Road Trip 2010 was a blast – we hit twenty-five states altogether! Paul woke me up at the crack of dawn for our journey back to the Cape (he knew it would take me a full day to say goodbye to everyone in Colorado, otherwise). ***HUGE thanks to our friends for putting us up (and putting up with us) … can’t wait to return the favor ’cause we miss you already!***
Coffee Stop at the Kirby House in Abilene
As I near the end of our Road Trip 2010 posts (only Missouri and Ohio to go) I realize how alive I feel while on the road and/or writing about the road. Some connections get me to thinking about stuff I don’t otherwise contemplate. Take fate, for instance. We were just passing through Abilene, Kansas and decided to grab a cuppa at Kirby House. What a beautiful place, by the way (I’m a sucker for old Victorians – this one was built in 1885).
I got to chatting with a woman named Bette seated next to us at the coffee bar (she had a lovely charm bracelet on), and come to find out she is fond of Evergreen, Colorado as well. In fact, she co-wrote Colorado Cravings, Recipes and Romance with Gail Riley, the owner of The Highland Haven Creekside Inn…which just happens to be one of the best places to stay in the universe, let alone Colorado. I bought Colorado Cravings from Evergreen Crafters when it first came out. It has already been sent to the site of our next sit – that is how much I love this book.
Later that same day Bette and I saw each other AGAIN at a Cracker Barrel down the road-a-ways. I couldn’t believe it at the time; looking back I do. We had another nice chat while Paul took a business call outside. Bette, it was a true pleasure to meet you. You said some things I needed to hear. Please, let’s keep in touch! By the way, everyone, Bette’s full name is Bette Milleson James. She is a writer of poetry and prose. And she highly recommends the Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe found in Colorado Cravings.
We stopped in Topeka for the night because “time was getting on” according to Paul. He randomly called up The Woodward and spoke to the proprietress, Elizabeth Taylor. I am thrilled to say she had a room for us – who would have thought that one of our favorite places to stay ever would be in Topeka, Kansas? Don’t you just love pleasant surprises?
The Woodward Inn, Topeka
This proprietress is amazing. Elizabeth doesn’t just run an Inn; she has basically bought all of the properties on the block and renovated them, slowly and surely transforming the area from ramshackle and crime infested to one of the prettiest neighborhoods in America. She sat and chatted with us over peach tea and chocolate cake that evening, telling us stories about her home and business for almost twenty years now. Oh. And she has Polish Pottery available for sale. I love Polish Pottery.
Polish Pottery (and Paul) at the Woodward Inn
A wedding was to take place in the chapel that weekend. Yes, the Woodward Inn has a chapel. Actually, it is a library, but it felt like a chapel (with books) to me…it gave me goose bumps. In a good way.
The Chapel at the Woodward Inn
“The open 2 1/2 story library in this home is designed after the King Henry VIII Library at Hampton Hall in London with imported timbers and stones from England” (see the website link above for more). If you are a bibliophile, you owe it to yourself to research the history of The Woodward. You may just find yourself on a pilgrimage.
View from the second story...
It really bothers me when I am unable to capture the beauty of a place with my little camera. I will be upgrading soon – promise. I suppose a photography class wouldn’t hurt, either. Anyway. There is something magical to me about The Woodward. Love at first site. Do you know what I mean?
If so, please tell us about a place that has captivated you. My favorite part of blogging is hearing from you, my reader…I mean readers!
I am so thrilled to hear you loved Kansas. I think I am one of the few people I know who actually enjoys Kansas and wants to do a long weekend there !!! I oddly love the drive on I-70 through Kansas…I find the gently rolling hills and open plains to be very soothing to my soul. I also have a great interest in stopping to see the world’s largest prairie dog and the 5 legged cow !!!! You have now given me a reason to head to Topeka.
I drove through Kansas in my early twenties with my cousin Jim, stopping only for a speeding ticket. We listened to John Hiatt from Colorado to Connecticut…that was a great road trip. Anyway, I remember thinking how boring Kansas was (judging by the plains and the grumpy old cop). Interesting how things change as one “matures”, isn’t it? I found Kansas to be soothing all around and think you would be quite pleased with Topeka…
Valynne,
What a dang small world. I know Bette. I know her daughter Myrna who lives here in Denver. I know Myrna from my Chicago days (was so long ago it might have been a previous life). Myrna actually PUBLISHED the book Colorado Cravings. She has her own publishing company — Blue Line Publishing. And I’ve met Bette several times. Crazy that you ran into her. I’m going to point Myrna to your Blog.
Be well. Talk soon. I’m busier than a 1-legged man in a butt kicking contest trying to get ready for the house sitting gig in Granite Bay, CA. You and Paul have been an inspiration for me, and here I am about to set off on my first adventure. I’ll send pics when I’m all loaded up.
Michael
I love “small world” stories, Michael – thank you for sharing this one : ) Thinking of you lots – knowing you are super busy and feeling like we will have more time to continue our fascinating (in my opinion, anyway!) conversations once we are both settled into our new sits. Lots of exciting stuff going on that I am looking forward to sharing with a kindred spirit!
Valynne–What a hoot to see this blog! I checked about two weeks after we met, no entry then, and I did not get back to it, though I so enjoyed meeting you. Then Myrna called. Michael had told her, and here I am checking the blog again. The “six degrees of separation” has now shrunk to two. What fun! I’m in Pittsburgh right now, visiting, going home soon. I have a new book out, just got copies last week, so good times.
I have been to the Woodward Inn in Topeka–I did not recognize the name of the Inn, but I do remember the name of the innkeeper–who in my generation could forget the name Elizabeth Taylor? I toured it with a group of teachers quite a few years ago, when she was just beginning.
Have a great fall and holiday season! Best wishes–Bette
Bette…I got a bit behind on things, alas. The good news is I sold my little bath and body products biz, Mountain Girl Organics, and have been busy getting the new owner up and running in time for her first Holiday Season!
Please let me know the name of your new book, and if you have a website, share that as well! I am (finally) in the process of transfering this blog from a .com platform to a .org which means I will be able to do a whole lot more with it. Would love to help get the word out on your new book! XOX
Valynne–Talk about being behind! It has been months since you offered to get the word out on the book. I hope you’re having a great time with caretaking, wherever you are now.
The new book is “Introspection and Environment.” It is a rather large coffee table book of beautiful nature photography from all over the world (photos take by my son)combined with a reaction poem for each photograph. It is a lovely book, printed and bound in the United States, currently being considered for the state library’s list of Kansas Notable Books.
I also have two books of poetry, “Bless the Children” and “Christmas Dreams,” both very pretty books with illuminations on each page. They are small lovely books intended to be used as gifts. Working on another one, but slowly.
I hope you’re still blogging. Where are you now?
Hi Bette,
Oooh, I am going to look up your book now ~ this sounds like a perfect Birthday gift for Paul. I am sure it will make the Kansas list – please keep me posted. I love how many writers we meet these days…it feels good to be doing what I am doing, especially when surrounded by people who share similar goals and dreams.
The blogging has taken a back burner to our book. There will be a lot more activity here on the blog once we finish this current sit. Check back in a few weeks for posts on Memphis, New Orleans, Lake Charles, Sedona, Las Vegas, and Portland (OR). It’s going to be a great summer!
xox, V
PS We are in Tennessee on a six month sit that wraps up in late May : )