Ashton Home School

Washington DC - Day Two

2007-12-27T22:54:00.000-05:00

Today we parked at Union Station and showed the family the Japanese Internment Memorial on our way to the Air and Space Museum. As the day came to a close we walked back via the Capitol steps (as close as you can get without the official tour).

US Botanic Garden Again

2007-12-26T22:49:00.000-05:00

We had family up for Christmas so we took them downtown to see the sites. We took them to see the wonderful Christmas display at the Botanic Garden on our first day out. It was a big hit.

This is a Star Cactus from the endangered plants display.

US Botanic Garden

2007-12-08T22:43:00.000-05:00

Today we stumbled upon the Botanic Garden's Christmas exhibit. There was a large model train set up outside, and inside were models of famous DC buildings made entirely out of natural items like bark, acorns, corn husks, and pine cones. It was lots of fun. :)

National Zoo

2007-11-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

We spent a wonderful day at the zoo. One of the things that made it special was that we got to see it with a new friend of ours who visits the zoo often and knows the animals by name. Many of them recognized her and put on playful shows for us. It was a very special experience.

Hiking at Triadelphia

2007-11-24T22:33:00.001-05:00

We spent a chilly autumn morning stomping through the woods behind our church.

One of many feathers we saw.

Edwards Ferry & Whites Ferry

2007-11-03T22:21:00.000-04:00

We visited two locations on the C & O Canal today. This photo was taken on the boat ramp of Edwards Ferry.

We saw some cool bugs at Whites Ferry. This pupa was attached to the old stonework of the canal.

Box Elder Bugs

The Kittens are Growing

2007-10-22T22:18:00.000-04:00

We found homes for two of the kittens, and we are keeping the other two. They are growing so fast!

US National Arboretum

2007-10-20T22:11:00.000-04:00

Beth was feeling left out, so we visited the Arboretum again. :)

One of William's pictures from this day.
One of Beth's pictures from this day.

Washington DC at Night

2007-10-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

I highly recommend visiting the monuments and memorials at night. The designers have really thought out the lighting of them, and they take on a new personality when the sun goes down.

Great Falls, Virginia

2007-10-13T21:58:00.000-04:00

We hiked the Patowmack Canal trail and viewed Great Falls today. The water level at the falls was so low! This picture is near the North end of the canal.

US National Arboretum

2007-10-06T21:52:00.000-04:00

Beth went on a backpack with the Pathfinders this weekend. William has been sick this fall, and even though he is well now, he doesn't really have his strength back. So, Sabbath afternoon we took William to the National Arboretum to enjoy the flowers and get some practice taking pictures.

Patapsco Valley State Park

2007-09-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

We went for a hike to enjoy the fall colors.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, NPS

2007-09-16T21:42:00.000-04:00

Kenilworth has been on our list of places to visit for a long time. Today, we finally made our way across town to see it. It was worth the trip! :)

Kitten Rescue

2007-09-13T21:33:00.000-04:00

We rescued four kittens today. They were born outside about five weeks ago. Their mother is a stray, but our neighbors have not seen her in several days. The kids have promised to help me take care of them. It is interesting that this should happen near the beginning of our Freshman year. We rescued several sets of cats and kittens the year we started first grade.

Black Hill Regional Park

2007-09-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

We visited Black Hill today to talk with the volunteers at the visitor center about Monarch Butterflies. The nice lady took the time to show us the various kinds of milkweed they have available for the caterpillars, and she explained their habits and life cycle at great length for us. We took a number of pictures of them, and of other flowers and even some frogs.

Pennyfield Lock

2007-09-08T21:21:00.000-04:00

We went for a beautiful hike today along the C&O Canal starting at Pennyfiled Lock. Everything was green and beautiful. We saw a Green Heron, multiple deer, and some very interesting looking insects.

Capital Crescent

2007-08-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

We rode the Capital Crescent Trail on our bikes today. It was so hot out! It was a very fun trail though, we need to go back and do it again in nicer weather.

Skyline Drive NPS

2007-08-18T21:03:00.000-04:00

Today we drove the first section of Skyline drive. It was so beautiful!

We were thrilled to hundreds of butterflies at every stop we made along the way. One thistle bush was covered with at least 30 butterflies at the same time.

C & O Canal Boat Rides

2007-08-05T20:53:00.000-04:00

We went back to Georgetown to take a ride on a canal boat. This was great fun, and our guide shared a wealth of information with us. On the ride you are pulled by mules, down the canal about 2 miles. You even get to go through a lock.

After riding on the boat we went in search of a lock we had missed on our previous trip. There is a lock before Lock 1. It is called the Tidal Lock, and it is situated across from the Watergate Hotel (the lock is where the Watergate Hotel got its name).

After finally finding the spot where the canal joins with the Potomac River we decided to run up to Great Falls and ride their canal boat too. It was similar yet different to the Georgetown ride. Up at Great Falls, you really are out in the country and it was very beautiful.

C & O Canal

2007-07-29T20:36:00.000-04:00

Today we set out to find the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal’s starting point. This picture is looking through Lock 1 and Lock 2. The Georgetown canal boat is in the beyond the North gate of Lock 2.

Seneca Creek State Park

2007-07-22T20:26:00.000-04:00

We hiked another section of the Seneca Creek Trail today. I think all four of us decided this section was our favorite so far. We saw a large number of birds and deer along the way.

It has been a busy spring. . .

2007-06-06T09:07:00.000-04:00

Maybe I will find the time to catch up with a post for each event , but until then here is a list of the field trips we have taken.

February 24, 2007
• Great Falls, MD
March 30, 2007
• Falling Water, PA (Frank Lloyd Wright house)
• Punxsutawney, PA (Saw Phil & Gobbler’s Knob)
• Jimmy Stewart Museum, Indiana, PA
April 28, 2007
• C&O Canal, Williamsport, MD
• McMahon’s Mill, MD
• George Washington Monument State Park, MD
April 29, 2007
• Glen Echo Park NPS
• U. S. Botanic Garden
May 2, 2007
• Falling Water, PA
• Flight 93 Temporary Memorial, PA
• C&O Canal: Town Creek Aqueduct, MD
• Paw Paw Tunnel, WV
May 3, 2007
• George Washington Monument State Park, MD
• Antietam National Battlefield, MD
May 17, 2007
• Paramount Ranch, CA
• Solstice Canyon, CA
May 26, 2007
• National Arboretum
June 2, 2007
• Patowmack Canal, Great Falls, VA

Valley Forge

2007-02-22T17:58:00.000-05:00

We visited Valley Forge yesterday, and William and Beth earned their Jr. Ranger badges.

What with the snow, you could get a bit of an idea of what it must have been like to live in a little log cabin during the long winter months of 1778.

The kids were very curious about how they fit twelve soldiers into each cabin.

This is the actual house that George Washington lived in while the troops were at Valley Forge.

Bible Bowl 2007 - Area Level

2007-02-07T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Triadelphia Sparks team earned a first place finish in this year's area event and will move on to the conference level next month. This year the material being covered is the last five chapters of Deuteronomy and all of Joshua. William is responsible for knowing Deuteronomy 30 to 33, and Beth is covering Joshua 11 to 15:32.

A group picture of this year's area participants.

Sugar Loaf Mt. and Monocacy

2007-01-07T11:04:00.002-05:00

Sugar Loaf Mt.

Thomas Farm, Monocacy National Battlefield.

Worthington Farm, Monocacy Battlefield.