The weekend came so fast this week that this blog post got left behind!
My older boys were in ROBOT camp this week(dream camp for a little boy, wouldn’t you say?….they wanted to do this one last summer but it filled up too fast). The camp took place practically in my backyard here in Northern VA, in a town called Vienna. I did a little research about this place once I saw the various Civil War trail markers. Would you believe, this town was formerly named Ayr Hill (after Ayr, Scotland), but was renamed in the 1850’s when a doctor agreed to move here if it was renamed after his hometown in NY! How bold. Apparently the townspeople were agreeable. There used to be beautiful Victorian homes and maple trees lining the aptly named major thoroughfare, Maple Ave.
After dropping the boys off, I deciced to stick around and walk around the town with my younger two sons…and brought my camera with me.
The first railroad battle in history took place right here, in 1861. A Confederate force ambushed a steam engine carrying a Union detachment that was installing telegraph lines along the railroad.
We stopped in a little thrift store and found shelves lined with an amazing owl collection. The lady who founded the shop collected owls. None of the figures were for sale sadly.
I had to take a picture of this sign for my brother, his dog’s name is Yoshi!
This shop reminded me a little of downtown Wiesbaden, Germany. There you can find one of the largest cuckoo clocks in the world. Wiesbaden is where I lived in my middle school and high school years.
Here are the proud Robot designers at the end of the week…so excited to bring home one of their robot projects! Not long after this picture was taken, the transmission died in our van (on the way home from camp). My poor husband had to deal with this situation with all 4 of the kids while I was at the GEM AND JEWELRY SHOW – of all things. Nothing like a crisis at 5 pm on a Friday! Luckily he was able to rent a car large enough for all of us, and we still made it to the beach. We drove down and arrived at 1 am! It was a very long day.
Hope you’re having a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!
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I have a friend that use to live in Vienna and now lives in Switzerland….is that a coincidence? I think she liked it so much she went for the real deal.
What wonderful photos. Look at the smiles on your sweet boys faces. I remember well those days with young boys. Savor them! My boys are big and busy now- it goes too fast. I’m glad you got to get in some fun too. Love the owls. P.S. My little mama is from Germany.
What a interesting and fun looking town… great pictures! It looks like your boys had a blast at the camp, who wouldn’t love making robots!! FUN!!
Wonderful pictures as usual Cindy! And, what a cool owl collection. I really like the rusty railroad crossing sign.
You are a busy lady….but still take time to share lots of fun and interesting sights with us~I love that =)
ROBOT camp. That is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard!!! You know you’re old when…We had slingshot camp, your kids have robot camp. Sounds like they’re well on their way to being techno-gazillionaires who will support you in high style when you’re old! Good thinking!! I lived in DC for a little over four years, and really enjoyed Virginia. The history always bowled me over–pretty pivotal/epic stuff went on there! Love the green rolling hills and hardwoods. October was spectacular in Virginia. (P.S. your packaging in the post below is just gorgeous and charming–puts my homemade organza bags (talk about “organic”) to shame!!
Beautiful pics Cindy….Looks like a great town. I love to walk around and visit like that too!! Your boys are beautiful! And life is so full of those dirty little tricks like car transmissions !!!! Glad everything worked out though, give yourself a much deserved break at the beach!!
That definitely is a boy’s dream! They look so proud of their creations. Your pictures fit so well into your blog. They really paint a picture for the reader of the town you visited. And what a quaint little town! That looks like the type of place you could stroll around for hours enjoying the sights. Sorry about the car! Yikes, and right before your vacation but it seems like you guys still had a great time.
Oh Man Cindy!!!!
Why is it hot summer days, car problems and a car full of 4 boys always seem to go together?? 🙂 But you did well cuz the only known treatment for that condition is “The Beach” !!
Your middle years in Germany hmmmm. We lived there in my early-middle middle years. My father was a dentist in the Army. He was stationed in Schweinfurt just after the Berlin wall went up. 🙂
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mx.
Cindy, you are just full of surprises! My husband was stationed in Bavaria at Bad Tolz for some years and remembers it fondly. Vienna looks like a great little town and the owl collection is impressive! Thanks for sharing it with us all.
LOVE the pictures and beach stories!! Do you collect owls? Our Aunt Marie liked owls too, but I’m not sure how many she collected. Poor Randy! Nothing like car trouble when the car is full of children! Keep writing and posting photos! Amie comes back from CAmp Hole in the Wall tonight. She will be tired but happy. Love, Madeline