A Day in Philadelphia

Kelley's friend Nancy, from an online photography class, picked her up at the hotel and drove her downtown.  We saw all kinds of wonderful, historic buildings and landmarks.  Including the Liberty Bell.

We realized a little later this wasn't the REAL Liberty Bell and was just a mock up.  The real Liberty Bell had a wait line that looked to be 30-45 minutes long.

I think this was the courthouse and it was under renovation.  There was fabric surrounding the scaffolding that showed a picture of what it should look like which was neat.

I tried to take a picture from the street of the arched doorways and window, but a security guard walked into my frame and then yelled at me to get out of the street.  I mumbled I wouldn't have been standing so long in the street if I wasn't waiting on a certain security guard to get out of the shot.  Oh well.

These tall and curvy trees were filling a courtyard behind this building.

Some had bark that looked like it was painted.

Another view of the building under construction with the covered scaffolding all the way to the ground.

We walked on cobblestone streets.

And on cross-hatched bricks.  I love these shoes.  They have been on my feet every day for the past year.  Well.  Maybe all but four or five days.

Everywhere we turned, there was beautiful architecture that had been in place for a hundred or more years.  So awesome!

A little self portrait.  Do you see Nancy and me?  Not sure how I didn't get any real shots of us, but this is as good as it gets.

This was a little museum with paintings and sculptures of famous Philadelphians, many of them our founding fathers.

The domed ceiling was so detailed.  I think my bedroom as a child was this same Pepto-Bismol pink.

Good old Noah!

I wonder what he would think of his current editions now that are filled with slang.

George?  Is that you?

Nancy was a fabulous tour guide and I was so happy to have met her in person!  She drove me back to my hotel and I crashed for a long nap.  After too many late nights with work over the last couple of weeks, my body had had it with me.  I was running a fever and so worn out.

After getting some rest, I took a shuttle over to Bead Fest and walked around seeing different vendors and some friends.  What normally takes me all day when walking with friends was footed in less than 30 minutes.  I could only think about getting back to my hotel to sleep some more.  Here are my friends Nancy (a ceramic bead artist and potter) and Andrew (a jewelry designer).

My friend Diana organized a bead swap and then a dinner at Legal Seafood for over 20 of us.  There was a TON of talent sitting at this table with very well know bead artists and jewelry designers.

Nancy and Lisa raising a toast.  Lisa flew up from Florida and this was the first time we got to meet her in person.

My girl Lori.  She's just the best and I wish she didn't live so far away.  I'm thankful I get to see her once or twice a year.  Just wish I had been feeling better this trip as I only saw her for a few hours over the whole weekend.  :(

This is Anne, another lampworker whose work I have admired for years.  She lives in upstate New York and made the 5+ hour drive down to Philly.  Was so glad I got to meet her in person, too.