Shore's prettiest towns. There is an intact 1879 "screwpile" lighthouse that can transport you into the life of a lonely lighthouse-keeper in the middle of Hooper Strait on the Bay. A climb to the top of an 1879 Hooper’s lighthouse for a view of the harbor, walking through a crab cannery, being on board an oyster boat and dining at The Crab Clam Restaurant is all great fun. The Maritime Museum has an eye-catching fleet of 85 traditional Chesapeake Bay craft ranging from an 1889 log-bottom "bugeye" to a duck-hunting "sneak box." You can learn how to bait a crab trap and “dredge” or "nipper" for oysters. Blue crabs instead of Dungeness crabs are found in the Atlantic. The Museum’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence and its small boat collection includes crabbing skiffs, workboats, and log canoes. JR being an old salt sailor was naturally enthralled with the boat restorers, ship models, a working boat yard, and history of the Bay’s oyster and crabmeat industries.

JR checks out a shipjack restoration workshop

Hooper's Light Station prism

Chesapeake Bay log canoe boats for oyster dredging

Log canoe racing is a popular sport for any crew member today

More Highlights from Washington, D.C. April 16-18, 2011

Easter week has been lovely in our nation’s capital city. On Palm Sunday it was special to have Cousin Jane join us at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with Archbishop Pietro Sambi from Rome presiding at High Mass. The Basilica’s beautiful gothic architecture, colorful mosaic ceilings, and sixty-three small side prayer chapels adorned with altars each reflecting various world cultures were indeed breathtaking. What a surprise we had bumping into former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in church. 

Basilica of the National Shrine ... One of many ceilings

A Hello with Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich after mass

The Smithsonian Natural History Museum is a happening place full of National Treasures and Ancient Civilization artifacts. Exhibits of rare orchids, minerals and gemstones, insects, butterflies, mammals, and skeletons of extinct organisms are fascinating. 

Rotunda at the Smithsonian Natural History museum

Giraffe tongue in action

Orchids Galore

A visit to President Lincoln’s Cottage known as the Soldier’s Home gave us a glimpse into his family’s private summer retreat during the Civil War located three miles northwest from the White House. We learn Lincoln commuted by horseback from the Cottage to the White House and back daily without guards, mingled with Union soldiers and the wounded, and drafted the Emancipation Proclamation at this refuge. We enjoyed Cousin Mary visiting us at the motor home for lunch one afternoon as well. 

The Soldier's Home (alias Lincoln Cottage) in D.C.

The flag placed under President Lincoln's head the night he was assasinated

Visiting Our Nation’s Capital City April 4-19, 2011

Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Nat'l Cemeter

Washington, D.C. is been quite a vibrant and active place during cherry blossom season. Cherry Hill RV Park in Maryland about 30 minutes outside the city has provided us an excellent home base for the two weeks while we’ve been out and about busily doing the tourist scene. The possibility of a government shut down loomed during our first week’s arrival, but fortunately that never materialized. Spending the first few days on a double decker OTS Hop On and Off tour bus to scope out the lay of the land in D.C was worthwhile. We’ve tackled the Metrorail system with our Smartcards and walked what feels like miles on end to visit the national monuments, Smithsonian museums, and other top attractions. Oh boy, have our feet become ever sore. A lovely home cooked dinner at Christa’s cousin Jane’s home enabled us a chance to see other relatives too. Having obtained House of Representative gallery passes from Senator Feinstein’s office provided us the opportunity to observe some of the Congressional debates about the budget crisis live on the House floor. What an exciting thrill it was to see and hear legislative representatives banter in the circus of the political arena.

Arlington National Cemetery honors 250,000 soldiers buried

Gotta love April's cherry blossoms around the Capital

Statuary Hall in the Capital Rotunda

Ford's Theater and the President Lincoln's assassination booth

George Washington's Home at Mt. Vernon

Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin near the Potomac River

On The Road From Tennessee to Washington, D.C. March 28-April 4

We flew to Tennessee to pick up our motor home and Jeep stored at Cousin Janice and Roy’s place during the winter. Our first stop out found us at Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky. Two underground tours with a 300-500ft elevation change down and up 940 steep cave stairs for three miles was quiet an adventure. Whew, did some upper thigh muscles ever burn afterwards for several days. 

This was just one of numerous stairwells we climbed in the cave.

 We discovered Abe Lincoln’s birthplace cabin and boyhood homesteads as well in Kentucky. 

In West Virginia we were caught in a heavy snow storm at the 2780 ft elevation level. While JR was attempting to pass a big rig truck in the snow a woman driver tagged the left rear corner of our Jeep causing a dent to the bumper plus damage to the tail light and license plate. Thankfully no one was hurt in the poor road conditions. Drivers coming off side entrances along busy highways are often impatient trying to speed up to get around us, so twice we’ve almost been side swiped.

Arriving in Virginia we visited Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Library, Museum, and Birthplace in Staunton on a private tour.

 Took in the New Market Civil War National Historic Site (NHS) and Harper’s Ferry NHP where John Brown the abolitionist and twenty-one men did a raid on the Federal Arsenal in 1859.

Christa chats with a Union officer at Harpers Ferry

Monday April 4 we survived the interstate lane changes getting in to Washington, D.C. and are settled in at Cherry Hill RV Park for the next 15 days to see the attractions in our nation’s capitol.