Wordless Wednesday Breakfast from Coffee Talk

More of the Wordless Wednesday Imagery

Franklin County Pre-Civil War Home Tour set for Dec. 10

A guided tour of five Franklin County pre-Civil War homes, all decorated for the season, will be hosted by the Franklin County Sesquicentennial Committee on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Booker T Washington National Monument

Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. They may be purchased at the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Department at 2150 Sontag Road or online at www.franklincountyva.gov/parks.

Buses will depart the parking lot next to the football stadium at Franklin County High School at 9:30 a.m. (This is only a couple blocks from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast)

The ticket cost covers transportation to the home locations, tour of the homes and lunch.

Here are the homes on the tour:

"Burwell-Holland House Circia 1798, home of Armistead Burwell, who was once a private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson and the youngest member of congress.

"Gen. Jubal A. Early Homeplace Circa 1814, the childhood home of Franklin County's famous general. Once a 4,000-acre tobacco plantation, this house has just been newly restored.

"The Grove Circa 1854 is a Greek Revival style house that hosted a number of prominent lawyers and legislators of the time. (Also home to Jubal A Early's Law Office - just a couple block from The Claiborne House)

"Holland-Duncan House Circa 1798, which provided travelers a place to rest in the late 1800s.

"Booker T. Washington National Monument, which was the birthplace of the famous orator. The tour of the monument will include a visit to a replica of the slave cabin on the original site of Washington's life from birth to 1865.

For more information about the home tour, contact Debra Weir at 540 420-8501 or email at debraweir@franklincountyva.org.


Article from The Franklin News Post our hometown paper - click here to read more! 


VIRGINIA IS FOR HISTORY 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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

On the Fly in Franklin County

Fly fishing in Franklin County VA

BOGO Virginia is for Lovers Special!

Buy One Night and Get the Second Night Free!* 

Virginia is for Lovers Y'all

Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast White Winter Wonderland Blue Ridge Style!

1. Valid in the month of Love - February Only, must be consecutive night stay/same guests. 
2. Must be prepaid upon online reservation with credit card (*no date changes/refunds/cancellations/paid in full at time of booking. Not combined with other discounts.)
3. Discount will show in reservation system as 50% off, discount does not apply to one night stays. 

Escape the rush of the cities; come relax in these Blue Ridge Mountains where the pace is slower, where Southern folks treat you as a neighbor, and Appalachian culture greets you at every turn of this crooked road.

BOOK NOW ON OUR SECURE WEBSITE TO REDEEM THIS VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS SPECIAL! CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM. This is a one time only special, the first ever at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast!

See our website for more information on local wing dings and sites of interest.  Add on Fresh Fragrant Flowers and surprise your sweetie for an additional $43 (you can add this to your reservation online.)

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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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Wordless Wednesday from Coffee Talk

More of this Wordless Wednesday Fun!

Fieldale Antiques - Just Down the Road a Spell

Fieldale was the first town in Southwestern Virginia with sidewalks, electric lighting, and municipal water and sewer.

Mountain Music Jam at Fieldale Antiques

As a tourism operator promoting this incredible part of Virginia while running The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast I like to make suggestions of nearby sites of interest for our guests.

What Are You Thankful For?

Here it is in one, no wait, in two or more...

How important is the "Second B" in Bed and Breakfast?

We believe an inncredible breakfast adds great value and innhances your experience at a bed and breakfast! 
But as you may well know, not all B&B's emphasize the second B, your viewpoint is important to us so The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast has put together this survey to ask you what your thoughts are on the second B.

We thank you in advance for your time and feedback. We hope to serve you soon here at The Claiborne House in Rocky Mount Virginia.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Presidential Landmarks in Virginia

Virginia is rich in presidential history! Eight U.S. Presidents were born in Virginia. Virginia has more than 25 landmarks representing 13 presidents. Here is a map of just a few of the presidential landmarks in the Commonwealth. From Virginiaisforkids.com

Boring Hotels vs Today's Inns and B&Bs

Just say No To Crummy Continentals, there is a *Better Way to Stay!

NO POP TARTS ALLOWED!

Experience the Difference at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast

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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.


*Visit Betterwaytostay.com for more details about Bed and Breakfast Inns being not your average cookie cutter hotel room stay.

Are you ready to tie-one on?

National TIE-ONE ON DAY is November 23rd!

“Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal, and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.” EllynAnne Geisel

Four years ago, I noticed that Thanksgiving was talked about in terms more commonly associated with stress, than joy. I remembered my mother’s absolute love of Thanksgiving, as a day more than anything else of sharing and gratefulness. So I created National Tie One On Day™ as an annual opportunity to return the “give” to Thanksgiving by sharing our good fortune with someone in need of a kind gesture.

National Tie One On Day™ has nothing to do with purchasing anything special or even driving! ...

...read more here

For More Information, email EllynAnne or call 1.719.545.5704  Website here

VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS

The last of the turkey went into this...(11/28/11)...
don't be embarrassed to cook with love y'all! - Shellie

Shellie your Innkeeper

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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Wordless Wednesday - WOOF!

MAN'S BEST FRIEND
The Family Dog

Buy - Sell or Trade

Your Innkeeper Recommends a Country Antiques Road Trip

Every once in a while we take the road less traveled, by us. We went to Staunton River State Park which was our first family getaway in 6 months after a very busy Summer and Fall here at The Claiborne House B&B.

Hazelwood Antiques and Folk Art Birdhouses in Nathalie VA

We went over on one highway (US 58) and came back on another (US 40), just to see rural America and another part of this beautiful state we call Virginia!

As we buzzed along lo and behold I see a fence line (and more) lined with handcrafted bird houses. I am not talking about cute little bird houses made from a craft store, but real folk art!  I asked Tony to turn the rig around and jumped out with my camera. What I did not realize until a few moments later was that Hazelwood Antiques and Folk Art Birdhouses was much much more!

Mr Hazelwood the proprietor and artist came out to greet us and I had to pick my jaw up off the ground with what he showed us. Shed after shed of meticulously displayed antiques and folk art. For example, I went into one shed where there were dozens of sets of vintage salt and pepper shakers and old bottles. Everything has been displayed together by use or by color, like the depression glass I found sorted by white = milk glass, or by blue = colbalt glass etc.

The Hazelwoods do not have a website, but they are very popular and open 7 days to "Buy - Sell or Trade." The inventory is always on the move and revolving. This country antiques road trip is approximately 1 hr 15 from The Claiborne House in Rocky Mount.

Every birdhouse is unique from rough-hewn rural country churches to tobacco barns and sharecropper houses

Made from old re-purposed wood and other primitive and farm elements

O birdhouses how I love thee - let me count the ways!

Hazelwood Antiques and Folk Art Birdhouses 11235 L.P. Bailey Highway, Nathalie VA 24577 434-349-2855

View Larger Map  CLICK HERE for Driving Directions

For lunch or dinner we suggest Smokin' Jakes House of BBQ in South Boston VA. Not only is every dish handcrafted from scratch, and the smokey BBQ delectable, but the key lime pie is to die for!

So many neat things, plus Guinea Hens and Peacocks (which the girls loved!)

Things I love like the whole fence-line of antique ladles, and heaping pile of granite ware and such

A child's wagon full of vintage door knobs

Americana at its best!

Isn't it fun to get off the interstate and see the real America? 

Drive through Virginia and see her tobacco farms going back for generations, big red dairy barns and meet interesting people. Don't miss the heritage and culture of this fine state, if you do, then you might as well as never come!

VIRGINIA IS FOR FOLK ART 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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.


*Note: as always this is provided for your information and trip planning, we are not responsible for third party hours of operation, etc. calling first is always a good idea!

Sinbad in Roanoke Dec 3, 2011

Clean Comedian Sinbad in Roanoke this December. He said "Life unedited is funny" so bring the family out, or make it a date night and laugh til it hurts!

Shaftman Performance Hall at The Jefferson Center in Roanoke VA

Saturday, December 3, 2011 - 8:00pm

Tickets to this Reserved Seating performance will be available on August 15, 2011 (Christmas Gift idea y'all, Sinbad and The Claiborne House B&B - make it a date night!)
There will be a VIP artist meet and greet backstage before the show - VIP Tickets - $55

Reserved Seating tickets - $35

Actor and Comedian Sinbad arrived on the comedy scene with a “hit’em in the face” style of comedy that has kept audiences laughing in the aisles for over the past two decades. He freely admits that he doesn’t knows any jokes, except for the ones that his dad told him “back in the day”. Sinbad tells stories, and boy does he tell stories!  The basis of his humor comes from everyone he’s meets, everything he’s seen, and everything he’s done.

Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 standup comedians of all time, Sinbad has built a loyal following by taking audiences’ painful trials or embarrassing tribulations of day-by-day life, throwing them back in their faces, and causing an uproar of comedic hysteria. He can also make it sound profound without being profane.

Sinbad is internationally known for his starring appearances in hit movies like “Jingle All the Way,” playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger; “Houseguest” co-starring the late Phil Hartman, and for  his film debut “Necessary Roughness." He has starred in the television sitcom “A Different World” as well as his own series, “The Sinbad Show”. Entertainment mogul Quincy Jones sought out Sinbad to host UPN’s first late night talk show, “Vibe”.  He also recently appeared as a recurring guest star on the Showtime Original Series “Resurrection Blvd.” Sinbad has even written a self-help book entitled “Sinbad’s Guide to Life: (Because I Know Everything)." Sinbad has drawn legions of fans from his HBO highly-rated comedy specials; “Brain Damaged” (1991), “Afros & Bellbottoms” (1993), “Son of a Preacher Man” (1996), and “Nuthin But The Funk” (1998). His annual HBO music concert series (Oh! You didn’t know he was musical?) “Sinbad’s 70’s Soul Music Festival” received the prestigious NAACP Image Award consecutively for two years as the “Most Outstanding Variety Series/Special."

VIRGINIA IS FOR COMEDY LOVERS

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is just 25 minutes from The Jefferson Center in downtown Roanoke.  Stay with us and see this blues legend. Click here for directions. This show is on a SATURDAY night, show us your ticket stub and we will give you $20 off your room! (not combined with other discounts like book online $10 off) Bring us Sinbad and we will give you your stay for free y'all!

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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday at Coffee Talk

Scenes around Franklin County VA
My good innkeeper friend at Thomas Shepherd Inn WV had a wordless Wednesday blog article today and I thought it was a grand idea, so here is mine:

• Check out Jeanne's blog innSIGHTS from the Thomas Shepherd Inn Bed and Breakfast in Shepherdstown, WV.
• Also check out Monica's blog White Cedar Inn Today in Freeport Maine, who did a wordless Wednesday blog article as well.
• and lastly our good innkeeper Debbi's blog Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Shootin' the Breeze in Slidell LA

How To Make “Momma’s Apple Butter”

Steve Custer wants to share his mountain family tradition of Apple Butter making near Ferrum Virginia
Your Innkeeper wants to add "See y'all there ARE other uses for Mason Jars in Franklin County...tsk tsk!"

Apple Butter is an annual family event!

Heartland Trails Featured Us!

One of my favorite websites is Heartland Trails

Heartland Trails is all about slowing down and taking the long-road and we believe that the journey is just as important as the destination.

They feature festivals and events, antiquing destinations, historic sites and museums, wineries vineyards and wine festival events, orchards farms and farmer's markets, and bed and breakfasts and haunted inns!   

The couple spending a weekend at a B&B are also looking to fill that weekend with excursions to antique shops, wineries, historic sites, etc. HeartlandTrails.com just puts it all together in one site and our goal is to create the largest, most accurate database of its kind.

Top Tens and trails that your innkeeper suggests you bookmark to help with your travel planning.  

You can view the featured inn article about The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast here.

The Claiborne House B&B in the Spring

Click here to view Heartland Trails list of scenic drives

Antique Tips by Steve Mills 

Jadite - Fire King

In 79 A.D., Romans used Uranium ore to color glass. This gave a vivid, green-yellow color to the glass they used in a mosaic, which was analyzed by present-day scientists and found to contain about 1% Uranium Oxide.  Read on...

See all of Heartland Trails Antique Tips here


Heartland Trails feature festivals and events, antiquing destinations, historic sites and museums, wineries vineyards and wine festival events, orchards farms and farmer's markets, and bed and breakfasts and haunted inns!

VIRGINIA IS FOR HEARTLAND TRAILS 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 http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Spirits of Just Men - The Movie!

Mountain Shine

Stories of bootlegging and a simpler way of life

Imagine yourself in a little shack by the main railroad track that led into Franklin County, Virginia, from 1929 to 1934. Your job is to weigh all the inbound goods related to making moonshine. So today I ask you: How many pounds of sugar passed your shack during those hard Depression years?

Read the rest of this article from right here in Franklin County VA the moonshine capital of the world here.

"Spirits of Just Men" - A Feature-length Documentary

Featured Room - The Cascade Room

Welcome to The Cascade Room Y'all! 

Our second largest room at The Claiborne House B&B with a view of Grassy Hill Nature Preserve and the southern Magnolia outside.

Comfort and modern amenities in The Cascade Room

Sweetly decorated in warm colors and wall to wall carpet