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February 26, 2011

I'm ready for a "waffle off"! We rented a condo in Orlando February 1st for a week. Our brother in law, George actually brought his waffle iron and prepared waffles several times during our stay. He demonstrated the process and we rated the waffles and the waffle maker. Good, it was good. However, I was still hesitant about doing waffles for our Breakfast menu. Would the waffles stay hot, crisp, timing...all that. Anyway, we found a nice standup model at Dillards and decide to invest in the Krups, Belgium Waffle maker. I located a from scratch receipe that required Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Highly active yeast and was to be prepared the night before! Since I prefer to measure out ingredients the night before while I'm at the top of my game, this was perfect for me...Beng the adventurer that I am, we had a full house including a chef and a kosher guy, and I just plunged forward, unafraid. to try out the new kitche appliance.

Served our typical, tropical smoothie...greek honey yogurt, mango, banana and toasted almonds and then the waffle with blueberry compote, maple bacon and sliced apple. I know you are expecting me to write some sort of horrible disaster and a moment of hysterics...but no...I just want to share with you the most perfectly delicious , light, mouthwatering forkfull I've ever put in my mouth. So, if you want a waffle that is lighter than air, as crispy as a pototoe chip and as flavorfull as Radio City Music Hall in your mouth...come stay with us...and request that menu...I'll even share my receipe!

December 9, 2010

The 31st annual Old Southwest Parlor Tour has come and gone; blew in like a blizzard and out like a lamb. Friday night was a gala holiday party at the Fishbourne Mansion, a fabulous,huge, Victorian mansion with something like 28 bedrooms. Some folks got into the holiday spirit by dressing in 19th century costume. There were about 200 guests, a silent auction, of which I donated 3 paintings of those homes on the Parlor Tour, lots of food and good wine and music. I wish I had taken photos. Came home to 2 sets of guests!

Parlor Tour was to begin at 5:00 p.m. Jim decided to light the fireplace for the first time in about 65 years! Like a house-trained puppy, it crackled and sparkled and sucked up the smoke and we all sang Amazing Grace.
The ladies laid out illuminaries to line the walkway, we laid out a red carpet and then it snowed! Just enough to whitewash the shrubbery and lawn...and the people came!
There was a steady stream of people till 9:00 when we finally had to ask folks to leave so we could attend to our guests!

Pete,our faithful contractor acted as docent in the kitchen and picked up five solid leads for
kitchen renovation. I sold two paintings and we handed out about 400 BnB cards.

My feet were killing me, my throat was parched but I was so happy to be a part of this wonderful experience, delightful neighborhood and family.

Next, we are hosting for a client an exclusive cocktail party for his guests. I just have to buy a few more champagne flutes and don my new bistro apron, light the fireplace..and we're ready!

November 26, 2010

We, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men."

We had a lovely first Thanksgiving at the Inn with family gathered all around. Craig and I wrestled with a fresh, butterflied, turkey breast; it was absolutely the best thanksgiving turkey I've ever had...we stuffed a second bird so we would have leftovers...such a feast.

"The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din." Samuel Coleridge

November 25, 2010

I'm so excited...its so much fun to be able to decorate for Christmas. With the help of an event designer and a florist, the Inn is taking on an atmosphere of Christmas elegance. We've been hoarding a wonderful gift certificate to Lowes which we finally spent on a 10 foot, pre-lit, artificial Douglas Fir. Whew, thank goodness for that decision...can you imagine the dropping needles of a tree up from November 24 to January 24th. It took 3 men and a boy to put it up and now its all mine to decorate.

We had guests that drove in from Greenbrier, Chesapeake! Can you imagine...what a connection. I had the dining room table set up for Christmas dinner complete with gold chargers, cranberry goblets and floating candles. What the heck....serve breakfast. These kids were so blown away with the early morning granduer, I think they thought that was our everyday fare and style. I asked Jenny if she would like her tea from a pretty cup and she replied, "I've never used a pretty cup before". ...and that my friends was my inspiration. A ten foot tree graced with beautiful, bone china English pretty cups!

\Thanks to you my sister and friends for such a beautiful tea party. Come, be with us during this holy and festive holiday.

November 1, 2010

We finished up our best month ever and are now looking forward to the Holiday Season. Angela fro Corsair, a private design firm, coming in next week (!) to set up her space for our Holiday Tour. The Parlor tour is scheduled for December 4 & 5. Check out Angela's web site at www.corsairevents.com and be prepared to be blown away. She just did a gig at the Greenbrier....the hotel. Watch for photos as the excitment mounts on this blog site!