Geography Lesson

We have a very large map hanging on our office wall of the United States. Ever since Ryan applied to medical school, almost a year ago, we hung this up and marked all the places he applied to with a small star sticker. As the rejections slowly started coming, the stickers started coming off. Another place scratched off the list. I would often look at the map in despair, especially with only a couple stars left. But now I can look at the map happily, excited to make the long journey to Virginia with the kids. They look at the map just about every day, planning the route we'll take. I think they are just as excited as I am, which is such a blessing. This has been a great geography lesson for Gretel and Christian especially. So I've been doing a little research on Virginia. I figure our family ought to get to know the place we will soon be living in and I'm curious about a lot of stuff. So, here's a little lesson for us all today on the beautiful state of Virginia, otherwise known as "The Birthplace of a Nation".
• Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the Virgin Queen. Sir Walter Raleigh may have suggested this name around 1584
• State nickname: "Old Dominion"
•State motto: "Sic Semper Tyrannis" (Thus Always to Tyrants, but I think it sounds more like one of Harry Potter's spells if you ask me!)
• State bird: Cardinal
• State dog (didn't know states had dogs): American Fox Hound
• State insect: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, my absolute favorite ever since I was a little girl! (The yellow and black ones)
• State shell: Oyster
• State dance (Ha!): Square dancing-yee haw!
• State flower: American dogwood (it's actually the blossoms on the dogwood trees)
• State beverage: Milk-say what?
• Bordering states: Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, (and Washington D.C. which is about 3 hours from where we will be living)
• 8 U.S. Presidents were born in Virginia, among them: George Washington (1732) and Thomas Jefferson (1743)
• Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S. It was also the first capitol of Virginia
• Virginia was the 10th of the 13 original colonies. It was admitted to the union on June 25, 1788
• The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in Virginia in 1619.
• Over half the battles fought in the civil war were fought in Virginia--over 2,200 of 4,000 battles
• The American Revolution ended with the surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown
• About half of all the people in the U.S. live within a 500 mile radius of the capitol of Virginia (Richmond)
• The Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel is the world's largest bridge tunnel complex (it's a little freaky knowing that you are driving under water!)
• Major industries: Farming (tobacco, peanuts, corn, sweet potatoes, poultry, ham), tourism, U.S. Navy warships, mining (coal), lumber (for paper and furniture), government workers
• There are 3,000 peanut farms
• 92,000 acres of peanut plants
• 250 to 350 million pounds of peanuts produced annually
• 3,000 pounds of peanuts per acre average production
• Produces 6 to 8% of the nation's peanuts annually (but still tobacco is their major cash crop)
• The first peanuts grown in the U.S.A. were grown in Virginia
• The largest city in Virginia is Virginia Beach
• People who live in Virginia are called "Virginians". So I've been a Californian, an Idaho-an, -ite, whatever, a Utahan, and now soon to be a Virginian--can't wait! (and I can't wait until I can post my own pictures)

That's all the trivia for now folks. I have a feeling I'll have more for you later. By the way, this still doesn't feel real. Sometimes I have to tell myself that it really is!

Cape Henry lighthouses

Monticello, Gabriele Rausse, Charlottesville

Cascades Waterfall

Sunset on Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach

King Neptune (Tritan in my mind) on Virginia Beach

When I see pics like this, I can just imagine the Indians and early settlers there

I love this picture. Too bad it wasn't bigger

Dogwood blossoms

more flowering pink dogwoods

Jamestown Ship Discovery

Rudee inlet

Oh how I've missed the ocean and the salty sea air!

I think I can see Pocahontas in her canoe!


I have always wanted to see the east coast (New England) in the fall

"Just around the riverbend!" (We're addicted to Disney's Pocahontas lately--I cry every single time. So sad.

Virginia Beach oceanfront



Ryan took this picture while looking at a house this past weekend. This is the time of year when all the azaleas are in full bloom. We had these in California, my mom loves them and so do I!