Friday Favorites ~ October 15, 2026/Exploring Virginia

 Hi friends.  I am recapping a little more of my trip to Virginia.  This was my 4th trip to Richmond since my brother has lived in Virginia so I have explored Williamsburg, Jamestown and a few other places over the years.  Virginia is such a historical state with so much of our nation's history that took place in this state.  

On this trip, I did two things I had not done before.  The first one, not a historic location, but a fun one for sure!  We visited an orchard and went apple picking!

It was my first time here and someone else's too :)

Me with my siblings, 2 nieces, great nieces and sister-in-law.  My nephew couldn't make it and my niece's husband took the picture.

The apples were so good!  We picked a ton and ate a few right off the tree!

It made my trip when my great niece let me hold her!  She is super attached to her parents and I hadn't held her since she was a baby.  I asked if she wanted Aunt Marilyn to carry her a bit and was shocked and so excited when she said yes! Holding my 2 great nieces were the highlight of my trip! My favorite from the week for sure!

These hot apple cider donuts were sooo good!

Afterwards, we ate at an old tavern.  It was like stepping back in time here.

We then rode around Charlottesville and saw the campus of University of Virginia.  I love seeing college campuses!

My sister, sister-in-law and I took a walk when we got home.  We ate such a big lunch, none of us ate dinner that night. I loved sitting on their patio each day.

The next day, we took a tour of Berkley Plantation. Here is some information on it from the world wide web:

Berkeley Plantation, one of the first plantations in America, comprises about 1,000 acres on the banks of the James River. It is the ancestral home of two presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison, who was born there in 1773 and his grandson Benjamin Harrison.

Among the many American "firsts" that occurred at Berkeley Plantation are:

In 1619 settlers celebrated the first annual Thanksgiving celebration after landing at Berkeley Hundred.

In 1862 the Army bugle call "Taps" was first played, by bugler Oliver W. Norton; the melody was written at Harrison's Landing, the plantation's old wharf, by Norton and General Daniel Butterfield.

One of the many interesting facts is this home is 300 years old this year, which is quite remarkable for the United States.  It has never been re-built.  This is the 4th oldest brick home in our country.  The oldest is not too far away on the other side of the James River and that home is 361 years old. It was cool to see 300 year old brick.

Afterwards, we ate lunch at CAVA.  I don't have CAVA at home, so I always enjoy eating there. 

My brother was going on a trip the same day we left, so he changed his flight and flew with us to our connection in Atlanta.  He is top level with Delta, so he got my sister and I in the Delta Sky Club.  Traveling with him felt a little more bougie for sure. Below I am with my sister in law and sister on the morning we left. 

I was back at work for the rest of the week.

If you missed it, the first part of my trip was recapped here.

Hope you have a great weekend friends!

Hodgepodge ~ October 14, 2026

 Happy Hodgepodge Day!  Thank you for reading today with me as we link up with Joyce.

1. Do you think you're driven more by curiosity or comfort? Explain. 

I love the Ted Lasso quote, "Be curious, not judgemental."  I am a curious person, but if choosing what drives me between curiosity or comfort, I am going for comfort at this stage of life.  

2. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer? 

An artist palette with paint is kept in my freezer along with freezer/cooler bags.

3. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent? 

I am surrounded by quite a bit of silence.  My youngest daughter moved home this summer, but won't be with me for too much longer.  Even with her there, there are days we miss seeing each other and other days we see each other for just a few minutes.  In so much alone time, I usually at least have music or the tv playing.

4. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping...which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

I would like all to use!  I probably know more about carpentry than the others.  The one I know the least about is electrical.  I can re-set breakers on my breaker box, but that is about it.  Since I live in an apartment, I have my built in handymen, so I am not sure which I would use today.  

5. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

Oh I definitely lean towards being too independent.  I am so use to doing things for myself.  I am actually working on trying to accept outside help, especially from strangers.  I find it hard to be around someone who is so needy.  Someone who is independent is admirable to me.  I have learned in the last few years how unhealthy it is to be so needy on someone.  I think it deters my dependence on the Lord. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I have been deep in my thoughts lately. 

Loving deeply results in deep grief in so many layers.  Again, I have been deep in my thoughts lately.  I am so thankful for hope and healing though!  

Have a great day!

Hello Monday ~ October 12, 2026/Richmond

 Good morning!  I hope you all had a good weekend.  I am sharing some highlights of my unusual weekend below.   It was sad to see all the destruction from the hurricane on the Florida coast and see pictures of 30A.   I am sure these locals will come together with so many who love this area and re-build.

A friend of mine came over Friday morning and took me to the airport.  I met my sister there and we boarded a plane for Charlotte, NC.

I had a 2 1/2 hour layover there so I had reached out to one of my best friends who lives there. She picked me up and we sat in the cell phone lot for an hour visiting before she dropped me back off at the terminal.  I have TSA pre-check, so it was easy to go back through security again. I don't see this friend very often, so it was good to see her and hug her neck again.

It is crazy when I think back that I lived in the Charlotte area for 5 years of my life.  This is where I moved after I got married and I had my first daughter there. I still have fond memories of this time and loved living in North Carolina, but it also seems like a lifetime ago.  It is such a beautiful state.

My final destination was Richmond, Virginia.  My brother picked us up at the airport and we met my sister in law and nephew at a Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Saturday morning, we drove over to the Shenandoah Mountains for a hike.  It was a lot of uphill on the way up and lots of rocks to climb at the overlook.  We did see some pretty views and fall colors though! Along with my brother and sister, my sister-in-law, nephew, niece, niece's husband and my great niece also went on the hike.

The crew!

My siblings

We saw some blood on the trail at one point that looked like it was pretty fresh.  I had my nephew pose by it!

We went to a brewery restaurant afterwards and was able to sit outside.  We ordered a pizza for the table as an appetizer.

I ordered the chicken/sausage gumbo as my meal.

Sunday morning we woke up to rain and had a lazy morning.  Well, other than my brother who still went out and ran in the rain.  We went to my niece's house for lunch and was able to meet my new great-niece who is 2 weeks old.  It was fun to see her and her big sister too of course.  My niece had stayed home with the new baby from the hike on Saturday.

Afterwards, we happened to see a frozen yogurt shop so we got some then I took a walk later in the day.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!