Porches and She-sheds: Inspiration from our Southern Exposure

One of many impressive residences in Charleston, land of the charming porches

A recent on-line article from Country Living Magazine, '21 Ways to Revive the  Lost Art of Porching' provides tips for your outdoor habitat including decorating, pastimes, cuisine and, while your at it, even a refresher on how to perfect your 'hey neighbor' wave. This how-to guide came just at the right time, as  I was planning a "porch revival" of my own, inspired by my recent trip down south where patios, balconies and terraces were de rigueur of every place we stayed.

In Michigan, where six months out of the year due to cold and snow,  you see neither bugs nor your neighbors (and mostly, I'm okay with that), it is a nice change of pace to be in a comfy outdoor space from sunset to sundown . Add a flair of southern charm and gentility and it's hard to think of a better way to sit away an afternoon.

Starting our outdoor living with my in-laws

Hello sunset, we've been waiting for you!

We started out our trip in Florida and spent our first evening at the Beach House on Holmes Beach. Here we ate fresh seafood on the patio and watched for the pink and orange sunset sky to appear, as though we were waiting for the crystal ball to fall in Times Square on New Year's Eve. AWE-some!

Now, we're just getting warmed up!

I would have stayed here and porch sat in 1888.

Rockin' out the porch at Flager College

A few days later, we drove up to St. Augustine and visited Flager College, the home of one of the original Gilded Age hotels, the Ponce De Leon. After a tour, Chris took a break on a comfortable rocking chair - an essential porch furnishing.

San Souci veranda at Jekyll Island. We could live on this porch.- and I think we did.

Our porch at Jekyll Island was, however, the most beautiful of any we have seen or sat. It was a classic southern style veranda with views of the river. We watched the sunset, ordered pizza, enjoyed breakfast and sipped tea on that porch.

Watching the sunset over the river.

Carry out pizza on the porch. We can't leave.

Yes, getting in some more porch sitting with room service breakfast.

Of course, morning tea on the porch.

It was hard to leave, but then we came to Charleston, the land of many porches.

Beautiful Charleston home porch .  .  . 

another expansive terrace. . . 

. . . they are everywhere and gorgeous!

In fact, we even dined at a restaurant called Poogan's Porch. It did, indeed, have a lovely outdoor terrace where we sampled delicious local cuisine, including shrimp and grits, and watched the busy and colorful street scene below.

Poogan's Porch, views with grit(s)!

Enjoying views and local cuisine on Poogan's Porch.

How can one stay only two days in Charleston? Well, it's difficult with all these enticing outdoor spaces. Even our hotel had a rooftop terrace overlooking the city.

Hotel rooftop terrace. Yet another lovely evening!

Our final stop before heading back to Detroit was in Asheville. At this point, we just couldn't eat dinner indoors and the weather continued to cooperate. We supped at the Country Kitchen in the historic Biltmore Village. Oh, how one gets used to feting in a dining room sans walls.

The Country Kitchen with outdoor dining.

Our hotel in Asheville had a scenic balcony with views of the mountains. All this got us thinking. . .

Our hotel balcony in Asheville provided us with some inspiration.

Lucky for us, the weather in our home state finally started warming up upon our return. This weekend, we're at our northern retreat and it's really great to be enjoying the outdoors again.

But, with all this recent inspiration, we've decided to up our game - enhance the decks and add some charm to the side patio.

 View just waiting for a she-shed porch.

Oh, and the she-shed, too. That's another Country Home inspired dwelling, and I'm planning out mine. It will, of course, have a porch with a view and be the perfect spot for a cup of tea.

In the meantime, I'll work on perfecting my 'hey neighbor' wave.

One the road again: Gilded Age, Gift shops, Sunsets and Afternoon tea from St. Augustine to Asheville

Charleston Tea Plantation, mid-stop on our road trip 

Last week, we logged in several hundred miles in a van, driving from St. Augustine to Asheville on my dream road trip along the southeastern coastline. The plan was to visit Gilded Age museums and tea sites as well as witness as many sunsets and get in equal number of porch sittings as we could.  It was Ahhhh-mazing!

In the next few weeks, I will devote a blog to each special place we visited. But, in the meantime, here's a snapshot overview.

Flager College, once Hotel Ponce de Leon

The actual trip began at Detroit Metro Airport with our one-way ticket to Tampa. We stayed with my in-laws for a few days before embarking on our Gilded Age/tea tour, but logged in a few sunsets and porch sittings while on the gulf coast to get us started.

First of many sunsets on "the tour".

Our first stop on the tour was St. Augustine, home of Flagler College, the site of the Gilded Age resort, Hotel  Ponce de Leon. We also toured the Lightner Museum across the street, which was once another hotel built by industrialist, Henry Morrison Flagler. Ostentatious? - Absolutely! But it wasn't called the "Austere Age" for a reason.

Inside the Lightner Museum

From St. Augustine, we headed northeast to Jekyll Island. We stayed at the Club Hotel, which began its start in the Gilded Age as well. Once the exclusive resort of the wealthy northern families, including Astors, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, today all guests will feel as pampered as any one of the vintage one-percenters.

Jekyll Island Club Hotel, started as an exclusive resort for the Gilded Age one percenters

We had an absolutely wonderful afternoon tea in the Club Hotel's dining room. (You will want to stay tuned for the upcoming blog on this lovely tea room experience!)

Delicious tea fare at Afternoon Tea at the Club Hotel Dining Room

 Our "home-away-from-home", Sans Souci, part of the Club Hotel at Jekyll Island with big porches and beautiful furnishings.

Our  third floor room had an expansive porch with excellent views

Tried to log in a few notes for blogging before the big porch called to me to view the sun setting.

Who am I kidding? I've got to shut down - almost time for sunset viewing!

On the road again, we programmed our GPS to Charleston, with one stop along the way to Wadmalaw Island to visit the only tea plantation in the US. It was incredible to see a working tea plantation and view all that it takes to harvest this special drink.

The only US tea plantation - this had been on my list for a long time!

We took the trolley tour of the farm, the self-guided tour of the factory, and spent a good deal of time in the gift shop. With a couple cups of tea and a full tote of goodies, we were ready to go!

Across the Ashley River is downton Charleston

Next stop: Charleston. Our hotel had wonderful views of the city and (by now essential) sunsets. While in town, we dined on Southern favorites such as shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes and got a good taste of history as well. Also worked in a tour of  the Gilded Age home, the Calhoun Mansion (aka, the "OMG house"). This over-the-top residence also had a gift shop which housed my wish-list silver tea set.

The Calhoun Mansion, aka the "OMG House".

Silver tea set in Calhoun Mansion gift shop

Last stop before heading back home to Detroit was Asheville, We were crushed to find one of our favorite tea rooms, Chelsea's, was closed (best white chocolate, lemon curd cake ever!) but still enjoyed the walk in the quaint, historic Biltmore Village in addition to a raid at the Biltmore Estate Gate House gift shop.

No Chelsea's but consolation was found at Biltmore gift shop.

It was an incredible road trip, full of special places and surprises - not the least of which was meeting up with our next-door-neighbors when we stopped in Jelico, TN for gas. We had no idea of their travel itinerary, and we were as shocked-and-awed by this event as our first viewing of the Calhoun House. OMG, indeed!

OMG! It's our neighbors in Jelico, TN!!

The next few weeks, I'll be pouring over brochures and maps we picked up along the way, as well as my five-hundred-some pictures captured on my iPhone, to reminisce about this awesome adventure. I'll also be sampling some of my road trip booty:  brought back lots of books and tea. Left the sivler tea set in Charleston, though - but just another reason to go back.

Road trip booty: tea, books and china. To the silver tea set, I say, "I'll be back!"

Downton Abbey Evening Tea at Walled Lake Library

Downton Abbey tea at the Walled Lake Library

Last week, Barb's Tea Service presented a Downton Abbey-inspired evening tea at the Walled Lake Library. The turnout was fantastic and necessitated set-up at the Fire Station meeting room which is just across the library's parking lot.

Barb with fellow tea enthusiast & DA fan, Barbara Tabb

Guests came dressed for the event, many donning hats and gloves. We were excited to finally meet up with Barbara Tabb, fellow tea enthusiast and Downton Abbey fan.

We shared our stories of our visit to Highclere Castle and Bampton Village, our interview with Lady Canarvon (both featured in the January/February issue of Tea Time Magazine) as well as the lifestyle of the British aristocracy in the Edwardian era.

We served up several pots of tea, and much to our delight, many attendees stayed after the program to visit and share their stories.

Adult Services Librarian, Carrie Crossman with Rachel-Rose

A big thank you to all who came out last Tuesday and a special thanks to Adult Services Librarian, Carrie Crossman, for inviting us to the Walled Lake Library. A wonderful time at Walled Lake!!


Downton Abbey fans - we still have more DA teas coming in May. Check Barb's Tea Service's event page for more details!

Downton Abbey-inspired Afternoon tea at the Townsend: Luxurious setting and delicious treats perfect for celebrating!

Rachel-Rose & Barb surrounded by the luxurious ambiance of the Townsend tea lobby

With a luxuriously appointed tea lobby befitting of the Crawley estate and outstanding service that would make Carson jealous, Birmingham's Townsend Hotel is the perfect place for a Downton Abbey-inspired afternoon tea. Barb's Tea Service was delighted to present our Downton Abbey program last Sunday to over forty guests.

Guests arrive and find their seats under the crystal chandelier

Attendees were seated at the long table under the crystal chandelier or one of the round tables along the decoratively painted walls. Many guests, in addition to being Downton Abbey enthusiasts, chose the event to honor special occasions as well. What a fantastic way to celebrate and what a  treat to be part of that!

Roses and fruit plates on the table, ready for guests' arrival.

Some guests had called us before the tea, after seeing the 'Say Good-bye to Downton with a proper afternoon tea' article in the Detroit Free Press which featured BTS. We were so happy to see that Daisy Lucente and her good friends, Susan Cash and June Whittled were able to make it!

June Whittled, Susan Cash and Daisy Lucente celebrate at the afternoon tea

As we discussed the Edwardian influences on the British aristocracy, our visit to Highclere Castle and the importance of dress to both the upstairs and downstairs families, guests were treated to delicioius scones, savories, sweets and never-ending pots of finely brewed tea. A few who were celebrating birthdays were served up an extra dessert.

Ruth Mayhall with Illene Lipiski

A great time with Downton Abbey-ites: a fun afternoon with girlfriends, husbands and wives and mothers and daughters.

Sandy Dionsi & Anne Dunlap. Anne not happy with the series' finale.

Although all who were at the event shared a solidarity in being Downton Abbey fans, there was some lively discussion after the formal presentation as to whether the series ending met expectations.

Another fabulous tea at the Townsend Hotel. A thank you to Tea Director, Laura, and all the amazing ladies and gents who attended!!

We're not quite done saying farewell to Downton. See our events page on Barb's Tea Service's website for more upcoming tea events!

Downton Abbey Farewell Tea at Otsego County Library: BTS Great Time in Gaylord!

Who's a Downton Abbey fan? Just about everyone!

 Almost two weeks ago, on a bright, sunny Sunday in March, Barb's Tea Service had the great pleasure of presenting to a wonderful crowd at the Otsego County Library which hosted a Downton Abbey Farewell Tea. The events room held over 50 guests and with pastel linens, fine china teacups and scones and sweets on every table, it transformed into a charming tearoom for the afternoon.

Beautiful day and wonderful venue! 

Sharing a cup of tea with Deb Johnston of Otsego  Library

We were invited to present by Deb Johnston, Adult Programming Coordinator at Otsego Library. Like most of the guests, she's a fan of Downton Abbey.  Deb raffled off some amazing Downton Abbey-themed treasures and tea gifts to guests who scored highest on the DA quiz.

Rachel helps with handouts.

Afternoon tea fare ready to be served.

Scones, cookies and tea were served to attendees. Presentation was as beautiful as the treats were tasty!

Scones and other treats were served with freshly brewed tea.

Downton Abbey decor turned events space into a lovely tearoom

The events room was accented with Downton Abbey-inspired decor. We especially loved the silver tea set.

We shared our visit to Highclere and Bampton Village as well as some behind-the-scenes tales from Jessica Fellowes. We also discussed fashion of the area and the advantages of the Edwardian tea gown. Some guests came dressed in period attire which added to the fun.

Melanie McDougall of Gaylord dressed in period chic

Rachel-Rose  takes a quick scone break before  book sales.

A great thank you to Deb Johnston, the Otsego Library staff and all the guests who attended. We had a delightful time and enjoyed the fabulous turnout.

We are in Gaylord often, so we hope to see you all when we next visit!

And, we've got a few more Downton Abbey-inspired teas coming up. We'll be at Birmingham's Townsend Hotel on April 3rd and the Walled Lake Library the evening of April 5th.

In May, we'll be at the Schoolcraft Library in Kalamazoo County and Sweet D's Tea Room in Linden.

For more information, check out the events page of Barb's Tea Service website.