Since my daughter was busy with college, my son and I arrived to enjoy President’s Day weekend events with both of us in costume!
Attending the unique programs of the Virginia presidents in Williamsburg, I’ve gleaned deeper meaning to the annual weekend as we explore their lives before the presidency, as focused in the once capital of the colony.
Then I learned that Colonial Williamsburg had a new James Madison, who had spent months in study, deeply immersed in documents and research known to the man.
Experiencing the result of that research was great!
MEANINGFUL INTERPRETER INTERACTIONS
Many of the interpreters kindly visited with us, sharing all the latest CW excitement, while asking about our family and well-being.
One of the interpreters had tears of joy in his eyes at finally seeing us after a long absence. Awww.
That means so much and deepens my love for CW more and more.
FUN GUEST INTERACTIONS
We also enjoyed fun guest interactions, some of whom remember us from previous visits and others who met us for the first time.
Many who saw our costumes asked where I rented them, so I told them I sewed them by hand, and they were amazed!
One little girl stroked the fur trim on my cloak while chatting with me.
After posing for pictures with a family, the mother asked me many questions about my muff.
One windy day a gentleman reached down to pick up my straw hat, which I couldn’t bend down to reach because of my ultra-stiff stays.
After I pinned my hat back on and continued walking to the cannons for the Salute to the Presidents, a lady whom I’ve met other times laughed and said I needed to pose for a gentleman who was smitten with me.
The apparent smitten gent asked me to pose in a certain way to have the best background.
Many of the men complimented my red color scheme.
(It’s the costume…because I never attract attention!)
One man who saw us in costume Saturday morning at the Visitor Center said he was glad to see us in costume, because the day before he saw us in regular clothes during the Capitol tour.
Laughing, I said I was in traveling clothes since it’s difficult to drive in stays.
For the first time ever, we were asked to pose for pictures at the hotel.
In between museum programs when I was in the ladies’ room, the ladies all started asking me the most curious questions of practicality. Too funny!
I think I also sold some season passes to Jamestown/Yorktown as well!
TIN SHOP
DIALOGUES IN REVOLUTION AT THE CAPITOL
WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, AND MADISON AT THE CAPITOL
On Saturday morning, we journeyed to the Capitol where three men opened their political careers as burgesses of Virginia and impacted a future nation.
Our visits with James Madison, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, revealed those fascinating details, resulting in spirited discussion.
SNOWY PHOTO SHOOT
When a sudden snow shower dropped prodigious flakes upon the historic area, my son and I took lots of photos of each other in costume, and so did the guests!
Surprisingly, a picture of us was published in the modern Virginia Gazette!
PRESIDENTS WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON
On Sunday morning, we again visited with the great Virginia statesmen, this time in the time frame of their presidencies, where we engaged on important matters with Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
SALUTE TO THE PRESIDENTS
In the afternoon we enjoyed the Fifes and Drums marching to celebrate President’s Day with the firing of cannons, in a program called, Salute to the Presidents.
Even our Virginia presidents helped to light the cannons!
EVENING WITH THE PRESIDENTS
That evening we attended the most festive of all the events, Evening with the Presidents, full of great dialogue and surprising fun moments!
Afterwards my son and I officially met the new interpreters for Presidents James Madison and James Monroe!
MILLINER
On the quietness of Monday, we took the scenic route home but stopping by a few locals in the historic area, beginning with the milliner, where I gleaned much inspiration for future sewing projects.
SILVERSMITH
Since the silversmith was next door, we had to pay them a visit as well!
Although it was a bitterly cold and windy day, we delighted in the warmth of the crackling fire while watching the tradeswomen at their work in the silversmith shop.
The formation of spoons was explained to us…
…as well as the precision technique of cutting out filigree. I asked about that as I was admiring a piece.
I adore filigree, and that is my term, not necessarily theirs.
In response to my question, she pulled out this piece to show exactly how she cuts out the pieces.
TARPLEYS
Our scenic route ended at Tarpley’s, where I purchased souvenirs to take home for my daughter to enjoy, since she couldn’t join us this year, due to her busy college schedule.
EPILOGUE
Upon returning home, I told my daughter that someone asked President James Madison during Evening with the Presidents about the parties his wife threw in Washington DC.
Laughing, he exclaimed: Oh yes, those are called squeezes because so many people attend that you must squeeze through the crowd.
Excitedly my daughter proclaimed: I guess I’m not the first one to use that word!
When she was a toddler, she called every tight spot a squeezy spot.
She used that word so often that it has been incorporated into the family official lexicon.
Who knew she was historically accurate as a toddler? 😉
