Dear Diary,

I arrived at Nancy's house today. Sure was glad to get out of that crowded, stuffy box. I have so much stuff to lug around now, I can hardly wait until I get adopted and get to put it all away somewhere for keeps. I'm not keeping exactly to my schedule, but I'm having such a good time visiting, I never want to leave each place!

Isn't this a nice bedroom? I'll get to sleep here while I'm visiting. That girl on the rocking horse wouldn't let me have a turn--she was mean! Ha, I'll bet she never got to ride a real pony like I did in Arizona. 

Dear Diary,

Today was the last day of school for the year here in Westmoreland County, VA. I got to go see where all Nancy's girls go to class. They have a very nice teacher, and a computer that they can use any time they want! 

After school, we had a music party. One girl played the piano, one played a guitar, and one played a fiddle. She said some people call it a violin, but since she can't play that well yet, Nancy says she's just fiddling around. They let me sing. I was great--you should have heard me.

Today we went to George Washington's birthplace--Pope's Creek Plantation, but people around here call it Wakefield. The real original house burned down a long time ago, but the park service built a new one right next to the foundation of the old one. It looks like a typical house of George Washington's time, and even has some of his family's furniture in it. Some of the park rangers dress in their uniforms when they work in the visitor center, but the ones one the farm dress up in clothes just like they would wear back in the old days. Nancy made me an outfit like that, too, and I wore it for my visit. She takes such bad pictures that you can't see it too well, but at least I know I looked good. 

Nancy's daughter Kate went with us. She didn't dress up, but she played with me and helped me climb up on the fence so I could see into the animal pens on the farm.

The last place we visited at Wakefield was the family burial ground. George Washington's grandfather started the plantation, and he is buried here, along with some other relatives. Nancy  says even though it's only $2, she thinks she ought to be able to get into the park free, because she is a descendant of George Washington's sister Betty and so she's a member of the family, but they still make her pay just like everyone else.

Dear Diary,

There was an awful storm here early this morning, and a big wind picked me up and blew me through the air. I was terribly scared! But then it plopped me down very softly in a beautiful place. I met a girl named Dorothy and some of her friends. One lady wore a black hat and was very scary, but Dorothy say she wasn't really too bad, if you just behaved. So I did. There were some very funny-looking people in this land, but I still had a good time. After I played with these really little kids all day, I wanted to go back to Nancy's house, but I didn't know the way. Dorothy told me that in this land, my red shoes were magic, and all I had to do was click my heels together, and I was back at Nancy's house again in a jiffy. I thought that would be a good way to get to my next visit in Washington, and I tried clicking them again, but I guess they don't work in Virginia. 

Dear Diary,

Today I leave Virginia to go to Washington state. I went to work with Nancy, and then she's sending me off at lunchtime. I got to visit with her desk-friend at the Virginia Department of Transportation. I'm too polite to say it to her face, but that little girl is really ugly! But she gets to wear her cool hardhat and play with that traffic sign whenever she wants, and she was nice, so I guess looks aren't everything. She even let me keep her extra hardhat.

See you later!