Welcome to A Country Chic Retreat

Yes, welcome!  Sit back, grab something to drink and enjoy the words, the photographs and all the information this one blog post can offer.

Have you ever heard about retreats and wondered what they were all about?  I did.  I also couldn't imagine packing up my supplies and taking them "somewhere" to craft when I could do all that at home.  What should I take?  What should I leave at home?  What if I forget something?  Most importantly, how would I ever get everything out of my car and into the retreat?  Wonder no more. Whitworth Ranch Retreat offers wagons to carry all of your "stuff" from point A to point B.

Don't scrapbook or make cards?  Certainly, don't let that keep you from going on a retreat.  Maybe you'd just like to get away and relax and get a massage, read a book, swim, watch a movie or take a nap.  Perhaps your "thing" is to make jewelry, knit, crochet, quilt or sew.  Look at the beautiful outfits Julie made for her twin granddaughters.

Whitworth Ranch Retreat is family-owned and operated.  I am not one of the owners but
I certainly feel as if I am part of their family.  John, Marie and Stacy make every single person that steps foot into their retreat feel like family - always.  You will see them wander in and out during your stay.

The venue is so very peaceful - the retreat sits on 50 country acres where you can enjoy watching the cattle.  They love it when you talk to them and they even talk back.  True story!

You can enjoy one of the 18 single (non-bunk) beds in five bedrooms.  All bedrooms are handicap accessible and are on the first floor with the exception of one.  Next to each bed is a night stand and all bedding is high-quality.  Each bedroom has a vanity table where you can set up your beauty bar.

There are four bathrooms where towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hair dryers are provided.  Two bathrooms have a showers/tub combination while the remaining two offer showers.

You can enjoy their two kitchens, two dining rooms and two craft rooms that seat 18 people.  Every crafter has a six-foot table where you sit in a comfy office chair with adjustable seats and side arms.  Your space has self-healing mats, drink holders and trash cans.  Offered for your use are a full array of stamps, a Cricut machine with over 50 cartridges, die cutting machines and dies.

I always have good intentions.  I start out like this ...

but quickly, I am working in something like this.  Six feet of real estate and it all comes down to working in less than a 12"x12" space.  Hey - it happens.  Don't judge!  I usually know where everything is and try not to spill over into my neighbor's space.  Most of the time I am successful.

Need to move away from your craft area?  Guests have been known to sit on these comfy sofas to catch a second wind or just to rest their weary bones.  The nice part is that you don't have to leave all the high energy because they're situated right here in the large craft room.  Some guests have even been known to spend the night here.

Oh, don't let me forget the food.  Stacy is culinary trained and can handle special dietary needs.  Her meals are TO. DIE. FOR.  Let me be the first to tell you that you will not go away hungry.  Ever.

Are you a water lover?  Check out this pool and hot tub - especially inviting during our Texas Summers!!!  A kitchen, two craft rooms, two bedrooms and two baths are housed in this building.  The remaining bedrooms, baths, kitchen and dining rooms are in the house, which is just to the left of the pool.  Under the covered patio is a gas grill and the chuck wagon for Stacy's famous BBQs.

 

This wonderful retreat is located in Scurry, Texas.  They are 12 miles from Kaufman where a brand new Walmart just came to town (always good to know for a quick trip to replenish supplies or snacks.)  Don't live close by?  Don't let that stop you from loading up the car and caravan with some friends, hopping on an airplane or researching a retreat in your area.  You won't be sorry.

 

I was fortunate enough to help Stacy at CKC-Houston last month.  Whitworth Ranch Retreat shared a space with The Little Blue House and was able to reach quite a few Houstonians.  Are you from that area?  It's a "doable" car trip - only about three and a half hours from The Woodlands to Whitworth.  Congratulations to Diana Chestnutt!  Diana was the lucky winner for a free weekend retreat for herself and her friends.  She has decided to retreat in October 2015.  Enjoy!

I won't be at CKC-San Marcos on September 5th and 6th but you will be able to meet Marie, Stacy and Billie Long.  Stop by, visit with them, pick up a packet of information and drop your name in the bucket to take a chance on WINNING A WEEKEND RETREAT FOR YOURSELF AND SEVEN FRIENDS.  You never know - you might be the winner ... and then you'll be hooked for life - just like me!

Do you have a special event coming up?  Whitworth Ranch Retreat will be happy to take care of your graduation parties, wedding/baby showers, bachelorette weekends, weddings, special artful gatherings and classes.  How about planning a "staycation" for your family?

 

Speaking of weddings, next month April and Damon will be tying the knot at an intimate gathering at their country chic barn style wedding.  Billie Long will be behind the lens capturing the bride and groom every step of the way.  I will be posting pictures so that you can get an idea on how it's done in the country!

 

Are you a "picker?"  Tracy Pounds from The Little Blue House will be at the Pickers' Holiday Workshop the last weekend of October, which is also First Monday, Canton.  There are still a couple of openings so reserve your spot today if you would like to be a part of the festivities.  Your reservation will include all lodging and meals for five days.  You will be creating three-four holiday projects and all class instructions will be included.  If you miss this workshop, there will be another one in the Spring.

 

I invite you to visit the website at http://www.whitworth-ranch-retreat.com.  There's so much more information and photos on this site than I have touched on here.

 

This wonderful country chic retreat only has two weekend openings for 2014:

December 18-21
December 26-28
 

Next year is booking up fast and it really isn't that far away.  Dates available are:

March 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29

April 2-5 (Canton weekend) and 9-12

May 7-10, 21-24

June 4-7, 11-14, 19-21, 25-28

July 9-12, 23-26

August 6-9, 27-30

September - 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27

October 29-November 1

November 5-8, 12-15, 18-22, 25-29
December - 3-6, 10-13, 17-20

 

Of course, all of these open dates are subject to change.  Please contact Stacy Seely at 817-706-8118 or whitworth.ranch@yahoo to reserve a spot for you and your group.  Stacy already has some retreats on the books for 2016 - yes, already!  I am unable to schedule your reservations or accept your payment; you will need to speak directly to Stacy.

 

I am so happy and proud to be the blog author for this country chic retreat.  If you have spent (or will be spending) a weekend here, please leave a comment and share your experiences.  If you would like to share some pictures with me, please e-mail them to kosec@sbcglobal.net and I will be happy to post your good times for all to see.  Please type in your e-mail address in the right-hand column - you won't want to miss any posts!

 

I would love to have you visit my personal blog at SuZeQCreations.

Remember one thing:  YOU matter  See you next time ...