The Alabama Baptist staff members want to step out of the office from time to time and into the intricate framework of the hidden and forgotten treasures of our state.
This initiative is the brainchild of Linda Harrison, financial administrator for The Alabama Baptist, who goes on adventures with her husband every Sunday afternoon.
“Why can’t we do the same thing at TAB?” she asked.
Well-played, Linda.
The idea caught like wildfire, and the brainstorming blaze flared.
We hope some of the locations will offer ideas for senior adult excursions, youth trips, children’s outings and family fun.
Let us know what you think on Facebook or email us at news@thealabamabaptist.org.
Densler House
The maiden voyage of this endeavor took us to the Densler House in Wilsonville.
Home of the Hearts Desire Tea Room, the Densler House is a Victorian home that has been restored by serial renovators Andrew and Diane Moore.
Stepping into the 1879 structure, we TAB ladies immediately began exhaling sighs of wonder.
From the antique furniture to the original wainscoting, it felt like we had stepped back to a time when traditional English teas were everyday occurrences.
When Diane was sharing her story with us and showing us around the house, some of our team found the overabundant supply of ladies’ hats.
Needless to say, they remained entertained for quite some time.
Bed and breakfast
Diane then led us to her home in Columbiana, which happens to be a bed and breakfast as well.
Here at Columbiana Inn, the Moores treated us to a traditional three-course English tea.
To say that we loved it would be an understatement.
Although she insists that she is more comfortable with a hammer than any piece of china, Diane was a delightful hostess with a slew of culinary selections that left us all begging for her recipes.
We spent the remainder of our time with the Moores touring Columbiana Inn and the 1890 Wedding Chapel, another of their renovation projects.
Wilsonville Baptist Church
While in the Wilsonville area, we dropped in on Wilsonville Baptist Church and found them wrapping up their final day of Vacation Bible School.
Although the theme was LifeWay’s Agency D3, there was nothing secretive about how much the children, volunteers and staff enjoyed the week.
Every person we spoke with shared how they were almost sad the week was concluding.
Only the sheer exhaustion that accompanies every VBS made Steve Thomas, pastor at Wilsonville Baptist, grin at the prospect of recuperating for the next 11 months.
As a whole, the TAB team declared the inaugural flight of TAB On the Road a resounding victory.
What do you think?
Hearts Desire Tea Room at the Densler House is available for bridal showers and tea parties of various sizes. Reservations are needed. For more information, visit http://www.columbianainn.com/.
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