Post 359: Visiting Family, Winery, and Shopping

Visiting Family, a Winery, and Shopping

Tuesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Roadtrip! Yes, Election Day - first I voted here at home in Woodbridge, VA then drove to Charlottesville, VA. There was an obvious difference in the drive this year compared to the last Election in 2020 that told me the outcome of the day. I know that mostly Northern Virginia and major coastal cities lean one direction and typically the more rural areas lean another. 

I shouldn't have to do this but let me state here - EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion. Period. All lives matter as well as all votes. It is the way America was created and I have always believed that America is the best place to be born and to live. And Virginia is pretty awesome too in so many ways.

Anyway, the difference was that the signs typically found in the rural areas FAR EXCEEDED any of the signs found in the city for the entire trip that I noticed. Even here around the Lake Ridge area. And what I did see wasn't as I expected to see. My guess is surprisingly, the Trump signs outnumbered the Harris signs about 20 to 1. That told me the outcome of the day, and it was correct.

The decision was made months ago for Election night, to meet at my Aunt's house in Charlottesville and watch the Election 2024 results come in with my mom and another Aunt, so we did. And if the voting gave us the results we all hoped for, we would go the next day to - where else in Virginia, near Charlottesville, would be an awesome place to celebrate the day?....well here - at Trump Winery. It was a good idea. And we were up until 3 am to see those results.

This photo above, was taken in the summer of 2023.

What Better Place for Us to Celebrate?

Once again, we were given a very beautiful day and crazy warm weather. Here are various photos taken from the gorgeous Trump Winery which is located just past Thomas Jefferson's Monticello outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. 

The food is excellent and of course, the wine is too. What also made the day so awesome, was the absolute joy of the visitors who were garbed in every conceivable red, white and blue and Trump gear imaginable. (AND shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses in NOVEMBER!) The folks all around you and walking past were happy, smiling and wishing each other a pleasant day. The staff as well. I cannot remember being anywhere except in some churches where folks would pause long enough to say, "nice to meet you", "where are you from", "have a GREAT DAY!!" and to wish you well. With genuine happy hearts.

Some of my photos from around the Winery. Click on a photo to enlarge.

All along the very long fence line were American Flags which I believe were posted in the summer of 2024. We had visited the Winery back in May 2024 and the flags were not there. I know some family visited in July and they spoke of all the rows of America's colors - and they are still there. For miles. 

With the Trump Winery being the largest winery on the East Coast, that's a lot of fencing on the road. And a LOT of flags.

Notice Trump Winery across the way. We didn't take the time to stop at the new Cidery that recently opened across the street behind this photo. That will have to be on another visit.

A cousin met us for lunch, helping to make for a thoroughly enjoyable day. It's NOVEMBER and we are in T-shirts! Luckily, we got there minutes before it opened and were the first to order. The lines started forming quickly - and the parking lots filled to capacity. More happy people coming to celebrate!

On Thursday, November 7, my Aunt, Mom and I went to Lynchburg for some consignment and thrift Store shopping - and it was my Mom's birthday. Another celebration!

There is something so grand to find treasures amongst all the goodies at thrift stores. And why pay full price when consignment store items often still have the price tags on merchandise that were never worn or used but are priced FAR less? And while we were there, I snapped a few photos...

The rain lasted all of about a minute. We actually had rainbow first, before the rain. We stopped for a bite to eat and got Nothing Bundt Cakes.

A hole in the sky

My Mom and I went to Louisa on Friday, November 8 - where my Mom lives as well as one of my Brothers and Sis-in-laws. I came on home Saturday, November 9. A great couple of road trips and many thanks to a gracious God for a very special week trekking across Virginia.

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For the Beauty of the Earth 

by Folliott S. Pierpoint

1. For the beauty of the earth,
   For the glory of the skies,
   For the love which from our birth
   Over and around us lies—
   • Refrain:
     Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
     This our hymn of grateful praise.
2. For the wonder of each hour,
   Of the day and of the night,
   Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
   Sun and moon, and stars of light—
3. For the joy of human love,
   Brother, sister, parent, child,
   Friends on earth and friends above,
   For all gentle thoughts and mild—
4. For Thy church that evermore
   Lifteth holy hands above,
   Off’ring up on every shore
   Her pure sacrifice of love—

1. See also A Short Trip To Charlottesville 

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 325: A Short Trip to Charlottesville, VA

A Short Trip to Charlottesville, VA 

I recently made the almost 2 hour drive to Charlottesville, Virginia and visited with Family (one in the hospital) and made a few stops while there; including Trump Winery, Yoders, and Carter Mountain. As you can see from the pictures, a beautiful day it was on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

Trump Winery

On the way to Charlottesville, on 29 North (although I was going south), about 25 miles outside of Charlottesville is a very cool store called Yoders Country Market. It is well worth the visit as it has wonderful jams, jellies, flours, baking supplies, candies, baked goods, ALL types of wonderful spices, frozen goodies, refrigerated goodies, a deli and SO much more. 

2105 S Seminole Trail, Madison, VA 22727
https://www.yoderscountrymarket.net/

I guess I should mention the Petting Zoo as well with Leonardo di Goat "I'm King of the World!" up on the ramp over head.

After spending some time visiting with the Family on Tuesday, my aunt and I decided to revisit Trump Winery. We had gone there prior to Covid, around Christmas-time maybe in 2018 or 2019 and had such a great lunch there and the wine tasting was really exceptional as well. We remembered the lovely view and had a wonderful time there and hoped for a repeat. Well....

Over the river and through the woods we go, past the Carter Mountain Orchard entrance, past Michie Tavern https://www.michietavern.com/ and the gift shop, past Monticello and Jefferson Winery (I have GOT to go back to these spots too!). And then we realized the GPS wasn't stopping where we once entered the Trump Winery...on we drove, over hill and dale. And then discovered, low and behold, a NEW Trump Winery! Jaw-dropping. I'm hoping you heard my, "WOW".

We did not realize that the huge 'mansion' viewable from the previous spot across the valley on the mountainside had been under renovation and was now THE Trump Winery for the last 2 years. It was gorgeous. It was awesome. It is now the largest winery on the East Coast.

https://www.trumpwinery.com/

Click on the image for a larger view.

The original Trump Winery was on the far distant tree line and will become a cidery. The ground nearby is going to be planted with apple trees.

There was plenty of outdoor seating, also with tables and chairs in the shade, and plenty of people enjoying themselves. We met people from Florida, Colorado, and Ohio. Lunch was devoured, wine tasting was GREAT and what an interesting presentation! Select the wines you want to try (and size) and they served on a wooden tray with small glass container inserts. Or you could build your own sampler. 

We enjoyed the flat bread pizzas and LOVED the wines we sampled.

Only one tasting room was officially open but we counted 2 other rooms that had tasting areas. And LOTS of indoor seating as well, in nooks and crannies and great views all around. Wouldn't this be an incredible spot for a wedding! Of course, that is what it is built for as well and they could handle several going on at once, I suspect.

The Gift Shop included not only all the wines, but the wine merchandise - wonderful selections and the quality of everything, the BEST!

The courtyard. Immaculate was a word that came to mind besides beautiful.

After leaving the winery and winding our way back past Monticello, we decided to stop and Carter Mountain...apple cider, just picked apples and MORE. An ice cream cone was in our future. Charlottesville lays there between Carter Mountain and the distant mountains.

https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/carter-mountain-orchard/

It's been awhile since I've been to Carter's. I remember getting peaches there before, but those are past their time. The drive UP the mountain is now paved - good to see. Apples and pumpkins are the featured items this time of year, along with apple doughnuts. Ohhhh yeah. Along with a large gift shop with all kinds of goodies and souvenirs. 

The opposite side of Carter Mountain.

I told my aunt that even though she had visited Trump Winery many times in the past, everyone will need to come back again and see it now. Lucky her, she's only about 12 miles away or so.

Definitely more time was needed to go back to Monticello and there are so many other wineries in the area. Not sure we could ever get such a beautiful, perfect day with a light breeze the next time! But it would be worth it.

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.

*Thank you for visiting and remember to Share, to Follow, and please Comment!