Weekend trip

So this weekend, I had planned ahead to attend an event that I decided not to go to.  That left one Saturday free.  Since I am normally up before the sun, in order to teach young minds, and home lateish, AFTER a busy week... My Saturdays are pretty much shot.  Sundays are three-hour-church days, and all sorts of judgement/guilt if you do anything "recreational," so to say we don't do much would be an understatement.


Yesterday, however, I had no getting up early, or class to teach, so we had the idea to go to the zoo- either the national zoo (I also wanted to get night photos of the Lincoln Memorial and Capital), the Safari Park in Lexington OR Maymont.  Asher has never been to Maymont, neither has Matt.  When we got to the turn for the interstate, I asked Asher "right or left?" and he said "RIGHT!" so, to Maymont, it was.

It was a fine (REALLY HOT!) day in the park.  So many beautiful things to see, but there is definitely a shortage of animals.

Maymont is a giant area in Richmond left to the city by the wealthy Dooleys.  They had no children, so the city was the benefactor of this amazing estate.  Mrs Dooley loved flowers, and her gardens are breath-taking.  Also, she has a swan-shaped bed.  She also was the focus of the Swananoah estate her husband built for her.  I still dream of owning that estate one day... For now, it is falling into very dispairing ruins.  Anyway.  Because of this bed, the fact that VC Andrews is Virginian, and the love story of the Dooley's is so amazing, I am certain that Swannanoah and the swan bed in Flowers in the Attic series comes from the inspiration of the Dooley's.  I could be wrong, but... I think my theory is correct.

One of the fine animals we saw.  Owls look so wise with those eyes, and the stare they have...

This sweetie had one eye- there were two one-eyed owls there.  I think they must be rescues, which makes me sad and happy, all at once.

I broke up the hike to the mansion with lots of pictures

I really love the construction and colors of this gazebo

Magnolia fruit

Butterfly

I could see right into this critter's eyes

Red, red rose

After walking down from the Italian gardens, looking back up.  There was a small (30  guests, or so) wedding there, complete with violin music... it was such a gorgeous day and place for a wedding

Down to the Japanese gardens

This is part of the Japenese gardens- looking up toward the west end of the Italian gardens

Such a pretty, romantic place

We even took a bus ride for a bit, but that walk back was so ROUGH! YIKES, late summer day!

After our 6 hour time at the park, we found lunch in CaryTown.  We stopped at a greek place.  Asher was not happy about sitting still.

We walked up a couple buildings to this pink place- CareyTown Cupcakes.  It is a cute building, that is for sure.

We got home at about 11, but it felt so, so late.  All the walking with my camera gear messed up my back, and I got a terrible headache.  I had to stop at work to get some things done (while Asher slept in the van and Matt waited with him), and I threw up.  I havent head headaches like this in several years, but I have had a migrane every day since Wednesday.


Today (Sunday), is a little better, so I got Asher dressed for church and took some photos.  Is he not the most-adorable boy ever?!