George Washington Slept Here

I decided to follow in the footsteps of George Washington and go shopping in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
On the east coast, many historic sites make the claim that “George Washington was here,” but in Alexandria, Virginia, it’s absolutely, positively true!

Founded in the 1700s as a Colonial seaport, Alexandria was
George Washington’s stomping ground.
While living at his Mount Vernon plantation outside of town, Washington spent a good deal of time in Alexandria.

He bought his medicines at the Stabler-Leadbeater apothecary, danced with Martha at Gadsby's Tavern; worshipped at Christ Church, and plotted the American Revolution in various local homes and taverns.

No FAKE gas lights here!Recognized for its outstanding examples of early American architecture, Alexandria’s Old Town district includes more than 4,000 historic buildings that span centuries -- and styles.


Some structures were private homes...
Others were shops...
Or warehouses.


The John Douglas Brown house was built in 1775. Unlike some neighboring homes, it retains the original wide pine siding painted oxide red.


History buffs delight in the fact that later additions have not been disguised and remain visible for study. The side yard had been the subject of several archeological digs.

Hungry for history?

Gadsby's Tavern (no photo) is the only remaining colonial tavern in Alexandria but there are lots of other places to sip and sup. The Union Street Public House is an example of
architectural recycling. Originally a shipping office for a munitions company, it now bangs out tasty meals and mugs of hearty beer.
This anchor, located at water's edge at the foot of Alexandria’s main commercial thoroughfare, King Street, commemorates the founding of the Old Dominion Boat Club in 1880. The club still maintains boat slips and a Members Only restaurant.


Note the basement windows in the photo below. Many of the streets in Alexandria have been raised (as is the case here) or lowered through the centuries to try to steer storm surges from flooding area buildings.

I hope you've enjoyed touring the streets where George Washington once strolled. Our last stop is the main dock area. In addition to shops, restaurants and a food court, here is where you can catch a water taxi to DC or a sightseeing cruise.

WINSTON CHURCHILL

There are very few occasions when a quote by Winston Churchill can’t perfectly sum up the situation.

For example, Churchill once said: “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

I spoke to Christopher Robbin, the CEO of Gibbs Smith, and he said Waterside Cottages is NOT coming out this season -- despite my
“spunky blog campaign."

Churchill also said: “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”

Mr. Robbins feels that after nearly a week of sales meetings with the major book distributors, the economic situation is even worse than he originally anticipated.

Because of this, Gibbs Smith will be postponing 90 percent of the decorating and architecture books that they were originally going to be published this season and next.

He hopes the postponed books will be published within a year.

Gibbs Smith owns the rights to Waterside Cottages for five years. If they do not publish it by 2011, the manuscript is mine again, the photo rights revert to Dan, and we are free to take the book to another publisher.

Churchill said, “We are masters of unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.”

With that in mind, I will leave much unsaid. However, Dan and I want to let everyone know how much we appreciate your support.

And finally, Churchill said: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

So, I am not 100 percent sure what my next “big project” will be. Future posts may wander far and wide as I explore new inspirations and start new projects.

Since my heart is always happiest at the shore, you can bet there will be more Waterside Decorating ideas, too.

Thanks for supporting me, not only with my book, but by reading, and commenting on, my blog. I hope you’ll stick around.

VOTE FOR ME

Obama, Biden, McCain, Palin… no matter who you favor in the upcoming election, most of us will be voting for the candidate we feel can best turn around America’s troubled economy.

Over the past few years, I’ve felt the pinch every time I go shopping for groceries or fill my car with gas.

Last Wednesday, my publisher, Gibbs Smith, called me to say that “because of the weak economy they will be publishing fewer books than they originally anticipated this year.”

And my book, Waterside Cottages, has been put on the list of books that may be postponed for publication for a year or more!

I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I could have done differently as I’ve done everything that was requested or expected of an author.

But maybe there’s one thing I can still do…

Perhaps, if Gibbs Smith sees how much interest there is in Waterside Cottages, they might move it from the “POSTPONED TITLES” list to the “ROLL THE PRESSES” list.

Here’s where YOU come in.

Since many of you have expressed a passion for coastal style decorating and have indicated that you plan to order one or more copies of Waterside Cottages as soon as it is published, I wonder if you’d do me a favor?

Please VOTE for me by posting a comment telling Gibbs Smith you’d like to see Waterside Cottages published – now!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

I will then forward all of your comments to Mr. Christopher Robbins, the CEO of Gibbs Smith.

In the spirit of November’s election, I’d like to be the winner who never quit, rather than the quitter who never won. I truly appreciate your continued support and friendship.

*** BLOG DU JOUR***
Please stop by Today's Creative Blog and shop for one-of-a-kind handmade gifts. Proceeds of this fabulous silent auction will help a family who desperately need your help. So shop til you drop and feel good about it.