Flying lesson

On Saturday Cissi and I finally got to go on our flying lesson. (The first time we tried it was cancelled due to the weather.) But this time the weather was beautiful, though a little windy!

Cissi with our plane.

Flight controls

Cissi went first and got to take off. We did a circuit to the mountains and along the river. Normally he lets people try to land but the wind was pretty strong. Turbulence was impressive and a little scary in a tiny plane! But the views were amazing.

Cissi looking forward to flying

More flight controls.

Concentrating 

View

Sunny mountains

James river

Then we changed seats and I got to fly. I love it!!!!!

Flying!

Pleased with a safe landing!

It was so much fun, and if I am ever rich, I'll take it up as a hobby. But that's not likely to be in the near future.

Cissi with out pilot 

Pleased with ourselves.

After a few Lego related trips on the way back for Cissi, we went to the house of some of her Chinese friends for dinner which was great fun. Everyone was really nice and the food was great. Real Chinese food and very tasty. (Though no chicken feet this time which is a good thing!) :-)

Poplar Forest

On Saturday, Cissi and I were supposed to be going for a flying lesson. We were really excited but when we got there, they said it was way too windy! :-( So we are going to have to wait until March. But as we were in Lynchburg anyway, we ended up at Poplar Forest, which is Thomas Jefferson's private home. In September I went with mom and dad to see Monticello which is his main house. I have been wanting to see Poplar Forest since then. Some things were the same (like the alcove beds which are cool) but there were as many gadgets as in Monticello as he built it late in life and probably didn't even see it finished.

Front entrance to Poplar Forest

Jefferson's holiday home

Layout of the main floor

We got a tour inside the house but you can't take any photos. When it was sold after Jefferson, the new owners altered it to update it and make it more user friendly for their needs. The preservation society are trying to put it back to the original, using the same methods used 200 years ago. They are still renovating the house so it is not as done up as Monticello but it means you can see all the building methods which was interesting.

Walkway over the wing 

Walkway to the house

Undercover walkway near the kitchens

We had a walk around outside but it was really cold! So we didn't stick around other than to take a few photos. The shop was great though. Jefferson liked wine, reading and science. So a lot of the things related to those 3 subjects. I like this guy! He was also obsessed with symmetry so every felt very elegant. It's thought he was going to put a second wing on the house because, just one wing would annoy even me! He also had what looked like a pizza oven in his kitchen which was used to baking.

kitchen

Pizza oven

Wine cellar covering ~1/4 of the lower floor

There is a sunken garden at the back of the house, which was dug out by one slave (paid to do it) and would have been lined with roses. The dirt removed to make the garden was put at the end of the wings  and used to hide the out door toilet. The toilets mirrored the same design as the main house (this guy was detail obsessed) and even had a little toddler's potty for his grandchildren!

Outdoor toilet

Toddler's potty!

After, we headed to Toys'R'Us for Cissi and then home, where we got stuck in traffic. :-( Which meant I was late meeting a friend for a very nice sushi dinner. But I am looking forward to going back to Lynchburg to do the flying lesson in March! :-)