Lampasas Walks Historic Walking Tour now available...

Check out our new historic walking tour of the downtown Lampasas area at Voicemap.

The app is free at the App Store or on Google Play and the tour is only $.99.  Guests at the Markward Manor B&B may request a coupon for a free download.  I wrote the tour using several sources for Lampasas history and recorded it so visitors can download it and take the tour whenever the mood strikes them.


The tour includes several buildings which are listed as a part of the Lampasas Historic District on the National Historic Register.  It lasts about 30 minutes and begins and ends at the courthouse.

Walkers will learn some fun facts about local history--give it  try!

Aunt Frances Remembers...

This will be the first of a recurring series based on memories handwritten by Frances Markward Hall.  With the weather getting a little colder, I thought it might be nice to remember how lucky we are to have indoor plumbing.  :)  I have edited a little for ease of reading and clarity.

Frances was born April 29, 1889 in Lampasas, a daughter of John & Adelphia Florence (White) Markward of Lampasas, TX. The Markward family grew up and lived in a white stone house now known as Markward Manor and the children attended Lampasas schools and went on to further their educations in Georgetown, Austin and San Antonio. Adelphia's family, the Whites, also long time residents of Lampasas, lived on the hill above the Markward property.

Frances Markward married John Hall of Royse City, Texas on June 10, 1919. They had a son,

John Walter Hall, and a daughter, Mary Ethel Hall. Mary died as an infant. Frances and her family lived in Dublin most of their adult lives; she died there in 1965.

Many guests ask about the water storage tank in the back of the property.  There used to be a windmill—you can see it in older pictures of the house and Frances describes its location and purpose in her remembrances.

Here is what Aunt Frances has to say about bathing…

We had no running water except to the tin tub in the bath house which was clear across a big yard and at the far side of the garden next to the wind mill. It had windows with wooden Venetian blinds, and we splashed out there in the summer time.
Baths were taken in metal wash tubs [in the bath hosue] and we carried our water in and then emptied it out.  

Note:  the bath house was about a 200 yard walk from the main house in those days.  Not bad in the summer, but in the winter, probably a little chilly.

So the next time you shiver a little before getting into a shower with hot running water in a heated bathroom, remember how Aunt Frances, Ethel, and Forest used to bathe. 

A busy couple of weeks...

We finally got a little bit of a chill in the air here at the manor, so I have been trying out some fall recipes--I am working on a baked oatmeal and dried cherry chocolate scones.  I will post those when I have them perfected.  In the meantime, we have had several visitors worth mentioning.
About two weeks ago, we had the privilege of meeting the last direct descendant of John and Adelphia Markward, who built the house and were its first residents.  They were married October 29, 1880, and the portrait on the Manor homepage was taken on their wedding day.  John O. Markward, the great grandson of John and Adelphia and his lovely wife, Annette, came out to see the Manor.  We had a wonderful visit--they filled us in on a lot of family history and they also gave me permission to use some of Aunt Francis's Remembrances on the blog.  I will be adding a special series called "Aunt Francis Remembers."  Francis was the younger daughter of John and Adelphia and she lived here at the house until she went off to school as a girl.  She took the time to write her memories down and Annette has transcribed and preserved them.  Francis's memories of her childhood home and of Lampasas add precious color and detail to the history of the house.  Below is a photograph of the Markward Store on the Lampasas Square, also graciously provided by the Markwards.

We were really thrilled to have them out and we hope to see them again soon.  :)

The Markward Manor B&B has had its first famous-ish guest!  This past weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting Ed Beckley, the World's Largest Motorcycle Jumper.  He and his charming companion were interesting guests and we enjoyed visiting with them.  You can find out more about Ed on his website.  He does motorcycle shows and events all over the country.  

Enjoy the cooler weather wherever you are and we hope you will come and visit Lampasas soon.

Fall has officially started, that means it is time for pumpkin muffins...

I have a few recipes I have been working on for fall.  Pumpkin is one of my favorites, I always look forward to pumpkin bread, muffins and lattes.  This past weekend, I made the first pumpkin muffins of the season.  I decided to use the last of the summer blueberries and wed two of my favorite things.

Recipe for Pumpkin Blueberry Muffins:

2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cloves
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1 c. (I use a little more) canned pumpkin
1 c. blueberries


Mix the flour, spices, soda and salt in a small bowl.  Put the eggs, oil, sugar and pumpkin in the bowl of a mixer and mix on low/medium until well combined.  Add the dry ingredients with the mixer on low.  Don't over mix.  The key to a good crumb on a muffin is not to over mix, trust me.  Stir in the blueberries with a wooden spoon.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes depending on the size of your muffin cups. I made mini-bundts, so it was about 28-30 minutes.  You could also use dried cranberries or cherries, or fresh cranberries in this recipe for a change.

Another guest favorite that would go really well with these muffins is a crustless quiche recipe I found in the New York Times.  Here is the variation I liked best.

Crustless Quiche:

1 c. half and half
3 eggs at room temperature
3/4 grated Gruyere cheese (I have also used Jarlsberg, but the Gruyere is my favorite.)
1/4 grated parmesan
1/2 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. cayenne

Mix all ingredients--I usually mix the eggs and half and half with the spices first and then add the cheese.  Pour into greased/buttered ramekins and bake at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes.  They should be set, but may still wiggle in the middle.
Don't be tempted to use milk instead of the half and half--the flavor is worth the exra fat.  Just take a walk around the block or do some extra sit-ups.  Also, do not be tempted to skip the cayenne.  It does not make the quiche hot or spicy, it adds just the right amount of flavor to a relatively plain dish.  The flavor comes from the half and half, cheese and cayenne, so be sure to use a cheese that you like.

I am off to go enjoy an afternoon muffin and coffee!

Our first review!

We have enjoyed several guests over the summer and we have received out first review.  You can read it on Trip Advisor. (Search for Markward Manor.)  I am so glad that our guests enjoyed their stay with us.  We hope that as the weather cools off we may have more guests come to enjoy the cool mornings on the terrace and a nice warm cup of coffee with a great view.

Make a reservation for the  wine tour weekend September 26-27 or, coming in October 10, the 21st Annual Herb and Art Festival in Lampasas.

As promised, pictures of Portia's Suite...

We finally have the suite finished for both guests and for a bridal changing room during weddings.  You can see the final product below--minus a few finishing touches, like window treatments that I will be adding this week.  We are thrilled to have a reservation for Labor Day weekend so our first guests can try it out.

Coming on September 26--the Lampasas County Wine Tour.  Book your stay with us and reserve a seat on the bus--you can let someone else do the driving while you visit 5 local wineries.  Your $60 ticket includes a picnic lunch and tastings at all wineries plus a goodie bag.  

If you stay at the Manor, you can return to a quiet evening on the terrace and enjoy the peace of your private room with a delicious breakfast the next morning before you make a leisurely drive home.

Try these for a quick sweet that is high impact and low effort...

Saturday, we hosted an open house for prospective brides and wedding planners.  We appreciate everyone who braved the heat and came out.  One of the goodies we served was inspired by a Nutella Croissant I saw at HEB.  It is an easy treat that will make you look like a gourmet.

Buy some small croissants--I even cut them in half, so that guests could try several cookies without feeling too full.  Then slice most of the way through the roll.  Spread a little Nutella on the inside (about 2 teaspoons) and top with powdered sugar.  It tastes great, it looks wonderful, and it doesn't have you slaving over a hot stove in the middle of August.

We have finally finished Portia's Suite--I will be posting pictures next week!

We have had several more guests and we enjoy our time with each of them.  Our last guests visited the Legato Winery, right here in Lampasas.  They had a great time.  When you come and visit, we will be happy to give you ideas for a  weekend away in the Hill Country.  Come and see us soon!

Finally got the carpet off the stairs...

Renovations on the Carriage House continue apace.  We have had our first B&B guests, and they were great.  One of the things I always thought would be fun about running a B&B is meeting people from different places, and that is so true.  We have already heard some really good stories.  Breakfast items included zucchini bread, ham and cheddar scones, and blueberry gingerbread.  We can't wait to have more guests!

This week we finally got the carpet on the stairs ripped up.  This is in the main house, but we hope that eventually some brides may want to have portraits made on the staircase.  It looks as if whoever put the carpet in also took off some wood trim, which is really too bad.  We will need to sand and refinish the stairs, but before we do, I think I will have a look around for some trim to match the side of the staircase. This picture doesn't show it too well, but you may be able to see what I am talking about.

We will be hosting Tea and Tours on August 15 from 1-5 PM, so I will be turning my attention to planning what cookies to make for that.  I will have to put renovations on hold for now.

Spring Ho is Coming Soon...

While the work on the Manor and the Carriage House continues unabated, we are all anticipation for our first Spring Ho, an annual festival here in Lampasas.  Spring Ho runs from July 6, through July 12 and there are tons of things to do, including swimming in the spring-fed pool (hence the name Spring Ho), to parades, fireworks, and arts and crafts festival, live music, and my personal favorite the 10k run.  I will be donning my running shoes and slathering on the sunscreen for what is billed as the Toughest 10K in Texas.  I am not sure if that refers to the heat or the hills; possibly both.  Hope I make it to the finish line.  :)

For more information on Spring Ho, see the official website here.

Adelphia's Room is ready and so is the garden gate...

I have been a little remiss in posting of late, but I have been busy working.  The long promised garden gate is finished!  For more photos of the gate and of the Manor, check out the White Garden Events Pinterest pages in the sidebar.

Along with the garden gate, Adelphia's room is ready (sort of on schedule) and we will have Portia's Suite ready in time for Spring Ho.  Please call if you would like to reserve either or both of these accommodations for the big event.  See additional Lampasas attractions at the Chamber of Commerce Site.  I have added photos of Adelphia's Room on the main Markward Manor site--and you can check them out here.

Now, I know what everyone really wants to know--what's for breakfast if you come and stay with us at the Manor?  I have been doing some experimenting with my vast catalog of recipes, remember that my day job is as a librarian, so I am all about collecting and organizing.  Here are the two that we tested this past weekend.  I must admit that my food photography leaves a little to be desired, but rest assured that the taste is way better than the pictures.


Blueberry Muffins with Swedish Sugar

There are two secrets to fabulous blueberry muffins:

1. Fresh Blueberries--frozen will do when they are out of season o in a pinch, but there is nothing like a fresh berry.  The texture is a world of different.
2. Don't overwork the batter--this is a common mistake with muffins and pie crust.  it is tempting to stir or knead until every last bit of flour is absorbed, but don't give in to the temptation.  overworking the batter results in a tougher texture and a heavy crumb.

Breakfast Bread Pudding

This recipe is based on one I found on a loaf of Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bread several years ago.  You can still find the recipe on their website.

Here is how I make it extra special:

1. Use Brioche rather than regular bread.  Again, it is all about the texture.  And nothing says decadence like a buttery brioche dough.  
2. Substitute white raisins and currants for the dried cranberries.  I sometimes still use the craisins, but I always add currants.  They add a little extra umph.

I have also been working on a signature coffee drink.  How does Lavender Latte grab you?  Of course we will still have regular coffee for those who prefer it.

I look forward to breakfast with you soon.  :)

More wildflowers...

May is a great time to be in Central Texas!  Every week, we see new varieties of wildflowers joining the ones already in full bloom.  This past weekend, I added some pictures to our Wildflower board on Pinterest.  We have several yellow varieties joining the Salvia and Verbena,  It looks like native Coreopsis will be around a while and there are several shades of Lantana--my personal favorite is the light pink and pale yellow mix pictured here...

For more wildflowers, see our Wildflower Pinterest board--I will be updating it as we have more blooms.

Follow White Garden Events's board Wildflowers at the Manor on Pinterest.

The Carriage House is getting ready for guests

While Lee is working on cactus removal and parking for the wedding venue, I have been working on getting the carriage house ready for our first guests.  I started with Adelphia's room--I hope she would approve my my choices.  Over the weekend, I finished up the painting (okay, full disclosure, Lee did help with the painting along with his other duties).  Here are the colors we used:

For the bedroom, a nice calm gray, that looks very well with the limestone;  the bathroom is in a shade of blue-green that I hope will call the Mediterranean to mind.  As you can see from the color names, these are Sherwin Williams colors.  I have joined "paint perks," since I plan to be doing a lot of painting.  :) Next, I will select fabrics for the accents.  I will need to resurrect my sewing skills and hope they have not atrophied after many years of disuse.  Of course, Lee will be conscripted to install new light fixtures and blinds to get everything in shape for guests.


Photos to come of the finished product.

There were more wildflowers, in new colors, but I forgot to take pictures.  I will be posting those soon, too!

Wildflowers are in bloom!

The past two weekends we have discovered that there are a lot of wildflowers at the Manor.  The whole pasture is currently covered in Salvia and it gets lovelier every day.  I hope you will come and stay with us soon.  I will post more wildflower pictures as more varieties bloom.

...Coming soon--Oxeye daisies and Cosmos...

This past weekend, April 4 was Bloomin’ Fest, a celebration of gardening and spring planting in Lampasas.  There were booths set up around the square selling food, plants, herbs, emu oil and more. 

There was also some local talent on the stage set up in front of the courthouse.   

It was not lost on me that the booth for the Democrats and the one for the Republicans were separated by about half a block.  I suppose that was to keep things amiable.  :)  This was my first festival in Lampasas and it was a lot of fun.  I hope to visit many more.

 

Up next—I am painting the gate and painting the inside of the carriage house to give it a facelift before guests begin staying.  Pictures to come of those endeavors.

My old house

First—I am really excited to be here.  I have wanted to own a historic house for a long, long time.  Friends have warned me that it will be fraught.  I hope I am prepared, but we’ll see.

One thing nobody warned me about was how much cleaning would be necessary to start out.  When you see pictures of beautifully restored homes, or visit house museums, they have already been cleaned, probably by a staff of more than one person.  Well, I don’t have staff, but I do have family members and a lot of elbow grease, which I will be using to get the house in shape for our first visitors.  First on the agenda is cleaning, and then painting.  There is of course some gardening to do, too.  J

Five things I love about my old house:

 1.   The woodwork—no where will you see today, except possibly in the houses of the rich and famous, the quality of woodwork that you will find in an old house.  Even humble homes were beautifully made.

2.   The details—the paneling, the ceilings, the staircase—all wonderfully decorative as well as functional. 

3.       The wrought iron fence—There is very little that is more wonderful for a garden than a wrought iron fence with fleur de lis.  More on that soon.  I have big plans for the gate!

     4.  The porch—I won’t have much time for sitting, but I hope to be able to eventually enjoy a good book on the porch swing.

   

         5.  The ghosts—The feeling that you are walking, working, and living where others have been before lends an air of gravitas and a sense of belonging to something larger than yourself.  What happened here one hundred years ago?  Fifty years ago?  

Call me a history nerd, it’s okay.