Today was a beautiful day, spent with even prettier people. My intentions all day were to come home and write extensively about it. However, I have a Mama who is slightly under the weather and has requested a homemade cherry cobbler. Have you ever had a sick Mama? What Sick Mama wants, Sick Mama gets. So, I’ll make this post much like my weekend, short and sweet.

I’ve said it many times before, birthdays are life celebrations that shouldn’t be overlooked. My dear friend Ashley’s birthday is this upcoming week, and today, celebrate we did! We’ve been planning to secretly whisk her away to Charlottesville for a day long wine tasting adventure.

She was surprised, to say the least.

Aren’t surprises the best?

We started the afternoon how any good afternoon should commence…with mimosas, of course. Did I mention said mimosas were enjoyed in a limo?

The men folk, however, weren’t able to enjoy the limo (I stand corrected, they enjoyed the limo in shifts). After attempting, and failing, to safely squeeze twelve people into a vehicle with an eight person capacity, the guys agreed to drive separately. Thoughtful men folk.

Our first stop of the day was Keswick. We were greeted by none other than, that’s right. You guessed it. Thomas Jefferson. He kindly returned from the grave just in time to welcome us to the grounds and pose for this photo opp with my future husband.

Oh, fiance.

What a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon that with a wine tasting on the front porch. Us Virginians, we love our history, our porches, and our wines.

Some members of our group charmed the owner into a private barrel tour. As the plaque says, “God bless the winemaker, and his wife. And also the wine.” Amen to that.

The next stop on our tour was Barboursville, and it was definitely the highlight of the day. A few favorite moments:

1)

Sommelier: Which wine is next on your tasting.

Me: Barbra is next on our list!

Sommelier: You, mean Barbera?

2) Getting impatient in line and deciding to pour my own tasting, as well as a taste for all my neighbors (Not that it’s an ABC violation, or anything).

3) Ashley’s husband Charlie being the conductor of the Crazy Train as he tried to coordinate our rather large group through the tasting room.

The quietness of the country scenery allowed some time of reflection on life and love on the way home. A little reflection is good for the soul. Everyone needs a moment of gratitude every now and then.

We ended the evening by cooking out on the grill. We made a fire and opted for Ashley’s favorite, rather than birthday cake, s’mores.

Charlie and Sarah did a great job planning a wonderful surprise. I don’t know about the birthday girl, but I surely enjoyed the day.

Today, I’m thankful for good friends, good wine, and the love of a good man.

Oh, and for homemade cherry cobbler. Especially, after making it without Mama’s instructions for the first time tonight. And it turned out just right.