Family Outing to Williamsburg!

Yesterday we did *not* go to the Rendezvous reenactment because it was cancelled. We have had well over 20 inches of rain in Hurricane Irene (I'm beginning to think I live in Ireland!) and the field in which it was held was simply too flooded. They visitors' day might end up rescheduled for later this week--we'll see. :)
But of course we couldn't simply stay home after getting our hopes dashed like that, so we decided to go across the river to Colonial Williamsburg! It takes us about and hour and twenty minutes including the ferry-ride. (It's about an hour of driving) Our favorite ferry is the Pocahontas because it is so much larger than the others and it has a second level deck. But it was not to be. We found ourselves riding on the Surry. "A ferry is a ferry. But a large ferry..." to misquote Mr. Elton. ;) When we got to Williamsburg we found there was an art show going on. We watched some potters at their wheels (One little old man had such a cute British accent! :) and saw the wet-off-the-easel paintings of artists who had spent the morning in Plein Air--painting outdoors. One was so scrumptious! I dabble in painting but I'm not very good--my landscapes lack emotion. Actually, they lack the ability to look like more than scribbles and splotches. :P
We wandered around Duke of Gloucester Street for some time and my love of history was revitalized by actually standing on the ground that George Washington, Patrick Henry, and so many others had walked upon years ago. It is such an awe-inspiring experience!

(The governor's palace [!] and another random building)

We chased a fife and drum corps to no avail, for they were encamped at the end of the D.O.G. Street at the Capitol, and didn't feel obliged to come up our way. :P *Boo-hoo!* Fifes and drums inspire me with the feeling I would guess bagpipes would inspire in a Scotsman. I feel invigorated, inspired, and full of enough patriotism to burst. :) We were vexed and appalled at being bereft of the privilege of hearing them, so we put the children in the stocks. It was their fault after all. ;)

 

Isn't that a precious face? She looks so guilty. :P

 Abigail is rather *too* happy about being in the stocks. ;)

 Somebody's sleepy! *swoons and runs to kiss him* ;)

Then we rambled around the more modern shops...we passed the Fat Canary but hadn't the gumption (nor the money) to go in. :'[ That place has the best cheese and bread I've ever tasted! So we contented ourselves with the Wythe Candy Shop, and I cured my disappointment with a block of European Dark Chocolate made with all natural ingredients. Oh yes. :)

 Sarah and Anna sitting on a bench in the marketplace.

 

Gracie must be tired of waiting for Dad and I to get out of a store. :P

 We also visited Williams and Sonoma (GAH!) and I swooned over all the amazing kitchen things. Dad bought me a set of six miniature cheesecake pans for the bakery side of our business! YES! I think mini cheesecakes (about the size of a Texas muffin) will sell better than the full 9-inch cheesecakes.
My heart also pitter-patted and skipped a beat or two when I saw a store of all things Scotland! Now, girls, I know I haven't confessed this yet, so I guess now is the time. But "Scotland is my one weakness."

 

Oh, to be small enough to fit into these delicious clothes! (Or to have 3-800 dollars to buy them! :P)

 Wear plaid and you are my bestest friend. Know Scottish folk songs and I'll love you forever. Say you have Scottish blood and I'll burn with envy. (My family wasted a whole MacWilliams by being from the Irish strain! >:[ ) And I have always had a pet wish and hope that I'll marry a Scottish lad with the thickest of thick accents and a crop of chestnut colored hair. :) Well...it might seem too good to be true...but I met him yesterday.

He wasn't *quite* as handsome as I'd pictured him, and he seemed a little cold and distant, but he was Scottish, and that's all that mattered. ;)

We finished our day by driving 'round to all the spots Mama and Dad haunted as a young couple, and then took the ferry-boat home and crashed. It was a good day out as a family, though I felt like a *large* family...everyone was staring at us as we passed....haven't felt that way for a while...maybe it's because we scarcely ever go out as a complete family! (As it is we were missing Daniel who is only returning tonight from a posh stay at a 4 DIAMOND hotel in MO. :P) Ahhhh...we ought to take family outings more often.