Our first trip in 2018 was to visit our friend Susie in Raleigh, NC. Susie and I were roommates in California even before I met Barney. Both Barney and Susie retired the end of 2017, and we were ready to celebrate! She lives in a 1920 stone home that is so charming, and she is such a gracious hostess.
We had fun going to a local history museum, watching the newest Star Wars movie, and having lunch at The Fearrington Granary outside of Raleigh that’s home to the belted cows. Such fun to see them again!
Fearrington Village is an English-inspired village nestled in the idyllic countryside of the North Carolina piedmont.
Most notable of the farm animals are their signature black and white belted cows, a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle that was introduced to the United States in the 1950s. In 1982, R.B. Fitch brought a herd of 6 Belted Galloway Cows from Virginia to Fearrington. Now over 30 pet Belties graze the pastures, and many guests refer to them as “oreo cows.”
Also at the farm are their black and white goats in the fields with the Belties. Named for a harmless hereditary genetic disorder known as myotonia congenita, fainting goats do not truly faint, but stiffen when startled. The goats appear to have arrived in Tennessee in the early 1800s, courtesy of a reclusive and unnamed farm worker who was most likely from Nova Scotia. Before he left the area, he sold his goats to Dr. H.H. Mayberry, who bred them. In 1996, a herd of goats found their new home at Fearrington.
During this trip Susie took me to her favorite eye wear guy at The Spectacle, and I got a new pair of frames that are worth the price to me and I was able to enjoy until I had cataract surgery and could donate my frames.
After a wonderful visit, we drove on to Virginia to spend the night with Rob and Heather; Rob lived with us for a while before he and Heather got married. On our way home, we stopped and had lunch with Jessica and her family. Jessica worked with me in my bookkeeping business and took over many of my clients when I retired a year ago (thank you, Jessica!)
We so love seeing friend on our trips.
