Miss Spenser's Tearoom

In two other posts this week, I've talked about our trip to the Iowa State Fair for the Century Farm Program and our stay at Longview Farms Bed & Breakfast. 

Also at Longview Farms, is Miss Spenser's Tearoom.   Spenser is the daughter of the owners of the B & B.  Donna and Spenser love England and the tradition of afternoon tea.  They have quite a collection of tea pots, serving pieces, lace, etc. making their tearoom very beautiful.  They serve traditional afternoon tea but also have themed teas where Donna and Spenser dress up and provide a program.  All of their teas are by reservation.  They can hold a fairly large group.  

Donna and me

 

Just like our Garden Room, beautifully decorated.

I would love to get a P.E.O. group together and go by bus for a special tea.  Think I'll keep that in mind for next summer!

Longview Farmes Bed & Breakfast Continued

This is a continuation of the previous post about our stay at Longview Farms Bed & Breakfast. 

Unfortunately, we didn't arrive until early evening so it was a much too short stay for me.  I would've liked to have enjoyed reading a book for a few hours (or days . . .) in front of that fireplace.

Hickory Hills Park is nearby with nice trails for hiking which would be fun to do too.

Donna knew that we needed to get to the State Fair to register the next morning by a certain time so asked us if 8:00 was a good time for her to bring our breakfast to us, and that was perfect.  She arrived right on time and set out everything for our morning feast.

We had a pot of hot tea, orange juice, milk, fresh fruit, quiche, bacon, roasted vegetables, chocolate filled croissants, and some sliced homegrown tomatoes.  What a treat.  It was all yummy and very filling.

I know some people don't like to stay in Bed & Breakfasts because normally you eat breakfast with the other guests.   It's usually fun to visit with the other guests and the owner(s), but it was really fun to have our own private breakfast.

After breakfast, we reluctantly had to check out of this beautiful room so soon and head to the State Fair.  But Donna asked if I'd like to see the tearoom.  Of course!

In my next post, I'll take you inside the tearoom.  So many of us around here wish we had a tearoom like this to go to.  So many have closed.

www.CindyKCreations.com

 

  

Longview Farms Bed & Breakfast

The day before we needed to be at the State Fair (in Des Moines) to accept the Century Farm award for our landlord (see previous post), we drove to New Virginia which is just south of Des Moines, to Longview Farms Bed & Breakfast.  (if you click on the name/link you'll go to their web site)  Des Moines is a little over two hours from us.  This was just one room we stayed in, but I don't know where to begin to tell how nice it was.  And I took so many pictures!  I'm going to have to do about three separate posts.

The B & B (plus tearoom) is out in the middle of nowhere so very quiet and peaceful.  It is off the road down a long lane past their cattle. 

 

The house and Miss Spenser's Tearoom are straight ahead and the building on the right is where the two guest rooms are.

We stayed in the Garden Room - which overlooks a little courtyard - and they have a larger room upstairs.  Both have fireplaces.

the courtyard outside our room - our door on left

Our room was decorated beautifully and was so cozy.  I could've stayed there a week I think.  There were lots of tea related decorations including books.  There were two nice afghans on the arms of the couch.

When we arrived, Donna met us and told us that there were some goodies in our fridge.  She would've had a pot of tea or coffee waiting for us too, but it was too late in the day for caffeine.

the bed was too pretty to sleep in - hated to take all the pillows off

There was a cute little table for two and a cabinet stocked with plates, glasses, silverware, tea, etc. along with a microwave and more.  The bathroom was very nice and modern with a small shower.

orange flavored cake filled with cream - and choc. dipped strawberries

there were several pretty teapots in the room

 

drop leaf table for two overlooking the courtyard

the bathroom

In my next post I'll show you our wonderful breakfast that Donna served us in our room the next morning before we headed to the State Fair.  And the post after that will be all pictures of the tearoom - sure wish it was closer! 

Meal with Friends

It's interesting how many people from Indiana are in Florida in the same area every winter!  Mom always has lots of things to do with others if she wants to.  

Mom went to school with the Kings, and while Glenn and I were growing up, we were with them and their kids all the time.  It was fun to get to have a meal with them and another couple that mom went to school with while I was down there.

We all took something.  The other couple brought cheese potatoes and a yummy Key Lime Pie.

 





Kings found this watermelon pitcher at a garage sale!  Different and cute!

 
Oh, this new Internet provider and speed makes doing this soooo much faster!   Makes me not dread doing it so will probably be back to doing blog posts regularly again.  Seems like I never run out of things to take pictures of that "might" be interesting.  

Love to see comments so I know someone is reading!  It's not hard! They won't show up immediately, I have to see and "approve" them first. Just click on Comments at the bottom of a post.  Then you can choose Anonymous but if you do, just type your name at the end of your comment.  Or you can stay Anonymous!  It would be fun if you say what state you're in.  I know those of you reading like to read the comments as much as I do.

Bill is headed to a gun show in Ft. Dodge today, and I'm going to have a quick lunch with a friend and stop at the grocery.  Planning to make some Beef Barley Stew in the crockpot this afternoon - and get my suitcase unpacked.  

Tahitian Dancers !

Back when I was 5 I think, my parents went to Hawaii for a Dairy Queen convention.  They brought back for me a little Hawaiian doll in a box and she was wearing a grass skirt.  They also had videos of the dancing at a luau they went to.   So when Bill and I went to Hawaii on our honeymoon, getting to finally see a luau in person was a highlight for me.  

The first night on board the Ocean Princess, still docked at Papeete, Tahiti, the local dancers put on a long show for us with several costume changes!  Loved it!   This one was inside on stage in the lounge.

At every island where we would get off the tender, there was always a little group playing local music and usually a couple of girls in costume dancing.

at the dock at one of the islands

One of the last nights on the ship, dancers from the island of Raiatea performed on the upper deck also changing costumes and there were even little ones dancing!  These Tahitian dances were my favorite part of the trip, along with the beautiful water and scenery!

This guy was very good, full of energy and always smiling so I wanted to have my picture taken with him.   See all the sweat?!

They sold these beautiful and fragrant (gardenias!) flower crowns before the show - for only $5!  Mom got a lei and I bought a crown (good for bad hair days!).

 

Flowers Everywhere Along With the Scent of Gardenias!

Flowers were everywhere in Tahiti.  Our tour buses were decorated with flowers, the glass bottom boats, the breakfast buffet, the hotel lobby counters, tables where they were selling jewelry, most women's hair and even a bathroom vanity in a hotel! 

glass bottom boat decorated with palm branches

our tour bus with flowers in front window

these were everywhere and given to us several times, they were a type of gardenia

Many times we were given a flower to wear behind our ear, and I was even given a flower crown on one of the islands.  The girl that gave it to me said she liked to give it to those who wouldn't be ashamed to wear them.  I liked to wear the flower crowns since my hair did not do well in the humidity!   And they smelled sooooo good!

she gave me a flower crown like the one she has on

So many flower pictures . . . had to pick just some of my favorites. And the best part was that if you wanted to buy flowers they were very inexpensive!!  Here, you can pay $10 per gardenia bloom (we did for my wedding bouquet) but in Tahiti, we bought a whole bunch for $8!!   Leis and flower crowns were only $5!

LOVED THIS in a bathroom in Bora Bora

Tahiti Cruise - Ocean Princess

This blog post shows you the cruise ship (Ocean Princess) we were on and our cabin.  I don't have any good close up pictures of the ship.  On most of the islands, we had to "park" out in deeper water and take the small tender boats to the islands.   Our cabin was on Deck 6 which is the same one that the you see the tenders hanging from in the second picture.

The rest are pictures of our cabin.  We had a balcony which was really nice.  Most days we would be coming in to a new island about the time we were getting up so it was nice to open up the sliding door and go in and out to see the new island and scenery as we were arriving while getting ready for the day.  Same way in the evenings, we left islands around 5:00 so we were leaving as we were getting ready for dinner.  Our seating was at 6:00. 

desk with mirror

balcony with 2 chairs & table

door to hallway with bathroom on right and closet, refrig., safe on left