My battle between living and existing may be helpful to some folks feeling a bit anxious about life after the Corona Virus.
My battle between living and existing may be helpful to some folks feeling a bit anxious about life after the Corona Virus.
The Morrow House is one of the oldest homes in Waco and was built for a family in 1886, just six years after the Civil War. When I stop to think about that, really contemplate what life was like in Waco, Texas all those years ago, it is almost hard to imagine. In a period of time when they had no electricity and were getting water from a well (which still exists on the property), the builders took extraordinary care to add beautiful detail to a home, which in those days, was in the middle of nowhere as it was the first home built in Sanger Heights. The beauty of our home is that throughout the renovation that took place a few years ago, and continued work, much of the home’s history was preserved while great efforts were made to modernize it for today’s needs.
The sweet story of a young bride and groom who had to cancel their wedding plans and host an impromptu wedding for seven at The Morrow House.
If you follow The Morrow House on social media, you may or may not have noticed that there has never been one picture of our laundry room…and there is a good reason for that! It wasn’t beautiful, in fact it wasn’t even cute, however it was functional. It bothered me because as you know our home is a vacation rental and is often photographed and I have always wished I could make the laundry room look better than it did. This month we did a cute re-fresh on the laundry room…on a budget…and I am super happy with our results!
Have you ever thought of being a short term rental host? Do you wonder how much hospitality you need to extend to make guests happy? Today I share some of the things we do at The Morrow House and give hosts some ideas to consider before guests arrive.
The details and craftsmanship in The Morrow House are like a thousand little treasures that make it similar to a piece of art that can be studied and appreciated over time. One of my favorite spots in the house is our dining room with its original 1886 shiplap. Each piece of lumber hanging on the wall is a glimpse into history, and its imperfections are part of its charm.
Morrow is not only the name of our home but is also means “the following day” or tomorrow. I spent some precious time celebrating and learning about rest this week, and now I have another new vision of the role our home plays in the lives of others. The Morrow House gives people a chance to rest, renew and regroup so they are better prepared for what is to come…or better prepared for tomorrow.
We live in a society that is saturated with hype, unrealistic images and inauthentic messaging and it can get really hard to sort out the good from the bad. As a result I find myself intentionally looking for the authentic all around me…what you might call “the real deal.”
I am not sure, but I think some people think there is no way that someone from the beautiful landscape of California could ever be happy in Central Texas. The food is different, the weather is not the same, people dress differently and drive different cars. One is “liberal and blue” the other is “red and conservative” and we are told that there’s no way for my family to like both…and they’re right…we don’t like both, we absolutely love both. I am not going to lie and say I don’t miss the beaches and mountains of California, because I do. However, if I left Waco I would surely miss walking the riverbanks of the Brazos and the wide open spaces of Central Texas as well.
Operating a short term rental can be challenging! One of our most challenging issues is when a guest damages something in our home, which can be simple or accidental or negligent and difficult. This is the story of the farm house sink shattered and replaced within 28 hours!
We are often asked about our floors. Are they original to the home? What is the brand of the flooring? What finish did we use? The truth is, a very unique but simple process helped our simple pine wood planks get this beautiful look.
Let’s be honest, food is a BIG part of travel. When we are well fed, we are happier! Every city you travel to has a few great restaurants that definitely help you get a taste of the local culture and cuisine, however eating every meal out when you travel gets expensive and challenging. So what do you do? Here are a few great travel tips I have learned by helping guests at The Morrow House.
December has arrived, the cooler weather is here and Christmas is in the air in Waco, Texas. Fall in all its glory as come and gone, and left each of us with a little extra joy in our day knowing that the Christmas Season is indeed upon us. It’s time for Hallmark movies, Christmas music in the car, holiday parties and yes we have to do some shopping too.
It’s powerful to watch children experience moments you know they will remember for a lifetime. I read a book ages ago called “Wild At Heart” that opened my eyes to the reality that each young person has a question sitting deep in their heart that is asking “do I have what it takes.”
