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Widgeonwood is a 112 acre farm located about 8 miles from Missouris' capital, Jefferson City. 

 

Nothing is more gorgeous than the Widgeonwood

 gardens in spring and early

summer.  Creek bottom sandy soil lends itself

well to producing some of the most 

beautiful vegetables you will find anywhere!

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Sally's Farm Fresh Story...May 13th, 2017

I'm not sure how long it's been since I became a "Pinterest" addict.  Pinterest is very hard to describe...other than it is another Internet portal to the world.  No matter what you're interested in and no matter how bizarre your interests, Pinterest just about covers it all.  My Pinterest interests started of course with gardening and food. 

 

I have 70+ boards (boards are groupings of things you save for future reference or just because you like them) and I have over 9000 followers (people who follow and like what you save).  People can make comments about what you save/post. 

 

As a result of Pinterest I have "friends" all over the world.  Pinterest friends become new age pen pals, in a manner of speaking.  Knowing me like some of you do, you can just imagine my collection of Pinterest friends! 

 

About 4 years ago I met a Pinterest friend from Savannah, Georgia.  We have so much in common...gardening, food, antiques, architecture, politics and pets.  Ruthie and I made an instant connection and have stayed in close contact.  Ruthie was surely sent to me by Ruth...they are so much alike.  Ruthie is as gorgeous as Ruth, refined, always impeccably dressed a true Southern lady.

Like Ruth, Ruthie has the same taste in antiques as Ruth.  From primitives to Victorian, Ruthie's collection/home is simply gorgeous.  In fact, what I imagined Ruth's home would have looked like had she not been a "hoarder".  Ruth always talked about having a big house and being able to have parties using all her finery and showing off her magnificent rugs and furniture.  Ruthie does it all and not a speck of dust to be found anywhere! 

 

Ruthie's husband Jerry has worked with Ruthie on their collection of antiques and has single-handed refinished and restored the antique furniture they have.  What a team!  I think Ruth was pointing out if "Mr. Right" hadn't been a married man, what a life she would have had! 

 

The similarities are almost eerie between Ruthie and Ruth.  Although, Ruth couldn't cook, not even safely boil water. 

Ruthie on the other hand is a delightful southern cook.  She had us for dinner and made a "low country-boil"...We drank Stella together and she showed me how to make this amazing dish all the while giggling like school girls! Too weep for!  Fresh shrimp, baby new potatoes, corn on the cob, chorizo...OMG!  We ate like pigs and then dear sweet Ruthie produced a southern Key Lime Pie!

 

We first met Ruthie at her house.  Of course, she admitted right away that her family all gave her a hard time about meeting up and taking in a stranger.  David was along for the ride, this being "my vacation" and my reward for watching the farm while he hunts in fall and winter.  He pretty much had no comment other than the whole planned event made him somewhat nervous! 

 

When I first laid eyes on Ruthie, I knew instantly that we would be friends forever!  She explained right away that we must hurry if we were to meet her son Jerry Jr. and his beautiful wife Lee.  She jumped in the front seat of our Land Rover so she could give directions to the plantation to David and Dora and I rode in the back.

 

Yes, we were given a guided tour of Vallambrosa plantation by her son and wife.  Words cannot describe this magnificent place.  Jerry, a neurologist quit his practice and opened up his own businesses.  He owns several urgent care facilities and vet clinics.  A few years ago they bought Vallambrosa.  I believe somewhere around 15,000 acres of low country bordering 12 miles of the Ogeechee River.  The sights we saw are like nothing we've seen anywhere in the world.  At one time Henry Ford owned a portion of Vallambrosa and a barn that was used for his cars is still standing.  The property dates back to 1755 and King George. 

 

This is a magical place that Jerry and Lee, working with both the federal government and Georgia conservation are make every effort to restore and preserve.  At one time a working rice plantation, they've discovered a cemetery with more than 190 graves (plantation slaves) identified so far, the plan being to eventually identify all the graves and preserve and restore.  Walls of the rice mill are still standing.

Alligators, wild hogs, deer, turkey, quail; fish...are in abundance and the ride through the plantation not unlike a safari through an African jungle.  AMAZING!!!

 

Jerry and Lee plan to build their "forever home" on the plantation between two 300 year old trees.  I can't wait to see!

 

That's my story!  Talking to strangers can lead to wonderful things...The world is full of kind, good and decent people just waiting to be our friends!

 

Thanks for reading me!  And, thanks to Ruth, I think she had a hand in me finding Ruthie. 

 

See you all Saturday!

 

~Sally Calvin

Title. Double click me.

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