Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Monticello, It's a Thomas Jefferson Thing

     I am thinking that my future will not include owning a 5,000 acre plot of land where slaves farm tobacco and mixed crops, beginning a country's revolution, and serving as president.  No, that's most likely not in my cards.  However, for my good old (very old) friend Thomas Jefferson, it was inevitably going to happen, and everyday we can thank him for declaring our independence from England.  Who knows where we would be today?.....having tea and crumpets instead of Starbucks and McNuggets, I suppose.
     During our stay in Charlottesville, TJ (we're on a nickname basis) invited PDub and I (and Maya) to visit his plantation called Monticello, or small mountain.  (I'm thinking my estate will be called Megacello).  While there, we stepped inside the rooms he spent most of his time in, took in the mountainous views that he would've awoken to each morning, and strolled amongst the gardens where he would find his source of food.  Thanks, TJ, for having us over!
TJ's place.  The weathervane on the rooftop was linked to a wind plate on the ceiling below to indicate the wind direction.
PDub hanging out at TJ's place.
 The angles and windows were placed to make the house appear smaller than it actually was.
And the other side.
I and one of my best bronzed friends.  I suppose that would be a BBF.
The veggie garden overlooking the mountains.
Why, hello.
This lovely couple were engaged the day before....Congrats you two!
Words of Wisdom by Thomas Jefferson:

1.  Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
2.  Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3.  Never spend your money before you have it.
4.  Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
5.  Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
6.  We never repent of having eaten too little.
7.  Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8.  How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
9.  Take things always by their smooth handle.
10.  When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.