Williamsburg Weekend

Jacob, Mike and I spent this past weekend with my mother-in-law, Kathy, in Colonial Williamsburg. We had a great time swimming in the outdoor heated pool, seeing the colonial sights, perusing through the little shops, petting horses, going to the Yankee Candle flagship store and eating yummy treats. The best part of it all, the family time.

Mike and I make it a priority to spend time with family. Since we live so close to my family, we seem them several times a week some weeks and we try to make the 5 hour trip to the Stafford family farm at least once every other month. However, there is something fun about experiencing something new with family. I love seeing what interests different people and what their "vacation goals" are.  For example, on a trip like this to place with lots to see and do, I am a "wake up early and go to bed late, making sure to squeeze everything you can in" type of person.  Don't get me wrong, I like a relaxing trip to the beach, but even then, I want to make sure we fit in appropriate sights. I just hate to go to a place (new or not) and miss anything it has to offer.  I was pleased to see that my mother-in-law was very accommodating to my go-and-see desires.  She is the type of person that is always on the go, so I was not surprised, but I was pleased.  Considering Mike can’t spend the day walking through sights, it was wonderful to have her along for the day with Jacob and I for company and it was wonderful to spend the extra time with her.

I am not sure Jacob learned as much on the trip as he would at an older age (well, that and the fact that Kathy and I spent much of Saturday in little local shops) but I am sure he got a great experience, and that was the point, right? In fact it was a place I would suggest anyone go. I know we have all been on the school trips, but you can get more out of it with your own itinerary. Even if you are not someone who is into history, the Yankee flagship store is fantastic. And no, it is not just candles; it is knick knacks, fudge and gourmet popcorn, a Christmas store where it snows and a place for children to dip thier own candles. There are also great little shops and restaurants and you can just sit back and listen to the drum and fife corps. We had a great trip! Thank you Williamsburg! In fact, you have inspired us to become weekend travelers more often.

A Regular Cattle Drive . . .

We went to the Stafford Family Farm in VA last weekend. As usual we were well fed and taken care of, Jacob loved being outside and we had a wonderful time.  This trip, however, we had an extra little adventure that just cracked me up.

On Sunday morning I was inside with Mike’s grandmother, Eleanor (affectionately called Erner) and Jacob, finishing up breakfast when Jacob yelled, “there are cows in your backyard.”  While there are cows on the farm, they are usually on the other side of the property gated in.   As a result of my knowing this, and Jakey’s active imagination, I just thought he was being silly.  That is, of course, until Erner shockingly replied, “There are cows in my backyard.” You see the neighbors cows had gotten out of the field that they are usually fenced in and moseyed over to the yard.  I am not sure what shocked me more, the fact that there were cows 20 feet from the house, or that fact that no one but Jacob and I seemed too excited about it. Erner calmly called the neighbor and I called Mike’s brother, Shane, to let him know they were going to the hay fields.

With Shane at the market, it left Mike and me to try to get the cows out of the fields. And thus . . . our adventure started! Although Mike has trouble with physical things, I knew I could not do this alone. Because of Mike’s back he can’t do too much walking and would have serious trouble chasing cows, so we went to get the “rhino” for some assistance.  The rhino is like a supped up, 4 wheel-drive golf cart on steroids. Not wanting to miss the action Jacob came with Mike and me on the rhino to drive through the fields and chase the cows back home.  Being near people and farm equipment quite often, the cows were not extremely concerned as we ventured toward them in the rhino. This prompted Mike to start waving his walking stick and yelling something that sounded like, “Hee-Ya, Hee-ya, go on cows.” Now imagine this in his a southern accent and a grumbley, yelling voice.  If that doesn’t, “have you tickled” as my in-laws would say, now imagine my 3-year-old son imitating this.  Oh, and to add to the humor, imagine this suburban girl (me) driving a rhino and yelling along.  I am sure to a bystander, especially one who knows me, this whole thing was rather amusing.

Eventually we got the cows back toward their property and Jacob and I went inside to get cleaned up.  As I walked in, I thought to myself how nice it is for Jacob to get such cool experiences by hanging out on the farm.  Not many kids spend several weekends a year chasing cows, feeding horses apples, planting football field-sized vegetable gardens and learning about calves while watching farmers on tractors mow the fields. And, he gets to do this on beautiful land in the mountains surrounded by family that loves him.

This weekend may have had a special added adventure, but overall most weekends at the farm are pretty cool and I love getting to watch Jacob spend time there.

This picture is not of our adventure but I just love it!