Christmas visit to Gari Melchers home to tour

A visit to Falmouth near Fredericksburg VA, home of Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne Melchers. 

A native of Detroit Michigan born Julius Garibaldi Melchers in 1880 studied art at 17 at Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, then off to Paris after 3 years for study there.  

His wife Corinne was an American painter. A gardener and rosarian, she was involved with the restoration of the grounds of Kenmore Plantation, built by George Washingtons sister Betty Washington Lewis and husband Fielding Lewis a Fredericksburg merchant. 

Home of Gari and Corinne went through many changes over the years

We enjoyed the walk outside seeing natural greenery with ribbon.  Inside lovely Christmas decorations.  

front door

entrance hall with his little tree that had crystals on the limbs that shimmered with the spotlight 

Looking straight ahead entering the hallway is this view of the landscape surrounding home.

"On my return to Fredericksburg, I walked through the house and opening the back door, looked down the hill across the fields and the river.  The beauty of Virginia made me wonder how I could ever have left it even for a winter." __Gari Melchers

peek to sunporch

Up the stairs to guest rooms

Pretty guest room upstairs 

I especially like the below painting and the discription

Spring house on property circa 1932

Christmas decorations 2022

I hung these two weeks ago. 

Christmas shopping and sightseeing in Va.

My husband and I had a short get away to do some shopping in Clifton Forge Va.  at their Kriskindlmarkt that was inside and so glad for that as it was a very chilly day. It was held in the School of the Arts building.  German style food and crafts.  

Places to sit to eat or just take a break

I purchased these handmade weihnachtsmann.  Cute painted faces on small logs.

All made in Virginia, and I do like to buy and support local businesses here in Virginia when I can.

on our way back home, we decided to sightsee some in the Alleghany Highlands, Covington Va. and see the Falling Springs Falls. 

 Brr it was breezy and cold but kept us moving on the short walk to see the Falls.

Thomas Jefferson surveyed this area as stated below.

We stopped at a roadside to see a bridge and was hoping to walk across but it was private. It reminded me of a swinging bridge not far from the area that my dad and Mom walked across with us when very young.  

I was sooo tempted to go across but didn't.  

Virginia has some pretty country side with old barns that I love.   

Love these curious fellows.  It's like they wanted their picture taken.  So cute!

A stop in Staunton Virginia at the Edelweiss restaurant for some German food.  I call this homestyle cooking as it reminds me of food Mom would fix.  

Very warm and inviting two story large log cabin type structure. 

We had dinner at Edelweiss in Colorado not too many years back and loved the food there.  

Delicious!  Not exactly like the ones I had at restaurants in Germany but very close.  These were a little more moist and softer texture.  

I asked about the nice tablecloths, but they came from Germany and don't think I could get any like this.  Can barely see in picture but I like the needlework.  Done by machine I am sure but very pretty.

Wienerschnitzel for me with a somewhat sweet sauce for dipping

Steve had Rahmschnitzel  with a sour cream mushroom sauce.

Several types of sauerkraut, one is my favorite Bavarian Sauerkraut, macaroni in a sauce and German style green beans.

You can see we took plenty home for another meal the next day

Now in the mood for putting up the tree at this point.  We were here November 26

A video if in the mood for seeing.  

Thank you and now to finish decorating here at home so I can post some of my home decorations of Christmas

Had to share a new video from Biltmore

One time I would love to go to see in person.  I have visited the home but not at Christmas

last look before 2022

 Last look before 2022

Happy New Year