Michie Tavern

While I hate small talk with other parents on field trips, I do love having 1 on 1 time with Jujube. Today the TKA classes went to Michie Tavern for a field trip. This is what we learned.

1. Earlysville was the original location of the Michie Tavern in 1784. Some woman bought it in the 1920s and thought the present location near Monticello would be a better spot for tourism. So the house was taken apart brick by brick, individually numbered and rebuilt. Brilliant move.
2. The first Mr. Michie hailed from Scotland. He was ousted because he took part in the Jacobite Rebellion and was arrested. He was exiled to America to work because he drew 1 of 2 white beans out of a bag. If you picked a black bean out of the sack you were killed on the spot. (In the activity, I got black bean...once again a persecuted Catholic.)
3. Only daddies got to travel and enjoy the front room with the games and bar full of drinks. Mommies stayed at home because it was hard to travel with all the kids. (Really, what has changed?)
4. The phrase "sleep tight" came from tying the mattress back up tightly with this wooden wrench device. Or something like that.
5. When looking at a hand crafted checkers game set sitting on a table over 200 years old, the kids are not interested in the beauty of the pieces, but the stink bug that is perched on the checker.
6. Colonial Reel dance. Julia had her first dance with a boy! (As I am typing this Julia is looking over my shoulder, read the previous sentence and said "Timmy," the boy she danced with. WHAT?!!!)
7. People slept in beds made of "straw and feathers." They also had a "cup for their potty inside." and that was "EEEWWW!!! Gross!!!"
8. Mommy does have some degree of will power. While we left, the delicious aromas of the tavern were wafting through the air. We did not stay for lunch (which would a direct violation of the NutriSystem diet) but I did buy the cookbook with ALL of the scrumptious recipes. I think we may have a Michie Tavern Thanksgiving.
   

Before we headed home in time to get ready for work, we enjoyed a very nice lunch together. When we checked the mail at the post office, she and the postmaster even almost convinced me to buy stamps ( a new interest from the Chik fil A kid's meal) for her to play with. I told him that they were mighty pricey stickers. Thankfully Friday the 13th was fun and did not live up to its reputation. The School family is looking forward to a weekend off and some brighter skies.