I love the opportunities that come my way for speaking
engagements and book signings. Travelling to fun places, meeting new folks and
eating – especially eating! Earlier this winter, I had the opportunity to speak
to a fantastic group of ladies
in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia’s history is so wonderfully preserved and truly
old by American standards. For those of us in the Deep South who lost much of
their antebellum history to Sherman’s fires and “the war” itself, getting to
visit places throughout Virginia is such a treat!
Having been a Thomas Jefferson buff for as long as I can
remember, I was thrilled when some dear friends invited me to their home for a
luncheon. Their home, mind you, just happens to be Tuckahoe Plantation – Thomas
Jefferson’s boyhood home!
For ol’ Jimmy T here, the chance to visit Tommy J’s
childhood home was a true treat; but, to be in the home with friends, having a
farm to table lunch and learning more about this real American idol of a man
was simply amazing! A lifetime chance for yours truly!
A working farm then and now, Tuckahoe proper was a community
in and of itself. My friends are still growing greens, raising hens for poultry
and eggs, free ranging pork and keeping a kitchen garden that could feed the
thirteen colonies! For my luncheon, we feasted on a salad of winter greens,
quiches of leeks and country ham (we were in Virginia of course!) and almond
cake – all with a tie somehow to Tuckahoe!
Seeing the footprint of the landscape and gardens was akin to a 20/20
view into history and agrarian heritage.
The James River runs across the “rear” side of Tuckahoe, but
during the heyday of river travel rather than road travel, the James would have
been like an interstate of sorts, thus Tuckahoe’s, like so many river homes,
front façade is now their rear elevation and vice versa. I adore outbuildings
and garden follies, and Tuckahoe has it plethora of them. From kitchens to the
schoolhouse to old slave cabins and garden ornaments, this plantation is truly
a harkening reminder of antebellum life – all lined up and orientated with the
river.
JT and TJ I feel would have been buddies. We love gardening,
architecture, food, flora and fauna of our homeland and, well, land itself.
This bond I feel with Thomas Jefferson inspired me to create a space in his
liking for the St. Philip’s Antique
Show this year. Their “Inspiration Avenue” gave this Farmer the opportunity
to fashion a dining room I feel Mr. Jefferson would feel right as rain being a
guest. Stay tuned for that post!
As I drove down the long cedar lined drive away from
Tuckahoe and back to Richmond – back to the twenty-first century for that
matter – I couldn’t help but feel the tugging of history, heritage, tradition
and even the spirit of our American forefathers. I turned off my engine and
silenced my iPhone, and I could almost hear the ballyhoo of a fox hunt
whispering through the trees. Tallyho to Tuckahoe, y’all!