Apple Trees
3 of the 4 varieties of apples that TJ treasured the most are available to grow for your very own beginning the 22nd of this month. They, of course, would be the Mighty Albemarle Pippin, E. Spitzenburg, and the lovable Virginia Crab (sometimes “Hughes” or “Hewes” Crab).

Click here, here, and here, respectively.

Cypher Wheel
For those who don’t consider Mr. Jefferson foreward thinking consider this – Revoultionary-era Secure Encryption! Jack Bauer would have been lucky to have TJ on his team.
Click here to check it out.

The “Breath House” design is the fruit of the reCover initiative. One of the aims of the competition is to reduce diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis. The “Breath House” design will be built later in the year.  

Photo by Snap

Source: UVAToday

Mr. Jefferson’s University is still a couple two-fers short of preventing its historical landmark from falling down falling over restoring the Rotunda to its post-barbequed, pristine glory. And while they’re at it, they need a lend for um, you know, other stuff too.

Click here to read the article [Ed. note - yeah, we're not even gonna summarize it further than what we already have above, so go check out the article - its a pretty good one].

Source: Daily Progress

I found an article in that mecca of journalistic integrity, the New York Times, which documents Mr. Jefferson’s travels in wine country (with slide show goodness!). Click here to read the article and here for the slideshow.

Source: The New York Times, of course.

Click here to check it out.

A couple of favorites: West Virginia reppin’ the Second Amendment; the Commonwealth of Virginia reppin’ the most Prezidents; and Pennsylvania hos to the most hunters.

Photo by Don Hankins
Source: Political Language

Who will be the 2011 Commencement speaker at UVA Graduation Ceremonies?

His Excellency Robert F. McDonnell will speak during Mr. Jefferson’s University on May 22nd.

Virginia’s 71st Governor is a former attorney and Army reservist. He has two sons who attend UVA (it is unclear at this time how his speech will affect their grades, if at all).

Source UVAToday

If you thought the good folks over at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation were going to let ol’ Sam Adams have all the fun you were sorely mistaken…

It may not be Milwaukee’s Best, but Monticello Reserve Ale will begin production in the near future. Beer is no stranger to Monticello as the original Martha Jefferson, (Mr. Jefferson’s wife) was known to brew a 15-gallon batch every two weeks. A brewing room and beer cellar were also included in early drafts of Monticello offices (draft, get it?? Its a pun!).

The Founding Fathers had much to say on the topic of beer:

“Beer is a wholesome liquor…it abounds with nourishment.” – Jefferson’s good friend, the practical Dr. Rush

“I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers this morning what the rest of us said last night” –The venerable Dr. Franklin

“Let no man thirst for good beer.” – (Boston) Tea Party-er and rival brewmeister Sam Adams

‘In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” -The always serious Dr. Franklin

The Maestro of Monticello himself said soberly, “Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes good health.”

Cheers, Mr. Jefferson. Cheers!

Source: FoxNews; The Scheiss House; Monticello;

The “tea room” was home to busts of four giants of the Revolutionary War era: General Washington, Dr. Franklin, JPJ, and Lafayette!

The busts were sculpted from life masks by none other than Houdon himself, perhaps the most famous sculptor of his day (he also sculpted Mr. Jefferson) .

To see a photo of the tea room today – along with the busts of General Washington and Dr. Franklin – click here.

Photo by clarity

Source: Monticello; Jefferson and Monticello

The 2011 Monticello Wall Calendar [Ed. note - that would be A) and B) above] is on now on sale. Click here and save yourself some $ (about $4 to be exact).

You can also score some 2011 seeds courtesy of the Center for Historic Plants{Ed. note – that would cover C) and D) above]. Click here to see what they’ve got to offer.