My Virginia

Today, January 19th, would mark the 207th birthday for Robert E. Lee. A terrific military leader, patriot, and scholar.  He was born at Stratford Hall in Westermoreland County, Virginia, on January 19th, 1807. Continuing in the military tradition of his father, Lee entered West Point in 1825 and graduated second in his class in 1829. He was an outstanding student and one of the top ranks of his class. When it came for the arguments for Southern Independence, Lee was not in favor of succession immediately, but he decided he could not take arms against his people and his homeland of Virginia. On April 18, 1861 Lee was offered field command of the United States Army. On the following day, he received word that Virginia had seceded from the Union; he submitted his letter of resignation from the United States Army on April 20. Three days later, Lee accepted the position of commander of Virginia forces. His decision to defend Virginia was legendary, and since then, Lee  h...

Written October , 2010 I headed up yet again to the bright lights of Purcellville, Virginia to play a show at Market Street Coffee. I'm absolutely in love. If you've never been, you should. Because its one of my favorite venues to play. Over the past few years, I've played there many times. Market Street Coffeeshop is one of Northern Virginia's premiere music venues. It reminds me of the Mudhouse in Charlottesville, only cozier. The acoustics are really swell. Its tucked away in the GIANT shopping center, so be sure you don't pass it up for Blockbuster Video, or the photomat. Anyways, I had the typical "in and out" crowd, but there's always a few college kids who stick around with their lap tops. And the baristas are really friendly and polite. Unlike some other coffee shops I have been to- they shared some of their tips with me for the night. I was mighty tired because I had to drive the 130 miles up there and back, and as much as I love my old ...

This Friday will be officially Lee-Jackson day here in Virginia. Honoring two great men who's birthdays fall in around the same time. Although Stonewall Jackson was not born in present day Virginia (he was born in what is now "West Virginia), he does have family ties and connections to the Commonwealth, and lived for a long period of time in Lexington. Robert E. Lee, of course, has deep Virginia family connections, and was born at Stratford Hall Plantation in 1807- near Fredericksburg. On Lee-Jackson day, we commemorate two men of honour, who fought nobly for their beloved home land. Simple ceremonies will be held in Richmond, along with Confederate reenactors, and wreaths placed around Monument Ave and Hollywood Cemetery.

Born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8th,  1932, Patsy Cline grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, and spent most of her life in the sleepy laid back town of Winchester. She was affectionately called  "Ginny",  and got her start singing in bars and roadhouses of the Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland area. Patsy Cline was known as tough, but a stand out. A "rough hewn"  cowgirl singer, she developed her singing talent to become synonymous with "The Nashville Sound": The smooth and lush arrangements with backing vocals, and added stringed effects, that took Country Music "Uptown".  In her earlier days she sang on "Town and Country Time" hosted by Jimmy Dean- a regionally syndicated Country Music program in the Washington DC. area. It wasn't long before her powerful bold Contralto voice and charisma would take her to the top. She wanted it badly, because she wanted to get the heck out of Winchester, Virginia. The truth i...

Virginia is located at the very northern tip of the South- or the Southern end of the Mid-Atlantic region, whichever way you look at it. We Virginians are Northern-Southerners. Because of this, Virginia is in a unique position. Her cultural identity was firmly rooted in the Old South, but  with the advent of the jet plane, Virginia is at New York's doorstep! Northern Virginia, close to Washington D.C., is a melting pot of people from all nations and all backgrounds. Spreading out as far as Winchester to the west, and stemming from Fairfax and Loudoun County to the East, and as far south as Fredericksburg. This area with its transient feel, represents a culture far removed from Old Virginia, despite having its old roots left in the plantation homes and historic markers and schools named after Confederate Generals. This is also the most liberal area of Virginia, and pushed Virginia into a "blue state" during both the 2008 and 2012 elections, although by a narrow margin. ...

Paxon House is located on Genito Road in Powhatan County. The farmhouse was built by my great great great great grandfather- Ennion Skelton. His son Dr. John Gifford Skelton, was a prominent physician in Virginia, during the War. He attended to wounded soliders on nearby plantations in the county. He moved in Richmond in 1866- and help to establish The Medical College of Virginia- otherwise known as MCV. Paxton Plantation is a good representation of Powhatan County and most everything is in tact and preserved as it was when it was built in 1819- including the outbuildings. Many plantations and historical houses have been lose due to fire which was much more common in those days. So for a structure like Paxton to remain untouched as it was is very unusual. Here is some footage and pictures of Paxton.  

For many Virginians, a "White Christmas" is virtually unheard of, but that doesn't stop us from getting into the spirit. Christmas in Virginia can be a wonderful time as temperatures start to cool down to welcome Old Man Winter. Many areas in Virginia are still fairly mild in December, but a very strong cold spell can sweep through much of the area and so everyone should bring at least a light winter coat! The best destinations for The Christmas Season in Virginia include Colonial Williamsburg and their "Grand Illumination". This has many celebrations on the first Sunday in December with a large fireworks display at night. Many small towns in Virginia have their Christmas parades the first weekend of December, and from Middleburg to Danville, you can expect a celebration of great multitude. The Richmond area has many things to do around Christmas- including carriage rides through Shockoe Slip during the month of December. The Dooley Mansion in Maymont Park is wo...