The Rotunda

Holly and I took advantage of the long weekend and drove up to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Saturday. UVA has quite a history; it was founded by Thomas Jefferson.

The original grounds consisted of the Academical Village, the focal point of which was (and still is) the Rotunda. All buildings continue to play a very prominent role in the school today.



(Oh yeah, there's a Q-Doba a few blocks away, and that was our first stop. But I digress.)

A fire destroyed the original building in 1895, and students worked desperately to save this marble statue of Jefferson.



Originally a lecture hall, this room now holds meetings of the school's governing board.



This room contains original maps from Jefferson's day; now doctoral dissertations are defended.



The architecture was lovely.



The crown jewel of the Rotunda is the historic Dome Room.



The oculus.



Although the Rotunda was modeled after Rome's Pantheon, Jefferson also incorporated ancient Greek architectural styles.



Lining the perimeter of the architectural village were faculty and student housing. Incredibly, to us, faculty and selected undergrads still live in these buildings today. The rooms did not look cozy at all, and I can't imagine living with your front door opening onto a busy park.


Most of the rooms were empty, as school has ended for the summer.


It was gorgeous and really fascinating to walk around. It's a 2.5 hour drive, and this was an impromptu trip to Charlottesville, but it was great to get away for the afternoon, to spend time with Holly, and to just enjoy the day.

Memorial Day

I gave Holly and Trevor the wonderful gift of Freedom of Choice for Memorial Day: Come with me to hike nearby Cahas Mountain, or do school work.

They chose the hike. We left (relatively) early in an effort to beat any bad weather. I had looked at two dozen websites this morning, and I knew there were two possibilities. 1) We could come from the south (a 20 minute drive) and hike a mile up a steep trail, or 2) we could drive in from the north, look for a signpost, and have our picture taken--no hiking at all.

I opted for the hike.


We drive past this road several times a week on our way to the city. I really DO know where I'm going, and my GPS agreed with what I'd mapped online.

(Do you already have an idea where this is going?)

Destination: Cahas Mountain!

We drove down Cahas Mountain Road, turned where we were supposed to, and followed the gravel road, looking for the fence where we would park and begin our hike. There was no fence, but the road ended at a driveway which was clearly marked "PRIVATE."

I'm not interested in trespassing. It was a Good Thing that my Prius can 3-(or 4-or 8-) point turn in a space that I swear was just 5 feet wide.

Getting closer!

On to the second option, driving around from the north. No hike, but hey, we'd get a great photo op, us standing by the sign, Cahas Mountain in the background.

Right?

We drove and drove. Trevor wondered exactly where in the world we WERE. Holly wondered out loud why all the "hillbillies" waved at us as we drove by. (We were actually much closer to Roanoke than to home. And people wave because they are friendly, not because they don't get out enough. Like someone else I know.)

And we drove.

And we started going downhill.

And we knew we'd missed it.

But we stopped to take a picture of the north side. Of some mountain. I think Cahas was somewhere behind this one. Or maybe to the left, outside of the photo. Or maybe not.


Actually, we didn't "miss" it. I just assumed that we'd find the road marker I was looking for. But I think that's on the Blue Ridge Parkway, that it just overlooks Cahas Mountain. It's a bit of a distance away. Apparently.

Maybe we'll try that another time.

* * * *

They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

Weekly menu

Not much, but it's a start.

hamburgers, Italian salad, chips and dip
bbq chicken wings, corn on the cob, ______________
frittata, salad, Caesar salad
chicken fajitas, guacamole
tunafish sandwiches, ??

to have on hand: Giant Breakfast Cookies

On the back burner:
artichoke dip!

Mornings

Yesterday

Beautiful fog, very humid.




Today

Lovely sunshine, bright and warm.

Book Review -- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

A fascinating new book about the origin of the first human cells successfully grown in culture--which are still alive today. Written in layman's terms and in a format similar to fiction, this is two different tales woven successfully together. Contrasting the mind-boggling impact of Henrietta's cells to medical science is the story of her family: Poorly educated, they lack even an elementary understanding of the significance of their mother's legacy and hopefully believe that, like their mother, they might never die. The book also provides a glimpse into a world of medical research about which most of us know nothing; and provides serious food for thought into medical ethics.

This was a fascinating read, one worthy of discussion with my kids. It's one of those unforgettable books. Highly recommended. Remember it's "written in layman's terms and in a format similar to fiction..."

Holly takes on Cinnamon Rolls

One of my brilliant ideas was for Holly and me to make homemade Cinnamon Rolls. I'm talking the yeast, risen-dough, roll out, fill and roll up kind that we used to make in Home Ec (back in the old days where there really was such a class).

I thought it'd be great fun.

Holly had other ideas. While I don't think she was adverse to actually making the rolls, she was not happy with me at all that afternoon and announced her intention to do it herself.

This is similar to the queen deciding to go slum in the kitchen for the afternoon. Except Holly's a princess.

----------------------------------------

CINNAMON ROLLS

Dough:
1 (.25 oz.) pkg. active dry yeast
3/4 c. warm water (110 degrees)
1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 t. salt
1 egg
2-1/2 c. flour

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

Add sugar, salt, egg, and 1 c. flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 c. at a time, beating well with each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 mins. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 mins.

Filling:
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
(This is what the recipe calls for, but we'll increase it by 50-100% next time...)

Lightly grease an 8x8" pan. (I'd use something a little bigger next time.) Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4" thick rectangle. Smear the dough with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up the dough along the long edge until it forms a roll. Slice the roll into 16 equal pieces (use dental floss!) and place them in pan.

Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight OR cover and let rise at room temp until doubled in size, about 45 mins.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake until golden brown, about 20 mins.

VANILLA FROSTING

2 c. powdered sugar
1 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla
2-4 T. milk

In a medium bowl, place sugar, butter, and vanilla. Then stir in enough milk to reach a thick, difficult-to-stir consistency. Spread over warm rolls ten minutes after they come out of the oven to let the frosting melt and run into the rolls.
----------------------------------

She did an AWESOME job. The rolls were DELICIOUS. They were supposed to last two days and barely made it until the next morning.

I imagine that Holly was thinking similarly to Cleopatra:

"Fool! Don't you see now that I could have poisoned you a hundred times..."

Yeah, whatever, but at least I would have died happy!

Anniversary

We celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday. It seemed a little weird to me to take off without the kids, but they preferred to stay at home while we drove out to Bedford.

Bedford is a small town which received national attention when its 116th Infantry lost 19 soldiers on the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach, with three more killed in action later--the highest loss per capita of any town ever. (Click here to read an account from a book I've recommended several times.)


Robert is a D-Day aficiondo. We've visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford several times in the past. The local Rubatex plant was a large employer in the town, producing gas masks for the war effort.


The day was gray and drizzly. We found the local cemetery and quickly recognized several names on headstones.


Captain Taylor Fellers never fired shot. Every soldier in Captain Fellers' landing craft was immediately killed.


Sergeant Frank Draper grew up on the "wrong side of the tracks" and played minor league baseball before finding his call in the military. Despondent over the loss of his eldest son, Frank's father later committed suicide.



Many names we recognized right off. Others we identified by the date of death.




From there, we drove in the rain over to Lynchburg, where we lunched at Texas Roadhouse and stopped in at Kohl's. We made a day out of our trip. It might sound like an odd thing to do, visiting a cemetery on our anniversary, but it was a nice blend of just spending time with my husband, combining things we both enjoyed, and wrapping it all up at one of our favorite restaurants--a lovely day.

May 22, 1993

BULLS-eye!!

After returning home from Pennsylvania, Trevor was once again motivated to practice his archery.



(The arrows go in at different angles, because each hit would cause the target to lean backwards a little more.)

GREAT job, Trev!!!!!

Recipe -- Breakfast Rice

Wow, I tried this today just because I saw it and happened to have leftover brown rice. It was a huge hit with both kids.

BREAKFAST RICE

per serving:
3/4 to 1 cup cooked brown rice
2/3 c. milk
1 T. brown sugar
1/4 t. cinnamon
fresh blueberries, strawberries, or other fruit of your choice

In a small saucepan, combine rice, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy.

Remove from heat, pour into bowl, and serve topped with fruit.

(Recipe originally called for white rice, but my kids were happy with brown, and hey, it's a better choice than white rice anyway.)

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

And the 9-12 Rams again take the division championship!! Trevor's team rocks, not because they won the most games, but because each player has a heart that truly honors Jesus.


This winning spirit has been present in the five seasons Trevor's been blessed to play on this team.

YAY, RAMS!!!!

Recipe -- Potato and Red Onion Frittata

I found this in Taste of Home magazine recently. I was a little nervous about trying it--I usually think recipes sound much better than they really are. But this was a huge hit. Robert and Trevor asked if I'd make it Christmas morning. Fine, but I'd like to have it sooner than that! And we ate it for dinner, along with rolls and fruit.

Potato and Red Onion Frittata

1 small red onion, chopped
4 T. butter, divided
6 large mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 lb. red potatoes (about 5 small), thinly sliced
6 eggs
1/3 c. milk
1/2 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
dash salt and pepper

In a 10-in. ovenproof skillet, saute onion over medium heat in 1 T. butter until tender. Add mushrooms and garlic; cook a few minutes longer until mushrooms are soft. Remove from the pan and set aside.

In the same skillet on medium heat, cook sliced potatoes in 2 T. butter until tender and golden brown. Remove.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk. Stir in cheese, and onion mixture. Melt remaining butter in the skillet; tilt pan to evenly coat. Add egg mixture. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until nearly set.

Top with potatoes; bake for 3-5 minutes or until eggs are completely set. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges. Yield: 4 servings.

--------------------

The original recipe did not call for mushrooms; it's easy to add any vegetables of your choice.

Same view, different day

#1


#2


I'll have more of #2, thank you.

Assorted Book Reviews

Christy by Catherine Marshall

UGH! This was required reading for Holly's Notgrass American history. The inclusion of this book speaks for itself--Notgrass is wildly inconsistent in its quality of literature readings. Some books have been good, typical, expected: To Kill a Mockingbird; Uncle Tom's Cabin; The Scarlet Letter. Then there are books like Christy.

I don't know why I decided to read along, but I'm glad I did. I loathed this book, the main characters lacked any appeal, and I found the whole book ridiculous. Holly compared it to Little Women (which tops her list of worst-ever books). I know it's supposed to be based on the life of the author's mother, and that bugged me too: What part was real, what part was fake? Whatever the case, it was all phony.

I think very highly of Notgrass's history--the actual "history" part of it. I'm glad Holly's going back to Lightning Lit next year for literature.

Vent over!

As I'm adding in the amazon link, I'm amused at the incredibly high ratings this book received. Obviously I've missed something, but whatever. !

Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do to Stop It by Ken Ham and Britt Beamer

A local friend highly recommended this book. Wow. It made me rethink several things in my family's life right now. It helped open my eyes and heart, and encouraged me to make a drastic change.

You only have one chance with your kids.

I'd love to loan this book out. Send me a private email or leave a comment.

Murder by Family: The Incredible True Story of a Son's Treachery and a Father's Forgiveness by Kent Whitaker

Kent Whitaker's 19 year old son Bart arranged to have the family murdered; Kent's wife and younger son were both killed. This is the story of Kent's journey and forgiveness between the time of the murders and the trial and subsequent death penalty given to Bart for his responsibility in the killings. Interesting read.

Flowers

Clematis, a long time favorite of mine.



Azaleas, a new flower to enjoy.

Signs

Soccer

While we were on our trip, I spent a little time catching up with my blog. From Holly's soccer game last week.

Holly's just to the right of the ball.

She's usually one of the smallest players out there on the co-ed teams and can hold her own against these almost-men.



Just one more week of regular season games.

Last day and family pics

Taking pictures of pictures--it didn't turn out too badly.

Back: Aunt Loretta, Aunt Barb, Uncle Joe, Aunt Ann Marie.
Front: Laura, my dad, Marie.
Circa 1977

Uncle Joe shot a turkey in the morning. Trevor got to watch the turkey gutting and hang out in Uncle Joe's shed with things boys love: empty wasps' nests, deer skulls, quivers full of arrows, and more. Uncle Joe gave Trevor a full camouflage outfit and loads of turkey feathers.



The feathers are coolly iridescent, but I didn't get any closer than this. Oh, I had to hold the turkey with one hand by its leg. Ew!


We visited at Aunt Ann Marie's house and got a few great pictures.

Back: Joe, Kathy, Barb
Front: Tommy, me, Ann Marie, Loretta

Trevor, Ann Marie, Loretta

Trevor and I left in the morning in the drizzle. The roads cleared up when we turned south onto I-81, and we even stopped in Harrisonburg at Q-Doba for lunch. We were home at 3:00--I'm catching up on email and blogging; Trevor is dressed in his new camo and seeing how well he can hide in the front yard.

We had a catch up Mother's Day--tulips, a new coffeemaker, and an awesome dinner fixed by Robert. Holly and I will catch up on our tv tonight, and my wonderful husband bought my favorite ice cream for dessert.

A good visit--good to be home. I'm thankful for the opportunity to visit, and I'm grateful to my aunt and uncle for their hospitality.

More visiting

Trevor and I headed out towards Philadelphia and King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall on the east coast. It's an hour away, which everyone here thinks is far. That's a normal drive for us, the only difference is we don't have to pay to drive the turnpike.

Monday morning was DEAD at the mall. It made for great parking.

Game Stop--check. Trevor bought a used Wii Avatar game he's had his eye on for awhile.

Sephora--check. I was the only customer in the store and therefore able to get wonderful and welcomed help in making my selections. I bought everything I'd wanted to get, but I spent more money than I would have liked!

Lego Store--check. I bought Trevor a few Star Wars Lego figures.



Hey, we're on Lego tv! I DO look excited, don't I?!



I'd scoped out lunch places in advance, and we ate at Baja Fresh, almost a Chipotle on steroids, complete with a salsa bar.



We were back at Aunt Barb's in the early afternoon, where she was in the middle of making her famous chocolate cake.



Later that night, everyone gathered at Joe, Kathy, and Tommy's for dinner--where we were again stuffed with wonderful food. We are eating our way through Pennsylvania, and when we return home, we won't need to eat for a month.

Mother's Day

It was an odd Mother's Day for me; I am here with just one of my kids. My aunt is here but her girls are out of state.

Trevor and I are being fed like there is no tomorrow. Bacon and eggs for breakfast, snacks for lunch, and the dog willing to share anything offered.



My aunt fixed salmon for dinner, a real treat as it's one of our favorites. Robert and Holly don't like salmon, and we don't eat it very often at home.

In between, there is homemade Apple Crumb, lemon cookies, and raspberry iced tea (unsweetened--we're not in the south anymore!).

We visited Aunt Ann Marie and took Aunt Loretta to the cemetery where my uncle and grandparents are buried.



I haven't been here since 1974.



We came back to Aunt Barb's, ate dinner, and played Farkle and cards in the evening.



It's been cold here, but so far, I've been able to avoid running out and buying WARM clothes!

Road Trip

Trevor and I left yesterday morning for a trip to Pennsylvania. The cats knew something was up and were eager to be part of the action.


Forty minutes from home, we made my first planned bathroom stop. I'm beginning to worry they know me here, probably have a nickname for me like thebathroomladywhoneverbuysanything.


I made a few other stops on the way, buying gas shortly before James Madison University's graduation began.


It was an easy drive, we always seem to get here earlier than planned. Funny how I can't do that on a regular basis at home. I made Trevor take this picture showing that we got 60 MILES PER GALLON over the last 257 miles of our trip.



Woooooooooo!

We're here for several days visiting family and wishing the weather would warm up about 30 degrees.

Putting up fences

No, we are not under quarantine.



Robert stained and sealed the porch. The gate kept any rogue animals (Buttercup) from leaving unwanted footprints.

It looks great! The back deck is next.

Trevor and more and more and more soccer

Trevor's team played their biggest challenge on Friday.



Trev saw more of the ball in this one game than he's seen all season.



He did an awesome job, keeping the ball away from the goal, and giving it several great boots.



It was our first non-win of the season--we weren't actually defeated but tied 1-1. The was the first goal scored against us all season, and it was when one of our players tried to head the ball out of the goal, but headed it in instead. (And no, it was not my son!)