Halloween in the CSD

I had some errands to do downtown this afternoon, and what a pleasure it was to walk around in the warm autumn sunshine while I did them. Bonus: got to mingle with all the kids trick-or-treating at downtown businesses! I saw so many outstanding costumes. I love being in the Chestnut Street District!

Next weekend will be special in historic downtown Hays, too, as retail stores host holiday open houses on Friday and Saturday. Can't wait to see what's new at all our wonderful specialty shops. If you'd like to join us, the TRI has one vacancy on Saturday night, Nov. 5.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Autumn on the high plains

What a glorious day it was yesterday for a late afternoon walk along Big Creek! Just warm enough for short sleeves and not windy (always a noteworthy condition here on the high plains). The cottonwood trees, willows, and grasses are all in their autumn color, contrasting beautifully with the bright blue sky. Baxter had the time of his life running up and down the dyke, but never straying too far from me. (If you’ve met Baxter at the B&B you know what I mean.) So relaxing.

Today I plan to finally walk the new nature trail at the Sternberg Museum. It’s not far from the pleasant walking/jogging path that winds around behind Hays Medical Center. Plenty of lovely, safe, relaxing places to walk around Hays.

I love being outdoors at this time of year. If you’ve never seen the prairie in autumn you probably can’t imagine how colorful it is. Our fall color is mostly close to the ground, you see, not up in the trees. Last Friday I got to take in some breathtaking views on the half-hour drive along country roads to the little settlement of Pfeifer. The rolling pastures in gold, tan, brown, the last few wildflowers, the fields of bronze milo, and clusters of yellow cottonwoods along the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek were sights to behold. And to balance all that fall color we passed fields of bright green winter wheat, just a couple of inches high.

Now, I have been in the Rocky Mountains many times in autumn, and (only once) in New England at the height of leaf-touring time. Spectacular. But I make no apologies for western Kansas’ version of the season. It’s not an explosion of color, but more of a rich tapestry draped artfully over the undulating landscape. Don’t trust my bias? Then how about a Colorado couple who stayed here last night? They are on a tour of southern Kansas, where they have been several times. At breakfast this morning they described the sights they have seen in our state in awe-struck tones. Not a shabby endorsement from folks who live on the front range of the Rockies!

It’s another gorgeous day—maybe the last one for awhile—so I’m off to the nature trail.

TRI Enhancements Are Underway!

It's been a hectic and hot summer, which is why I've been absent from the blog for so long! In between meeting the usual, varied array of guests from around the world and around the corner, I've been busy working on "freshening up" the Tea Rose Inn.

Look for new photos soon of redecorated rooms and some changes to the exterior, too. Despite weeks of 100+ degree temperatures, we've managed to revamp the front and side flower beds. There's some new porch furniture, and to better enjoy it, new shades on the front porch. On calm days they make the porch-sitting experience much more pleasant in the summer sun, and give a little privacy from the street. Now if I can just come up with a way to make them behave when that western Kansas wind comes up... Tomorrow I will attempt Plan C. I don't give up easily.

In making changes to the guest rooms and the common areas, I'm trying to keep what works (comfortable beds, high quality bedding, our famous "breakfast experience," for example) while changing with the times in other ways. Currently three of the four guest rooms have televisions, and the Peacock Room will soon be getting one. Twelve years ago, when the TRI was new, B&Bers emphatically did not want t.v.s in their rooms, but that has changed. With more people travelling with their laptops, the Rose Room now has a desk, and the Garden Room will be getting one -- as soon I finish refinishing it!

The Tea Rose Inn's large foyer has a brand new rug and will soon include a work area for guests. I've also set up a little area with a wingback chair and ottomon for solitary reading, or for visitors to wait.

And always, always, I'm exploring new recipes. I still serve all the old favorites, like walnut cream scones and quiche puffs, but I have to try new things too. Luckily, most inn-goers are adventuresome when it comes to food. I do value my "testers!"

If you haven't been here for more than a couple months, you'll want to come experience the changes. As an inticement, let me just mention that today I picked the first peaches of the season. If you've ever eaten a peach from the TRI tree, you know they're worth a trip to Hays! Hope to see you here soon.

Art and music fill the city this weekend

A Cultural-with-a-capital-C weekend is coming up in Hays. Friday evening is the spring Art Gallery Walk, and Saturday evening is the annual masterworks concert at Beach-Schmidt Auditorium. I’m proud to be involved in both events.

The Tea Rose Inn is showing paintings by Kansas artist Louis Copt. (Copt web site) His typical subject is landscapes that truly capture the look and feel of the Kansas prairie, from fields of crops to clothes drying on a line in the wind. The paintings of controlled burns are just mesmerizing. All works are for sale. I’ll be serving mushroom turnovers, tiny berry tarts, and of course tea (haven’t settled on a variety yet). The TRI will be open to all art lovers from 6:00 to 9:00 Friday evening. No charge! (Spring Gallery Walk)

At 7:30 Saturday evening the Hays Symphony Orchestra will present works by Beethoven and Dvořák. On Dvořák’s Te Deum they will be joined by the Fort Hays State University choir and the Smoky Hill Chorale, of which I am a member. A guest soprano and a guest bass will perform the solo parts. Two beautiful pieces of music in a perfect setting, the fabulous Beach-Schmidt Auditorium, at a bargain price. ($6, I think—less than a movie ticket!)

The last piece of good news is that there is still one vacancy this weekend! We’d love to see you here.

Happy Easter to all!

Was there ever a more glorious Easter Day? It’s just been beautiful in Hays. Everybody got a chocolate bunny on their pillow today! My guests have fragrant lilacs in their rooms, plucked from the back garden. Fresh mint and chives for breakfast tomorrow.

I brought home two boxes of plants today, so tomorrow I can plant flowers in all the porch planters. As the flower beds’ lilacs and tulips begin to fade in a couple of weeks, the irises, peonies and spirea will take their place…just in time (I hope) for Fort Hays State University’s commencement weekend.

A few days ago the petals from the white crab apple blossoms started to fall. They were so thick this year, when the breeze blew they drifted like snow against steps and rocks. Those flowers have scented the air for nearly two weeks now. Heavenly. Join us while it’s still springtime!

Springtime Bustle

Spring is here, no matter what the calendar says! I have just gotten started cleaning out the flower beds in preparation for spring growth. I haven’t seen any buds yet, but the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are all well above ground now, so it won’t be long. Sap is flowing in the fruit trees. I’m hoping for a peach crop like the one I got last year—almost more fruit than I could handle or give away, and as juicy and delicious as any peaches I’ve ever eaten. Next week it will be time to prune roses. It’s a rather tedious job, but the rewards are well worth it.

Of course, it’s also good weather for cleaning windows and painting and such. Not my favorite chores (I’d rather be gardening), but having spring in the air makes them easier.
Springtime also means high school graduations, FHSU commencement, and Mother’s Day. May is a very busy month in Hays, so if you’re planning a trip here, I recommend making reservations as soon as possible. We’d love to have you!

Extra Special Guests

I love it when a family takes over the whole B&B. Right now I have a group here who has come to Hays to see their son/brother/uncle/brother-in-law compete in the Special Olympics. He has been competing in S.O. for about 40 years! This year he was chosen to be the last torch runner, so he got to circle the coliseum with the torch last night. By all accounts it was a moving occasion. I got to meet the athlete this morning when he dropped by with his father after his team’s first basketball game. They lost, but he considered the morning a success because he “played some good D.” I like that attitude. His family is so proud of their athlete. Some of them came from several states away to see him compete.

This, for me, is the best part of innkeeping. I get to meet so many fabulous people.

Continuing Education and...

...a break from the routine. It's the time of year for...innkeepers conferences! I'm at the fabulous Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with innkeepers from Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and of course AR. (Don't worry, I left the inn in Carol's capable hands for the three days I'll be gone.) What a gorgeous drive we had this morning through the Ozarks; I have to come back here in the autumn. Crescent Hotel

This afternoon I learned lots of stuff about better ways to communicate with you, my dear guests. Tomorrow and Wednesday I'll be learning some new ways to make the Tea Rose Inn a more comfortable place with more of the little amenities b&bers love. My goal, always, is for my guests to want to return again and again. I've made some wonderful friends that way.

And some of the changes I've implemented over the years have come from guests' suggestions. Even after 12 years of innkeeping, I'm always open to new ideas or better ways of doing things.

But back to today's seminar. I'm trying to absorb all the changes with Facebook, Twitter, and Google tools. It can be a bit overwhelming. Innkeepers are jacks-of-all-trades, but I think changing communication technology challenges more of us than anything else.

It's not all work, of course. I had a wonderful dinner tonight in a restaurant loaded with local charm. Here, the hyacinths and daffodils have already pushed their leaves up three inches. As soon as I get home I want to clear away the winter muck and see if my spring bulbs have begun to show themselves yet. I'm so ready for color!

First snow of 2011

Snow began falling Sunday afternoon and didn’t stop until late Monday morning. We have about six inches of beautiful fluffy snow blanketing the town. I wanted to wait until the snow stopped before I put on my parka and boots to shovel the porch and sidewalks. To my utter delight someone beat me to the job! I looked out the front windows to see my neighbor, his son (who used to be my neighbor), and their friend all scooping snow on my property. They seemed to be quite jolly while doing it. I’m thinking my thank-you will take the form of something baked.

There’s very little traffic today on the streets. I suppose most people are staying indoors, just as Baxter and I are. It’s very cozy here. The 102-year-old cast iron radiators are radiating away and the teakettle is steaming. The larder is stocked, so there’s no need to go out before tomorrow.

I hope you’re cozy and safe wherever you are. And I hope you’ll snuggle in at the Tea Rose Inn sometime soon!