We went on a 4-H trip this past week. Our club has been working on it all year; fundraising for over a year. It was a nice trip to Virginia. We spent the first day at a museum taking classes on a few different eras in VA history. We learned about the Native Americans, the Revolution, the Bateau (a form of river transportation), and the Gilded Age--Victorian lifestyle. After we were educated, we headed out to see some of the events. We went to Natural Bridge and saw the caverns, the waterfalls, an Indian village, and watched a light show depicting creation. The next day we were off to an Elizabethan garden maze. That was what the kids were most looking forward to. Some of the adults were trying it too. Another mom and I were the winners; it was lots of fun. Then we took a tour of Michie Tavern, a tavern from the 1700s. #1 really enjoyed it. We did a square dance and he really liked that. The last day we went to Ash-Lawn Highland, home of James Monroe, and to Monticello. Our family had gone up early on Thursday to see the vacation home of Jefferson at Poplar Forest, and that was a nice addition to Monticello. Some interesting things to me were:

• A lot of people's success was who they knew. All of the first presidents knew each other and had contact with each other.
• I don't think we could survive in a time like that now. They reused things every way they could, saved what they could, were ingenious even to the point of boiling the dirt in the smokehouse to get out all of the salt during a salt shortage.
• The politicians were seldom at their own homes. They had to depend on others to take care of their homes while they were running the country or being ambassadors to other countries.
• Debt was a BIG problem for our forefathers. Jefferson died penniless. Monroe was deeply in debt as well. But it wasn't as much their fault as debt is today. Jefferson inherited a lot of his debt, and people visited him all of the time and he was expected to entertain them. He also was being a gentleman and signed a note for his daughter's father-in-law, who then defaulted on the loan. Monroe had to pay for all of the furniture for the White House after the fire of 1814 when the British attacked.

#1 says Michie Tavern was his favorite. #2 picks the Indian Village. Hubby likes the indoors of Monticello- outside it was cold. I think I would pick either Michie Tavern or Ash-Lawn Highland. The tour guides make or break it for me, and those were really good ones. I also think it was a great addition to see both Poplar Forest and Monticello. They have a lot in common and it was interesting to see them both.

Now we are back and have to get back into the swing of things. The goats were bears this morning. Mary does not like being milked. It will be along few weeks to get her settled I am afraid.