The Daily Adventures of Leia & Annie: Leia's Felicity Tour of Colonial Williamsburg

Now here is Leia Rose standing by the Magazine at Colonial Williamsburg: a trip that was truly a year in the making! Last spring, Immaculata Catholic School had their annual "historical day" and the first grade was slated to do Colonial times. The Immaculata first graders learned about colonial life all year long. When the time came, Leia Rose and I dressed in full costume to participate in the day (and Leia even wound up with a real "sampler" to show for it)! After our volunteer experience, we decided to further it at home by reading the American Girl books focusing on the character of Felicity, a little girl who lived in eighteenth century Colonial Williamsburg and who had a lot to do with the American Revolution. The deal was this: we would finish ALL of the Felicity books, read "Felicity's World," watch the Felicity movie, read some more kid books on Williamsburg, watch the "Rebels" episode of America: the Story of Us, watch "Felicity's Tour of Williamsburg," and then GO to Colonial Williamsburg! So, here we are! Leia Rose wanted to dress in full costume in Williamsburg, but what I didn't realize was the number of times she would want to get in and out of her costume there! As a result, you will see Leia Rose alternately in costume and in other different outfits ALL DAY. Ha! Luckily everyone knew about Felicity and was happy to share what Felicity had to do with his/her particular shop or activity. It was overcast all day, with a slight drizzle for an hour or so, we didn't mind seeing it was only 75 degrees when it could have been over 100!!! With no light on an overcast day, it was very obvious that there was no electric lighting! Lots of candles lit, but for some reason, we couldn't get our mind off of all the shops looking "closed" due to darkness!

Skipping to the Colonial Williamsburg visitor center.

Leia in front of the capitol of Virginia at the time in Colonial Williamsburg. Note her ticket clipped to her chest.

The Powell House (where kids are invited to do lots of colonial chores). To my surprise, Leia was quite shy here at first.

Playing with a bilboquette (a bilbo-catcher).

Making a "stitch-book." A VERY useful thing to learn!

The bird bottle, a gift for Felicity's grandfather, that would hide the secret note from Ben, the runaway soldier.

Doing chores in the kitchen of the Powell House.

Making stuffing: grinding breadcrumbs, nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, and pepper.

As a reward, Leia was allowed to feed the chickens lettuce. (Lettuce?!?)

Petting Felicity's horse, . . . Penny!

Carrying water from the well isn't as easy as it looks!

Leia, now in full costume, gets caught up in the wonder of this revolutionary city listening to the drum and fife march!

Listening to the Declaration of Independence read from the Capitol at Williamsburg.

We are now a free country!

But, uh oh, it's Benedict Arnold!

Leia on the streets of Williamsburg near her beloved cobblestones (the now semi-hidden stones on the side of the street), one of the few original things still here. (Note the bounding squirrel behind Leia!)

Leia and Caitlin (another Immaculata student celebrating historical day) both in full costume at the Apothecary Shop. Small world!

The wig-maker's shop.

The milliner's shop. Leia was allowed to touch all the things on the counter. She was especially amazed with the stays for babies!

Something Leia had been waiting for: Mr. Merriman's (Felicity's Father's) Prentis Store.

Leia inside the Prentis Store.

Leia at the Magazine, a very important landmark in Felicity. There is a story (mentioned right on the plaque in front) that says their was a raid by the Royal Governor's troops on the Colonial weaponry in the magazine. Although no one knows who alerted the Patriots to the theft, our books claim it was none other than Felicity herself!

Inside the Magazine.

Outside the courthouse.

In the stocks outside the courthouse.

At the shoe-maker's shop. (This one was only for men's shoes.)

In the Colonial Gardens by an authentic basket wheelbarrow!

Leia at the weaver's shop where she saw a real working spinning wheel and loom, got to feel flax and cotton, and even get to keep a cotton seed!

Happy to be prayerful at Felicity's church: Bruton Parish.

Time for a covered carriage ride to the palace to attend Felicity's dance lesson at Lady and Lord Dunmore's.

Rolling hoops on the palace green.

Waving to the patriots.

Leia's "Palace Face."

In the entrance hall of the palace. (We have to admit, although the palace was interesting and this was the only way to see the ballroom, this tour was boring with a full 10 minutes of talk in every room.)

BUT we did get to see Felicity's famous blue dress that she wore to the dance lesson that evening!

And got to see the Royal Ballroom, complete with larger-than-life-size portraits of King George III and his wife.

Standing in front of Felicity Merriman's house, the Everard House in Williamsburg.

Catching a glimpse of the blacksmith's shop right before closing time.

Dinner at the King's Arms, the fanciest of all the taverns.

Leia loves to proclaim that this shot was taken in the BATHROOM! (Hahahaha!)

Authentic colonial appetizers: peanut soup, pickled watermelon rind, ham relish, and corn relish for homemade bread.

Leia posing by the authentic canons.

Leia in the capitol builiding at the judge's bench where, we are told, you went before you convicted of a felony and hung. : /

But with only candles to light the place and without the flash, look at how dark it REALLY was!

Time for a harpsichord concert by Peter Pelham (the palace music teacher AND jailer of Jiggy Nye), who accepted the gift basket from Felicity, allowing Mr. Nye to get better and change his ways. We were AMAZED at the quality of his playing (as well as his large size, ha!) and sat so we could see his hands on the keyboard.

Not happy about having to see Jiggy Nye's cell in the "Public Gaol" (Jail) at night. Jiggy Nye, who whipped Felicity's horse Penny bitterly, was housed here for a long period of time before Felicity and her grandfather visited, causing Mr. Nye to improve.