Blessings and a cure

refractory |riˈfraktərē|adjective formal

stubborn or unmanageable : his refractory pony

We did a little time traveling this weekend - back to a time when being tarred and feathered was considered  "a cure for the refractory".  (That's the bag of feathers you see there.)  In the scene below is a man who was refractory, and was on the verge of being tarred and feathered.  But he expressed remorse and was saved from that fate.

This was just one of Colonial Williamsburg's "Revolutionary City" events Saturday.

We were there, under the cloudless blue skies of a nearly perfect day, to enjoy the pageantry, the gardens, the history, and the food.

I first visited Colonial Williamsburg in the 1960's with my family, and though it rained the entire time, I have great memories of that visit - especially eating dinner in the basement of Christiana Campbell's.   Soon after we were married, my husband reported to Officer Candidate School at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center at Yorktown, Virginia,  just down the road from Williamsburg. My father and I drove him to Yorktown, and while there we visited Williamsburg and ate at Christiana Campbell's.  My husband and I have been back numerous times over the years and have found something new to enjoy each time.  Every visit has been a blessing.

We arrived for this visit late Friday afternoon, as the sun was going down.  Firewood was stacked in front of a  number of buildings - ready for the many fires that will be built when the weather turns colder.  The streets were fairly empty.  It had rained not long before.

Saturday morning we toured the gardens (and took many pictures) at the Governor's Palace as we waited for an audience with Thomas Jefferson. 

Following the audience with Jefferson, a "Revolutionary City" program was held in the garden.  The time was 1775 and three Shawnee Indians who were in Williamsburg to keep the peace were discussing their situation.  One of these actors is on the cover of a recent issue of Our State Magazine.

Afterwards, Hal enjoyed coffee with George Wythe at Charlton's Coffeehouse.  (I enjoyed tea at another table.)  The Coffeehouse was still being excavated on our last visit, but is now open and serving samples of coffee, tea, and chocolate.

Some other highlights of our trip included:

The ox and all of the other animals.

Fifes and Drums

The horse-drawn carriages.  We overheard a woman announcing that she'd just been proposed to while on a carriage ride!

Visiting Great Hopes Plantation on the walk from the Visitors' Center to the historic area.

Checking out what's growing in the Colonial Nursery.

Visiting the brickyard and learning how bricks were made and fired.

We didn't take any building tours on this trip, opting to be outdoors most of the time.  To really enjoy everything about Colonial Williamsburg, we would have needed at least a three-day visit.  

We've been to Williamsburg in all seasons except the heat of the summer and all seasons have something special to offer - but I think fall is my favorite.  Some of the trees were already brilliantly colored, but the peak of the fall color is over a week away.  (For fall color and garden pictures, check out my other blog, Ginny's Garden.)

We headed home Sunday afternoon, crossing the James River on the ferry.  

We left Colonial Williamsburg behind but brought home many memories to cherish.