T Stands for Christmas at the Wayside Inn - Part 1

Just after the New Year, I had a play day with Teague. I wanted to go to the Wayside Inn for lunch. We've visited the Inn many times before. Over 300 years of history and the oldest operating inn on one of the oldest roads in the country.

When we got there, I was happy to see the Christmas decorations were still up. The front entrance was beautifully decorated.

The wreath reminded me of Della Robbia sculptures of fruit. The pineapple is a typical New England motif for welcome. 

Christmas tree in the main lobby

Dining reservations desk. Just to the left you can get a peek into the Tap Room, now called the Little Dining Room. The Tap Room is cozy (i.e small) and less formal in decor than the main dining room. That table that you can see

was the table we were seated at. For my beverage, I had my  usual unsweetened iced tea with lemon.

I liked how the wreath hung outside the window cast a shadow.

We both ordered the Thanksgiving Turkey Panini. Roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayo on a panini roll. Served with French fries, and a pickle relish. The last time we were at the Inn, we ordered this sandwich, but it was the most popular item on the menu that day and they ran out. 

Sadly, the sandwich and the service was disappointing considering how expensive the menu is. A basket of bread and muffins was placed on the table and all were stone cold. Not even heated up in the microwave.

The sandwich wasn't worth the wait. The turkey, real turkey, was dry, and the sandwich needed more cranberry sauce. The French fries were good.

The picture over the fireplace has the initials of member of the Howe family that ran the inn from 1716 to 1861. Henry Ford purchased the Inn in 1923, and was the last private owner.

Most of the decor is charming, rustic Americana.

Part of the Inn could use a face-lift.

A charming, primitive painting of the Inn and surrounding countryside with the chapel and the grist mill. I couldn't find the provenance of the painting and don't know the name of the artist.

In all the time's we have visited the Inn, we never knew there was a small museum on the second floor. Teague found a small sign in the lobby as we were leaving.

A room set up as it would have been in the 1700s. You would share the room and perhaps the bed with other travelers. A sign indicated that you could ask the Innkeeper if you could share the bed with the Innkeepers wife. How about that for a belly warmer?

Next week, part 2.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.