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Virginia
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As the long line snaked its way toward The Rotunda we got
more and more anxious. We knew what was
in there - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of
Rights, the Magna Carta, not to mention the incredible artwork and the other important documents
that surround the charters of freedom. The
boys wanted to see them. As we walked up
to the documents, we picked out George Washington's signature, John Hancock's
large, curvy handwriting (so the king wouldn't need his spectacles to read it) and many
other famous men's names. We also saw
the faded paper bearing the Bill of Rights. That particular document prompted an earlier discussion that left me smiling. Here's
what happened...
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Virginia
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Make a movie in your mind to remember the capital:
Picture a rich man in Europe sending settlers to start the first colony in Virginia.
Rich + man = Richmond sending colonists to Virginia. Richmond, Virginia.
Why is Virginia called the Mother of Presidents?
More US presidents were born in Virginia than in any other state - 8.
They were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James
Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow
Wilson.
The Natural Bridge, south of Lexington, VA is a 90 foot wide, 215 foot
high stone formation that really is a bridge - US Route 11 runs
directly over it. It was once part of a limestone cavern, but millions
of years ago the soft rocks that made up the roof of the cavern
collapsed. Some harder rocks were left standing, which formed the
bridge. Over the years, the stream that runs under the bridge carved
away the bridge opening. The first person to own the land surrounding
the Natural Bridge was Thomas Jefferson, the third president. He was
fascinated by this geological oddity and asked the royal governor of
Virginia to grant him a tract of land that included the bridge in
1774. For many years he maintained a cabin there.
-from The New York Public Library Amazing US Geography: A Book of Answers for Kids
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Tennessee
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 Make a movie in your mind to remember the capital:
Picture a tennis player smashing a large pill over the net, instead of a ball.
Smash + pill = Nashville and tennis = Tennessee.
During the Mexican War there were 30,000 volunteers from the state of
Tennessee. The government only called for 2,800 volunteers. No wonder
Tennessee is called the Volunteer State!
Thanks to Daniel Boone and his Wilderness Road that began in Virginia
and cut through the rugged Cumberland Gap, many early pioneers traveled
the trail to Tennessee.
Test your Knowledge:
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Virginia
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 To make taper candles you will need wax, wicks, a candle making
thermometer and a skinny, deep container to melt the wax in for dipping.
When making taper candles you can't just use an ordinary pot like a
kitchen pot since it will not be deep enough to get the needed height
for a taper candle. Not only that, but even if you did have a pot that
was deep enough it would be much too wide and you would have to melt a
ton of wax to fill it deep enough for dipping your wicks.
If you go to a craft or hobby store you can find dipping containers
that are designed specifically for making taper candles. These
containers are tall and skinny so that you can get your was deep enough
for dipping without having to waste extra wax because the pot is too
wide.
In addition to your dipping container, you will also need to get a
candle making thermometer. Having a thermometer will allow you to be
able to tell when the wax has been heated to the ideal temperature for
you to start dipping. Candle making thermometers are designed to
measure temperatures in the correct temperature range for candle making
and also come with a handy clip on the side that will allow you to
easily attach it to the inside of your dipping container for hands-free
temperature taking.
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Virginia
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Long ago, soap making was not considered an artform, but a necessity.
Our ancestors usually made soap in the fall after the fall butchering,
when they had plenty of fat from their hogs. They cooked the fat down
to make lard. To the lard, they added lye which was made from wood ash.
Our ancestors then cooked and cooked this concoction outside in a large
kettle over a fire until it began to harden. The whole process took a
very long time, but was necessary for the cleanliness of the family
until the next soapmaking day, which was usually a whole year away.
This soap wasn't just used to keep hands clean...it was used for
everything. Housewives used the lye soap to wash their dishes, clothes,
floors, windows, and even their babies. The soap surprisingly was not
as harsh as some people of today believe.
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