Burlington Willis-Graves for Tea

This morning, I will be enjoying an Essential Oil Whirlpool Bath, a Massage and then a Tea Luncheon.  I've decided this will be a day of pampering, especially since it is my 8 month anniversary of getting Bell's Palsy.  Yesterday I rushed around to finish a few things, among them getting my Recovery Video done.  It was a tad more emotional for me, for some reason...and I didn't get it finished.  So...after Lunch, I will be working on the video and posting it in the afternoon.  This will all take place at one of our favorite B&B's...it's in Kentucky and it's called the Burlington Willis-Graves Bed & Breakfast Inn.  It's a lovely place and we have the upper floor of their log house...
the William Rouse Retreat.  This is such a cozy place, with the King Bed angled in the corner, the sloped ceilings...a pretty Queen Anne style sofa - there's a chair, desk and a wardrobe, a refrigerator and a microwave.  There are plenty of windows too.  Off the Bedroom is a huge bathroom with a Steam Shower and an Air Jet Tub, with bubbles that bubble up from the bottom of the tub.  The bathroom also has slate floors. 

  

This is where I'll be enjoying a cup of Tea before my Massage today.  I even brought along my special Tea Cup and Saucer, "Celebration of the Old Country Roses Garden"...and Tea Pot, "Celebration" too.  They're Both Old Country Roses, by Royal Albert.

I'll take my Tea to the Bathroom...and enjoy it while I take my Bath...and then a Steam Shower.  Ahhhhhhhhh.

When you stay at this B&B a full breakfast is included...in the main house, in the Dining Room.  While I'm busy, hubby will be enjoying Breakfast in the Dining Room...and then a walk around the grounds.  Perhaps he'll even stop in an Antique Shop or 2...so he can let me know which shops I'll want to go through.

Of course, after my Bath and Massage, I'll be enjoying my Tea Luncheon and hubby will be joining me.  We'll not only have our favorite Blackberry Blossom Tea (a loose leaf Green Tea), but we'll also enjoy: 

Chicken Salad & Avocado Croissant Sandwiches, with Assorted Fresh Fruit

Cucumber Sandwiches

Blueberry Scones

Chocolate Eclairs and the Decadent Chocolate 

Boston Cream Crepe Cake by Barbara Bakes.

Then...it's a quick drive home, make-up, contacts, hair and then in front of the camera to record my Bell's Palsy Recovery Video.  I promise, I will get it posted in the afternoon...after I thoroughly enjoy my morning.

Of course, with such a busy morning/afternoon, you will forgive me if I don't get around to visiting everyone until later in the day - but believe me, I will visit all of you!!  I love Tea Parties!  Or did you guess that already?  On my old blog, I used to have a monthly Tea Party - sometimes with quite a few other bloggers linking up!  We had a great time!  :) 

Hope you enjoyed your visit...and my Story.  Happy Tea Time to You.

Walla Walla Tudor

Thanks for joining me for this Home Tour today.  This Tudor house is in Historic Walla Walla, WA and popped up on the internet I decided it was a wonderful place to feature.
205 Whitman Street 

WA 99362 

 $579,000...

Beautiful Curb Appeal...what's NOT to love?!

Stained Glass - Beautiful Woodwork throughout - Gorgeous Staircase  

Living Room - look at all the windows and the Fireplace!

Very Spacious Dining Room

Kitchen

Kitchen

Quaint Eating Nook

2nd Floor Landing

Master Bedroom 

Claw Foot Tub in Bathroom

Child's Bedroom

3rd Floor Gathering Room

More Outdoor Shots

What are your thoughts on this home?  Do you like the layout?  How about the color selection?  Floors?  Fireplace?  Kitchen? Outdoor Space?  Curb Appeal?

I like it - it feels comfortable to me - not too big, not too small.  Ideally, this would be a wonderful house for a Family!

Melissa Tetz

Windermere Real Estate/Walla Walla

Office:  (509) 525-2151

Direct:  (509) 301-1371

Property Information

Days on Market: 90  Cumulative Days on Market: 92 

MLS #: 110731

Bed / Bath: 5 / 3.5

Price: $579,000

Price per sqft: $97

Lot Size: 0.33 acres

Square footage: 5,962 sq ft

Year Built: 1906

Taxes: $6,089 (2012)

Views: No information available

Type: Residential

County: Walla Walla Co.

Style: Tudor

Community: No information available

School District: No information available

Comments
Historic Tudor with modern appeal - minutes to Downtown Walla Walla. Whitehouse Crawford milled paneling, staircase, doors and pillars. Period fireplace, lighting and claw foot tubs. Oak and fir floors, carpet in master suite and 3rd story. Huge kitchen - new cabinets, all the appliances, butler pantry with dumbwaiter plus wine fridge and 2nd prep sink. 2nd story - 4 bd/2ba and enclosed porch. 3rd story - family room and 5th bedroom with ensuite. More lifestyle living in basement w/theater room, wine cellar, 2nd laundry, playroom and full bath (just needs finishing). Fully fenced backyard w/sprinklers. Newer 2 car garage off alley and mother-in-law addition potential. Updated foundation, roof, paint, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.

Completely...

   by Ana Laura - ASL by ASigningHand Lyrics follow...The secret of life is letting go
The secret of love is letting it show
In all that i do
In all that i say
Right here in this moment

The power of prayer is in a humble cry
The power of change is in giving my life
I’m laying it down
Down at your feet
Right here in this moment

Chorus:
Take my heart
Take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
And let all this is within me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
Completely

The journey of life is a search for truth
This journey of faith is following you
Every step of the way
Through the joy and the pain
Right here in this moment

Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life
Hear me say

I am yours and yours alone
Completely

Thorpe House - Fish Creek

As I've shared several times in the past - I love Door County, WI. It's the peninsula that sticks out into Lake Michigan, north of Green Bay.  I've vacationed there since 2000, when I took my first-ever vacation alone, just 2 weeks after my younger sister passed away of cancer.  It was such a relaxing place to visit - yet plenty to do if you really want to.  I rented a condo, with a view of the water in Fish Creek.  Before I planned that vacation, as...
I have each time I've been there, I researched Door County and found out about The Thorpe House Inn, a B&B in Fish Creek.  While browsing their site, I read about an author, LaVyrle Spencer and a book she wrote while she stayed in Fish Creek at the Thorpe House Inn.  It was called Bittersweet.  I made sure that I had that book with me, so I could sit, relax and read it while on my mini-vacation.  I'm going to share the information about Thorpe House Inn and LaVyrle and her book with you, and I hope you enjoy it. 

Thorpe House History

Thorpe House Inn, 1905

Historic Fish Creek, WI Lodging

The Thorp House Inn and its cottages are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and offers visitors a historic Fish Creek, WI lodging option. In 1902, Freeman Thorp, nephew of Asa Thorp, founder of Fish Creek, began the building of the house. Tragedy struck on October 3, 1903, when the steamship Erie L. Hackley capsized in a sudden squall, claiming the life of Freeman and 10 others.

Fate necessitated that the widowed Jessie Thorp begin renting rooms to tourists. Later named Cedar Ridge, Breezy Hill, and The Heritage, the Thorp home continued to accommodate guests well into the 1960′s.

In 1986, after extensive restoration, its doors opened to visitors once again, this time as a Door County bed and breakfast. As a tribute to the Thorp women, the guest rooms bear their names.

Inspiration For The New York Times Bestseller, Bittersweet

"In Bittersweet, LaVyrle Spencer spins a spellbinding tale of true love and   postponed romance between two spirited individuals, played out against the breathtaking landscape of Door County. Brimming with emotion, superb storytelling, the richly drawn characters, and spirited passion that make all her books irresistible and exquisitely satisfying. Bittersweet is another masterful novel in the heartwarming Spencer tradition."

Putnam Publishing

About the author...

LaVyrle Spencer

She is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Wikipedia

Born: July 17, 1943 (age 69), Browerville Movies: Family Blessings, Home Song, Morning Glory, The Fulfillment of Mary Gray Awards: RITA Award for Best Novel

Today, she is a bestselling author of historical and contemporary romances. Her flair for writing was evident in high school but she didn’t start her first novel at that time. Instead, shortly after graduation she married Dan Spencer. They had two daughters. In her thirties, she read a novel by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. That prompted her to think about a becoming a novelist. Her first novel, The Fulfillment, was spawned from a recurring dream she had been having about her grandmother’s life on a Minnesota farm. She sent the manuscript to Woodiwiss, who read it and sent to her editor at Avon. It was published in 1979. 

Spencer likes to write stories that center around the themes of abiding love, strength in adversity and family bonds. Several of her books have been made into films. She has also won numerous awards for her writing.

LaVryle retired in 1997 to write screenplays only after having written 22 novels.  She had reached her financial goals and wanted to spend more time with her family. She is currently living with her husband in Stillwater, Minnesota. She is enjoying her retirement traveling, gardening, and has taken up photography.

It's been 21 years since Bittersweet was published and not a week goes by without at least one call from a devoted fan. People often ask what prompted LaVryle Spencer to write a book about an innkeeper at a bed and breakfast in Door County.

LaVryle Spencer first stayed at the Thorp House Inn during its opening week in July of 1986. She and her husband Dan were the third couple to walk through the door. It was at breakfast the following morning that LaVyrle happened to mentioned she was an author. Almost everyone at the table knew of her or had read her books. After their visit, the Spencers left with promises to return and armloads of books!

Sometime before her next visit, LaVyrle hatched the idea for "the" book. She arrived with spiral notebook in hand and a plot already forming. She sketched the entire village on a long roll of white paper that would be taped to the walls of her circular "turret" office. Bittersweet was published and became a bestseller, printed in 17 languages. Many of our guests say it's their favorite of all LaVyrle's books, and it continues to be a best seller in Door County.

Thorpe House Inn & Cottages Today

Historic lodging in the heart of Fish Creek – just steps from parks, shops and restaurants. Choose from our five elegant B&B guest rooms – or you may prefer one of our private housekeeping cottages – furnished in country antiques. Whirlpools and fireplaces available. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Inspiration for LaVyrle Spencer’s best selling novel “Bittersweet”. 

 Phone: (920) 868-2444 

 Address: 4135 Bluff Lane 

 City: Fish Creek 

 Website: www.thorphouseinn.com 

 Has Wi-Fi: yes 

 Open Year Round: yes

Map with Wisconsin on the left & Michigan on the right - the A in red, signifies Fish Creek

Some of the small roads - less traveled, look like this after it snows.

Bitter Sweet

(1990)

A novel by

LaVyrle Spencer 

How do you teach a heart to love again? Maggie Pearson. Shattered by the loss of her husband, she struggled each day to put her grief behind her. To be there for her teenage daughter. And to face life again. When she returned to her Wisconsin home town, she never expected to feel a spark of longing-for her old high school sweetheart ... Eric Severson. His marriage to a driven career woman had left him childless and unhappy-he knew there had to be more to life than always wanting what you couldn't have. Seeing Maggie again filled him with hope. Maybe the answer to his dreams had just come to town.... Their memory of young love blossomed into an affair that would shake both their lives-and would challenge everything; they believed about loving each other. Could they follow a dream from the past? Or had they missed the chance of a lifetime?

This was a very intense emotional book. Although it was short, it captured the emotions and feelings of Maggie and Eric. I felt their desperation and need to be together.

Some of the other books I've read that were written by LaVyrle are:

Want to learn to Crochet? Try this EZ Video!

Teresa - (Crochet Geek on YouTube) is where I learned to crochet nearly 3 years ago.  I tried having friends teach me, I watched videos, bought books...all to no avail.  But with Teresa's videos - actually the first one I watched - I was crocheting.  I have made all sorts of afghans, hats with flowers and leaves on them, scarves...done lots of stitches...all with help from Teresa and her videos.  So, if you've been wanting to learn how to crochet - get started HERE.