Last week Grayden invited me to take a little ride to visit our favorite tearoom in Virginia. Miss Minerva's in Culpeper is always an enjoyable place to relax and do something we haven't been able to do for a long time.
Since Grayden's stress fracture I have been driving. I'm happy to say he is out of the boot, but is still easing back into his normal routine per doctor's orders.
After parking the car by the Love sign, we venture up Davis Street. This street has a lot of lovely little local shops that are nice to visit and maybe begin buying a few gifts for Christmas gifting. Buying from small business owners helps to support the local economy.
After visiting, and maybe buying a few gifts, we come to Miss Minerva's tearoom. We had made reservations the day before our visit.
We are surprised when we enter the tearoom that we are the only clients.
The sign on the door tells us they only serve tea with reservations and masks are mandatory. We are greeted by a lovely young woman that seats us at a table for two. I have mentioned many times that I have been following a low carb diet for the past three years. They have always accomodated my diet which I greatly appreciate.
We learn from the young lady that last year the women that owned Miss Minerva's had family obligations that would force them to close the tearoom. She had worked for them so they offered to sell the business to her. She decided to buy it from them in spite of opening a business during the pandemic. It's been rough going for her, but she is hoping for her business to improve. We wish the same for her!
We both enjoyed our time at Miss Minerva's. I was really pleased that she served me a lovely low carb tea. Grayden tried their Scottish Toffee tea that was so good we had to bring some home. I'm drinking a cup as I write this.
We also stopped at a little shop on the way out of town when we spotted the row of chimneas.
Have you ever wished you had bought something and didn't? Well, our chimnea cracked after 15 years and we were debating whether or not to buy another. Our debate made us decide to think about it for a while. Sure wish we had bought it , though! Maybe it will give us a reason to return!
This month we have been working on solving a very difficult puzzle. (Grayden and Samuel mostly) Today we finally finished this one that my sister gave me years ago! Yes, I really love tea and all that goes with it.
Our one and only tea room closed. It is very sad to see all the businesses lost. Hope that Miss Minerva's can continue. Those chimneas are pretty. Which one would you have chosen? Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite sad when a business closes. Places like tearooms are unique and are especially vunerable. I really liked the verdigris colored chimnea. Maybe we'll take a ride and get it for our grandchildren that love it for making s'mores.
DeleteWhat a delightful treat, the tea looks so delicious. More power to the young entrepreneur taking over a business during a pandemic. I wish her well. The pumpkin display has my heart. Glad to hear Grayden is improving. Culpepper makes me think of the 17th century herbalist! Deb xoxo
ReplyDeleteDeb, I thought you might enjoy seeing those pumpkins! Culpeper was named after Lord Thomas Culpeper, a governor of Va in the 1600's. Maybe kin to the 17th century herbalist! xoxo
DeleteWhat a lovely outing! I hope the new owner of the tea room will be successful! Wishing I lived near Culpeper. I’d go often! I remember a college friend was from Culpeper! Delicious tea! I’ve realized at times, when I go home to “think about it,” that I should have gone ahead and bought the item in question! Have missed out a couple of times when I go back, and the item has been snatched up by someone else. Looks like there are plenty of chimneas in case you return for yours. You live in a great area!
ReplyDeleteNellie, I'm so hoping the new owner does well. She is really a sweetie and is working hard. After talking with our son, that gave us our original chimnea, we really should have purchased one in Culpeper. Hopefully buyer's regret will not happen again here. We live close to so many great places that are only a short distance--the mountains and the ocean being our favorites.
DeleteThat sounds like a lovely outing! Well done, Grayden, for inviting your beloved! I do hope that Miss Minerva's will be a business success. Our nearest tea room is about 40 minutes away (and it's not all that great), and it would be so nice to have one nearer.
ReplyDeletePurchasing a chiminea is a wonderful reason to make a return trip! :)
Cheryl, Miss Minerva's is definitely not the same as it used to be. We're hoping this young lady will find her way and it will become a successful business for her. Miss Minerva's used to be the number one tearoom in Va. I'm not sure many young people still enjoy such things anymore. Happy preparations to your favorite day, my friend!
DeleteHello Martha Ellen :) Kudos to Grayden for suggesting this lovely trip. It looks like a super tea room. I wish we lived closer so that we could go but it’s now on my bucket list for the next time we are in the area. I wish the new owner the very best. It’s a hard time for everyone but especially for the small businesses. And very important to support our small businesses, most definitely. Good to hear that Grayden is following doctor’s orders and I do hope he is soon back to 100 percent. Lovely to see you both, and you in that iconic symbol of Virginia. Very interestingly put together by what looks like film reels (?) but not quite sure, perhaps some kind of car part? Very clever! I have often regretted not buying something when I have had the chance. I hope you get your chimnea. They look very festive all in a row. I am fascinated by the different variety of pumpkins on sale. The ones in your photo also look very festive. And you know I am going to love that puzzle :) Congratulations on completing it and it does look like it would take me a long time to do. It’s hard enough for me to do the jigsaw puzzles on line. Delightful post as always, thank you so much for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteGood eyes on the Love sign, Denise. You are correct, it was made from reels! It's supposed to symbolize the emerging arts in Culpeper. I think you would enjoy visiting this little town. It has grown quite a bit over the years and reminds me of Fredericksburg when we first moved here 50 years ago. I do hope to return to maybe buy another chimnea. Our grandchildren love to make s'mores with it. We enjoy it as well. It's good to use the many sticks that seem to fall in our yard. Have a great evening!
DeleteWhat a lovely day at the tearoom, and even nicer that you both were the only customers there. There are always scrumptious desserts served at tearooms. It's wonderful that you got to do some shopping too. The chimneas are very charming. Maybe you can go back there and buy one for yourself. The tea cup puzzle is delightful, Martha Ellen. It looks like it would take a long time to put together. I think I would keep it out for awhile. So nice of Grayden to plan this special day for you.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Sheri, it was nice that we were the only folks at Miss Minerva's. It's so much fun to shop in little towns and support small businesses, especially now. We just removed the puzzle from the table. I think we have been solving it for two weeks. Have a great evening!
DeleteHi Martha Ellen
ReplyDeleteIt is still such a beautiful Autumn Where you live! Out trees are almost all bare now but we still have not had our first snowfall, which is late for this area. Your formal tea looked so special and so delicious! I hope the new owner will see business pick up soon. I'm glad to hear that Grayson's stress fracture has healed. I went through the same ordeal about 10 years ago after hiking in the Grand Tetons NP. I wore sneaker son that hike but now I wear hiking boots with better arch support if I am going to hike long or uphill.
I'm sure those chimeneas will still be available when your return to the tea room area, and--finger crossed--maybe they'll be on sale and you'll be happy you waited to buy one!
Pat, November has been so lovely this Autumn. Even with our tons of leaves that we gather up every week, I love Autumn. Grayden is doing well and is very happy to be out of that boot! I'm sorry to hear you have shared this malady with him. I like your thinking that we may get a chimnea on sale! Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
DeleteYou have a gem of a man. I couldn't even get Rick to do tea in England! It's a darling tea room and the food looks delicious. I love that you had the place to yourselves. What a delightful day!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, Grayden is a gem in many ways! We both enjoyed Miss Minerva's tearoom very much. It was a little unsettling to us for the owner not to have other customers that day. But we certainly felt safe! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteWhat a nice visit you had and I think both your teas look delicious.
ReplyDeleteWell done on successfully finishing the puzzle, not an easy one to do.
Happy Thanksgiving Wishes.
All the best Jan
Jan, going to Miss Minerva's was a lovely treat for both of us. Thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes. Have a nice week!
DeleteWhat a treat, Martha! If it's not too long a drive, I'd go there once a month. Sure hope the new owner can make a go of it. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think, Jean!
DeleteMartha Ellen, I still want to get a fresh-cup tree. This is my first Christmas in the mountains, and that would be nice if I had a real one that smelled with the wonderful scent of pine. That is so special that you've had your angel tree topper for 55 years. What a treasure that is. Maybe you could show it sometime on a post. Putting lights around a tree outside would be an option, but getting a fake one I don't care for. I've never had one, as I just love the smell of a real cup tree. Enjoy the December week, Martha Ellen.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Like that sign board of Minerva's
ReplyDeleteIt's very clever indeed. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteHi Martha Ellen, I came back to answer your question about the birdseed I use. It is from 3-D Pet Products and is described as 'Nut N' Berry'. I have added a photo of the bag for you too. I'm glad to be back to see this wonderful post again too :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I must bookmark this and plan a trip next year. I certainly hope she is able to remain in business!
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