I had the opportunity to have a mid-week mini vacay on Tuesday night. Ahead of an approaching snowstorm, I scrambled around and found bed and breakfast lodging so that I could be certain that I would be available to convene my class on Wednesday morning.
The B&B I selected for my nighttime lodging was a huge brick home. The proprietors greeted me kindly when I arrived at about 7:30 pm and they proceeded to give me a mini tour of their mid-1800s home which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The proprietress graciously showed me the magnificent, large and ornate downstairs rooms, each decorated lavishly in Eastlake style (part of the Victorian era). I was tired from the drive and needed to prepare for class, so I didn’t spend much time chatting before I excused myself and retired to my room for the evening.
That’s when it hit me – in my rush to find lodging ahead of the storm, I forgot something critical: I am sometimes a little afraid of the dark.
My room was at the far corner of the house and there were no other guests at the farm and the owners’ suite was tucked into a nook near the dining room on the opposite end and one floor down in this very large, unfamiliar, ancient home on a dark and stormy night. Uh. Oh.
Gathering my courage after the owners went back downstairs, I explored my room. It contained a lot of lovely antique furniture and a divine, comfy queen-sized bed. The fireplace was no longer functional, but the painted wooden firebox surround boasted a sweet bird stencil.
![IMG_0996[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_09961.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
Sweet and delicate stencil, but only a distraction from the horror below (foreshadowing).
![IMG_0993[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_09931.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
I tried not to think of the babies who wore these as out for revenge in their shoe-less state.
There was no quilt, only a woven comforter. Oh! The horror!
![IMG_0995[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_09951.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
Frightening.
![IMG_0998[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_09981.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
Love this marble-topped dresser.
To the left of the bed was a closet door. I opened it eagerly, just like an ingenue in a horror flick who you know is going to die soon — and this time I was really scared.
![IMG_1003[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10031.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
I forced myself to open this door.
![IMG_1002[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10021.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
I think the dog looks scared too.
The en suite was decorated in period style while affording all the modern amenities and it provided a backdrop for the appropriately calming and non-threatening gratuitous cat art.
![IMG_1005[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10051.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
One of a series.
![IMG_1006[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10061.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
I love that little wind-up birdie!
In the morning when I went down to breakfast I found the lone quilted piece in the entire manse. It was displayed on a small foyer table at the bottom of the spiral staircase.
![IMG_1011[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10111.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
After a rough night, this soothed my troubled soul.
![IMG_1016[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10161.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
Button really didn’t want to talk.
![IMG_1019[1]](https://i0.wp.com/graybarndesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/img_10191.jpg?resize=620%2C827&ssl=1)
Delightful fresh gingerbread for breakfast and yet again with the woven, not quilted linens!
Back in my 1980’s home on Wednesday evening, I picked up my bright and cheery, non-threatening spring chicken table runner. I’ve made the quilt sandwich, changed to a new sewing needle, attached the free motion foot, and lowered the feed dogs without a quilting plan. Dear friends, do you have a suggestion on how to begin?
Oh my! What an interesting place to stay! Whew…glad you made it back to the 80’s from your time travel experience. I definitely think quilts would have warmed up the place. I think Button smelled Boots and was a little intimidated. I am now in search of gingerbread recipes with fresh ginger as an ingredient…off to the dark web for another time travel experience.
Oh, so many stories going on in this place!What an adventure!!!
Oh the horror! A National Heritage house without quilts. Didn’t the owners get the memo?
All the paraphernalia was delightful, I’m so glad you took pics.
I make gingerbread with fresh ginger, only because I read an article in Gourmet magazine years ago where a southern (USA) cook said she always used fresh. I have to say that usually no one but me notices the difference. Sometimes I use the squeeze tube stuff instead of the shaved root. Does that count?
Meg: They have ginger in squeeze tubes? When I make curry, I have a rasp that makes grating the ginger a breeze. Can you believe no quilts? Given the period, don’t you think a Lady Baltimore quilt would have been a given? LOL!
Sounds kind of fun 😉
What a great post. I couldn’t imagine a home without quilts x
Very interesting place to stay and I enjoyed your photos! At first I thought you were sharing photos of your home! But in your home there would have been quilts on the quilt rack!!! 🙂
What a great post — hard to believe no quilts to decorate the B&B.
I have to forgive them, because, well, gingerbread!
I agree — gingerbread cookies are my major weakness. During Christmas time my kids and I eat them non stop 🙂