Running Away
Sometimes you just need to get away, not just on a vacation,
but run away from people, work, the daily grind that bears down on us all. I needed that last weekend. My favorite stress relief is traveling, but I can’t afford much monetarily
or time wise for vacation right now. A
massage and a really big bath tub would be perfect. Alas I don’t have a really big bath tub and
my favorite massage therapist doesn’t work weekends. A bed and breakfast is a perfect idea for a
weekend getaway. I found the Historic
Hayes House nestled in Muskogee, Oklahoma, roughly fifty miles southeast
outside of Tulsa. Originally built by
Mr. Hayes who was a governor hopeful.
Jim and Brenda Holder have turned this house into a haven. There was a wedding going on at the house so
I chose to keep to myself for the weekend.
I did get the in room massage, the dinner they serve and breakfast the
next morning.
The Room
Summer heat has started in Oklahoma entering the air conditioned First
Lady's Suite was a welcome escape. The
queen size bed was piled with pillows and blankets. Two chairs and a chaise lounger for sitting
and reading. Cable TV and a DVD/VCR
were available in the room. Just outside
the door was a small collection of movies, Very thoughtful of the hosts. There is a refrigerator and a microwave in
the room as well with an assortment of soda and water. Jim and Brenda are sweet enough to include
snack crackers and popcorn for a late night snack. 
The Bathtub
Yes, I realize it is completely insane to dedicate a section
of the blog to a bathtub, but then I'm a bathtub connoisseur. I love a gigantic oval garden tub with
jets! Although jets and bubbles really
don't mix well or they mix a little too well.
Here is a picture of the tub and you will understand why I am dedicating
a section! I took two baths in twenty
four hours and finished two magazines.
The Massage
Even on the short two days notice Jim was able to book me an
hour with a local massage therapist. I
wasn't really sure of the protocol for an in-room massage so I waited rather
impatiently for my masseuse to show up.
To my surprise an elderly gentleman knocked on my door with a quiet
voice and soothing demeanor. I was a little nervous as I'm not too keen on
having some strange man touching me but when he got out the lotion and the hot
stones I completely forgot about him. I
wouldn't trade him for my weekly massage therapist, but it was relaxing and
worked out some kinks.
The house itself is stunning with all its old time
charm. A grand piano and several older couches
grace the sitting room. A gorgeous
dining room with colored tiles on the fireplace. Soft music playing in the background made for
a relaxing dinner. I was served a five
course dinner that was beyond delicious.
The first course was fresh jumbo shrimp cocktail sitting on crushed ice
with the cutest little porcelain pot
full of homemade cocktail sauce.
I hate to admit I wolfed that down in anticipation of what was
next. A spinach and strawberry salad
replaced the empty spot on my fine china plate. They make their own citrus and poppy
seed. Jim should bottle this and sell it
as a Hayes House specialty at the local farmer's markets. I
would buy it. 
The whole pallet cleaning thing is kind of an eye roll thing
for me normally, but I did enjoy the raspberry compote sorbet. Who doesn't like ice cream in the middle of
their meal? By the time my meal came I was ready to EAT! I was a little skeptical at first as my dinner
plate had pan fried green beans, baby new potatoes and a carrot soufflé along
with the chicken phyllo with hot mustard sauce. So many vegetables. I'm a convert. I actually ate my carrot soufflé before
anything else. That was wow. I mean I thought about asking for seconds
wow. The chicken was perfect, moist,
with the mustard sauce adding just the right tang. Dessert was a white chocolate crème with a
brandy wine drizzle and strawberries. I
licked this plate too... just couldn't help it.
With a full happy belly I looked forward to a quiet night in my room
with a movie and a good book. 
French Toast
I am not a morning person.
Most people that know me know not to talk to me until I've had my first
sip of some form of caffeine. So when I
tell you I rolled my butt out of bed at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning just for
breakfast I tell you that I did that only for the review, but ended up staying
for the French toast. There was a lovely
fruit, cream and nut parfait, but the French toast was worth getting out of bed
for. Orange and blueberry stuffed French toast
with maple sausage links. No need for
syrup here the creamy innards of the French toast made up for this on each
crunchy chewy bite on my tongue.
Delightful
I would recommend the Hayes house to anyone that needed a
getaway. Weekend or weekday. Jim and Brenda are sweet and kind. The house is old school charm with twenty
first century amenities. If I can, I
will be dragging my boyfriend back there again soon. For more information please check out the http://www.historichayeshouse.com. Tell Jim and Brenda I said hi!
No comments:
Post a Comment