Nov 30-Hopewell Furnace

Sorry, Elsie didn't mention that the monument in yesterday's photo was a memorial to the fallen soldiers and officers at Valley Forge. Sue's inquiring mind was asking. Today was a relax and enjoy the weather day. It was a bit gray, but at least 70 degrees. Really odd weather for around these parts. I did my homework, while Gene did laundry! We're parked in a beautiful PA State Park. It feels odd to be in the woods and not have a single green tree around. The trees are all deciduous so they are bare and gray. There isn't any underbrush, so the ground is covered with brown leaves. We realized the other day that we haven't seen a douglas fir tree since we left Washington (at least we don't think so). There are occasional hemlocks, pines, or nobles, but no good old Doug firs. I think it's true because I've been looking since Maine for a good fir cone for a project. We did wander down to see Hopewell Furnace National Park. Not terribly exciting, but it is one of only a few remaining examples of early ironworks. Built in 1771, they defied a British order banning ironworks in the Colonies, and cast wood stoves (furnaces), cannons, and ammunition. We also took a few Christmas pictures of ourselves. Aren't we cute???