The Church Hill Food Tour

Sarah and Wade had gifted us at Christmas with a coupon for a tour from Discover Richmond Tours. Finally we were able to schedule it. We picked The Church Hill Food Tour. Sarah righly had suggested that it might be the one we would like most because she knows we love history. But I have a feeling that we would have enjoyed anything.

So, it was Christmas in July (the 30th) for us. The tour was from 2 to 4 pm. 

We were supposed to be at the Patrick Henry Park. We had received an email giving us a lot of information: the address, that their was a large glass sculpture with the famous quote etched in where we should meet, and about parking etc.

GPS told us it would take as 21 minutes which was exactly right. We were early and sat in the park looking at the humongous tree, marveling and wondering what it might have seen in all its years.

We were so lucky with the weather and all. Today was the best in many before and after. There was also a slight breeze on Church Hill. 

Our guide Olivia was punktual and there was only another couple in this tour. She told us that it was her 3rd today and at the previous one she had 12 guests. 

The young couple from Norfolk were on a day's outing and had only booked yesterday. Cat and Jessie were very good company. One can only hope they say the same about us, ha-ha.

And off we went. Our first stop was Riverbend Roastery. 

Our guide Olivia told us about the history of the place, the owner, the business motto etc. We had a choice of three different coffees. James and I selected the coconut ice coffee which we made to our taste with things (milk or sugar etc) from a 'bar'.

They roast all their coffee themselves and this is the roaster.

The next stop was The Nile RVA. 

The two brothers were from Ethiopia but had lived all over the world. I am not sure about the names but the one talking with us had interesting stories, besides that his wife was expecting her first child (daughter) any minute and he was very excited. 

Daughter Sarah will be interested to know: 

(from their website) We use the TEFF grain flour for our injera (flat bread), so the entire Ethiopian menu is gluten-free. This tiny grain is packed with considerable amounts of iron, protein, calcium and fiber.

We actually ate with our fingers (no silverware) and found it very comfortable in this place. Somehow felt it was the right thing to do. Olivia had given us wetwipes for before and the restaurant wipes for after. 

I am somehow surprised that I quite enjoyed the little meal and didn't feel self-conscious at all. I told him about the Ethiopian Christians worshipping in our church every Saturday morning. I told him 6 am and he said that this was late. It should be 5 am.

There was a big poster with all the Ethiopian herbs and spices. 

One of the interesting stories was of his brother Robel Teklemariam representing Ethiopia in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver as a  cross-country skier. On the shelf above my seat was this photo. He said that many in his country thought that strange but since many are excellent runners it made sense that they had learned to ski living in countries with colder climates. 

A quick photo on the outside.

The next stop was Second Bottle. We tasted one white and red wine and they were both lovely. The store was very interesting and the owner very nice to talk to. The selection of wine was impressive if you are looking for something special, the prices were not out of this world. 

Our guide Olivia was very knowledgeable besides being bubbly and fun to be with. She lives in the area and obviously loves it. She has a lot to tell. This (former) church was not allowed to be torn down for a highrise building. Instead it was converted into condos. Olivia explained that the neighborhood association fights a lot of fights in court to keep Church Hill 'neighborly' the old-fashioned way. Many of the new businesses go extra steps to function environmentally consciences and make a point of offering 'fair trade' food etc. They also add back to the community like supporting safe playgrounds.

I quickly took a couple of photos while walking past.

We stopped at the Proper Pie Company  just long enough for Olivia to pick up our 4 pies. They were hot and in a paper baggy. She explained that the owner was from New Zealand and tried to make perfect pies like he remembered them from home. 

I don't know whether it is mainly take-out because we walked across the street and ate them* in the park while Olivia gave us the history about Patrick Henry and the St. John's Church across the street. The way she explains it is so interesting and easy to understand. Not like a lecture but like a conversation.

(*actually we ate only one of them. The other made it home for tomorrow.)

She also told us about the field hospitals at that time, that the injured soldiers were brought to the section which was put up by the state they were from. I can't remember which state field hospital it was where the nurse started sanitizing the tools after each surgery.

Olivia also told us about Elizabeth Van Lew. A very interesting story. Wikipedia does not say that she freed many slaves with her money. Two of her own slaves did not want to leave her but kept working for her. She paid them the same as she would white people. A daughter of the former slaves was Maggie Walker and her story of course is known by all in Richmond.

And then off we go to Sub Rosa Bakery. Olivia explains about the flour which they mill themselves in a way that it is almost gluten free (the European way? if I understood right). We sat down and each had a chocolate croissant. I was amazed how much I liked it since I usually don't care for croissants. Especially after all the other food we already had. 

Everything is baked in this oven.

I have no idea how my new camera took the above photo of Sub Rosa so strangly. It looks distorted and must have been the angle (I think I need to read the directions).

I have to catch up with the others. It's already 3:59 pm. 

The next and final stop was at the Liberty Public House. It is located in the ground floor of the (former) West End Theater. Olivia explained the changes which had been made. It's all very clever to keep the Church Hill area special. 

We each got a slider but I can't remember what exactly it was. I think it might have been a small piece of country fried chicken breast and I remember something like peach/BBQ. The owner came also with a homemade hot sauce which was very nice. 

Olivia said 'good bye' to us here. The young couple left soon too and James was very thirsty. As it was happy hour and I was driving back anyway he got a nice beer. 

I knew that Sarah had been invited with her family by friends to spend the afternoon on a pantoon boot on the James River. She texted while we were walking around that they were at Rocketts Landing which is very close. (this is a screenshot of the texting)

And on the way walking to the car I had to take a photo of the roots of this tree. We saw many like that but the photo just didn't come out as I hoped. One had to watch though not to stumble while walking around.

Just opposite where we had parked was St. John's Church. So famous. So much history. But it had already closed for the day. We have to visit another day.

Back home we talk about it. This was a lot of fun. And no question: no more food today.

*  *  *

Sometimes I can't leave things alone. I was too nosy to find out how criss-cross we had walked. 

And as always ... I really enjoy hearing from you. A comment is always very welcome.

Geocaching with the grandsons

It's Wednesday. No nanny. Sarah could do with some help. We picked the darlings up from acac tennis camp at 1:30 pm. They had their lunch at the camp so no worries about that. Owen wanted to go straight home. It took some persuation to stop on the way at the Robious Landing Park we pass anyway. He still wanted to go straight home. Only when I mentioned that it was really a shame that we don't get to stop for an ice cream before going home he quickly changed his mind (ha-ha). 

James had received a little bag with peanuts with shell from a friend the evening before. So we thought it might be nice to eat those at the river. It was quite nice there especially under the trees.

Colin then asked whether we could go to the creek where they like looking for crawfish. That whiled away some time too.

While Papa and I were standing there I suddenly thought of checking whether there might be a geocache close by. And yes, there was. Auntie Helen had introduced them to it when she and William visited in January.

When I asked whether they would like to try to find it they were all excited. Caleb wanted to hold my phone to find the way. I had to explain that the line was 'how the birds fly' when we came to forks in the trail. 

When we were very close one of them found a turtle. Owen always loves picking anything living up ... bugs, frogs, you name it ... but we convinced him not to. 

Three steps further another of my observant grandsons saw this creature. They knew it was a harmless garter snake but it too was not being handled. It would have been too fast anyway I think.

The third boy (Caleb) found the cache. Owen looked into it. There was a nice book into which we put the date and each boy his name with age in ( ). We put everything nicely back again.

Yes, snake and turtle were still there but the snake suddenly moved and Colin was sure it had caught something. Late lunch for it.

Back to the car. Hand sanitizer in the car. And off to Sweet Frog. The boys were happy. Needless to say that the afternoon was a full success.

And what did I get out of the afternoon?

          5 mosquito bites (or whatever insect it was).

James has some too. They itched so badly that I asked James to go to the pharmacy to get something 'compare with Zyrtec'. Amazing how it helped.

News from Nashville (thank you, Helen). She took a membership at YMCA. William had to take a test to be allowed in certain areas without an adult close-bye. She even sent me a photo of the rules and it is a serious test. William passed with flying colors at first try. So proud of him. So, while he had fun going to the slide Helen swam 1 mile. Not sure how many laps that is but I am sure that time there was good for both.

When they went to a different YMCA a few days later he had to take the test again. Funny. No problem though.

James and I are still enjoying playing Five Crowns. It just never gets boring. After James had a streak of bad luck with the cards, I suddenly had a streak of bad luck. And suddenly ... something we had never had in all this time: not a single bad point!

I should go and buy a lotterie ticket for that Multi Billion Power Point Pot.

Life after visitors

Already two weeks back to "normal", whatever normal is. One thing is for sure, we are never bored. Here are a few snippets of "daily life".

Tuesday July 12 we picked our friend Julie up to have lunch in a restaurant. We had not seen her in quite a while and had a lot of catch-up to do. Julie highly recommended Pho Saigon and she was so right. I had a most delicious curry. I could not eat all but took some home as leftover. When we were paying Julie wondered why I had not taken any photo of the food. Ha-ha, had totally forgotten.

Next day: grandson duty. It must be Wednesday. Only the twins though as Caleb was with his other grandparents because of the horsecamp. It was a very hot day so we decided to go to the Science Museum. There is so much to see that it is never  boring.

Ha-ha, I love this photo of Colin taking his turn now.

Learning about wind speeds.

Ah yes, where is the queen bee?

Day after that it was actually quite comfortable at 8 pm and we can go for a walk in the neighborhood. We so miss walking every day.

Almost back home we were happy to see the heron which doesn't seem to be around that much any more. May be he (or she) has picked out all the goldfish already?

And he looks rather scruffy.

Saturday the 16th Wade took Sarah out for her birthday. James and I had been asked whether we couldtake care of the children ... starting at 2:30 pm til ? They went with two other couples on a RVA tuk tuk tour with dinner afterwards. It sounded like a lot of fun.

But it was a very hot day. What to do with the children? Well, our friend Ms Julie finds it always a bit boring on the weekends. I called her in advance to ask whether she would like a visit? May be learn how to play the 'double domino' game (91 tiles!)? She found a place where we could comfortably do that and we all had fun. The boys really like visiting her.

At bedtime Papa is the best to read the stories. 

Caleb told me that his routine is that he cuddles with Stella.

Next day, Sunday 17, we were lazy in the afternoon. Late afternoon we decided it might be cool enough for a short walk. We set off in one direction when we suddenly remembered that a free concert had been advertised for 4:30 pm at the Gazebo. Quickly back, finding the folded lawn chairs and some refreshment. The Gazebo is not far and we arrived with the second song.We sat with friends and had a good time!

Wednesday the 20th I had promised Ms Julie I would take her to the church service at St Martin's at 10 am. Afterwards we went for an early lunch. This time it was the Corner Bakery. Ordering is cafeteria style. Not quite what we had expected but Julie enjoyed her salad tremendously. It was such a generous portion that she could even take half of it home and enjoy it for another meal.

Yes, it was Wednesday so we had to hurry afterwards and relief the nanny to take care of the 3 grand boys.   When one of the parents arrived home and we were leaving, we took Owen with us. His brothers had had their 'alone overnighter' with us some time ago and we still 'owed' one to Owen. He had not forgotten and sometimes reminded us. But with them being so busy with camps, swim practice and other things it was never that easy. 

Ha-ha, when Sarah asked him whether he wanted to go he wasn't so sure anymore but quickly changed his mind and decided to look forward to it. We did have a very nice evening. When asked where he wanted to sleep (upstairs guestroom or downstairs in our room) you know which one he picked. He was on a matress next to us but in the morning he climbed into the middle. 

Coming to the breakfast table he announced that 'alone time' was actually very good.

Since we not once had to scold him and had fun we offered to buy donuts on the way to bring him back. I was bringing him to the swimming pool to meet the Nanny and his brothers att 11 am. I cleared it with the Nanny whether it is ok to bring a donut for each one. She thought it was a good idea but didn't want one for herself. Since Owen had to wait and eat his together with his brothers I bought him 2 donut holes though he was allowed to eat in the car. He was so happy.

Ha-ha, nobody turned them down. The pink icing of course was Owen's choice. 

And then there was Thursday. I had made another 'Mango Royal' (the recipe Helen had brought a week or so ago) because I thought that our friends Kim and Mike would love it and I had plenty of mangos. The challenge was when we could enjoy it together. 

Finally we met at Pho Saigon because at church we had talked about our visit there with Julie and they had not been there. Afterwards they came to our house for dessert. 

We had a lovely time together and yes, they did like the dessert very much.

Otherwise there are also all those little joys like when another of our plants decides to look pretty.

Saturday July 23 - Sarah's birthday! She had quite a day because just before lunch that had an appointment to pick up their new puppy. Cooper Dandy is a Brittany dog. Stella is totally accepting the new one in the family and the boys of course love their dogs.

Wade has gone through great effort to find Sarah a gluten free birthday cake. We all sang THE song and said hoorays when she did the three cake cuts. 

Lucky boys. There was another cake because Sarah had been gifted by Wade's Aunt Leslie with a great surprise. It was an 'explosion' birthday card with cake. We all had fun with it.

And that is it in a nutshell. No, we are never bored!