FALL IS IN THE AIR

Fall is in the air- everywhere. I just returned from Southern Michigan where I toured a rose garden of nine hundred bushes on the premises of an amazing Friesian dairy cow-breeding farm. Some of the roses were still in bloom, but not for long. I love to celebrate harvest by taking drives and short getaways in the country. Fall just isn’t the same in the city. One of our favorite things to do is pack a picnic. While tracing around the countryside, it’s a great time to get a good value on pumpkins, gourds and all sorts of wonderful fall decorations and provision. There is nothing more comforting than the family joy this harvest holiday brings. It’s time to bake some fall goodies, fill the home with harvest décor, and heighten the moods of the ones you love. It’s difficult for one not to embrace this rich and vibrant season. The beautiful trees full of bright leaves, the crisp afternoon air, and light, gentle breeze will surely strengthen the hearts of many. Somehow that golden light brings out the romantic in all of us, so maybe this is also a great time for you and your sweetie to have a brief interlude at a country Inn.

"B&Bs Keep Their Bounce"-USA TODAY-

It was such a pleasure talking to Laura Bly about the B&B industry. I was especially glad to see todays article "B&Bs Keep Their Bounce", and that it recommends our website LanierBB.com. As I've been hearing from Inns the past few weeks, it does indeed look like folks are traveling to B&Bs!"There was a lot of panic earlier this year, but I can't remember a single weekend this summer that all inns didn't sell out," says Stan Rosen, head of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau lodging committee and owner of Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast in Lenox.


The article confidently confirmed travelers are yet indeed still retreating to B&Bs across the globe. Tech-savvy updates and enticing packages have really worked in the B&Bs favor, as these tactics have successfully attracted travelers, and kept their doors open wide.

LanierBB.com was recommended in this featured article, as a B&B directory source frequently used by travelers. Bly referred to B&B as a B&B directory that highlighted deals and gave the traveler the choice to search for B&Bs by location, interests and amenities.

To read the full text article, and learn more about LanierBB.com, be sure to visit the link provided. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2009-09-24-bed-and-breakfasts-lenox-ma_N.htm

Lanier Publishing International has established itself as the leader in providing quality, specialty lodging information through its best-selling print guides and award-winning web sites. Since 1982, Lanier Publishing has remained firm in its commitment to provide the most accurate, educational and current information for the traveling public and the accommodations industry.

Cooking With Julia Childs-A Fascinating Woman & True Inspiration

Julia Child was a great lady, an excellent educator, and a very warm and generous person as well. When I first thought to do bed and breakfast cookbook in 1985, our mutual friend Marion Cunningham (author of Fannie Farmer Cookbook and Lost Recipes: meals to share with family and friends) made an introduction and Julia was kind enough to give me some very practical advice about what readers want and how to write a successful cookbook-who would know better? A recipe of Julia’s that I use all the time and was actually one of the first “French” recipes I learned as a teen watching her show, was for Hollandaise Sauce. I still use the original recipe which can be varied by using tarragon vinegar and a little dried tarragon made into a reduction, which when cooled, may be used in place of the lemon juice to make a classic sauce for meats. Julia Childs mentions sauce recipes from Mastering The Art of French Cooking several times in her memoir, “My Life In France.” There’s a photocopy of a piece of paper that contains her hollandaise sauce recipe that she typed herself. It’s marked “ Top Secret!” On a side note, if you’re thinking about reading “My Life In France”, you definitely should! I absolutely loved it!

Hollendaise Sauce Recipe from “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”:
Ingredients
· 3 egg yolks
· 1 tablespoon water
· 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, if needed (or more)
· 6-8 ounces very soft unsalted butter
· 1 dash cayenne pepper
· Salt, to taste
· Fresh ground white pepper, to taste
Directions

1. Whisk the yolks, water, and lemon juice in the saucepan for a few moments, until thick and pale (this prepares them for what is to come).

2. Set the pan over moderately low heat and continue to whisk at reasonable speed, reaching all over the bottom and insides of the pan, where the eggs tend to overcook.

3. To moderate the heat, frequently move the pan off the burner for a few seconds, and then back on. (If, by chance, the eggs seem to be cooking too fast, set the pan in the bowl of cold water to cool the bottom, then continue).


4. As they cook, the eggs will become frothy and increase in volume, and then thicken. When you can see the pan bottom through the streaks of the whisk and the eggs are thick and smooth, remove from the heat.

5. By spoonfuls, add the soft butter, whisking constantly to incorporate each addition. As the emulsion forms, you may add the butter in slightly larger amounts, always whisking until fully absorbed. Continue incorporating butter until the sauce has thickened to the consistency you want.

6. Season lightly with salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper, whisking in well. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding droplets of lemon juice if needed. Serve lukewarm.

Julia Childs updated version of this recipe is found in her “Mastering the Art of French Cooking 40th Anniversary Edition”;
BLENDER HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
Start to finish: 5 minutes
Makes about 3/4 cup
Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, cut into small pieces
Directions:
In a blender, combine the egg yolks, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-high, add the butter and heat until foaming.
Blend the egg yolk mixture at top speed for 2 seconds then, with the blender running, remove the cover and pour in the hot butter in a thin stream of droplets. By the time two-thirds of the butter has been added, the sauce will be a thick cream. Continue pouring, but don't pour in the milky residue at the bottom of the pan. Taste and adjust seasonings.
If not using the sauce immediately, set the blender carafe in tepid, but not warm, water.

Slipping Between The Sheets

I don't know about you, but one of the high points of my bed and breakfast stays is slipping between the sheets into a sumptuous, luxurious bed in a lovely room and letting my cares drift away. The more I talk with avid B&B goers over breakfast, the more I find a shared trait of enjoying physical comfort and even sensual luxury. I can’t tell you how many times I've heard a fellow guest exclaiming over our shared morning pancakes how well he slept on that firm but yielding pillow top bed, and how the pillows were just heavenly!

Beautiful white linen brightens every bedroom.
For some time now, I have been on a personal quest for fantastic sheets and have gathered several pointers to be on the lookout for. If you’re unsure how important the thread count really is, just remember that 300 is the magic number—anything above that is considered high-quality. Some super high thread counts can be very stiff, so a lower thread count will feel softer and stand up better to washing, but you shouldn’t settle for anything below 300. It’s important to remember that pliability counts, too; you can check a sheet’s pliability by simply folding the corner of the sheet in your hand if the crease feels sharp you might want to continue looking. Cotton sheets are less likely to stain and will release dirt easily when wet. If you stay with white, which is my preference and recommendation, it can always be bleached to remove any persistent stains and they will always look fresh.

Recently, I have started polling other B&B travelers and innkeepers about their favorite sheets and some of those that rose to the surface were Percale sheets. Offering an exceptionally crisp, cool, satin finish with a higher proportion of vertices threads result in a super soft fabric. Below I have listed specific examples:

* Grand Supima: 450-thread count, gorgeous lace trimmed boarder ($79.99 for a queen flat)
* The Private Essential: 412-thread count wrinkle free collection, 100% ultra fine extra long staple Egyptian cotton ($44.99 for a queen flat)
* Court of Versailles Palace Collection: Silky smooth ($40 at Sam’s Club)
* Target Home: Very soft 600-thread count with strong elastic corners ($70 at Target)
* Chris Madden: Wrinkle-free, cool and silky ($70 at JCPenney)
* Garnet Hill Scallop Percale ($110 for a queen set)
* Lands' End Easy-Care ($109.50 for a queen set)

And now it is time for breakfast in bed. Offer your guests a delightful night's rest on quality sheets—they will be coming back for more nights in your wonderful beds!

Best,
Pamela

Conserving Inn Style

A ripe area for easy green upgrades is the bathroom and many inns have done a terrific job implementing simple but highly effective improvements and trade-outs to improve their inn’s carbon footprint. Since bathrooms account for almost 75% of consumer water use, it is an area ripe for improvement. Moreover, that translates right into savings on utility bills. You might like to pick up on some of these tips to adapt to your home.
A light and airy bathroom is achieved using white and beige. Consider putting in a new shower head. The new water saving kind still provides a strong spray while using one third to half as much water as standards.
A water saving shower head also saves money.

Add some additional mirrors to your bathroom to reflect additional ambient light while increasing the sense of space. If you position them across from windows, they also bring the outdoors in. If you are doing any renovations, consider putting in a tank less water heater, also known as on demand. If that’s not in the cards, be sure to install a water heater blanket which reduces heat loss 20 to 40% and also turning the thermostat down to 120 is a big energy saver as well.

Energy smart light bulbs are a must. And now that they’re almost identical to the standard incandescent, it’s easy to replace them. If you don’t care for the quality light that CFLs emit, I recommend adding a small side lamp to your bathroom décor and outfitting it with a low-watt pink bulb. This serves two services. It not only improves greatly the quality of light, but you might also be surprised at how great you look in the mirror thanks to the rosy glow.
Towels add a decorator’s touch to your bathroom decor.

When it’s time to purchase some new towels. And by all means, go organic. How about giving those new bamboo towels a try? I found them to be very absorbent and plush.

Finally, installing a low-flow toilet is a great idea. And now, the new high-performance models, they flush waste very effectively. The dual flush can save you even more.

As I travel around the country, I notice that in some areas, there’s been abundant rain while here in California, we’re always on the verge of another drought. Summer is a great time to be water conscious and take some clues from my favorite B&Bs to enhance your domestic water use profile.
A stylish decorator shelf with candles and fragrances for a touch of class.

Add a touch of luxury, B&B style, by including a comfy upholstered chair to the bathroom. If you don’t have room for a chair, an upholstered bench or stool will serve the same purpose. I often see some with nifty designs at thrift store, often in need of nothing more than some new padding and upholstery. Why not upholster the top in a cushy layer of organically grown terry cloth and make it a snappy color while you’re at it. This would be a perfect place to utilize one of those bamboo towels which come in a rainbow of colors to reupholster a stool or bench top. What a way to add instant pizazz to your bathroom décor!

Best,
Pamela

Family Reunions

More and more families are searching for their “roots” and as a result, family reunions are becoming increasingly important as people turn towards their family for a sense of belonging.

With improved communication and transportation, families are in closer contact with the more distant members of the clan. These days, a reunion might involve at least 50 people from thousands of miles apart. The host family doesn’t live in the same village as in days of old. The large multi-generation farm or house is long gone and Grandma and Grandpa are unable to put everybody up for a week

Bed and breakfasts make fantastic locales for family reunions. One of the beauties being that family groups can be accommodated in one homey place and if the reunion has larger, multiple family groupings they can be accommodated at nearby inns. Some inns have wonderful spaces designed for all sorts of gatherings where the group activities can take place. In other communities, local community centers, church halls and other rentable spaces can be used for larger events with favorite family activities held in the evenings at the inn or inns. Hearts or checkers anyone?

My family holds an annual reunion in semi rural Indiana that takes place in bed and breakfasts, family members homes and at a nearby state park and lodge. The event culminates with baseball, a potluck (with traditional family dishes of course) and a hilarious white elephant gift exchange.


Where a family reunion is held depends on a number of factors. Many families want to return to the area that they consider the family home. While other families prefer a destination where they won’t be interrupted or bothered by outside distractions. What works best for you? The first phase of planning is up to you. Only you know the guest list and where everyone in your clan will be able to enjoy some time together.

Each family is unique, and as various options are discussed there will probably be a marvelous mixing of ideas or perhaps an obvious and mutually agreed upon proposition on which to follow up. You want your reunion memories to be good, so take the time to plan a great one.

Pamela




You can print this check list by clicking the print button at the end of the list

18 Months Before
Appoint a chairperson.
Explore various family reunion ideas.
Start to prepare an invitation list.
Start a list of things that will need to be paid for and payment options.

12 Months Before
Select a date.
Create a budget.
Send out the invitations.
Make tentative reservations at the reunion site.
Collect family memorabilia and create a family tree or history

Nine Months Before
Finish compiling your guest list.
Assign duties.
Start building your reunion itinerary
Send out a newsletter.
Make final reservations.
Ask for family memorabilia to display.
Come up with a reunion souvenir (T-shirts, a collection of recipes or copies of the family tree).
Plan activities, games, and entertainment.

Three Months Before
Send out another newsletter, updating the guest list and what's in store for this event. Also break down the budget and provide everyone with expected costs.
together maps and directions for out-of-town guests.
Order the souvenirs.
Decide on meals.
Create a shopping list.
Next newsletter should include information about what food to bring.

One Month Before
Confirm your reservations.
Send next newsletter with updates.
In case of bad weather, come up with some alternatives.

Three Weeks Before
Create signs to place along highways directing family members to the reunion site.
Committee should discuss any unpaid bills

Two Weeks Before
Make sure that the souvenirs are almost completed.
Purchase all food items that won’t spoil.
Purchase all supplies (for example, paper plates, utensils, etc.).

One Week Before/Week of Reunion
Organize the reunion site.
Buy all perishable food items.
Pick up the souvenirs.
Verify your reservations one last time.

At the Reunion
Make sure camera is loaded.
Get acquainted activities..
Collect updated information from family members before they leave.
Poll the family about what they’d like to do for next year’s event.
Call for volunteers.

Post Reunion
Send updated newsletter with tales about the reunion.
Discuss any outstanding bills with committee.
Send thank you notes to those who helped with the reunion.
Take a deep breath and start planning next year’s reunion.

Lighten Up Your Bedroom - Inn style

With summer just around the corner, why not lighten up the bedroom? A decorating trend I have noticed in many bed and breakfast inns is one you can easily try at home – the seasonal freshening of linens. Simply switch out heavy draperies for light and airy chintz curtains that billow in the breeze, opening your bedroom to outdoor possibilities. A light and airy bedroom is achieved using white and beige. Ditto for your bedding: pack away that heavy comforter and bring in a light matelasse bedspread or perhaps a flowery new duvet cover. Sometimes I make my own by sewing two flat sheets (sized to the bed) at the open end together on three sides with the outward side facing; then tacking ribbons at one-foot intervals, putting a summer weight quilt inside and tying the open ends together. To evoke a crisp, light summertime look in any room, at any time, use a lot of white.

This pure color is a great idea for lightening up you home. White has two contradictory characteristics. On one hand it is a traditional color that has always been used. On the other hand its use is seen in all of today’s magazines, showrooms and decorating exhibitions, proving that white is back on top in color related trends.
Let in the light with all white.

One of the most appreciated features of white is its versatility. This is a tone that can be combined with any type of decoration. The defenders of this color wildcard define it as an escape route for the imagination when it comes time to decorate your home because it leaves open the possibility of creating very different spaces in your home without being afraid that the walls will not match everything else.

There are many reasons to make white your best friend. Its intrinsic brightness is the most effective weapon against shadowy spaces. When you bet on white, you are saying yes to renewed clarity in the living areas. White adds light and helps you think about your home as a true paradise where you can really enjoy yourself.

Many classical and cutting-edge decorators have favored this color because it suggests peace, tranquility and relaxation. The visual components become an accomplice of beauty in the environment by making the ceilings higher and the walls wider. There are no rules regarding furniture, accessories and complements that play a part in this clean space.

It often takes just a few minutes or perhaps a few hours on a Sunday afternoon to enliven your décor, bringing it from wintertime cozy to summertime breezy. Give it a try!

Best,
Pamela