The Beauty Around Us

Bob and I spent the Easter weekend in Alexandria, Virginia. During our 3-night stay we spent time with family members and visited Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon. I uploaded photographs from our visit to Old Town Alexandria in yesterday’s blog post. Today’s blog post is about our visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate on Saturday, April 7th.

This was my second visit to Mount Vernon. My first visit was in September 1997. I attended a craft fair that year, and boy was it crowded! We beat the crowds this year, arriving at Mount Vernon at approximately 8:30AM. It was so nice to tour the Mansion in a small tour group. The Mansion has been restored to how it would have looked when Washington died in 1799. The guided tour was excellent in its presentation of factual data. I have no photographs inside the Mansion, as photography was not permitted.

The Mansion was home to George and Martha Washington.

Bob took this photograph of me, after our tour of the Mansion. I am looking at the Potomac River; the view was beautiful. The sun was not positioned well for a good picture of the view of the river from the Mansion, so I didn’t take a photograph of the Potomac River. You will notice that I am wearing a knee brace. I am scheduled for arthroscopic surgery later this month. I have been experiencing increasing pain in my knee since late last year. An MRI showed that I have two torn meniscus, bone spurs and arthritis in my right knee. The surgery is to repair the torn meniscus and to remove the bone spurs.

After touring the Mansion, we walked down to the Wharf stopping and seeing some of the sights along the way.

Washington’s Tomb holds the remains of George and Martha Washington, as well as other family members.

Entrance to Slave Burial Area

Slave Burial Area

Slave Burial Area

The Wharf is located on the shores of the Potomac River. Remember how close the Osprey nest was that we saw, while at Old Town Alexandria? We found an even closer Osprey nest at the Wharf!

Please click on image to enlarge.

This osprey nest is located right next to where a sightseeing cruise boat docks. The cruise boat was docked at the wharf, while these photographs were taken. If we had boarded the boat and walked to the upper deck, we would have been able to take a photograph of the three eggs that were inside the nest.

OH, and I almost forgot. The osprey wasn’t the only bird we saw, while at Mount Vernon. We saw an American Bald Eagle soaring above the Mansion. I didn’t have my long lens on the camera; wish I had!

Near the Wharf is the Pioneer Farmer Site.

A 16-sided barn is located at the Pioneer Farmer Site.
The barn kept wheat clean and safe from weather.

We rode a shuttle bus from the Wharf to near the Mansion.

We walked through the Upper Garden.

We then departed Mount Vernon.

This was our last view of the Mansion, as we departed Mount Vernon.

I recommend highly a visit to Mount Vernon, if you are in the Washington, D.C. area. Seeing Mount Vernon is well worth the $15.00 admission fee!