Time flies! An Anniversary Post

I can't believe that its already been a year since I started Exhibit Life. There I was, in the back of a class (let's keep that on the DL, shall we?) and I decided that I would give this blogging thing a try. Never did I think that I would last a year, but here I am.

I was trying to think of what to do for this post. Its been a very hectic winter, with graduate work piling up (mostly multiple drafts of my dissertation proposal) and this never ending winter that seems to have settled in on the East Coast. Seriously, its been too long. As I am writing this, it is snowing outside...in Virginia. I am so not use to this type of weather.

Anyway, I was down in Williamsburg last weekend for a conference and was trying to decide what to focus on for this anniversary post. I thought about heading over to the DeWitt Wallace Museum to check out decorative arts collection (a nod to my V&A post). Or perhaps checking out what new exhibits the VMFA had in store for visitors. But it was an absolutely gorgeous day - such a rarity this year - that the thought of being stuck inside all day, even at an amazing museum, just didn't sit well with me.

So instead, I turned to Colonial Williamsburg one more time and decided to walk DOG Street and see what I could find.

It is always so nice walking through Colonial Williamsburg. There is something about it, especially on a beautiful spring day. It doesn't matter how many tourists are there or what programs are going on, its always a nice way to spend a few hours.

Today, though, I was on a mission. It is spring in Colonial Williamsburg and that means one thing: its lambing season! I had seen posts from friends who had seen the newborn lambs, and I was determined to find them. However, this turned out to be easier said than done.

First up, though, there was a quick detour, as I saw a sign for something I had never seen before: a sign for an auction. It was set up behind some market stalls, with a group of people sitting around the auctioner. At first I thought it was just a program, but it turned out that people were actually bidding on the items.

And the auctioneer was great! He got people to start a bidding war over a creamware chamber pot. A chamber pot! (although they did call it delft...) And the prices weren't horrible, although it was probably a good thing that I left my money in the car, otherwise who knows what I might have come home with. Maybe that lovely version of shut the box. 

I decided to head on and continue my search. Of course, it was not without some typical CW sightings. Like, the ever present horse droppings, to make it appear "more authentic"...

I started to ask around, trying to figure out where the lambs were being kept. I got a lot of mixed answers. The most promising was was that they were being kept in a pen out past the Capital, near the pigeons. 

However, when I got out there, all I found were the male sheep and these guys. They were pretty excited to get a visitor and came over to chat a bit and show off. 

I then headed back down DOG Street to continue my search, but got distracted again. This time it was by a bunch of men being sworn into the Continental Army. Hopefully they serve Virginia well (for the next 15 minutes at least).

After watching a bit of Revolutionary City, I continued on my way. I heard a rumor that the lambs might be behind the Peyton Randolph House, but they weren't. So I continued on, past the Governor's Palace, before deciding it was time to head over to the Tourist Information Center inside the ticket office in the Lumber House. 

Where I finally got the right information. And thankfully it was fairly close, in one of the fields across from the DeWitt Wallace Museum. 

It was a long search, but it was so worth it.

Aren't they so cute?!

This is one of my favorite times to be in CW, because of things like this. The Coach and Livestock Department does an amazing job of revitalizing heritage breeds, just like these adorable Leicester Longwool lambs.  

Of course it helps that they are so adorable when they are born.

I had an amazing day in CW, even though at times it felt like I was on a wild goose chase. It is a unique experience, to be able to wander through the country's largest living history museum and just go wherever the day takes you. No plan (except to find the lambs), no time table, no restrictions. I hope that everyone has the ability to experience that one day. It makes it even better when its the first real spring day of the year.

I just wanted to thank you all for reading my blog. It has been a year full of change and challenges, but this blog has been so much fun to write. I can't wait for year two. 

It's Huzzah! not Hooray.

Heading back to Colonial Williamsburg for one more post, I thought I would share with you something that everyone who has been to Williamsburg in the last couple of years has encountered on DOG Street. Its not the pretty houses or the nice gardens, but something a bit more in your face. 

As runners and bikers all make their way up DOG street in the afternoons, those familiar with the area are conscious of the time, knowing that the street will be closed off to anyone without a ticket around 3:30pm. The street is closed to prepare for the events of Colonial Williamsburg's Revolutionary City. 

Revolutionary City is the street theater programing that occurs throughout the day in the historic area, but the main scenes take place at 3:30pm just outside of the Raleigh Tavern. 

Colonial Williamsburg has founded its own theater department within the Foundation, with a cast and crew of profession actors and technicians. And it is the events of these performances that tend to leave long term impressions on visitors, because of the contents and emotions of the scenes. 

I went on a Saturday, so the scenes scheduled were not in the order that I was use to. This turned out to be great, because I got to see a scene that I had not seen before: the General Lafayette regaling the crowd with his recap of Yorktown!

First up was a visit from Mrs. Martha Washington herself. And she was kind enough not only to thank the people of Williamsburg for sticking by her husband, but to fix a oversight and help improve the life of one veteran and get him back on his feet. 

Then was time for some happy news from General Lafayette himself. The British had surrender to Washington at Yorktown! He was such an energetic character, excited to tell everyone within ear shot about the details of the surrender. 

One of his anecdotes is who surrenders to whom after the siege and how he loved that General Washington refused to accept the surrender from Cornwallis' second in command. Lafayette is almost giddy when he recounts how Washington ordered his second in command to accept the surrender. 

What an entertaining historic figure!

Then its was time for two of my favorite actors, who play Sister Grace and Gowan Pamplet. 

This program, entitled "Thy Rod and Thy Staff," provides guests with an interesting aspect of the life of enslaved Virginian: the blending of traditional African religious practices and the Christianity of the Great Awakening. The man who plays Gowan is one of the most beloved actors in Revolutionary City and you can certainly see why in this performance. He's just so charismatic, he almost always has the entire crowd "Amen"-ing along with him. 

The actress who plays Sister Grace is also fabulous. So the two of them together make for one amazing scene. 

And finally, was time for the most anticipated moment of the evening for the majority of the audience: President Washington's speech. Now, I have seen this many times now, and although it is very good, I don't like it nearly as much as the other Revolutionary City scenes. This is probably because it is a speech to the audience and not a scene that invites the audience in. But it is always nice to see George :)

The afternoon Revolutionary City events typically run from 3:30pm until 5pm, but always consult the current copy of "This Week" (the program of events in CW) for current information.