What better way to celebrate my mother’s birthday than at the Williamsburg Winery.
My parents live in Williamsburg, Virginia, a place that many people visit for the shopping.
I visit for family. And history. And the food and wine, of course.
We started with a visit to the tasting room where Calvin, the young but knowledgeable wine steward, not only introduced the wines but offered the history behind the labels and names.
This bottle of Acte 12 of 1619 was named after the Act that was passed by the 1619 House of Burgesses requiring all male households in Virginia to grow ten vines of the imported vinifera grapes from Europe.
How’s that for encouraging the growth of the wine industry in the new country?
How fortunate am I to have such incredible parents?
Once done with our tasting, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Gabriel Archer Tavern.
Gabriel Archer was one of the first settlers to set foot on land near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in late April 1607, moving on to Jamestown in August that same year.
We were having so much fun that I barely pulled out the camera, and the images in this post are a mix of camera and phone.
I wish I’d had more time to shoot the scene,
but really, I was just glad to have been able to spend the day with my parents and celebrate my mother.
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
Happy belated birthday to your mom. These are all beautiful images but my favorite is the one of your mom, dad and yourself. The joy of your expression and the look of proud parents says it all.
Thanks, Joe. I’m a fortunate woman for sure.
Gorgeous photos……definitely convey the special moments shared together! The tree-lined drive is one that really appealed to me (but THE best is you 3!!!)……………hugs…………
Thank you, Doreen. I love that one, too.
Love the photos! My heart is full. Happy birthday to your mom.
xxoo
Sent from my iPhone
Angie, thank you! I try to remind myself daily how very fortunate I am
What a lovely day and lovely way to celebrate with your mother. Happy birthday to her.
Thank you, Deborah. I will share all these lovely messages with my mom
I like the avenue of shadows
I’m so glad you noticed those Shadows. They really caught my eye as well
Happy Birthday to your lovely Mom. Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate a birthday!
It really was a lovely day, Lynn.
Aren’t we all so glad your mom was born! And I love the photo of the three of you xoxo
Hello my friends, and thank you. I love that picture as well
Your folks are very cool, you are lucky to still have them in your life. Hope your mom had a great day!
So very fortunate. And I try to remind myself of that every single day.
oh honey! what a gorgeous and interesting state you live in! Your mom and dad are looking wonderful. I hope their health isn’t as big a concern as a few months back. You are very lucky to have them and celebrating birthdays together is a must! Do you know what kind of tree is planted along the drive? I thought they were blooming with pink speres of flower? The trunks are really interesting too. I wish I could hang out for weeks and just visit all these places and learn all the interesting history! xo K
Thank you so much, my friend. My father’s health is markedly improved, and we had such a fun time together. The trees are called crepe myrtles, the blooms are gorgeoua, and yes the trunks are a big part of their unique beauty
Happy birthday to your mom, Laurie. What a wonderful place for them to call home. Is this also where you grew up? It’s beautiful. You tell great stories with words and photos.
Thank you Alex for that generous comment. I do love to try to provide some history along with the personal when I can. Growing up as a Navy brat we moved all over the place, but my parents retired here about 30 years ago. Williamsburg, therefore, has become a home away from home
Another September birthday! Happy Birthday to your mom. I know how much I loved celebrating it with my daughter so I can just imagine your parents joy in you being part of that special day. What a lovely day and such a great view. Stunning.
Yes, another September birthday. And somehow it’s almost October! We are both fortunate to have shared the day with family.
How neat to have a personal relationship with Williamsburg! That photo of you and your folks is fabulous–a real keeper!
Thank you, Kerry. It really is fun to think of Williamsburg as more than a tourist attraction. and yes, that photo is priceless to me
Happy birthday to your mom and lucky you to be in driving distance! Sometimes I don’t take pictures either–‘be here now’ works best sometimes!
It is so easy to spend too much time behind the camera, isn’t it? Thank you, Lisa.
Happy belated birthday to your mom!
Thank you, Mary. I actually thought of you as I was writing this post. I try to remember daily how very fortunate I am to have my parents and to have them in such a healthy state.
Beautiful place, lovely images! I wish I were your mom 🙂 Happy Birthday to her!
Thank you, Susan. Your comment made me smile
Ah, wineries. They’re like peaceful green parks, but with wine. These are lovely pictures. And you look a lot like your mom. Happy belated birthday to her!
And who wouldn’t like a green park with wine! 🙂 I’ve always been told I look like my mom, and I can only hope that I will be as healthy at 84 as she is
That is lovely and belated birthday wishes to your mom 🙂
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Joshi.
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Time spent with family is very precious. You are so lucky to still have your parents! It looks like it was a great outing – wine, need I say more? 😉
I love the photo of the shades cast by the row of trees. It looks like they are covered in red flowers. What kind of tree are they?