Welcome to the next installment of The Traveling Teacup – this time we get to share an amazing tour of Paducah KY!
Tessa Rose (our teacup’s given name,) was hosted by the excellent cook, writer, and food & lifestyle blogger Leslie Watkins from FeetUnderMyTable.com. At the end, I’ll give you the link to her post, where she tells us even more about their visit.
Catching Up on Traveling Teacup History
If you’re not familiar with The Traveling Teacup already, she has a long and storied history that you might want to catch up on if you’re curious. Here’s where it all started: The Exciting Beginnings of the Traveling Teacup.
If you want to find out about the first year of her travels, here’s the best place to start: The Traveling Teacup Finds Herself In A Beautiful Texas Garden.
Year Two’s Itinerary So Far
- A gorgeous farm in Estacada OR, the home of brilliant blogger, table stylist, and entrepreneur Renae Frey.
- An exciting train ride to Santa Fe NM with the always fun and creative Albuquerque blogger, Jeanne Washburn.
- To Amherst OH and the home of talented tea loving Renaissance Woman and Mantel and Table reader, Valerie.
- A Stop in Ooltewah, TN over the Memorial Day Weekend to visit Lilly, a nursing professor and fellow tea lover.
Onward to Stop #4 ~ Paducah KY!
The trip from Ooltewah to Paducah was only 283 miles – heck, Tessa Rose could have driven there! But she’s a true jet-setter and chose to fly!
She made it to Leslie’s just fine, and had a lovely time. So without further ado, here’s Leslie’s story about their visit!
I reached out to my friend, Barbara, and requested that Tessa Rose be scheduled for a visit. A few weeks later, she arrived with some chamomile rose tea tucked in among her box.
(This was a gift to Leslie from TR’s previous host, Lilly.)
I may just have squealed when I met that traveling teacup!
It was a perfect time to enjoy that tea upon her arrival, with her joining me for feet under my table to rest after her long journey. Do you realize she has been all over the world enjoying so many places and people. Wouldn’t you have loved to have been on that tour with her?
Itinerary ideas began spinning in my head! Who did she need to meet? Where did I need to take her?
Day 1- Visiting Whitehaven Welcome Center
If you travel through Kentucky on I-24 on your way to St. Louis or Nashville, you can stop at the Whitehaven Welcome Center. Its history is amazing. It currently offers tours with memorabilia belonging to former Paducahan, Alben Barkley, VP to President Harry Truman.
Tessa Rose was invited to have tea on that great lawn. As the sun was beginning to set, you can see the lights inside turned on. Isn’t it lovely? I think that traveling teacup actually smiled. Doesn’t she look at home?
Day 2- National Quilt Museum and the Historic Floodwall Murals
Many years ago, some great members of our community began the American Quilters Society with a magazine and publication and memberships that have gained popularity across the globe. As a result of the popularity, they began an international quilt show in Paducah and created the National Quilt Museum.
You can see that the traveling teacup loved her time in the spotlight. She was invited by Rachel Baar, Museum Curator, to take a seat in front of this beauty. The quilt behind Tessa Rose is a part of the Collection of the National Quilt Museum. It’s entitled “Seasons of Life”, 2019 and designed by Sandra Mollon and Quilted by Kris Spray of Valley Springs, CA. Isn’t it lovely?
Paducah’s Wall to Wall Murals
The next part of the journey led us to the Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals.
After the 1937 flood, a floodwall was added to prevent more horrific flooding. In 1996, a visionary part of our city was born. Robert Dafford [a very well respected mural designer and painter] was hired to depict Paducah’s history through artwork on each panel of that floodwall. Through the years, he [and members of his team] come back to touch up details and return those true art pieces back to their original glory.
Can you believe what happened when we took the traveling teacup to view the Floodwall Murals? Wait for it! Robert Dafford was actually painting on those murals! He was happy to meet Tessa Rose and she hopped up on his art table and posed with him for a picture. Thank you, Mr. Dafford, for your hospitality to another guest of our city!
Day 3- Frenchtown Station
If you follow along with me for the VUE magazine articles or my IG or FB stories, you will notice me sharing a great little shop here. This original little gas station in the former “French” section of our town was purchased by Chris and Ginny Hutson and turned into the best gift shop, Frenchtown Station.
It always gives me inspiration. There are antiques, stoneware, pressed ferns framed onto French antique stationery, lovely concrete pots and pieces and unique finds from all over sold there. They didn’t stop with this little station, though. There was an original “Slim’s BBQ” next door that was empty and neglected. Yep! They rescued that great little building and it now houses their second business, “Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile”. It’s delightful.
Thank you, Ginny, for celebrating Tessa Rose. That traveling teacup was happy among all of your pretties.
Day 4- Meeting the Paducah Ambassadors, General Grant and the American Countess Riverboat.
That traveling teacup was so fortunate to be here for a visit from one of the great river boats that stop at our riverfront. I was delighted to take her to see that great boat and meet with our Paducah Ambassadors- great tour agents for our town.
But, then another surprise appeared at the riverfront. Who knew that General Grant would be there dressed in his uniform? He was happy to be in such great company of Tessa Rose and graciously posed for her. Her adventures continue!
That Traveling Teacup was Ready for a Bit of Rest
We celebrated teatime with a great cup of Royal Palace tea and some cookies. Such a luxurious time together with feet under my table.
Farewell From Paducah
We LOVED having her here and showing her our grand little town! She has truly left a great impression on all she met. Perhaps she has even encouraged you to plan a trip here.
Teacup Shopping
If you love teacups as much as I do and want to start or add to your collection, Click HERE for the Shopping Page. Then scroll down and click on the picture of the teacup.
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Pin the Traveling Teacup in Paducah For Later
A Big Thank You to Leslie!
Thank you so much Leslie! What a wonderful trip! I DO want to plan a trip to Paducah now – that story just whetted my appetite. And I hope I get you for my tour guide!
And Here’s Leslie’s Link for More of Paducah
Here’s the link to Leslie’s expanded version of her visit with our Traveling Teacup, The Talk of the Town with the Traveling Teacup.
Thank you all so much for following along on our teacup’s journeys – it’s been such fun sharing them with you!
Have a Lovely Teacup Tuesday!
What a great visit for Tessa Rose! I only wish I could travel as much as she does.
Me too!! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Kim – Happy Monday!
Tessa is becoming quite the traveler! It was fun to see her visit Leslie and see all of her adventures! This is such a fun idea and a great way to connect people 🙂
Ha – she really is traveling – way more than I have! 😉 Leslie was a wonderful host!
What a fun trip for TR! And Leslies pictures are beautiful!
Niky @ The House on Silverado
Hi Niky – the pictures really are lovely. This was such a fun trip! Thanks for following along, and Happy Monday!
I’m so glad that you and Leslie could share in Tessa’s travels. The two of you are amazing. Hugs to you.
Aww! Didn’t she do a wonderful job? I can’t wait to work with you both again!
It sounds like Tessa Rose had a fabulous visit – how lucky she got to see some of the sights and meet some of the people. What a lovely historic town!
Hi Kim – It does sound like such a great place, doesn’t it? All that history and such friendly people! Another wonderful stop visiting you hosts! Hope you’re having a lovely day!
Southern hospitality at it’s best for Tessa Rose. I thoroughly enjoyed the travels. I had the pleasure of staying in western Kentucky for a wedding and totally loved the friendliness and the scenery!
LOVE that Southern hospitality! It was a wonderful visit – so glad you liked it too Pam! Take care down there!
What a great visit for Tessa Rose. She got to meet such amazing people, and thus so did we. I would love to see Paducah’s Wall to Wall Floodwall murals someday. Thanks for sharing your town.
I’d love to see that wall too – I imagine you could spend a whole day or more looking at the art and finding out about the history. I wonder if my town has anything like that? Thanks so much for stopping over, Valerie – so nice to see you here! Happy Wednesday!
Wow, what an amazing adventure Tessa had this time! Always fun to see all the different places and adventures she gets to go on. Hugs friend
I’m just in awe of all you teacup hosts – the adventures are so creative and lovely! Paducah looks like a wonderful town. It’s definitely on my Visit Someday list! Thanks so much for stopping by my friend – hugs back to you!
Oh, Barbara- Leslie took such great care that Tessa Rose would enjoy that lovely historic Kentucky town! Wonderful visit! Thank you for doing this for all of us to enjoy!!!!!
Didn’t she do a fabulous job? Definitely up to the standard of you previous hosts! 😉 I’ve never been to KY, but if I ever get there, I’m definitely visiting Paducah! So sweet of you to stop by today MIchele – take care over there!
What a fun visit for Tessa, she sure is a lucky teacup! The picture in front of the welcome center reminded me of our home with those corinthian columns!
HA! I thought exactly the same thing! Especially from that angle – the little rise up to the house. If I were TR at your place, though, I’d be in the pool! 🙂 Hope you’re doing well over there my friend! Happy Wednesday!
It was pure delight to have Tessa Rose join us here! We were all in awe of her and everyone was so excited to share in her journey and memory making! Thanks for letting Paducah be a part of her tours! I can’t wait to follow along with her!
Leslie you were a marvelous host! What an amazing visit – I can’t wait to come visit, myself! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful town with us!