A Long Sunday Drive

Early on Sunday morning, we left Dobson, North Carolina, to travel north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Knowing that I would be in and out of blasting air conditioning all day, I dressed for the temperature changes. I wore black crepe pants with a wrap front sleeveless top from White House|Black Market and kept my trusty white linen moto jacket close.

Our first brief stop along our journey north was at the historic Mabry Mill.

Our next destination is one we have planned for years. (We have a long bucket list of places we want to visit and things we want to do.) On Sunday, we checked off the Chateau Morrisette Winery and Restaurant located in Floyd, Virginia. It is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, located at mile marker 171 1/2. Turn onto Black Ridge Road and then immediately turn left onto Winery Road. GPS will take you on a long roundabout way through the middle of nowhere to get there.

The shoes are old by Calvin Klein. The fabulous green bag is from UnoAllaVolta.com.

The view from the window at our table was spectacular. (Photo from the restaurant's Facebook page.) The restaurant has once again earned a place on OpenTable's Most Scenic Restaurants in America!

We shared an excellent four-course brunch in the original part of the grand old building.

Mr. Mickey was amused to see this companion piece to a stained glass lamp in his wine room.

We tasted several of their wines, and they were all excellent! 

Janean Williams is the delightful Front of the House Manager. Luke was our most excellent server.

All of the staff made us feel like regulars!

We purchased a couple of bottles of wine to enjoy later, as well as glasses with the etched emblem of the winery to remember our long-awaited first but certainly not our last visit.

We are already looking forward to our next visit to the restaurant and winery. They offer music, art, romance, mystery, seasonal festivities, refined rustic dining, and delectable wines throughout the year. 

Thanks for joining us on our little weekend getaway!

Saturday Evening

After a long day of attending the car show and exploring the area, we dressed for another excellent dinner at the Harvest Grill located on Shelton Vineyards' grounds.

Behind me above is the stage area on the vineyard. Live music performances are held here every year.

My Prince and chariot await!

We watched the sunset over the vineyard from our table by the flower gardens.

Grouper was the evening's special.

We enjoyed another perfect evening at the Harvest Grill!

This evening, I wore a thin strap tank dress in crepe knit. The white linen biker style jacket is old. I found it on a sale rack at Stein Mart a couple of summers ago.

When we arrived, I took everything out of the bag and hung it up. After a few hours, it didn't even need steaming. The pieces interchanged with all the other items I brought perfectly. I kept the palette simple with black and white pieces, but I have never felt more confident and comfortable on a trip. 

I packed several scarves but only used the silk shawl in yesterday's post due to the heat. Scarves take up no space in your luggage, but they can significantly change the look of your basics.

Fun In The Sun

On Saturday, a Mercedes-Benz car show was held on Shelton Vineyards, located in Dobson, North Carolina.

Sitting in the shade and visiting people was a popular way to pass the time between looking at beautiful cars.

I borrowed one of Mr. Mickey's hats and wore a black tank with old white jeans from Chico's. The bag is from Uno Alla Volta. The hand-painted silk shawl is by Tina Gleave at the Silk Squirrel. The flat silver trim sandals are old from DSW.

I do not usually stroll through a park when it is ninety-two degrees so getting dressed for this event was a bit of a challenge for me. I knew that the air conditioning would quickly become too much for me if we went inside, so the shawl was a welcome addition as we were having lunch.

After looking at every car, petting every dog, and visiting with lots of car owners, we rested for a moment before starting out on our next adventure for the day.

If you grew up in America during the sixties, you probably watched The Andy Griffith Show a few times. I was born in North Carolina, where Mayberry was supposed to be located. My family always felt as if this show was starring our people.

The beautiful little quaint town of Mount Airy is best known internationally as Andy Griffith's birthplace and the inspiration for the fictional community of Mayberry on the show. 

Regarding the tone of the show, Griffith once said in a 'Today Show' interview that despite a contemporary setting, the show attempted to emulate nostalgia. "Though it was shot in the 1960s, it had a feeling of the 1930s."

Shopping in "Mayberry"!

Shelton Vineyard Visit

A Mercedes-Benz car show was held at Shelton Vineyard on Saturday. We made a whole weekend of it!

The vineyard is located in Dobson, North Carolina. We thoroughly enjoy our visits there. Dinner at the Harvest Grill is always a treat! The food and service are top-notch.

Mr. Mickey had salmon.

I had the pasta because I wasn't starving. Have you noticed that pasta seems to grow?

The color is black, but it appears navy in this lighting.

You Make Me Blush!

This blush jacket was added to my collection several months ago. It has surprised me how well it works with all my neutrals.

White jeans and a tank can be a perfect base for you if you wear white near your face, and you don't mind white pants. Inverted triangle body shapes love the balance that comes from wearing white pants with a darker top.

I wear white jeans all year round if the weather is dry. That rule about not wearing white after Labor Day has been put to rest. A third of my wardrobe is white, so I wear it often. It is the fabric that we need to think about during cold weather, not the color. I wear heavyweight white jeans in the dead of winter because they are as warm as any other denim.

Perhaps cream would be a better option for you, but one color of top and bottom with a contrasting color over it can be very slimming. It is always an effortless way to get dressed. Wearing a light color in hot weather helps keep us cool. It may be a sheer cardigan or vest that becomes my third layer in summer, but a column of color works well for me.

The beauty of a column of one color with accents of another is that getting dressed is a snap no matter where you are going. Great fitting white jeans or jeans styled pants such as these by Fabrizio Gianni are worth the investment. I have worn these often for over two years, and the fit stays true after every wash.

Pocket placement is crucial in the jean design. If the pockets are in the wrong place, they can accentuate the parts you may not want to, and they can make you look wider than you are or bring attention to the fact that your bottom is lower than it used to be. Always take a look in a three-way mirror before you buy jeans. I never wear embellished or torn jeans.

Someone asked me about rules for wearing belts recently. I do wear them but with limitations. I would never in a million years tuck a top into a pair of jeans and wear a belt at my natural waistline. Your natural waistline is where your body bends when you move from side to side or bend over. Mine is very high, so that means I have a short waist. I can only wear a belt with a partially tucked in top and lower rise pants. Alternatively, I can wear a low-slung belt over a tunic to mimic a lower waistline.

To make your short waistline look longer, wear a belt the same color as your top. If, however, you have a long waist, wear a belt the color of your pants.

The blush jacket is old from White House|Black Market. The tank top is from Chico's. The pants are by Fabrizio Gianni. The bag is from Express. The shoes are old by Sam Edelman.