A Place Like No Other

 I've recently returned from a very special trip.

January brought a milestone birthday for me this year,   and my gift from my very thoughtful husband was a trip  to upstate NY to attend the MacKenzie-Childs yearly Barn Sale.

 I packed my bags, and the week of July 9th, 
Miss Merri Mac and I boarded a plane for Syracuse, NY.

If you've followed along here, you know I've long been passionate about MacKenzie-Childs, thier Made in America  ceramics, as well as their notable whimsical style in all they sell.
Aurora, NY is a sleepy village about 50 miles southwest of SYR. An easy drive through the beautiful countryside dotted  with grazing cattle, crops, and quaint little towns, brought me to Aurora in just over an hour.

In fact, Sherwood Road took me directly E. B. Morgan House,
 my home away from home for the week.

"Once home to Colonel Edwin Barber Morgan, co-founder of the New York Times and American Express,  E. B. Morgan House combines luxurious modern aesthetics with the unparalleled beauty of an historic stone mansion.  E. B. Morgan House offers seven stylish guest rooms, private marble baths, exquisite living spaces, gracious porches that overlook the lake and lawns, and an exceptional collection of original modern art.  
Guests are invited to enjoy E. B. Morgan House as they would a home, with the sumptuous comforts of the library, parlor, dining room, and pantry."

From the minute I walked through the stunning  etched glass doors, I knew I was in a place like no other.

I had previously visited E. B. Morgan House in 2006,  while on a day trip to Aurora with a friend from Rochester.   I knew the background story of how Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl Dolls, had generously used her fortune to  revive the village of Aurora, home of her alma mater,  Wells College.  For almost twenty years, Pleasant Rowland and the Aurora Foundation have restored more than fifteen buildings in the village of Auroa with a wellness center and spa currently under construction.  What a beautiful legacy!

Built in the 1858 as a private home on the shore of Cayuga Lake,   the Italianate style E. B. Morgan House was renovated in 2003  to become part of the Inns of Aurora.   With delightful verandas both front and back, they offer the perfect spot to soak in the beauty of Cayuga Lake. I had the pleasure of Room 202; a room with a view!

Greeted with my favorite champagne, and a turndown service like no other, the luxury of this inn is magic.

Beautiful fabrics and finishes, bright, happy colors, equisite contemporary art, and touches of MacKenzie-Childs create an unmatched ambieance for this place that is like no other.  Each morning as I savored the quiet and beauty from the veranda, I sipped my morning coffee from a beautiful  MacKenzie-Childs mug.   A home away from home, both comfortable and luxurious.  

 Evenings were spent down by the water around the cozy fire pit as we watched the glorious sunset, glass of wine in hand, and

shared our adventures of the day with other guests, all the while marshmallows roasted for the indulgant childhood treat of s'mores.  Fireflies flitted about, and the stars twinkled above.
Oh, how I'm missing these magical times!

The E B Morgan House in Aurora,  a place like no other.  

More posts to follow with details of the  MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale  and more adventures of my trip.  Joining 

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda  Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 

Tablescape Thursday @Between Naps on the Porch  ShareYour Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

With Liberty and Gelato for All!

 Happy 4th of July!

Or as some say here in Austin, Happy 4th of Gelato!

The morning was hot and muggy, and since my usual "parade buddy" is in Colorado enjoying the 4th, I decided to forgo our annual neighborhood parade  and take myself to Central Market for a cool gelato.

Liberty and Gelato for All!

 The gelato bar at Central Market was loaded with 

4th of July tasty treats!

 There were more than a dozen choices.  All with clever titles.

~ 4th of July Cake Batter ~ Liberty Lemonade ~ 

~ Red, White, and Blueberry ~ Yankee Doodle Candy ~ 

~ Star Spangled Banana ~ Red Velvet Revolution ~ 

~ American Pie ~ Patriotic Peach ~ We the People Watermelon 

~ Corn in the USA ~

My choice:

 ~ Baby You're A Firework! ~

 A fun way to celebrate the 4th of July!

Happy Birthday, America!

Before leaving, I traded my cute flats

for my Courtly Check rain boots.

Because this is 4th of July, 2018 in Austin, TX.

Joining

Tablescape Thursday @Between Naps on the Porch  ShareYour Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 
Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda  Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 

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With a Cherry on Top!

For those who stopped by to visit my Garden Post 

last week, I promised that I'd share the 

recipe for these delicious treats.

 I tried something "new to me" in the sun garden this spring.

If you missed the Garden Party post on these tall feathery, 

colorful plants, you can view the post here.

Fresh cherries are currently in abundance 

in the grocery stores here in Austin, and for me, are

the perfect healthy snack for these hot summer days.

 We keep a bowl of fresh cherries in the refrigerator,

and I find myself frequently popping one or two 

in my mouth throughout the day.

I read that a cup of raw cherries with the pits is

roughly 90 calories, and an excellent souce of fiber.

Vanilla Coconut Cherry Cupcakes

Now these are a different story!

I've no idea how many calories are in one of these tasty treats, 

but when you read the recipe you'll see that they aren't low cal.

You can find the recipe here 
@ a favorite blog, Food Finessa.

Made with eight egg whites, the cake is light and fluffy,

and the cherry buttercream icing is as they say,

" The Cherry On Top!"

 Well worth the splurge!

Serve with a glass of ice cold lemonade,

and you have the perfect summer indulgence.

 I'm still enjoying the pretty blooms
from the sun garden.

And will continue to savor the fresh cherries

 as long as they are available.

Joining

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda  Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style Tablescape Thursday @Between Naps on the Porch ShareYour Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ My Thrift Store Addiction, Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound