Katie here. Mama says she’s too busy weeding the garden to tell you about Wiliamsburg even though she’s promised more than once to do just that. Mama makes promises all the time and then doesn’t do the stuff she promised. Like take a certain dog to a park. If you know what I mean.

Conversation on the courthouse steps.

Anyway, I guess it’s up to me to tell you what I heard about mama and daddy’s day at the colonial village, even though I’m still mad at them for going there without me. I hear it’s a dog friendly place! They said they saw lots of doggies there and I don’t understand one little bit why I couldn’t go.

Mending.

Ahem…

So mama said she was very interested in all the places they visited, and particularly took lots of pictures of the people that were explaining the different houses and occupations. Like the lady that was showing how residents used to spin the yarn…

Beautiful colors

…and the woman that was weaving thread into fabric.

Explaining how the loom works.

They visited a lot of houses too, this one was the home of Payton Randolph who was the first president of the Continental Congress. She described how the slaves interacted with their owners inside affluent homes like this one, and how some owners gave their slaves freedom while others did not.

Important politicians lived in nice places.

Their personal slaves slept on pallets outside the owners bedrooms.

Bedroll stored in a corner

The governor’s palace was pretty spectacular too.

Governor’s palace

The foyer was lined with swords and guns as a sign of wealth and power.

Lots of wealth on display.

And the Capitol Building was amazing. It held two sides of government, the Colonialists and the King’s representation. They each had their own side of the building, but met in the center, up above the arches, to discuss policy.

Mama and Daddy learned lots of history here!

But mostly mama and daddy visited and talked to people that represented the regular day-to-day lives of people. Like this little boy selling lettuce from the back of a wagon…

Lettuce for sale!

…and this silversmith making a bowl.

It’s a slow process.

There were lots of people interacting with the tourists. This guy was explaining a battle, using stones and twigs, to a group of children.

What if you moved your troops to the east?

He made it into a game letting them make strategic decisions. Mama said they were all having a great time trying to win the battle.

Mama said there were lots of pretty little places too, gardens tucked into spots behind houses, or out along the street.

Simple and beautiful.

It was a beautiful spring day. Not too hot, not too cool. Seems to me it would have been a perfect day for a certain sheltie-girl to go for a walk with her folks in an historic village. Just saying. It’s not like mama didn’t pet a sheltie or two or three while she was there!

THREE of them!!

That’s right. I know she cheated on me! This is exactly why I’m still giving her the cold shoulder, not that she’s noticed or anything.

OK. Enough whining. Back to the tour.

Mama and daddy also went to a concert that evening at this church.

Episcopal church

Lots of famous people have attended church here. People like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. And President Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Thomas Jefferson sat here!

Mama and daddy sat in Thomas Jefferson’s pew to listen to an oboe and organ candlelit concert. It was nice even though mama said the seats were very uncomfortable, I guess to keep people awake in church!

The other musical thing they got to see was the pipe and drum parade.

On parade.

Everyone enjoyed watching and listening to them pass by…even people (and dogs) inside!

Are there treats involved in this event?

All in all I guess mama and daddy had a wonderful time even without me. They said they were looking out for my best interests when they scheduled me for camp instead of going with them. But I think they just wanted to keep all the fun for themselves. I’m going to protest louder if they do this again. I might even hire these guys to play outside their bedroom window for a few nights in a row.

After the parade.

That might work.

Meanwhile I guess I should forgive mama. I guess I can take the higher road. Especially if it leads me to a park.

Mama had to pay the price of leaving me behind!