I didn’t really know what to expect going into this project.  I was scared.  I was terrified.  And what I found was a place I now call home.  And dear friends who have helped me to see my true potential.  It’s only been one month – and I’m already starting to find myself.

On my last day at Great Oaks Manor – Carey Gravelle the innkeeper said to me: “You know, if you end up with any gaps in your trip, you’re always welcome to come back here.  You’re like family now.” And that gave me the courage to tell her something I’d been thinking about for over a week.  Great Oaks Manor has an amazing soul.  The city of Richmond is a hidden gem in the midst of sprawling chaos.

I told Carey, “I know you’re going to think this is crazy.  But I’ve already decided that when you’re done running this Bed & Breakfast – I’m going to buy Great Oaks Manor from you.  The soul of this house calls to me.  I’m going to buy it and make sure it never gets torn down.”.

And I meant every word.

The last weekend that I stayed at Great Oaks Manor we threw a Cajun Christmas Dinner.  You can tell from the pictures that we had an amazing time.

Now I must be moving along – because new adventures await.

If you would have told me a year ago – that I would be spending all of 2010 staying at some of the most beautiful homes in the country, and sleeping in the most comfortable beds imaginable – I would have told you you were nuts.  But here I am.  I pinch myself every day to make sure this is all real.

So – I’ve been sleeping in The Tuscan Sun Room since my arrival here in late November – and as much as I love and adore this room – especially the space (it’s over 500 square feet).  I think it’s time for me to try out another bed.  It’s hard to judge the quality of a Bed & Breakfast sleeping in just one of the rooms.

I thought you could help me to decide which room I should try out next?

The Tuscan Sun Room

First let’s explore the room I’m in now.  Do you remember the movie Under the Tuscan Sun?  Well sleeping in this room makes me feel like I’m waking up every morning in the Italian Countryside.  It is Bramasole (or at least as close as I’ve ever come).  The King Size Bed has a Tempur-Pedic Mattress, and there is a huge jacuzzi tube in one corner of the room and an electric fireplace in the other.  If you’re a writer like me you’ll love all the sunshine, light, and space this room has to offer.

Shady Lady

Because “A woman should be a Lady in Public, and a Wh…” well you know the rest.  The Shady Lady has a Select Comfort Adjustable Bed, a Heart Shaped Jacuzzi, and a charming powder room.  I feel sexier just standing in this room.

Pirate’s Lair

Great Oaks Manor owner Carey Gravelle loves Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy.  When she saw the small windows on the back wall of this room (which are now on either side of the bed) – she says they reminded her of the window’s of a pirate ship.  The bathtub is both elegant and romantic – and probably my favorite feature of this room.  In my opinion this is the most colorful and unique room at Great Oaks Manor.

Casablanca

This room has a very Moroccan feel to it.  The colors are deep golds, greens, and rust.  The bed is a Sleep Number bed, and there is a lot of space in both the bedroom and bathroom.  The bathroom has a Porcelain Tub and the floor still has the original marble tile.  My favorite feature of this room is the rocking chair near the bed.  I love rocking chairs and actually asked for one for Christmas this year.

Veranda

The room feels very nostalgic.  A black & white photo taken in 1932 by African American Photographer James Van Der Zee is the focal point of the room.  There is a writing desk, an electric fireplace and a door that opens onto the veranda.  The bathroom only has a shower, but this room is still one of favorites.

Moulin Rouge

I love the colors in this room.  I love the black and white toile print adorning the bedroom and bathroom.  Even though it’s not the largest or most unique room here at Great Oaks Manor – this bedroom is my favorite.  There is a small white writing desk in front of the window and a small bathroom with a walk-in shower.  This room reminds me of the spirit of New Orleans.

Would love your comments below on which room I sleep in next?

The Moore House

The city of Richmond, Texas lies just outside of the larger more metropolitan Sugar Land (to the North) and Rosenberg (to the South).  If you ask someone who’s lived their whole life in Richmond what the population is (as I have now on at least a half a dozen occasions) – you’ll get a variety of answers.  Some will say that there are about 5000 residents, others will say it’s closer to 2000.  The truth is that nearly 12,000 people call Richmond home.

Hilmar Moore was born in 1920 and has been the Mayor of Richmond since 1949.  If you do the math, you’ll realize that makes him 89 years old.  According to BBC News the Honorable Mr. Moore is “probably the longest serving elected official in the US”.  What a remarkable accomplishment.  Hilmar Moore is someone I’d like to meet.

One of the themes of my trip is Serendipity.  Happenstance.  That magical moment when you seem to be standing in the right place at exactly the right moment – and something fortunate happens as if by accident.  Squire Rushnell calls them “God Winks” – a sign that you’re on the right path in life.  Well tonight – I received a God Wink.

Kathy has been a local caterer and wedding planner in Richmond since 1970.  Strong, no-nonsense, kind, thoughtful, and charmingly Southern, she’s a cross between Paula Dean, Katherine Hepburn, and Martha Stewart.  She holds two Masters Degrees.  One in Administration and one in Education and plays the Organ at St. John’s United Church of Christ every Sunday.  Kathy is the wedding planner you hire when you want someone who cares as much about your perfect day as you do.  She still cries at every wedding.

Tonight I was telling her about Twilight & Tea, and how I had been reading about the History of Richmond – and how much I’d like to meet Hilmar Moore.  “You mean Hilmar?” (Only she pronounced it more like Hilmer).  “I’m friends with his wife.” No wonder local residents believe the population of Richmond couldn’t be more than 5000.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the last 4 days – is that if you look for interesting people – you’re sure to find them.  And it’s often the interesting people who we find in unexpected places who hold the key to our next adventure.  But you’ll never know unless you ask.

I am certain I am on the right path in my life right now – and I’ll be keeping my eye out for more God Winks along the way.

I think before today I had forgotten how to appreciate small town life.

According to the Jivaro an Amazon tribe found in Northern Peru and Eastern Ecuador (famous for their practice of Head Shrinking) there are 3 different souls:

1. The True Soul
2. The Protecting Soul
3. The Avenging Soul

The True Soul is the soul you’re born with, and the Avenging Soul is the soul that will revenge your spirit if you’re murdered…but it’s the Protecting Soul that interests me here.  The Protecting Soul is the soul you earn by going on a Vision Quest.  Generally a young boy on the brink of manhood goes into the woods for five days all the while fasting and drinking a hallucinogenic.  He will be visited by spirits and face his fears – and when he returns he will be be a man ready to go into battle.

Now – while I might not be fasting in the woods – I am definitely embarking on my own Vision Quest.  I hope to return to the world with more wisdom, more tolerance, more confidence, and an increased appreciation for the simpler things in life.

Tonight I’m sleeping in an unfamiliar bed – and I’ve never felt more at home.  This room which is aptly named “Under The Tuscan Sun”, makes me dream of long walks in the Italian Countryside.  I’ve turned on the gas fireplace and am lying in what could possibly be the most comfortable bed in the world.  It must be a Tempur-Pedic because the mattress foam seems to meld right to my body.  I’m tempted to go downstairs for a glass of wine from the kitchen – just to see if the commercials are true.  But it’s late, and I’ve got a brilliant day planned for tomorrow.

Under The Tuscan Sun is actually one of my favorite movies of all time.  I picked up the book a few weeks ago, and found that this was a rare instance where the movie was much better than the book.  Apparently, I’m not alone in this observation.  For those of you wondering where I am – and why I’m waxing poetic about mattresses – take heed all will be revealed momentarily.  I’ll meet you back here over tea in the morning.