We had only seen the Country Woods Inn online, and now we were pulling up to the gate in real life. All of (Julie's family) 17 of us...staying in the same house....for four days. First of all, would there be room for all of us not to trample each other? Secondly, we were ranging in age from 2 months to 50+ years....would there be enough for everyone to do? Would we be bored and get cranky with each other? We didn't quite know what to expect, but were hoping for the best.
We pulled up to the gate of Country Woods Inn in Glen Rose, TX with these questions weighing heavily on our minds and entered the passcode to get into the property. Once those gates swung open, our fears magically dissolved as the kids squealed and yelled with excitement about all the animals that lived there and the grown ups sighed with relief when we saw the 12 cozy, meticulously kept cabins spread out over the 40 acre property and the beautiful views of the Paluxy River and, my favorite, the meadow where the horses grazed (and one sheep). Since I'm struggling with words to capture the beauty of this place, let me just describe a day in the life of Country Woods Inn.
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It's like this. You're sleeping snugly in the "Sunflower Room" when you hear the faint crow of the rooster and see the sunshine peeking through the windows. You meander through the book lined halls to reach the dining room where there's always a fresh pot of coffee on! The kids are so excited, so of course, you must go upstairs through the loft, out to the balcony that looks over the whole property to watch the 6 or so deer wandering down from the woods to eat breakfast in the meadow.
You try to keep the kids quiet, but of course it's so exciting they can't stay silent! You throw on some clothes and grab a cup of hot joe while the kids run out the door to go see all the animals.
Stepping right outside to relax in a rocking chair on the long front porch, a slight breeze blows the cool air over the river and straight to you. You watch the kiddos from there...some are chatting and swinging in one of the many hammocks or tire swings, while others are trying not to injure themselves on the see-saw, while the little ones roll balls down the cellar door and throw pebbles down the slide at the toddler playground, complete with old tricycles and radio flyer wagons.
After a while, you decide to take the kids on a walk to go greet the animals. The horses and sheep are out in the meadow, so you only feed them a carrot or two when they come to the fence, but by the various corrals are big barrels of feed with tin cups for scoops, some for the goats, some for the rabbits, birds, and ducks. The kids can stand up on huge water troughs to feed the animals over the fence.
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Each animal is named after someone in the family of owner Helen Kerwin, and they each have a plaque so that you know who's who. The smallest tikes love the pigs the most, though we just stand around watching the pigs lay there and the bigger tikes, well, they love the stray dog most of all....and still talk about her....even as I'm writing this post...I "must" tell you about Zoe, the pregnant dog!, says Miranda.....After a walk by the animals and the barn, you meander over the fields full of yellow daisies to the dam at the Paluxy River, which runs lazily through backyard of the Country Woods Inn, as does the "Big Rock" park.
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Before you know it, it's time for lunch. Everyone comes back to the house and congregates at the massive table with long benches on each side. Of course chaos ensues as all 17 of us try to make sandwiches at the same time.Rest of the day? More of the same. Perhaps take the kids to the swimming hole out back, for a hike in the woods, to the Dinosaur Valley State Park where you can see and wade in actual dinosaur tracks preserved in the limestone bottom of the Paluxy, or walk downtown to the town square. As you can see, the days are very relaxing. Four short days there felt like longer than the longest and most relaxing vacation I had ever had, in a great way.
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Some of the very best things happen at the end of the day though. While you're all eating dinner, the boys start up a blaze in the fire-ring out back. The stars begin appearing. The twinkling lights surrounding the house come on (if you can find the hidden light switch) and the breeze begins to blow again. You put the wee ones down to bed while the rest of the family wanders out to the campfire to share smores, stories, and songs underneath the stars. You snuggle up in your sweatshirt and blanket and drink it all in. The sight, the sounds, the smells, the breeze, it's all a beautiful drink.
I don't think I will ever forget those days. Best place we have ever been. The owner, Helen Kerwin is so wonderful and if you have a chance to speak with her, you will love her. If you have a chance to visit Country Woods Inn, you will want to come back again! If you are looking for a quaint and peaceful wedding venue, CWI does have a beautiful "Wedding Chapel in the Woods" and offers weekend packages and accommodations for all of your guests.
I think the best testimony to the serenity and beauty of this place and that there is something for everyone here is this: not once during the 4 days did any of the 7 children there even mention TV or electronics. If nothing will convince you, that should!
Be sure to check out www.countrywoodsinn.com
The whole clan (almost!) on the porch of the Main House
Perfect image for a story about Texas in the springtime! Bluebonnets every where.
All 17 of us stayed in the Main House with no problem! Plenty of room!
I think this was the "Bluebonnet Room." Each decorated beautiful with small details such as bird watching guides, vases in which to keep your wildflower collections, books to read. Each bedroom has it's own bathroom as well.
Love this tub in the upstairs loft.
Our bathroom. I've never showered in an old fashioned tub like this with a cloth around the ring at the top, nor taken my towel from a ladder before (which you can't see). I loved the little touches like the washbasin sink, especially the hammered steel one with longhorns on it in the dining room...the faucet looked like an old water pump!
Main house, looking through living room to the dining room table.
They serve breakfast in the barn on the weekends!!
The kid's bathroom....just kidding.
I think these wagons were supposed to be to collect firewood, but as you can see they transported lots of kids, balls, flowers, and who knows what else!
View from front porch of the main house. One of the many hammocks and tire swings to use!
Another thoughtful detail!
Another one of the cottages, Cabin in the Woods
The Santa Fe Railroad Car Cabin
Love this shot of Damion and Livy
Our family by the breakfast barn...
