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! 

Pretty Southern Indiana

I've been back to visit in Indiana the past few days.  We've been able to visit some relatives we haven't seen for a while.  Glenn, Rob, Ross, Reed, Mom and I met Uncle Neal & Aunt Jan for supper one night.  We met Uncle Dale & Aunt Dana and two of my cousins for lunch another day. 

We had not seen most of my dad's relatives since he died seven years ago so we went down to southern Indiana and had lunch with several of them and got to visit  two of my cousins and five of my aunts and uncles.  Unfortunately, I didn't take the picture before Uncle Wayne and my cousin Paul had left.  Uncle Rich and Aunt Lois are the ones I've talked about here who used to grow melons and tomatoes to sell in the Knox County area which is well known for having great cantaloups.

cousin Cheryl, Aunt Vera, Aunt Sharon, Mom, Aunt Lois, Uncle Rich

It was a perfect Fall day to travel south from Carmel to the Freelandville and Vincennes area.   We stopped at an Amish store which is always fun.  The further south we went, we started seeing lots of combines working in the fields - working in both corn and beans.  

I think these farmers (above) are the family that now live where my grandparents did.  They farm lots of acres.  The house and buildings sure look different.  A new machine shed is in the place of two of the old barns.

We were able to visit at Uncle Wayne & Aunt Vera's house.  I love their old brick house that's back off the road down a long lane.  Uncle Wayne and Aunt Vera farmed together all of their lives until just a few years ago.  They're very happy that I'm doing the same with Bill in Iowa.  It's fun to talk farming with Uncle Wayne.  Wish he could come to Iowa.

We also visited long time friends, the Walters (they read my blog - hi!) and Dad's cousin, Liz in Freelandville where dad was from.  The Walters have a nice house with big yard and an amazing view.  Liz is busy right now feeding the crew that is harvesting her ground.  She takes them hot sandwiches for tailgate lunches and goes back out with cookies for them at 2:00.

Mom and I even got to stop at Gray Brothers Cafeteria on the way home.  It's a favorite restaurant of people all over.  We used to make a special trip there a couple of times a year.  Grandma & Grandpa Randall really liked it too.

It was a really nice day and I was teary a lot of the time.  Lots of memories of times there and knowing that I won't be back much with living so far away now.

Back from Peoria

I'm just back last night from a Thurs.-Sun. trip to Peoria, IL for a stamping weekend with six of my Stampin' Up! demonstrator friends.  I haven't counted yet to see how many card samples and things we made, but it was a lot! 

On my way home, I detoured a little bit to stop at a farm stand in Muscatine, Iowa mostly for their famous melons.  I bought several to share.   The cantaloupe and Missouri peaches are excellent.  Hope the watermelon is too.  But I always say "they're almost as good as the Knox County, Indiana melons".   My Aunt Lois & Uncle Rich grew them in Knox County for years along with many other melon growers in that area.   Here's a link to a nice story about a melon farmer there. 

Then I detoured again to stop in Amana, IA.  There is a store closing there by the end of the year - the one where I learned how to dye Easter eggs the German way.  It's called The Kitchen Sink.  The owners want to retire after having the store for many years.  So I wanted to get some of the glue that you use for the eggs before they close.  It would've been nice to spend the whole weekend in the Amanas.  The weather was perfect, lots of flowers, people strolling and looking in the shops and even a German band playing outside of one of the wineries.  But after being gone for a few days and getting little sleep, I was ready to head home which was four hours away.

Of course I took pictures.   Will share after tomorrow.  Today I'm getting ready for a P.E.O. meeting that's here tomorrow.  Making the dessert now.  It's a layered ice cream dessert:  thin brownie layer, mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips. Also a little two bite lemon tart. 

A Very Interesting Job

the Big Eagle

A couple of days ago, a long time family friend from where my dad grew up mentioned to me that her granddaughter is working on a yacht traveling all over the world and gave me her blog site.  Reading about her work on the yacht is soooo interesting that I wanted to share it with those that read my blog! 

People that work on yachts call themselves "yachties". It seems that most are young and only do this work for a few years.  Sometimes the owners of the yacht are on board for several days and other times it's chartered or rented by others.  (you'll see the cost of renting this boat for a week on the link below!)

They work very hard on the days that the owners or guests are on board and then will have a day off to explore whatever island they're anchored near.  Their yacht has jet skis, kayaks and other water toys they can use on their days off.  She is amazed at how happy island people are living with very little, and it's made her appreciate what she has had growing up.  

I am wondering lots of things like what is her typical day like, does she help the chef any or is that someone else's job, have they been in many storms (she does tell about one day with high seas that most spent the day in their rooms - probably praying!), does she serve meals and drinks to the guests, how much cleaning and laundry does she do, etc.  Not sure who does what.  

Check out Ellis' blog HERE and also lots of pictures and information about the yacht she's on, the Big Eagle Yacht HERE.  I'm really looking forward to reading more about her adventures!  They are going to be traveling soon to spend the summer sailing in the Mediterranean.  

Vanilla Extract Project

he's holding beans which are on a vine that they hang on a tree for the shade

When we were in Tahiti, we visited a couple of vanilla "farms".  To us, they weren't like any farms we know - they were very small!  More about how vanilla grows in the next post.

Vanilla beans are very expensive and now we know why!  The process takes a few years of the right weather and is labor intensive.  We were able to buy them at a much better price there and they were so fresh!  What a difference compared to ones we can buy in stores here!  

The man (above) giving us our tour at one of the farms told us to stick a bunch of beans in a bottle of vodka and you could have great vanilla extract and keep it going for years!  So I came home and Googled "making vanilla extract".  Very interesting.  I found a site, Beanilla, to buy some cute 8 oz. bottles and a few more beans because I had decided this would make great Christmas gifts!  

I bought a bunch of vodka - some people say to use the good stuff, some say to use cheap.  The bottles came and I washed and sterilized them.

The Tahitian vanilla beans are much bigger and wider with lots more "caviar" than other beans.  You can see the difference here!  The one on the right is a Madagascar Bourbon vanilla bean.

Beanilla says that the Tahitian beans are their favorite and that they have tones of ripe fruit.  I did a mix of mostly the Tahitian beans I bought there and Madagascar Bourbon beans.  Beanilla says the Madagascar beans are superior with a rich, dark and creamy flavor well suited for baking and drinks.

I split the beans, put them in the bottles and covered them with vodka.  You're supposed to keep them in a cool, dark place and shake it once a week.  I found some labels online that I could personalize a little, and made some tags with my stamping supplies. 

 I was excited about these gifts.  Hope it turns out good and everybody likes it.  There are lots of comments on the Internet from people who have made it, love it and don't buy it any more.  Lots of people put beans in a whole bottle of vodka which is what  I'm going to get started for us soon!

 

Christmas Road Trip and Misc. Pictures

One day last week, we headed to Des Moines to Christmas shop.  We had a couple of things to return to two stores that we don't have in our area and still needed to get some gifts.  The first day we went to several places around Ankeny and Ames and got all of our gifts bought.  We spent the night in Ankeny and went to one of our favorite restaurants, Texas Roadhouse.  We don't have any restaurants in our town so when we go out-of-town we really appreciate being able to have a nice meal out.  We had lunch at Hickory Park in Ames.  It's a huge restaurant that serves a lot of hickory smoked meats.

Since we had such good luck the first day, that left the next day for just looking around for fun.  Bill had not been to Jordan Creek Town Center in Des Moines.  It's a very nice two level mall.  I happened to see this and got a quick picture.  Santa was having his picture taken with a little baby.  He acted like he had been reading a book to the baby and had fallen asleep.  Really cute picture.  You can barely see the baby - it was so tiny.

The Jordan Creek Mall is always decorated very nice.  The tree was there in Santa's area.  The above double sided fireplace is in the food court area.  I could've sat there for a while.  All in all, it was an enjoyable couple of days away.  We got a lot done but had fun too, and it really helped get me in the Christmas spirit.

I kept Diane's girls on Sat. and they helped decorate our tree!

Our church is always decorated so pretty for Christmas with several trees up front.

 
  

Start of the Trip - Pepeete, Tahiti Market

After the eight hour flight from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti,we checked into a hotel for two nights to rest up before the cruise.  We took a bus tour of the island and also visited the market.  The market was fun to see.  Look at all the fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and fish!  So colorful. 

freshly caught fish including red snapper

I love tropical flowers.  They smell so good too.  On the whole trip, there were 
lots of leis and crowns for just $5. 

We tried a couple on here.  You had to tie these in the back so we were just holding them on for picture taking purposes.  Mom looks good with hers. I ended up wearing one pretty often since all the humidity was super bad for my naturally curly/wavy hair!!

These white flowers were a form of gardenia so they smelled so good.  They had the type of gardenia that I love but also this one.  This type grows all over the islands.  

We ended up buying a bouquet of a variety of flowers to have in our cabin on the ship.  They stayed nice the whole trip.  On one of the islands, we found bouquets of just gardenias so we added those to our vase.  Every time we'd return to our cabin, it smelled soooo good. 

big arrangements