November (c)rush Day 9

After checking into our room, we had time to walk around the Main Street area and visit several of the shops.   We walked to the train station and criss-crossed the blocks around the area.   I had a great Bourbon Glazed Salmon  Dinner at The Depot Grille; Stacy, not so much. Her’s looked like the top came off the oregano and gave her more than a heavy dusting across her pasta. It really was bad and definitely needed to be sent back.  

If walls could talk, I wonder what stories this one would have.

 Augusta County Courthouse, completed 1901, still in use.

I think I must have been an architect in a former life.   This kind of work amazes and fascinates me.

Our room was part of the Frederick House Hotel. It is a 20-room inn situating in 5 historic houses in walking distance of historic downtown Staunton.  The current owners, Ross and Brooke bought the hotel in  2017.    As I said, our room was adorable.   Here is the link to our room, Bowers 20.    

The staff was so friendly and I truly would recommend this place to anyone.  One word of warning, our room was on the third floor and no elevators.   Thank goodness at this point we were using overnight bags.

And breakfast was fantastic.    I did not realize I booked us at a B & B when I made the reservations.   I was just looking for a stop about half-way home.    Look at their menu.  It was on the coffee mugs.    It was a toss up but I went with the Apple Raison quiche.  Delicious.  I would definitely stay here again.

So up and atom for our ride home.   We scoped out some places to stop and break up the trip.   First up was Cross Stitch Station.  Like we needed another cross stitch store at this point but…….want and need are two different things when it comes to cross stitching.  Here’s a heads up, don’t go by their address on the internet.   They have moved.   Give them a call for the new location.   It is still in Waynesboro and only a mile or so away from their old location.   That said, the store may have been small but it was packed with models, and patterns, and floss and notions.   The owner was so pleasant and patient with us as we ‘auditioned’ fabrics and flosses.I actually spent more here than at the Merchant Mall at the retreat.

Next up, we were zooming up 81 and there was a big old sign for the “Largest Fabric Store in Virginia”.   Blinker on and we exited the highway.   The store, Patchwork Plus, was gigantic.    It not only had quality fabric but the way the store and the displays were laid out you knew it was a great shop.  There was any kind of fabric you wanted in every color.   There was wool and wool appliqué, cross stitch and floss, notions, and gift ideas.   It was fabulous and dangerous to the pocketbook for sure.

Look, Jamie Fraser was spotted on the next aisle.  Picture is not so good.  It was a life size cut out and I should have walked back around and taken the full on kilt shot of him but there was so much fabric to look at. Sorry Jamie.

I just fell is love with this pattern and had to buy it.  Now, will I ever do it?  I hope so.

I bought fat quarters to add to my stash.   The holiday prints had me and I could have said…one of each please but alas I would not have had room for all of it.

And look at the cute quilt charm stapled to my receipt.   I didn’t find it until I was home and unpacking.   Made me smile.

So back in the car and north to the Quilt Museum of Virginia.  It is in Harrisonburg, home of James Madison University.  Unfortunately we were not allow to take photos of the quilts; copyright issues.   

 

I did take a photo of the machine room.  Sewing Machines, floor to ceiling on all four walls.

I did have some other purchases at the Merchant Mall that I forgot to share.  This is the cutest project roll.   Pin cushion on one end, a drawstring storage pouch on the other end.  I did manage some stitching while way. Christmas Rules which I started stitching at the Prim Retreat.

I bought this wrought iron easel for my kitchen.  Look at all the uses I have for it.  That’s me, I always like versatility in accessories.

I bought this little tree in Weaverville.    I think this is when I started to get that Christmas spirit flowing, or at least I got thinking about Christmas.

I also made progress on Winter Wonderland from the Primitive Hare.   All I had done before this trip was “onderland”.  I had great visions of completing both this and Christmas Rules by Christmas 2021 but let’s say more likely Christmas 2022.

Ok, thanks for bearing with me on my trip to North Carolina trip diary.   Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.  

November (c) rush Day 8

 We said goodbye to Asheville before 7 a.m. heading north to Staunton, Virginia for the night.   We wanted to be in Staunton in time to visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library for the afternoon tour. 

It was a great museum.  Approaching from the back the first thing you see if the tiered garden area.   Due to a Boxwood blight a few years ago, all the plantings needed to be removed.   But it was not a total loss;  it allowed for archeological digs which turned up artifacts from the 1700’s. 

 

This is the view of the back of the home.

This is the home Woodrow Wilson was born in.   He lived here until he was about three at which time his father was offered a new position in a church in Atlanta.

This is the museum which is located to the left of his birthplace.

Look at this 1919 Pierce Arrow.   It was Wilson’s Presidential car.  It is still used today for local parades.

See the “AAA” on the front?   Wilson never had a driver’s license but felt it was important for the President to be a member of AAA.    

Look at that dashboard.   Just the essential gauges.  After his death, his long-time driver drove the Pierce Arrow from Washington DC to Staunton, VA.

It was kind of eerie to be in the Museum on Veteran’s Day and seeing this display in the basement.

There was a very realistic display you could walk through complete with sound 

effects.

 

In the house, linens of the period are laid out for pressing.

The chair above and the bed below are in the cook’s room.   The cook, being the most important person in the house as really a chief cook and bottle washer jack of all trades worker, had a room in the house.   The ‘contract’ with the cook allowed her to keep processions given to her.   The chair above is the original chair the cook had.   It dates to the late 1700’s.

Mary Baldwin University is on the opposite corner from Wilson’s birthplace.    This University played an important part in why Staunton, VA was not raised on General Hunter’s  march through the Shenandoah Valley.   The story goes that Hunter was told to destroy everything in his path.   When he came upon Staunton, Virginia, he sees an insane asylum, a school for the blind and  Baldwin Univeristy which was at the time a school for wealthy girls from both the north and the south.  He decided it would not look favorably towards him to attack the blind, the insane and the daughter’s of wealthy families.   He decided to march on to Lexington with there was a military school feeling it was a better target.   Because of that many buildings and homes pre-dating the Civil War are still standing.  

After visiting the Museum and home, we checked into our B & B.   I’ve got to tell you that the one night in this hotel was better than the week we spent in the Crown Plaza.   The Frederick House consists of five historic buildings that have been converted into rooms.   It was so adorable and I regret I carried my stuff up and dumped it out before thinking to take a picture.  More on where we stayed and the rest of the trip in my next post.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.

November (c) rush Day 7

Retreat was over and we headed out to visit the Biltmore Mansion Wednesday morning after sending Diane on her way back to Tennessee.    

Biltmore is a beautiful place and we had the most beautiful weather to be there.   It is hard to conceive it was a home for ONE family.  The size of what the property originally was is also hard to wrap your head around, something like 250,000 acres.  Present day they still have a 3 and a half mile driveway from when you entry the gate until you reach the house.  I sure am glad I am not the one to have to shovel that driveway!

Our audio tour took us upstairs to the third floor and down to the basement and lasted  a little more that an hour.  If you have been to Ellis Island, you will see a similar ceiling.   The same architect did both ceilings.

The dining hall is just that, a hall…..seating 24.

From the upstairs hallway, windows open to the dining hall below.

A view of the dining hall from a different angle later in the tour.   You can see the windows on either side of the three hearth chimney

A smaller dining area, the Breaekfast Room.

Two original Renoir paintings

Views from the Library Terrace

The two story library with some 8,000 volumes of books.  Many of them rare.   And the beautiful ceiling pictured below.

Trees, trees everywhere.

The four story chandelier in the entry hall.

And who doesn’t have a swimming pool and complete with diving platform in their basement?  Unfortunately the pool current leaks and is not being filled with water.

 Across the hall from the pool is the well appointment fitness room.

Giant Gingerbread House in the main kitchen; below the original stove

Good thing there were dumb waiters to carry that food upstairs to the dining hall.

Staff dining.  I was getting my Downtown Abbey vibe on.

Table linens laid out in the laundry room.

And then we went outside. Beautiful view from the terrace. 

Although it was fall the gardens still held some beauty. 

The conservatory was equally beautiful with miniatures of the main house and the conservatory   

A garden bed

I found a a beautiful place in Antler Village to sip an evening coffee before heading into the winery for our wine tasting.

Beautiful place, beautiful weather, beautiful visit.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.