Love Byrds: A Weekend in Orange

Friday afternoon we hopped in the car and headed to the small, historical town of Orange, VA. It is only about an hour and a half away but with DC traffic it took about three. It was a beautiful drive with civil war battlefields, cow pastures, and open roads, lacking only construction and honking horns. Just driving outside of the city was relaxing.

Then we made it to our destination, The Inn at Willow Grove. It is owned by this guy whose grandfather lived in this house in the 1930's. He renovated it about a year ago and he did an awesome job.

Our super cool room. My favorite part was the bathroom. Heated floors, heated towel rack, it was ahhhmazing.

Kenny had the fireplace up and running the second we walked through the door. The fire stayed on about 90% of the weekend. True Life: I am married to a pyromaniac.

Before dinner the first night

The next morning breakfast was delivered at the crack of dawn at Kenny's request, who wanted to wake up early and make the most of our day. A hot, fresh tray of beignets and coffee were the only thing that could wake me up so early on a Saturday morning. While I laid in bed stuffing my face, Kenny was outside snapping pics of the sunrise. Hello, paradise.

Behind the main house are all these little cabin-ish places you can stay. The house on the hill is being renovated and going to be for people with pets. Good, Nelly and Chaco will love beignets.

There were lots more but the last thing on my mind was snapping a picture of breakfast. So, before I gobbled down the last two, I snapped a pic. How often does breakfast get served to you on a tray? Answer- Always, if you are royalty. Which brings me to my next point, I think I would make a really good Queen.

The morning started off with wine tasting at Horton Vineyard. Driving onto the property immediately reminded of us our days working on the vineyards with Legacy. Such a sweet memory.

The tour of the cellar. The lighting was really yellow and it was freeeeezing down there.

Oh, and it was a Mardi Gras celebration so beads, masks, hats, and seafood gumbo were also apart of the tour.

Then we asked if we could walk around the vineyards before we left. The lady looked at us like we were crazy because the vines were bare and needing some clipping; no one likes to walk around the vineyard in the winter, except us. She didn't know that clipping branches was our life for three months. Memories of cold and hurting hands, Watchmen Nee sermons, and dull scissors came rushing back and they was so welcomed. I would have never guessed while I was clipping those branches in Eutaw, Alabama what the Lord had in store for me. Three years later married to Kenny walking around a vineyard in Virginia. His plans are definitely bigger and better.

Handsome Birthday Boy

We stayed just four minutes away from James Madison's home, Montpelier.

That afternoon, we walked the grounds of The Inn. They had this great barn/hall where they do weddings and events in the Summer and Fall.

This is the restaurant, Vintage, that is at the bottom of the house. Fancy, huh.

At night the butler brought dessert, after we had just been to dinner, eaten desserts and swore we were about to pop we were so full. Our stomachs magically found room to manage a cupcake.