To her parents, older relatives, and
friends, my mother’s oldest sibling was known as Lillie. Her younger brothers
and sisters and, later, nieces and nephews simply called her “Sister.” Then she
became “MeeMaw” to grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a horde of great
nephews and nieces. But whatever name they called her, folks knew Sister’s door
was always open and they were always welcomed at her table. So it is only
fitting that some fifty years after she built her little ranch-style cottage,
her granddaughter Janet and husband Ray would open it as Miss Lillie’s Bed and Breakfast, reviving the warmth and hospitality for which Sister’s home was so
well known.
Every time I visit Miss Lillie’s,
the writer in me sees the perfect spot for a writing retreat. Nestled among
stately oak and pecan trees, the delightful bed and breakfast provides many
restful spots for reflection and inspiration. Miss Lillie’s is also popular
with guests who enjoy getting away for a few days of scrapbooking. Antiquers
find Miss Lillie’s to be the perfect home base for their shopping expeditions. Located
in the heart of East Texas, it is only forty miles from Canton with its famous
First Monday Trades Day. But Canton doesn’t hold a monopoly on the
antiques/collectibles market. The countryside surrounding Miss Lillie’s teems
with all things vintage (and, yes, a fair amount of junk). The near-by Lindy Antique Mall, Janet and Ray’s other thriving enterprise, offers over 10,000 square feet
of beautifully displayed reminders of days gone by.
This past weekend, as she often
does, Janet offered Miss Lillie’s as a gathering place for a family mini-reunion.
I’m always impressed by my cousin’s flair for decorating and her ability to
evoke pleasant memories of or quiet longings for the past. After this last
visit, I just had to share examples of her creativity. With her permission, I’m
using twenty-first century technology to take readers on a virtual tour of
“kinder, gentler” times. I hope you enjoy it. If you feel inspired, you might consider
a retreat of your own at Miss Lillie’s.
While some bed and breakfasts can be a bit overpowering with their nod to nostalgia, Miss Lillie's keeps things light and uncluttered. For scrapbookers, the furniture in this "parlor" is replaced with functional tables, allowing scrappers to pursue their craft, unencumbered and uninterrupted.
At Miss Lillie's you don't get just a "bed" and a "breakfast." You get an entire house with a well-equipped, spotless kitchen.
Both inside and out, comfy spots for reading, writing, and reflecting abound.
Vintage vignettes call out (unobtrusively) to be photographed. I wish my photography did justice to the details and the mint condition of this clothing.
And for a bit of potty humor ... These lacy bloomers hang in the bathroom. Obviously the woman who wore these wasn't worried about adding "bulk" to her hips and thighs!
The serene charm continues outside. The brick in this pathway was salvaged from a demolished building and is over one hundred years old.
Sister loved to sit on her back porch and visit with family and friends while she shelled peas or pecans. Today, guests still gather there to talk and laugh. (If you want to shell peas or pecans, you'll have to bring your own.)
Like her MeeMaw, Janet Lindamood, proprietor of Miss Lillie's Bed and Breakfast, spares no effort in making sure her guests feel welcomed.
