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!

Hello Monday ~ June 15, 2026/Wedding Weekend

 Happy Monday friends! How was your weekend?  Mine was a busy and fun one!

After work on Friday, I packed up and drove a little over an hour for my destination for the weekend.  One of my best friend's daughter got married!  I was able to spend the weekend there to be her right hand man and a help to the bridesmaids.  Speaking of the bridesmaids, my daughter was maid of honor!  She and the bride met in 1st grade at church and have been best friends.  She had gone down there earlier in the morning for a luncheon. I arrived to my cabin and had this lovely basket of snacks and drinks.

I went to the rehearsal and then headed over to the rehearsal dinner.

There were delicious appetizers at the rehearsal dinner!  I laughed when I saw the bacon wrapped shrimp because it reminded me of the episode of Parks & Rec when Ron Swanson mentions that is his 3rd favorite food wrapped in his 1st favorite food!  I don't disagree.

The wedding day was beautiful weather, thankfully. It was sandwiched in between a lot of rain. This is the chapel where the wedding was.

It is in a cute little Seaside type town, minus the beach!

It was a full morning of getting ready and doing so many little things.

We were in Mississippi, my home state!

My oldest daughter came into town for the wedding as well, so it was fun to be together again for less than 24 hours!

My crew...love these people

The stunning mother of the bride and one of my dearest friends!

And her lovely daughter, the bride!

So the band was amazing!  The female lead singer was a contestant on American Idol, season 8 and was top 11.  The male lead singer is Kortland Whalum.  Per google, he is a singer, songwriter, and Off-Broadway actor, & carries on the legacy of one of Memphis' most iconic musical families. We were well acquainted with his family as they are very popular and known in Memphis as musicians.  His uncle is Kirk Whalum (Grammy-winning saxophonist) and one of his brothers is Kameron Whalum (trombonist for Bruno Mars and tours with Bruno).  We moved our way up to the front of the dance floor!

Isabella brought one of her friends with her to the wedding and we all had fun dancing.  I don't think we left the dance floor for more than a minute to get a drink.  Even when the band went on a break, they had great music playing so the dance floor stayed full.

At some point during the night, I gave Kortland my boa and we may have been his back up singers from the dance floor, ha!

After the band finished, we loved getting this picture with Kortland.  It was a fun way to end the reception.

Sunday morning, we slept in and then we all grabbed a coffee before going our separate ways.  We also helped mom of the bride do a little packing up as well.  After unpacking when I got home, I basically rested while watching tv and doing a little laundry because this momma's legs were so tired.  But goodness, was my heart full!

Wedding ceremonies are still hard honestly, but I am so thankful we can laugh and have fun and I was able to re-connect with some people I haven't seen in a while.   

Hope you have a good start to your week!