A Very Exciting Day
Saturday was a fun and exciting day! I went to the Autumnfest in Woodstock for the BBQ competition and Wine Tasting then to Cedar Creek Battlefield for the reenactment of the Second Battle of Winchester.
Autumnfest
Shenandoah Autumnfest had a lot to see and do. There was a chainsaw carving demonstration, a BBQ tasting/competition and a wine tasting.
The chainsaw carving was really interesting to watch. The intricacy of the carvings these artists were able to do was fabulous. I never thought a chainsaw could create such beautiful art.
Vineyards on Parade!
The wine tasting was great. There were seven vineyards there for tasting.
North Mountain Vineyard located in Maurertown, Va. They offered seven different wine for tasting. The ones I liked best were Oktoberfest, Tom’s Brook Red, Sweet Caroline’s Blush, Apple Wine and Spiced Holiday Wine.
I usually don’t care for red wines but the Tom’s Brook Red was very good. It’s a wine I would buy and drink with dinner or by itself.
Shenandoah Vineyards from Edinburg, Va provided seven wines to taste. I liked the 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Johannisberg Riesling and Fiesta. The Riesling was my favorite.
Seven Doors Winery from Huddleston, Va had six wines and the ones I liked best were the Blush and the Sangria. The Sangria was my all time favorite. I bought a pitcher to take home and enjoy.
Scenic Vino 211 was present and provide five or six wines for tasting. The two I liked the best was Frisk Prickly and the Pink Moscato.
Notaviva Vineyards from Purcellville, Va brought wines to taste and the favorite for me was “Y’all Make Me Blush”. The name is cute and the wine is quite good.
Cave Ridge from Mt. Jackson, Va had six wines and the Mount Jackson Rouge was good.
The last vineyard was Bluestone Vineyard located in Bridgewater, Va. I found the Crooked and Weedy to be the best.
We didn’t stay for the BBQ tasting because it didn’t start until 2pm and we wanted to get to the Cedar Creek Battlefield for the reenactment.
The Second Battle of Winchester
The reenactment was exciting. The Second Battle of Winchester was a battle the Confederacy won. As the battle went on the smoke from the cannons firing and the guns shooting made the air smell of smoke. At times the smoke was so dense it was difficult to see the action.
The reenactments don’t use the same ammunition and gunpowder that was utilized in the civil war but even so the sound the cannon made was deafening. Each time a cannon fired the ground shook. Imagine being there on the day of the actual battle.
To smell the smoke, hear the cries of the wounded, to see the carnage caused by the battle and realizing at any minute you too could become one of the injured or dead. The idea of standing facing the opposing army with nothing between their bullets and you is terrifying.
Honoring Bravery
The men and women who fought in this war, no matter which side, were brave. To stand up for what they believed in and to put their lives on the line is something everyone should respect and honor.
The men and women who have given their lives for our country and those who are currently putting their lives on the line for us deserve our respect and undying gratitude. Without those in the past and ones in the present, we as a country would not have the freedom we enjoy today.
After the Battle
While the battle was a exciting adrenaline rush, the fashion show that came afterwards was awesome! The ladies were dressed in their civil war era finery and all were “belles of the ball”.
Many who attended the reenactment wore their civil war finery.
After the fashion show we walked around the battlefield to see how the soldiers “lived”. To have history brought to life makes me want to learn more.
Life Off the Battlefield
I want to know how the men lived while they were fighting. What did they eat? What did they do for entertainment to keep their spirits up? What did they wear? How did the wives who followed their husbands into battle handle the situation?
Then there was the home front. How did the ones that were left behind keep going? How did they manage to keep their spirits up when worried about their loved ones on the field of battle?
That’s what interests me. The personal aspects of history. Hearing the personal accounts from soldiers and civilians during this terrible time in our country’s history. That’s what makes everything come to life.
I learned something that I found really interesting. As we were walking through the camp many of the women were preparing dinner over campfires. Most had the campfire with a metal grate over it to cook. As I passed one camp I saw a pan heating water and in the pan was mason jars filled with vegetables.
I asked the ladies about this and it turns out that the women of that time would cook the vegetable that were canned this way. They loosened the top of the jar lid then put the mason jar into a pot of hot water. What a way to save time and have fewer pans to wash! This is a tip we can even use today.
Winding Down
The day was very enjoyable and exciting but exhausting. I loved every minute of it. When I got home, I propped my feet up and enjoyed a glass of the fabulous sangria I got from Seven Doors Winery. As I relaxed, I contemplated all that I saw and heard throughout the day.
I don’t think I would enjoy living back then very much. “Gone With the Wind” gave that time in our history a glossy appearance but the reality is definitely much different! Not one I want to experience.
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Down Home at Dee’s
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