If you are in the area, The Helton House is a great B&B in O. My first Bed & Breakfast…ever! We didn’t think we were going to be able to get a reservation, but there was a cancellation, and we did. I was so glad.
if you like charm and a great place to just sit, read, walk, and “be”, it filled my “Blackberry Farm” craving to large extent. The hospitality was delightful.
A great alternative to a hotel for something like an Anniversary or just a refresher. About a hundred a night for the full third floor “anniversary suite”, plus a WONDERFUL breakfast.
The red-headed woman named Grace cooked and served and greeted us and did it all with cheer and ease. Our guests joined us around the formal dining table for casual conversation. It was a great, slow start to our planning day of floor-furniture shopping.
Our breakfast that day was: just out of the oven homemade apple turnovers (like my Moms), buttered toast, homemade strawberry preservers from a local farm, orange marmalade…all in crystal, but not overdone… orange juice, water, great coffee, tasty, crisp bacon, scrambled eggs, and a fresh slice of cantaloupe. Mmmm. Did I mention I had a starched, white, cotton napkin with lace edging?
You don’t order…she just fixes whatever she bought. I suppose you could request something ahead of arriving if have special needs.
The B&B is a multi-home dwelling, converted. We soon realized the lady was a strong Christian whose husband became disabled after a heart attack (a former construction worker), and they bought it. Like her name, she was full of grace. She said she hoped we felt the Lord’s presence there during our visit. We did, indeed.
We were on the third floor-see the little windows on top? There was an attic bedroom (seven foot ceilings, but no steep slopes to conk a head on. The furniture was of a warm, reproduction-vintage flare, lots of homemade quilts. The linens were nice–they remove the “show” bed linens after you see them to keep them fresh for the next guests, which I appreciated. Our bed was turned down for us.
Two window unit thermostat-controlled air conditioners cooled the top floor. Turn it to leave the fan on in addition to the cooling and it helps keep the sounds level consistent…we wish we’d figured that out before morning, but we still loved it.
Two other boarders snapped a pic for us after breakfast Friday. Then, we stumbled onto the gardens around back. We only stayed a few more minutes, but even fifteen minutes with my camera handy had me giddy.
We did feel very welcome and at ease.
Tiny Glory
I need to plant more green. I am loving the variations in leaves more and more.
Hydrangeas are one of my new favs. All the tiny, delicate blooms working together to catch your breath on a bush just chock full of them. Each cluster on the same place each a little different color, shape, and size. Yet, you know they are all hydrangea from a moment’s glance. It reminds me of churches.
l
The next flowers are new to me:
I’d like to introduce myself and ask their name.
Adding this beauty to my garden collection ASAP..
I have one of these in my window sill, and for the life of me, I can’t get it to bloom. It’s a sort of desert plant, here planted outdoors, which could be my problems. Isn’t it spectacular?
I had some of these last year and enjoyed them all summer, but they are quite pricey and I don’t do well keeping them over winter. I forget their name, but we’ve met before. Ah, Hibiscus. That’s it. I call her “Becky” for short. Suits her better.
Has your computer caught up with all the pics yet? Loading, loading, loading…but, it’s a good photo post sort of post. I’ll take it easy on you the next time.
There is something about a grouping of three that captivates, especially these well trimmed topiary along the street where you park.
Nothing says southern charm like window boxes spilling with summer flowers. Petunias…they were my grandmother’s favorite.
There are two of these entry gate-benches, one as you enter the back of the house, and another as you reach the front yard by the memorial garden. Makes you want to check them out for a morning quiet time…only I didn’t find them until after it was already heating up for a hot summer’s day.
In the center of the garden, light rays pierce the fence across green leaves, invading.
A memorial garden in the front corner of the yard. I love the statue.
Conclusion: I need more concrete in my life.
Ignore the trash cans in the back. I didn’t even see them when I was there…which is the point, I’m sure.
The Hub was swinging around with the van to pick me up when I discovered one more garden, the Memorial Garden. The last gate with pretty iron cross gate was a fitting good-bye.
Considering we were actually only there from 9PM to 9AM, it was that little extra treat that really fills you up when you can’t be gone many days. We aren’t always able to get away, but I sure enjoyed it this year in the middle of all the house remodeling projects we’ve been tackling this summer.
Speaking of which, back to cleaning out the laundry room…we are hoping to get that room under better control with the purchase of a new stacking sorter thing for the next school year. We took a break for a wedding today and there are clothes EVERYWHERE yet to sort.
I hope that even if you haven’t been able to get away in a while, the photos shared refreshed you in some way.
Maggie
