Last year, my friend Alysa took me to an event called “Starry Nights” at the Veritas Winery in Crozet (just outside of Charlottesville).  I had been to Veritas before and love their wine, not to mention the beautiful location.  Nessled by Afton Mountain the vines of grapes literally scale the hillsides.  Having grown up going to a summer camp in the mountains, I feel at home at places like this, tucked away, clean air, beautiful light and cool nights with tons of lightning bugs.  

Veritas puts on an event once a month in the summer called “Starry Nights” where they have a band and plenty of wine.  You can bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy the company of good friends while having a glass of nice wine.  Alysa is a wine club member which means she gets a discount and gets two tickets to the event.  Last summer I got to go a few times and loved it!  So when Alysa asked if I wanted to come this past Saturday with a bunch of other friends from JMU, I of course agreed.

We all met up at Alysa’s house and everyone pilled into my car to head down to Charlottesville.  Everyone had brought food including, cheese, crackers, chicken salad, and other yummy snacks.   We set up our cooler of food, chairs, a foldable table and of course some chairs so that we could sit back and enjoy the night.  It is nights like these, laughing with old friends under the stars and watching the fireflies flicker that I feel so appreciative of everything I’ve been blessed with.  That is one of the great parts of summer, the long days give you plenty of time to be outside, enjoying life and all of your blessings.  I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling grateful for sunshine, fireflies, good friends, laughter and of course, starry nights.