Owners Ed Fulkerson and Michael Breddin shop extensively around the world to offer a unique mix of covetable items. Just down the road and over a few lanes from the ranch, is Leftovers! Located just a short distance out of town on Hwy 290 West, it is a place where savvy shoppers are invited to stop in and peruse their awe-inspiring and ever-changing vast showroom. Representing a relaxed style and sophisticated charm they offer a memorable experience for anyone no matter their age. People travel from all over to come to Leftovers where their offerings are always changing. During the semi-annual Round Top Antiques Fairs, Leftovers is know for their big party open to all……food, drink, music, fun and great shopping!
If your aren’t planning on dining “inn” at the B&B during your stay with us, we have several restaurants in town just minutes from the ranch to choose from…..New Restaurant, “Kay’s Cuisine for The Soul”, opened recently on South Market Street just a few blocks off of downtown Brenham.
We are pleased to offer a new complimentary tidbit in our rooms……exquisite Toffee locally made here in Brenham by the “Bliss” Candy Company. Our guests have been enjoying this treat since the holidays! You can purchase their toffees and barks here locally at Leftovers Mercantile on HWY 290 West just a couple miles out of town. Their confections are also sold in numerous Specs and gourmet sections of specialty food shops. You can also order from their website. How easy is that! It is as they say at the company, “Simply Blissious”!
If your aren’t planning on dining “inn” at the B&B during your stay with us, we have several restaurants in town just minutes from the ranch to choose from…..We recommend you try Ernie’s Bistro in downtown Brenham. Located on the
The perfect Margarita!
square, adjacent to the Washington County Courthouse at 103 S. Baylor Street, Ernie’s provides a wonderful atmosphere for lunch and dinner. We especially like the fact that they use organic vegies and locally sourced grass fed and free range meats when possible; not to mention the handmade breads and tortillas! You know you are in a good restaurant
Shared with us by Windy Winery, one of our favorite wineries in Brenham near the B&B!
Some Delicious Wine Facts:
The world’s oldest bottle of wine dates back to A.D. 325 and was found near the town of Speyer, Germany, inside one of two Roman sarcophaguses. It is on display at the town’s Historisches Museum der Pfalz.
Besides churches and monasteries, two other great medieval institutions derived much of their income from wine: hospitals and universities. The most famous
Windy Winery, one of the wineries located on the Bluebonnet Wine Trail and just minutes from the B&B, shares some of the most interesting trivia and history about wine!
Dom Perignon (1638-1715), the Benedictine Abbey (at Hautvillers) cellar master who is generally credited with “inventing” the Champagne making process, was blind.
Thomas Jefferson helped stock the wine cellars of the first five U.S. presidents and was very partial to fine Bordeaux and Madeira.
To prevent a sparkling wine from foaming out of the glass, pour an ounce, which will settle quickly. Pouring the remainder of the serving into this starter will not foam as much.
Old wine almost never turns to vinegar. It spoils by oxidation.
In King Tut’s Egypt (around 1300 BC), the commoners drank beer and the upper class drank wine.
When Leif Ericsson landed in North America in A.D. 1001, he was so impressed by the proliferation of grapevines that he named it Vinland.
2012 Jingle Bell Market @ Silver Wings Ballroom (just 10 minutes down Hwy 105 from the ranch) is Tuesday/Wednesday, November 20 & 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day! Get all your holiday shopping done here while visiting Brenham before Thanksgiving!!!
Rohan Meadery, about a 30-40 minute country drive away from the B&B, is a boutique winery situated on Blissful Folly Farm located between La Grange & Round Top, TX. Their goal and passion is to make the freshest and most unique, natural Texas meads that you will ever encounter.
Texas Winery featuring Mead
Their commitment to quality, locally sourced ingredients
One of our local wineries near the B&B keeps us supplied with more fun facts!
Some Delicious Wine Questions and Answers…..from Windy Winery
How much wine is in a bottle? Generally a bottle of wine measures the liquid in milliliters, with 750 ml being the standard amount in most bottles (or about 25 fluid ounces).
How many grapes does it take to make your average bottle of wine? It takes about 2 ½ pounds of grapes to make a bottle of wine.
How many bottles of wine does it take to make create a case of wine? 12
How many gallons of wine are produced from one acre of grapevines? About 800
Where does the vanilla flavor in wine come from? If newer oak barrels were used in the winemaking process, the wines will often have a hint of vanilla in both the aroma and flavor.
When was the corkscrew designed? Mid-1800′s.
How many varieties of wine grapes exist in the world today? Over 10,000!
How many calories are in a four ounce glass of red wine? Approximately 85
How many gallons of wine are in a single barrel? 60
How many grapevines generally make up an acre? 400
This eclectic boutique, only a short 5 minutes away from the Bed and Breakfast, offers a little something for everyone. Owner Susan White is what we call a “free spirit” and such a lovely person to be around. Her shop exudes her personality and you are sure to find a thing or two to take home with you to inspire you! Happily located in Historic Downtown Brenham, fancy that! invites you to sit a spell, stroll a bit and enjoy our diverse and inspiring collection of a little bit of everything and a lot of everything else.
fancy that! is a journey for the senses…offering fabulous fashion finds, fine stationery & desk accessories, invitations for every occasion, inspiring and provoking books & music, eclectic home décor, and the most fantastic selection of Merck Family Old World Glass Ornaments south of the North Pole. Fabulous fashion finds featuring Maria de Guadalajara, Oh My Gauze, John Fashion, Sacred Threads, and Matchpoint/LA Fixsun. Complement your wardrobe with trendy jewelry, fancy-schmancy shoes and sandals—all at winning prices that make you think you didn’t read the tag right!!
Come prepared for the unexpected and ready to relax, meander and be fascinated. Enjoy shopping as an adventure, you never know what you might find!
We often serve complimentary wine from this local winery near the B&B. These tips for wine tasting will enhance your unique experience at each winery that much more fun!
There are four stages to tasting wine. Even though this process is called wine “tasting”, it’s really more of a complete evaluation using all your senses.
First Stage:
The first stage is evaluating your wine’s appearance for color (both hue and depth), and clarity. Move the wine around in your glass by tilting it from side to side. Hold it up to the light or in front of a white background.
In your red wines notice the variety and intensity of colors presented. Your red wines should not be at all brown or flat looking.
In your white wines notice the shades of gold and yellow presented. You may even see a hint of green.
White wines begin pale and tend to darken with age. Red wines begin a deep, bright shade of red or purple and brown as they age.
When judging the appearance of your wine you may notice its “legs”, the oily streams of liquid that run down the inside of your glass. Legs are not an indication of wine quality, simply note the presence of higher alcohol content.
Tres Chic Boutique offers not only the latest in hip fashion & footwear but also a cool coffee shop inside! Have a little Latte’ while perusing their wares! Conveniently located in downtown Brenham on the Courthouse square, they are just a short drive away from the ranch and your weekend getaway spot in Brenham. Open Monday through Saturday, 201 East Main, 979-836-9505
Wine aficionados : Murski Homestead B&B is fortunate to be in the midst of some of the wonderful Texas wineries located on the Bluebonnet Wine Trail…….Three of which are within a 10-15 minute drive from the B&B. You will enjoy tours, wine tastings, food pairings, live music, wine stomps, grape harvest plus more and all are beautifully situated, with magnificent views that are reason enough to visit them.
Pleasant Hill Winery , having won numerous awards for their wines throughout the years, offers tours that follow the grape from the vine to the glass. Located in Brenham, the winery offers commanding views of the surrounding Central Texas countryside.
We love this shop with its’ ever changing displays and rooms overflowing with so many treasures to choose from. Proprieter, Mary Ellen West, who was featured in Country Living Magazine, brings her artistic flair to this store. When driving through downtown, I make sure to always check out the windows as the displays are eye catching and inviting…..I have a hard time not stopping and going in every time! I know if I do, I will come out with something…even if it is only inspiration for the B&B! Located downtown, their logo proclaims…..antiques, shabby chic, eclectic and unique! 204 West Alamo 979-251-7788
This local eatery, long a stop for tour buses and locals alike year round for delicious sandwiches on homemade bread, scrumptious quiches, decadent homemade pies and delicious hand dipped Blue Bell ice cream! Sit at the soda fountain counter for an old fashioned malt or grab a table after placing your order at the bar. The menu is posted daily on a major size chalkboard just behind the cashier.
Great For Lunch in Downtown Brenham!
My favorites include the Muffaletta sandwich which rivals any that I’ve had in the Quarter in New Orleans (and I’ve had my share over the years!) and for dessert, the Sawdust pie is hard to beat! This restaurant just 5 minutes from the B&B and located on Alamo Street in historic downtown Brenham just west of the square, is open seven days a week for lunch, snacks, coffee, etc.
Nellie’s is a clothing store/art gallery not to be missed when shopping Downtown Brenham! It is one of the spots we tell our shopping guests of the B&B not to miss when downtown!
Nellie’s in downtown Brenham offers eclectic-western fashion with a classic twist…
This unique blending of styles is one of the characteristics that makes Nellie’s stand out from the box stores. A creative mix of displays for ladies and home fashions invites clients to customize and combine something new with their own sense of style. While many retail ventures are short-lived, owner LaNell Arndt attributes Nellie’s 15 years of success to hard work, dedicated employees, and not being afraid to change with the times. “Our style has evolved over the years, and that has kept our look fresh.” Arndt, who is also a renowned artist, left a successful career in banking to open the store in 1996. From jewelry and accessories that range from chunky and funky to something more delicate and refined, or even a piece of original art, there is something to satisfy any need for style…
All just minutes from the B&B……Local talent, art, locally roasted coffee & coffee treats, panini to Blue Bell ice cream….you will find it all in this eclectic haunt! It is the perfect backdrop for young and old to hang out and to feast while enjoying some of the local scene and some really great tunes. To find out more on this special coffeehouse called Mobius, check out the link to the great magazine, Texas Live!
Brenham and the surrounding area towns are home to some of the best antique shopping around, especially twice annually during the famous Round Top Antiques Fairs. Stay with us at the ranch and we will give you all the inside tips on the best stops not to miss! On the hunt for antiques or out just “window shopping”? ….either way, you can spend hours in JR’S Antique shop
Brenham area is home to two wonderful Lavender Farms and both are minutes away from the B&B. Chappell Hill Lavender Farms bath amenities are featured in the private bathrooms for our guests to enjoy! Be sure to visit both Lavender farms here in Washington County:
Chappell Hill Lavender Farm : The lush farm and gift shop are open to the public on weekends from March through the end of November. Visitors may shop for a variety of handmade lavender products and cut fresh lavender during the cutting season and a large gazebo provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch. August is time for their annual Lavender & Wine Festival! 2250 Dillard Rd., Chappell Hill. 979-251-8114.
Lavande Lavender Farm: Provence style Lavender Farm has opened to the public near Brenham Texas. Not only does Lavande Farm grow lavender but olives too! We look forward to using some of their Texas harvested olives and olive oils in our cooking classes and culinary adventures at the ranch. Stroll aromatic rows, peruse their wide range of products, then relax in a rocker with some Lavender tea. They are ready to give a warm Texas welcome to individuals or groups. 9665 Loop Rd., Bellville. 713-715-8392
One of the latest local eateries in Brenham and located not far from the B&B, called YUMM, opened in downtown this past year. Looking for some great pizza, gelato, ice cream, salads, sandwiches or CANDY? This is the place to go! This is like visiting the old Perry Brothers store that was located in this same spot when I was a child. A store with penny candy and lots of it to choose from! Have a sweet tooth, then this is the spot to satisfy it! A pizzeria and candy shop combine to create this unique and delectable dining experience. This fun, delicious family oriented eatery is sure to become a local fave and tourist destination!
Reception June 9th, 12 PM – 8 PM – RSVP 979-249-4119 or ARTtgart@aol.com
Book your room now and come on up to enjoy this amazing art show!
Bringing together their unique talents for the first time, four award winning and distinguished contemporary watercolor artists share their incredible vision in an International series of eclectic exhibitions in 2012. The tour of works
Want to kick your boots up when staying the weekend at the ranch with us? We have the best spot going and just a short drive away! Check out the Chicken Ranch Dance Hall….. a preview of Upcoming Special Shows…
Friday, June 8th-John Slaughter with Break-N-Even-opening!
Saturday, June 9th-Gary P Nunn with Bubba Morgan Band-opening!
Saturday, June 16th-Brandon Rhyder with Bubba Westly & the Interstate Heartbreak! Cover $10
For Your Enjoyment… Get ready for the best Texas Country Music in
Time for fabulous concerts once again this summer! When booking with us for overnight, be sure to check out the concert schedule at Festival Hill for we are just a short scenic drive away. This world renowned music institute is located in the beautiful country side before getting to Round Top. The campus is comprised of historic buildings, beautiful grounds and magnificent herbal gardens. The concert hall, itself, is quite a stunner! Dont’ miss this exquisite music experience, one of the major summer music festivals in the United States…….
Scoops, my all time favorite spot to go to for Blue Bell Ice Cream, has 20 or more flavors available year round….and yes, ice cream is a great treat in Winter too! I can always get my favorites here (Lemon, Mocha Almond Fudge & Strawberry) and it is only a 10 minute drive away from the B&B! So whether your passing by or coming for an overnight stay, this is one spot not to miss to get your ice cream fix!
Audra & Keith Tie the Knot...
Ginger Ice Cream...
Antique Rose Emporium & Chef Tai’s Mobile Food Truck...
DIY Powder Sugar & Brown Sugar...