A week before Independence Day, Mount Vernon sponsored a special evening on the grounds which included fireworks over the Potomac and the mansion.
After the guests for the day had left the property, those of us attending the fireworks (with special admission tickets) entered the Texas Gate (the official entry gate paid for by the Texas members of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association).
QUILT FOR A PICNIC
For a picnic blanket, I brought my Jinny Beyer garden path quilt (patterned after an 18th century garden in her backyard) which I had recently finished sewing.
As we all arrived on the grounds, everyone spread out, looking for their favorite spot in front or behind the mansion, to lay their blankets and set up their chairs.
This year we chose the front of the mansion…
Purchasing burgers and wine at the food stations on the side of the mansion, we brought them back to our blanket and greatly enjoyed our meal.
Cooked and served by the restaurant staff, the burgers tasted like they had been marinated in red wine.
After finishing our picnic, we walked around to see the sites, which included historic ice cream making.
BOATS ON THE POTOMAC
On the Potomac River many boats were finding their place for a grand view of the fireworks show…which somehow reminds me of the Cary Grant and Sophia Loren movie, Houseboat, set in Northern Virginia and Washington DC.
NIGHT LIGHTS
Everywhere we walked, lanthorns lit the way, intermingled by fireflies…
We visited George Washington’s tomb for a special wreath laying ceremony…
After sunset, the fireworks burst over the mansion, bedecked with red, white, and blue lights.
Next year we plan to change things up and sit on the Potomac side of the mansion.
