Betty Whitaker Jackson

Before beginning this blog, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz_MPtVkiKY to see the book trailer.

Today we will look at the rags to riches beginnings of what would become the Grand Lady Inn, the centerpiece of Whispering Woods Estates. This appears in both Whispering Woods and Winter Wonderland, its in-progress sequel. Here is Cathy’s approach to the main room the week after purchasing the property:

“Armed with a tightly-held skeleton key, foresight, and optimism, I stride purposefully toward the ramshackle 1910 era Victorian farmhouse.

“With pretended bravado , I tell  myself, ‘I’ve got this!’ Today’s the day to obsess, possess, and assess the Grand Lady Mansion’s potential.

“OK, girl, no time to be intimidated by spiders and layers of dust mites, here we go.” She adds, “I hate, despise, loathe, and otherwise detest spiders!”

Now, trying to be suspenseful, she relates: “The ten-foot decorative door creaks at my invasion. The whole place has been set in its ways far too long. ‘Let’s bring some life to the Inn,’ I determine.

“With some trepidation, I shuffle through the gloomy lobby, batting at cobwebs, staring through dimmed sunlit dust streams, getting my bearings.

“Dark woodwork, intricately carved, beautiful workmanship, . . .filthy windows,. . . dusty heavy drapes,. . . lots of space, . . . gorgeous stairway, . . . beautiful entryway . . .

 “I will emerge triumphant over whatever hides here under shrouds, behind closed doors, inside wooden crates layered with dust.  On my walkthrough last week, I merely glanced and dreamed, somewhat overwhelmed.

  “Floors are gorgeous. J.R. thinks they are chestnut. Gotta be original. Have to ask Randy. He’ll know. Beautiful  window on the stair landing. Looks like a Tiffany. Matching chandelier too. Same motif. Love the purple irises. Wow.

   “K. Let’s uncover some furniture. See if we can use any of this original stuff.

   “Can you imagine the thoughts going through my head?

    “I tied an old bandana around my hair,  put on work gloves, and got down to it. I raised a cloud of dust as I removed the painters’ tarp from the first sofa. “It’s beautiful! Carved rosewood back and arms and feet. Whoo-hoo. Velvet upholstery, drop-dead gorgeous.   

“Then I found brocade and pink velvet-covered companion chairs, high-backed wing chairs, three Chippendale side tables, an antique horsehair settee,  a marvelous mahogany gate-leg table between the windows, and three Tiffany lamps in perfect condition.   This room will be absolutely gorgeous!”

Then she discovers a large wooden box.

“Together Phil and I undid the seven clasps all the way down one side and across the top. When we pulled off the hinged case, we encountered this magnificently carved golden harp in all its beauty. We simply stared at it, mouths open, realizing the treasure in our midst.

“Seriously?” I said. “Can you believe this?  Dunno if we can afford to insure this gorgeous place, Honey. You won’t believe what I’ve found already, and this, wow, this has to be worth a fortune.”

“Yup. The more I see of Whispering Woods, and the more I hear from the Sommers guys, the more I thank God we’ve bought this place.”

“That about says it,” Cathy thought. And still thinks. It will make quite a book someday. “

Now: Cathy and Ben are planning their wedding pre-reception and photo shoot. It will be in the same room. Here’s how the room looks later:

The wedding planners now decide to take a “field trip” across the lobby to plan the logistics. Quite the transformation.  The Pink Room is indeed beautiful. Cathy is delighted it will be used for wedding pictures, the pre-wedding gathering. And other events in the future.

The sofa and companion chairs have been covered in  mauve-pink polyester velvet which looks elegant but will wear like iron. The wing chairs near the fireplace are in striped brocade with a muted floral pattern, and the horsehair sofa has been relegated to a hallway where it anchors a setting beneath a portrait of the original Robbins homeowner.

An exquisite table, inlaid wood in intricate circular design, anchors the furniture setting. Cathy had found a crate containing gorgeous Victorian porcelain pieces. One, a flower sculpture, glazed in rose-pinks, lovely ivory, and heather green graces this table.

Centering on this and several gorgeous paintings in the room, Jean decides her wedding colors will be pink and heather green. It will be beautiful with the fireplace. The floral designer suggests pink and ivory orchids, trailing ivy, and pink roses for the mantelpiece and her floral bouquets. What a lovely way to showcase the bride and groom. Mandy will move the bouquets to The Event Barn after their pictures record them in their glory, in the Pink Room.

The massive fireplace is carved pink marble, with intricate swirls, amaranths, and flower petal designs. Obviously this was created to anchor the room.

“Simply amazing,” Cathy had thought on that first day, and still thinks. 

A hand-painted triptych screen on stretched leather, softens the north corner of the room. It reveals delicate floral sprays, covering its extended surface, five feet high and four feet wide with special lighting Cathy had designed to enhance the pink moiré wallpaper and provide illumination to that wall without windows.

While Cathy had found several austere portraits of family members and prominent business and political leaders the original owners had memorialized, Cathy had donated these to a museum’s Victorian art collection. She did, however, feature several original floral artworks she found, each of which coordinated with the gorgeous screen and the pink of the fireplace. These she had sent to a restorer for cleaning and reframing. They now flank the fireplace, and one large own hangs over the pink marble mantle, also illuminated by special targeted pink lighting to enhance its presence. What a lovely setting for Jean’s pictures.

The harp, sits between the fireplace and the gorgeous arched window on the west wall, was found encased in a wooden box, obviously built to preserve it when the last owners left. Adele has never played such a magnificent instrument. She will play it as background music for the pre-wedding event.”

Those who have already read Whispering Woods are telling me they want to arrange a field trip. Only problem is it exists only in the pages of the book and in my imagination. It’s a fine thing when people can picture what I write and it seems real. Bought your copy yet?  Go to Amazon.com, Betty Whitaker Jackson, Whispering Woods. After you finish, please go back and write a review and give it five stars. Expect Winter Wonderland in October.