just enjoying the city

This morning we were in the city bright and early and got to watch Luke do some of his training. According to the CW blog.. Luke is their newest (and biggest) horse. He is going to play the role of being George Washington's horse, and as romanic as that sounds... there's a lot of trianing to consider before throwing a horse out on the streets of CW..as I horse person, I can certainly appreciate all that needs to be done. 

The crowds were still fairly light, so I can see where this would be a good chance to train with him. But there was still muskets being fired off in the back ground and people and dogs walking by and just all sorts of things for this big boy to get used to. Never mind that when he's really on the job, he will be petted, and looked at and probably have thousands of pictures taken.. so steady, calm and happy is going to be a big thing for him to do. He began getting a little jumpy and his trainer wisely called it, "good for now".. I so wanted to get near him, but she was doing good job of asking people to stay back a bit for now. They'll have him in good order by the time the summer tourist arrive for sure. 

The carriages were rolling out once again... and Ed and I watch in amazement how good these horses are. People are so stupid when it comes to horses... and it's not just because they don't know about them.. they're just plain clueless at times. I've seen the horses being stepped out in front of, dogs (on leash -- but none the less) charging them... people just walking up on them... and with all their training, they just go along...

Another new thing they have is an ice skating rink. While colonials probably did go skating, it wasn't anything like this for sure. I know they have to think of things that keep people coming back, and at least this rink is at the outer side of CW.. down towards Market square... but I do think that it takes away from the simple, peaceful side of CW...and people like it, because it was pretty busy.

We sat in on an auction for a while. They were selling off various items from CW... I would have liked to bid, but it was pretty obvious that people with way more money than me were there. The prices went high and fast, and there wasn't anything that I was going to be able to "afford"...

Bassett hall was open and I was happy to walk over there and take a look. This is the home that the Rockerfellers lived in when they were at CW. What I like is they have the house decked out in their time period... so it's fun to see. 

Sadly I'm not sure if people know that you can tour this home... because there was just one other family that went threw with us. But, then nice for us, because we could spend as much time as we liked looking threw. The house is so homey,  I felt like I could get a cup of tea and just sit and visit....

Again, I always hear something different when we take the tours. This guide told us that Mrs. Rockerfeller often invited veterans over for dinners around Christmas time, and how much the family was loved in Williamsburg when they would stay at this house. I asked if there really was a tree in the dining room and she said, yes, because she liked having them so close when she entertained. 

The other nice thing about this house, is you really get to see most of it. They take you threw the bedrooms, and the formal rooms, and even the kitchen and pantries... I feel like you get a real look at the place.

And, if it hadn't been for the Rockerfellers, CW might not even exist today.... 

and we're back once again...

This lovely room is "home" for the next couple of nights!!!! The package deal I got included a room in one of Williamsburgs hotels, and ours is at the Woodlands. We haven't ever stayed here in all the times that we have come, and being right beside the Visitors Center, we can park the truck and won't need it again until we have to leave. I wasn't sure how quickly we could check in, but since the room was ready, they let us in right away.  We know how crazy busy this weekend can be, so we wanted to get our tickets and get into the city as soon as we could. Knowing the place so well, we know how to "get around" and everything went as planned. 

And so, we're back once again.... the streets seem so familiar and it really doesn't feel like we have been away that long. The weather is cool and bright, and the houses are being finished up with their decorations... it felt good just to walk and take it all in...

I will admit the first time I heard the carriage coming down the road, I cried. It made me miss Duke and the carriage rides I had with him....funny how sounds can bring memories back so quickly......I know that smells can too... but with me not having a sense of smell... I find sounds bring the quickest memories... anyways... with that behind us we went on. 

We came across Liberty and her handler.. this is one of CW's newest mascots. They found that some of the founding fathers did have various pets, and that Briards were a breed of dog in CW... so, they are using this one (and actually there is another that is her double) to be out on the streets. She was a good puppy and has had the training to keep her around the crowds and all that happens. I was hoping to get a chance to talk with her handler, but they were soon mobbed by the crowd, so I didn't bother them.

My picture taking eye went crazy with all the wonderful things I saw... and I know there are just going to be too many photos to edit threw when we get home.... thank goodness for digital...

I liked the use of the peacock feathers in this wreath

And we always like to walk by "our" house... we have stayed in this little house... Ed booked it as a surprise for our anniversary one year... I need to make a point of going back to it again...

The craftsmen were showing off their talents..

The beautiful live oak seems to be doing well... I've yet to find out the age of this tree.... I know it's hundreds of years old, but never think to ask what they think it's real age is..

The palace is all decked out in it's finest. Tonight we are going on a Christmas tour walk, and it includes the palace.. so I'm curious what its all about. 

And even though we've done the tour a "million" times, we went again. I usually pick up on something new each time, but we just like being inside and seeing it ....

So, we spent the day walking about, took a break for supper and came back in the dark. It's so magical at night. The tour we went on was something like "Christmas threw time".. and it took us threw a few of the buildings...Sadly they won't let you take photos of the the tours... but I did get these as we went along...

The baskets were lit along the street, I told Ed we need to get ours put up when we get home and light it off some winter evenings....they look so neat... and they burn "fat wood" in them, so I have already decided that Ed is going to get some fat wood for Christmas.

The day went by way too fast, as we knew it would.. but we have all tomorrow, and tomorrow evening, we're eating here at Shields Tavern...

on the road on this first day.......

So... early in the fall.. I was playing around on the computer and hopped onto Colonial Williamsburg site. We love Williamsburg and haven't been there in a while. I've been thinking it would be fun to go again this year for the Grand Illumination  and discovered that they were running some package deals... so I called. Well, the deal I called about was a good one, but they were offering one even better, and honestly I just couldn't pass it up. So, I booked us in for the holiday weekend.  I worried a little about doing it, with Dad's health issues I don't like being too far from home, but he told me that we should go.... and so, as a surprise I kept it from Ed, thinking it would be a nice gift... but , I couldn't keep quiet. 

With Astrid watching over the farm, and pennies saved all fall, we headed out this morning.... our plan is to drive down as far as we can this first night, but to be in Williamsburg as early as possible so we don't miss one moment there. This is the Tappenzee bridge... I "hate" bridges, and there are several big ones to cross on this trip. I mainly took these photos, because they are working on a new bridge and one day --- I guess -- this bridge will no longer be used... so it's gets its photo in the blog!!!

Next to bridges, I don't like tunnels either.... and we have those to deal with too.  We often have gone across the Chesapeake bay which has both bridges and tunnels... but this time, we are kind of in a hurry, so talking the most direct route. 

We did quite well, and got much further than we thought... and probably would have pushed threw, except that we have no place to stay in Williamsburg on this first night... so, we stopped just north of Richmond and tomorrow, we're just a couple hours away from being "there".... after our sadness on the farm, it's fun to be on the road, and going to that special place that we both love so much.  We talk about the day we bring the grands here, and are looking forward to this weekend, and vacations in the future...