My Bed & Breakfast Visit

Last Wednesday night I went to a Bed and Breakfast at Rugby, TN. I had never been to one before and it's something I've been wanting to do. The opportunity arose and I had a chance to go. I didn't want to go to one here, but I also didn't want to go too far away either. My neighbor suggested Rugby, TN. She said there was an old English settlement there and some really historic buildings, etc. I got online and checked it out. I even called the Newbury Inn, which is the one right in Rugby, but I found Grey Gables, which is one mile past Rugby and decided on it. The other one does not have an innkeeper and if I were the only guest I would have been in a big old house all alone. I didn't want that and so I was glad I went with Grey Gables, which turned out to be a wonderful, lovely place, with a wonderful couple running it. I got there a little early and I drove on past the Inn to an old general store just down the road called R.M. Brooks. You may read about it here. I went in there and browsed around. He had several hornet nests hanging around and a big pot bellied stove in the store. It was really old timey looking and is a landmark there. I bought a jar of pumpkin butter and picked up a brochure for Grey Gables. I told him that that was where I was staying that night. He said, "Well, I'll see you later because my wife and I own and run it." It was beginning to get ready to pour down the rain and it was about 10 minutes before check in time of 4 p.m., so I went on over. There was a note on the door telling me that she had had to run a leather jacket that a guest had left there to Jamestown, TN and she should be back in about 30 minutes. The note said to go on inside and the bedrooms were to the left downstairs or to the right upstairs. I felt kind of strange going into someone's home with them not there, but since the bathroom urge was calling I went in and found that first of all. I went back out on the porch and called my neighbor and told her I had arrived and how pretty it was with the huge porch across the front with the lovely white whicker furniture and swing. It also had a back porch all across the back with an upstairs deck as well. It's in the country and very lovely. I felt right at home. Then the gentleman from the store came home and he showed me all the bedrooms and told me that since I was the only guest that I could stay wherever I wanted. I chose downstairs and picked one that had a huge private bathroom. He asked if I wanted something to drink and I chose almond tea. He got me a glass and said he had to go back to the store but to make myself at home. He showed me how to work the TV and then he left. It was raining by then and I went and carried my bag inside. Then I sat on the porch with the cat for a while and watched it rain. It was starting to lightening and then she came home and we went inside. This B&B fed me dinner plus breakfast. For dinner I had potato soup, a salad, salmon, green beans, fried squash (which had a sweet taste and was delicious!), yummy yeast rolls piping hot, and dessert was apple pie with ice cream. This is a picture of the driveway as I was driving in.

Here is Grey Gables.

This is Cally who greeted me on the front porch.

This is the bed I slept in. I must say it was so cozy and comfy! In this picture I had already turned the covers down and put my two pillows on top of each other so I could prop up and read a bit.


For breakfast, which was at 10 a.m. (my choice), she brought me enough for a king. She brought me 4 slices of bacon, one sausage patty, hash browns, scrambled eggs, orange juice, coffee, a bowl of fruit, biscuits and gravy, and a couple of small cinnamon buns she had just made from left over cookie dough. I ate the fruit and a little of the biscuit and gravy. I asked her if I could take the bacon and sausage for my dog. She brought me a to-go box. I finished off with the little cinnamon rolls which were so good. I'm not use to eating much in the mornings, so the fruit and the cinnamon rolls were plenty. I never thought before hand to tell her there was no need for fixing me much. She has written 2 cookbooks and she was going to a book signing that evening in Wartburg, TN and she was baking cookies to take there. She has a lot of teas and cooks lunches for lots of groups. Her husband said that in December it was super busy. They have a back glassed in porch that can easily seat 30. It had 3 huge tables and 3 smaller tables. One of her more notable guests was Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter who stayed there. For my lodging, my dinner, and my breakfast the grand total was $87.20, which included taxes! Can you believe that? Sure beat a hotel all to pieces!!!

It is only 70 miles from here so I'd definitely love to go back and my neighbor and I could drive there for lunch sometime or to one of her teas. It's a pretty drive too, especially now with the foliage so pretty.

Instead of my church sign I decided to use this one, which I took inside the R.M. Brook General Store. You can click on it to enlarge it. I think it's fitting for a Sunday Sign!!