On the Rails Again!

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In June  I posted the  precursor to this   post....  We have just returned from our    rail trip to Boston...


a  photo from previous trip

Again our  first and always choice  is  the quiet car for  travelling, especially  when it will be  12  long hours....  the peace is  conducive to   rest, reading and my favorite  ...   listening to  my  music  via earphones...and now   to our delight,   all trains   offer  wi-fi  which  really  makes for  a more pleasant passage.

When   your  train leaves at 7:30am and the station is   90 minutes away,     it makes for an early  departure....   one never knows  quite  what  to  expect weather-wise until  the     fog   burns off...

But     last Friday   proved to be   a lovely   travel day!

I loved these   flowers   that  bloomed   in wet places  along the   line!

Much of the  view   was   trees and more trees  and thankfully blue   skies!

The Big Apple  was  a bit  smoggy..  but    better than the dreary   conditions  on our last  pass through! 
My favorite  part of  the  trip north is      through Connecticut  as the  rail skirts  along the  southern  coast of the state.
With    lovely  seaports   to the north,

Trinkle House, Bed and Breakfast

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Last summer   our   senior adult class took a  bus trip  into SW  Virginia   to  visit   some   wonderful  old   residences that have been transformed into  B and B's and  my favorite is Trinkle House in Wytheville... 


A marvelous  restored Georgian home...  every attention has been given to detail... 

with   gorgeous outdoor porches and gardens

to the   immaculate   inside .. here you can see the entry hall from my vantage point standing  within the  Romeo balcony upstairs.

The upstairs landing hosts this cosy parlor available to  a  comfortable  outside  balcony.
the  next floor   also provides a nice landing   with stairs  leading to yet   another   story...

 Back on the  first floor  you see  a  comfortable parlor

adjacent to  a formal  dining room where we were treated to afternoon tea!

 a hide-away very private library was  beyond this... sorry for the unclear photo,  but it was  so   yummy!

 This magnificent fireplace

 graced the study    outfitted with  deep  very   restful  leather  couches and chairs.   But my favorite  place was the sunroom next to this study....

  This   room  was   extremely  comfortable and   so  gorgeously outfitted with  every type of reading material one could  ever wish for.   This is where our hostess  plans  her  daily breakfasts. 
  Her kitchen is even open to us..

Oh, so you'd like to see some of the accommodations!  This room is my favorite!




 Every room  is en suite!


As grand as this home  is,  every  detail is  executed for the  guests  pleasure and comfort....I would love to spend a week here...   oh,  I forgot to mention there is a  fabulous home theater in the basement.. This  B&B is  located  at one end of Main Street  very near a  lovely bakery,  but  shops are  within an easy walk, too...   A perfect place for  pampering and   enjoyment of beauty and grace!

White Oak Tavern

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One of my favorite   places  to  do lunch or celebrate anything  is

 White Oak Tavern Tea Room


Located in neighboring Botetourt County  near  the  quaint  county seat of Fincastle known for its fine  colonial  history,   the tavern  has   a very   special charm!
A perfect place for intimate   gatherings....  and  simply divine   through every season of the year!
Their menu can be  found here!
Lovely pots of tea steeping   at the table

fabulous   homemade  chicken salad  with  over 15 ingredients... we've yet to recount them all!

perfect for birthday parties....
or  special   luncheons with your sweetheart!

I can always find that special something   for  a  friend or family member in their  fabulous gift shop...

Most lately,   we enjoyed the ambience and   secluded  atmosophere there   as we celebrated  Amanda's   baby shower ... we   gathered   the last 2 hours of the day   just  the lunch  crowd were   preparing to leave  so it was  grand  having  the place to ourselves!

We    had such a   lovely time as   her  college friend,  old friends and family  gathered to     shower  Amanda with love and   encouragement,  as well as,   beautiful   baby girl   items! 

Even my dear  mom  was able to   join us  for the most wonderful  occasion at the   White Oak Tavern!