We woke up to take a real shower this morning and didn’t have to wear my flip flops in the public shower – thanking God for the little things. We also woke up to the beautiful Berchtold music playing throughout the house. They have several CD’s out and what a joy to listen to their beautiful voices worshiping the Lord this morning.
We enjoyed breakfast together and were gracious to let us do laundry. Dave and Brandon has packed ahead of time and put their things in one of those travel bags that are made for the top of the car, on top of the camper. When we had the 3 nights of incredible down pouring rain Shelley and I said to each other, “I hope Dave’s clothes are not getting wet,” We thought about going to check on them way on top of the RV but never did because it seemed like a daunting task to climb around all the bikes on the back . . . oops! I guess that bag is not completely water proof because his and Brandon’s clothes were soaking wet, and mildewed. Yuck – thankfully we had a place and the time to thoroughly get them clean.
They were also very excited to show us their chickens, so we walked down their pathway into a beautifully wooded area to their chicken coop. Each one of us got to hold a chicken and they were much more tame than I thought they would be. One even went to perch on the special area made just for that and Christian found an egg that had just been laid this morning. The name for the chicken pen was The Perchtold’s . . . adorable
Before we were off to Monticello, which in Thomas Jefferson’s home, we all gathered to sing and have a devotion together. Clare Ann is the mom of the Berchtold bunch and she is the musical genius. Almost every morning as she reads her Bible she writes a song with the scripture that God gives her to meditate on for the day. She uses music to memorize the scripture at the same time she writes a song. All five girls at home have beautiful voices and love to sing the amazing songs that she creates. As we started singing together, she pulls out a song with yesterdays date on it and tells us that she just wrote it, and wants to sing it with us. It was beautiful and amazing that she just whipped that together in a moments time . . . what a gift!! And the best part is that they share their gift all over the world – they have traveled many different places and have shared their beautiful voices with many people
After devotions we all piled into their two cars to go to Monticello. They had a beautiful brand new van with as big of a TV that my girls have in their room, so where do you think all of the kids ended up?? Of course, in the van and they instantly put on a movie. Little Clare was in heaven to have all these playmates around.
We arrived at Monticello and they were willing to give us a homeschool entrance rate. . . right on, that’s the way it should always be because again, if we paid regular fees, Brooke would have been an adult at 12!! And they were willing to squeeze us right into a house tour with another school group rather than waiting for 3 hours with the rest of the pubic. Homeschooling definitely has it’s perks!!
Thomas Jefferson was an amazing man. His most famous words when writing the Declaration of the Independence in 1776 inspire all people around the world . . . “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He is most known for writing the Delcartion of Independence and for being the 3rd president but did you know that he was also a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly and to Congress; the govenore of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state, vice president, and president for 2 terms??? Other most notable achievements are the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Unfortunately we could not take pictures inside the house again but the tour was fascinating and our decent was wonderful. Jefferson was a very detailed man and designed every aspect of Monticello, teaching himself architecture for the mountaintop house. He began construction of his home in 1768 and included all the kinds of rooms typically found in Virginia plantation houses, but also incorporating many European, particularly French, designs. In 1796 he began adding onto Monticello making it a 3-story, 21-room home, and added a dome over the west front which was the first on an America house. He was so detailed that all the aspects of the house design and decoration was all done my him. He selected all of the furnishings, and every window drapery. In the entrance hall, Jefferson made a museum of all the North American object given by western tribes to Lewis & Clark on their expedition. In the parlor he placed many portraits or busts of men who inspired or influenced him including George Washington, Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, and John Locke.
Jefferson’s bedroom contained a 2-sided alcove for his bed, and a 3-sided one in his guest room, and space saving idea that he incorporated into his home from Europe. Jefferson’s study contained a 4-sided reading console that he could turn to read several books at a time, and a polygraph machine that he invented to copy letters. His library had over 7000 books as his favorite thing to do was read and educate himself on many subjects.
Monticello was a working plantation and Jefferson had about 600 slaves over the course of his life. He was very conflicted about owning slaves after writing the Declaration of Independence, but it was part of the culture at the time that he didn’t try to change as he felt that the country wasn’t ready for it. He also knew that someday it would be a bitter source of conflict.
After the house tour we walked around beautiful the grounds, went in the basement cellar, listened to another docent talk about Mulberry Row and the slave quarters, and visited his grave site. It was all so fascinating.
Brooke and Gracie writing with a quill pen
The gardens
Finishing the tour with a wonderful movie of Jefferson completed the wonderful day at Monticello. We went back to the Berchtold’s house and walked into the wonderful aroma of spaghetti being made by all of the sisters. Wow, we are getting spoiled!! They had some snacks ready and wine, and we sat outside and visited while dinner was finishing cooking.
After a lovely dinner the kids all played some games and then the sisters sang for all of us. We all sat and listening intently while we ALL videoed with our phones or Itouches. It was quite funny, but it didn’t bother them at all as they kept on singing their beautiful songs. They sang some good ol’ classics one of which is my favorite – “Sisters” from White Christmas!!
Then Dave and Lisa had everyone in stiched laughing with their voice interpretations of different actors!
It was a wonderful day and a heavenly evening and we ended it with a group shot of us all!
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