Week #14

For my blog this week I'm going to be discussing two presentations I liked the most. Those two presentations are "Beer in Colonial America & Jefferson's influence on beer" and "Fruit & Fruit varieties at Monticello."

Beer in Colonial America & Jefferson's Influence on Beer

First off, I would like to say that the best part of this presentation was getting to try the Raz Wheat beer from Jackie O's. Tasting this beer definitely opened my eyes to wanting to try more beers from Jackie O's. But aside from that, the presentation was very well done. I liked how he described the brewing process and how he used visuals to help explain the process better. Some of the interesting facts I took away from this presentation, that I didn't know before, was that Martha Jefferson would brew 15 gallon batches of beer nearly every two weeks in order to stay stocked up at Monticello, which to me is a lot. I also found out that Jefferson had a brew house and would also spend over $5,000 on beer to be sent to Monticello. Overall, I felt that this presentation was very informative and I enjoyed listening to it.

Fruit & Fruit Varieties at Monticello

For this presentation, I found it interesting to learn about all the different types of fruits that Thomas Jefferson liked and kept in his garden at Monticello. It was fascinating to learn that Jefferson had 150 varieties of 31 species of fruits in his garden at Monticello. Overall, I enjoyed the fruits Brie brought in for the class and I thought the presentation was very well done and I learned a lot from it.

Week # 13

For my blog this week I'm going to be discusses two presentations I enjoyed the most. Those two presentations were "Differences between food and gardening vocabulary and lexicon from then to now" and "Heritage livestock breeds in Colonial Virginia."

Differences between food and gardening vocabulary and lexicon from then to now

For this presentation, I just found it very fascinating to learn about the different pronunciations between American English and British English. I never realized how many different vowels there were in American English, but apparently there are a lot that we use that I wasn't a where of. What I enjoyed the most about this presentation was learning about how Thomas Jefferson was neologist ( creator of words). I honestly had no idea that was even a real thing, but apparently Thomas Jefferson created  a lot of words that we use a lot today, for instance "guess" and "bid". Lastly, I found it really weird the way that Thomas Jefferson would speak to his fellow high class friends, for instance he would say things like, "How does your lady, sir." Which I just find very crazy to say something like that because to me that makes no sense. But overall, I learned a lot from this presentation. 

Heritage livestock breeds in Colonial Virginia

For this presentation, I felt that the presenter flew through it too fast for me to really enjoy the content she was presenting. So from what I did catch from the presentation, I thought it was interesting that Thomas Jefferson didn't want to raise sheep until he received a letter from George Washington telling him that he should start raising sheep. Overall, this presentation just spoke about different types of animals that need to be conserved because the changing agriculture in America is putting these animals at risk. Lastly, I would just like to say that this presentation was very informative for the most part and I learned a lot from it. 

Week #12

For my blog this week I will be commenting on two presentations that really caught my attention. Those two presentations are Healthcare in Colonial America and Physical & Leisure Activities of Jefferson & Colonial America.

Healthcare in Colonial America

For this presentation, I found it very interesting to find that the life expectancies in 1776 was 33 years old, which I find to be pretty crazy. I couldn't imagine only having 12 years of my life left to live. The life expectancies now is 78 years old, which seems to be a lot more reasonable than 33. I also found it interesting that Thomas Jefferson believed that medicine needs to be unique for each person because he felt that every individual is unique and the illness a person has is unique as well.

Physical & Leisure Activities of Jefferson & Colonial America

I found this topic very interesting to find the differences between how and why people did physical activities in colonial america versus now. In Colonial America people would do physical activities by either working, cleaning, gardening, farming, and landscaping. People back then did it for the joy of it or to get work done around their homes. Where as now we do physical activities because we feel we have to in order to stay healthy. I also found it interesting to learn about different games that were played back in the colonial times that are so similar to the games we play now. Lastly, I found it interesting to learn about Thomas Jefferson favorite physical activities, which were walking and horseback riding.

Week # 11

For my blog this week I will be commenting on two presentations that really caught my attention. The two presentation I found to be fascinating were,  "Desserts from Jefferson's Kitchen" and "Food in the American Army during the Revolutionary War/ in Colonial America."

"Desserts from Jefferson's Kitchen"

For this presentation I really enjoyed the Chocolate tort she brought in. It was a little bitter, but overall I thought it was very well made. Her presentation, on the different desserts in Jefferson's kitchen, was very well done and contained a lot of varieties of desserts. I particularly thought it was interesting how a lot of her presentation contained ice cream because that was Thomas Jefferson's favorite dessert and even though I spoke about ice cream in my presentation I felt I learned things from hers that I didn't know before. Overall, I would say that she did a great job on her presentation and at the end I really wanted to try more desserts.

"Food in American Army during the Revolutionary War/ in Colonial America"

For this presentation I think the thing that stood out most for me was the visual aid he brought in. I found it very intriguing to be able to see what kind of food is served to soldiers to eat. From what I learned from holding the box set lunch/dinner was what they got isn't much at all and doesn't look very appetizing either. So by seeing what soldiers now get to eat while on duty, I can't even imagine how much food and if it was even edible that soldiers back in Jefferson's era had to eat; in my opinion it had to be a lot worst than what soldiers get now.

Week #10

For my blog this week I will be commenting on the two presentations I liked the most. The two presentations I enjoyed the most was "Dining Etiquette in Colonial America" and "Clothing of Workers in Gardens and Kitchens of Colonial America."

Dining Etiquette in Colonial America

I felt that this presentation was very informative and I learned a lot about proper dining etiquette. Before this presentation I knew nothing about which fork or spoon to use for certain dishes and where they are placed on the dinner table. I feel that this presentation helped me understand how proper dinners were at the Jefferson household and just overall in Colonial America during that time. Being proper and presenting yourself well is necessary when attending a dinner back in Colonial America and today. 

Clothing of Workers in Gardens and Kitchens of Colonial America

Now this presentation I found to be particularly interesting because of the different types of clothing that was worn during that time. I always find it fascinating to learn about what people wore during different time periods and why certain people wore different types of clothing. The pictures and the clothing that was brought in really made me understand what kind of clothing was worn; I also thought is was amazing how the presenter made all those article of clothing for her project. Overall, I took a lot from this presentation and it gave me better understanding of what was worn during Jefferson's time. 

Week #8

Lewis and Clark set out on a journey that most people believed was a death sentence. Very few people believed that the two men would accomplish their goal to make it to the Pacific Ocean and discover what the West had to offer.

During their voyage, Lewis and Clark encountered many different species and American Indian Tribes. I believe that Lewis and Clark did many trades with the Indians and during those trades discovered different foods and herbs that were not known in the east. So I feel that a lot of the food and herbs, that benefited America in the 1800s and today, mostly came from trades with the American Indian Tribes, but also from the Indians teaching them how to use the herbs and how to hunt for their food. I also believe that Sacagewa might of brought knowledge of different species and food to the men during the expedition, since she did live in the west part of the United States.  Even though I still do believe that they could of found a lot of new foods during the trip by taking chances and eating animals they have never encountered before in the east, like salmon.

Week #7

When it comes to the coffeehouses now, Front Room Coffee House in Baker, to the coffeehouses at Colonial Williamsburg in Jefferson's time, I feel there are many differences and similarities between the two.

The Front Room Coffee House is a modern coffee house that will provide coffee and espresso drinks instantly, where as coffee was only offered and took longer to make. The Front Room will also provide a range of other drinks, such as caramel lattas, espresso con panna ,etc. At Front Room you will see many people doing homework, reading, chatting with friends, or going over a group project with your classmates. The similarity that stems between these two coffee houses is it is a gathering place to meet people or a place to relax on your own and a difference is in the making and variety of drinks.  

Week #6

After looking at the video, on the University of Virginia, I've noticed a pattern between Thomas Jefferson's architecture design between the University and Monticello. I believe when Thomas Jefferson was planning what the design would be for the University, that he was looking to make a place that felt opened and inviting. The design he made looks like a very welcoming and happy place because of the architecture design with the buildings and with the gardens. The University would of never given off the same vibe without the trees, plants, and gardens; I believe those aspects are what make this University so great.

Now if I was going to design a new green here at Ohio University I would like to build it where the college green is now. What I would like to do with that green is expand what college green is now. I love how college green is designed now, but I think that it would be a more inviting place if it was bigger, had more plants, and benches throughout the green. I feel that what college green lacks right now is the vibe and design that doesn't attract students to spend more time on the green. That's why I would like to make college green bigger and more attractive while keeping the historical feel that's present today. 

Week #5

For this week's class we took a look at how to make beer. I found it fascinating the way beer is made.I would have never guessed that beer was made in a giant jug and you put yeast in it. Yeast was definitely not an ingredient I thought went in beer. Now if Thomas Jefferson was to ask my advice for what ingredients he should grow for his new specialty beer, I would give him the ingredients for one of my favorite beers, Raspberry Wheat beer. This is a specialty beer that I have gotten at Jackie O's and I really prefer it over the brand name beers. For this beer the ingredients would include:  Carapils specialty grains, 1 oz. Tettnang, 1 oz. Hersbrucker pellet hops, 4 oz. Raspberry extract, yeast, priming sugar and a grain bag.

Also this week we tried a wide range variety of vegetables. I'll have to be honest and say that I really disliked every vegetable we tried. I'm not a big vegetable fan, except when I add something else with it. So for my new vegetable dish that I tried over the weekend, I decided to try eggplant Parmesan.  I really disliked this very much and I will not try it again. So, I have come to the conclusion that I don't have a wide variety of vegetables that I like, instead I'm very picky about which vegetables I eat.

Week #4

What would a dinner with the famous Thomas Jefferson be like? Firstly, I would be honored to be sharing a meal with this iconic man. Secondly, if I was to decide what kind of meal we would have for dinner I would choose Baked Virginia Ham and fried asparagus. I chose the Ham because I thought having some meat at the dinner would be nice, even though its portions my not be as big as the other dishes because of Jefferson using meat to compliment his dinner, instead of having it as the main dish. I also chose fried asparagus because of Jefferson's love for asparagus and because I have personally never had it before and being able to try the asparagus that is grown from Thomas Jefferson's garden would be the way to do it.


My project topic for this class is 'Thomas Jefferson's favorite foods,' so the top of the evening with Jefferson would definitely be about what his favorite foods were and why. I would like to know why he preferred certain foods over others. I would also like the chance to go more in depth with his experience with food in other countries and why he decided to share it with other in the US and why he sent food to other countries. Having the opportunity to discuss the impact food has made on his life would definitely be an opportunity I wouldn't want to miss.

Week #3

If you were to ask me to name two things that Thomas Jefferson loved throughout his life, I would say it was gardening and cuisine.


Thomas Jefferson loved growing his own food in his garden at Monticello. I personally think his garden, at Monticello, is the biggest and nicest garden I have ever seen. Growing up I have watched my grandfather and my dad be very passionate about their gardens and I never understood why until now after learning about what Thomas Jefferson's garden meant for him. I also found that what makes this garden great, is the fact that it contained food from other countries that Thomas Jefferson would bring back with him.

Gardening and cuisine played a big role in Thomas Jefferson's life. He used his garden to grow food from other countries and enrich people in the United States of different types of cuisine. He would also use cuisine as a way to bring people together, regardless of the differences there may be between them.

Thomas Jefferson loved gardening and cuisine. He gardened for the love of it and also to expose other countries and his own country of different types of food out there. When you think back to Thomas Jefferson you can't help but think about his garden and food he share

Week #2

When death finally comes knocking on our door, how do you think you will be remembered by others? Will it be good or bad? Thomas Jefferson made sure that his gravestone inscription had only the words that he wrote about himself and not a word different. On his gravestone it said:            
Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence
of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom
Father of the University of Virginia

Thomas Jefferson wanted to be remembered more by the things he did, instead of the actual person he was. If I were to change the inscription of Thomas Jefferson's gravestone today, I would include "Loving Father and Husband," because that was a big part of his life. Jefferson was a loving and loyal husband to his wife; he didn't even remarry because his wife told him not to before she died. He was also a loving father to his children, even though many passed away very young. These two things help shape a person into who they are. If Jefferson was never a father or husband who knows what kind of person he would of been? Would he have been the same or a completely different person? This is why I believe this should of been included on his gravestone along with the great accomplishment he acquired. 




While watching the video on Thomas Jefferson in class on Tuesday, I found somethings about Jefferson I had never known before. I found it very interesting to find out that he wasn't good at talking in public. I would of never thought that he would have such an issue with public speaking since he was always in the public eye. You would think that if someone preferred to keep to themselves and not speak in front of big crowds, that they wouldn't run for president or try to hold positions where you are consistently looked at by the public. I guess we will never understand the motives behind Jefferson's decision to become such an important and public person in history.

Intro to Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson has been known throughout history as an historical figure. Thomas Jefferson is a man that no one can ever forget because of the monumental things he did and the person he was. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, third president of the United States, etc. Thomas Jefferson did and spoke about many things, but one thing that sticks with me the most about what I have learned about him, so far, is how he spoke of equality for all and yet remained a slave owner. I feel that if he really did believe that "all men are created equal" than why would he keep slaves on his land. He owned a large sum of slaves, but yet continued to be hypocritical and spoke about everyone being equals towards one another. It bothers me that he didn't stick to what he put in the Declaration of Independence and what he would tell his country. If he truly believed everyone were equals he would either set all of his slaves free or at least pay them for the work they did for him at Monticello.