Journaling reads

I would love to spend a Christmas at Mount Vernon and one at Jamestown, both in Virginia. These places are important in American history, but closer to home, they are important in MY history. Both George and Martha Dandridge Custis Washington were distant cousins although Martha was a cousin many times over. George likely, too, but the Washingtons are not as easy to find as the Dandridges and George’s line became extinct with him. George, of course, was respected and revered but Martha was LOVED, absolutely adored.

Christmas was a really big deal at Mount Vernon. The Washingtons were famous for their hospitality and the quality of the conversation in their household. Martha could - and did - hold her own with any of the men of the time and they valued her insight and opinions. The recipes for George’s eggnog and Martha’s meat pies are amazing, indeed impressive, and in the manner of the day, guests stayed for a week or two or even months since travel was difficult at best and impossible at worst in the wintertime. So, Mount Vernon and Jamestown are on my winter bucket list!