July 7th, 2015

Destination? Milford, Delaware, Causey Mansion Bed & Breakfast, Small Town America has its Charm!! Southern Delaware

Not sure if you got stuck in one of the traffic jams this holiday week-end.  If you did, I feel your pain.  Some of us that live here year-round take a road trip to other towns in Southern Delaware, where life is a little more calm during these holiday week-ends.  My destination with my neighbor, Chris, was the town of Milford, Delaware, known as The Heart of Kent and Sussex.  It is just less than half hour from Rehoboth Beach going north.

Milford is a community with respect for its past and great promise for the future.  It is the gateway to Southern Delaware.

For some years, Downtown Milford has been going through a revitalization, which brings residential streets in small towns back to life.  It has coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants, and a Riverwalk.

The Mispillion Riverwalk is a greenway space that preserves the town’s waterfront.  Milford has over 2 centuries of shipbuilding.  At one point there were 7 shipyards, located along this walk.  And, between 1680 and 1927 they produced over 600 wooden sailing ships.

The displayed boat sculptures around town are all decorated with the theme of Milford’s “River town”, “Art Town”, “Home Town”.

The inspiration was the Augusta, a private yacht built in 1927 at Vinyard Shipyard.  In 2010 it was restored to its original beauty.

I grew up in a small town on the eastern side of the island of Puerto Rico.  Sundays were so quiet.  You could take a leisure stroll through the town and maybe not see a single person.  Sundays were days for worship and family time.  Arriving in Milford on Sunday brought back those memories of so many years ago.  So, I took the photos of a quiet Sunday in Milford.

CAUSEY MANSION BED & BREAKFAST

I remembered that a few years ago I stopped at this mansion to take some photos.  There was a “for sale” sign.  Well, let’s see what happened to this historic home.  First let me tell you a bit about this home.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The original part of the house was built in 1763.  The rest in 1865.  It was the former home of two Delaware governors.

The address is 1 Causey Avenue, Milford, DE 19963  Tel. 302-422-0979  Website?  http://www.causeymansion.com

Delaware is becoming the place to retire.  Among the many benefits of living in this small state is the fact that our property taxes are low.  Jan Broulik and Joe Phillips decided that moving from the Chevy Chase area to Milford was going to be just perfect.  They are the new owners of the Causey Mansion.  We met Jan who took us through the gardens and gave us a tour of this historic home. Later on we met Joe.  Please visit the above mentioned website for more information on the history of Causey Mansion, rates, and events happening at the Mansion.  You may also find Causey Mansion Bed & Breakfast on Facebook.

They moved in and then their work has been non stop.  Jan loves to work in the garden and he is laying all the stone in the property.  Causey Mansion is the perfect place for a wedding so they are making it just right for that special event in someone’s life.

The Boxwood is over 150 years old, from some of the rooms you can see them.

At the present time there are 4 rooms for rent.  They are spacious and with their own bathrooms.  Following are 3 of those rooms.

Every nook and cranny has a story, just like every piece of furniture has one, as well.  The majority of the furniture is French, Japanese, and some Italian.

The Grand Piano caught our attention.  It was a 1904 Steinway Grand Piano.  Jan picked the music, sat down, and began to play All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera.  He brought us to tears.  The sounds were amazing.  It was truly so beautiful and totally unexpected.

Causey Mansion is a Greek Revival, Georgian Style home.  Governor Peter Causey modified it to Greek Revival when he lived in this house from 1849 to 1871.  He served as Governor of the State of Delaware from 1855 until 1859.  It is still believed that he roams around the home.  He is a friendly ghost

There is a dining room with a big round table for easier conversation.

And a friendly kitchen area.

The Causey Mansion is about 5,000 square feet so you will feel comfortable and at ease in any room.

Jan and Joe are so easy to talk to.  They have immersed themselves in the community and are enjoying the fact that Milford is now their home!!  Please stop by to see all the work they are doing to this beautiful historic home.  If you feel like getting away from it all…..then, make a reservation!!

Thanks Jan and Joe for making our day!!

January 18th, 2014

The Pearl Lady, Studio, Joan Mulholland, Milford, Delaware, Custom Designs, Southern Delaware

“Almost every culture has a mystique about pearls that are magical or divine.”  joan frense-mulholland

Pearl enhances a woman’s skin like nothing else.  All you have to do is wear them….people will notice.

Up the road from the Delaware Beaches, just about 20 minutes or so from Rehoboth Beach, is The Pearl Lady, located at 4 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor in the town of Milford, Delaware.  The entrance is around the corner from the Mispillion Art League.  Tel. 302-228-2287.  Website?  http://www.the-pearl-lady-studio.com.  She opens Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  If that does not work for you, just give her a call and she will be glad to make an appt.  Is that easy!!

The Pearl Lady Studio’s website is pretty interesting….What Joan’s is all About, the different pearls, and their care.

In her studio, Joan gives her full attention to her customers.  You can speak to her in English or French.

Her designs are all about enhancing the natural beauty of the pearls…they speak for themselves.

It is that time of the year….Valentine’s Day is around the corner and with so many weddings taking place at the Delaware Beaches, it is good to keep the Pearl Lady in mind for those gifts that are part of the celebrations.

Talk to you later…have a great day!!

October 22nd, 2013

Destination? Milford, Delaware, Art Tour, Riverwalk Tour, Gateway to Southern Delaware, Milford Artists Mentor Art Students, Sussex County

The Second Season at the Delaware Beaches is a great time to go out and about and discover the towns surrounding the beaches.  The cool weather, blue skies and no traffic let visitors and residents move around Southern Delaware with ease.

I am discovering Milford, Delaware, which is north of Rehoboth Beach.  It only took about half hour to get there.  For some years, Downtown Milford has been going through a revitalization, which brings residential streets in small towns back to life.

The Mispillion River runs through Milford.  It is the heart and center of this town, where galleries, shops and theater are for everyone to enjoy.

The Mispillion Riverwalk is a greenway space that preserves the town’s waterfront.  Milford has over 2 centuries of shipbuilding and at one point there were 7 shipyards located along this walk.  Between 1680 and 1927 they produced over 600 wooden sailing ships.

So, it was not surprising to find out that 6 permanently displayed boat sculptures were unveiled this summer, all decorated with the theme of Milford’s “River Town”, “Art Town”, “Home Town”.  The inspiration was the “Augusta”, a private yacht built in 1927 at the Vinyard Shipyard.  In 2010 it was restored to its original beauty.  I found it resting for the winter.

Local artists mentoring art students have produced the following sculptures that can be enjoyed while walking through Downtown Milford.  They are bright and bring a colorful touch to the streets.

The morning scenes in Home Town…historic Bethel AME Church, coffee shop morning crowds…scenes melt together symbolizing connectivity.

River Town. Home Town…the glass mosaic highlights the Walnut Street business district and the Riverwalk Boatyard.

Art Town….bold and graphic with water flowing underneath.

River Town…river dwellers, clouds, and plant life.

River Town, Art Town, Home Town…one side shows the whimsical bridge connecting rural and urban Milford. Another side shows the Santa House, farmers market, cyclists on the Riverwalk.

River Town…dedicated to the historic shipbuilding industry, honoring 7 major shipyards.

Have a great day!!  Please note that the best days to visit Milford are Thursday through Saturday.  The Museum is open on Sundays too.