Jackson's Mansion and The Music City

Wendi has already done a great post on our time at The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home in Nashville (with witnessing what she does everyday with her four kids, I don't know HOW she finds the time or energy!!!).  But since not everyone knows the great blogger-that-started-it-all, here is my own posting, albeit with the same photos, a day later :)

I admit that my prior knowledge of the 7th president and proponent of white male rights was a bit lacking,  but I got a lot out of our visit. I am ashamed to say that I haven't been to my home state, Virginia's, presidential homes of Washington (Mt. Vernon) and Jefferson (Monticello) but may have to go now :)

It was a gorgeous (fall-ish-but-more-summer-like) day for us to wander the grounds and buildings, including the mansion, slave houses, and more. The audioguides were great, which even the kids (ages 3-6) enjoyed!

The tomb where Andrew (and I think his wife, Rachel) are buried.

We got to see a cotton field up close!

Cotton-pickin!

Since we were in The Music City, country music's capital, Kelvin and I paid a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame/Museum. I would say that I'm certainly more of a country fan than is Kelvin, but I think he enjoyed it, too.

They had a special exhibit on the ageless Kenny Rogers :)

We learned that California (specifically Bakersfield area) had a country music revival after the Dust Bowl prompted a large westward migration.

Downtown Nashville

Nashville's Centennial Park has, strangely, an exact replica of Athens' Parthenon. And, since Kelvin has never been to Greece, he wanted to take some photos by this next-best-thing :)

We are having fun times and nice weather in Nashville!

Views of the Smokies

Kelvin and I headed west on another roadtrip from Virginia to see the Kitsteiners in Tennessee, a state new to us both.

On the way to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, we swung by Dolly Parton's hometown, Sevierville, and took an obligatory photo by the statue.

We discovered that Great Smoky Mountain National Park is THE most visited National Park in the U.S. !!! It certainly was scenic (and, as a bonus, it had free entry which we were so not used to!)

At Newfound Gap, straddling the TN/NC state line.

Views of the Smoky Mountains, which were named for their bluish haze by the Cherokee Indians

 We enjoyed a short hike to Laurel Falls.

We made it to the Kits' house in the afternoon and have really enjoyed hanging out with the kiddos and exploring the Nashville area today (pics/posts to follow soon.  Or see Wendi's awesome blog :)).

Sis is a Mrs.!

 

My little sister, Vanessa had her wedding celebration yesterday!!! She and her husband, Marco, who is from Italy, actually *legally* got married in April so that they could start working on his green card and paperwork ASAP, but the party was on Saturday.

She thought this was an appropriate pre-wedding lunch (although we're not sure if Italian-style Wedding soup actually exists).

At home, pre-ceremony

Remy, a two-year-old poodle/shih-tzu mix, is the family's latest addition.

The wedding was held at the DACOR Bacon House, a historic mansion in Washington D.C. built in the 1820s, which is now is used for many foreign affairs events.

The "decor of DACOR" required minimal embellishment for the event!

 Tullio (Marco's cousin and best man), Marco the groom, and Marco's dad, Armando

John Quincy Adams' desk

Sadly, my grandmother was too weak to travel for the event. She and my grandfather had celebrated 55 years of marriage before he died in 1998.

Modern Bride

 

The "First Reveal" of Vanessa's gorgeous wedding dress.

On the lovely patio

with Marco's family (cousins Marco/Carla and parents Chiara, Armando)

Our family

Sisterly love

Blended

The weather was gorgeous!

more of the Arness/Kurth clan

Allison, me, Amy, and Jacky

Dancing!!

Vanessa has to take off on Tuesday to Ecuador, where she will be serving her first post with the Foreign Service (and, since Marco doesn't have his Green Card yet, he can't leave the country!). But, despite their exceptional long-distance relationship, they still won't be able to physically live together for some more time :( ! Keep these newlyweds in your thoughts!