Summer Recap - Looking Ahead

It was a very busy summer and fall, thank you to all our wonderful guests! We had people from all over the US, Canada and Europe and it was great to meet or revisit with all of them!

Our summer season started with a vacation for Ron and I and our kids going to Seattle to witness daughter, Jenna’s, graduation from the University of Washington, Tacoma, with a masters in Social Work. We had purchased a motorhome in Pasco,WA last April so we took this opportunity to pick it up and drive it home pulling a trailer with all of Jenna’s worldly possession while she drove her car. But first, we all took a 3-day vacation in the San Juan Islands to unwind and have a good old family time in a great house on the beach! It was so fun!

Jenna has now moved back to Minnesota and works for the Alzheimer’s Association in St. Cloud. It is so wonderful having her so close to home again.

Fast forward to this week after spending a great weekend here with the grandboys, Ron dropped them off and picked up his sister, Jan, to take “the big behemoth” to Hot Springs, Arkansas where it will be stored until we come back to pick it up in February and tour the gulf coast for 2 months. No worries, our wonderful in-keepers Cal and Bonnie will be here to welcome and take care of our guests during our absence. 

Ron left just in the nick of time as the snow started flying up here! Nothing is sticking to the streets yet and hopefully won’t for quite a while. The dalias were gorgeous this year and were flowering profusely right up until yesterday when the 30 degree temps got them. Now time to dig and store. Planted garlic yesterday from bulbs received from some wonderful California guests a year ago. Actually I planted them last winter and these are from the bulbs picked this summer. I was able to plant twice as many this year!

Quick sidebar for a craft idea: I saw the cutest checkerboard painted pumpkins on Etsy the other day. They used artificial pumpkins but I bought a real white (ghost) pumpkin and thought I would paint black squares on it like a checkerboard. Then decorate the stem area with fall leaves, etc, How cute would that be?!

Okay, 2 rooms to clean, pay some bills, take the dog for a walk, do some yard work and craft – maybe not in that order! Have a great day and always be ready to see the surprises and beauty around you!

Karen

Summer in Full Swing

Happy Summer Everyone!

Last month we returned from a family trip to Washington state. We attended the “hooding” ceremony of daughter, Jenna, as she graduated from the University of Washington, Tacoma, with her masters in social work. It was 3 years of hard work and we are so proud of her accomplishment! Son, Terry, daughter-in-law

Amy and grandsons Emerson and Trenton also were there and the next day we all took off for a family vacation in the San Juan Islands. Relaxation, sightseeing and a fun charter fishing trip where we caught a blue ling cod and several rock cod were the highlights.

We had  purchased a class “a” motor home in Pasco, WA in April so took this opportunity to drive it back to Minnesota pulling a trailer with all of Jenna’s worldly possessions. Just before Fargo, ND she got a call with a job offer in St Cloud, MN with the Alzheimer’s Association so she and Ron went there with our new motor home and trailer and I came home with her car. She found an apartment but because it won’t be available until August 1st our motor home is coming in handy as her temporary living quarters. Funny how things just seem to always work out!

So now we're all back in lovely Grand Rapids, greeting guests and enjoying life as innkeepers! Won't you come join us for some summer fun and relaxation? Our doors are always open and Billy would love to meet some new friends.

Karen