Engagement Pictures

Scenes from a Bed & Breakfast

Dian-Lee B&B, Bluefield, West Virginia

When we travel to New England, Stephanie and the World's Best Son-In-Law make arrangements for us to stay at a B&B on the way there and back.  When we were planning the trip to Virginia, I told her not to be concerned about our arrangements on the way there as I knew we would be very tired so we stayed at a motel by the Interstate.

One view of the wrap around porch

Another view of the wrap around porch

On the way home, however, she made reservations for us to spend the evening at a Bed & Breakfast near (practically on) the northwestern part of Virginia-West Virginia border.  Although it ended up taking us further away from the Interstate then we originally planned... and driving over interesting roads (how DO you mountain people handle those roads?)... it was well worth the extra time.

The room where breakfast is served

The B&B itself was gorgeous and the breakfast quite yummy.  We enjoyed chatting with the other guests over brunch.

All the other guests had been coming to the B&B for many years and were staying at least a few days (we were staying overnight).    It would be easy to get spoiled there.  :)

 

The owner and two-man staff have been working on the gardens for years.  One of the guests told me the men choose a new garden project each year and work on it all season.  Even though we were there in late summer-early autumn, they were still beautiful.

The inside of the house and the dining room set for brunch were all lovely.  The above pictures show just a little of the Southern charm.  It was a nice way to end the vacation although I admit... I was also happy to get home.  :)

Even more dish talk...

Okay, the above picture has nothing to do with dishes but I think it is beautiful.  It was taken standing at the end of my gravel lane and looking down the county road.  I have more pictures to share next week.  Most of the leaves are now on the ground...

I love hearing about your great thrift store, garage sale, and Goodwill deals.  It doesn't happen often but once in awhile I get this "feeling" that I should stop by Goodwill or a thrift shop, usually I just can't get it out of my head.  Sometimes I give into it and find exactly what I've been wanting, too!  I think those times are usually God winks... when He wants to show us He is listening in a rather unorthodox manner.

I say usually and sometimes because to be quite honest... it's the same feeling I get when the subjects of chocolate or pizza or ice cream land in the nest of my thinking and attempt to stay there until I give into temptation. ;)

I knew a Friendly Village teapot existed so I did a search on Amazon.com and found one at a great price.  (Teapots can be outrageously expensive and I don't even look at those.)  I saved up Amazon credit to purchase it, thinking by having a teapot I can use the thrifted china for much more than just dinners.  As some of you know, I am a huge believer in having a proper tea at home once in awhile, even if it is for one or two (these days that being hubby and moi'... or just moi' and Victoria).

I haven't seen Friendly Village at Tuesday Morning but they carry Churchill china and this time of year they have one or two of their autumnal place settings featured.  As shared before, I found the bowls really cheap on their clearance racks after Thanksgiving one year.

My tastes have changed through the years, too.  I cringe to think of it now but I once saw a complete set of Friendly Village at Goodwill and passed it by.  At that time I was still using my wedding china for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I wasn't thinking of adding any more dish sets.

But then I began to take a second look at the brown transferware and I realized they would be great not only for Holidays but for the entire season... September through November.  I have long decorated for autumn and I love the way the dishes add to the "look".  This year I plan to add them to a shelf in the china cabinet as Miss M. (soon to be Mrs. Christopher) is getting these...

...as a wedding present from her future mother-in-law.   Except for the teapot, which was my very first pretty teapot and a gift from Stephanie when she was in college.

My inexpensive Christmas dishes

My "Christmas" dishes are a very cheap set of Pfaltzgraff (not from their expensive line of stoneware) that I bought at a Meijers store long ago.  I only have four place settings and I use the plates all year long because they are so nice and big.  They are also cheerful and make me happy... which I need more than just at Christmas time.  I usually use my wedding china for Christmas Day.

China cabinet last year

There will always be my collection of pretty china cups and teapots.  Most I purchased really inexpensive while thrifting but some are gifts from beloved family and friends... like my birthday (July) cup Stephanie bought me at Old Sturbridge Village when we spent a lovely day there and the pretty floral cup Sally Clarkson gave me when we finally met in person.

I also have the china I inherited from my mother-in-law (which was her mother's good china).  It will most likely be passed down to one of my granddaughters.

Stephanie at a tea room two or three years ago

Faith and Elisabeth at the same tea room

The girls are growing up!  At the tea room we visited in September.

We are raising a new generation of tea time and pretty china enthusiasts.

Stephanie and I have had different favorite tea rooms but we both agree the ones we love the most (as far as decorations) are those which mix and match the china (teapots and teacups).  I wish I'd taken pictures at the tea room near her which we visited the first time I flew to New England.

Elisabeth was just big enough to join us (small enough for us to be a little nervous about her using the fine china cups) and each place setting and every teapot were different... so cute.  Unfortunately, it went out of business before I visited again.

That same tiny girl now makes scones on a regular basis for her mother!  Time goes so fast, we must make memories while we can.  I love the way Stephanie has tea time with her children (if it includes a strong cup of coffee along with a sweet scone, I expect their Daddy will gladly take part, too).  ;)

Now... for all those who do not share my obsession love of dishes... I will go onto other subjects, at least for awhile.  ;)

Downtown on an October morning

I had to go Downtown to the Farmer's Market this morning to buy raw honey for winter bread baking.  In spite of all the glorious veggies, I stuck to my budget and came away with three pints of raw honey... and one package of pecan sticky buns from the Mennonite Lady as promised to my husband.

So... enjoy the Beauty and I must add that indeed... that last picture was taken on a Downtown street as I walked back to my car (standing in the middle of the street with the zoom lens!).  :)

 

 

When one has a very large University in their town, one may come upon their research in the most unusual of places.  :)

I hope you enjoyed just a little of my Saturday morning Downtown.

More pictures

I didn't get a chance to write anything today!  So... I'm sort of posting by showing more pictures.

Anna is the sweetest toddler!  Since she hadn't seen me for a year, I thought she would be hesitant around me but instead I received a huge hug around the neck when I picked her up... the beginning of lots of hugs and wet kisses.

Hubby called the color of this room in the Governor's Palace "Nickelodeon Slime Green".

I have quite a few pictures of this garden, including close ups of um... leaves.  That is because my husband has a Master's Degree in Wood Science (Forestry).  He was fascinated by the way they used various trees and shrubs.

As it turned out, we were talking to each other questioning what a certain shrub was when two middle aged women came up to us and one of them answered his question.  She had a degree in horticulture and her friend was a graduate also in Forestry. 

Now... the statistical chances of three people with these degrees meeting up is rather slim.  I was finally able to break away from the conversation to look at other things than trees and shrubs.  I'm certain Thomas Jefferson would have been smiling.

Now back to the tea room, this is the portrait that hung near our table.  It was absolutely stunning.

I loved how they set up the outside tables.  I'll have to do something like this on the deck next year for a little tea party.

Aren't the plates and teacups they provide for children just the cutest???

Stephanie and I were impressed by the attention to detail on these sandwiches.  It's easy to see the parsley, sliced cherry tomato, and sliced strawberry but there were also thin slices of carrots in the shape of flowers! 

Very simple sandwiches of egg salad, ham salad, pimento (after all... this IS the South), and I believe the filling in the nut bread was chicken salad with dried cranberries.

I would have never thought of adding cake pops for tea time but the little girls LOVED them (of course, since there were only two we let them enjoy the treat).  There was plenty left to tempt the grownups.

That's one of the reasons I love going to places like tea rooms because we get such great ideas.  (Yes, we have also experienced tea rooms with terrible food but this one was very good.)

You asked:  The historical dresses worn at Williamsburg and the tea room were all borrowed from their friends who had previously been to Williamsburg for costumed events.  Stephanie, who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Design, has amazing creative skills but sewing is not one of them.

This and that

My favorite oasis on a hot day in Williamsburg

I'm finally recovering from the trip although I haven't had a day to just "veg out".  Perhaps tomorrow...

I love hearing your Williamsburg stories and I've wondered what it would have been like living there when the restoration was taking place.  I expect there was some controversy when the "newer" houses were torn down but as one who just views it from the vantage point of 2011... it seems like it was well worth it all.

It definitely made me want to study more about Virginia's (and Virginians') roll in the Revolution.  I hadn't heard of the books by Elswyth Thane that take place in Williamsburg but they sound wonderful.  My library has a few of them but not the first few in the series.

It's interesting to compare Colonial Williamsburg with Old Sturbridge Village (in Mass.).  I love both places but they are somewhat different.  Not only in their time periods but the way they are set up.  Would you believe I have never been to Conner Prairie even though I live in the Midwest?

I also wish there had been time to meet with my friends in the area.  It may have been possible if we were not working around hubby's broken collar bone but the quicker we arrived in Williamsburg and then made the drive home, the better it was for his recovery.

Tomorrow (Friday) I hope to write about the very fun outing Stephanie and I had at the gourmet cooking school-dinner.  It takes more than a paragraph to explain it but it was perhaps the highlight of the entire trip.

As you can imagine... coming from the viewpoint of our Job-like summer... God knew I would need to get completely away from home to even begin to relax.  Here at home we still have fried electronics all over the place and little light in the kitchen (although we do have hot water, Hallelujah!).  It is just so warm and fuzzy to know Stephanie started thinking of this family vacation so long ago and that it would come to pass at a moment I need a "sanity getaway".

I write about our financial situation... not for you to feel sorry for us... but so you know if you are in such a position He will find ways in your life to balance out the dark days.  When our Social Security Disability check arrives, there is often nothing left for gas and groceries (especially since the addition of high medical bills these past couple of years).

Stephanie and I were talking about how quickly financial security can change.  We went from having no debt but our mortgage, a great deal of equity in our house, and a good savings account to being forced to sell our house and have nothing left... within two years due to my husband's poor health and extended unemployment.

Our confidence cannot be placed in our bank accounts and jobs (even though it is good when they are stable) but in the promise that God takes care of us... even if we don't understand what that looks like at the time.

I am learning how He wants to bless us when we look to Him and humble ourselves to say... yes and thank you very much.  In this case, I wish we were the ones able to bless our kids with such a vacation but I can pray for them and ask God to richly bless them in all their needs for their giving.  The vacation would have cost them far less if they had not included us.

The Bible says as we give to the poor, God gives to us (now there is a repayment plan).  I pray that for them and all who have ever blessed us.  I must say living like this has one benefit... it gives me a lot to write about to (hopefully) encourage others who are going through difficult times.

I've also learned there is so much one can do to be able to give to others even on a tight budget.  I have yet to have someone not enjoy a gift of a home baked goody when given in love... or at least a smile given to another when they look like they are having a bad day.  Jesus says even a cup of cold water given in love is noticed by Him.  :)

Colonial Williamsburg

We spent quite a few days in Colonial Williamsburg and we still didn't see everything.  Since there are a number of blog readers from outside the United States, I should explain that Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum (I believe the largest in the world) set in the time immediately prior to the American Revolution. 

I love to study American history and this period is my favorite, there is so much to learn and walking the streets of Colonial Williamsburg helped me "see" that time period.  I was more familiar with this time period in New England and was quite surprised when we found out Virginia was more "English" in its' culture at this time than New England.

I could wax poetic about this place for days but a pictures truly do tell it best.  The children wore colonial clothing on our first "all day" visit.  The weather was lovely although a little hot for our New England family.  We certainly enjoyed pleasant breezes.

Stephanie and I not only appreciated the history reenactments but we both love pretty houses.  I think either of us could have enjoyed living in many of the homes and neighborhoods.

The "tavern" where we lunched one day

I never got tired of viewing all the gardens

 

Inside the cabinet maker's shop

Outside the "magazine" where weapons were stored

Inside the Governor's Palace

Inside the palace

Granddad and Faith can often be found together.

I was often behind the others taking pictures instead of walking.

Or... jumping out in front for a surprise photo!

This place is fabulous to visit at least once (but give yourself days to go through it all).  For homeschoolers, there are at least two special weeks with one in spring and the other September.  I noticed they offer other specials on their web page.