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!

Winter blues and spring anticipation

After clearing snow and ice over the weekend, this sunshiny day is welcome, though it's still cold. Early Sunday morning one of my guests asked if he could shovel off the sidewalks for me. Permission was granted! He lives in a sunbelt state, but grew up in Boston, so he knows how to wield a snow shovel. I think he got downright nostalgic about it. And what a treat for me to have the entry and sidewalks cleared by the time my other guests were ready to leave. Small kindnesses like that are what's best about life.

So how did I prepare my guests before sending them back out into winter? With premium, piping hot coffee, of course (no tea drinkers that day). They had juice and some fresh winter fruit--citrus and stuff--to wake up their taste buds and give them a shot of vitamins. Then came the comfort part: my own special gingerbread pancakes with real maple syrup. Always a winter favorite. And the perfect accompaniment, local bratwurst, nicely browned.

I keep thinking that we will soon have a day here and there warm enough to work on cleaning up the flower beds for spring. But I haven't seen any bulbs up yet, and I'm sure they know what they're doing. This morning I did hear birds singing in the arborvitae; that was a welcome sound. Maybe when I return from Texas next month, and after the Kansas Bed & Breakfast Association's annual meeting (more about those later), I can put on the garden gloves and get down in the dirt.

Hope winter has not got you down too much. It's been a long one in most places. It IS still February, though, which means....

Valentine's Day specials are still available through next weekend! (See January 14 post.) I'd love to see you here.