Happy Birthday to the first to call me "Papa"! Wishing you were here so I could celebrate with you. — Love Dad
Husband, Father, Man of God
Hampton National Historic Site
TOWSON, Md. — Today’s visit to the Hampton National Historic Site showcased the estate of the Ridgely family, highlighting their wealth and influence from the late 18th century through the mid-20th century. The site features an opulent Georgian mansion, beautifully maintained formal gardens, agricultural fields, and various outbuildings, including slave quarters. Guided tours display the mansion's lavish interiors, one of the largest private homes in America when completed in 1790, along with historical artifacts and period furnishings. Reflecting broader themes of American history such as slavery, industry, and the nation's changing landscape, this site offers a glimpse into the lives of the Ridgely family and the enslaved individuals who lived and worked there.
📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/573
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Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park
MANASSAS, Va. — The Manassas National Battlefield Park features several sites that chronicle the events and actions of the Civil War in and around the Manassas area.
Portici was the plantation house of Francis Lewis and served as the Confederate headquarters during the First Battle of Manassas. The surrounding grounds were the site of the 1861-1862 winter encampment for a brigade of Confederate troops. On Aug. 30, 1862, during the Second Battle of Manassas, Union cavalry stopped the Confederate cavalry as they sought to cut off the Union army's line of retreat.
Located on "Hazel Plain," the two-and-a-half-story frame farmhouse of Benjamin Chinn and his family overlooked the Warrenton Turnpike and Young's Branch. During both battles of Manassas, the plantation was engulfed by war and witnessed some of the heaviest fighting.
In 1860, the crossroads hamlet of Sudley Springs consisted of fewer than a dozen households but featured a prosperous mill, a prominent church, and a hotel for visitors attracted to the mineral waters of a nearby spring. During the Second Battle of Manassas, on Aug. 29, 1862, Federal troops repeatedly attacked Stonewall Jackson's left flank in this area, and only darkness prevented a fatal collapse of the Confederates. Today, only the Sudley Church remains as a testament to times past.
Walking the National Mall
WASHINGTON — I enjoyed today’s walk with my fellow Savannah State alum and soror L. Michelle Woods and Miss G. (Go Bubbles Soap) around parts of the National Mall. Our stops included the Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and World War II memorials, and the Washington Monument.
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Fairfax Art League Art Reception
FAIRFAX, Va. — A wonderful evening supporting our friend Nancy M. Patrick at the art reception at the Old Town Hall, hosted by the Fairfax Art League, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting local artists in the Fairfax, Virginia, area.
The Fairfax Art League provides a platform for artists to showcase their work, offers educational programs, and fosters a vibrant community of art enthusiasts. Through exhibitions, workshops, and community events, the league aims to enhance the cultural landscape of Fairfax and create opportunities for artists to connect and grow.
Tonight's meet and greet was with the local artists who bring art to the Fairfax Regional Library, Old Town Hall, Green Acres Community Center, Main Street Child Development Center, local churches, and regional festivals.