James Madison's Montpelier and Virginia Horse Country

You may remember Hal and I went to Charlottesville, Virginia a few weeks ago.  We actually stayed out in the countryside about 30 miles from Charlottesville, but more on that later.  On our first full day in Virginia, we decided to drive to Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison, with the idea that we would just enjoy the pretty scenery on the way but not do the house tour.  I had read that the grounds were free to the public, and we thought we'd just walk through the grounds and take some pictures.  The scenery on the way to Montpelier was indeed beautiful.  Once we got to the museum shop, we decided to purchase tickets and see the house.  It was a terrific tour; we were so glad we decided to take it.

A Trip To Virginia

Happy Friday to you!  It's been almost three weeks since I've posted, so I hope you haven't given up on me.  😃  First, I need to update you on my dad.  I want to thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers over the past two months.  He went home from the hospital about two weeks ago today, and it's been a tough time for everyone.  As my sister said, we all knew it was going to be hard, but I don't think any of us realized it would be this tough.  My mom insists on being positive around us, and she says she thinks things are going okay, but I know this has been incredibly hard on her and my dad.

Hal and I went to Virginia on Sunday and returned yesterday.  We have had this trip planned for a good while, and my mom really wanted us to go.  She and my dad own a timeshare, and she had booked a cabin for us at a resort in the Shenandoah area, so we decided to go.  My sister was here to help out, and my parents' neighbors have been wonderful.

Monticello