As our time in Washington DC winds down, the girls expressed a desire to see George Washington's Mt Vernon estate one last time before we leave for Paris. So a few days before Christmas, the girls and I (James) spent a day at the estate. Pia was very keen to see the museum and there was also a special Christmas program put on for the festive season - including a special introduction to the making of hot chocolate (a Washington family favourite apparently), a gingerbread Mt Vernon made by the former pastry chef for the White House, a Camel brought in for the occasion (named Aladdin - Washington also had an interest in exotic animals), Christmas decorations throughout the house and also the Turkey that Obama had spared on Thanksgiving. That lucky beast (he was enormous for a bird) would spend the rest of his days at Mount Vernon. In addition, Pia and Ella visited the kids' "Hands on History" room where they did a puzzle of Washington as a 'pioneer farmer' (yes, he is the American 'everyman') and dressed up as little Martha Washingtons.
The estate looked a treat with the light snow covering, and a male and female cardinal completed the picture. We also visited the rarely seen 3rd floor of the mansion (which is only open at this time of year), the blacksmith's workshop and the gardens. After 2 previous visits it was surprising just how much we saw that was new.
In the museum we enjoyed a short movie about the revolutionary war - complete with moving seats, pyrotechnic cannon fire and fake snow (meaning 2 little girls hugging their dad extremely tightly) - which reenacted the battles of Boston, Trenton and Yorktown. The last theatre was entitled 'legacy' and featured a number of prominent Americans talking about Washington's values and their resonance today - all very patriotic, inspiring stuff: complete with choirs of schoolchildren singing 'America the Beautiful' and the Star Spangled Banner. Very different to the President's House in Philadelphia.
But the highlight was meeting Lady Washington, who converses with tourists in a specially appointed building on the property. For Pia and Ella, Martha Washington has assumed something of a cult status during this trip (they actually act out games where one of them is Martha, the other George: frequently they fall in love and get married. When there are disputes as to who plays Martha, one plays Martha Jefferson instead), so to see her in the flesh - and to talk to her - was a big thrill for the girls. They also asked her a question about how hard she found it being away from her husband for so long (when he was fighting for independence) and their question was met with a response which, while somewhat florid, was genuinely meant: "Oh, my little dears, my mother always told me that to ask of others' welfare was the very essence of civility. How kind of you to ask!". The girls were quite taken with all this. Martha also taught them a little rhyme which was, she said, the secret to lifelong happiness, and she made us all repeat it 3 times so that we wouldn't forget. Three days later when I asked Ella what it was she responded straight away: 'Be Busy as a Bee, Cheerful as a Cricket, and Steady as a clock".
The only sour note to the day was the sight of a huge falcon sitting on a branch near the Washington's outdoor toilet, clutching in one talon his prey: an eastern gray squirrel. From a distance we could see a general hubbub around this tree, and tourists gawking in amazement at the bird and its catch. But it was not clear just what the bird had caught - all we could see at first was a carcass and bushy tail swinging in the gentle breeze. The bird, you would swear, was enjoying the attention and showing off. Pia was understandably distressed at the sight but very quickly appreciated that this was nature and that was how nature worked. But it was a grizzly sight - all that remained of the squirrel was a head, skeleton and the tail.
But all in all, the girls enjoyed their day. Mt Vernon has bracketed our time in Washington DC. And the result? The girls have become unabashed republicans - they can't stand the sight of the Union Jack, detest any talk of 'Great Britain" and "taxes" and swear that they will not set foot anywhere near the palace in London. We will have a job getting them on board a flight to the UK, and they are most happy to be flying over it en route to France....Now for the next revolution and another history.... This will be our last post from Washington DC as we leave for Paris on Wednesday, and then return to Australia on January 15. We will try and post some of our photos in Paris for you all to see. Thank you for following along in all our Washington adventures and we hope you have enjoyed reading about them as much as we have enjoyed every minute of our 6 months here.
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