41st Anniversary Weekend in Williamsburg Virginia 2012

Our 41st anniversary was June the 11th, which was also a Monday. So we decided to wait until the weekend to celebrate. On Friday after Joanne got off work we left for Williamsbug VA. We had dinner reservations at the Kings Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg.

Part of the entertaiment during dinner was a lady playing a celtic harp.

Joanne had "chicken breast pan-fried and served with apple-cornbread stuffing, scuppernong-raisin sauce, herb-mashed potatoes, and fresh vegetables".

I had "maple and whiskey-brined pork chop with grain-mustard glaze, herb-roasted mashed potatoes, and red cabbage braised with applewood bacon".

Joanne had a pecan pie included with her dinner, which she gave to me. She had decided that she wanted the "Thomas Jefferson's brandy spiked bread pudding with a warm vanilla bean sauce". Good food, good music, and better company.

Saturday morning we started our day with breakfast at the Old Chickahominy House restaraunt. It is our favorite place for breakfast in Williamsburg.

 After breakfast we went to the Williamsburg Pottery Factory. If they hadn't had the sign out front, I would never have recognized the place. They have totally redone the Pottery. New buildings, its clean, its air conditioned, and the variety of selections is great. One of the managers told us that they have over 15,000 food items in stock. It was like Salsa Heaven. The next time we go to Williamsburg for an extended stay, we're doing our grocery shopping there.

 We then made an obligatory stop at the Yankee Candle Outlet. Joanne said we were just going to look around, but I kept loosing her. This place is an aromatice den of temptation.

 Finally, we made it back over to Colonial Williamsburg. We didn't buy any tickets, so we just walked around, checking out the scenery and gardens.

 It was a beautiful day, with the temperatures in the low 80's and the humidity low. It was a perfect day to wander, hold hands, sip some cold apple cider, and just not be in a rush.

We headed home around 4:00 in the evening. We weren't there long, just long enough. It was nice simply to get away to ourselves.

Anniversary Trip to Colonial Wiiliamsburg

The day after the Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference ended, Joanne and I went to Colonial Williamsburg for the day. Actually we made it until 1 PM, by then the temperature was 95 degrees and Joanne was turning beet red. So we didn't make a whole day, but we didn't get heat stroke either.

 

If you haven't been to Colonial Williamsburg recently, expect some entertaining changes. They have always had reenactors, but now its a production, with performances in the streets and on stages. You can follow the story from one place to the next and it is thoroughly involving. 

 

The story we saw was about the Stamp Act Tax and Governor Dunsmore having removed the gunpowder and muskets from the magazine under the cover of night. It told the story of how these actions effected the population of colonial Williamsburg, from affluent and influential to the common folk and slaves.

 

The Capitol building of Colonial Williamsburg.

 

Now, we could simply go and just hang out in the gardens at Colonial Williamsburg. The pace is slow and comfortable, especially when its a bit cooler. 

 

One of the newest things in Colonial Williamsburg is the Coffee House. It is the building closest to the Capitol. They have a tour through the building explaining its function and use. The tour finished with everyone being served hot tea, coffee, or chocolate. We were advised that good colonialist we would avoid the tea, because of the tax. Joanne and I tried the chocolate, which tasted as if you had melted a dark chocolate bar and poured it in the cup. We added some cream to the cup and it wasn't quite as strong.

 

Thursday evening, we ate ate shields Tavern, for our anniversary; a week late, but worth the wait. Of all the taverns you can dine at in Colonial Williamsburg, Shields has been our consistent favorite. There was a man playing bagpipes outside as we waiting. I think if he had played inside there might have been a small riot. During dinner we were entertained by guitar, fiddle, and a horn that looked like it came from the imagination of Dr. Seuss. When we finished our meal we were the last ones in our room and most of the tavern.    

 

Even with the heat, it was a great day. Though I think next time we visit, it will be in the Fall of the year. 

Long Weekend at Colonial Williamsburg

A couple of weeks ago Joanne and I took a extended weekend and visited Colonial Williamsburg. It really is one of our favorite places to visit. Even though we've been numerous time we still enjoy the sights and sounds. We still find something new each time to go. It was the end of October, the air was cool and the autumn leaves were still hanging on the trees for the most part. It was great weather for walking through the gardens and watching the reenactors outside.

 

 

 

 

 

One place in Colonial Williamsburg that never gets old is the Governor's Palace. Whether you take the tour of the inside or just walk the gardens it is always enjoyable. The gardens are a nice quiet place to go and sit and imagine.

 

Joanne said that she had been so many times she felt as if she was seeing herself there.

 

It was a nice time to relax and recharge. We want to thank our churches for making it possible.

Visit to Colonial Williamsburg

After spending 4 days at the United Methodist Conference in Norfolk, we decided to spend a couple days visiting Colonial Williamsburg. We figured this was just one last extension of our anniversary celebration. I realize that we've been celebrating for a month now, but I figure Joanne deserves stretching it out a bit after 38 years.

Colonial Williamsburg is one of our favorite places to visit. We have a come here to celebrate a number of anniversaries. There was one time when I asked Joanne what she would like to do for our anniversary. She told me she would like to go out to eat. So, I made the mistake of asking her where she would like to go to eat. She smiled and said Shields Tavern at Colonial Williamsburg. So we drove 4 hours from Lynchburg to Williamsburg, ate a fine dinner, and then drove 4 hours home.

Now, I realize that some people actually have been to real palaces or may live in countries that have them. But, this is the Governor's Palace at Colonial Williamsburg. It may not impress Queen Elizabeth, but I bet it made the early colonials take a step back.

The entryway and stairway of the Palace is loaded with swords, muskets, and pistols. You can imagine the intimidation factor for guests.

The furnishing seem a bit sparse, but again for colonial times they were rather grand.

The palace gardens are immaculate. There are benches placed throughout the gardens where you can just sit and enjoy. It is one of the few spots that seem cool in Williamsburg during the summer.

Above is the tiered vegetable garden for the Palace. The kitchens are at the top of the hill. There was a lady in the kitchen baking and it smelled really good. She was preparing foods that would have been eaten in the 1780's and prepared them in the manner they would have done it then.

This is the magazine, where muskets and gun powder were stored. The majority of the muskets on display, there are hundreds, in the magazine were given by Queen Elizabeth on one of her visits to Colonial Williamsburg.

There are reenactors all over the place, who portray life during the 1780's. They stay in character when you talk to them. It can get very confusing and amusing to watch someone try to talk to them who doesn't quite realize what is going on.

They have numerous carriages that people can take a ride in if they get tired of walking.

Joanne always makes sure that we search out the sheep.

The way I like to visit Colonial Williamsburg is to just find a seat in the shade or in a garden. From there you can watch people, read a book, take a nap, or even imagine yourself being a resident of Colonial Williamsburg.