Ain't it GRAND??

It is just GRAND to be Grandma K.C. !!! Sorry to bore you with more baby photos but look at this sunny morning face - too sweet, right??

So, now that we are grandparents we try to schedule a stop in Seattle between jobs if possible. 

On our way to our current job on Lopez Island we got to spend one whole day taking care of our granddaughter while our daughter worked. Little Eleanor is 6 months old now and just so much fun!

And doesn't she look like her Grandad? Ohhhh too scary!

Check out the new dresses Grandma K.C. bought me:

the one with the turquoise ruffle came all the way from Turkey!

See how I am checking out the embroidery??

Being a grandparent is just GRAND!!

Farm Fresh Fruit

Most of the breakfasts we prepare start with a fruit course. In the winter, this can be a bit of a challenge: baked apples, fruit compote etc.... But in the summer, we have all this Farm Fresh Fruit to play with and it makes our breakfasts so much easier. It's fun to work with and fun to shop for!!


 These are the berries from our local roadside farm stand garnishing my raspberry cake. YUM!



           

And the peaches from this tree are used in
my peach melba. Yum again??











 But maybe the most fun we have with farm fresh fruit is watching Kirk make our fruit plates every morning -




                                         

                                  I guess he really loves his job, huh?? Working with this clown can make the mornings a real pleasure but I try not to let the guests see him like this!



   He's so sweet he even takes the time to cut heart shapes out of melon - what a guy!! But don't tell anybody that he wears a cowboy apron while making melon hearts.... shhhh it's just another little secret!

A Little Secret!

  I'll tell you a little secret - I am a thief!! I steal from all of the B&Bs I work at!  What do I steal you ask? Well, it's not silverware or bottles of wine. Nope, I steal recipes. And each one of these recipes has a little secret of it's own which is why I want it. I write all my recipes in a tiny  notebook in my illegible handwriting so they are still secret! Even Kirk can't figure out what I am trying to say but it works for me.

This is the quiche recipe that I stole from the Inn at Blackberry Creek in Walla Walla WA. It's little secret is lots of heavy whipping cream - I mean LOTS. This is usually an asparagus sweet onion quiche with guyere cheese but you could use any ingredients as long as you use lots of heavy cream!


                                       

                 On the right we have the baked omelette I stole from the Brey House in Lincoln City OR. The little secret here is that you fill the ramekins almost to the top with smoked salmon, green onions, mushrooms and cheddar cheese and then beat your egg mixture till your arms are sore.

Here is the dutch baby I stole from
the Hill House in Seattle WA. Little secret-
a half cup of melted butter added at
the last second and do not beat too much,
be gentle and then be patient while you
wait for it to rise.




                         This is eggs benedict stolen from the Adobe and Pines B&B in Taos NM. It's secret was given to us by chef Louie and we can not share it with you except to say that the spices are NOT paprika. You'll need to stay at one of "our" inns to try it and guess the little secret!




What is your "little secret"??

                          

                      

Fun in Forks

          AHHHHH yes,  the rough life of an Innsitter!!!  Here we are having a pic-nic [or is he having a nap?] on the shore of Lake Crescent on our way to our job in Forks WA at the Miller Tree Inn. Actually being Interim Innkeepers here in the summer is a lot of work -

  So, not much time to have fun but we always get to sneak away for at least one little beach walk.

 And maybe a short hike.


  Forks is located on the Olympic Peninsula and has so many natural wonders that you could never  do everything: hiking, biking, boating and pic-nicing. But hey, at least we try!!

      It's easy to have fun when there are so many lovely places so close to "our" inn. Of course  sometimes I am a really good wife and let Kirk go out to play while I stay and slave over a hot washing machine -  sigh......

  If he gets to go out and have fun, these are some of the things he likes to do...

 


   Looks like he's having FUN, huh???

 

 But no matter how busy we are, we always try to get away for one perfect sunset.... check it out!  Rialto Beach is the very best spot!

                    So next time you are on the Olympic Peninsula, stop in Forks and have some
                                                                          FUN!!

B & B & Beach

 This is the view from our new property Tyee Lodge B&B. Stunning, huh??  Yes, all those little black dots are surfers and we get to watch them all day. We also get to watch whales if we are lucky. The B&B hangs over beautiful Agate Beach just north of Newport Oregon. This is an almost private beach with  a few homes and no big hotels on it - just miles of lovely sand and surf. When ever we get time in our day, we head down for a beach walk and you can see why.

 The other thing I love to do here if I have a free minute  is just sit and read. What a serene spot! However I am never alone - I do have to share my spot with a few friends like this one:









Can you spot that little guy eating lunch on the bird feeder?? He does not get to eat the gourmet breakfast that we prepare for our guests but he does get the leftovers and he seems to be getting chubbier each day!

Yes, we do also have actual paying guests here as well who get to share "our" beach. Each of the rooms at the Tyee Lodge has an amazing view out over the ocean for them to enjoy. WOW!

                            You should come and stay here sometime and maybe we will be your
                                                                  Interim Innkeepers!!

Red, White & Blue Breakfast

                               Look at this beautiful 4th of July table! This is breakfast at the Carriage House in Grinnell Iowa. No, Kirk and I are not working here - I wish!! We are guests. It is so nice to just be able to enjoy a B&B and let somebody else do all the work. This is Dorothy's Red, White & Blue parfait -  yummy and  lovely. We are taking notes.
                                                     

                                           

  The Carriage House is a beautiful old mid-western mansion built as a family home in 1895. It features two turrets, a wrap around porch, several fireplaces, lead glass windows and even a small landing from which concerts were presented. Here I am in our turret room blogging - great spot to work, huh?

But the reason we are here over the 4th of July is that Grinnell is my home town and my father is turning 90 so there is a big family reunion. What a relaxing place for us to enjoy our granddaughter. Of course I am  enjoying seeing the rest of my family and my home town but this little one is the BEST!!    
                                              Where did you spend the 4th of July?



     

On the Road Again

 YUP, vacation is over and it's time to go back to work so...... just like Willie Nelson says: we are "on the road again". It's a good thing we love it!

  Here is Kirk at our home loading the bikes - no we do not travel "light". Our next job is in Colorado so after the 1200 mile drive, Kirk wants to go mountain biking - go figure!


     Big question - which way do we go??                    

 

 
We are usually in a hurry and stick to the freeways but this drive through north western Colorado is one of our favorites and we just can't resist - I mean we are On the Road Again!

This stream is one of our favorite pic-nic lunch spots and a great place for Kirk to get out and stretch. Then it's back on the road , again!

  But in the summer with good weather, good music, good company, good scenery.... it's really a pleasure.

  After a long day behind the wheel, we always look for a really cheap motel and this is one of our favorites.

It's sad but we stay here so often that we have our favorite room!  Well hey, they have everything we need and I just can not see spending my money for somewhere nice if I am only there for eight hours and Kirk loves the western decor.  I know I should stay in a B&B  but what  can I say???  We are on the road again!