Three Things

View from the cemetery at Kingston.

Welcome once again to another edition of Three Thing Thursday, where both of my readers anyone reading  is encouraged to share three random things on any topic whatsoever, whatever happens to be on your mind at the moment.  

Let's begin.

1.  Last night after a grueling day at work and a long drive home, I arrived home to a gift:  Chesapeake Bay Mother had fixed supper for me, CB Son, CB Daughter, and CB Father.  The menu included grouper; a salad with vegetables from her garden (yes, still, because she is a magical gardener); mashed potatoes; homemade bread; collard greens; asparagus; and the very best chocolate cake I have ever eaten in my life.  Ever.  The Chesapeake Bay Children can vouch for this.  There is nothing better after an incredibly long day than arriving home to a delicious dinner that involves no additional work on your part other than passing the butter.  

2.  Today at 1:30 in Williamsburg, the Mathews High School Cross Country teams compete in the Regional meet.  I will be there standing in the rain under an umbrella trying to take photos.  Aside from the rain it should be a very exciting meet.

3.  Here lately I've contemplated many options relating to this blog, from stopping entirely to slowing down some to establishing a three-posts-per-week schedule.  I hate the rigidity of any sort of schedule, so that's out.  This blog, however silly and ridiculous, is one of the few things I enjoy doing in my life (when I'm not swamped), so I don't want to give it up entirely.  But lately it's become a chore, and that's not a good sign.

Most of this is due to the fact that I (a) have a job that is mind numbing keeps me away from home from 6:00 in the morning to sometimes 6:00 in the evenings; (b) I'm trying to parent two children who have very busy schedules; (c) it's just me trying to maintain the house and yard, and that just isn't happening, so everything seems to be falling apart, literally; and (d) I'm working on a book in my so-called spare time. When all of this is combined with (e) hormonal upheaval the dreary days of winter when all I want to do is hibernate, then I start questioning the wisdom of trying to do a blog post every day.

Plus, some days I just want to pack up and move to Bora Bora feel uninspired, as though I'm saying the same things over and over again and nobody could possibly be interested in my nonsensical jabberwocky. Other days I could write forever but the stuff coming out just seems, well, nonsensical.

So maybe I'll cut back some or maybe I won't, who knows.  This too shall pass, I'm sure, so please just ignore my complaining for now. Thanks.

OK, now it's your turn to share three things or four things, six things or more things. Let yourself go, let it all out.  What's on your mind today?

An old skiff blending in well with its surroundings.

Eyre Hall, Part II

This is the view from Eyre Hall's formal garden looking towards Cherrystone Creek. This is the real Eyre Hall, not to be confused with the other Eyre Hall another stately mansion nearby.

For details on this other lovely mansion that was definitely not Eyre Hall, see yesterday's post, where Chesapeake Bay Woman trespasses spends half a day frolicking with wild horses while wandering aimlessly around someone's exquisite property.

Here's what the main house looks like. As you can see it is immaculately maintained, which was one clue that I was in the right place.
(The other clue was a sign with an arrow pointing to the gardens.)

The colonial-era house is surrounded by an oyster shell driveway, white fences, numerous adorable outbuildings and one absolutely stunning garden loaded with huge boxwoods just brimming with that smell that lets you know you're stepping back in time.

Much to my surprise, the ruins of an old brick building stood just outside the gardens, facing the water near the Eyre family cemetery--which contains graves dating back to the 1700s.

Note: My hasty editing ruined/blurred this particular shot of the remains of a structure known as the orangery:
If you're wondering:

(a) how on Earth I knew this was called an orangery;
(b) what on Earth an orangery is;
(c) why on Earth you should do anything but fall asleep right now; but also
(d) how many times CBW can say the word "orangery" in one post,

the short answer comes from Wikipedia. Evidently an orangery is a greenhouse or conservatory found in certain 17th-19th century houses:

"The orangery, however, was not just a greenhouse but a symbol of prestige and wealth and a feature of the garden, in the same way as a summer house, folly or "Grecian temple". Owners would conduct their guests there on tours of the garden to admire not only the fruits within but the architecture without. Often the orangery would contain fountains, grottoes, and an area in which to entertain in inclement weather."

Thank you, Wikipedia. Is anyone still awake?

Below is another glance towards the creek from one of the Parthenon's windows the orangery's windows.

Orangery might be my new favorite word. May I bring you a blanket or pillow?

And here's a glimpse of those gorgeous boxwoods with that heavy, earthy, intoxicating smell. The garden was one big maze of boxwoods surrounding mini secret gardens, loaded with flowers and exotic plants, and benches sprinkled throughout. I could spend an eternity just sitting and absorbing the sights and smells of this place.
For a little more background on Eyre Hall, my BFF Wikipedia says this:

"The property where Eyre Hall is located was first patented to the three sons of Thomas Eyre I in 1668 and included 1,600 acres. A 700 acre tract was purchased by Littleton Eyre, a great grandson of Thomas, in 1754 with the purpose to build a family seat and a working plantation. The original structure built in 1760 was a 41-foot-square structure and was a 2 1/2 story wooden home.

The property grew periodically over the years too, as a a dairy was built in 1760 and a smokehouse was built around 1806. The house is surrounded by boxwood gardens, and formal lawns and fields that melt away into the Cherrystone Creek. On the grounds is also a walled garden from the 1800s, the Eyre family cemetery, and the ruins of an orangery from 1819."

Am I the only person who is still awake? had never heard of an orangery?