Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas Friday Dec 3, 2010

Christmas time's-a-comin' Christmas time's-a-comin'...

Join us for Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas Friday Dec 3, 2010 6-9pm.  
(Updated 12/1 the town is all aglow - every lamppost has greenery and ribbons, the farmer's market - town center - the storefronts, this is going to be beautiful! Hope y'all can come out for this. Can  you hear the sleigh bells ring? I can!)

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast Celebrates Christmas! (image taken winter 2009)

This is the one day per year when the streets are closed to vehicle traffic downtown Rocky Mount!  Walk to the end of our street from The Claiborne House B&B and you are there!  Stay with us and save $25/night this weekend!

Some of the events to look forward to in downtown Rocky Mount:

Old fashioned Horse and Buggy rides, Festival of Trees, Live Bluegrass and seasonal music by The Wright Kids, Aspen Black Cowgirl Poet, Vintage vehicles on show from Outlaw Cruisers, Local artwork and demos from Bald Knob Artists, Aurora Fused Glass Jewelry, Pictures with Santa, Yarn Demos, Jack Tale Players, Ice Carving, tons of food vendors and the grand opening of The Grainery our new Artisan venue in Rocky Mount!

Come out and join the fun, don a hat and scarf and your festive spirit!  Christmas time's-a-comin' Christmas time's-a-comin'...

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR BAD COFFEE!   Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here, and see our winter special and save $35/night! http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.    We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate!

Featured Room - The Blue Ridge Room

Welcome to The Blue Ridge Room Y'all, a Honeymoon and Romantic Favorite at The Claiborne House!

Fall in love all over again at The Claiborne House B&B

The Blue Ridge Room, features a comfortable and classy queen sized walnut four-poster bed with subtle canopy.   Soft lacy curtains let the sun filter through on your pillow.  Original wood floor with beautiful oriental rug.

Gentle surroundings also include a full size mirrored walnut armoire, marble top Victorian night stand, a comfy side chair and crystal reading lamp, TV and an antique sofa to complete the atmosphere, with a large private tiled bathroom (shower/tub combo, pedestal sink).  

A very pleasant and romantic room!  A honeymoon favorite.  Views of the large maples out front (especially brilliant the month of October)   $125+tax per night.  Max Occupancy 2.  Click here for more innroom amenities.

Click here for second floor layout.

The Romantic Blue Ridge Room

INNSTANT ROMANCE ADD ONS

• Fresh fragrant flowers and sparkling cider $43.00
• Bouquet of fresh fragrant flowers $33.00
• Sparkling cider for two $15.00
• Cheese, Crackers and Fruit Plate and Sparkling Cider $30.00

Special Packages Click HERE

Blue Ridge Room Large Bath

Please give us 48 hours notice and these will be set up in your room for your arrival.

BOOK ONLINE FROM OUR SECURE RESERVATION SYSTEM and SAVE $10 PER NIGHT~!

*Rates may be subject to seasonal fluctuations. May be higher for holidays and special events. 2 night minimum on all race weekends.

VIRGINIA IS FOR B&B LOVERS

LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR BAD COFFEE!   Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here, and see our winter special and save $35/night! http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.    We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate!

Meet Virginia's Kids!

There are many Virginia children waiting to be part of a family

"I just want a place at the table to call my own"

As part of our state's Adoption Awareness Month I am here to share some special innsights with you!


With thousands of kids available and waiting for a permanent place at the table, a place to call home I thought I would share some Adoption Info from The State of Virginia. In Virginia there are over 1400 children waiting for a place to call home. 


I don't want the facts to cloud the issue, the issue is this - these kids by no fault of their own are abandoned and left to the government to raise, now they are legally free - - waiting - -.  These kids deserve a chance! 


Don't let the labels scare you, the more labels like ADD, ADHD, SPECIAL NEEDS etc they have the more funding they receive.  So I will say it right here and now all of these children will be called special needs. If you meet them in person you will find them like every other child, fun, happy go lucky kids.
Something to consider
Adoption is FREE
I declare this as many think only of overseas adoptions which cost thousands of dollars.  Even your attorney fees will be covered in the Foster-Adopt program.  Secondly, God works miracles.  Yes, He is still in the miracle business.  So if you have not found your way to your knees considering this process, you may want to begin now.  He has a special place for each one of these kids.  If you feel like there is a room in your life to give more of yourself, more love, more time, more care then consider adopting. 


How to adopt from the Foster System here in Virginia - click here.  Don't let the paperwork, rules and reg's scare you, like I said it is the gvmt, there will be red tape.


To Meet The Kids:

• There are two ways to view Virginia's waiting children. You may Browse through a list of all Virginia's waiting children or create a Search to define the profile of children you would like to adopt.
• Write down the name and identifying number of the child(ren) about whom you would like more information.
• Visit the Adoption section of our website to learn about adoption in Virginia.
• Call 800-DO-ADOPT.
• Click the Contact Us button at the top of this page to inquire by email.
• Visit AdoptUsKids.org to view a national photolisting of waiting children.

If you are interested in being there for children who need a chance and need a voice, I hope you will consider being a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).  This means you represent the child in court, the Judge will listen to you vs the dozens and dozens of social workers involved to date in any child's care, who have huge case loads.  

• Learn more about the national CASA PROGRAM here.
• Learn more about the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center here.
• View the Claiborne House B&B Foster-Adopt page here.
• View waiting Children in the Northwest here.

VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS, FAMILY LOVERS TOO!

Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here, and see our winter special and save $35/night! http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway. 

We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate! 

Anyone can run a Marathon, but can you handle America’s Toughest Road Marathon?

Find out April 16, 2011!

Local runners have crafted one of the most challenging and beautiful marathons on the east coast. In 2010 the full marathon course included 3,076 feet of total elevation gain and 6,140 feet of total elevation change,but that just wasn’t enough.

The 2011 course includes 3,620 feet of total elevation gain and 7,234 feet of total elevation change.  Kind of gives new meaning to runner’s high.

The uphill portions will test each runner’s strength and endurance while the equally challenging downhill sections are sure to weed out those who are unprepared. The breathtaking views and stunning Blue Ridge Mountain scenery will offer some reprieve to runners as they persevere to the finish line! Are you up for the challenge of America’s Toughest Road Marathon?

• What: Full & Half Marathon. 5-Person Team Relay. Walking  Half. YMCA Kids Marathon
• Where: Roanoke, VA and Blue Ridge Parkway
• Date: April 16, 2011
• Start Time: 7:30 am
• Begins: Taubman Museum of Art
• Ends: Taubman Museum of Art
• Total Elevation Change: ~7,234 ft. (full), ~3,600 ft. (half)
• Most Difficult Section: Roanoke Mountain on Blue Ridge Parkway
• Beneficiary: Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Honorary Race Chair: Rep. Bob Goodlatte (Va)
• Magnificent Views: Plenty

Net proceeds from this race will go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway – the official National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway’s 501(c)(3) membership organization for visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway works tirelessly to protect, preserve, and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway – a national treasure!

The organizers would like to thank the National Park Service for its support of this event. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Honorary Race Chair Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke.

Get Running!


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION


Stay with us at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, we are 19 miles to Roanoke.  We offer all participants $20 off per night, we'll call it sweat equity! Just put that in the notes when you book online from our website here:  BOOK ONLINE.  View our rooms here. and don't forget Rocky Mount is pretty hilly, so there is plenty of pre-race practice around town here.

VIRGINIA IS FOR MARATHON LOVERS


Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here, and see our winter special and save $35/night! http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway. 

We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate!

When an innkeeper goes to Inndiana

Innformation from your Innkeeper Shellie - Did you know that 2011 is the Centennial for the Indianapolis 500?

• Indianapolis 500 website here and a tweet from Indy500 - @IndyTalk Free general admission for kids 12 and under at all days of 2011 Indy 500 w/ adult GA. Great value! http://bit.ly/fM0hz9 #indy500
• Brickyard 400 website here
• Red Bull Indianapolis GP website here

If you go to any of these events in Indianapolis in 2011 (or visiting Indianapolis for other reasons) may I recommend the fantastic Ivy House B&B in nearby Fortville Indiana.  

Lovely Boston Ivy Room at Ivy House B&B in Fortville, IN

This lovely Inn is run by extraordinary innkeepers who have gone the extra mile to make you feel warm and cozy and welcome! The inn itself is a Dutch Colonial and has been featured on HGTV "If Walls Could Talk" as they recovered some items of notoriety in the basement at Ivy House Bed and Breakfast.  I can only describe this gorgeous inn as Southern Living meets Better Homes and Garden...you won't be disappointed.  You can book online at any time from anywhere, tell Linda and Jim I recommended them to you!


Back to my trip Inndiana details...I went to Inndiana to meet up with a super sweet innkeeper named Jane who owns and operates the McDowell-Nearing House B&B in Muncie Inndiana.  Another former innkeeper and good friend Sue from Columbus Georgia also went to Inndiana and we met up at the airport, picked up our rental car and headed North to converge on Muncie.  I decided to nickname this town "Munchie" as they really do have some great midwestern food!   

Luxury at McDowell-Nearing House in Muncie Indiana

We met Jane at her McDowell-Nearing House in Muncie and immediately felt welcomed and at home.  She has a very innteresting story on "Coming home" (or as she said "Being sucked back in to Muncie") after living elsewhere, outside of Inndiana.  


This B&B is her family home where she and her two brothers grew up, and she heavily renovated and added-on to create 4 luxurious guest rooms, all with top of the line amenities such as handcrafted American made furniture, Dimplex four season electric fireplaces, Sanjet pipeless whirlpool tubs, extended digital cable, complimentary WIFI, a library with tons of books and games, big screen TV, a 24-hour beverage station, a sun-room dining room, large parlor, off street parking...and last but not least delicious homemade breakfasts! You can book online at any time from anywhere, tell Jane I recommended her to you!


So once we were settled in we began our "Munchie" tour.  From Pizza King (a local favorite) to the best baby back ribs I have ever had at a local restaurant called Amazing Joe's.  We have a food network bbq cook-off winner just down the road from us here at The Claiborne House B&B in Virginia, and I have to confess - the ribs I had TWICE (yes I forced my inn-mates to go back there) were better, they were inncredible!


Some background on Muncie:
1) Ball Brothers started BALL CANNING there.  World renowned Ball Fruit Jars, and therefore the creation of Ball State University, and more therefore Indiana becoming the glassworks capital of the USA.  We innjoyed the Indiana Glass Museum in Dunkirk Indiana by way of a private tour thanks to Jane's wonderful cousins Don and Becky. 


2) Garfield lives in Muncie Indiana.  His creator Jim Davis has his art studio and HQ's in Muncie. (I know you are now wondering if I had lasagna in Muncie...)


I recommend Jane's blog titled "The Perspiring Innkeeper" to learn more about the area.  Perspiring was what she titled it after being an "Aspiring" innkeeper during all the reno's and hard work to open her beautiful home to the public.


Things not to miss: 

• Minnetrista Museum and Ball Brothers Mansions 
• The Indiana Glass Museum in Dunkirk
• The AMA Museum (Academy of Model Aeronautics) & HQ's
• Concannon's Bakery Cafe and Coffee Bar
• Pizza King for original Hoosier style pizza
• Amazing Joe's where "The Answer is Yes!" 
• and if you find yourself near the airport in Indy head south a wee bit to Mooresville and visit Grey's Cafeteria for their famous home-made pies and Hoosier style tenderloin sandwich.

I think I fit in fairly well in the Midwest, I don't know why, maybe because the people there were so friendly and welcoming (I even had a chance to worship with Hoosiers at this church).  It is fun to visit other areas y'all, I hope you get the chance to visit Inndiana soon and see for youself.  Don't just hit the touristy stuff, meet the people, they are what make any place special!


PLAN YOUR GETAWAY TODAY!


Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here, and see our winter special and save $35/night! http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway. 

We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate!