Butler Greenwood – Nth Lousiana
This trip was more than uneventful you could say. We had a new found respect for Gwen (our navigational system) since we finally worked out why she couldn’t get us to our hockey game in Memphis on time– on the return journey we noticed that all the licence plates were Mississipi plates – holy poo we jumped a border to go to a hockey game no wonder poor Gwen was confused. Therefore it was our fault for getting the state wrong and with new confidence we followed her directions…hhhmmmm
Not entirely Gwen’s fault – it was dark (not that that mattered of course) but for us to have, after an hour of REAL country be faced with a dead end road (only recent by the looks of it) but for us we were like hhhmmmm this could be a problem but wait; dear Gwen has a special button – it’s called a detour!!!!! Well it was one hell of a detour but it got us there and we found out that there was a lot of road construction and the reason for the detour.
Therefore it’s dark and we arrive at the gate of the plantation and we see, with the headlights just touching the bases; an oak tree lined driveway – just beautiful. We spoke to Anne Butler who is the owner and also a descendent from the original family of the plantation. She gave us our instructions to the cottage around a large pond. We came round one corner and our headlights land on group hhhmmm herd hhmm I don’t know some deer about 8 of them – just amazing! We parked the car and headed into our cottage just gorgeous. The best thing about arriving at night is that the mornings are just like Christmas: surprise!! “Look at this fabulous scenery!”
This was our rest period, we have toured, done touristy things and all we really wanted to do now was relax, catch up on some reading and collect our thoughts and hopefully catch up on our Blog. And this was the place to do it – we hung out on the porch in either the rocking chair or on the porch swing (got a bit burnt actually!!) or inside napping on the lounge. Aaaaahhh just lovely. We had resident ducks and a lovely peacock who visited usually twice a day – his name is Humphrey and apparently drives the local sheriff crazy because on occasion he likes to dawdle across the 4 laned highway and gets angry at the cars ( Humphrey not the Sheriff) we have seen something similar when he puts up his fabulous tail to scare off the ducks if there is food around!! Check out the photos.
The local town is St Francisville and is full of Heritage homes and some lovely shops. We did spend some time off the porch I promise…we actually visited another plantation called the Greenwood Plantation: 28 columned mansion that has an amazing history as most things do here with the Civil War and fires etc but this house is the house that they filmed the North and South TV series in – just amazing to see and here of it’s history..
St Francisville will always have a special place in our hearts; it was a place to recoup and the scenery, the fabulously friendly people of Louisiana made this so very easy to do. We love Louisiana!!
Look!! They have kangaroos in America too.
Welcome to St Francisville - population very small.
After detours and road closures we arrived at Butler Greenwood Plantation
The oak trees lined the drive way just like in the movies.
You can just imagine our excitement as we rounded the turn to our cabin and happened across the deer.
This if the front of the main house. Anne Bulter currently resides here and runs the Bed and Breakfast. She is also an author of children stories and historical books about St Francisville and the surrounding Parish of West Feliciana. Anne is a descendant from the family who first built Butler Greenwood.
Side view of our cottage - second bedroom and bathroom upstairs
Megan sitting on the deck of the Tree House cottage.
The view was nice, just not as nice as the view from our cottage.
The view of Chase's Cottage - our cottage from across the duckpond.
Cool Hey?
Closer view - isn't the zoom function on cameras fantastic!
Lounge area. Notice the real fire place, unfortunately to hot for a fire.
Notice the red children's cowboy outfit with the BB gun.
Megs in the kitchen - time for a cup of tea.
All rooms opened out to the verandah via the double doors.
Main bedroom - laundry and bathroom are located behind,
bed faces double doors facing out to the pond from the verandah.
View from our verandah, which was furnished with 2 rockers and a porch swing.
There are about 5 ducks that reside in the house on the pond.
Our verandah - amazing
Panoramic view of the scenery from our verandah - just lovely.
Meet Humphrey - the resident peacock. You will see more of him later. Anne adopted him after his mate died at his previous home. He has been known to take a walk across the 4 lane highway to visit the cows to the amazement of motorists and the frustration of the local sheriff.
Humphrey liked to walk the length of the verandah so he could look at himself in the glass of the double doors.
He is very good looking though, isn't he???
Heading out to investigate St Francisville's historical houses.
Cute hah?
This house reminded us of Boo Radley's house in To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Especially with the dead, what we first thought were corn plants
but have since discovered are actually plantain trees.
Some beautiful houses in this little town.
Notice the 2 guard dogs asleep on the lawn; they didn't even bark.
St Francisville is a bird sanctuary - the entire town!
Magnolia tree with a lot of grandfather's beard
Townhall
Our first view of the Mighty Mississippi
Everyone was getting ready for Mardi Gras; and Megan happened to buy yet another hat.
Sometimes the stuff you see on TV really works. There was a moment of panic when we realised that we had locked our selves out of the bedroom which had absolutely everything we owned in it. It was late at night and the first attempt to jimmy the door open with a credit card. THIS DOES NOT WORK PEOPLE - except to ruin the card. Next Elona tried something she had seen on TV, who know how long ago. Step one: find something long, thin and strong to poke in the hole of the door knob. Ok we couldn't find anything long, thin and strong. Step Two: The handy butter knife from the kitchen drawer to use as pseudo screwdriver, to extract a long, thin and strong screw from the door handle itself, this was then used to poke into the hole to open the door. Ta Dah - magic; the door opened.
Lovely drive in the country landed us at the Greenwood Plantation.
The road to the driveway.
The approach to the house is just stunning!
As is the house itself
28 columns surround the house they survived the Civil War, fire and neglect.
Rocking chairs can be found on the wrap-a-round verandah.
Wonderful way to relax and appreciate the view.
The inside of this house has been used for movies.
One of the more well known is the TV series North and South.
This is the dining area preserved as it was in the series.
The original duelling pistols belonging original owners of the house.
The Sitting Room - in the process of being refurbished for another movie.
Downstairs entry way - big rooms with very high ceilings and doors situated opposite each other across the house enabled cross ventilation and was the best way to keep the house cool.
Fabulous staircase with invisible supports
Looking up towards the 3rd floor through the stairwell.
The family who now owns the plantation uses the 3rd floor as their private residence.
One of Madeline's dresses from North and South
The beds are quite narrow but the rooms are huge!
Madeline's room - the house does not have a second level balcony thus when she was locked into this room she was unable to escape.
All working fire places
View down the stairwell from the second floor.
View from the side.
If you look carefully you can see the modern satellite dish used by the family in residence.
Some beautiful old trees on the property
Leaving in search for lunch - has been a fabulous morning.
St Francisville Bank - with beautiful tree.
Lunch at Magnolia Cafe.
Menu and condiments pictured.
The Cafe - the food was excellent.
Back home again
Humphrey in all his glory - bossing the ducks around.
The bumble bees were HUGE and would stare you down if you were in their territory.
Homemade Sangria - HMMMMMMMMM
Where else would you drink it but on the porch.
Snack for Humphrey
