A Belgian for Breakfast

As Interim Innkeepers at the Dove Inn we usually get to cook breakfast for an international crowd. The Colorado School of Mines is only a block away and we often host teachers, students, speakers and visitors of the school. So we have had guests from all over the world. It makes for a very interesting breakfast table! One morning we served breakfast for 8 and no one was from the US. We had guests from China, Japan, Australia, South Africa, France and Belgium. WOW!       

                   When we have guests from Belgium, of course we make Belgian Waffles.

Here is the recipe for Belgian Waffles that we use - taken straight from food com. It's a bit of work but soooo tasty and our Belgian guests feel right at home.

 

What's your favorite international recipe?

                                    


Winter Wonderland

In our profession as Interim Innkeepers we get to travel a lot - that's what this blog is all about. Well, this month we got to drive from Oregon to Colorado again... sigh! But we used the trip to enjoy some of our favorite winter sports and visit some of our favorite winter places and see some of our favorite people:

    In Leavenworth Washington we -
                              Sledded with our daughter and went Skiing with friends.

     

     

    In Sun Valley Idaho we -
          Ice Skated on the historic rink and went Nordic Skiing with a friend.
            

 

 

    In Beaver Creek Colorado we -

             Went Skiing with friends and Pic-Nic'd in the snow.

 



                                 

 

As you can see we just love all the fun you can have in the snow.

What's your favorite winter sport?

                                   

The Wild Life



   OK, the life of a professional innsitter is not really a "wild" life but while working at the Old Parkdale Inn we do take care of a lot of wildlife. The back yard of this inn is recognized as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation . Here is a picture of Kirk feeding breakfast to some of our smaller guests and below are some close up photos of our favorites.

 

 

 

There are many types of birds that come for breakfast including quail, doves and the occasional hawk - the B&B is part of the annual Audubon bird count. We also get  raccoons and sometimes deer. I guess the squirrels are my favorites - what is your favorite form of wildlife?

 

                   
                         

Home for the Holidays

One of the things I love most about being a Professional Innsitter is that I can make my own schedule. Although we have many "homes" all over the country, I always try to be in my real HOME for the HOLIDAYS. 

And look how beautiful it is! 

I have been fortunate to find a client in our home town - the Old Parkdale Inn.

And have worked there for the last five Christmas seasons so when I am not cooking breakfast or making beds at the B&B I am at home sitting under my tree drinking a cup of cocoa.

 

 

                                                                         

And nothing goes better with cocoa than old fashioned gingerbread. So here's my family's recipe for gingerbread:

Cream 1C butter and 1C sugar

Beat in 1egg, 1C molasses, and 2T vinegar

Add 5C flour, 1 1/2 t soda and 1/2 t salt

Add ginger, cinnamon and cloves to taste

Chill dough, then roll and cut in shapes

Bake 375 - 5 min

Then get your whole family together to decorate the cookies. Have Fun!
It's a tradition for us!

         Let me know how you like it.

 

 

Christmas in Colorado

  There is just something magical about Christmas in Colorado. Even though we have not had any snow yet, the nights are crisp and cold and the mountains gleam in the moonlight. Our little town has a host of fun Christmas activities starting with the "Candlelight Walk". Thousands of people gather at the top of the hill with lit candles and stroll down the main street to Clear Creek singing carols the whole way. You just can not help but be moved by the spirit of the season.

                              
The Dove Inn is our current home and it is a real treat to be innsitters here over the holiday. As you can see it is beautifully decorated and the inside looks just as lovely. We also always have fresh homemade Christmas  cookies and gourmet hot cocoa available for our guests. You should come visit us if you are ever in Colorado for Christmas.

     

Golden Bronze

Our current assignment as interim innkeepers is in Golden Colorado. Golden is a super charming town nestled between the big city of Denver and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city has done a great job in making a naturally beautiful area even more lovely and very enticing for tourists. They have historic buildings, lush parks, charming shops, gourmet restaurants and lots of public art. GPAP [Golden Public Art Program] has funded 30 beautiful bronze statues scattered all over the city. Kirk and I have made it a point to check out as many as possible. We have not yet seen all 30 but here are our favorites:
"The Cowboy" is Kirk's favorite, DUH!                                                                
                                               
  
       
                   

                                           "A Friend to Lean On" is definitly the cutest.

 

This one is in front of the Library and is called "Secret Garden"

 

I am also very fond of this little monster - "Cameron's Dragon"

 

But my absolute favorite bronze statue in all of Golden Co is:

"Sleeping Bear"

 

Yes, I've been to Chicago and seen the "bean". I've been to Paris and seen the Eiffel tower but I really do like Golden's Bronzes.

Where is your favorite public art?

 

Cranberry Time

Kirk helping with the 1920 Cranberry Harvest

Everybody knows that Thanksgiving is the time for cranberries to shine but not everybody knows that many of the cranberries you use on your Thanksgiving table come from the

Long Beach Peninsula in Washington where our current assignment is. Cranberries are so lovely when they are growing and so interesting when they are being harvested. Harvest was just ending when we arrived here two weeks ago and we got to watch several "wet harvests". We also went to the local

Cranberry Museum which is very informative and one of the few places you can buy the very tasty CRANBERRY ICE CREAM! So if you are tired of cranberry sauce, cranberry bread and cranberry cookies - just think ice cream and head to Long Beach! 

Let me know your favorite cranberry recipe. Mine is a cranberry souffle that I make as a breakfast entree.
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!