NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM






Sculture outside the museum, "flight"

25 June 2011

Today we finally visited the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia! We've lived in Ashburn for a year-and-a-half, now, and have been saying ever since we moved here that since its only about 20 minutes from our house, we really need to go. And, now, we have — and thoroughly enjoyed it!! Its a great museum!

American, German, French, British, Japanese, all kinds of planes from the Wright Brothers first plane for military use to the space shuttle Enterprise. There were planes so small its hard to imagine an adult fitting in them, to an SST. And there was even one display of what they called Trench Art — works that were created from a flight stick from a downed aircraft, empty shell casings, etc. Very interesting.

Next time we need to remember to take the good camera, though.

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR — LIVE!

A view of the outdoor theatre at Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia.

LIVE. IN CONCERT. THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR AND THE ORCHESTRA AT TEMPLE SQUARE.

They allowed U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Virginia, to be the guest "conductor" (he really just waved his arms around) for their final encore number.

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

We had never seen a live performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir before and it was FABULOUS!! Years and years ago, on a visit to SLC we got to see part of a rehearsal (when they were still in the original tabernacle) but it was nothing compared to this.

Laura and Travis gave us the tickets for Christmas and we've been eagerly awaiting this night. I can't begin to describe how wonderful it was. Plus, we hadn't been to the famous Wolf Trap outdoor theatre in the only National Park for the Performing Arts until now — and it was great, too.

Truly a memorable evening!

OUR NEW LANDSCAPING




12 June 2011

We are really enjoying the new landscaping in our back yard! We have plans to do more next spring, but its so nice to have these new plantings in. And we also have a new Weber grill that we "broke in" at a pot-luck style barbeque with about a dozen neighbors here in Potomac Green. Great fun!