Week 42 Oct. 14-20

When Mom and Barb came from Michigan, they brought doughnuts from Anderson's Orchard at our request.  This was great, but made us want to go out and experience the fall orchard/pumkin picking experience ourselves.  Plus, the weather here is some awesome this time of year.  So, we made our way to Beaverdam, VA to visit Ashland Berry Farm.

This is sort of like Anderson's with a lot more people.  (not necessarily better)  The main attraction for the day was picking pumpkins.  They load you on wagons and haul you out to their pumpkin fields about a 5-10 minute tractor ride.  From there they drop you off and you pick your pumpkins.  There was about a 20 minute wait both ways to catch a wagon back. 

 

This place seems to primarily be a greenhouse, which we will probably come back to, but they have it all set up for the Pumpkin Adventure, complete with a haunted hayride at night, homemade doughtnuts, hotdogs, fries, everything you could ask for in a redneck afternoon.

Their gimic on the pumpkins is that they are all you can carry, for 3 steps, for $20.  Guess who had to carry 8 pumpkins.....It was an awesome sunny fall day.  The leaves are just starting to turn and we had a great time.  The doughnuts were pretty good as well.  Maybe next weekend we could make some at home!



Week 41 Oct. 7-13th

40

So I turned 40.  That's new.  Mom, Barb, and John came to visit for my Birthday, and it was great to see everyone and spend time with them.

But what I did do this week was also pretty cool and what I wanted to write about.  In week 22, I wrote about looking up some of my family tree that were from Grant, MI.  Well,  this week I stumbled accross some more Train family information that pieced my family line back to Scotland!  That's right, the Train family is from Scotland.....and its a BIG family!

In 1635, John Train came from Scotland, speculated to be an endentured servant to pay for the trip.  He came on the ship "Susan Ellen".  On that ship was a woman named Margret Dix, who John married a few years later in Watertown, MA.  It is speculated that John waited to marry Marget until his service for the crossing was paid off.  Watertown is just west of Boston.  In fact, I would imagine it is actually Metro Boston today. 

Without going though the long list of marriages and births, the Train family primarily stayed in this area for over a hundred years, some fighting in the Revolutionary War.  During this time, some split off and move to New York state and some move elsewhere.  My direct line stays in MA until the 1830's when Samuel Train moves his family to Hincley Township, Ohio, an area just south of Cleveland.

Samuel Train, Jr.

He brought with him his son, Samuel Train Jr.  Samuel Jr., met and married Luranna Allen in Ohio.  In 1862, Samuel Jr., joined the Union Army as part of the 5th Regiment Ohio Sharpshooters.  Samuel Jr., fought for the remainder of the Civil War.  In May of 1865, as the war was drawing to a close, Samuel Jr., died of Smallpox in an Army Hospital in Nashville, TN, where he is buried, leaving his wife, Luranna and two sons, Willie and John. 

Grief stricken, Luranna moved to Newaygo County, MI to claim a homestead.  She brought her two sons and possibly her brother to what is now Grant, MI in 1865.

In 1873, Willie died.  Luranna explained, in a biography of early Newaygo County Residences, that her sons death brought back painfull memories of her husband's death and she never remarried.  She died in 1899 and is buried in Grant. 

Her son John B, married Sarah Baker in 1879 in Grant.  They had a daughter, Leona, in 1880.  I think Leona married and her married name was McQuistian.  She is buried with John, Sarah, and Luranna in Grant as well as she died in 1946.

Here is where it gets a little fuzzy.  John and Sarah adobted a son, possibly two, between 1880 and 1890, named Elmer.  Elmer was born in 1880.  Elmer is my Great Grandfather and lived his life in Grant.

So, in my family, all the men have the middle name "Winchell".  My father told me it was because a great grandfather had been adopted and his real last name was Winchell.  Ok...this story pans out.  So now what I want to find out is, was Elmer's last name really Winchell?  Why did he get adopted?  What happend to his family? 

Coat of Arms

Oh, and growing up in Michigan, there were Train families around that were "not related".  Well, I found out they are.  Before Samuel Sr. moved to Ohio, one of his relatives moved to Saranac, Michigan where they established their clan.  Another of Samuels relatives moved to Kalamazoo in the 1830's as well.  Both clans trace their roots to the Train's in Massachusetts.  I did get to email one of them and we found the common connection point.

I was excited to stumble accross this information.  I was intregued about it when I visited the gravesites in Grant earlier this year, but I never imagined I could trace the family tree back to Scotland.  Even finding the ship John Train came to America on.  Time just hasn't allowed me the opportunity to do more digging or even organize the information I found into something I can share with my family.  Heck, there are even "Train's" out there who have traced the Train family in Scotland.  We even have a Coat of Arms!

Week 40 Sept. 30 - Oct. 6

Another Private Tour of a Sporting Venue....

 

 

Well, it's not like Dale Jr. called me up and said, "Hey, I'm in Richmond and thought you might like to come to the racetrack and take a look around."  It was work related.....top secret.  Anyway, I did get to spend time looking around the Richmond International Raceway.  It's pretty unbelievable that I got to get a tour of Safeco Field in Seatle earlier this year and now I got to tour RIR as well.  Both while they were empty.

 

View of Downtown Richmond from the back of the High Grandstands

 Taylor & Parrish built a major seating expansion there and we were back looking at another project.  It looked like a great place to watch a race.  Seating all the way around the track.  Tall steep sections that have a great view.  It was interesting to hear the local Ricmonders talk about when it was a dirt track and how it has evolved from the early days of NASCAR. 

It was also interesting to understand how they maintain and improve on this multi-million dollar facility that basically gets used twice a year.  NASCAR itself is sort of an amazing concept.  Its like a traveling circus, moving from week to week around the country.  Imagine if the NFL played games every week in college stadiums on Sunday around the country.  Would you be more likely to go to a Lions game if they played in East Lansing once a year vs. driving to Detroit?


 

We had hopes of catching the fall race here this year, but we were unable to find the time.  Since being at the track however, the Spring Race is climbing up on the priority list.  The track is in Henrico County, between Mechanicsville and Richmond.  Traffic in and out, I assume is horrible, as I am also told, but its hard to judge someone elses "horrible".  As the year is winding down, I hope to get one more major sport facility tour in.  I'm hoping for the Coliseum in Los Angeles....

Week 39 - September 23-29

Thanksgiving

(In September)

This weekend was Thanksgiving....sort of.  Jenny and I were craving Thanksgiving dinner.  We have been married for 17 years and we have always had Thanksgiving at our parents houses.  Technically, one year, Dad was in the hospital and we smoked a turkey on Thanksgiving, but it was not really a Thanksgiving dinner per se. 

 

This weekend, Jenny and I made a complete Thanksgiving dinner.  Oven roasted turkey, yams, stuffing (in and out of the bird), rolls, and corn.  We skipped the mashed potatoes because we thought we had enough food.  It turned out really well.  In fact, we planned the next weeks meals around leftovers, which worked out fine. 

We plan on coming home to Michigan for Thanksgiving this year, but by no means are we afraid to host one here in Richmond!  We're not Turkey Virgins!  So in the future, our family may have to trade in their oven mits for driving gloves and come to Richmond for a full on Thanksgiving Feast....Southern Style.  (code for gravy on everything).

Week 38 Sept 16-22

The Civil War

You cannot go through Virginia without seeing history.  Virginia was the home of the first permanent settlement in America and basically where the Civil War was fought.  You can't go far on any road without passing some sort of historical marker.  Eight Presidents were from Virginia and some would argue nine.  (FYI they are: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henery Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Woodrow Wilson, and the some would argue Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.)  So, Jenny and I decided to take a ride to a Civil War Battlefield.

 

 

 

We went to visit Saylor Creek, which was one of the last, if not the last major battle of the Civil War.  It was about a 90 ride from our house in Midlothian, and a beautiful day I might add.  The interseting thing to me was to realize the lose of hope and fleeting of the the Confederates during this time.  Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy had fallen and the Confederate Government had all but disbanded.  Robert E. Lee was in retreat in hopes to join with the remainder of the Confederate Army and regroup to continue the war.

From the northern perspective, the history of the Civil War seems matter of fact.  We know that some of our families went to a war, and some came home.  But here in Virginia, the Civil War happened.  Regardless of the side you were on at the time, you were a victim.  It was sort of enlightening.

The rest of our ride was nice.  Aiden went with me and Jen because I promised to take him on a ride, while the girls stayed home.  It was also nice to become more familiar with the area around Richmond. 

Oh!!!! And another thing!!! We drove by Tobacco fields.  We have never seen Tobacco growing before.  It was really cool.  Taller than you would expect and really leafy.  Check out the photos.



Week 37 Sept. 9-15

Horrible Dining Day

There were a few "technically new" things this week that happened, but I didn't go out of my way to find something new to do really.  Sometimes I do, but I was busy, tired, and had a lot of afterschool activities this week. 

On Friday though, I got to go out for lunch and dinner, both to new places and both with the same results.

At work, a subcontractor took a group of us out to lunch at this really cool restaurant on the river in Richmond.  We went to a place called the Conch Republic at Rocketts Landing.  It is a "taste of the Florida Keys on the James River".  The atmostphere was really cool.  We sat outside overlooking the boat traffic on the river and enjoying the sunshine.  With a group, I ordered their lunch special, a chicken wrap, easy enough.  It came with a side, which they are supossidly famous for Aligator Chili.  They were out....at lunch....Ok, so I went with Jumbalaya.

There were about 6 in our party.  Everyones food came out exept mine.  After about 10 minutes, the waitress came out, noticed I didn't have my food, and then told me they "lost my order in the kitchen" and were rushing it out.  10 minutes later, it arrived.  Wrong order.  I didn't care at that point, as we were on a schedule, and I am not a picky eater, so I got to try their collard greens.  I must admit, the greens were excellent, so I was happy to have tried them.  So for the Conch Republic: Atmostphere 4 stars, Food 3 stars, Service 1 star.

Not to be lost though, because Jenny and I were going to go out to eat that night after Aiden's football practice.  This is the first night Jen and I have been out together, without the kids, for a nice time together.  We have been eyeing this place near us called Pescados.  This is a "vibrant mix of Caribbean and Latin flavors".....perfect!  This place came highly rated on Yelp, which I refer to to find new places and think is a great resource.

I called ahead to get a table.  They don't take reservations, so I asked about the availability on a Friday night around 8:00.  They said they are typically slowing down and it shouldn't be a problem.  The place is a lot smaller than I had thought.  It is located in  a small strip mall type center, and the architecture inside is reminicent of either a cheap mexican restrauant or an all you can eat chinese buffet.  Strike one. 

Their was a 15 minute wait, so we could wait at the bar.  The bar was full, but if you stood in line for 10 minutes, the bartender would finally acknowledge your presence and be so kind as to screw up your drink order.  Strike two.

During the next half hour, almost all of the people left the bar area, either to leave after eating, or to take their table.  As people were leaving, we started to notice the empty tables.  One, then two, then four, yet we still sat there.  Strike three.  Finally we were seated.

While at the bar, I notice a gentleman eating a whole fish.  I mean the WHOLE thing complete with a tail and head.  I mentioned to Jenny that I should ask what it was to make sure I didn't get that.  Fast forward.....I had narrowed my choices down to the Austrailian Sea Bass or the Snapper (Awarded a top dish in Richmond).  I love sea bass, but I thought I better go with the award winner!  You guessed it, the snapper, complete with a head, a tail, and all the fins.

I must admit, the food was good.  It wasn't "best I ever had" good, but definately a nice dining experience.  As discussed how they seemed to have plenty of help for such a small restaurant, but the staff didn't seem that ambitious, the bill came.  Our bid was itemized nicely, as one would expect.  About half way throught he itemized list was an item we didn't recongnize.  "Cheap Date.  $8.00"  I had to laugh and pointed out to Jenny that this must be a mistake, since she was far from a "cheap date".  Turns out, this is their "code" for a desert we had that they also offer as part of a "Cheap Date Special" they run midweek.

So for Pescado: Atmostphere 2 stars, Food 4 stars, Staff 1 star. 

It seemed such a waste to go to two potentially great restraunts in one day and have such a crappy experience at both.  I will not be in a hurry to back to either one.  I guess they all can't be winners.

Week 36 Sept. 2-8

Louisa, VA

 
We went for a ride to Louisa, VA this weekend.  I am bidding a new Elementary School here in the next couple of weeks and wanted to visit the site.  This gave Jen and I an excuse to break out the bikes and go for a ride.  Louisa locate just of I-64 between Richmond and Charlottesville, but closer to Charlottesville.
 
On the way there, we stopped for gas and a pop (soda) at a small town called Georges Tavern.  All that was there was a gas station and what looked like a mechanic's shop, but it may have been a junk yard as well.  No tavern...
 
Georges Tavern is in Goochland County, so we got to see the Gooches again.  The ride there was nice.  The roads were curvey and wooded, so we actually got a little chilled in the shade.
 


Pennys in a bag of water to repel flies.

While in Louisa, we stopped to visit the courthouse, which I am sure has some Civil War signifigance as do most places in Virginia.  We parked in front of a Drugstore.  Hanging above the door to the Drugstore was a plastic bag full of water with pennies in it.  According to the all knowing Google, this is a method of repelling flies.  A couple of people here have heard of it, but I had not.


View of the Lousia Water Tower.

 
Other than our brief stops at Georges Tavern, Louisa, and at the potential jobsite, it was a pretty short trip.  We are in a hurry to get back home as we didn't want to leave the kids home for long, and we were also ready for some down time. 
 
At least during this trip we got to experience Louisa, found an old fashion way to keep the flies away, and learned that if your in the mode for a beer, don't bother going to Georges Tavern.


Jen at the Courthouse

JT on her bike.



Canned Goods at Georges Tavern.  Yummy.