Behind the Blog: 48 Hours in My Historical Haven
Reading a journal and organizing my thoughts got me thinking about my life.
Don't be worried, I'm not going into some massive philosophical diatribe on "life." Just about the fact that reading the Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774 has been an almost daily bit of my life. The irony being that as I read it, I think about what it would be like if I had a daily journal and others were able to read it.
Again, don't be worried- this blog won't become that! However, when I shifted from my Free At 50 blog to one focused on history, my life completely changed.
One of my blogger friends said "you seem so much busier." The truth is yes and no... my personal passion for the history I've been taking in since moving to Virginia is now my business focus. So not only am I doing what I already had been, I get to spend more time doing it and am meeting more people, exploring more historical places, and diving into research.
What does that look like? Read on.
Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.
RELATED: Curious about daily life in Virginia on the eve of the Revolutionary War? Buy the book which is a compilation of Vickers' daily journal and his letters.
My Epic Blog business planner and calendar notebook.
The journal / log: my last 48 hours.
Tuesday, April 29:
7am - Morning coffee, review social media accounts, read more of Fithian's book.
9:40am - Arrive at Jamestown Settlement for 10am meeting with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation's Media Relations Manager, Tracy Perkins and Curator of Indigenous History and Culture, Travis Henline. Take stock photos for the blog and check out the gift shop.
10am - Learn about their Indigenous Advisory Group, the shared authority that relationship creates for the growth and evolution of their Indigenous Peoples' program, the interpretation, and the exhibits. (Travis stressed the value and strength of that shared authority!)
In addition to being shown the exhibits and introduced to staff at the living history area including a Paspahegh Town, I learned about state legislation, the path to becoming a federally recognized tribe and so much more. (keep an eye on the blog!)
12:15 - quick stops to grab groceries (not history-related but hey, it's part of my day!)
Afternoon was spent on the following:
- uploading photos to Facebook-- and in true journal-fashion, I'll lay out why: yes, I love having the "memories" pop up, but also I've discovered it's the fastest and easiest way for me to grab photos to drop into Groove, where my blog is created, maintained, and housed
- following up on emails: including those related to visiting historic sites in the area
- reading, binging a little streamed-TV, and taking the rest of the day to enjoy with my partner in life
Jamestown Settlement gift shop display
Wednesday, April 30
6am - Coffee made, oatmeal, time with my partner in life. Followed by:
- more work on my application to get a tour guide license (so I can show readers around if you visit this area- more to come on bringing this blog to life!)
- social media accounts
- peeking at my analytics (I love that this blog's organic traffic from Google continues to grow!)
10am - Organize questions for a fellow blogger who creates and sells travel itineraries! I do this for friends so why not offer it to history-lovers visiting this fantastic part of the United States, where history is so rich? Sent those questions off to Ginger, creator of A Free Soul Abroad.
10:45am - Morning walk in Colonial Williamsburg (CW), where my passion for early American history is constantly fueled! Discussions at:
- the American Indian Encampment where we talked about resurrecting lost languages of Eastern Woodlands Tribes
- the millinery where I learned about the retirement of the Master of the shop
- the brickyard where I learned how this year's bricks will be used for the reconstruction of the First Baptist Church
- on the street where I ran into a friend, the Marquis de Lafayette, on horseback to have a quick chat but also- see him in action educating both students on tour and new employees going through training at CW, which is currently the largest living history museum in the world
Marquis de Lafayette, CW
11:45am - Back to Jamestown Settlement to get more photos related to upcoming blog posts I'd like to write. I ended up there for longer than expected because I was totally entranced by discussions with their farmer, cooks, and blacksmith.
We discussed everything from the location of Hog's Island and how pork was divided up amongst Jamestown settlers to the demographics of the tradesmen who traveled from England to Virginia.
2:20pm - back to CW to catch Patrick Henry and James Madison on stage discussing 1775, find my friends on horseback getting carriage horses used to a new role, and seeing the Marquis again! Bonus stop: I visited the Peter Scott archaeology site, where I learned the location of buildings that were relocated to make way for CW's reconstruction in the early 20th century.
And after leaving CW - I hunted down that structure that was relocated. It may become a project for me and a friend to research further and...save? So yes, finding that property and an excited conversation with scholar, history-loving homeschool mom, and dear friend Krista, owner of The Wordsmith Bookshop.
My day pretty much ended having my favorite Mexican take-out with the man in my life and then Facebook-chatting with Ginger. Her help in getting my passion for sharing "what to do" in Virginia as part of a business plan has been pure gold.
Jamestown Settlement, Godspeed replica
Thursday, May 1
6am - Coffee made, oatmeal, time with my partner in life. Followed by:
- more discussion with Ginger about her work and my plans
- posting on Instagram
- organizing specific tasks for my day
8am - Half caff coffee and writing. As we approach 10am and am 48 hours in, this blog will be published!
To come... a few errands, reading some articles sent my way by Tracy from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, maybe a pedicure... why not?
But definitely: more history.
Closing words from history.
Today, the Marquis de Lafayette sharing his concern about conducting a siege in Virginia. Written several months before the Yorktown campaign, to Thomas Jefferson, Governor. It felt appropriate as I saw the Marquis on horseback twice during the 48 hours discussed in this blog post!
Click here to see the letter on Founders Archives, with citations.
To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 17 March 1781
From Lafayette
Williams Burg March the 17th 1781
Sir
From a Conversation with the Quarter Master of this State, I find that there will Be A Great deficiency of Horses, and that None of those which Have Been Procured Can Serve for the purposes of our Artillery. Under these Circumstances, and in the full Conviction that a transportation of Heavy Artillery and Stores Was Necessary to the Expedition, I thought that Oxen Might in Some Cases Render the Same Services, and the Quarter Master was of opinion that the impressing of them Could Be more Easily done.
I Have therefore given to Him a Return of Saddle Horses, field artillery Horses, and Horse Waggons that Cannot Absolutely Be dispensed with, and instead of the large Number of draft Horses that were Necessary Both for our Heavy Ordnance and that of the french, I Have Requested Him to impress 200 oxen.
I Am Very UnHappy, Sir, to think that My Arrival in this State is accompagnied with a Necessity to distress its inHabitants. But Your Excellency will judge that A Siege operation Cannot Be Carried without Great Expences and Great Means of transportation. It is with the Greatest Reluctance that I Sign any impressing warrant, But I Hope My delicacy in this Matter will Be such as to Render me worthy of the approbation of the State.
Inclosed Your Excellency will find Copies of letters Relating to an affair which I am very little Acquainted with. I Beg leave to ask your Excellency’s opinion upon the Conduct I am to Hold in this instance, and should Be glad to Have a Complete Set of the Militia or other laws of this State that I may not interfere with the Rights of or through ignorance Be deficient in Respect to the Civil Authority.
With the Highest Respect I Have the Honor to Be Your Excellency’s Most obd Hum Servt.,
Lafayette
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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.
1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.
2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.
3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.
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