Internet is back

I'm sorry for the delay, but here in Mayberry when the cable goes out, so does the internet. We're back up, and I'm resuming our commentary. By the way, this is a great trip, and this blogging is great fun, too. We miss you all.

Thursday, December 11th

Made our way in the POURING rain from outside Charlotte (Mooresville) to Mt. Airy, after a typical Hampton Inn breakfast of a blueberry muffin and fruit and coffee (tea for me). On our approach, we stopped for gas just south of the exit we needed and found another driveway to Shelton Vineyards. Hmmmm.....rainy, wine tasting, warm and dry inside.....why not???? What a find !!!! Mel tasted while I shopped for cute winey (and whiney) things. He found a terrific claret which we are going to share on Christmas Eve Gooseday and hopefullly y'all will enjoy it as much as Mel did. I actually tasted it, and it's very Dickensian, so prefect for our family lunch. :)
After the tasting, we decided to have lunch at the winery's award winning restaurant, right in front of their fireplace. Mel had a fabulous organic roasted chicken with a cream/cognac mushroom sauce. I had a very yummy mushroom brie phyllo pastry (what is it with me and phyllo on this trip?) and then we shared a s'more tart with a gingerbread crust and chocolate ganache filling. HOLY CHOCOLADA !!!! Girl Scouts was never like this !!!!
We tore ourselves away from the vineyard and finished the drive to our very picturesque Mt. Airy Bed and Breakfast (found by our agent, Brenna) the Sobotta Inn. Again, a lovely 7 room inn beautifully decorated for the holidays (still no menorahs) and taken to our room facing the elegant gardens. It was still pouring, but there were cardinals in every tree outside. LOVELY !
We spent some time with the Inn's owner (formerly from Tampa) in front of the fire, near the christmas tree, with a cup of coffee and RED VELVET CUPCAKES !!!! Oh, lordy, they were good. We unpacked, took some pictures and then decided that the BBQ for the day would be at Little Richard's across from the Belks at the Mayberry Mall. North Carolina sauce is vinegary and clear and very good for cutting into the delicious fat of Mel's brisket plate, with corn fritters and baked beans. My chicken legs were excellent, just the right smoke and sauce, and my sides were fried squash and NC potato salad. No dessert there, since there are two more RED VELVET CUPCAKES waiting for us at the Inn, with lovely tea.
Early to bed, so that we can be at the Mayberry Main Street shops when they open at 10.
xoxo