Mira The Newfoundland, Miramonte Wineries, Temecula, California

*remember clicking on the pictures enlarges them

We were greeted by Mira, The Newfoundland as soon as we got out of the car. She sauntered slowly over to us from her shady spot under the tree, as if on cue. Unsure where to go, we followered her to the door around back. Mira seemed to know the way. She walked up a ramp, obviously made just for her.....

She walked behind the counter in search of someone to assist us. She continued her trek into the back room where she announced our arrival. Or at least it seemed that way; as immediately thereafter we were greeted by someone to pour wine for us.

Her job done, Mira rejoined us in the main room and laid down at our feet while we tasted wine and chatted with the hostess. We'd been sent to this particularly winery, Miramonte because I like Pinot Grigio Wine. One of the workers from another winery where we lunched (next post); suggested we make a stop here. She said they were known for their Pinot Grigio.

Miramonte was founded in 2000 and since that time has grown by purchasing additional lands to produce more grapes. They have a nice blog and webpage where you can order wine and learn more about their special Etched Bottles. Like many of the wineries in Temecula Valley, California they have a wine club, and wine tasting. They have entertainment on Friday and Sat; though we elected to avoid the crowds we experienced on our last venture to Temecula and opted for a week day visit. The etched bottles probably appeal to the younger set with a large red tongue sticking out. Not a fan personally; but the etching's were indeed not just painted on...they were etched. They also cater large group events.

You can enjoy your wine on the nice outdoor patio. Even if the weather's a bit cool table heaters are provided. The view from the patio was very nice and peaceful. We were here at the end of the business day; so once we did our tasting at the counter indoors, we made a purchase and headed back to our condo.

This nice bottle of Pinot Grigio was carefully packed in my suitcase for the journey home; as were the 2 wine glass. You keep your wine glasses from the wine tasting; as a souvenir, which is also helpful in remembering which winery you enjoyed. Once home I put colorful napkins in the glasses hoping you can see the logo for Miramonte Wineries (front and back).

The journey across the mountain pass to reach Temecula is beautiful. Lots of switchbacks and here's Ernie and I at one of the beautiful vista's along the way.

We had a beautiful day in the sun; though it was quite windy. No doubt that's obvious to you from my blown hairdo. The valley is below us.

If you'd like to learn more about Newfoundlands, please visit my SIL's blog and be sure and tell her I sent ya. She takes part in rescues.

HEY...did you miss Stanley's adventure?

Flat Stanley and his friend, Captain Abner Pinney

Hello, it's Friday and I'm here to tell you about my new friend, Captian Abner Pinney. I'm inbetween his old original stone (on the right), and his new marker and military marker. His old stone isn't in good shape, the information about my friend isn't readable any longer. He lived a long long time ago. Abner was born way back in 1750. If you want to know how long ago that was, grab a piece of paper and pencil and subtract 2010 (our current year), and 1750 (the year he was born). The answer you get tells you how long ago that was. Did you get 260? Whew, that really is a long time ago. Abner was an important man, a man I want to honor. He was born in Connecticut and was a drummer and served in The American Revolution.
Here's a close up of his modern day stone. He was a Captain and fought for our Independence from England. Because of Abner and brave men like him, we celebrate The 4th of July. He lived only a short time in Worthington, Ohio. He traveled all the way from Connecticut to Worthington, Ohio and was one of the original 38 members of The Scioto Company that took up land in this far away land after The Revolutionary War. He died on November 23, 1804. When he died his estate was valued at $452.51. He owned a pair of oxen, a wagon, harness with yolk. Those were very valuable to people who were trying to clear land and make a new home.

When you're having fun watching the fireworks, or picnicking or playing games with your friends and family on The 4th of July, please think of my friend Captain Abner Pinney. He's buried in a very historic church graveyard (St. John's) in Worthington, Ohio.

This is a great way to teach respect of those that came before us, that paved our way. Take the kids to a cemetery and look at a couple of older stones. Think about something that happend that connects with the dates. Do math, how old is the stone compared to them? Get a map find where people are from, use more math to calculate how many miles away it is. Make a drum, and pretend to be Capt. Pinney. Ask the kids why they think having an oxen would be valuable? Talk about the importance of a wagon. All kids have a wagon, what do they use it for? They put things in it, you put them in it to move around. Make the history of the story come alive and have meaning to them. Help them understand what the 4th of July is, why people ware red, white and blue. Talk about why people fly their flags on that special day. Make a word list that connect to what you've seen. Super way to learn new words.
Example:
Militia
Oxen
Revolution

Remember other good activities with kids, maps can be colored and all kids love to color. Flags of the states or the countries involved can also be fun things to color. If you missed it, pop back for Stanley's last adventure and you'll see a word puzzle; that's always something you can do as well with new words.

See you next Friday on the 14th of May. Until then, Flat Stanley out.

Flat Stanley's Previous Adventures:
First adventure, books and libraries
Second Adventure, Hero or Traitor

Traveling Safely in your Car

Travel season is upon use, many families will be hitting the roads for vacation when the kids get out of school for the summer. We sometimes take travel too lightly, we forget the dangers involved. Be safe, travel safe and you'll have more fun when you arrive at your destination. Practice car safety, you life may depend on it.

But before you go review this list, make sure you and your car are ready for a safe journey.

• Have you checked your tire pressure?
• Do you a full tank of gas?
• Have you filled up the window washer fluid? Sometimes its' a good idea to have extra in the trunk
• Do you a window scrapper (depending on when and where you're going, like the mountains even in summer you may need it)
• Do you have a flash light for emergencies?
• Do you have a cell phone charger that works in your car?
• Does someone have your license plate number and the route you plan to travel?
• Do take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and give your eyes a rest, change drivers if you're not alone.
• Do you have a map along with written directions/GPS in case you run into road blocks, construction or changes that sometimes happen?
• If you're alone, don't travel late at night.
• Take your purse and cell phone with you when you stop to go to the bathroom, you may need them should an emergency arise.
• Lock the car at all times, when you're in it and when you're not.
• Do you have an extra car key in your pocket/purse? Or does the person you're with have an extra key?
• Don't run on fumes because you don't want to stop for gas, fill up when you still have at least 1/4 of a tank. You never know when you may get in bad traffic, or exists are closed or you run into construction. Any number of things can happen. The gas may not be readily available in certain areas.
• Many states have laws prohibiting the use of cells phones while driving without it being hands free. I love my blue -tooth for travel. You're connected if you have to make a fast emergency call, but you don't have to take your eyes off the road to make it happen. With that being said, limit your calls to necessary calls. I know I've been behind people for miles and miles who are chatting totally unaware they're changing speeds, crossing the line, and in general paying more attention to the call then the importance of driving.
• Buckle up ALL THE TIME!
• Don't drive barefooted. How many of you have seen someone with a foot out the window? I have, even the driver on a few occasions. That's not safe, it's just plain stupid.
• Don't have music on so loud you can hear a siren or emergency vehicle
• Be aware of your surroundings. Look where you are, notice who's around you. Don't walk to the restroom with your head down texting or changing your music with your earphones in. People unaware are an easy mark.
• Don't leave valuables visible in the car, like your mp3 player, your video games, your cell phone, your purse, your GPS, your IPod, or laptop. Those are call out to would be thieves who are watching and waiting for their opportunity.

Now enjoy yourself, and happy traveling.

Fish Hall Plantation, Barkers Field, Hilton Head, South Carolina

Odd you might think to see an historic marker along side a small community baseball diamond. Must admit as we pulled the car off the road, so did I. I wondered what the story behind Barkers Field was.
A close up of the sign indicates a Confederate Brigadier General named Thomas Fenwick Drayton fought the Battle of Port Royal in this area. The Battle of Port Royal was a decisive battle during The Civil War. 18 Union Warships bombarded the Confederates at Fort Walker. Under the leadership of General Thomas Sherman 13,000 Union soldiers landed on the beach and established an important blockade. This battle was one of the earliest amphibious operations of the war. General Drayton's brother Captain Percival Drayton remained loyal to The United States and fought on the side of the Union forces. He commanded one of those war ships, The Pocahontas. Brother against brother, families pitted against each other made this war so very personal. I can't imagine the heartache within a family; but know throughout history there are many examples of this.
Slightly to the right of the ball diamond along side the road is this fenced area with the above sign. This area had been a large 500 acre Plantation. The land originally given to Col. John Barnwell after The Revolutionary War. Historical research indicates early census's show's cotton was probably the primary crop grown here, as very little livestock appeared on the census. A description of the primary house said it was lordly. I've not seen a picture of it, but one count indicates early pictures of the main house agreed with the description. This was a prosperous plantation which owned 52 slaves according to the 1860 census. Thomas Fenwick Drayton married Emma Catherine Pope, the daughter of the plantations owner. Another account reported General Drayton owned 102 slaves. Perhaps he added his slaves to those already on the plantation after he and Emma married? Perhaps, as often happens there are a few discrepancies in the actual numbers.
This is one of two structures I saw, showing very little left of this once grand plantation. This is the tabby remains of a slaves' cabin, believed to be a fireplace. There's a 2nd one a short distance from this, perhaps 30 feet or so. Given what was learned from other tabby ruins, (Baynard Ruins) I assume it to be a 2nd fireplace. Seems common that 2 slave families were forced to share these cramped quarters.

In some of my research it seemed there is evidence of a building, or parts there off from this plantation still in existence; but as it's behind a gated community here on the Island it's not accessible to the general public. I found this most irritating. There were several items I found, that I believe have markers and structures to see; but the public is not permitted to see them unless on a school tour or a paid scheduled tour. In some cases it seemed the tours are only once in a blue moon; not really a company or on going; but an individual that would schedule it. Hilton Head has the reputation of being snooty, a playground for the rich and famous. While much has been protected environmentally, I personally was put off that only those living behind these gated communities or only those playing golf there for the day had access. (We attempted to see what was left of Fort Walker and were turned away at the gate of one such gated community).

The sign indicates graves were moved from this area to Drayton Cemetery. Apparently at some point the family didn't want slaves graves near their home so set aside land for a cemetery. I read one report that said this wasn't very successful, another indicated the graves were in fact moved. However, I've not yet been able to determine who is buried there. That is to say, are there unmarked burials, or are there headstones in this cemetery? Is there even a sign indicating it's a cemetery? (I've seen a few cases where if you didn't know, you really wouldn't know by looking). I've not found evidence of the burials beyond the statement graves were moved there. If I ever get back to Hilton Head, I'd like to follow up and actually find the cemetery. The Union forces established a Freeman's Village here, the only one known to have been established by The Union forces. When The Union forces came ashore that November day in 1861, many of the slaves joined forces.

Flat Stanley asks, "Traitor or Hero?"

Flat Stanley here with a question, Traitor or Hero?

And now let me tell you a story. Ohio wasn't much more then the western frontier in 1823 when little Roswell Ripley was born. You see Ohio had only become a state in 1803, just 20 years before he was born. Roswell Sabin Ripley was born here, in Worthington Ohio. So this house is really really old. He grew up and attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated from there in 1843. He served his country and fought in The Mexican-American war from 1846-1848, and received 2 promotions for his efforts.

He was stationed in South Carolina where he met a Southern Belle and got married in 1852. One short year later he resigned to attend to his wives estate in Charleston. He joined our enemy, The Confederacy and fought against us at Fort Sumter when the first shots were fired and The Civil War began. He fought in a series of battles in artillery units; and later in the Infantry under Robert E. Lee. He was wounded in The Bloodiest War, at Antietam in 1862. Though he recovered enough to return to Charleston and once again fight against The United States on the side of The Confederacy.



After the war he lived for 20 years in England, presumably alone as his wife and daughter had left him during The War Years. He returned to New York, where his parents had moved and died there of a stroke. He was not returned to Worthington, the place of his birth for burial. Nor was he buried in New York where he died. He was returned to The South and buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

He was elevated to Brigadier General in The Confederate States of America, quite an honor. He's one of the very few Confederates with a Memorial this far North in Ohio. He fought against his Uncle, James Wolfe Ripley who fought for The Union at Charleston Harbor.

And so, to some he's considered a Hero. He defeated The Union Forces and protected his Charleston. To others, a traitor for he fought against his country and his family.

I've been by this old house a number of times; but only recently noticed the sign and decided I needed to read it. Wow...what a surprise, and what a story. Heartbreaking, his wife and daughter estranged, fighting against his countrymen and his family. Sadly, that happened a great deal during The War Between The States.

So, what do you think; Traitor or Hero?

The topic here perhaps is a bit involved and serious; but what a good way to talk about people standing up for what they believe in, even when it's not easy. How bout a coloring exercise? Color and compare the two flags. Get the maps and see how far it is from Worthington, to Charleston, to England, to New York. Where's Mexico, after all he fought there. Talk about the difficulty of travel in those days vs now. Check out the hidden word puzzle at the bottom.

I'll bet many are surprised to see an Ohio connection to The Civil War, Ohio's pretty far north.

So if you look around and see an old house, take a good look and see if you too can tell a story about it, or the people who lived there.

Until next time, Friday May 7th, Flat Stanley out.

Find the following hidden words:(you should be able to click to enlarge and print)
Civil War
Robert E Lee
Union
Ohio
Mexico
Antietam
Infantry
South Carolina
Charleston
Confederate




If you missed Flat Stanley's First Adventure Here's the link