April 30, 2015.  We spent the most wonderful 12 hours with our friend Kathie yesterday! She had been at her river house on the Potomac for a rare few days with just her husband David and three grown children.  But she tore herself away early to come down to Charlottesville to give us an insider’s tour of this historic area and their two incredible homes here.

First, we convened at Bethel Hollow, their mountain top farm in Covesville, about 30 minutes south of where we are camping.  Trusting google, we took a scenic shortcut there, which included about 6 miles of a country dirt road and an OPEN FORD across what looked to me to be a pretty good-sized river!  It was about 15 inches deep and flowing swiftly, but we made it across in our monster truck in 4-wheel drive.  (Not sure what travelers in MGs are supposed to do when they get to that part of the road!)  The risk to life and limb was amply rewarded by what lay in store.  Kathie and her husband David found this secluded 100 acre property about 10 years ago and recognized it as the perfect spot for a tranquil get-away about 45 minutes from their home on the north side of Charlottesville.  Over the next 3 or so years, David and Kathie (working together, she pointed out) hand-built the wonderful board and batten cabin you see below and have planted over one hundred vintage apple, cherry and walnut trees there.  Himself a carpenter, Brad appreciated so much the workmanship in the cabin construction, the careful joining of trim, the ancient ceiling beams, and the heart pine throughout.  We felt that we got to know David through his personal mark on the cabin and the farm (and later their house in town).

A quick trip to the famous Covesville Antiques Store (where I found a sort of “open sugar” that I like to collect), and then to lunch at Bodo’s Bagels — a popular eatery in Charlottesville.  From there, we visited Kathie and David’s “real” home, built in 1820, which is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and, as of yesterday, on the National Register of My Favorite Places.  Bacon’s Castle and Chippokes Plantation (see prior posts) can’t hold a candle to this historic home — nor is it advisable to try, as there is so much old wood!  Seriously, I felt as if I had stepped into a particularly appealing issue of Architectural Digest.  They have managed to retain the breathtaking authenticity of the house and gardens with a comfortable updated abode for raising their three children.  Over the years, David has constructed three guest houses and a barn on the property, including a wonderful cabin using logs from an old double-pen cabin in Nelson County.  I told Brad that it is one thing to read about places like this in a glossy magazine or tourist brochure, but quite another to be welcomed as a quest, getting to stroll though the rooms and gardens, peep in cubby holes, touch things without being behind a velvet rope, and sit on the patio with a cool drink and polite Virginia nibbles.  Plus, David shares my passion for corner cabinets!  They must have 15 or so.  So wonderful.

Next, Kathie drove us 40 minutes through the most beautiful part of the Virginia countryside (I hope it is, or I’m going to need another tongue to hang out) to Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison.  Much like Monticello (but not quite as innovative or grand), Montpelier is a must-see for buffs of American History and people who appreciate great museum shops.  Kathie and I toured the house, while Brad and Doris tried to pick up girls on the lovely grounds.  They are getting ready for some kind of colossal steeple chase here next weekend.  I would love to come back for it!

To cap off the day, we returned to Kathie’s house for dinner.  Having been out of town for a week, she nipped off to some gourmet grocery store and came back in about 10 minutes with the makings of a feast, while we cooled our heels and throats on the patio.  We dined and laughed until almost 11 and made our way back to our tourist court by midnight.  Kathie is so very much like her sister Dickie, who lives in Atlanta and has been my dear friend since 1979, I felt as though I had spent the day with Dickie.   You can’t give higher praise than that.  Thank you, Kathie, for a perfect day!