Philadelphia, PA

On Tuesday following Memorial Day, we moved on to New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, first home of our capitol.

We decided Philadelphia has the worst traffic, and is the hardest place to maneuver around; and we were in the Jeep!  In spite of that, we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Independence National Historic Park. We needed a timed ticket to visit the Independence Hall, so we visited the visitor center, which now houses the Liberty Bell

It was a highlight to actually see the icon of freedom, the Liberty Bell.  It was a lot smaller than I had imagined it to be.

During the Revolutionary War, Congress met in Philadelphia, the largest and richest city in America at the time. It became the temporary capital until the capital in DC was completed, 10 years later.

The tour also included Congress Hall (where I was sworn in as president, in the same spot George Washington was sworn in for his second term, and I did not even have to show my birth certificate!!),

and the Great Essentials, an exhibit of the countries most valuable papers:  The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Articles of Confederation.  But the pictures I took came out too blurry to see.  This picture I got off the park service site.

We were disappointed the Second Bank of the United States was closed the day we were there.  It houses a Portrait Gallery of presidents as well as others from the revolutionary period.

Not only is Philadelphia the home of the Second Bank, but it is also home of the First Bank of the United States, established in 1791.  The building was built in 1797.

The Quaker Meeting House was located just across the street from Benjamin Franklin's grave.

The closest home on this row of houses was once occupied by John and Dolley Todd until his death.  She later married future president James Madison.

So close to Washington's Crossing and Valley Forge, we visited them as well:  Until next Blog.....

Memorial Day in Washington D.C.

Twice a year, there are two weeks between projects, created due to the way the first Friday falls.  Typically it is once in the spring and once in the fall.

This year it fell between our May and June jobs.  So after our Baltimore, MD, job in May, we headed for Washington DC for Memorial Day weekend.  

It was such a pleasure to be in the capitol city!  Since we have been to Washington before, we have seen the typical landmarks; so this time, we wanted to just enjoy the ambiance of the city.

There were several wreath laying events we could have gone to, but chose these two events to highlight our weekend in DC.

On Sunday night we attended the National Memorial Concert on the west lawn of the Capitol building. 

(I think the capitol building was under renovation last time we were here, too !)

It was  a very moving concert, with stories to honor those injured during the war as well as those who died.

The following day, we attended the National Memorial Day Parade. The parade was a chronological display of wars America has fought, from the American Revolutionary War, right on up to today's military.

Although there is not pictures of everything in the parade, these pictures represent a few of the displays.

The parade started with an Honor Guard

American Revolution was represented in part by  George Washington

War of 1812 was represented by a band...I did not get a picture of any of the 14 high school bands from all over.  There was even one from a blind school in Ohio!

Civil War

And even Abe showed up!

We were at the very beginning of the parade, and the VIP stand was right across from us, so we were able to hear the musical salutes and a special musical performance by the Smashing Pumpkins.

The missing Idaho potato was also part of the entertainment.

World War I was represented by General Black Jack John Pershing

The 70th anniversary of the Victory of World War II was being Celebrated

Sgt. Reckless was a tribute to the Korean war's most famous war horse

Vietnam war

and today's military, platoons from all 5 services.

There were so many displays of patriotism,  and being there was a great experience.  It reminded us of how great this country really is.

MMAP CEF, Maryland, May 2015

It has been almost a year since I have blogged.
Not that the rest of 2014 was not busy!   If I get a chance, I will do a blog or two about 2014 later.

Meanwhile, after Paul had rotator cuff surgery and some other unrelated health issues, we were delayed from going back to work with MMAP until May.  We both had the "hitch itch" by then!

We have been to Child Evangelism Fellowship near Baltimore before, in  2012 and in 2013.  The timing of this trip was a little disconcerting since the riots had just begun while we were on the way to the jobsite.  The affected neighborhood is about  5 miles from where we were working and we felt very safe where we were.  Although one day a bus stopped, let someone out and all of a sudden there were 5 patrol cars and an ambulance!

Little did these poor folks realize what they were getting into when they were assigned with us as coordinators on this project

This years project consisted of remodeling two offices, the 45' long hallway, and repainting the entire outside of the building.

That meant taking up old carpeting, texturizing the walls, painting, installing drop ceiling and new lights, and laying down new flooring in the two rooms.  A new desk was the "icing on the cake".  They finished moving in and changed the desk and the printer around after I took the picture. The end results were fabulous!

The hallway required the same removing carpeting, texturizing and painting walls, painting trim, painting and installing floor molding and chair railing, laying down new flooring, installing drop ceiling and new lighting.
Again, we were all so pleased with the results!  It made the hallway look so much brighter and fresh.

Floor molding was also added after this picture was taken.

Paul did a lot of unseen electrical work in the attic.

The before picture really shows the need.  Some of the facia needed to be replaced before painting, and the trim needed a coat of Kilz before the paint was applied

The plain, unpainted, posts that looked temporary, were replaced with decorative posts 

 The end result was really nice, clean look!

We could not have finished the exterior brick and metal, eaves and trim, without other volunteers, including Bill, who has faithfully served in the office since he came for a year and has stayed for four, (he will be leaving at the end of the month)

 a board member/volunteer, Carolyn, who does a ton of other office work there, as well as having a club at a local church

and Levi, a very loyal volunteer who does anything he is asked!  He was our little energizer bunny and encourager who spent three days with us, loading and taking a truck load of trash each day when he left.  We tried to recruit him for MMAP, but our gain would be CEF loss!

We even got Martha, the big cheese, outside painting!

A couple of CEF teachers also donated a few hours to the outside painting!

And we could not leave the little storage building out.  The ladies took that on as a special project.  It was only going to have the door painted, but on further inspection, we decided it needed the full treatment.

At the end of the project the only exterior wall paint left out of the 15 gallons, had to be scrapped out!  They figured the amount needed almost to the drop!

Although the pressure was on, we took a full Ladies Day Out and had tea at the tea shoppe we visited two years ago.  (We also ended up at Ikea on another day for "necessities" )

We had to ask where the best crab cakes were... one was a deli we made a special day trip with the Rockhills to find, and then found a nice grassy place in a library parking lot to relax and enjoy them!  I think we sat there for at least a couple of hours!  The other was a sit down place, Timbuktu!  Again a fun double date on Mother's Day! 

It was a great project, none of us had worked together before,  but as MMAPers, we formed friendships easily.  We look forward to future jobs together!

Last Minute North Carolina Road Trip

One day soon after Paul left for CA, my sister Susan called. She had called and got Paul and found out I was by myself and wanted to know if I was interested in a road trip.  Well, ask me that, and most likely the answer will be yes!

So after some planning, she flew out here on Friday night, and we took off Saturday morning for Asheville, N.C., to see the Biltmore Mansion!  What a great trip.

We found a church with an early service close by on Sunday morning, which we both thoroughly enjoyed.  Although that should not be the criteria for choosing a church, it was not the only factor, and we both felt this one was it!  And we were blessed!

After service, we headed for the mansion.  We took the self-guided audio tour inside the house, where we could not take pictures.... so hard not to.... it was an amazing place!

But here are some of the exterior shots:

Exterior of the staircase,

Beautifully carved columns, including

columns with drainpipe that has a fish at the end, so water comes out of its mouth!

Indoor winter garden,

the back side,

south side.

From the garden

Walled Garden entrance

 with conservatory,

We had a hard time deciding between two guided tours. We ultimately decided to do both!  One on Sunday and the other on Monday.  We found out if we signed up for one on the following day, our one day pass would be extended to the second day.  So that is what we did.

On Sunday, the Architect’s tour was fascinating: we toured the rooftop, balconies, and enjoyed fantastic views.

we got up close and personal to the “grotesques”.

We had a top view of the winter (inside) garden, 

the stable (where we ate lunch on Monday)

the brass edgings on the roof,

which were gold covered when installed!  Just a bit is still visible.

We got up close to the roof above the elevator

as well as the one over the chandelier, which was a four story wonder!

The small rooftop over the door was our exit.  In that section, before descending narrow stairs, we could see horizontal copper pipe with wires wrapped around it and the roof tiles, showing how the slate roof was attached.

The picture of the mansion from the garden (above), shows the roof top we were standing on.

The slate roof is full of amazing details.  It was guaranteed to last for 100 years.... guess what.... it is 24 years past that!  They are now planning on how to replace it.

We were able to see interior views under the roof, where copper tubing was run parallel and the slate is wired to it.

This door entering the balcony is located in the south tower on the back side (picture above), leading on the left to Mr. Vanderbilt’s bathroom, and the right going to a living space.

The Monday tour was the Butler’s tour.  It was mostly inside, so could not take pictures.  We toured the servants quarters, and some of the mechanical areas.  The sub basement included the huge boilers, and an electrical room, wired for both AC and DC.  Everything was state of the art.   Even refrigerated cabinets in the kitchen...in 1889!

One of the few outside areas we were at on the tour was a balcony facing the servants courtyard.

The black circles on the brick are chutes where coal, then later oil was delivered to the subbasement for the boilers.

The dark gray elongated room in the picture is the servants entrance.  Although it was not on the original plans, it was added prior to the completion of the house.

Both of the additional tours were fantastic and very informative.

There are many buildings on the estate.  Some private family homes; others include barns, the hotel, and Antlers Village and winery.

We toured the winery, 

then visited the village.  The on-site hotel is in the background....not the one we stayed at.

The scenery was magnificent!

And something I have never seen before.... just outside the entrance to Biltmore, a grand piano at the Macdonald’s !

Biltmore is really an elegant place, with a touch of warmth not expected in such a large place.  We were glad we stayed the second day there.  After the Butler’s tour, we took the self guided tour again, to get a feel for where we were in relation to the rooms we saw in both of the tours.   It was well worth visiting!

The next morning, we took a drive over to Charlotte to visit the Billy Graham Library.  The journey there was part of the adventure. Besides the hand-written sign that said “stop and talk to SAM” (a bare-chested mountain man with long white beard sitting on the side of the road.....we waved and drove on by.....), we also passed these beauties

and stopped to take pictures of Chimney Mt.  It was cloudy, which made the mountain even more beautiful.  

We arrived at the library in time to have lunch there.  The library grounds includes his childhood home which was moved there. 

George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows wife, Billie are buried there,

as is Ruth Bell Graham.  All of their spouses will also be buried there.

We took the self-guided tour and visited the book store.

It was a wonderful tribute to a great man of God.

At the end, we were faced with a 20 x40 foot Kincaid painting of the cross.  An awesome reminder of what Jesus did for us when He took away our sins!  Again, well worth the visit!

On the way back through Knoxville, we stopped to see our cousin, Don.  He suggested a coffee shop that he frequents, in

the old section of Knoxville.  It was a great time of catching up!

The trip was a great chance to spend some time alone not only as sisters, but as friends.