A Trip to a Garden of Irises

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

Being stuck at home for weeks seemed to be getting on everyone's nerves. You can only spend so much time together as siblings before some bickering, teasing, and annoying habits bring out the best in everyone. If you're a mom and have been stuck at home with your kids, I'm sure you understand. It's just not natural or normal to not see anyone else for two months or more.

So when I saw a local iris garden was in full bloom and was allowing visitors since we'd be in the great outdoors, I decided to skip school for the day and take the kids for a little day trip.

Getting there was rather simple. The garden was an hour and 20 minutes away, so not too far. We did have to take a small detour. Our first set of directions had us heading over an old, rickety bridge. Thankfully it was chained up and said it was no longer in use. After looking at the bridge, I'd say that was a very wise decision. I wish I would have taken a picture of it. It was rather scary.

So we headed back the way we came. Once we get to the main road, the directions rerouted us and away we went. We arrived at our final destination in just a few minutes.

We climbed out of the car and were immediately struck by all the colors. We headed over to the shed and met the owner. He was a sweet, little old man. He gave us a brief explanation on the garden, how it was laid out, and how we could go about purchasing irises at the end of the season. We learned that a few irises actually smell wonderful. One orange iris smells like an orange cream cycle and a purple one smells like grape soda. Who knew?

We spent about 2 hours wondering around the garden looking at all the amazing colors. Michael was kind enough to circle all the ones I loved on the sheet provided to us. I would have easily bought one of each if I could.

We saw rows and rows of every color you could imagine!

              

Till Next Time,

Monique

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Traveling Thursdays~ Mount Vernon

This year the kids are taking a history/government class with a few other homeschool kids in our area. Over the course of the year, the kids will learn about our government's history and then learn more about how the government is run today. I was thrilled when a fellow mom offered to teach this since she has experience working in the Capital. 

So one of her goals is to take the kids on two field trips for the class. Their first field trip was to Mount Vernon. We had never been to George Washington's home so we were eager to make the journey to see the home of our first President!

Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington, is situated along the Potomac River. The view is absolutely breathtaking. I can only imagine what it would have been like to sit on the back porch during the warm summer days with the cool breeze drifting up from the river. 

Our visit to Mount Vernon was a cold, winter day. Thankfully, the rain held off so we could enjoy the grounds.

Our exploration of Mount Vernon began with a 25 minute movie about the role of George Washington in the Revolutionary War.

After watching the brief movie, we headed outside to head over the the home. We had a scheduled time to tour the house and outbuildings.

After our tour, our group ate a quick picnic lunch on the grounds and then we headed to a special ceremony of  laying a wreath at the foot of George Washington's grave.

This was a special ceremony our group was able to do. We had a few other visitors watch the wreath laying ceremony since they had never seen it done in the multiple times they had visited Washington's home. After our wreath laying ceremony, we headed over the the greenhouse for a talk about Christmas at Mount Vernon. Our guide gave a very entertaining talk to the children about what they would receive as gifts and how the Christmas season would have been spent. We loved how he stressed that Christmas didn't end on Christmas Day, but went on for days after....the 12 Days of Christmas!

It was right before Christmas when we visited so the grounds were decorated to reflect this festive season.

So if you ever find yourself in the area, I would definitely recommend a visit our first president's home.

Till Next Time,

Monique

Traveling Thursdays~ Fort Frederick, Maryland

This past summer, we participated in a field trip with our local homeschool group. We visited Fort Frederick in Maryland. The fort lies just south of a town named Big Pool. It's actually is located near the Potomac River. 

The star-shaped, stone fort was used during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. During the American Revolution, it was a prisoner of war camp.

During the Civil War, the fort was used as a gun emplacement to help protect the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. After the wars, the fort was no longer used.

In the 1920's, the fort was bought by the state of Maryland. It became Maryland's first state park. The walls of the fort had deteriorated, but through archives and archaeological digs the fort was completely restored to its former glory. 

While there, we were able to tour various buildings and see how the men and their families lived there. 

The kids participated in drills, were bale to dress up in period time clothing, and performed various chores they were requested to do. It's a lot harder to carry two pails of water than you think.

Fort Frederick currently offers tours, displays, and exhibits to explore. You can even camp there! The fort sites next to Big Pool Lake. You can picnic, fish, and hike a few nature trails.

Till Next Time,

Monique

Traveling Thursdays~ James Monroe's Home

The kids and I were lucky enough to visit James Monroe's home Highland this past fall. James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States. Did you know that Virginia is called the mother of presidents? We've had 8 presidents born here.

The grounds are stunning! 

We enjoyed a tour of the main house, the beautiful grounds and garden, and a few other buildings.

We saw a bust of John Carroll. He was the first bishop and archbishop in the United States.

The kids even got to ask a few archaeologist about the area they were excavating. Currently, the foundation is working on excavating an area of the land where slaves lived. They are recreating smaller buildings to help visitors see how the lives of the slaves were during James Monroe's time there.

Till Next Time,

Monique

Travelings Thursdays~ Fort Mackinac

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

Today is our last day on the Island! We are touring Fort Mackinac.

Fort Mackinac was found in 1780 by the British during the American Revolution. It was built so that the British could control the Strait of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

In 1796, the Americans took over the fort which led to the first land engagement of the War of 1812. This battle was bloody and many lives were lost. The British gained back control of the fort. 

After the war, the fort was turned over to the Americans. 

The fort was officially controlled in 1895.

The fort now acts as a living museum for visitors to Mackinac Island.

The fort has 14 fully restored buildings to explore. Visitors will see soldiers milling about, period displays and furniture in the buildings, learn all about the fort, and learn more about American history.

As visitors walk through the fort, the will see the homes that the soldiers and their families lived in.

Touring the fort gives everyone a peek into what life was like for the families that live at the fort over the years.

They offer a wonderful kid's museum filled with tons of hands on learning. 

Next stop....home!

Our week long cross country journey has come to an end.

I will admit I am ready to sleep in my own bed!

Till Next Time,

Monique

Traveling Thursdays~ Mackinac Island

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

After a restful evening in the hotel, we boarded the Mackinac Island ferry and headed over to Mackinac Island. 

The ferry ride was a first for the kids. 

They loved it even though it was a little chilly as we zoomed over the water!

This quaint little island and town is like stepping back in time.

No cars are allowed.

Want to get around?

You'll have to walk or ride around in a horse drawn carriages.

On the island you'll find a wonderful collection to Catholic history. Perfect for a Catholic field trip. We walked around Marquette Park, viewed the Father Marquette statue, and visited the small hut showing Father Marquette taking part of Mass. We even visited Saint Anne's Catholic Church.

You'll find shops, homes, and lodgings that are from the early 19th century. The town makes you feel like you've stepped back into the Victorian period. As you walk around the shops, you'll smell the delicious scent of fudge. I recommend buying some.

The views are incredible. The homes are gorgeous. 

I could easily live here, if the winters weren't so bad!

I'd love to go back sometime for the summer.

Maybe a second honeymoon.

Till Next Time,

Monique