The Country Girl: Part 1
Posted: May 21, 2013 Filed under: Places I Like | Tags: B&B, Bed & Breakfast, Butler Greenwood, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Louisiana, Pet Friendly, Pets, Plantations, St. Francisville, Thek9harperlee 45 CommentsLast Friday afternoon, my humans loaded my chariot (with, among other things, all that human food my mommy had prepared the day before, one of my beds and several toys that I would ignore for the next 48 hours, and a healthy supply of wine) and we headed to Butler Greenwood Plantation and Bed and Breakfast for a little rest and a lot of relaxation. Butler Greenwood Plantation is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It’s less than 45 minutes from my house, but it feels like an entire world away. This was actually my third trip to the B&B. The photo on my very first blog post was taken at Butler Greenwood almost a year and a half ago when I made my second visit.
Butler Greenwood guests stay in eight cottages that are situated on the plantation’s beautiful grounds. On our previous visits, my humans and I have stayed in The Treehouse, which features a three-level deck on a beautiful wooded ravine, and The Cook’s Cottage, a 19th-century building that was home to the plantation’s cook. This time we checked into Chase’s Cottage, which is located on the edge of the pond and features a steep-pitched tin roof and a lovely porch that is perfect for a summer stay.
My daddy unloaded my chariot, my mommy got everything settled, and then the three of us set out on our first walk through the big field behind the plantation home and cottages. I love to run through that field . . .
. . . and to check out all the wonderful smells. It is heavenly.
After our first walk through the field, we settled down on the beautiful, breezy porch where we would spend most of our time during this visit. We watched the activities in, on, and around the pond. My humans read books and magazines. My daddy and I dozed, and–of course–my mommy took lots and lots of pictures with that crazy camera. I was simply mesmerized by all the sounds–birds and baby birds, frogs of all sorts, ducks, and even a peacock who would entertain us with a lovely show later in the day.
Some barn swallow babies, crammed into a nest that was safely tucked just beneath the porch’s ceiling, were our constant companions.
The adult barn swallows swooped from atop the porch lights, to the surface of the pond where they collected bugs, and then up to the little nest to feed those bugs to their babies. They rested briefly on the porch railing, and then started the process all over again.
I watched the ducks on the pond and something deep, deep, deep inside of me said, “Hey . . . Harper Lee. Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a bird dog? Did you know that somewhere way back in your past you had canine family members who actually retrieved those things?” I chose to ignore that crazy voice and just watched those pretty little ducks paddling from one end of their pond to the other and back again. In the evening, they really did settle into their floating duck house for the night.
As my humans sat on the cottage porch enjoying a yummy early dinner pre-prepared by my mommy, they glanced across the pond and saw handsome Humphrey, the plantation peacock, performing his nightly show. He seemed quite pleased to have an appreciative audience.
Our post-dinner wine stroll brought this cute surprise: two chipmunks peeking out of their little chipmunk home. If I used all four paws, I think I would run out toes to count all the different types of animals I saw and heard last weekend. It was magical.
It was also a little exhausting. Back at Chase’s Cottage, I quickly dozed off. Let’s face it: Human rest and relaxation can be overwhelming for a Golden Retriever, and my humans and I would need our rest for the next beautiful day at Butler Greenwood Plantation and Bed and Breakfast.
Is Ms Lee UNDER the bed in the last pic? Looks like quite the magical weekend!
No, I managed to wedge myself between the sofa and the coffee table. Very comfy spot . . . for a dog. 🙂
What a beautiful place. I love that pretty peacock. Can’t wait to see what part 2 brings!
It is very, very beautiful and peaceful. I’m ready to go back!
oh wow, this looks like all of you were having a great time 🙂
We all had a very good time. Butler Greenwood is one of our favorite places to visit. It’s relaxing, quiet, and peaceful for my humans and fun to explore for me!
That sounds heavenly Harper Lee! So funny that you thought you’d run out of paw-toes to count the types of animals 🙂 Looking forward to the next installment. Love, your friends, Charlie and Hannah
Oh, Charlie and Hannah, just imagine all the fun we would have had if you had been there, too!
What a wonderful way to get a head start on summer!
I’m afraid that summer almost got a head start on us. This was probably the last “cool” (for us) weekend until October, so we enjoyed every last second of it!
Here too…it’s hot early this year. Going to be a long, wonderful, stretch!
What a great place!! Love the baby birds, too cute!
It is great. I hope we get to go back in fall. Maybe we’ll see the baby birds all grown up and flying around. That would be nice!
So very glad to meet you, Miss Harper Lee (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of my favorites) and see your wonderful pictures! I’m going to follow your story so our dog Maggie (Collie/shepherd mix with a touch of coyote–just the sweetest dog ever) can look at your pictures when she hounds me at the computer!
It is such a pleasure to meet you and Maggie, and I admire your taste in literature! Thanks for following; I hope Maggie enjoys my reflections.
Oh!!!!! That place seems like a little bit of Heaven…LOVE every picture…that peacock…the house…the cottages..We just relaxed reading along!!!! What an amazing weekend indeed!!!! –Hugs
I am so happy that you enjoyed it, and that you relaxed vicariously!
Looks like a lovely time! (They really used the floating duck house, ha!) Glad you had such a great weekend!
Each evening at about dusk, the little ducks gathered, and by the time we woke up in the morning (which was pretty early), they had already left to start their day. Sweet!
That looks like an adventure I would adore! I’m so envious!
It is the perfect getaway. I think most humans could use a weekend like that, and I know most dogs would enjoy it, too!
What a lovely get-a-way! Mama especially likes the peacock picture. Woooowoooooos to yooowoooowoooo Miss Harper Lee!
Tell your mama to get ready for Part 2. There’s another photo of handsome Humphrey!
What an amazingly perfect place for you to visit, Miss HL. I am impressed by the giant nest, and also happy that it’s a nest and not a beehive, which was my first thought. Great vacation!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Butler Greenwood truly is perfection. That nest does look like a beehive at first. Thank goodness is wasn’t. It really isn’t very big–maybe half the size of a bicycle basket or less. Those little birds were just really crammed in there. My guess is that by this coming weekend they’ll be out and about.
What a wonderful place for a getaway! Reading, relaxing on the porch, watching the wildlife, and taking walks sounds like the perfect time to me! (oh, and the wine and food too) You are one lucky dog, Miss Harper Lee!
It is so relaxing, and you kind of get into the pace of the nature that surrounds you . . . you know when the birds start to feed in the morning, when the chipmunks play in the late afternoon, when the peacock struts his stuff in the early evening . . . and when the cork pops out of the wine bottle. 😉 Bliss.
Wow Miss H.L., looks like an awesome get away. You and your humans are lucky to be able to travel and enjoy such wonderful experiences together! Family is the best 🙂
My humans love traveling with me, and they are finding more and more places that are happy to welcome me. I keep asking them if we can go to the beach. 🙂
That B & B is aroootiful AND you got to go with!!!
Wally & Sammy
It is super aroootiful! I’m a pretty lucky girl.
What a lovely place to stay 🙂
It is really a little piece of paradise. I cannot wait to go back!
What a beautiful place. Lucky you to spend some time there.
I’m a very lucky dog. I could have sat on that porch gazing out at the world forever.
Miss Harper Lee, you are One Lucky Dog!! Have fun with your friends and your family in paradise!!
I am a lucky dog, but I’m sad to say that my too-brief stay in paradise is over. Boo hoo.
It looks so heavenly and peaceful there. I would love to spend a few days there. I live in Beaumont, TX which is not so far away. Maybe some day I can go.
It is heavenly and peaceful, and Beaumont’s not too far away. You’d also love visiting the little town of St. Francisville. I hope you’ll plan a trip very soon!
I’m seriously jealous!! It sounds like heaven and no wonder you were exhausted, that is sure a lot to take in!
And I haven’t even gotten to the part when I discovered fireflies. Who knew fireflies could be so exciting!
Wow what a pawsome spot…Momz sez she would love a weekend there and I would have the best time, just like you…Off to read Part 2 now
You really would love it. So much exploring to do. Fun!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you! Butler Greenwood is such a pretty place that it’s impossible not to take a good photo.