Went to Smithfield today, a colonial plantation in Blacksburg. I always forget how much I love colonial architecture, furniture, textiles, paintings, etc., especially the more roughtly-hewn ones. Somehow the combination of European aesthetics with frontier practicality/resources is so appealing. Everything is beautiful yet worn, of a particular style yet with completely individual variation.
Our tour guide said that the colonists didn't use the letters j, y, or s. Doesn't that sound dodgy? I'm trying to find out.
Tomorrow is family get-together day - in a van, down by the river. Okay, it's not a van, but you know what I mean. Possibly two cousins I haven't seen in at least twelve years are coming. Possibly not. My uncle who won't travel to foreign countries and who calls fries "freedom fries" will be there, though, and I have permission from my mom to voice my opions if people start talking politics. I can't imagine what he and I will have to talk about, given that I work in a world cultures museum.
I love my parents, but I'm ready to come home.
