Bacon's Rebellion & Peanut Pie

Charlie's parents are in town this weekend and, after making great time yesterday driving from Port Dover to the Billyburg, we had a lovely dinner at Carrabbas (30 minute wait at Chili's? no thanks), feasting on bread and olive oil, Mediterranean salad, cavatappi amatriciana, fettuccine aflredo and mini-desserts of creme brulee, banana pudding and custard.

Saturday morning, we were up at 'em for a full day. We picked up Charlie's parents for a breakfast of chicken biscuits, coffee and Diet Dr. Pepper (for me). Charlie and his dad went their way for golf and Marie and I headed off for a packed day of the Yankee Candle Store, which really is about 8 stores in one, a mad search for the Waterford store, which is no longer at the outlets, and a trip to Surry on the ferry.

Charlie's mom and I made it to Surry (with a slew of bikers in tow) and after a quick brush with "Deliverance," we made it to Bacon's Castle. Bacon, as in Nathaniel Bacon of Bacon's Rebellion, which essentially was a mini-precursor to the American Revolution. Bacon's Castle is better described as a plantation-style brickhouse (the castle is misleading), but it is actually one of the oldest surviving 17th century houses in North America. I really enjoyed the tour and thought Charlie would have loved it since it focused so much on the architecture and actual building components and restoration of the house. Marie and I grabbed a quick lunch and four pieces of peanut raisin pie to go (for dessert on Sunday), and we were back on our way to the ferry to meet up with the men after their golf game.

We toured a few antique shops around the area and then went out separate ways before dinner at Captain George's Seafood Buffet. I ordered off the menu while everyone else feasted on crab legs, oysters rockefeller and fried shrimp. I was hoping Charlie would grab me something good off of the dessert buffet but he returned with carrot cake (to be expected) and some bizarre orange cake. I mean, come on, Charlie and I have been together for over four years now and all he takes from a dessert buffet is carrot cake (which is basically a muffin, let's call a spade a spade) and an orange-flavored cake? Have I had no influence over him and his sweet tooth?

We wrapped up our weekend with Ted and Marie with a breakfast at one of Williamsburg's pancake houses (which Marie determined used to be an Arby's fast-food restaurant), pottery shopping and pasta carbonara. Keep your fingers crossed that Ted and Marie made it to New Jersey with very little traffic!!!

One more week left of work -- I'm counting down the days!!