Ash Lawn-Highland
I took the parents to Ash Lawn-Highland on Sunday. Ash Lawn-Highland is the home of James Monroe, who as I am sure you all know was our fifth President. I have actually been there before for a wine festival that they have there every year, and it is a pretty neat place. Not quite as fancy as Monticello, which is only two miles away, and it is certainly much smaller. But they have some interesting things there, like a bust of Napoleon that was given to Monroe as a gift from Napoleon. There is a small study in the back of the house that Jefferson, Madison and Monroe (3, 4 and 5) would hang out in, since Madison was only a days ride away and Jefferson and Monroe were neighbors.
Here is something interesting that the tour guide told us. Back then, refined sugar was an expensive commodity that was used rarely unless you were very well off. When guests were over for dinner, the Monroes would make a cake using a fancy cake pan and put the cake out as the centerpiece. When the meal was over, instead of being eaten, the cake would be stored away to be used as the centerpiece for other meals. Because sugar was such a luxury item back then, you were considered lucky if you could "have your cake and eat it too".
I took the parents to Ash Lawn-Highland on Sunday. Ash Lawn-Highland is the home of James Monroe, who as I am sure you all know was our fifth President. I have actually been there before for a wine festival that they have there every year, and it is a pretty neat place. Not quite as fancy as Monticello, which is only two miles away, and it is certainly much smaller. But they have some interesting things there, like a bust of Napoleon that was given to Monroe as a gift from Napoleon. There is a small study in the back of the house that Jefferson, Madison and Monroe (3, 4 and 5) would hang out in, since Madison was only a days ride away and Jefferson and Monroe were neighbors.
Here is something interesting that the tour guide told us. Back then, refined sugar was an expensive commodity that was used rarely unless you were very well off. When guests were over for dinner, the Monroes would make a cake using a fancy cake pan and put the cake out as the centerpiece. When the meal was over, instead of being eaten, the cake would be stored away to be used as the centerpiece for other meals. Because sugar was such a luxury item back then, you were considered lucky if you could "have your cake and eat it too".
