HYACINTHS FOR THE SOUL

Monday, July 23, 2018

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.