Our Legacies

At this time of year, family traditions of holidays past always come to mind.  This is our Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus, and it has been in my family for many years.  It belonged to my mother, and I know it has been around since I was at least fifteen years old!  That was a LONG time ago!  It blooms every year about this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it reminds me of my Mom and the holiday tables she set for my family every year!  If I know anything about setting a table for joy, I learned it from Donzella Edwards Wells, "Donnie," my Mom.






Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Holiday Season Is Here at Maury Place

The holidays are here, and we are ready for our decorations and holiday music!  In the next week, Jeff will transform Maury Place into a holiday showplace-- view our Holiday Photos Page, showing Maury Place decor from past years.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers
 at Maury Place at Monument

Maury Place Designer in Richmond Home Magazine

Maury Place interior design consultant Ellen Norris of Caryatid Interiors in Richmond VA was featured in the November issue of Richmond Home Magazine!

Ellen was one of the designers chosen to feature a room at the 2010 Richmond Designer House, an annual event where a Richmond home is given a makeover by a team of designers, each of whom presents one room.   Ellen's room impressed the editors of the Richmond Home Magazine so much they gave it a full page photo in their article about the event.





Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Jeff's Flock

By now, I've helped decorate Maury Place through a full cycle of "the seasons" since working here more than a year. I've watched Jeff unveil his Easter egg collection, helped hang (and unhang) countless of his ornament collection, admired his Nutrcracker collection, strategically placed his Halloween collection, teased him about his gourd and pumpkin collection, but I didn't remember from last Thanksgiving that he also has a turkey collection! And they're roosting all around the B&B.




He has turkey salt &pepper shakers, turkey tureens and a turkey gravy boat, turkey planters, a Wild Turkey whiskey decanter, a pinecone, cork, and metal turkeys, too.

Even after giving turkeys away, he says he "stopped counting at 75" in the remaining flock! There's nothing fancy about the collection, and they were inexpensive to buy - mainly made in Japan. The most he ever paid for a turkey was for the Wild Turkey decanter, which cost him, oh, "thirty bucks or so," he estimates.








Apparently his mother was responsible for the collector in him because everytime I ask what made him collect this or that, he begins with "well, my mother gave me..." the first set, or the first piece, or a box, that got him started.







But, he says he's stopped collecting now. Not entirely true, I submit. "Our" collection of scone, waffle, and pancake mixes has doubled in the past month!

Donna Weaver
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Toasting at Maury Place

We frequently have reason to serve up Mimosas and offer a toast or two at breakfast.We've celebrated wedding nights, honeymoons, anniversaries, and birthdays, but we recently celebrated our first engagement "occasion" at Maury Place!

Corey had made special arrangements for roses, wine, chocolates - the works -upon their arrival but kept the occasion a complete secret. On their drive here from Maryland, Corey hadn't told Michelle the final destination or that he had made dinner reservations at Lemaire, table #73 (which we always recommend). Apparently, his efforts paid off! She said "Yes" to his question. When the couple came down to breakfast the next morning and made the announcement, the other guests, already seated, broke into applause. Always a host on his toes, Jeff went for the champagne and orange juice to mix a batch of Mimosas, Mac arrived with his camera, and the guests choreographed a series of picture-perfect toasts! The first was for the happy couple, of course. But, alas, there were more! Guests Doug and Amy, from Pennsylvania, were in town to run the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, and finished. Toast! Guests Linda and Joe came from Roanoke to see their son and daughter-in-law who also finished the marathon. Toast! The Mimosas were wonderful! Toast! And breakfast was especially delicious. Toast! Cheers to guests who choose to celebrate special occasions at Maury Place!

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument

Today's Smile - Darren Criss Sings Teenage Dream on Glee

One of the best Glee  numbers EVER!

Enjoy!

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepersat Maury Place at Monument

SunTrust Richmond Marathon - Race Day at Maury Place

Race day dawned at a chilly 38 degrees for today's SunTrust Richmond Marathon.  Two Maury Place guests ran in the race, and Jeff's cousins from Blacksburg also stayed at Maury Place, as their son and daughter in law were running the race.   Spectators lined Monument Avenue cheering the runners, and everyone had a great time.

We have published some photos of the race as it passed Maury Place, approximately at the three mile marker-- check out our 2010 Richmond Marathon Photo Page.  We also have put a short Richmond Marathon Video on our website.  Enjoy!

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepersat Maury Place at Monument

GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

A Richmond Holiday Tradition continues as Friday, November 26, will be the Illumination of the GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at 5:30 p.m.  This year's theme is "Fire and Ice" with the display featuring more than a half million lights arranged in botanical themes throughout the Garden.  Visitors can also marvel at displays in the Garden's Conservatory and decorations in the Visitors Center.  Holiday dinners are available in the Garden Cafe and in the Robins Tea House.  Tea House dinners require Garden admission and reservations (804-262-9887, ext. 329).  Merry Mondays will feature story time fireside with the Garden Keeper and free s'more kits, and Musical Thursday evenings will feature special acoustic music performances.

Mac Pence and Jeff Wells
your Richmond Virginia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers at Maury Place at Monument