A Staunton Afternoon

Sorry for the sporadic posts last week and this... we have been quite busy with the end of the school year, going away parties and dinners.... a visit from my fam(YAY!), Mother's Day and prepping for a two week vaca next week - I have been MIA. 

Although I did not get to spend Mother's Day with my wonderful Momma, Grandmother or Mother-in-law, we did get to spend the afternoon with some of our bestest buds. We can always rely on them to come up with something new and fun and adventures... and Sunday did not disappoint!  We decided to spend the afternoon in the quaint little town of Staunton, Virginia.  It's a small town... with decadent food and fabulous antique shopping. Little did I know, it has so much more to offer!!

Our first stop was Sunspots Studios for some American-made Art Gifts... and glassblowing!

They even let you blow your own ornament for $40. Be sure to call ahead and make an appointment!

After exploring the shop and watching some beautiful pieces of artwork being made we ventured across the street for some wine-tasting at Ox-Eye Vineyards Tasting Room.

The Ox-Eye Tasting Room is located in downtown Staunton’s historic Wharf district.  It was designed by the noted architect T.J. Collins, and was built in 1904.  Originally, it was used as an office for a coal and lumber business.  It also served as a scale house for horse drawn coal wagons.  The loaded wagons would pull up under the covered archway behind the building to be weighed by the Fairbanks scale. I thought this was the best part - the name, Ox-Eye came from a weed that grows in their fields... the Ox-Eye Daisy, a white flower with a yellow center.  We enjoyed a bottle of vino on their back patio before heading over to the Historic Depot Grill for some amazing dinner! 

The Depot is a Staunton staple... an while it's nothin' fancy - they have some awesome food. 

I have to share one of the best pasta's I have had in awhile. It's called the Chessie Pasta (named after the Chessie Line) and has the perfect blend of spices, sauce and yummy veggies!   I wish I had taken a picture, but here is the description from the menu:

Veggie Chessie's Pasta: Sweet Corn, fresh diced tomatoes, mushrooms, capers, basil, garlic and olive oil tossed with penne pasta shrimp and lump crab meat. Talk about delectable - I polished off the entire dish!!  

It was a nice little Sunday, caped off with a drink (and water for the drivers) at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel left us longing for more adventures and sweet memories made with dear, dear friends! 

Until next time....

xo, Tracy