Very, very late. Decided to have my morning coffee ritual before writing this blog in the hopes I would think of something to write for this blog! All we did was discuss renovations for the new house and paint options. I really want purple somewhere in my house (I love purple), but The Husband is balking. I think we've finally compromised with a light purple in the main bathroom (which has beadboard halfway up the wall - white - and grey fixtures and a purple-y countertop). The rest of the place will be neutrals and subdued.
Look at that, I've got a paragraph already! Then I thought I would tell you all about my Lent decision. Like you want to know! I've never given anything up for Lent - this year I decided to give up wine. For forty days. What was I thinking? With all the social events and the much busier lifestyle, I've seen a marked increase in wine consumption. I figured Lent would be the perfect time to give it up - and an opportunity to participate in something I've only heard other people talk about. So far, so good. Last night was a potluck dinner and I really wanted a glass of wine with supper, but I held firm and drank water. I realized this morning, in discussion with The Husband, that I may not have thought out my decision carefully - we take possession of our house in a week's time (cause for celebration), my birthday lands in the middle of Lent (more cause for celebration, or wallowing in "OMG, I'm old"), there's a party planned at a neighbor's house towards the end of March, and St. Patrick's Day is smack dab in the middle (even though I'm not Irish, I've been known to celebrate all kinds of holidays). Oh, well, I'll let you know how I do.
Next possible topic of discussion - book club. Our book club met yesterday in Lunenburg. We were hosted by a wonderful lady who used to live in Saskatoon (a fellow Prairie girl). She now runs a Bed and Breakfast in one of the oldest houses in Lunenburg, Solomon House (1775). What a beautiful home! I love history, and old houses capture my imagination. She gave me a tour and I fell in love with the wide baseboard trim, the brick fireplaces in everyroom, the original doorknobs, the wide plank floors - everything. If you are thinking of coming to Nova Scotia and need a place to lay your head, I highly recommend Solomon House. And since I've never actually stayed there, here's a link to some reviews (which make me want to book a room, even though I only live 20 minutes away).
The actual book club meeting was great, too. But since I've spent so much time extolling the loveliness of the actual location, I'll leave the discussion of book club until tomorrow. Come back, I may have a few suggestions for good reading :)
People of Blogland, have you ever stayed at a Bed and Breakfast? Any you'd like to share with us? What about Lent - given anything up? Oh, yeah, and purple walls - what's your opinion?
Suse - if you're reading this and still unsure of where to stay in Lunenburg when you're here in June, I would suggest Solomon House.
Janet, doesn't it seem strange that you keep running into people from Saskatchewan? Maybe it's a sign.....
ReplyDeleteThat everyone is leaving Saskatchewan?
ReplyDeleteOr that I should return?
Great to see you here today, Joanne :)
I love it when you call us People of Blogland. I also love it when Stephen Colbert calls us Nation.
ReplyDeleteI stayed at a B&B in Michigan and one in NB, both for cousin's weddings. I definitely LOVED being in a reclaimed Victorian mansion. I drool over Victorian mansions.
The one in Michigan was The Brabb House. Fantastic communal breakfast made by the owner.
The one in NB was the Auberge Inn Thyme. Completely gorgeous. For this wedding, all the rooms were taken up by the wedding party. It was fantastic.
I haven't given up anything for Lent this year, but as a formerly-practising Catholic I used to give something up every year. I stopped giving up chocolate because I realized that there was a payoff to that. I started giving up something that wasn't actually secretly good for me, but that I really, really missed. Like giving up my walkman one year, and buying magazines another year.
Hey, Julia - I, too, love Victorian. In fact, anything old, with tons of history or a hint of a fabulous story, I'm there. My parents would sigh with exasperation whenever we went to visit relatives in Scotland and take tours of castles. They could never get me to move along fast enough for their liking. I could spend days exploring old places - and to sit down and chat with innkeepers who know the history (loved the snippets about the Auberge Inn Thyme on their website), even better.
ReplyDeleteI checked out both links (thanks) and have to say the Victorian one (The Brabb House)looked so romantic - with the lace and flowers. But to have a whole Inn or B&B for a wedding party, that must have made some great memories.
Believe me when I say I'm really, really missing wine. Question for you - did you go back to buying magazines? I think a real challenge for me would be to give up the Internet for a year - I don't even think I could do it for 6 months :)
Don't forget you can glug a Guiness on St. Patrick's Day without breaking your Lent commitment!! I gave up sweets one year, which was really hard considering how much I love Cadbury creme Easter eggs. Nothing came to mind this year, so I blanked it out of my head. Maybe when I get back home in early March I will find two things and do a double penance for the rest of Lent.
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo - thanks, Hazel. Green beer, anyone?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your double Lent, if you choose to go that route.
Hi Janet,
ReplyDeleteToo bad I didn't know about the Solomon House beforehand. I've already booked us into Kaulbach House Historic Inn for 2 nights. They've already taken a deposit.
We've stayed in several B&Bs over the years. My mother-in-law used to have B&B clients on the farm, but the accomodations there were nothing like some of the B&Bs we've been at. Some of them have been pretty fancy schmancy.