A few years ago, I went on a reading binge on the Colonial period and all of the founding fathers and mothers. And the player who fascinated me the most was Thomas Jefferson.
So this Memorial Day weekend, my sweetie and I hopped into his really cute convertible and headed for Charlottesville, Virginia to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation.
The ride down was gorgeous, with a detour down Skyline Drive, with it's amazing views of the Shenandoah Valley. We had the top down, and while the skies were pretty blue over the Shenandoah, on the other side of the mountain, the sky was black with scary looking clouds. Still, it didn't really rain on us!
When we got to Monticello, the tour started with a film about Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. But I was more interested in seeing the house where he lived. That came next.
The plantation has been restored to much the village it was in Jefferson's time. It housed over 200 people, including around 150 slaves, owned by the man who wrote about all men being created equal in the Declaration of Independence.
They wouldn't let us take photos inside the house, but you can find them on the gallery official web site . Being in Jefferson's private rooms, with his books and surveying tools, and the bed with a cool clock at the foot, was a little voyeuristic, especially when I spotted his boots set against the wall.
The kitchen was set apart from the living quarters, because Jefferson's father lost his house to a kitchen fire years earlier. The cooks and servers then had to run the food through this hallway, up a back stair, and then they delivered it to the guy who served it. They did allow photos of the kitchen, the brewery (yes, the had a little micro brewery thing going) and the cooks living quarters.
Then there were the gardens. There were flower gardens and space for produce.
And if you are a history buff, the gift shop has the best collection of books that I've ever seen on the revolutionary period.
So here are the photos of the kitchen and the gardens that I promised!
Hi Pat-That is a place I will have to put on my list to visit. It is not too far from me. It would make a nice day trip. Glad you had fun. Look forward to seeing the pics. Have a great Weds. <SMILE>
I went there in 1980. Jefferson was far ahead of his time when it came to real estate. If I remember correctly, he installed multipane windows in Monticello. The gift shop people were laughing at me because I think I bought enough stuff there to keep them in business for another decade.
Hi Pat, Looks like a beautiful trip. I have always wanted to go there and visit. I have been fascinated by studying the history behind Thomas Jefferson. Thanks for the peek.
OK, first of all.... hold your horses there Miss Housepat... back up .. you may have thought I would have let this comment slip by, but I am sharp as a tack.... mind like a steel seive and all..
You said... and I quote via the miracle of copy and paste...
my sweetie and I hopped into his really cute convertible
Luuuuceeee.... you got some splainin to do...
And here I thought you were out selling real estate, why you had been reletively quite lately.
OK, moving on, I went there oh so many years ago. I love Jefferson, and would love to go there. Mirela Monte just posted about it a bit ago and it just whet my appetite to go. Now you have made me REALLY want to go.
:D
My wife went to Monticello several years ago while I was at the NAR Mid year and raved about the house and the gardens.
Yes, I too was wondering about the sweetie - and it isn't the dog. Anyway you have beautiful pictures. I've bookmarked your post for future traveling reference.
Hi Pat,
LOVE the photos...excellent artistry.
It has been for-ever since I have been in the Valley.
Uh, happy about Sweetie of course...now, more about the convertible <devil grin>
Hi Pat-I just have to laugh at Andrea's comment. Must be she missed your post when you first talked about your new beau. I love it. <BIG SMILE>
OK, just to clarify, I read the post about hunting down the tracking down an old boyfriend, and they had dinner.
So... that was a short bit ago... we go from dinner with an old boyfriend to....
my sweetie and I hopped into his really cute convertible
Luuuuceeee.... you STILL got some splainin to do...
Pat: looks like a great trip that I am putting on my lit next time I get down to visit my parentsin Annandale. I discoverd Down Dog Yoga studio in Georgetown over the weekend and loved it, only sorry I was too sweaty afterwards to have tea at Dean and DeLuca's
Pat, You might want to come to Lynchburg. Another home of Jefferson is here. Poplar Forest.
One of my old customers heads up Poplar Forest, Lynn Bebee.
Wow. Congratulation Pat on getting that listing. No, just kidding. Actually I read your post and would like to visit that famous place myself.