Air + Space Museum // favorite things

"I was astonished at the effect my successful landing in France had on the nations of the world. It was like a match lighting a bonfire."* Charles Lindbergh, in reference to his 1927 solo flight  from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis

My dad and I recently took my kids to the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. Going to Air and Space with my dad is pretty amazing--I am convinced that he knows more about the collections than most of the curators, let alone the docents. I actually refuse to go to the museum without him.  He is a phenomenologist (yeah, I can barely spell the world, let alone explain it to you) with an impressive vocabulary. I still learn new words from him every time I see him. We had a great time wandering through the collections, although we all needed a milkshake to perk us up at the end of the two hours.

My favorite part of the museum showcases  the "Golden Age" of flight, between the two world wards, when Charles Lindbergh and the many other adventurers ruled the skies. How can you not love a photograph like this (on the right)?  The exhibit reminded me of another adventure at the museum, this time with my sister in law, a very talented graphic designer with a special love for typography.  My husband wondered aloud the age of a plane. She said, "Well, it can't have been built before 1938 (or something like that)." He said, "You know absolutely nothing about planes. What makes you say that?" She responded, "I know type. That type was invented by [designer] in 1939." Sure enough, the plane was built in 1940. Pretty awesome, eh?

*The Lindbergh quote does not refer to my first quilt and any subsequent quilting obsession, including the three that I finished this week (with my mom's help. Most were started some time ago). Although it probably could :)